Morning came, and everybody was hungover.
Time seemed to go slow in the Band of Accipiter's camp. It was like the eye of the storm, with the Kingdom of Midland in its grasp.
Swiss yawned as he sat by the fire, Jinzo handed him a cup of tea. They both chatted idly.
Slowly but surely, the officers of Accipiter emerged from their slumbers.
Francesca was the first, followed closely behind by Grit (out of the same tent, I might add).
Next was Roshan Tamul, still boasting about his contributions from yesterday. He immediately got to sharpening his throwing knives.
Finally, Zekial crawled out with a grunt, still drunk and still drinking.
Swiss gleamed ecstatically. The officers of Gurifis were strong and capable. There was no telling how far they could climb. Needless to say, he was a fan. He wished they would become a pirate crew.
Swiss then glanced at Jinzo and smiled at him like an idiot.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Swissan?" Jinzo awkwardly asked.
"Hmm. I was just thinking that we should have an epic voyage. Don't you agree?"
The words of Swiss did not give Jinzo any comfort. He took a sip from his tea and resigned to his fate.
'What kind of ship did I get myself into?'
Jinzo was not afforded any time to ponder the fact. Horns were sounded and orders were shouted.
Out came Gurifis, a sharp and stern look on his face. His officers felt a chill sweep them. Never had they seen their leader look so firm and determined.
"I received information last night. They're here, everyone. It's the Prince's army. It was a trap all along. The Black Knight was just a distraction for the Prince to get close. The time has come!" The White Knight put on his helmet and got on his horse.
Then holding a fist up high, he says to his officers "Let's go grab our destiny!"
Zekial, Roshan Tamul, Grit, and Francesca all shouted "HOORAH!" in unison. They could sense the moment.
With the traitorous Prince defeated, the Kingdom of Midland will forever be in the debt of the Band of Accipiter.
They all wanted more than anything for Gurifis to achieve his dream. The social standing he would get from this victory would propel him to new heights. This was the day they were all waiting for.
"Ah jeez. I guess we gotta help out one more time before we get to a town?" Swiss stretched and readied himself.
"Oh, that's right. We joined these guys for directions.." Jinzo had been so taken by Accipiter culture that he lost track of the big picture.
The men readied themselves. Grit went up to Gurifis.
"This is it, huh?" Grit gave Gurifis a smile, "Your dream is finally within reach."
Gurifis did not allow himself to think far ahead, "Just focus on winning."
They bumped fists, and Grit got a good look at the expression of Gurifis. His leader had always appeared confident, but today Grit could sense a hint of nervousness.
'Good. That means he's ready' Grit thought to himself.
"Don't worry. I'll personally win this battle for you." He said before leaving.
Gurifis watched the back of Grit get smaller and smaller as he rode away. He almost told him 'stop, don't go!', but the words did not escape his mouth.
Once he was alone in his thoughts, that's when Gurifis snapped into kill mode.
"INTO POSITION!"
"Waaah" Swiss yawned lazily as he scratched his chin. "The formation is a bit different today?"
"Yeah. I'm feeling a little uneasy being stationed in the center.." Jinzo added.
That's when Francesca intervened, "Don't worry. This is all part of Gurifis' plan. You'll see."
Everything was inverted. Calvary and light infantry lined up in the middle, with the heavy infantry manning the wings.
As such, The Traitor Prince sent the bulk of his forces forward to attack the Accipiter center.
Swiss and Jinzo found themselves in the thick of battle.
The Accipiter light infantry was skilled and had better maneuverability, but not even that could overcome the sheer number of heavy infantry coming their way.
The fighting got intense.
"How are you holding up?" Swiss and Jinzo were back to back in the middle of the battlefield.
"Good, you?" Jinzo replied.
"Fan-fucking-tastic!"
With each other's support, Jinzo and Swiss slew any who came their way. Their fighting was valiant enough to inspire their surrounding allies.
"Heh, those bastards." Roshan Tamul could not allow the spotlight to not be on himself, "Don't fall behind, men!"
"HOORAH!"
Meanwhile, Zekial and the heavy infantry were getting pelted by archer fire on either wing. There were so many arrows that no one could move and help out the center.
"This is nothing! FORWARD!" Zekial shouted.
"HOORAH!"
Everything seemed to be going okay so far. No side had gained any significant ground.
But from upon his horse at his position behind the lines of light infantry, Raider captain Grit saw a different kind of battlefield.
"What the hell is going on?" Grit glared up to the hill where Gurifis took position to command the troops. For some reason, it looked more distant than usual to Grit. His leader felt far away.
That's when Gurifis gave Grit the signal.
'Charge!'
"Now?" Grit looked out to the battlefield to try and understand why Gurifis ordered him to charge. That's when he saw him; the Traitor Prince.
"Hmm. Cunning bastard. Let's move!"
Grit and his raiders rode on their tenacious warhorses and hacked at any in their path. With ease, they closed in on the Traitor Prince's position.
A circle formed around Grit and the Prince as they engaged in single combat.
From the top of their horses, they swung their weapons at each other, so fast that it looked like a blur.
All you could hear were the murderous sounds of their blades colliding.
"Go Grit-sama!"
"Do it, our Prince!"
From that hill where he watched, Gurifis gazed down at his comrades. Francesca, Roshan Tamul, Zekiel, Grit, and the rest.
Everyone was but a simple commoner, yet this band of peasants was the most famous army in all of the Kingdom of Midland.
Memories as numerous as the blades of grass ran through him like water, until a single tear dropped from his eye.
"Do it." Ordered Gurifis, turning his back on the battlefield.
A flaming arrow marked with the heat of death flew through the sky.
"That's the signal!"
All hell broke loose.
At the wings, cannons were unveiled and fired at Zekiel and his men. They were no match for the brutal bombardment.
No piece of Zekiel was left intact. None you could recognize.
The center suddenly was surrounded by thousands of heavy infantry, who were picking them off one by one.
"Shit. You get the feeling that things have turned sour?" Swiss said.
"Yep. Not looking good.." Replied Jinzo as he cut down another enemy.
Swiss went back-to-back against Jinzo once again, "Trololol. Let's bail."
Meanwhile, Roshan Tamul was slaughtering enemies left and right with his throwing knives. It seemed like he couldn't miss. Each knife hits someone square between the eyes.
"Wahahaha! This all you bastards got?!"
Those were his last words.
The enemy surrounded him and shot him with so many crossbow bolts that he looked like a porcupine.
The numbers of the Accipiter troops were dwindling.
At the center of the battlefield, a clump of men huddled together. Led by none other than Francesca, whose heroics was spurring on her fellow troops well past their physical limits.
"Don't falter now! Gurifis will make his move!" she cried to them. Her voice filled them with courage.
But what could they do? They were completely surrounded.
One by one they got picked off. When the beautiful Francesca finally died, there was nothing else the surviving men could do. All the strength they had got sapped out of them.
Grit was too focused on his battle with the Traitor Prince to have noticed the slaughter of his comrades and the death of his lover.
A sudden eerie silence whisked through that grassy field that was now stained red with blood.
The Traitor Prince, weak from having to parry the devastating strikes of Grit, pushed back the raider captain and boldly spoke.
"Give up, warrior. Can't you see you're alone?"
At the Traitor Prince's words, Grit felt a chill go down his spine.
He was alone. Completely surrounded. Not a single friend around.
The bodies of Zekiel, Roshan Tamul, and Francesca were thrown into the clearing where the Prince and Grit were having their duel.
"Francesca?!" The pain of loving his lover overwhelmed Grit before anything else.
Then the realization that his friends were gone stabbed at his heart.
But above all the sadness and sorrow, a glimmer of hope beamed in his eye.
'Gurifis!'
Grit turned to face the hill of Gurifis. With him alive, there would surely be something to show for it. But alas, his leader was no longer standing watch.
All Grit could see was Gurifis turning his back, walking toward his tent.
"Gurifis?" Grit uttered in disbelief.
"Muhahahaha, you fool. Don't you see? You've been sold out." The Traitor Prince mocked Grit.
"Sold out?" Grit had no emotion in his voice.
"That's right. Even the White Knight of Accipiter can be bought!"
'No…' Grit shook away the bad thoughts. There was no way Gurifis had betrayed them.
All Grit could do was confirm it for himself.
"TCH!" He clenched his jaw and spurred his horse, riding straight into an army of men.
With his greatsword, he swung wildly, causing body parts to go flying in the air. Blood splattered down like rain.
He carved through that army like butter, single-handedly, until he made it through.
Battered and cut, he rode up that grassy hill.
"Gurifis!" shouted Grit, jumping off his horse and running into Gurifis' tent.
"What? What is this?"
What Grit saw made no sense.
The King of Midland, old and frail, was standing over Gurifis who was down on one knee.
In the hands of the King was a fruit with a bite taken out of it.
Gurifis gazed at Grit, chewing something in his mouth.
"Gurifis! What the fuck is going on!" Grit approached like a madman.
But before he could even get close, a spear stabbed his back.
"Gah!" Grit dropped to his knees.
Gurifis stood, his blue eyes turning deep and perceptive. Grit could see them transform.
They were the eyes of a hawk.
Grit stood, spear sticking out of him, and kept walking towards Gurifis.
But the king's bodyguards would not allow him. Another spear, and then another… Until sticking out of the large back of Grit were many spears.
That's when the form of Gurifis changed into that of a great hawk. Gurifis flapped his wings and a great gust of air blew away the tent.
"Sir Gurifis! Where are you going? We had a deal!" The king barked at him.
Gurifis glared at the king like he was an insect. Power flowed through his body. He flapped his wings, taking flight.
"GURIFIS!" Grit summoned all the strength he had and managed to just grab onto the feet of hawk-form Gurifis.
Together they spiraled up into the sky, but Grit would not let go.
"You bastard! How could you betray us?!" Grit shouted, flailing his greatsword around.
"…You of all people knew what I was. Now watch me fly."
That was all the answer Gurifis gave him.
High in the sky, Gurifis shook Grit off his feet.
Grit was now in a free fall.
Then Gurifis flew away and gained some distance, before piercing down towards Grit.
["TORI-TORI-NO!"]
All Grit could see was the feathery haze of Gurifis flying into his stomach at Mach 2 speeds.
Just before he reached Grit, Gurifis swapped back into human form, using all the force he created to deliver a crushing blow.
["FALCON PUNCH!"]
"OOF!" Grit lost consciousness immediately. He was hit so hard that he got sent flying far away from the battlefield.
From the ground, everyone ooh'd and ahh'd as they witnessed the flight of the White Hawk. Gurifis went back into hawk-form and soared majestically in the sky.
Until they could see him no more.
The whole thing felt like a weightless dream- over before it even began. Just like that, the Band of Accipiter was no more.
Gone went the greatest mercenary band in history.
Gone went the thousand wishes yearning to rise above their social status.
"Ah! I'm exhausted!" Jinzo collapsed on the grass.
"That went zero to one hundred real quick," Swiss said, splashing his face with fresh water.
The two had managed to escape the battle and flee to a nearby river.
"But what the fuck was that all about? One minute, Gurifis is this tactical genius. The next he's a total noob." Swiss ran his fingers through his thick dark hair.
"You're right, something doesn't add up." Jinzo hummed and placed his hand on his chin, "So what now?"
"Bruh. Same as before. We find a town, get supplies, and fuck off. But thanks to this cock up, we're lost in Midland."
It was at that moment that a faint whistling noise could be heard.
"…Do you hear that?" Swiss peered at their surroundings.
"That can't be good." Jinzo darted his eyes left and right.
…
…
*SPLASH!*
A gush of water erupted from the river and got Swiss wet all over.
"Dafuq?!"
"Look!" Jinzo pointed to something in the water.
There, floating in the river, was a tattered body. The face was one that our duo recognized.
"Grit?!"
It would not be until 5 days passed did Grit regain consciousness.
He awoke in a cave, covered in bandages. Inside the cave was furniture. It was set up like a house.
"Where am I? Ow!" the pain of his injuries rendered him almost speechless.
"You're awake!" A young blond girl at the age of 11 came into the cave with a basket of fruit.
"Who are you? Where am I?" asked Grit.
"I'm Rosie. You're in my grandfather's cave. You were brought here by your friends."
"Friends?" The word hurt too much to hear. All his comrades had died…
"Who?"
"Swiss and Jinzo. They're great! Come out whenever you're ready, mister!" with those words, Rosie skipped out of the cave merrily.
Grit took his time to get to his feet, but once he was up he could manage quite well. He climbed the stone steps to the cave exit.
Outside, the afternoon sun stung the eyes of Grit.
He sees a two-story medieval hut sitting on a grassy bank. In the background is a mountain range.
He sees Swiss and Jinzo next to the river. Behind them is a glorious waterfall whose water comes down from the mountain.
Swiss is trying to best Jinzo in a sword duel.
["HASH SLINGING SLASH!"]
["CRIMSON KOMBUCHA!"]
They slashed each other with the blunt side of their blades. They both exhaled an 'OOF!' at the impact of each other's attacks.
"Gah! You sure pack a punch!" Swiss exclaimed.
"Errr… You too, Swissan.."
They both spotted Grit at the same time.
"Ooh, he's awake!" Swiss bolted off like he was getting a head-start in a race. Jinzo did not humor this childish provocation.
"Oiiii! Welcome back!" Swiss stopped near grit, catching his breath, "We thought you were dead for sure!"
"You… saved me?"
"Sort of. We dragged you here. The real one who saved your life is inside that house. Come."
As they neared the house, they could hear the sound of metal against metal.
Inside, working in a blacksmith station, a small and muscled old man with long hair was beating away at something.
"Oiii, old man! He's awake. And I think he has something to say-.." Swiss called to him.
The old blacksmith stopped and faced them, "Eh?"
That's when Grit spoke as if on cue, "Oh, uh, thanks for saving me." He bowed respectfully.
"Hmph! Not like I had a choice! Those two numbskulls came barging in here with your disgustingly mangled body!"
"Trololol. Sorry about that, old man." Swiss scratched his head. Jinzo whistled nonchalantly. Rosie giggled.
"For the last time kid, my name is Rollo!"
Rollo threw a hammer at Swiss, which hit him firm in the face. 'OOF!'
"Thank you, Rollo." Grit said seriously.
"Bleugh. Don't mention it."
"Okay, enough stalling!" Swiss regained consciousness, "I want to hear what the fuck happened!"
…
They all sat at Rollo's round table and listened to Grit's telling of events.
He told them what happened in the battle. How the Band of Accipiter were slaughtered. How his friends and lover died. How Gurifis had betrayed them.
"Gurifis, that bastard! Why would he betray us?!" Grit could not wrap his head around the situation. His head felt like it was spinning.
Swiss looked at Grit grimace in emotional pain. Memories of One Piece Online came back to him. How many times had he been betrayed while sailing those forgotten seas?
"… He probably had something to gain. You said he ate some weird looking fruit, right?" Swiss said.
"Yes. So what?" Grit replied.
"I've seen it happen thousands of times. There are a lot of assholes who will sell out their friends for a devil fruit. Anything to gain more power…" Swiss spoke like it was a personal subject to him.
"More… power?" Grit stared at his shaking hands, "That bastard killed Francesca for fucking power?"
"Yes, Grit-san. Take a look." Jinzo pushed a newspaper to Grit.
On it, a startling title.
[TRAITOROUS BAND OF ACCIPITER STOPPED BY GALLANT PRINCE IN KNICK OF TIME]
"What's this?" Grit was almost speechless.
"It's a news article. They spun it like the Band of Accipiter were traitors. The Traitor Prince is now the hero of Midland. Everyone seems to have pinned all the bad things on you guys…" Jinzo told him.
"And Gurifis?" the way Grit said his name was bitter and toxic.
"They said you betrayed him, murdering him when he least expected it. Francesca was painted as the villain behind it all."
"I don't understand…"
"It's fucking obvious, dude." Swiss shook his head, "Some fucker must have approached Gurifis with the devil fruit, in exchange for letting you guys get defeated and allowing the Prince to take the credit."
"…"
"The only thing I can't understand is why you said the king was asking Gurifis where he was going? Did the dumb ass expect Gurifis to stay after he got the fruit he wanted? Trolololol."
"Enough." Grit declared. A resounding resolution screamed from the depths of his soul.
["REVENGE!"]
He sprung to his feet with a plan in his head.
"Where you going?" Swiss said concernedly.
"I'm going after Gurifis. I'm going to kill that bastard."
"Trololol. He could be anywhere. He can literally fly at Mach 5 speeds."
"Doesn't matter. I'm going."
Jinzo stood in the doorway. "You can at least wait for your wounds to heal, Grit-san."
"Yeah, so chill out." Swiss playfully nudged Grit in his broken ribs.
Swiss sighed, "Besides, Gurifis ate the Tori-Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon. Trust me, that fruit has some insane durability powers. You're gonna need your strength."
"…bastards."
It only took a week for Grit to recover to the point where he could travel.
During that week, Grit had no chance. Poor guy…
Swiss spent the whole time asking him to join him and Jinzo on their voyage.
["It makes perfect sense! We won't betray you, and you have to travel anyway if you ever want to encounter Gurifis! Trolololol!"]
On the third day, Grit reluctantly said yes to joining them.
And so the three of them stood outside Rollo's house. Bags packed, bidding Rollo and Rosie farewell.
"Goodbye, guys. Thanks for everything!" Swiss said.
"Byeee. Come back anytime!" Rosie hugged them all.
"Whatever! Get outta here already!" Rollo pretended not to care about their departure.
"Trololol. I hope to see you again, old man."
After saying their goodbyes, Jinzo suddenly asked Grit a question.
"What about your weapon?"
"Oh, that's right. Rollo said had me something for me." Grit said.
"Almost forgot. One moment." Rollo went inside the house and came back out a couple of minutes later.
He was dragging a sword so massive that it would not be accurate to call it a sword. It was more like a hunk of iron. Far too heavy and far too rough.
Grit's eyes shined eagerly, "What's this?"
"This here is the Demon Slayer. It's something I forged back in my youth, but no one was ever strong enough to wield it. You said you like big swords?"
Grit took hold of the Demon Slayer and swung. The force sent out a mighty gust of wind.
"Holy fuck… how can he swing that thing so easily?" Swiss gasped.
"That's one scary weapon…" Jinzo said with his mouth wide open.
After swinging it around for a bit, Grit held the Demon Slayer up and marveled at its sharp edge, "Demon Slayer, eh? It's perfect."
He sheathed the Demon Slayer on his back using the custom magnetic strap Rollo designed. Grit's dark hood did a good job at concealing the massive blade.
"Right then. We'll be off. Bai bai!"
And so it was. Swiss, Grit, and Jinzo walked a dirt road along the river out of that mountain range.
It was easy to navigate Midland with Grit part of the party. All his life he spent traveling Midland from battlefield to battlefield.
He led them to the town closest to their landing point. There they got supplies and then made their way back to the boat.
Sure enough, the boat was still at the beach, as if they never left it.
"There she is!" Swiss called out to their humble sailboat.
Jinzo smiled, "Home sweet home."
"This is it?" Grit raised a brow.
"Hey, you gotta start somewhere."
The three of them loaded up the supplies and sailed out to sea.
Grit sat on the railing of the sailboat, gazing longingly at the fading visage of Midland.
"Sad to be leaving?" Jinzo asked, leaning against the railing.
"I don't know. It just feels strange."
"Tell me about it. I just left home not long ago myself."
Then out came Swiss with a bottle of sake.
"A toast to our new crew member!" Swiss said.
"Crew?" Jinzo asked.
"Yeah! This is a boat, We are its crew. Drink up!"
The three of them shared that bottle of sake as they watched Midland etch into the horizon.