Hi guys Azza here!

So I'm currently half dead writing this, new job is driving me insane but otherwise I'm out here getting this bread!

Reviews

Baranx – I plan on revealing who 'Her' is probably either just before or just after the timeskip.

And as for your thoughts all I will say is this and I suppose for anyone reading this could be either spoilery or a teaser for the future but basically you are correct in assuming that the 'Higher Beings' as I often refer to them as are for the most part not the good guys.

Obviously there are exceptions but you just have to look at what has come from their influence, almost none of it is actually positive and they only bring mass destruction, death and despair with them. Natsu's home world got screwed by them throughout Volume I and as we saw in Volume II Kaguya, the Titans and basically anyone else who gained the ability of higher powers and their descendants caused nothing but generations of trouble and now in Volume III we have Enel and Rai-Jin causing trouble, Roger promoting a new age of Pirates which has spawned countless horrors in all four corners of the world.

Even consider the stuff Aizen and Salem are doing in the Tales From The Tale Verse they don't care if they mess up lives so long as they get what they want, willing to film a kid being murdered just because it might get them a tiny bit more popular than they already were.

And Solomon's plan to essentially end things is justifiable from the point you put it and there will one day be a reckoning as the Gods, Devils and Titans pay for all the trouble they've caused however who will ultimately bring this about … well that's for you all to discover!

Le Phoque Blanc – Nah there will definitely be others I just chose Aizen and Salem to begin with because I know people wanted more of them so expect more to come as their little arc wraps up soon.

Thomas MCF – Haven't seen you in what feels like years! Great to see you again and hello to you too!

Erasenpai946 – Naturally his presence will change events drastically but there are other factors that have already changed the game a bit so it won't just be Natsu stomping people like some might think.

Anyway on with the story!

I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.

Encounter At Long Ring Long Land Island

/Natsu's POV/

"This island is … strange," Natsu said whilst finding himself surrounded by a plethora of strange animals. "Is that a six metre long dog?"

"It appears that almost all the plants and animals on this island possess either elongated height or length, I wonder how that is possible," Robin mused as she gave the dog a gentle pat.

"OH LOOK NATSU," Mordred cried as Natsu turned to see her sitting atop the back of a male lion which was over seven metres tall. "Can we keep it!?"

"And where would we keep something that big Mordred," Natsu sighed shaking his head. "And where would we get enough food to feed it every day?"

"Well … hey we could-!"

"No."

"Aww …"

"You can play with it while we're here though if you want just don't go causing any trouble with it," Natsu said as the lion bounded away with Mordred atop its back. "Why am I not surprised she'd be drawn to that thing?"

"Does Mordred really like lions that much," Robin asked prompting Natsu to nod.

"It's a trait she shares with her Father though up until recently she'd sooner kill anyone than admit it; her Father is a King you see."

"Ah, lions are considered Kings in their own right so I can understand that. So that must be why Mordred was able to manifest as a Servant then, because her Father was a King-?"

"Mordred more than earned her place on the Throne of Heroes Robin along with all the other Knights of the King's court. Mordred however even among them has a unique reason for being there that goes beyond simply being the son of a King."

"Let's go exploring," Luffy shouted off in the distance with the sound of Usopp and Chopper chanting in agreement catching Natsu's ears moments later.

"Well it sounds like Luffy, Usopp and Chopper are going to start some trouble somewhere, better go see if Zoro and Sanji still want that training."

"Before you go do that I figured I should let you know I've begun translating the Poneglyph writings you gave me, still strange that the Gods didn't want me seeing the real ones though so I'm interested to see just what's so important about them."

"Ah that's good to know, thanks Robin," Natsu said with a smile before walking over to where Zoro and Sanji stood arguing. "Oi! If you two have the energy to argue then you have the energy to train!"

"Fine," Zoro sighed whilst giving Sanji a glare. "Not like the perv cook had anything useful to say anyway."

"Tch, you started it moss head-!"

"Both of you shut up," Natsu snapped drawing their attention back to him. "Now then, first thing I want you both to do is put on these blindfolds."

Zoro and Sanji nodded knowing that they would likely be receiving blows to the head soon and winced slightly as they wrapped them around their heads, covering their eyes.

"Now both of you can't see anything correct?"

"What are these made out of," Zoro asked confused. "It's like my eyes are closed."

"I've laced the cloth with a Darkness Spell so that you can't cheat with what we're about to do," Natsu replied as both went to sit down. "Did I say for you to sit!"

Both suddenly found themselves off their feet after being hit across the back of the legs by something blunt.

"You can no longer see me; your hearing will no longer be of use now that I am suppressing my movement using Aura. Scent tracking while useful can be easily exploited and even touch will do you no good so long as I remain out of reach."

"So what do we do?"

Throw everything you thought you knew about general combat and dodging away, leave only your instinct behind because that is what we will be focusing on today. The feeling we all get in our gut when we believe something will be your best friend during this training, trust in its every word and try to dodge any possible attack I may hit you with!"

/Luffy's POV/

As Sanji and Zoro received a firm beating Luffy, Usopp and Chopper began exploring the strange island, marvelling at all the strange looking animals and plants inhabiting it until they came across a small house.

"Someone actually lives in this weird place," Usopp wonders aloud as Luffy walked over toward two large moving pieces of bamboo curious as to why it was moving only to get hit in the head by it knocking him over in surprise.

"What the- damn mystery bamboo, Gum Gum: Pistol!"

Hitting the bamboo it easily snaps in two from the force as an old man seemingly falls from the sky, groaning in pain as his back hits the ground.

"It's an old man," Usopp said before turning to face Luffy with an annoyed look. "Why'd you attack a harmless old man!?"

"How the hell was I supposed to know there was an old man up there!"

"Guys what's going on," Chopper asked having been animatedly conversing with a nearby horse earlier. "Who is this?"

"Some old man Luffy attacked."

"I said I didn't know there was an old man up there!"

"Oh my back," the old man groaned as he slowly rose into a sitting position. "Oh hello there you three, doing well today I take it?"

"Um, sorry but we don't know you," Usopp replied prompting the old man to nod in understanding.

"Ah I see, well my name is Tonjit and I'm part of a Nomadic tribe who live round these parts, thanks for getting me off of those stilts by the way."

"Why were you on those stilts in the first place," Usopp asked confused. "They were so tall we couldn't even see you if we looked up?"

"Oh yes I figured you would be curious about that, well you see I wanted to make the world's tallest set of stilts but something most unfortunate happened."

"What was that," Chopper asked.

"Well you see," Tonjit said before pausing for almost thirty seconds as the trio leant in curious to hear what happened. "I got stuck on them for ten years."

Chopper and Usopp face planted at the stupidity of the statement however Luffy shook his head and sighed.

"Gee you must be a pretty stupid guy huh?"

"It was the strangest thing, the bamboo I made into stilts never stopped growing you see so eventually I was too high up to take off the stilts. I managed to survive by eating the fruit off of the trees around here which are perfectly suited for those cursed with the never ending growth like my bamboo stilts gave me."

"What do you mean by a curse of never ending growth," Chopper asked confused as Tonjit motioned toward the area around them.

"Look around you, from the animals to the plants everything grows to abnormal sizes! The whole island is like that you see so when I got stuck on those stilts for so long I wasn't too worried."

Standing up Tonjit walked over to the small house and went inside seemingly looking for something only to suddenly cry out in shock prompting the trio to rush after him.

"Oi old man what's wrong," Luffy shouted as Tonjit turned around tearfully.

"I-I just realized that my village is gone along with all our cattle!"

"How did you not notice that before, sure you were on stilts but there's no way you wouldn't have noticed your entire village pack up and leave," Usopp pointed out though it seemed to go entirely ignored by Tonjit who walked over to some sort of container.

"Let's see fresh milk … aha!"

Pulling out a jug the trio winced upon seeing it had spoiled into 'cheese' if one could even refer to it as such. Tonjit looked at it for a moment before shaking his head and pulled the cheese out of the small jug and placed it on a plate.

"Would any of you like some?"

"W-we'll pass Chopper said knowing full well what would happen should any of them eat such ancient looking cheese.

"Well then more for me," Tonjit said as he ate the entire thing in one bite, shocking the trio who couldn't believe he'd just so casually eat something that old. "I don't feel so good …"

"He just gave himself food poisoning, just like that," Usopp cried in disbelief as Chopper pulled out a vial and shoved its contents down Tonjit's throat.

"Good thing I keep at least ten of these on me at all times," Chopper sighed in relief as Tonjit seemed to return to normal. "I always kind of expected Luffy to do that so I keep some just in case."

"Oi!"

"He's right Luffy you are a glutton so it's fair."

"I hate you guys," Luffy grumbled as Tonjit began to speak like nothing happened.

"My tribe are Nomadic you see, we travel between a group of islands every time the water currents shift which allow for us to cross safely. This island is called Long Ring Long land because everything is really long. Since its been around ten years since I last saw my tribe it will take me twenty years to catch up with them since they will likely have done most of the circle around the islands by now."

"Why not wait then until they come back?"

"Well that's because with my horse Shelly it'll only take me five years!"

"You mean that horse named Shelly that's waiting outside," Chopper asked as Tonjit blinked for a moment before bolting from his seat as he ran out to meet the horse.

"Oh Shelly," the old man cried as he wrapped his arms around the horse giving it a loving hug. "I'm so happy you stayed behind just for me!"

The horse seemed just as happy to see its master as it nuzzled him affectionately whilst letting out elated whines that only Chopper could understand.

"She says she's so glad to see you again and that she knew it was the right thing to do to stay behind and wait for you than leave with the others."

"Oh Shelly I'm so sorry you had to wait so long for me but I'm here now and we can go and reunite with the others!"

Shelly seemed delighted at the news as she grabbed Tonjit and tossed him onto her back prompting Tonjit to begin laughing in joy.

"Oh it's good to see you are still as spirited as ever Shelly!"

Shelly nodded before jumping into the air unable to contain her happiness any longer however a gunshot put an end to the joyous reunion as the poor horse was struck by the unseen bullet, Tonjit toppling off of her as she fell to the ground wounded.

Tonjit and the trio rushed over to see if Shelly was alright with Chopper quickly working to deal with the wound whilst Luffy and Usopp looked around for the one responsible.

"Oi who the hell are you," Luffy snapped as three figures emerged from the tree line.

"Fuehfehfehfeh! Surely you gest, I am of course the famous Captain Foxy and these are my two subordinates Porche and Hamburg!"

"Never heard of you," Luffy growled prompting Foxy to gasp in shock.

"Wh-what do you mean you haven't heard of me!"

"Doesn't even matter who you are anyway I'm gonna kick your asses for hurting the old man's horse!"

"BOSS!"

Luffy paused as he noticed another person, presumably one of Foxy's crew members rushing toward them.

"What do you want; I'm busy trying to educate these fools as to who I am!"

"B-but Boss we've got a BIG problem!"

"Can't it wait until I get back to the ship?"

"But that's just it Boss, there's this guy who stepped in when we tried to block that ship from being able to escape! The guy tore our chains apart just by touching them and then he picked up the whole ship and says if you don't come out in five minutes he's gonna smash it into the island!"

"WHAT!"

"You've gotta do something Boss!"

"Grr, I'll be seeing you three later since something more important has come up," Foxy snarled as he began running back in the direction of their ship.

"Chopper are you gonna be ok treating the old man's horse," Luffy asked quickly prompting Chopper to nod. "Usopp and I are gonna go after Foxy and beat him up!"

"You make sure you beat that man extra good kid," Tonjit said whilst gently patting Shelly's head. "He hurt my Shelly … I won't stand for him going unpunished!"

"Don't worry old man we'll get him," Luffy said as he and Usopp sprinted off after the fleeing Foxy.

/Natsu's POV/

"Damn it, we can't even scratch these guys," one of the Pirates growled before getting kicked in the head by Sanji being knocked out cold.

Zoro and Sanji, who both supported some slight bruises from Natsu's earlier training, both stood behind Natsu holding back over one hundred people who had disembarked the ship that was currently floating over twenty metres above the water.

"This is your own fault," Zoro replied slashing one man across the chest.

"You guys are the ones who started this fight."

"You lot have three minutes left," Natsu shouted as the crew members on the ship cried out in terror.

"Isn't this going a little too far," Robin asked prompting Natsu to shrug.

"These idiots tried to threaten us and take the gold on the ship, you want to play Pirate then you'd better be prepared for the consequences."

"I suppose that's fair but you already freed our ship so is threatening to destroy theirs really necessary?"

"Probably not but I'm bored," Natsu replied with a slight grin prompting Robin to giggle in amusement.

"WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON HERE!"

Looking over to where the voice came from Natsu saw a stout man with a rather annoying looking face sprinting over.

"Are you the Captain of this lot?"

"Well of course I am, I'm the great Captain Foxy!"

"Never heard of you."

"Wha-never mind that for now PUT MY SHIP DOWN RIGHT NOW!"

"Yeah see I'm gonna have to go with a big no on that one …"

"Why not!?"

"Well why should I? What reason do I have to put your ship down?"

"W-well it's because … I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DAVY BACK FIGHT!"

"A what?"

"The Davy back fight is a three round event where both crews fight against one another in a series of competitions," Porche explained seemingly pulling a whiteboard from out of nowhere which already had three events written on it. "The first event is the Donut's Race-!"

"Stopstopstopstop, I'm not wasting anyone's time doing that crap," Natsu said prompting Nami to cheer knowing the whole thing is foolish. "How about instead you give us all your valuables and we let you leave with your bodies intact?"

"Wh-what kind of deal is that!"

"It is a deal that allows you to live," Robin informed Foxy who sent a glare in her direction. "Plus you didn't mention the other part of what the Davy Back Fight consists of did you?"

"Y-you know!"

"I had heard about you lot running around acquiring various Pirate crews through the Davy Back Fight during my time under Crocodile, Natsu is correct in saying this is a waste of time."

"Th-then how about a fight, one on one," Foxy said whilst glaring at Natsu. "Captain versus Captain!"

"Is that all?"

"It'll be the final round of the Davy Back Fight, winner takes all! If you win you get all our treasure but if we win we get all of you to join our crew!"

"Well I should probably tell you that I'm not the Captain then," Natsu said as he lowered Foxy's ship back to the ocean as the entire crew let loose an audible sigh of relief. "But I'll fight you no problem."

Foxy smirked and looked around at the assembled Straw Hats expecting them to be somewhat worried or concerned however that was not the case. Zoro and Sanji held Demonic smirks on their faces; Nami had Berry signs for eyes and was drooling quite a bit whilst Robin simply giggled in amusement.

"Do you fools not realize what you've gotten yourselves into!"

"I think the better question is do YOU realize what you've gotten yourself into," Robin replied just as Luffy and Usopp emerged from the shrubs nearby.

"Oi Luffy," Zoro called out. "That Foxy idiot just challenged Natsu to a fight, wanna watch him get his ass kicked!?"

Usopp's jaw dropped to the floor as Luffy began pointing and laughing at the stunned Foxy, unable to remain upright as he fell onto his back.

"So what kind of fight is this," Natsu asked cracking his knuckles prompting Foxy to snap to attention.

"I-it's a boxing match on my ship," Foxy declared as his confidence seemed to return. "Yes that's it, a boxing match!"

"Boxing huh," Natsu mused as Usopp appeared at his side.

"Obviously if this is an official boxing match he'll need a coach so I, Coach Usopp shall graciously take the role!"

"You get five minutes to prepare," Foxy said before rushing back to his ship leaving the Straw Hats alone on the island.

"Come on Natsu we've gotta get you set up," Usopp said prompting Natsu to raise an eyebrow.

"Set up?"

"Yeah you know, gloves, shorts and no self respecting boxer can go without a killer afro!"

"So you mean I need to look like this?"

Natsu's coat faded away as his long pants shortened into those of a traditional boxer, black gloves emerging onto his hands one with the Straw Hat insignia on one glove and the Fairy Tail insignia on the other. What shocked everyone though was when Natsu's hair morphed into a large afro prompting Luffy, Chopper and Usopp to gawk wildly at it.

"You can just feel the power coming off of it!"

"Well Chopper you see the afro unlocks one's deepest latent powers," Usopp explained sagely. The others who weren't entranced by the afro however were gawking at the amount of scars riddling his form with Zoro's hand reaching immediately for his chest, unconsciously tracing an old scar of his own which suddenly felt insignificant.

"So I just have to kick his ass looking like this do I?"

"Foxy doesn't stand a chance now," Usopp cheered before dragging Natsu along to the ship where it sounded like they were announcing the fight for those who had begun to take seats.

Several minutes later Natsu stood in a dark hallway waiting for his name to be called, his eyes closed as he meditated on how he ended up in such a ridiculous situation.

"Come on Natsu lighten up a little and just have fun with it!"

"Ahnk … I have an afro, do you honestly think I don't look ridiculous?"

"You are appropriately dressed for the sport!"

"Don't tell me you actually believe Usopp's crap about the afro having latent powers?"

"OF COURSE NOT! Not at all …"

Hearing his name called Natsu began walking out into the boxing ring that Foxy for some reason had constructed on his ship, the cheers from the crowd mostly ringing hollow since most of them were probably scared he'd drop the whole ship on them should they dare boo him.

Entering the ring he saw Foxy performing warm up punches and snorted in amusement wondering just how some feeble human was supposed to beat him in a fight. Looking around he saw the Straw Hats sitting in their own section of the stands now with Mordred who was still sitting atop the lion from earlier though it was holding a banner that said FIGHT on it in its mouth.

"Even Mordred thinks this is funny I see, well I suppose I'd better give them all a good show."

"Fuehfehfehfeh! You might have been able to lift up my ship but in here it's nothing but simple boxing!"

"Whatever you say," Natsu replied with a shrug has he raised his fists in preparation for the fight.

"FOXY PIRATES AND GUESTS! ARE YOU READY FOR THE CLASH BETWEEN FOXY THE SILVER FOX, A MAN WITH A BOUNTY OF TWENTY FOUR MILLION BERRIES AND NATSU DRAGNEEL WHO HOLDS A MODEST BOUNTY OF …"

Natsu snorted in amusement as the crowd seemed confused as to why the announcer was now seemingly frozen in place until a much more reserved voice began to speak.

"N-Natsu Dragneel who holds a bounty of two hundred and forty two million berries …"

Foxy's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets at the feral grin Natsu sent his way, his feet shifting faster than Foxy could track as he threw several warm up punches.

"HAHA! HE LOOKS LIKE HE JUST SHIT HIMSELF," Natsu heard Mordred shout out over the uproar the crowd had begun making which only served to widen his grin as the bell sounded.

"Just remember Foxy that you asked for this."

"N-no way I'm going down to someone like you, Noro Noro: Beam!"

As Natsu went to throw a punch he found his entire body had been slowed down to an almost comical degree, his eyes literally watching his fist move in slow motion as Foxy began to gain his confidence back.

"Fuehfehfehfeh! So it looks like even someone worth as much as you isn't infallible," Foxy cried as the crowd began to cheer in support of Foxy.

"You're a Devil Fruit User," Natsu asked calmly as Foxy prepared several warm up punches of his own.

"I ate the Slow Slow Fruit which gives me the ability to slow down time for anything I desire for thirty seconds!"

Spinning around Foxy began to hit Natsu with a blindingly fast barrage of punches before backing away to admire his handiwork.

"You'll feel all of those punches at once in about three … two … one … now!"

Foxy's grin shattered as he felt all the bones in his hands shatter, the gloves falling away to reveal the bruised hands that he'd used to strike Natsu with previously. Natsu simply peeled off the skin Foxy had focused his punches on before throwing it at the Devil Fruit user with enough force to cut his cheek as it embedded itself into a nearby mast.

"Did you honestly think a weakling like you could actually harm me if I didn't want you to? I'll admit I was surprised when you actually slowed down time around me but it appears that the fruit does not take into account internal body functions when it does its thing."

"My hands … what the hell are you, it's like I just rubbed them up against a cheese grater!"

"Scales. Sharp and nigh on impenetrable for ordinary human beings. Admittedly someone like Luffy probably would be fine so long as he wasn't striking at an angle. A weakling like you hurting me is about as likely as … well I won't say that comparison aloud but suffice to say it's never gonna happen."

"Oi if he can't box does that mean we win," Sanji called out as the crowd burst into an uproar whilst one of the judges seemed to rush over to check Foxy's hands.

"Oi Natsu beat him up a bit more," Luffy called out over the din prompting Natsu to cock his head to the side in confusion. "He shot this nice old man's horse and I promised he'd get a firm beating for it!"

"Did he now," Natsu said slowly turning around to face Foxy who was about to be declared unfit to continue. "It seems I'm gonna have to teach you a little lesson then …"

Raising his right glove Foxy paled as it ignited in flames with the left one becoming coated in blue lightning. Tapping them together several times before assuming an offensive stance Natsu pushed the judge out of the way and began pummelling Foxy's face with a series of swift jabs none of the crowd could see.

"And now for the finisher! Fire Lightning Dragon's Toll Hammer!"

Hitting Foxy in the centre of the face he was sent flying across the platform, tearing through the ropes as his head hit the bell which let out a resounding ding, silencing the entire ship before the Straw Hats started cheering wildly.

"And that's the bell!"

"F-Foxy has been defeated," the announcer said slowly. "The Straw Hat Pirates win …"

"As if he even stood a chance," Mordred scoffed as the lion rose from its seat with Mordred still atop its back. "I'm going back out to play with Leonard for a bit Natsu so come find me when we're leaving!"

"You named that thing Leonard?"

"Yeah of course I did," Mordred replied proudly as the hugged the back of the lion's neck tightly.

"You know it'll be harder to leave him behind now that you've named him don't you?"

"You're just jealous I made a new friend and you didn't," Mordred huffed as Leonard the lion leapt off of the ship and ran off into the nearby woods prompting Natsu to shake his head.

"Still a kid at heart."

"Natsu great job beating that guy up," Luffy said as the crew arrived down at the ring. "Can you teach me how to throw fire punches like that!"

Natsu was about to say no when he realized something he hadn't considered before, this world didn't have any kind of power source like the others did aside from the Devil and God's Aura in the air. Could it be possible to teach someone like Luffy how to harness that power?

"Its theoretically possible," Ahnkseram chimed in at my stunned stupor. "Unlike the Elemental Nations no one around here has any kind of restriction aside from if they've eaten a Devil Fruit or not. For someone like Luffy there might be restrictions but for an ordinary human who knows if they can perform such a feat?"

"Maybe in time Luffy who knows," Natsu replied weakly as he began to shift his appearance back to his usual form. "Now let's go see this old man you were talking about."

Explaining the story about how the trio met Tonjit on the way to the old man's house the crew soon came upon Chopper who was standing next to a patched up Shelly. Tonjit appeared to be thanking Chopper profusely.

"Oi Chopper," Luffy called out drawing attention to their approach.

"Guys!"

"Oh it's you again Straw Hat," Tonjit said with a happy expression on his face. "Thank you so much for letting young Chopper here help my Shelly, did you pay back that awful man for what he did?"

"My friend Natsu here kicked his ass real good," Luffy replied proudly as he tapped Natsu's side. "I doubt that idiot will be even holding a pistol for weeks after that fight!"

"Oh my thank you so much young man, it's nice to see so many helpful young people like yourselves in this world."

"Uh …"

"Anyway I think it's high time Shelly and I hit the road! Chopper here assured me that Shelly is fine to travel so long as she doesn't overexert herself."

"Well how do you plan on catching up to them if Shelly can't do anything strenuous," Usopp asked confused. "Aren't all these islands split apart by the ocean and you have to wait for the tide to change?"

"Oh … Well I suppose waiting a little while longer isn't going to be too hard, not while I have Shelly here for company!"

"This guy seems to have a few screws loose," Natsu muttered to himself which Zoro seemed to agree with having caught the end of what he'd said.

"Well I don't want to keep you lot for much longer so before you all set sail allow me to cook you all up something nice to eat," Tonjit said as he walked off into the woods only to bounce back out in surprise. "OUCH!"

"Are you all right old man," Luffy asked only for a light snoring sound to reach the groups ears.

Moving toward where Tonjit was the crew noticed there was a rather tall man seemingly sleeping whilst standing upright, his eyes slowly fluttering open having been awoken by Tonjit seemingly running into him.

"Mhmm … who are you lot?"

Everyone seemed confused at the man's strange behaviour however Natsu's ears caught on to Robin dropping to her knees and spun around to see what was wrong. He was shocked to see a look of complete terror in her eyes, a look that the rest of the crew noticed moments later as they turned around to face him.

"Oi who the hell are you to scare Robin like that," Sanji growled as Zoro began drawing his swords.

"You'd better not go messing around with my crew you tall bastard," Luffy added as many in the crew began assuming defensive stances aside from Natsu who's eyes were narrowed at the man.

"There's something off about this one, to hide his presence from us to such a degree," Ahnkseram said cautiously as the man let out another yawn before blinking in Robin's direction.

"Well well, Nico Robin," the man said as he ran a hand through his hair. "It seems you've grown into a beautiful young woman, the second hand accounts don't do it justice it seems."

"You know this weirdo Robin," Nami asked prompting Robin to nod shakily.

"Y-yes, that man is one of the strongest people in the Marines," Robin stuttered out as the man shot them a sly grin. "H-his name is Kuzan but people know him more by his name that was granted to him by the Marines and the World Government!"

One Of The Greatest Military Powers

The Blue Pheasant

Admiral Aokiji

Usopp and Nami were frozen in terror, Sanji, Zoro and Luffy seemed even more on edge than before as the man raised two fingers up to the side of his head.

"Yo!"

Tales From The Tale Verse

Aizen And Salem's Great Media Empire Expansion VI

Top Tier Reporting

/Aizen's POV/

"So this is Deltora," Aizen said as the duo arrived in the world. "A rather interesting world don't you think Salem?"

"It looks rather dull to be quite honest, not a single sign of sadness in sight," Salem replied with a disgusted look on her face. "I don't do happy stories."

"Ah but remember my dear Salem that sometimes the most vile things lurk beneath the happiest exteriors," Aizen said cheerfully prompting him to point at a castle in the distance. "Just look at that overwhelming power coming from that castle, radiance of light I've not felt in centuries being concentrated on one spot!"

"And you think whatever that is its masking the true nature of this world?"

"We won't know unless we find out now will we," Aizen answered with a sly grin as the pair began walking off toward the castle. Due to the large amount of villagers present they couldn't risk using any Devil's Aura what with the Rule of Realms and all however even still some stopped to gawk at them due to their appearance being far beyond that of the common folk.

"Do you think they call them peasants in this world Aizen?"

"Serfs perhaps?"

"Look at their smiles whilst living in such … such squalor!"

"Hey now it's not all that bad I mean it looks like a few of the houses have running water …"

Walking past the exit to the small village the pair followed a road that took them up toward the castle gates and upon arrival a guard almost immediately drew his sword and pointed it at them.

"HALT! Come no closer strangers and state your business, the King has not announced any guests for today!"

"Oh is that so," Aizen replied cheerfully as his eyes glowed Crimson Red for a moment putting the guard into a daze. "Alright Salem work your magic."

"With pleasure," Salem said as she tore into the guard's mind taking any important information before abruptly leaving with the guard falling to the ground comatose in a matter of moments.

"A bit rough today aren't we?"

"With good reason it seems, turns out this one here was a turncoat anyway."

"Turncoat?"

"Works for someone called the Shadow Lord, some powerful mage who runs a kingdom bordering this one."

"So it is as I first said," Aizen sighed. "In all worlds no matter how perfect they may seem those with evil intent must always exist, perfect for us."

"This place is called Del, a rather droll name but it appears to have been a necessary choice given the strange political climate. This Shadow Lord appears to have been around for almost a millennium, a candidate for a Devil perhaps?"

"Perhaps however it bears investigation as to why this Shadow Lord hasn't conquered this place yet."

"Yes it appears there is a somewhat valid reason for that, the strange glow in that castle to be precise."

"Interesting," Aizen said as the pair looked down at the guard. "How do you want to handle this?"

"We need a distraction to get in perhaps this oaf may be of some use," Salem said as she knelt down and with a swift motion she stabbed the man in the neck with her nails forcing a strange black substance into his bloodstream, his veins turning pitch black.

"Are you really going to set one of these loose here?"

"We need a distraction," Salem said as the guard's body began to shake before rapidly morphing into a strange elephant looking creature.

The elephant rose to almost twenty feet tall and almost immediately turned and smashed down the castle wall forcing Salem and Aizen to vanish as guards appeared on the scene to combat it.

Appearing on the castle ramparts nearby Aizen and Salem watched as the elephant began slaughtering the guards with Aizen openly shaking his head in disbelief.

"Really? You turned that fool into a Grimm Goliath?"

"Like I said," Salem sighed as she walked over to a nearby door. "We needed a distraction, I provided one."

"Honestly," Aizen sighed shaking his head as the pair walked into the castle making their way toward the powerful light source they'd been feeling since they'd arrived. "This had better be worth it …"

Ten minutes of walking demonstrated that Salem's distraction was working its magic since there wasn't a soul in the halls to disturb them as they proceeded to the strange light which brought them to a tower in the highest point of the castle.

"So whatever it is its behind these doors eh," Aizen said as Salem wasted no time in opening them as the pair were met with a belt containing seven gems each brimming with a certain power.

"Well now isn't this interesting Aizen, a magical belt."

"There is ancient power within this and yet … it seems far weaker than it really should be?"

"Of course it is weaker," a new voice said as a robed figure entered the room. "My Lord's work has finally paid off, centuries of waiting for this very moment!"

"Your Lord?"

"I think he means the Shadow Lord Aizen."

"Indeed," the man hissed as he walked past the pair and placed a hand on the glass case. "I can sense the two of you hold no love toward this kingdom or anyone for that matter, will you impede the Shadow Lord's rise?"

"We couldn't care less what this Shadow Lord wants to do, by all means go ahead and do whatever it was you came to do," Aizen replied calmly.

"We only came to see what it was that was projecting such a disgusting light."

"Disgusting light you say … of course you two must be responsible for the creature in the courtyard, no?"

"That was my doing yes."

"A most interesting skill, the Shadow Lord also likes to partake in a little bit of human experimentation from time to time. Should you ever find yourselves in the Shadow Lands I can assure you he would be most interested in learning more about your unique craft."

The sound of guards prompted the three to turn and face the doorway, the shouts signalling their impending arrival as the man began cackling with laughter.

"I'm afraid I must return to my task, long live the Shadow Lord!"

The man drew a sword and struck the glass casing, shattering it which granted him access to the belt stored within. The man swiftly broke the belt, tearing the gemstones out of it as the powerful light faded to virtually nothing as guards began to flood the room.

"What have you done!"

"THE SHADOW LORD'S REIGN BEGINS ANEW," the man cried just as Salem and Aizen snuck out through the door the guards had burst through, both currently invisible thanks to Aizen's skills.

"Did you capture all that Salem?"

"Every last word," she replied with glee as the both gave each other a high five before opening a portal and leaving, condemning this world to years of suffering from which it may never truly recover.

Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!