The Reason for the Challenge

Aaron was the first man up. The Squid Fishman on Kraven's team had stepped up, they probably figured his eight arms would allow him to propel himself over the cliff walls, but Ridley wasn't so certain. He looked over the field and at the other members of the crew. His entire crew had gathered around the obstacle course. They had all gathered there and were looking out over the field. It was a saddening sight, but Ridley supposed that the fact that they were hopelessly outnumbered was just something he'd have to get over. He was kind of hoping that the fans would flock to them to cheer on the under-dog. However, it seemed like even that was a passing dream.

The line-up was a little off. Ridley was pausing as he looked over at Aaron and the rest of the crew. Ridley was still slowly putting together the information of his old crew. It was interesting trying to recall all the information of their previous battles and their unique traits before it was just a matter of who was the strongest fighter, but now he had to split them up further again and again. Break them down into the smallest and separate elements of their abilities, but…even then it wasn't enough. Mikoto wouldn't be able to compete in this correctly. Climbing the wall and even running without his hybrid form wasn't his forte. In the end Ridley was interested in seeing how Aaron measured up to Mikoto in terms of speed. And from the looks of it, he wasn't the only one. Mikoto and Aaron both seemed fired up about this competition as well…come to think of it, Aaron was fired up all the way back since the third round. Seeing Mikoto run around the island probably got his own gears ticking. If those two were allowed to race each other, something amazing probably would happen. The two fastest men currently in the Grand Line…at least that's how Ridley saw it. He may just be a little bit cocky, but in a way the two of them probably were…and using two completely different techniques.

Mikoto's speed was like anyone else's a form of running that relied strictly on his animal-like speed. Small bursts could be applied if he went back to that Rapid-Fire Run like before, but it still wasn't good for him. In all honesty, Mikoto's running was all about his leg strength which was boosted from his hybrid form. Aaron's speed focused on a different spectrum. Aaron's speed was born from 'boosts'. Short-lived, but incredibly powerful boosts of power allowed him to go from zero-to-sixty faster than anyone else could. However, it was only during this short burst that he ever hit his highest speed. His optimum speed was limited to that short burst. Of course, he never said that his technique was a 'finished' one. He was still working on the perfect way to 'extend' that short burst of incredible speed. And, of course, this was an excellent way to test out his abilities. Aaron's heart pounded, his hair stood on end. Perhaps even more so than Shane he had found a rival in Mikoto.

He placed his weight on his front-leg, readying himself for an incredible dash. He pressed forward and back, constantly preparing himself for the moment that was to come…the starting gunshot. He smiled. He was ready for it. His feet were on fire, waiting for the gunshot. The loud boom covered the air and Aaron went off, the ground exploding behind him as his feet slammed backwards, propelling him forward. An instantaneous shift from 0 to 60. The flames that scorched the first third of the race was nothing, his feet carried him through them at speeds so fast that they would burn pavement, he didn't have to fear fire with feet like this. Incredible speed…that was Aaron's blessing. Feet that moved faster than flames.

Even the wall seemed to present little challenge, Aaron saw the wall as more of a…vertical floor. His feet hit the solid wall and up he went, clawing his way to the top at an incomprehensible speed. The rest of the competitors were barely making it to the end of the first obstacle while Aaron had cleared the second. Ridley smiled, but the fact was that a strong start was always the hardest thing to follow up. Enma, Rosa, Lily, Sage…they were all going to face the hardest challenge of their lives. A competition against so many opponents at once…and since they were in the 'winning position' right now, Kraven's crew would definitely be gunning for them. Even as Aaron passed the baton onto Enma, letting the skeleton begin the muddy crawl of his first obstacle, Ridley knew this battle was far from over.

And the rest of the competitors knew this too. The Fishman cut into the air, smashing his long arm into Enma and setting him back a few feet…now winded as well as weakened. Enma paused for a second looking behind him and at the Fishman who had disappeared into the muddy crawl to the other side of the field. Enma shook his head, he couldn't go after him, not when there were so many other obstacles ahead of him. He needed to go faster and not slow down. Enma rushed forward and hit the wall, clamoring up the steps as quickly as he could, hoping that another nasty surprise didn't await him on the other side.

"I'm impressed," said Kraven as he sat down next to Ridley who was still anxiously watching the game. Ridley barely paid any attention to the newcomer. "Such talent and technique blended into one is hard to master, you know?" Kraven sat back and smiled, "I've been a pirate for over twenty years and I still lack the thing that is required in order to be the best." Ridley looked up at him, "pure unnatural talent. It is impossible to develop or even find, but looking at your crew that's the only thing I can see. Pure unnatural talent flowing through your veins. I envy you guys...his speed, your captain's instincts, the swordsman's power, your asinine intelligent levels, all of it that made you guys get this far has been a result of your guys' talent, something given to you at birth."

"What's the matter," mocked Ridley, "scared-" Ridley stopped talking looking straight at Kraven, he knew the answer to his question. He wasn't scared. He wasn't even angry, no, he was excited. Excited to grind their talented faces into the dirt and to prove that his crew could overcome even something like that. And for some reason there wasn't a single shred of doubt in Ridley's body that Kraven could do just that. "You said you've been a pirate for twenty years, right?" asked Ridley, Kraven nodded. "Most people don't live to even be twenty years old if they chose this as their profession. Even the greatest pirates of our generation don't live that long, especially for no reason…"

"That's right, boy," said Kraven standing up and throwing his hood down and around his neck, revealing his face and wild blue hair. "In a world where a single loss can mean your death, I'm still alive and kicking. I have never even set foot in a Marine Prison before. I was a man that excelled past the normal human barriers…and I made it this far. Just a few more miles and the New World will be before me and my crew once again."

"Again?" asked Ridley looking up to Kraven and expecting an answer immediately. It wasn't as immediate as he wanted. Kraven looked to be at his highest tension imaginable. His entire being seemed to have been super-charged as he thought back on his many years of experience and near death battles. Ridley knew that this man wasn't of the same cloth as the rest of their opponents. Kraven was clearly much closer to them than anyone else. Kraven seemed to be the type to love his crew, love adventures, love the thrill of the ultimate treasure. He didn't seem to be the kind of guy gunning for the ultimate battle like Trevor, the perfect world like Taisho, or money like Karasu. He was the type of guy…who seemed to be closest to Mikoto in mindset.

"Yes, again," he said settling down, his extreme source of pride and energy seemed to have finally degenerated into something a little bit lower as if he was remembering something. "A single loss CAN mean your death in this world, but it doesn't always. It can sometimes mean the death of someone close to you. I have only one loss, a loss that was given to me from a man from the New World…a loss to some man…no, that word isn't fitting for him. He was a demon…a demon named Michael A. Azgard!" The name didn't mean anything Ridley immediately, but pretty quickly it came to the forefront of his mind. The last name of Azgard…

"Any relation to…" began Ridley, just now noticing how he had never learned more of Mikoto's past. He had been to his home and learned about his parents' deaths, but that wasn't Mikoto's past that was his father's past.

"Yup, he's your captain's father and he's the reason I promised to myself, I will make sure that your crew will pay with your lives! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a crewmember for a crewmember! Your crew will realize the same fate as my First Mate did all those years back!"

"That was his father, not him!" shouted Ridley, "a son should not have to atone for the father!" Ridley really hoped that was true or else he was definitely going to hell a thousand times over.

"You probably think of me as irrational even after this. Even after learning the fate my First Mate had suffered at the hands of his already dead father, but you see…there's another secret you need to learn. Another reason why it has to be Mikoto, the reason why the fates are smiling on me to win this combat and not him! The stars have already aligned! I never believed in fate before that day when I saw your captain's bounty poster, but once I did…I knew that fate was giving me a helping hand with him! It would be my fate to uproot him!" Ridley was starting to cower away, even though he didn't want to admit it…something was definitely off with Kraven. Forget about charisma, power, experience…the man was just insane…or bordering just on the edge of it.

(-Many years ago-)

"The name is Michael A. Azgard…and your ship is blocking my path," said the man that strode upon their ship and off of the Marine ship, obviously hijacked. One of Kraven's crewmates were in his hand, still breathing. "I'd ask you please to move it aside. I'm on my way from the New World. It's a nice place, but not suitable to raise a child." Michael's wife and his soon-to-be child was beneath the deck of the ship and he couldn't allow anyone to get past him. He had a small, but formidable crew. A man with an army from the New World. The New World was his birth place, but he knew right away he wouldn't want to force the kind of barbaric training that made itself known in those waters to his son. He wanted his son to grow up in a peaceful little Blue, he had heard the East Blue was a kind place. That was his goal.

"My name is Kraven Hale," shouted the much younger man, the young version of Kraven Hale. "And you seem like a weakling to me!" Kraven produced his own worthwhile weapon, a long staff with a sharp hook on the end. He flipped his cloak aside and strode forward. "I have no desire to harm your wife or child, but I can't just brush aside the fact that you hurt my crewmate!" Kraven jumped from his spot and right into the middle of the fray. He and Michael immediately clashed, their weapons let out a sharp noise that seemed to signal to both of their crews to charge forward and exchange their blows. Instantly both men seemed hungry for victory, they were champions of the world! A man leaving the New World and the man heading for it, time to test their mettle.

"You're not as bad as you look," muttered Kraven immediately feeling Michael push back with his trusty sword, an old family heirloom, Thor. Michael simply grinned, he agreed with Kraven this wouldn't be an easy fight…but where was the fun in that. Michael was a man from the New World, he couldn't just give up fighting. He was working his way around the world in reverse…perhaps people would think of him as a coward, a man who ran out of the New World and the Grand Line in an attempt to live easily in the East Blue. But reputation meant little for him! He had a crew, once his wife was safely dropped off on a comfortable island he'd become a pirate…use this crew and go back home…reach the One Piece maybe. That glorious treasure was recently put back up for grabs. One Piece, he'd get that and give it to his son…maybe on his eighteenth birthday. A gift to show his son, how great of a man his father was.

And for that reason, he couldn't be stopped here!

Michael ripped upwards, sending a slash skywards, cutting through the air and blowing Kraven's weapon up and revealing his soft body. Michael stepped in, ready to finish this fight, but Kraven wasn't a man who gave up easily. He was a champion, a king amongst kings! Kraven brought his guard down and managed to block the attack, the fight wasn't going to be easy. The two immediately resumed a vicious beating on one another. Michael saw more of Kraven's men, at least fifty, pour onto his ship. Michael didn't mind, he left his most trust-worthy pal back there. Marco Okuso, a man who had just sunk fifty Marine ships. There was no way they could lose. However, Kraven's crew was powered on by the same thought, they were lead by Kraven, a man who was going to be great and his First Mate. A man who was ripping through the lesser men of Michael's crew with ease.

The two exchanged blows once more and again, both attacks have boiled down to a horrible, ugly exchange. Neither side would ever willingly give up in this fight, they were warriors! However…a slight break in the pace was beginning to become evident. Michael was winning out. Michael was barely managing to push Kraven back, but barely pushing someone back was something to be praised when the exchange was as high-leveled as this. "Wargh!" the two brave warriors of the sea screamed as they exchanged their mighty blows once more. Kraven had a little bit more strength to him, but Michael had some kind of weird techniques on his side. Slight changes in pace, increased tempo, it was as if…he was still preparing himself. There was a bigger battle coming around the tide for him and for him to meet it he must destroy the man before him.

Kraven's goal of becoming strong enough to conquer the Grand Line and manage to find a better place for his crew to live was an admirable one, but Michael's goal…his goal to become a man his son could respect was something even greater than that. Something that he had to live up to! He refused to go down as someone who couldn't live up to that! It was a goal even greater than One Piece! The two met each other with a final exchange. The two men crossed blades, Kraven going down forcing his weight behind his chop while Michael rose upwards, putting his legs and arm strength into the blow. A glint of light crossed through the battlefield, but neither man let go of this ideal battle. It was their challenge to themselves. The clash of blades finally broke. Michael's blade finally broke through, slicing upwards, throwing Kraven off of his feet and knocking the pirate back and making Michael turn around like swift lightning and pointing his sword downwards at Kraven's neck. It was his loss. Or at least it would've been, if this had been a completely fair fight.

"What's the matter captain? Having trouble with someone weak like this?" asked a man as he stepped down from his seat and walked forward, drawing his hands into fingerless gloves and moving forwards for his captain's opponent. Immediately Michael withdrew his sword from Kraven's neck and moved it over to the new-comer. What was this feeling? It didn't feel anything like a human, it felt…like something more primal. "Don't worry…I'll save yer sorry ass once again." The man disappeared in a flash before reappearing right before Michael, throwing an insane punch right into his gut, throwing Michael back.

Michael understood what happened…the man wasn't human. He was something more primal, more wild…more animalistic. "Sorry, did I forget to explain myself? I ate of the legendary Devil Fruit…the Inu-Inu no mi; Coyote Model."

The True King Coyote

Throughout all 199 chapters of Saga there has never once been mention of how Mikoto got his Devil Fruit. The only thing we truly knew about his Devil Fruit is that he had it when he was a kid, so here we are. Finally we get the answer to a question that has persisted for over 199 chapters. Where did Mikoto's Devil Fruit come from?

I'm also going to probably aim to update again this Wednesday as I failed to update twice last week.