Chapter 2 - His Starting Point

"I told you," the woman calmly says, jaws clenched, "what happened to them will reflect on you as well," she finished in a harsh tone as her boots dug deeper into the man's head. The pirate grunted, clenching his teeth in hopes that will help him tolerate the pain, but the sudden intense air pressure coming from the woman had made the pain much worse. The man cried out, a blood splatter coming out of his mouth. He questioned how a celestial dragon could have such power.

"I swear they were with us until a sea king attacked! We murdered the monster but those two had already disappeared!" The man shouted with whatever voice he has left. "Spare my men, they didn't do anything wrong!" Surrounding the two were multiple men laying on the ground, they seemed to have stuck to the ship's deck unable to get up as if something heavy was pushing them down.

"C-captain…!"

"You guys…"

The woman was silent for a few seconds before lifting her foot up from the captain's head and the pressure that was in the air had disappeared leaving him and his crew to breathe easier. "That's right, I guess it was the sea king's fault," she trailed off for a moment and turned around. Time slowed down as she lifted her right arm to the side, hands open wide before clenching it down, "compression crush."

At the call, the captain who had just stood up felt a sudden pressure squeezing his entire body. The confusion in his mind had turned into a wailing scream, which was followed by the screams of his men. Something was squeezing around his body like a giant snake wrapped around him, tightening its hold on him, wringing out the air and blood out of him. He could hear his bones snapping before he had lost himself.

"In the end, you still failed."

The pirates slowly dropped down to the ground one by one, their choir of screams had turned to silent before Lysandra opens up her hand again. She sighed before viewing the mess that she had created. If somebody had witnessed what transpired here and didn't know that she was part of the marines, wouldn't they be scared? To bring justice was their mission, but how? Her mind is now occupied solely with her lost younger brother and his wolf. It had been a few days since they departed, she hoped they were safe, at least far from danger.

Lysandra took out a piece of paper from her chest pocket, a vivre card of Lyno, it was still good as new. She had asked Lyno to clip his nails so that she can create a vivre card of his, she had then explained the usage to him as it will aid her in protecting him. She chuckled, and in a short time, things quickly went against her plan.

A whistle was heard and she looked up, "that was quite the show out there," a man voiced out in admiration. "Thought you might need help but I guess you really aren't like those other stuck-in-the-mud celestial dragons." The man dropped down to the deck of the ship, he took one glance at the surrounding, noticing the bodies of the pirates. They were wrinkled like a piece of cloth, the scenery was disturbing to the eyes. "So I guess they didn't make it here -yoi."

"Marco."

Said man looked at her, face turning serious, "Pops is going to worry." The woman only grimaced, even as the vivre card is intact in her hand, the feeling of dread didn't stop growing. Glancing at the mythical zoan user, she masked her underlying nervousness. On the other hand, the man clicked his tongue, probably wondering how he would explain to his captain.

"Is Ace here?" Her question concealed her true thoughts, hoping the answer wouldn't align with her own suspicions.

To say that Lyno was panicking was an understatement. After his sister had left him and Yhorm, he couldn't stop his tears from running. Of course, his sister had trusted him to be strong so he willed himself to control the drops of liquid that were coming from his eyes. If he didn't have Yhorm with him, he would have been totally lost. It has been a while since they have left the Holy Land and he didn't know where he was.

The pirates had distanced himself away from him, watching him with caution as if Lyno could do anything. He thought that maybe it was because of the fact that he was a celestial dragon. While he never ventured outside of his homeland, he doesn't have an inkling of what it's like outside. Now he can see that being a celestial dragon is truly the worst thing out here – opposite to what his mom usually thinks. Everybody seems to dislike him no matter what.

"Captain, shouldn't we take advantage of this situation?" A member of the crew whispered to his captain who was leaning against the wall. "After all, he is a celestial dragon, no? We can take him as a hostage, make huge money out of it, and-" He rambled in excitement before getting cut off by his captain who clicked his tongue.

"Are you dumb? The moment we do that, that woman is going to murder us. We won't even get the chance to celebrate," the captain grunts in annoyance. If he hadn't known who that woman was, maybe he wouldn't care. But that red-haired lady spoke enough about herself when she showed up to make a deal with him. The techniques that she used during the brief interaction between her, the boy, and proved one thing.

"She is a cipher pol agent."

"Huh?"

"To think a celestial dragon would be working as a cipher pol agent. She will immediately find us easily," the guy huffed. "In fact, I wouldn't be so surprised if she had put a tracker somewhere on this ship." While the woman had mentioned that they were a last-minute decision, somebody like her would definitely make sure whatever deal she makes will be kept upheld no matter what. He glanced back at the white-haired boy who was still hugging the wolf, the boy must have great importance to be related to such a high-ranked woman. As he contemplates the possibilities, his crewman beside him was plastered with a terrified look.

"A-a cipher pol agent? W-we're gonna die for sure!" He stammered in panic, eyes wide shot. At the shout, Lyno looked at the guy which made the pirate step back in fear. "By the way, captain, where do we even bring these two then? Surely it isn't far?" The pirate asked in hopes that this deal wouldn't be too hard. "We can just get this over with quickly, right?"

The captain only stayed silent at the question because he knew the answer to that question would send more terror to his crewman. Because who would ever think this boy would need to be escorted to one of the four emperors of this entire sea? And requested from a celestial dragon working as a cipher pol agent. The thought sent a shiver down his spine, something big is lurking behind the scenes, and he doesn't even know if it was worth risking his life for.

"I don't want to be here…" Lyno whispered softly as Yhorm whined. The pirates disliked him and every time he would try to start a conversation, they would snarl back at him before running off. "Yhorm, what do you think we should do?" He looks down at his companion who only stared back at him. They stared for a while before Lyno chuckles, "are you hungry?" The wolf barked in agreement.

While the pirates gave them food, it wasn't full enough to fill their bellies. Having asked for more, the chef snorted at them and said there wouldn't be enough for the rest of the crew, which made Lyno regret asking. Thankfully, he still has a few snacks in his bag, he opens up his satchel and pulls out a chocolate bar for himself and a pack of wild blueberries for Yhorm. Both of them sat in the corner of the deck, away from the others. "Hey, who told a brat like you to get some extra food and not share it? Whose ship do you think you are in right now?"

Lyno looked up to see a pirate looking down at him with a disgusted expression. "Ah sorry, I don't have a lot but would you like some?" The boy pulls out another chocolate bar and extends it over to the pirate whose eyes turned wide before clicking his tongue. "I was still a little hungry and had brought some from home for this… unexpected adventure." He ends solemnly, his mom is probably panicking right now. Even so, he wonders whether his sudden journey is related to the conversation that his mother had with Lysandra last time.

"Tch, nevermind, any food from a little guy like you wouldn't be enough for-"

Before the man could even finish his rejection, a sudden violent quake shook the ship causing the pirate to stumble and grabbed onto the ledge of the ship. Lyno's eyes widen at the sudden shake, he immediately hugs Yhorm who suddenly started barking continuously beyond the ship. The pirates quickly regained their positions before the captain's voice could be heard throughout the whole ship as he shouts from the ship's helm.

"A sea king is here! Get ready to fight!" In response, some of the crewmen pulls out their long-ranged weapons while others prepared the cannons. Lyno, still in a stupor, hugging his companion tightly, watches in amazement at the quick response of the pirates. A violent roar was heard that sent tremors throughout the whole ship. Lyno and Yhorm winced at the loud noise, he should have brought some earplugs for him and the wolf, what a rookie adventure mistake! The other pirates seemed to be used to this whole situation already. Realizing the new members to their ship, the captain turned around in alarm, "men! Make sure the brat and that animal are safe! Whatever you do, protecting them is your highest priority!"

Screams of both terror and determination could be heard, Lyno's heart jumped in thrill as he looked at the monster that came out from the ocean. The Sea King was huge, it opened its mouth, baring its sharp teeth, before glaring at the ship. Its eyes landed on Lyno and they both stared for a few seconds, the boy felt something surge from within him before a loud explosion noise broke the moment.

"We got them!" A pirate shouted victoriously shouted as he and his crewmate cheered. "We can do this, c'mon bring more of those gunpowder!" He called, not noticing that the Sea King had turned their way over to where he was. Before the man could register, a roar was heard and he turned around. The Sea King's mouth was wide open before lunging forward.

"Eh?"

Its colossal jaws snapped shut around the ship's mast. Wood splintered and cracked, the mast shattered into pieces, and the sails billowed into tatters. The ship was now at the mercy of the relentless Sea King. Lyno's eyes opened in wide shock as he stares at the broken mast that was made by the sea monster. To think such violent creatures exist outside of the Holy Land. Before he could process what just transpired, the Sea King was preparing for another attack– this time toward him. He closed his eyes shut and hugged Yhorm tighter than ever. The captain who was trying to hold onto the helm of the ship turned around in fear and alarm.

"Shit!"

Lyno groaned, his body aching as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyelids fluttered open, revealing a pair of dazed eyes filled with confusion. Disoriented and bewildered, he tried to sit up, only to wince at the sharp pain that shot through his side. As his senses gradually returned, he surveyed his surroundings, taking in the sight of an unfamiliar island shrouded in mist. The air was thick with humidity, carrying the scent of saltwater and tropical foliage.

A headache shot through his head as he tries to remember what had happened. A sea king had attacked the ship that he and Yhorm was in and everything had turned black. At the mention of his companion's name, the boy's eyes widened and began to look around in hopes to find the wolf pup. A bark was heard and he turned around to see Yhorm running up to him from the forest holding his satchel in his mouth. The boy smiled in relief knowing that he wasn't separated from his best friend.

The wolf got close to Lyno and dropped the satchel before rubbing his head onto the boy's side which he winced. Yhorm immediately backed off at the reaction, his ears fell, and he whimpered apologetically. "It's okay, Yhorm. Maybe we can find a doctor that will help us." The boy grabbed his satchel and slings it over his shoulder. Pushing through the pain, the boy muster up his strength to stand up while holding onto his side which he could feel liquid coming out from his wound, staining the shirt he was wearing.

He needs to stop the bleeding so he ripped the hem of his shirt before tightening around his waist, covering up the wound. Lyno could feel the bleeding had stopped temporarily, he can't stay too long like this. He sighed, if he was still in the Holy Land, the marines would have rushed in, and aided him at the speed of light. Along with his mom's worried screams behind the scenes.

Lyno wishes that his sister was here to help him and be at his side but he didn't want to burden her. If being stranded on an island and dealing with this pain is a step toward becoming as strong as his sister, then he will do it. The dog barked as he looked down to see Yhorm offering his body if the boy ever needs something to hold onto. The golden-eyed boy grinned in response before patting the animal.

After an hour of desperate stumbling, he finally stumbled upon a town, it was a small one but somewhere, there should be a doctor that he could ask for help. He had brought a pouch full of berries that he could use to pay off whatever the treatment will cost. At the thought of that, a grumble echoed out coming from his stomach. Lyno hiccuped, he is hungry. Walking through the town, he noticed a building with a sign saying 'Restaurant,' to which he didn't hesitate to walk in. As the door opened, the people inside immediately turned to glance at him before looking away. He walked in before going up to the bar where a lady bend down to look at Lyno. "What's a little kid like you doing here?" At the question, Lyno responded with a confused look.

"This is a restaurant no?"

"Yes, it is."

"Is there anything else I should be doing here besides eating?"

The lady blinked before straightening herself up and chuckling, "that's not exactly what I was trying to ask, but you're not wrong. Alright, what do you want, kiddo?" The lady asked with a grin which made Lyno tilt his head in wonder.

"I'd like something savory and filling, anything that you would recommend" he stopped for a second before continuing, "and if you have any, my companion here is also hungry," Lyno finished as Yhorm barked beside him. "I don't care how much it is." The woman's grin only widened before she nodded at him.

"Nothing too expensive, here's the bill. Just put the money on top of it. Sit anywhere you'd like and I'll bring the food over to you," she stated as her hand waved to point at all the available empty seats. "Just be careful around here, you wouldn't want to run into some troublesome people," she warned before walking away, probably to the kitchen to tell the chef of his order. Lyno grabbed his money pouch from his satchel, looked at the bill, and put the berries exactly to the price of his food. He then turned around before walking towards an empty spot. He jumped onto the seat followed by Yhorm. Then they waited.

A few minutes later, the woman came back to serve him food. She smiled warmly before going back to her station at the bar. Lyno and Yhorm ate immediately, chowing down on the food as if there was no tomorrow. It had been so long since they had proper food, while it's not as luxurious or fancy in comparison to the Holy Land, it was still good. And honestly, Lyno got bored with the food there anyways. They were so preoccupied with the delicacy in front of them that they didn't notice the man who plopped down in front of them.

Lyno blinked before looking up to look at the stranger, who simply grabbed one of his many cherry pies. "What is your name, mister?" Lyno asked which the man stopped in his movements. They made eye contact and the man grinned.

"Didn't see you there brat! You're so small, anybody could have squished you!" The man claimed boisterously. This man was huge and something about him seems to give an uneasy feeling for Lyno. "If you ask me who I am, I'm a pirate," the man declared as he proceed to eat the cherry pie with his hand. If any other celestial dragon had been here, they would shout in anger at the insult and the fact that a pirate is sitting in front of them without permission. Lyno, however, had a different view of pirates after witnessing the pirates fight the Sea King, the adrenaline he felt watching the scene changed his perspective.

"Pirates are cool."

"Hmmmm?" The man's gaze locked onto the young boy, his eyes shining with a mischievous glint. His laughter erupted, a thunderous sound that shook the very foundations of the tavern. Food flew from his mouth, propelled by his uproarious mirth. Lyno's face was a tapestry of wonder, his eyes bright with a mix of awe and curiosity.

Leaning closer, the man's voice dripped with an intoxicating allure. "Zehahahaha! Do you want to be a pirate?" he whispered, his words laden with the weight of unbridled freedom. "just imagine a life devoid of rules, where the seas become your playground, and your dreams take flight. It's a chance to defy expectations and revel in the extraordinary!"

At the last statement, Lyno's eyes had widen. The man had now stared back at him with a confidence that the white-haired boy would never think a man could have. He re-imagines the experience back at the ship with the pirates fighting against the sea king, how everyone had teamed up to work together as a team. In his mind, he imagines being on a crew, fighting with the people he likes, and embarking on a thrilling journey would be. He marveled at the thought before Yhorm barked, snapping him back to reality. He hiccuped before he remembered the existence of the wanted posters in his bag. The man continues to eat as he watches the boy.

His sister had given a set of wanted posters to him that she had marked each and every one of them. Lyno watches as the other big man chomps down on the cherry pie. The boy was holding a certain wanted poster up as he does a comparison between the drawing on the paper and the man in front of him. The white-haired boy squinted his golden eyes, "According to this wanted poster and my sister's mark here, you're a bad guy so I should avoid you."

"Zehahahahaha! Well, I would listen to your sister if I were yer!"

Yhorm whined as the man continued chomping down on his food. A thought came to Lyno's mind as he continues to observe the man, he thinks whatever his big sister had planned, things definitely didn't go the way she wanted.

"Wait, I don't have a bounty yet. What are ya talking about, brat?" The man asked back incredulously causing the boy to blink at him before looking down at the drawing again. The boy turned the paper around to show the man and said man snorted. "You got the wrong person! Zehahaha!" At the response, Lyno got flustered before looking back at the wanted poster.

"Sorry, you're right, this guy does look a bit different," Lyno stated, "well what's your name then, mister?" The boy asked curiously.

With a sinister chuckle, "Marshall D. Teach," his name hanging in the air like an omen, observed the boy with a mixture of intrigue and amusement. The youngster held a collection of wanted posters, each one marked in a peculiar manner, while a vigilant wolf companion studied Teach's every move. The enigmatic boy, with his white hair and golden eyes, remained unfazed by Teach's presence, leaving him curious and captivated by this unexpected encounter. Maybe he'll play along to see what more can the boy offer.

He noticed a blood stain on the boy's side and wondered how he had gotten it. Noticing his look, an idea came to Lyno's head. "My name is Lyno Morgan, nice to meet you. By the way, I was wondering if you know if there's any doctor in the town I could find?" Lyno asked while Yhorm whined beside him. Teach was silent as he continues to eat his fifth pie, he contemplated for a bit before an ominous grin makes its way to his smile.

"Well, I just arrived here but I do have a doctor in my crew I could take yer to."

"Oh really? I have a small wound. Just name the price-"

"Zehahahaha! Price? From a small squeak like you? No need!" Teach laughed again. The more Lyno talks with Teach, the more he might begin calling him the laughing man. Nevertheless, why is that laugh so funny? However, it is good to know that soft-hearted pirates exist out there. As he waited for Teach to finish his last pie, he bombarded the pirate with more questions about adventures and what it's like to be a pirate. In the beginning, Teach was reluctant, but seeing someone so excited about him boosted his ego. On the other hand, Yhorm yawned and had fallen asleep comfortably.

After a while, Teach burped out while slapping his stomach. "Those cherry pies were terrific, lady! Thanks for those!" Lyno got up from his seat along with Yhorm, the three walked out of the tavern. Teach watches the boy carefully, the pirate knew this boy was hiding something very valuable.

"Oi, captain, you ready yet?" A voice called out and Lyno turned to see a group of men walking closer. They all looked very unique from one another and he could feel Yhorm slowly hiding behind his back. There were four of them, one seems to be lying on top of a horse, the second was wearing a top hat with a cane in his hand, the third was very muscular, and the last had a funny-looking hat. "Who's this kid?"

"Zehahahaha, just a boy I've been having a nice chit-chat with. Oi, Doc, mind helping him out here?" Lyno had to crane his head up as a sickly old man riding on an also sickly horse. The old man looked close to death, which makes Lyno wonder if he truly is a doctor. Maybe he should seek medical attention himself! The old man coughed blood and looked at Lyno before showing a disturbing smile. Yhorm whimpered as the man gets closer to Lyno. Out of nowhere, The doctor pulls out a basket full of apples and leans forward. The white-haired boy only stares back unfazed by the situation, he squeezed his hand tightly, preparing himself. Behind him, Teach had an eerie grin as the pirate continues to watch the boy.

"As the captain said," he coughs out blood more, "have an app-"

"You better back off from that kid right now." Another voice piped in, cutting off the tension. Everyone's movement halted as the doctor, along with the others, moved back. Lyno exhaled, he sighed out of relief. Yhorm barked out as Lyno looked up toward the roof of a building. A man crouching on top of the roof, half naked while holding his hat. His expression was dark as he give a venomous glare at Teach. On the other hand, Teach had a surprised and excited look towards the man on the roof.

"Ooh, its commander Ace!"