Coast outside the Wretched Wood
Richart and the rest of the Marines stared at Lowery's dead body with absolute shock, nobody knew what to say.
Richart shook to himself.
"...What... just happened?" Richart asked, looking up at the Marine who's gun went off.
The rest of the Marines looked at the man too. The Marine began to panic and beg.
"I JUST SNEEZED! I SWEAR TO GOD! MY HAND WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE TRIGGER I PROMISE!" The Marine yelled, on his knees begging for forgiveness.
Richart couldn't do anything but stare.
"What... the hell just happened?!" Richart stressed to himself, looking up at the panicking Marine.
"Accidents happen... but this was too accidental!... Does that even make sense?!" Richart spoke to himself, completely confused.
The Marines began to surround their colleague.
"What the hell is wrong with you!?"
"Why did you do that?!"
"You will answer to the elders for this!"
"You-You killed Captain Lowery... Oh my god!"
"NO! NO, I'M SORRY! I DIDN'T TRY TO DO THAT- ER I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I-I!" The Marine was in a complete panic.
Richart knew he had to calm things down before things got worse.
"M-Men please calm yourselves, he didn't mean any harm! I'm sure there's an explanation for this!... There has to be. That was just way too random!" Richart said.
The Marines looked at Richart, then back at Lowery. Richart went over to pick up the dead Captain. Carrying him bridal style, Richart began walking back to the warship.
"Wh-Where are you going Mr. Tower, sir?" A Marine asked.
Richart looked back.
"Mr. Lowery deserves to be buried at home... not this place... don't you think?" Richart said.
The Marines silently agreed and followed Richart up the ramp of the warship. A figure watched in a tree from the distance.
"This is crazy... I don't think we're cut out for this..." A Marine whispered to a friend.
"You're telling me... and we still have to go get the elder too right?" The Marine asked as a wave crashed against the ramp, splashing water on everyone, except one, the Marine who referenced going to get Ubois.
For him, the droplets of water went right through his skin like bullets, any larger splashes of water knocked any limbs they hit right off. It was another bloody scene...
The Marine's blood ran down the ramp of the warship. The Marine's fingers, arm, and leg were all knocked off his body, dozens of droplet sized holes all over his body.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The Marines yelled in unison.
Richart looked back with fear.
"No! Again!?The waves killed him?! What..." Richart thoughts were interrupted by a panicking Marine.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!" The Marine yelled.
Others mourned the loss of their captain and ally, while Richart stared confused, not knowing what to do or say.
The figure in the trees, a female hawk-human hybrid, clad in native gear with a feather head dress and mace, saw the entire thing.
From their arrival to the Marines' death. The hawk flew out of the tree and into the Wretched Woods.
The hawk flew through the Wretched Woods with grace, speed, and precision. Dodging old branches and trees like nothing.
The hawk made a very soft "kee arr" sound, barely opening its beak, as it searched for its destination.
THE HOG CABIN (Deep in the Wretched Woods)
Finally, the hawk reached her destination, a large log cabin bar in the middle of the Wretched Woods. The Hawk landed just outside the bar and walked in to see skinwalkers of many different varieties.
Some were fighting, some were talking, others off on their own just drinking, some were also passed out.
As the hawk walked through the bar she gained the attention of the other skinwalkers.
A hare skinwalker with red eyes, looked like he held an angry expression, due to his lack of eyebrows, watched the hawk as she walked past, sipping his drink.
"Yeahhhhh! Lady Cleopheonix is back!" A hyena skin walker said.
The hawk skinwalker, now known as Cleopheonix , looked at the hyena as she walked through the tavern. Cleopheonix walked up to the bar at the end of the room.
A rooster skinwalker snorted as he cleaned a glass behind the bar.
"Lady Cleopheonix... the boss been wantin' ta see ya." The rooster said, handing Cleopheonix a drink.
The hawk looked at the bartender.
"Good. I need to see him too. I've got very valuable information." Cleopheonix said, finishing the drink in one gulp and making her way into the back of the bar.
At the back of the bar, a large pig with a healthy pink color, only wore a cloth over his crotch and butt as he was fed grapes by his two panthera skinwalker helpers.
GOB SMACK GOB GOB
The pig feasted on the grapes and snorted as he salivated all over himself and the floor.
"I WANT MEAT! WANT MEAT!" The pig yelled, wiping his mouth with a piece of paper and burping loudly. The paper read...
WANTED DEAD! NOLROG "The Immortal." For destruction of property, murder, extortion.
An annoyed looking black horse in a knight's jousting attire, his arms crossed, looked at Nolrog.
"You ate all the meat..." The horse said annoyingly. A piece of paper fell by his hooves, he kicked it away. This paper read...
WANTED! Dead or Alive. MARCUS "The Triumphant." For murder, conspiracy, treason.
"Den we needs more!" Nolrog yelled and squealed, Marcus rolled his eyes and looked at Cleopheonix, who just walked in.
"Cleopheonix." Marcus said.
Cleopheonix waved softly and sat before Nolrog.
"Lady Cleo! Why'd ya keep me waitin' all dis time!?" Nolrog yelled, "We's was posed to ambush the Order in the Woods when dey came marchin'!"
Cleo crossed her legs and arms.
"Things took many unexpected turns, Nolrog. The Elder didn't get off the boat with them." Cleo said.
"Why not?! Ain't he sposed to be meetin' with Joy Boy?" Nolrog spit.
"From what I heard, The Tower was going to organize a team to go get the Elder while the other soldiers went and met with Joy Boy." Cleo said.
"Go get him? The elder is already on this island?" Marcus said, "That means..."
"That damn Demonspawn!" Dey done kilt da damn elder! He's at Ae'zeon's now I reckon?" Nolrog asked.
"Most likely." Cleo said.
"Well now what?" Marcus asked.
"Let's go get-" Nolrog started until a spear shot past his face. Cleo threw it.
"Don't make any comments about going to get the elder. When the captain of the group called "The Marines" made that comment, a series of events killed him. Another soldier said something and his body was torn apart by waves immediately after." Cleo said.
Nolrog breathed in and out heavily while he sweat and rubbed his neck.
"Dat was a close one! Thank ya Cleo, but an immortal being like me aint got nothin' to be worried bout! So what are we going to do about him being here?" Nolrog asked, "We need dat old goat so we can draw in dem Navy boys."
"We can't do anything right now, it's too dangerous. They'll be back. They have to come back to see Joy Boy and to get the elder." Cleo said.
Nolrog smiled wickedly.
"...Dey'll be back alright... and when dey do we'll be right dere waitin' for em!" Nolrog squealed with laughter, holding up a glass, Cleo and Marcus toasted with their boss and the skinwalkers drank.
"I cain't wait ta see da look onis face when we barge in that kingdom with an entire military of skinwalkers! Jambavan! You Damn traitor!" Nolrog yelled.
Floratheo Isle (Present Day)
Tore and Robin continued to relax in the beautiful Floratheo Isle.
"Muranaka performed a stem cell surgery on me that allowed him to cure me of my disease, but I had to stay on bed rest for another full year then I'd be free to leave again. After the surgery, Muranaka took me back to the church." Tore said.
"That must have sucked considering your love for adventure." Robin said.
Tore smiled.
"You bet! But it was either another year of recovery or another year of misery so it wasn't a hard choice! Ha ha ha." Tore laughed.
Robin laughed too. It felt good to be able to laugh sometimes during this stressful story. It seemed like things never got better, there was always another problem after another.
"What was Cyclone or Muranaka doing while you recovered? He had you where he wanted you... you thought he was your brother, he could have convinced you to leave with him or something I feel like." Robin concerned.
"That's just it, he did actually want to us to leave after I was recovered. He said, 'For your year of recovery I'll be leaving to take care of some very important business, so don't do anything stupid.' Tore said, mimicking Cyclone, Robin laughed.
"But... the next morning after Papa Ubois and the others left... the ship came back." Tore said.
Robin was surprised.
"Why?.." Robin asked.
Tore shook his head.
"Ms. Lily told me two people had already died..." Tore said.
Robin's eyes shot open.
"Oh my god... before they even got on the island?" Robin asked.
Tore nodded.
"And even worse... Papa Ubois was missing..." Tore said sadly.
Robin clutched her chest.
"They had no idea where he went?" Robin asked.
"Ms. Lily said the knight leading the expedition knew where he was, and once he got back to The Mainland he would make everything right. She said the knight also made it clear that nobody ever make any references, nuances, anything, towards finding Papa Ubois." Tore said.
"Wh-Why..." Robin asked, almost wishing she didn't.
Tore looked Robin in the eyes.
"You'll die..." Tore said.
Robin couldn't believe this. What on earth kind of power is that?
Everyone at this point, but Robin and Zoro, knew about what happens if you pursue Dubois, a curse that has plagued him for 900 years.
"Papa Ubois was attacked by a creature on the way to The Mainland.. the knight said his body disappeared and reappeared at some castle on The Mainland. I didn't understand how that would work..." Tore paused, "I would've never guessed.. this power.. inside me.. could be responsible for something like that!"
Dubois Castle (Present Day)
"I don't know how long I was out. Especially waking up in some flame filled castle, I could have been out for years for all I knew. I supposedly died but I found that to be preposterous, the demon that greeted me assured me that the only reason I was in that castle was because I did." Dubois said.
Everyone continued listening, especially Naruto and Luffy, soaking up every bit of information they could.
"The demon's name was Ae'zeon. He was a king apparently, he seemed strong. He asked me what brought me into their waters leading to my demise, I told him I was coming to The Mainland to meet with King Joy Boy but he said he couldn't allow that to happen... they had their own plans to conquer Joy Boy's island using this energy he called "life force" it sounded awfully similar to the things Tore could do." Dubois said.
"'But great, now that's two different factions that want to rule this island, and I don't even think the Elders even know about the life force yet, when they find out about that, then what?' That's what I said to myself." Dubois said.
"What were you going to do Mr. Dubois?" Sakura asked.
"The only thing I felt I could do... I wasn't going to sit there and let a demon king tell me he planned on conquering an island, killing hundreds of thousands in the process, right in my face... So I tried to fight him." Dubois said.
Everyone became tense.
"This arm's been gone for 900 years because of that decision... but it gave me enough time to get out of there and escape. I jumped straight off the mountain into the water below... If I was really immortal... I was about to find out. I crashed in the water and broke several bones, but I was alive... I don't know how long I drifted until they found me." Dubois said.
"Wh-Who..." Naruto asked.
Everyone became nervous, who could have possibly stumbled upon Dubois body? A faction of The Mainland? The Marines? More Demonspawn?
"...The monsters behind all this madness... The Undead." Dubois said.