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Grand Line — Western Fall Sea
This once obscure stretch of sea was now packed with ships. Warships stood in tight formation, fully armed and orderly, almost encircling the entire sea. Different flags fluttered atop their masts, dozens of them, representing a massive joint fleet formed by numerous kingdoms and factions.
They had sealed off the entire sea.
The reason… needed no explanation.
—
“How is it? Have you landed on the island yet?” On one of the ships, a commanding officer spoke into a Den Den Mushi, his expression tense.
“Yeah.” From the other end came a voice that sounded naturally irritable.
“We’ve already landed. Just like the rumors said, if you don’t enter from the eastern gate and follow the rules, you’re not considered an ‘official visitor.’ Even Miss Fairy won’t show up.”
There was a hint of regret in his tone.
“What a pity… I heard she’s a real beauty.”
“A beauty? That kind of thing, you can have as many as you want once you finish the mission and come back!” The officer snapped angrily: “Focus on your mission, Kelly Vanku! Do you even know how many warships are gathered in this sea right now?”
“Soon, all of them will set sail toward Dreamland Island; that’s your final deadline.”
“Our Mogaro Kingdom is in the New World. If we want a large share of the Fountain of Youth, we have to rely on you!”
—
Just as he said… Every kingdom wanted a larger share of Dreamland Island’s resources. Especially the legendary Fountain of Youth, which almost all nations were determined to obtain.
But everyone also understood that the amount of the Fountain of Youth was limited. The island itself was only so large. Once the fleets advanced, chaos would follow, possibly even large-scale naval warfare.
At that point, even the strongest nations couldn’t guarantee how much they could seize.
This was especially true for kingdoms like Mogaro, whose territory lay in the New World, making large-scale troop deployment difficult.
Thus, nearly every nation’s fleet was preparing to set sail, while waiting for updates from the powerful individuals they had hired to land on Dreamland Island in advance.
“His Majesty has already paid you brothers generously, so you…” The officer tried to continue, but…
“Click.”
The Den Den Mushi went dead.
—
On Dreamland Island
“So damn noisy.” The man wearing red boxing gloves dug at his ear after hanging up. “They paid us peanuts, yet they dare to boss us around. If we actually get something like the Fountain of Youth, handing it over would make us idiots… right, Bobby?”
“Yeah, Big Brother.” Behind him stood a towering man, massive like a monster, wearing sunglasses.
He was Bobby Vanku, alongside his older brother Kelly Vanku, together known as the Vanku Brothers, professional assassins from the Mogaro Kingdom.
But just then…
“Hah? What kind of nonsense is that supposed to mean?” A woman’s voice suddenly cut in. She wore a maid outfit, a cigarette in her mouth, and was armed with all kinds of weapons strapped across her body.
Even with an eyepatch, her beauty was evident.
“I was sent by young master’s orders to seize the Fountain of Youth. If I get it, of course I’ll hand it over to him and earn his praise.” She glanced at the Vanku Brothers coldly. “As for you two… you don’t sound very trustworthy. Maybe I should just eliminate you right here.”
She was a maid of the Dressrosa royal family, a hitwoman of the Donquixote Family… Baby 5.
—
“Hah!?” Kelly Vanku’s temper flared instantly.
“Who the hell are you calling…”
His fists clenched, on the verge of striking.
“B-Big Brother… calm down.” Bobby, timid by nature, quickly intervened. “If we start fighting now, others will just take advantage.”
Then he turned toward Baby 5.
“M-Ma’am… the same goes for you.”
“Well said.”
At that moment, another voice joined in. It came from the man standing beside Baby 5, a figure wearing glasses and a mask, with upright white hair.
He was also a member of the Donquixote Family, his name was Gladius.
“Baby 5, we made a contract with them… so we follow it. You know, I hate people who don’t stick to the plan.” He looked at Baby 5 and spoke in a low voice.
“…Hmph.” Only then did Baby 5 snort and put away the pistol she had already drawn.
Meanwhile, the onlookers nearby let out disappointed sighs.
Yes… Aside from the four who had just spoken, there were actually quite a few others nearby. They moved across the island, but each kept a certain distance from the others, making it clear that they were not allies.
And that was indeed the case.
They were all powerful individuals sent by various kingdoms… pirates, mercenaries, bounty hunters, tasked with getting a head start in seizing the Fountain of Youth. But at the same time, they had all heard that this Dreamland Island was extremely dangerous to uninvited guests.
So after landing, they had established a contract:
[First cooperate to explore the island. Only after locating the Fountain of Youth will we begin fighting each other.]
For any of them, this was obviously the most beneficial arrangement.
Naturally, if the Donquixote officers or the Vanku Brothers broke the agreement and started fighting early… No one would mind eliminating a couple of competitors in advance.
And just then…
“Look over there, we’ve already reached the Fairy Tale Forest. We’re very close to the Fountain of Youth now… whatever issues you have, settle them later.”
From the crowd, a masked man spoke. He was a bounty hunter, the “Explosives Expert,” Jet.
As his words fell, everyone turned to look in the direction he indicated.
Ahead of them stood the entrance to a forest.
Gigantic trees shimmered with rainbow-like colors. The air carried a sweet, intoxicating fragrance. Semi-transparent branches drifted like velvet in the breeze. Sunlight filtered through the vibrant canopy, casting shifting patterns across glowing moss. It was so beautiful that it was almost unreal.
“Even though I’d heard about it before… this is still incredible.”
Someone couldn’t help but murmur in awe.
They all knew this forest. The great forest at the center of Dreamland Island… The Fairy Tale Forest.
It was said that the island’s “God,” Miss Fairy, and countless dreamlike creatures lived here.
And deep within it… Lay the legendary Fountain of Youth.
“Danger? Gravity? Sounds like nonsense. All I’ve seen along the way are a few small beasts and some terrain that changes shape now and then. Doesn’t seem dangerous at all.” Kelly Vanku scoffed and stepped into the forest first.
“Bobby, follow me!”
“Yes, Big Brother.”
As the Vanku Brothers entered, the others quickly followed.
But the moment they stepped inside…
“…Hm?”
Those with sharper senses immediately noticed something… off.
“Rumble!”
A thunderous sound came from behind them as the massive trees at the forest entrance were moving.
In an instant, the entrance vanished completely and immediately after…
“Rumble!”
The ground began to surge and shift. Their bodies lost balance, tilting uncontrollably…
Then…
“Slash!”
A sharp sound of something cutting through the air.
Followed by…
“Ugh…!”
“Ahhh!”
The sickening sound of something being severed, accompanied by screams. Everyone instinctively turned toward the source, and what they saw was the two mercenaries, who had been leaping between the trees just moments ago, were now dead.
The ones who killed them were the semi-transparent, silk-like branches drifting through the forest.
Layer upon layer, they coiled and moved, dimming the sunlight into a hazy gloom. The mercenaries’ necks had been torn apart, faint blue particles still scattering from their bodies.
And that was only the beginning because in the very next moment…
“Ah, Doral, help me! The vines…!”
“The moss is burning… AAAH!”
“Gah… what just cut off my leg?!”
“It’s the plants, the flowers!”
Screams and cries erupted without end.
Yes, in that instant, everything in the forest began to change. Flames of every color ignited across the glowing moss, setting ablaze everything they touched. Thick vines writhed like giant serpents, twisting and coiling. Swaying flowers sharpened their petals into blades, and the grass beneath their feet turned into piercing spikes. Even the flowing streams began to morph into claw-like shapes, dragging people down into the water.
Death arrived right on schedule.
In almost an instant, the mercenaries suffered devastating losses as more than half were killed before they could even react.
But…
“Bobby, combine!” Kelly Vanku roared, and Bobby immediately grabbed him.
Then, astonishingly, he “wore” his older brother like clothing, merging the two into one body.
“Vanku Killer Fist!”
Muscles bulged as a massive fist, carrying terrifying compressed air, slammed down toward the ground and the flames engulfing them…
BOOM!
The plants were blasted apart instantly, and the flames were scattered by the force of the удар.
“Transformation… Sword Maiden!”
“Expansion Explosion!”
At the same time, Baby 5 and Gladius unleashed their abilities. Baby 5 transformed into a massive blade, slicing through three enormous vines in front of her. Gladius caused a towering tree before him to swell and explode violently.
As expected, the mercenaries gathered here, hired by various kingdoms, were all formidable in their own right. So after the initial shock, whether Devil Fruit users or martial artists, they quickly adapted and pushed back the raging forest.
“Idiots! I’m a Jacket Fruit user, and my younger brother, even if he’s timid, has the body of a natural monster!” Kelly Vanku laughed arrogantly. “When we combine, we become the perfect warrior! You think some plants can take us down? That’s imposs… huh?”
His words abruptly stopped.
Because at that moment… He saw it.
From within the forest, now nearly pitch-black under the canopy, accompanied by flickering blue motes of light, figures began emerging one after another.
Their appearances were completely beyond reality. From the moss and flames, spirit-like fire entities with limbs rose. In the air, near-transparent winged harpies slowly manifested. From beneath the grass and petals, short, stocky goblin-like creatures crawled out. From the depths of the dark forest, skeletal warhorses wreathed in crimson flames stepped forward.
Within rising mist, winged feathered serpents soared.
And then…
A monstrous chimera, with a serpent’s head, scorpion tail, and lion’s body, tore through the ground with its fangs.
“What… is with these numbers, and this presence…?” Even Baby 5’s voice trembled now.
“I heard the creatures here were supposed to be beautiful beings you only see in dreams…”
‘What kind of dream was this?’
‘A nightmare?’
And just then…
Buzz!
The trees and plants that had just been shattered begun to change again. Countless glowing fragments, shimmering with the same dreamlike light, gathered together under the pull of those floating blue particles.
Within moments… They were reborn.
The trees swayed once more, blocking out the sunlight. The dreamlike creatures continued to emerge from the forest.
The forest remained alive and vibrant.
The scene was still fantastical… The kind of sight everyone present should have loved.
Should have desired.
But now, all they felt was a chill creeping into their hearts. Unconsciously, they recalled a nursery rhyme that had been spreading across the seas:
“The greedy draw their blades,
Vines and rainbow springs become their noose,
And their bones sink into the ocean…”
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395