Year 1511
The sky over Mad Hat darkened faster than usual. The heavy, dark clouds hung low, like thick curtains blocking the face of the city. The salty wind from the raging sea struck their faces, carrying the scent of death, slowly enveloping everything in its path. This city, which had been the training ground for two young boys and the hidden headquarters of a legendary weaponsmith for four years, now felt like a nest of venomous snakes, full of traps at every corner. And tonight, the pieces had begun to move.
For four years, the Marines had observed, infiltrated, and spied. Their agents were scattered throughout every corner of Mad Hat, blending in with prostitutes, bar patrons, and even slave traders in the black market. They were not here to save anyone—they were here to judge. After years of watching, they reached a cold, ruthless conclusion: "There is nothing left to save in Mad Hat, except for the slaves." This was not just a decision; it was a calculated execution, long in preparation. And now, it had arrived. The woman.
On a warship, silent within the thick fog, a figure stood tall, a silhouette of a woman armed with a slender sword, like a death statue spreading an aura of fear. Silent, calm, and carrying an unspoken threat that froze the blood. No one knew her name. Even the officers serving under her referred to her only in vague terms: "The Lady." But behind her calm face, there was a chilling decision, one that had been carefully thought through: Mad Hat must be reduced to ash.
Meanwhile, Rick Blacknose watched the approaching storm with the eyes of an old chess player. He had never considered Lazhar an ally. He had never thought they were on the same side. To Rick, Lazhar was too great a threat to face openly—but too valuable to simply discard without results. Now, the game had reached its turning point. Promising wealth and reputation, Rick invited two ruthless, bloodthirsty pirate captains: Butcher Fang and Serpent Smile. Two pirates, savage and greedy enough to believe Mad Hat was an untouched treasure they could plunder without any resistance. Rick didn't need victory. What he wanted was to destroy Lazhar and the two boys—and let the Marines finish the rest. Tonight, the game had begun.
That afternoon, Bastien stood on the roof, watching the two pirate flags flying from the east and west harbors. Beside him, Arthur squinted, gripping his sword tightly. "We're surrounded," Bastien muttered, his voice tense but still confident. "Rick sold the city to the pirates." Arthur scoffed, his mouth twisting into a smirk of disbelief. "Is he really that stupid, or just too clever for his own good?" "He's never been on our side," Bastien said quietly, his voice barely a whisper. "He's just been waiting for the right moment." Behind them, Lazhar stood straight, wearing his old black cloak, now looking heavier than ever. His body may have aged, but his eyes were still sharp as a tested blade. He knew what was happening. "They're here to measure us," he said flatly, as though he had already read the script. "And Marines and that woman will come to sweep the rest away." No one asked more about who "that woman" was. But they all knew—once the Marines moved, it was not about justice. It was about inevitable punishment.
Night fell. And with it, hell descended. From the west, Butcher Fang's forces came with the power to tear the earth apart, crashing through the streets like a storm. The large body of the captain transformed into a half-crocodile form, Zoan fruit power making him nearly impervious to harm. He roared in fury, destroying homes and knocking down walls with his saw-like jaw. To the east, Serpent Smile Pirates moved silently, like poison creeping through the city's veins. They didn't strike directly. They cut off escape routes, burned retreat paths, kidnapped children, and killed without a sound. Some of them moved toward the south harbor, reaching an old shop—but they didn't know one thing: that old shop was no ordinary house. It was a dragon's den, prepared for battle.
When three members of Serpent Smile snuck in through the back door, Arthur descended from the ceiling like a lightning bolt slashing through the night's darkness. His sword ripped through the shoulder of the first man who tried to ambush him. He growled, kicking the second man, sending him crashing into a steel cabinet with unstoppable force. His body, stronger than the average teenager's, a result of four years of brutal training, proved just how dangerous he was.
In the dark hallway he knew all too well, Bastien moved soundlessly, faster than a shadow. His homemade rifle fired, the silver bullet piercing the chest of an enemy attempting to close in with lethal intent. He didn't kill out of rage. He killed because it was the only way to survive in this violent world. On the highest roof, Lazhar stood waiting in the profound silence. His hand gripped a long rifle, his eyes closed. He felt the world below him, sensing the vibrations of death swiftly racing through the night air. He fired without looking. One bullet, one life, torn away.
At the harbor, Rick sat in his dark office, sipping red wine calmly. He could hear the screams, explosions, and the roar of slaughter echoing through the city. But he didn't move. He only smiled. "Good," he muttered under his breath. "Kill them all. Finish Lazhar… and let the Marines do the rest." Outside the window, the city burned slowly. Fires spread from house to house, like a giant serpent devouring everything in its path.
In the distance, the Marine warship still stood unmoving, shrouded in thick fog that seemed like it would never end. The night wind swept across its deck. Onboard, Momosagi Gion stood tall, her long hair fluttering slowly, symbolizing the inevitable threat. In her hand, a slender sword, enveloped in black haki, gleamed coldly. She read the reports sent from Mad Hat Island. "Let them destroy each other tonight," she said softly, her voice calm, but hiding a terrifying stillness. "Afterward… we'll clean it all up."
But what Bastien and Arthur did not know was the far more terrifying reality: that the woman they didn't even know the name of—was still far, much farther than they could have imagined. On the ship, the Marines still waited for orders. Their journey to Mad Hat would take longer than they thought. Rick Blacknose was the only one who knew that help was still far away. But for Bastien and the others, Momosagi Gion was simply an ominous mystery, one that grew closer with every passing second.