Devil Game: Chapter 1 – L.O.S.T.

Prologue

For the world, I breathe

Touched by sunlight, tomorrow and tomorrow

Weight unsteady, ripple across the vast

Dream yet truth or not, resolve is to be

Story drawn, lost but shared

And then, there were none

What remains?

???:  Hello! Hello to you all! Welcome! Welcome to Devil’s Island! Shall we get started with the main event?! I know I am!

???:  Why does it has to be me?! I’m not strong enough to deal with all of this responsibility!

???:  I will be with you until the day we turn into bones.

???:  Your comment is not beneficial to our current state of affairs. I highly recommend that we cooperate to-

???:  Get away from me! You could be the murderer this time! You f***ing b*-

???:  What is thy order, my master?

???:  Quod erat demonstrandum.

???:  Shut it! I won’t listen to you anymore! Why can’t you just leave me alone?!

???:  I’m just a normal guy. I can’t imagine why an ordinary person like me would be here in the 1 st place.

???: 

???:  I bid you good luck because so far, we didn’t have any. Wahahaha!

???:  Kusosososo! It’s too late for us now! Once the fire starts, it would never stop burning!

???:  “I’m scared…Is it my fault that people got hurt again? I just want to go home!”

???: Hey…I wanted to say…Thank you for being here with me. I’m glad that I have met you.

Chapter 1: Meet the Lost Souls

Sounds of seagulls crying.

 

''These voices…they sound so familiar…why can’t remember who they are…going back to sleep…''

“Hey…”

“…Hey. Wake up. Can you hear me?”

That voice…who’s that?...

 

“Wakey, Wakey…Now’s not the time to sleep! Sigh…This isn’t working…Time is almost up…Do I really have to carry her? I prefer not to. I’m not that strong. And she doesn’t look that light to me. Why did I have to be the one who find her?”

''He sounds….like someone…I know…Have I…met him before?''

 

“Oh…what to do now? Perhaps I should throw some water on her but that wouldn’t be polite…”

“I can’t just leave her here…Well, it can’t be helped. All right, time for this gentleman to show off his hidden super-strength!”

''Where are you taking me? I have to go somewhere else. They’re…waiting…for…me. I have to…''

 

“Urrrgh…wow, you’re heavier than I thought. Hope I don’t collapse under your weight before I get there!”

“…”

“Halfway there. Wow, you’re still asleep, sleeping beauty. Perhaps, you need a prince to wake you with a kiss? Just kidding!”

The young woman riding on the man’s back twitches her eyelids as her consciousness slowly returns.

''Urggg…Ummmm…huh? What’s this? Was it just a dream? Ah…..so bright! Why is there so much sunlight? Who opened the curtains? I was sure that I didn’t leave the curtains open…Seagulls? What? Those birds again? It’s too early to be crying at this time….what’s this strange feeling? It’s so warm…and…I’m moving? Why am I’m moving? Wait…Wait a minute? This isn’t my bed!''

 

The young woman suddenly awakens in a frantic state of motion.

“Oh, you’re awake! I was worried that you weren’t going to wake up! I’m so glad that you’re alright!”

“Thank you for taking care of me...but…Can you let me down now? I can walk by myself.”

“Ah! Oh! Sorry!”

The young woman descended to the sandy grounds and takes a wide perspective of her surroundings. She looks around, reconfirming her suspicions. She was indeed at the shoreline of a beach. The strong, bright sunlight shining down on her long wavy brunette hair. The dazzling ocean sparkling like sapphires. The smell of the soft, salty air of the ocean. Palm trees towering over her with coconuts ready to fall down at any moment. Seashells, crabs, and seagulls spread across the golden coastline. The beach was a beautiful sight for her hazel eyes to behold but there was one problem with this scene in her mind.

“This place…This isn’t my home! What happened? Where am I? This isn’t the beach I’m familiar with!”

The young woman finally turns her gaze upon the young man before her, with much contempt. The young man who carried her, looked average to him but she can’t let down her guard as she was in an unfamiliar environment. She took an aggressive stance towards him, ready to fight for her life depending on his response to her questions.

“Who are you? Were you the one who took me here? Did you do anything to me? What are you after?”

The young man puts up his hands, shaking them to distance himself from her a little.

“Whoa. Whoa. It’s not what you think! I’m just confused as you are! I was here against my will too! Even if f I was to be your kidnapper, there’s no reason why I wouldn’t have tied you up already! Just please take it easy on me! We’re comrades in a sense, right?”

“…I see. You’re right. I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like that...”

She lowered her guard after being convinced that she wasn’t in any danger as of now.

“No worries. That sort of behavior is normal! I would have done the same thing…though I wouldn’t mind being carried by you.”

“…”

“Huh? What is it? You went silent all of a sudden. What’s wrong?”

Upon looking at the young man’s raised hands during the last confrontation, she noticed something particular of the item present on his left arm. An odd-looking bracelet with several protrusions and a bright red display of number on it. It reads, “01:49” She looked back on her own left arm. She’s wearing the same bracelet as well. She had no clue of how it was placed on her place without her own will. Confused, she started to realize how dire her current situation could be.

“This bracelet…what is this? Why are we wearing this?”

“I’m sorry. As I said before, I don’t know about what’s happening here as much as you do.”

The young woman not satisfied with his response, tries to take off the bracelet but despite her efforts, the bracelet won’t budge as if it was a part of her body.

“Why can’t I take this off? It won’ budge! Get it off of me!”

“Sorry but I already tried that and well…you know the result.”

“What the heck?! First, I’m stuck with a stranger in the middle of god, who knows where?! Now there’s some weird thingajing stuck on me! Is this a dream?!”

“Now now, no need to panic. You’re still on me carrying you? I know this…situation that we’re in, is not normal but so far, there’s nothing dangerous going on. You’re not alone! I’m here too! And there are others like us as well!”

“Pant…pant…you’re…right. I’m going overboard. Thanks for snapping me to my senses.”

“No problem. I’m glad to be of help to you. Hmmm, perhaps you need me to carry you back after all. You don’t look well to me.”

“No…thanks for the offer. I’m fine now…besides…I can’t see that happening. I mean…I know you carried me before but you look skinny for a man. Have you been eating properly?”

“Ah?! Don’t be so mean! I’m perfectly healthy! I’m actually within normal range of weight for a boy of my age…well…just borderline…”

“How old are you exactly?”

“I’m 17 years old actually. How about you? Are you the mature one or my junior?

“Wow, I’m only about 1 year older than you. I thought you would be a little younger from your appearance.”

“I…I’m not that short! I’m of average height, thank you very much! You’re not that much taller than me! Don’t be so proud of your 1 inch advantage over me!”

“Humph. Is that how you talk to your big sister, my little brother?!”

“What? Little brother?! Don’t get so familiar with me! We just met! I’m the one who gave you a piggy-back ride so I should be the one who have the most respect around here!”

“I see…I thank you again for your service…big brother!”

The young woman bends out her knees, holding out the edges of her long purple skirt while bowing gracefully to the gentleman. The gentleman’s eyes widen while his mouth dropped to the ground from shock.

“Whoa…a curtsey! And…you called me big brother…why did my heart just flutter just now?! Oh wow! I could have imagine in my wildest dreams that a normal guy like me would ever see this happen to him!”

The young man held back his fake tears as he places his forearm against his eyes. The young woman resumed back to her standing position.

“Don’t get used to it. That was a one-time deal only! Come on, let’s get going! You were taking me somewhere, weren’t you?”

“Huh? Oh…yes! That’s right! I was going to take you to where the others were!”

“Others? That’s right! You said there are others like us?”

“Yes, there are plenty more like us gathered at the campgrounds. We had decided to spread out to look for some clues on this island and to come back in about an hour to share our findings during lunch.”

“Is that so? Well then, let’s get going! Lunch, you say? Now that you mention it, I’m starving!...What are we havi…ing…”

Once the woman took a closer look of her surroundings, she noticed something in her vision that made her feel uneasy. A transponder snail. It’s not unusual for her to see them as they are the norm of technology to use in the current era. Ever since the discovery of the transponder snails and incorporating the mechanics of the radio and phone with the snail’s shell, an era of long-distance communication across the world was born. Now anyone can speak with people across the globe by phone or even live in full color video.

The reason that Amber felt so uncomfortable right now was not only because she was stranded on an unknown island against her will but there was also a bizarre high amount of surveillance transponder snails all over the island. The duo have been only walking for a few minutes ever since she just woke up but so far, she already spotted 10 transponder snails watching them as they pass by.

“We’re having stew for lunch…It’s made out of-…Hey, can you hear me? Are you all right?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m sorry! I was just out of it for a moment.”

“Again? Are you having another breakdown? We can rest if you want! No rush!”

“No, no. I’m fine! Thanks for caring for me…ummm…oh, that’s right... I haven’t learned your name yet!”

“Oh. That’s right. It’s so weird that we knew each other’s ages before our names. I’ll go first since I’m a gentleman! I’m Jimmy, just a normal villager from the East Blue. It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“Hello, Jimmy! My name is Amber. I’m from the South Blue! It’s nice to meet you too!”

Jimmy:  “All right, we’re almost there! Brace yourself! The people that you’re about to meet, are interesting in their own way.”

Amber:  “Ah? Interesting? In other words, you’re telling me that they’re weird?”

Jimmy:  “Your words, not mine. We’re here.”

After walking for about 15 minutes through the island’s shores, the duo finally arrived at a campsite after passing through some thick bushes. Several tents are already pitched up with people spread across the grassy area. A maid was stirring a pot full of stew boiling over a fierce campfire, with a branch. A man dressed in non-traditional blue samurai attire playing catch with a youthful blue-haired mermaid swimming in the air with a bubble device attached to her tail. A overly tall, fat clown balancing himself on a giant beach ball while juggling coconuts in front of a female human-shaped orange cat in a school sailor outfit watching with much excitement in her eyes. A scruffy, bearded man dressed in a white lab coat was laughing manically while beheading a giant fish on a large flat stone with a makeshift stone knife.

Amber: “What an interesting bunch of people gathered around here!”

Jimmy:  “No, I think a better way to describe them is… f**cking weird!”

Amber: “I’m sure you’re just exaggerating…perhaps…”

Amber was not the type of person who would eagerly interact with people that she has never met before but the one attribute that made her the most anxious regarding the campers were that they all wearing the same ominous bracelet as her. All of them were displaying, “01:34.”

''The bracelets are on them too. This can’t be a coincidence. The numbers are the exact same on theirs too. We are in sync with each other? The numbers went down as well. Is it a countdown? I wonder what would happen if it reaches zero…I have a bad feeling about this.''

 

“Hey, Uncle Rakku! Jimmy is back!”

“Huh? Oh hey! You’re back! You’re just in time! Lunch is almost ready!”

Jimmy:  “Oh, that quick?! Wow, you guys sure were talented in cooking!”

The samurai and little mermaid stopped playing with the beach ball and walked towards the arriving duo.

“Not at all! It was the combined efforts of everyone here but I would give most of the credit to her.”

The samurai pointed to the maid currently adding salt to the pot of stew.

“Yes. The fish stew is already done but it will not be served until everyone returns.”

The maid pours a small sample of the stew into a makeshift cup made of a coconut sliced in half and took a sip of it.

“…It needs more salt….yawn…so sleepy…”

“Garchuu! Another guest! Awwww! That means less food for us! Grrrrrr.”

The female feline humanoid turns around as she growls at Amber. The clown entertaining her, continues to perform with diligence but decided to reprimand his audience.

“Please do not be so rude to our other guest, Master Mindy. There is enough nourishment for every guest. It matters not that there are more mouths to feed as especially in times like our current situation, one must not be selfish but show kindness and consideration towards others to maximize the survival rate. According to my calculations, I believe that would be the wisest path to proceed in.

“Aww! I’m still a growing girl! Fine! Meow! Just be sure that there’s enough for me, cook!”

“…There will be enough….It is part of my duty as a maid to ensure every guest is satisfied…..yawn…someone else take over. I’m too tired. Time for a na….Zzzzzz.”

“Garchuu! Don’t sleep! I need my food!”

“Muhahahaha! There is no need for despair, kitty-chan! For I, Hide, a mad scientist, shall use my assassin techniques upon this sea dweller to provide extra provisions whenever something unforeseen and terrible happens to our food supply! Behold my true power!

«Atomkrieg Nemesis»

The man in the lab coat threw the giant fish in the air. He jumped towards it and performed a series of diagonal slashes, and landed in a graceful posture of a swordsman completing a laido technique. The giant fish slowly descends on its side back on the temporary stone cutting board. Then, the fish suddenly separates into several perfectly clean slices of sashimi.

“Grazie! Pinnacle! Magnifico! My best work yet!”

“Ooooooo. You are my savior, man in white! Meww!”

“Of course! It is not a surprise as I am-“

The feline rushes over and rubs her face against the mad scientist’s face before he could finish his statement. She purrs loudly as a sign of affection for his tribute to her stomach.

“Gahaaaa! H-h-help! Please help me! I’m being attacked by a wild animal! Could this be? Dark Reunion’s preemptive strike? I knew it! I knew that they would come after me! Muhahaha- Stop! I cannot breath! Stop…Stop before I lost control of my forbidden powers of destruction and mayhem!”

“♥Garchuu♥”

“Well, he’s a lost cause! Kouko, go introduce yourself to our new guest!...hmmm…it does need more salt.”

“O-kay!”

The samurai taking over the maid’s task, stirs the pot of stew while the little mermaid floats over to where Amber and Jimmy were.

“Hi! You’re so pretty! I’m Kouko! Nice to meet you!”

Kouko, one could say from the mere sight of you would overcome you with sheer cuteness. You could say that her child-like demeanor and aura of innocence was her ultimate weapon. Being a mermaid with an adorable blue ponytail, she brandish a petite aquamarine, “Criminal” T-shirt with the characters, 萌え, on the front center. Not to mention that she can float in the air with ease. In order for her to travel on land, Kouko has a contraption attached to her air that produced a tube-shaped bubble that allows her to freely manipulate her own gravity in the air.

Amber: “Awww! Thank you! I’m Amber! It’s great to meet you too! You’re so adorable!”

Amber embraced Kouko in her arms and presses her face to the mermaid’s cheeks as her maternity instincts were unveiled.

“Kouko! Did you make sure to put the ball away?!”

Kouko: “No…I’ll do it right now!”

“Be sure not to forget it!”

Kouko: O-kay! Oh! The man stirring lunch now is my uncle, Rakku!”

“Yo, I’m Rakku! An ex-bounty hunter! Today is your lucky day, Amber! I think…man, this fish stew smells good!”

Amber: “Likewise!”

Amber: ''Huh, this cute little mermaid is this man’s niece?” I guess this world is vaster that I thought.''

 

It was a blue-haired samurai from the country of Wano, a place where swordsmen rule with such strength and ferocity that even the Marines won’t interfere with their affairs. From the first glance, anyone can tell that Rakku is a seasoned fighter who had survived many battles as he has a huge sword-shaped covering most of the left side of his face. In contrast to the typical depiction of a samurai, Rakku was wearing an outfit that is inspired from his homeland but adds comfort to his attire. His attire consists of a dark blue gi that has a pattern of tsunamis worn over a red untucked “Criminal” T-shirt and loose fire-patterned dark navy blue trousers cut below his knee.

On the left side of his torso are a pair of swords sheathed. Oddly, the longer sword has a ring similar to the bracelet that everyone has, attached to its handle. Another strange feature are the variety of charms display different characters hanging from his black sash wrapped around his blue gi. Despite being from a country with strict values, Rakku seems like the kind of guy who likes to laugh along with others while enjoying life to its fullest.

“Zzzzzz…..Pop!”

The maid whose duty was relived, was sleeping on the ground, suddenly awoke from her short nap. Her snot bubble popped and she quickly rose into a graceful bowing position as she greeted Amber.

“My apologies for the late introduction, Master Amber. I am Izumi, 21 of age, and a maid of the House of Toradora reporting for duty.”

Izumi was a young woman whose facial expression never seem to change no matter what mood she’s in as she always speaks in monotone. It can be hard to believe for most people but her deadpan expression is her default face. She was wearing a standard old-fashioned frilly black and white maid outfit black stocking up to her thighs. On her head, lies a headband with a black frilled bowtie. Her frame was small and compact but it was not the body of a frail person concerning her vast variety of skills. Upon meeting her, no one can deny the level of devotion that she has towards her role as a maid.

Amber: “Ummm, a maid...sorry! I didn’t expect to be treated so formally. You don’t need to call me master. I’m not your master after all.”

Izumi: “Pardon me for my lack of etiquette, Master Amber. This is a habit of mine that I have cultivated throughout my li..fe..as...a..mai-…zzzzzzZzzz….”

Amber: “….umm…..Does she fall asleep that often?”

Rakku: “This is nothing new with her. Good luck trying to keep a conversation with Izumi. I wondered how she could have been hired as a maid if she keeps taking a nap before she could finish what she was doing.”

Pop!

Izumi: “Huh? My apologies again, Master Amber. Unfortunately, I have narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder that caused me to sleep at random times throughout the day. However, I assure you, Master Amber. I swear on the 4 Blue Seas that I will perform my duty as a maid and complete any task given to m- Zzzzzzzzzzz.”

Amber: “She fell asleep again!!!”

Jimmy: “Like I said, they’re an interesting bunch of people.”

Amber was about to wake Izumi up to continue her conversation with her when someone suddenly pounced on Amber, crashing both of them next to Izumi.

“Meow!! New person, nice to meew you! I’m Mindy! A high school student! Garchuu!”

With Mindy on top of Amber, showering her version of affection by physical contact, one can’t think that it is of similar experience of marked as territory by an outdoor cat. That impression is not wrong as Mindy is from the species of the Mink tribe. Minks are humanoids with animal characteristics. In Mindy’s case, she’s of an orange tabby cat breed. Mindy was a girl with boundless energy who reacts entirely by her animal instincts. Her attire consists of a dark blue sailor outfit accompanied with a red ribbon as she’s currently a student at her own private high school of her home. She tends to be the life of the party wherever she goes, especially if there’s food involved.

“Ahhh! You ate all of the fish! You shall not get away with your treachery! I shall have my revenge on you!”

Still pinned to the ground, Mindy rubs her face against Amber as a custom greeting derived from her culture.

Amber: “I know I like cats…but…that tickles! Ahahaha! This is ridiculous!”

Mindy: ”Don’t mind this. This is how we minks greet everyone! Garchuu!”

“Don’t ignore me! At least, reward me for providing fuel for your stomach!”

Amber: “I admit this is the first-….time! I met a mink!!! Ahahaha! Make it stop!

Mindy: “I like you! Purrrr!!! I sense a warm feeling from you! I think we’re get along just fine! Purrr!”

Amber:  “Well, I hope we get along!...Ahahahaa…Too!!! Oahahaha!

“You foul field! Don’t you think you can escape from me, Hide! The demon extinguisher of hell and anarchy! Once I unleashed my ability, «Zerum Pandemonium» your body’s molecular structure will disperse into ashes! Prepare yourself, you neko beast! For I, Hide, the most powerful warlord of the warring era will reduce you into nothing! Muhahahaha!!!

It was a un-shaven man with a short beard in his early twenties. Hide was wearing a white lab coat over his untucked, half buttoned white shirt to portray himself as a mad scientist. In addition to his attire were long baggy beige trousers, completing the impression of him being a bum on drugs. Given his antics and constantly speaking to himself about odd fantasies in public, one can’t help wondering he escaped from a mental asylum.

Jimmy: “That’s Hide. He’s a lunatic trapped in his delusion. Just ignore him and he will go away.”

Rakku: “And I thought I was crazy!”

Kouko: “But you are crazy, Uncle Rakku!”

Rakku: “That’s true but I’m crazy in a good way. He, well…He’s stupid crazy!”

Izumi: “I concur. Hide is stupid craz-…zzzZzzzz.”

Amber: “She didn’t even address Hide with formality! You guys are so harsh!”

Mindy: “Mewhahaha! You guys are so weird!”

Amber: “Like you can say that!”

Hide hugs his knees in the farthest corner of the campsite, crying to himself in despair.

Hide: You guys are so CRUEL! You’ll see! You won’t laugh once I unlock the secrets to the ultimate power of  «Incineration» For I am Hide, the master of deadly unstable elements and chemical reactions! I shal-ahh! Why did it suddenly get so dark? GASP! Is this the work of the organization? Have they decided to eradicate by blocking the sun, the source of my powers?!

“Pardon my intrusion but I believe it is quite crude of us to mock our comrade even if he has an unusually peculiar mindset by comparison to the average person of our current generation.”

A red and yellow polka dotted clown rolled down to the crowd on his circus ball, juggling coconuts nonstop without breaking his concentration as he confronts them. As he closes the distance between them, one can’t help but be overwhelmed by his towering stature of 15 ft over them. Anyone in front of him would be provided relief from the sun as the tall clown has prevented the sun rays from showering over them. But anyone who has a fear of clowns, would not be in right state of mind as nothing but sheer anxiety remains.

Amber becomes a stone statue as fear has rendered her incapable of motion and thinking.

Amber: “Gaawwww…….A giant clown…my deepest and darkest fears have come true.”

Hide: “Ha-ah! I knew it! The organization has send a clown as an agent to silence me! My death will not come today for I have come prepared for this moment!”

Hide runs away from the group to hide behind the pot of stew to gain some distance from the clown.

Hide: “How about that? You can’t complete your mission to destroy me now!”

Kouko: “Don’t be mean to him! He’s a nice guy!”

Rakku: “There’s no such a nice clown.”

Kouko: “But Uncle Rakku, you exist!”

Rakku: “I am a nice guy, aren’t I…Hey! You thought that I was a clown?! Ya-Ow! Don’t stab me in the heart like that, Kouko! It really hurts my soul!”

Jimmy: “A clown being here sure fits the circus mood that we have here. Anyway, get down from there already, you’re blocking the sun!”

“I admit my blunder. Allow me to reposition myself.”

The professor jumps off his giant ball and threw the coconuts high in the air. Now his height has been reduced to 12 feet but it does not lessen the impression of his empowering height. He then bends his left knee to the ground and grabs Amber’s hand to kiss it as a gesture of greeting.

“How ill-mannered for me to announce myself previously! I am Professor Gisei Mitciv! I study quantum physics and oceanography but I specialize in researching about a strange sea route called the Grand Line. It’s a delight to meet your acquaintance, my dear lady, Amber!

Contrary to Professor Gisei Mitciv’s clown outfit, he was a man who lives by logic and resolves any conflicts by reason rather than emotions. Unknowns to others, he may appear as an unusually tall human but he is in fact of descendant of the longleg tribe. Compared to the average human, longlegs, as their name depicts, have legs that were much longer in length. This difference of height makes them a lot taller than humans but still shorter in comparison to giants. His tallness may match his level of wisdom and intelligence but he lacks the ability to instill humor which is why he prefers to juggle rather making people laugh.

Amber: “It’s great to be acquainted with you too!...Huh…I’m sorry…I’m not trying to be rude but my brain can’t just take all of this…This…this is different from I imagine what a clown would behave….Why are you a clown?”

“Oh, it’s just a hobby of mine. Whenever I desire to relax my neurons, I retreat to manipulating objects within the confines of gravity. To explain in simpler terms, I-”

The coconuts that the professor threw before, fell back down towards him. The clown caught all of the falling fruit but all 7 coconuts were lined up vertically, balancing in a nearly impossible way on the tip of his big red, rosy nose.

Everyone else: “Whoa! That’s amazing!”

Clap- Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap-Clap!

 

The clown then pushed the coconuts back into the air and continued to juggle them in his palms but juggles them in a crisscross method rather than the previous circular motion.

“I rather find myself to possess a keen interest in recreational activities! Particularly, juggling! If you do not object, I would fancy that you also would refer to me by my stage name, Slappy!”

Amber: “I see…but I don’t see why you need to dress up as a clown for juggling.”

Slappy: “This form is for aesthetic purposes, my dear. I find that the youth react more positively to my performances than my dull appearance of mine.

Kouko: “Clown Slappy, you’re confusing me with all of these big words you’re saying.”

Slappy: “Ah, my condolences, my dear child. I regret that I am not particularly efficient in expressing myself in simpler terms as I have a preference in reading higher literature.

Kouko: “Uncle Rakku, I still don’t get what he’s saying. He’s not funny like you.”

Rakku: “I feel the same way as you, Kouko….Oi! What do you mean that he’s not funny as me?! Is that another strike against me?! How cruel! You remind me of the other woman in my life!”

Jimmy: “A serious clown that can’t tell jokes…That’s not normal!”

Hide: “You fools! This white-plastered fool is nothing compared to the almighty power of my-”

Izumi grabs Hide’s face and forces a small portion of the hot, boiling stew from her coconut cup into his mouth.

Hide: “Gugraahhhh!! Ho-hot! Hot! HOT! My mouth is burning like the gates of hell! Oh why, has Cerberus and Hade has forsaken me! Ga-ah-Ah-aH-AHHH!”

Izumi: “I’m trying to take my beauty sleep. You can have your lunch early.”

Amber: “It’s scary and amazing that she can torture him with that dead expression on her face.”

Jimmy: “Like I said, f***ing weird.”

Mindy: “That’s not fair! He got his portion first!”

Amber: “So is this everyone? There’s only 8 of us here?”

Jimmy: “Oh no, so far you’re the 12 th person I saw on this island. 4 more has not come back yet.

Slappy: “It would be harmless to assume the others are still in participating in their pursuit for the truth and were lost in the labyrinth of time.

Rakku: “Is it really hard for you to just say that they lost track of time?”

Slappy: “It is inexplicable for them to not reemerge at the time that we had sworn by. It would be commonsensical to assume they were preoccupied with a sudden encounter of an enlightening quantity of evidence.

Rakku: “…I give up! There’s no luck in it for me to talk with you! Can we eat the stew already?”

Mindy: “Yeah! Lunch! Lunch! It’s lunchtime! It’s their fault that they’re late!”

Izumi: “I understand your impatience but it is proper manners to eat when everyone is present for the-Zzzzzzz.”

Rakku: “You’re not even present in reality, right now!”

“Fighting already? Now’s not the time to argue. We have another guest…No, scratch that. Looks like you guys found another castaway too!”

“Huh? Man, you guys are already here? Damn, were we late to the meeting? My bad.”

A man dressed in black casual clothes, with shut eyes and an asymmetrical smile, arrived to the campsite with a slightly taller blond man dressed in a black and red tuxedo with dark sunglasses on.

Mindy: “About time! I was starving!”

Pop!

''Izumi quickly recovers from her narcolepsy and shook her head once more to regain her focus in her surroundings.''

Izumi: “As I stated before, Master Mindy, there are still two more who has not returned yet, had they not? Oh? Another master has arrived? Where? I apologize for my lack of awareness of my surroundings I don’t see the new master.”

“Oh, she’s here all right! We found her hiding on top of something very interesting. It took a while to convince her to return with us and in the end, she didn’t want to be alone after all…Come on now! Don’t be shy. They’re not going to hurt you. No, I’m not lying! Come on, no need to keep them waiting.”’

The man in black nods his head up while speaking, giving out an impression that he was having a conversation with the sky.

Amber: “So Jimmy, do we have another interesting person here too?”

Jimmy: “You know the answer to that.”

Hide: “I see! You too, could also communicate with the angels of the holy sky as well! I’m so glad that I’m not alone with this ability!”

Mindy: “Foo…ooo…oood!”

Mindy laying on the ground, lifeless as her stomach growls.

The man in black’s hair shakes abruptly as if it was alive.

Hide: “Gasp, this is no angel! This is a demon breaking through the gates of hell, and the portal to the underground is within his hair! Be gone before I vanquish you with the wrath of the dragon sealed within my soul!”

Rakku: “Huh, having a bad hair day already at your age? Wow, I feel so sorry for you. Perhaps you’re more stressed than I thought.”

Mindy: “Zzzzzz…Pop!...I’ll take care of you, Maste-Zzzzzz.”

Hide: “Restrain him before it’s too late!”

Amber: “Perhaps you should lay down now before something bad to you happens.”

Jimmy: “But we’re already in a bad situation.”

Hide: “And…they ignore me…These foolish mortal fools have no clue on what lies ahead of us! Come, nekomata! We shall protect this world by ourselves!”

A loud growl roars out of Mindy’s body as she continues to groan on the grass.

Mindy: “Foo….ooo…oodd…”

Hide: “…..we’re all going to die together in vain.”

“Kirararara! Guys! You guys are being so silly! Don’t mess around me like that! I’m telling ya! She’s right here! Geez, you’re making me look bad, little girl! Just show yourself already!”

“Uggh. Enough of this already. Just get this over with! I’m losing my patience!”

The blond suited man pulls something out of the man in black’s hair into for everyone to see. A incredibly small girl squirms in a frenzy as she wiggles her fluffy tail.

“Hey! Let go of me! I don’t like being looked at! Stop staring at me, you monsters! It’s like you never seen a little itty-bity girl before!”

Kouko: “Oooooh! She’s tiny like Lolo!”

Amber: “Lolo? Is that the name of another person like us?”

Rakku: “Oh no no. She’s just referring to someone we know. But still, it’s amazing to meet another dwarf besides our friend. They’re the kind of species that don’t often appear to humans in the open.”

“You brutes! Let me down! If you going to eat me then…at least…”

The chibi girl then glances at everyone with large adorable eyes that were to shed a tear.

“…Please be gentle with me.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Kouko and Amber: “Awwwww! She’s So. CUTTTTEEEE!!!

Amber: “You’re such a cute little creature, aren’t you!”

Kouko: “Hey, hey! What’s your name? What kind of food do you eat? Do you like to eat jellybeans too? I like jellybeans!”

“Wait! Wait! One question at a time! Don’t crowd me! Anyway, put me down! I have two legs to stand on, you know!”

“Oh sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

The blond man gently lowers the female dwarf down on the ground. Everyone gathered around her as she dusts off her clothes.

“Ahem, well…ummm. My…name is… Starling….As you..uou…al…ready knowwww….Oooo….I’m a little innocent girl…who….was forced...forced to…beeee…here….oh…Ah…So pleeee-aaaaaase stop staring at me! I can’t staaaaaaa-nnnnnd it when people stare at meeeeee! All of you are waiting to snack on meeeeeee, aren’t you! You monnnn-sssssters!”

Rare for the average person to see, Starling was a dwarf, a species that is similar to how humans are different in height to giants but instead to humans. She appears as a girl of chibi proportions with round glasses and very long brown hair in braids. Her tail resembles a bushy black paintbrush. Starling was in her late twenties and still has no qualifications of being a sociable creature, even amongst her species, as she typically escapes to her room to read her many collections of fantasy books.

Back in her childhood, she was usually teased by peers of her age for being extremely shy, it lead to her to be even more introverted to the point that she grew distrustful of anyone she meets but the worst of all, she fears humans even more due being constantly chased by them whenever she wanders out in public during her pursuit of books.

Starling swiftly ran out of the circle of people to hide in one of the tents set up at the camp site. She then peeked out of the tent’s opening while shaking in anxiety.

Starling: “Don’t you daaaa-rreeeeee come after me now!!! You…..you can’t catttt-cccccch me if you triedddddd! So juuu-ssssssst give it up! I will beeeeeee watching your every move! Just try it!”

“And there you have it, people. She finally proven herself to be an outstanding member of society! Give it up for Starling for her bravery.”

“Humph. No need to be so dramatic, Kirai.”

“Hey, we’re stuck on an unknown island. Someone has to lighten the heavy mood around here! Oh, that’s right! I almost forgot! Hey, come over here. We haven’t had the pleasure of introducing ourselves to the new lady here.”

“Oh yeah. Didn’t think I had to do this all over again. Talk about déjà vu.”

The man in black and the blond man then turned their faces towards where Amber is.

“Hello, Hello. I’m Kirai. I’m just a humble play boy who likes to have fun wherever he goes. Once you get to know me better, I’m sure you would like me too. But this guy next to me, perhaps not as much like me.”

“Don’t be such an ass, man. Damn, you can be so irritating to my nerves. It’s a wonder why someone would ever kidnap you in the 1st place. Oh hey, I’m Shizuo Hei D. Étente, a Marine Vice-Admiral. I assure you as a Marine and a fellow man of the sea, I swear to get to the bottom of our situation and make sure that everyone will get home safel-

“That’s assuming if there’s a possibility that we could ever escape this island.”

A feminine voice out of nowhere, suddenly interrupted Shizuo, leading everyone to look for the source of the outburst. Their attention were finally converged to the abrupt rustling bushes to the west.

“!!!”

Two figures suddenly emerged out of the bushes at the southern side of the campsite. One of the figures was a tall dark-haired man with bangs covering one his eyes and bandages wrapped around his right arm. He was wearing casual blue jeans, white T-shirt, and a black buttoned long shelved shirt as a jacket. The other figure was a woman of pale white complexion who is quite short for a girl of her age. She has a silver bob cut with a red and green plaid beret, sitting slanted on her head. She was wearing a uniform similar to Mindy’s clothes but it differs in colors by white and blue.

Two details of her that draws everyone’s attention when glancing at her, was the fact that she has small white feathered wings protruding from her back. Another aspect is the metal hiking stick that she was holding within her hands. The stick was decorated with a large skull knob with jewels as eyes on top of it. What’s even stranger was that they both arrived in an intimate position: giving out an impression of a hero carrying a princess to safety.

“Heso! We’re finally back! Sorry, we’re late! We were pre-occupied if you know what I mean!”

'Amber: '”Heso? Why are you saying belly button?”

“Don’t look too deep in it. It’s a common phrase back from home.”

Shizuo: “By preoccupied, do you mean you two were on a date as usual?”

“Searching for clues is not what people would consider as a date!”

“Oh, honey! Don’t spoil the fun! This was supposed to be our honeymoon! It’s not like this is anything new to you! You know you love it!”

“Some honeymoon this is, Darling! I know that I said a trip to an exotic island would be an ideal vacation for us but this is ridiculous! And we’re not even married yet!”

“Oh, but honey! We might as be since we have gone this far with our relationship and…that far…too…”

“…”

Amber: “Ah….Hello there!..I’m Amber…It’s nice to meet you. Oh my gosh! Did you injure your legs earlier? I can help you with that. I used to help out my mother in our local hospital. Can you still walk?”

“Oh, pleased to meet your acquaintance, Amber. Heso! My name is Agri and the prince who’s carrying me is my boyfriend, Gyoza. Thank you for being so concerned with me but I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression earlier but no, I am not injured. It’s just that I wanted to be treated like a princess every so often.”

“Some princess you are. Always whining about walking everywhere you go. I feel like a horse every time I travel with you.”

“And you’re such a galloping stallion too in bed.”

Amber: ''“Don’t flirt with each other in front of everyone! Especially with a child present too! ''

Kirai: “Kirarara! This never gets old around you two!”

Kouko: “I want to be a princess too!”

Rakku: “You can be a princess when you’re all grown up.”

Kouko: “But why? Little girls can be princesses too! Humph!”

Kouko puffs her cheeks and looks away with her arms crossed.

Rakku: “You will always be my princess, Kouko! Come now. You should wash your hands before we eat.”

Kouko: “I’m your princess?!! Yay!”

Shizuo: “Save the lovey-dovey crap for later. We have more important stuff to deal with.”

Kirai: “Yes, indeed. I can’t wait to share our discoveries together over lunch!”

Jimmy: “Oh? Is that why you were late? I hope the news would be interesting to hear.”

Slappy: “I prefer the newly acquired information would be beneficial to aiding us of our predicament than being stimulating.”

Agri: “So, I see our party has gotten a bit bigger. How intriguing….12…no…13 of us. I didn’t expect to see such a variety of people here…No…this is expected.

Amber: ''“Expected? What does she mean by that? Does she know the truth behind our kidnapping?”''

Gyoza: “That’s very nice, darling, but since we’re back to headquarters. Do you mind if you get off? My arms are getting tired.”

Agri: “Oh, honey! You can’t fool me! I know that you enjoy laying your manly lustful hands on my delicate body like the sexy beast you are! And you’re the kind of person who never gets exhausted from carrying a lightweight princess like me! Besides…”

Agri leans in closer to Gyoza’s face and places her gentle peach lips almost skin-to-skin to his left ear, speaking softly to him.

Agri: “The only activity that would drain you of your stamina will be our nightly ritual as a couple.”

She then leans her head backwards with an innocent smile on her face.

Agri: “Hehehe.”

Gyoza: “Ah….a…he…yeah…couple…that’s what we are! Definitely a couple! AW YEAH!”

Gyoza’s face turned completely red and hot puffs of steam waft from his head.

Agri: “That’s my prince!”

Amber: “So…Jimmy…They-”

Jimmy: “Are f***ing annoying.”

Izumi: “My dear masters (with the exception of one), everyone is currently present. I hereby announced that lunch will be served.”

Mindy’s ears perk up and stretches her back in an angle for which it is nearly impossible for humans to stretch. Then she hops back on her two feet.

Mindy: “Yay! Everyone’s here! Let’s eat! Food! Food! Food!”

Hide: “It can’t be helped as I am low in spiritual energy. Very well. I shall consume your stew to recover my chi for the upcoming battle! Muahahahaha!”

Izumi: “My dear masters, if you would excuse the inadequate dining atmosphere, please gather your bowl and silverware, and line up at the campfire so I may serve each quest with their portion.”

Agri: “Oh yes, we’re sorry to keep you bunch waiting! Is that fish stew I smell? How fragrant the aroma is! Thank you for cooking for us, Izumi!

Izumi: “Not at all, it is an honor to serve you, Master Agri.”

Everyone took the bowls and spoons off the picnic table, followed Izumi’s instructions exactly to her words. Even Starling came out of hiding to line up for food as she was staring too. Shortly after everyone was served, each person sat on the logs encircling the campfire in the middle as they eat their lunch. Everyone except for Rakku and Kouko, Jimmy and Amber, and Agri and Gyoza, were sitting apart on the logs. With the exception of Starling running back to one of the tent and eating in isolation away from others.

Amber looked down on her bracelet as the numbers persistently lingers in her mind: “00:49”

Amber: ''“No one has said anything about the bracelet yet. Perhaps no one mentioned it because they couldn’t have any new information to tell me. No, there’s no point to worry about this stupid bracelet. Time to focus on the present. Yeah! I can think about this stuff later!”''

Jimmy: You’re spacing out again. Is this going to be a frequent thing?

Amber: Huh? No no no! Aha..aha….eating now!

Amber took a spoonful of the stew into her mouth. Upon contact with her taste buds, Amber entered a state of euphoria as her mind went blank for a few seconds.

Amber: “Wow! This stew…is…delicious! I can’t stop eating it!”

Mindy: “Mewhahaha! SO GOOODD!!! Seconds!”

Kouko: “Wow! This is so good, Big Sister Izumi!”

Rakku: “Indeed! It’s so tender, hearty, and bursting with so much flavor! I’m so lucky to be alive! Izumi! I would love to have the recipe if you don’t mind…Hey, Kouko! Be sure to chew your food!”

Kouko: “But I am!”

Slappy: “It’s impeccable! This is the pinnacle of aromas and essence in harmony! My taste receptor cells are indebted to your culinary expertise!”

Hide: “Excelsior! Fabulous! Sugoi! I feel the fire in my soul burn with such intensity. After taking one, no! Two! No! Three bites! The harmony of the ingredient without drowning other the natural flavors! Oh! The INTENSITY! You should be honored for creating a master piece! I shall give this dish 5 out of 5 stars! FLAVOR EXPLOSION! Muahahaha!

Amber: “I really love how sweet the carrots are…I never knew you could get carrots on a tropical island!?”

Jimmy: “She wouldn’t be able to. You see, it would be impossible to acquire some of these ingredients for this stew on an island with a hot climate. For example, potatoes are a crop that grown from late winter to spring. It would be impossible to harvest potatoes on a tropical island.”

Rakku: “Oo, impressive, Mr. Encyclopedia! Perhaps you should have cooked our meal instead being in the search party!”

Jimmy: “Not at all! I’m a regular farmer’s boy so it’s normal for me to know this kind of stuff!”

Amber: “So Izumi, how did you get some of these rare ingredients?”

Izumi: “That is indeed a great question, my Masters….Yawn…. You two were the some of the people who did came to the campsite later than the rest….. By the time I have awaken….Yawn…The ingredients were already laid out on the table…Master Kirai, Rakku, Kouko, Hide, Agri, and…Yawn….Slappy can attest to that.”

Amber: “Hmmm, if that’s true, doesn’t mean that someone wanted us to come here in the 1 st place?”

Jimmy: “Now that you brought it up, that seems very likely. The tents and the fire pit were also set up for our arrival. I’m not sure that I’m happy that they went through the trouble to make it more comfortable here but hey...At least I don’t have to make my own shelter by scratch…I wish they had prepared the ingredient for us instead making us cook for ourselves though.”

Amber: “What about the fish, though? Surely they didn’t leave the fish to rot in the open sun?”

Hide: “That would be I, the fisherman who wrestle the aquatic creature from the depths of Fishman Island and brought it to submission so that we! Can consume it for our survival!!! Muahahahaha!”

Izumi: “I would hate to admit it but it as Hide have said. The protein in the stew was indeed…yawn…thanks to the Hide’s contribution…zzz…..zzz…”

Hide: “So harsh! This is too expected as the average person can never accept the mad skills from I! Hide! The dark lord of forbidden spells and brutality!”

Amber: “Big talk for a man who just went fishing.”

Hide: “Two fishes actually!”

Mindy: “The second fish was good too! More!”

Jimmy: “Still, it takes great skill to turn ordinary ingredients into something that’s just….delicious! My compliments to the chef as you clearly talented in cooking!”

Izumi: “Pop!....ah….Thank you for your compliments, my dear masters. I am truly glad to be in your service.”

Rakku: “Thanks!”

Izumi: “No, thank you. I am very pleased to hear that you were satisfied with my cooking…Yawn…”

Kirai: “Really? It’s hard to tell with that stiff face you have there. Can you even smile?”

Shizuo: “How can she be in the mood to smile with you around?”

Izumi: “As a maid, we must maintain a face devoid of any expressions so…yawn… our emotions do not interfere with our performance…”

Jimmy: “You truly are dedicated to your job, aren’t you?”

Izumi: “Of course, I am a maid, after all…zzz…”

Jimmy: “I envy people like you. People who are so capable of fulfilling whatever they have their mind set on. I want to be someone like that too.”

Izumi: “Pop!...ah...You humble me with your compliments, Master Jimmy, even though I am merely a maid….zzzzz…”

Jimmy: “Not at all. I wouldn’t praise you for being merely a maid. Like how I just merely a person.”

Amber: “Don’t put yourself down so much, Jimmy! There’s nothing to be ashamed of being a farmer! If you don’t be one, then I’m sure you can find your calling too once you put your mind into it!”

Jimmy: “Oh, did I seem like I was dragging myself there? Ahaha. Sorry to worry you. I didn’t meet to bring the mood down….hmmm…find…oh, that reminds me! So Agri, what did you find? I’m afraid that I only found another victim like us.”

Amber: “That would be me. Wow, this stew is delicious!”

Agri: “Say ah! Honey! I already blew it for you.”

Agri held out her spoon full of stew with her other hand underneath it towards Gyoza’s mouth.

Gyoza: “I can serve myself just fine, my darling. No need to be so lovely-dovely around here.”

Agri: “Should I feed it to you mouth-to-mouth instead?”

Gyoza: “Gah…cough..cough…Please stop…”

Agri: “Ah! Are you choking? Perhaps I should give you CPR after all?”

Gyoza: “Stop tempting me, woman!”

Agri: “Are my soft, moist lips not good enough for you? Would you prefer a French kiss instead?”

Gyoza: “Stop it! I’m trying to eat!”

Agri: “You can have me for dessert afterwards. Just say the words and I’m yours.”

Jimmy: “…”

Amber: “There’s no need to rush, Jimmy. Eating should be joyful. We can discuss it afterwards. Izumi!, Can I have seconds please?!”

Izumi: “Yes, you may, Master Amber.”

Jimmy: “Sigh, why not? I’ll have seconds too.”

Mindy: “Mewhahaha! Fourth please!”

Hide: “You foul animal! Do you desire to deplete us of our limited rations to indirectly slay us from malnutrition?! What a nasty plot you have conceived! In response, I shall thwart your scheme by having another bowl before you consume it all!”

Izumi: “There’s plenty for everyone so shut it….Zz…Yawn…I ate too…zzz…much…zzzzz.”

Mindy: “Ya! Hooh! So yummeewwwy!”

Hide: “Not so fast! I shall launch my assault first before you vacuum it all in your bottomless depths of scorching acid!”

Mindy: “Stop getting in the way of stomach! I need to eat!”

Hide: “You can’t fool me! I will never allow cruel gluttony to prevail!”

A dust of cloud emerges near the stew pot with the troublesome duo in the epicenter of the chaos, fighting over who would serve themselves first. The bystanders joined in the action as they cheer on while being spectators to the fight.

Rakku: “I love this channel!”

Kouko: “I hope Kitty-chan wins!”

Slappy: “I have lacked the insight to comprehend the purpose of their extraneous babble.”

Kirai: “Kirararara! About time we get some entertainment around here! Fight! Fight!”

Agri and Gyoza: “SMOOCH”

Shizuo: “GrrrraaagggGGGHHHH!! HEY! KNOCK IT OFF!”

The loud outburst from Shizuo freezes Hide and Mindy into place as their bodies were instinctively controlled by fear. They knew that they would suffer the repercussions of their misbehavior if they do not obey Shizuo’s demands.

Rakku: '' “Is this Haoshoku Haki?”''

Shizuo: “You know that I’m trying to eat, riggghhht?... And that I’m been trying enjoy myself, Riggghhhht?... And that I don’t really like you that much, RiiiiiiGHT?... And I’m absolutely pissed off now, RIIIIIIGGGGGHHTT?!!!”

The ground beneath his right foot cracks and the cracks steadily grew wider as Shizuo spoke each phrase. His menacing stare (despite of the fact that he’s still wearing sunglasses) places Hide and Mindy into submission and causes their spirits to shrink to the point that they couldn’t think of anything else but to whimper as they repeat what Shizuo said last.

Hide and Mindy: “Ri-gggght..”

Shizuo: You two getting on my nerves so how about you two get your DAMN STEW and sit the F**K DOWN ALREADY!! And F**ING ENJOY YOUR DAMN FOOD! Or perhaps…”

Shizuo: You WANT TO EAT DIRT INSTEAD?!!!”

The chaotic duo lose consciousness as foam poured out of their mouth and their pupils turned pure white.

DON!

Hide and Mindy: “Graaggghhaahahh””

Shizuo: “Freaking morons! Get out of my sight! Before I make you disappear with my bard hands!”

Amber: “I think you broke them.”

Jimmy: “I’m glad that I’m not them.”

Izumi: “Finally the loudmouths have been silenced. Now we can resume eatin-ZZzzzzzZzzz.”

Slappy: “Oh, dear me. This sudden alteration of atmosphere is most unsettling for my heart.

Shizuo: “Damn it! Can’t a guy around here eat in peace?!”

Kirai: “I think it’s ironic that you’re the one who’s trying to be the peacekeeper with your horrible attitude. It’s sad, really. It’s almost like you want our food to taste bad.

Veins pulsing around Shizuo’s forehead as soon he heard Kirai’s comment.

Shizuo: “HUH?! What was that, you little punk?! You wanna start something agaaaiiin?!

Kirai: “What? You mad, bro?”

Shizuo: “Oh, I’m not mad! I just want to beat the living $hi# out of your scrawny little ass!”

Kirai: “Is that so? I haven’t really noticed. Perhaps if you enlightened me with your troubles, I can help you deal with your anger issues. But being stubborn mule you are, that’s impossible. How you were allowed to enlist in the Marines with that nasty temper of yours is beyond my understanding. Perhaps you bribed them to accept you. That’s most likely the truth, isn’t it, Vice Admiral Shizuo?”

Shizuo: “GRRAGGGGGGGHHHHH!”

Shizuo snapped his spoon in half and crushed his bowl into pieces, spilling his stew all over the ground. He stood up, with his intense rage echoing across the campsite, no, the island, dominating any small creature to run off out of fear.

Shizuo: “That’s it, bub!! You’re so dead! Dead! DEAD! DEAD! You are so seriously dead! Cadaverific, actually! Where would you like to be buried after I bash your brains in?!

Shizuo growls as he inches closer to Kirai, leaving deep steamy footprints from his stomps on the ground.

Kirai: “So the truth hurts, doesn’t it, Vice Admiral? Glad to know that my tax money was wasted on you. I would be delighted to get a refund if you don’t mind?!

Shizuo: “Die!”

Shizuo swung his right fist at Kirai who remained seated on his log.

''Thunk! BOOOOOOM!''

The resulting clash ended with Shizuo’s fist colliding with not Kirai, but someone else. The smoke from aftermath of the opposing forces finally dissipates to reveal Rakku as the one who blocked Shizuo’s blow with his black katana fully drawn. They both backed up a little to gain some distance but not too much to stay inside with their attacking range.

Shizuo: “You! Are you trying to get in my way? Does that mean that you’re with the likes of him? I’m warning you…You’re siding with the wrong guy!”

Rakku: “Heh, just because I’m protecting him, doesn’t necessarily mean I’m on his side.”

Shizuo: “Don’t give me that crap, you pirate!

Rakku: “Oh? You know who I am? That’s unfortunate. I was hoping to get along with you a little longer. Oh well, I guess it’s not my lucky day after all.”

Amber: ''“Pirate? He said earlier that he was an ex-bounty hunter, did he lie? No…he told a half-truth…That man who was doting on his niece is a pirate? That can’t be right.”''

'Rakku: “Would you believe me when I say that I’m not your enemy?”

Shizuo: “Are you freaking kidding me?! What kind of marine would ally with a pirate?! HA?!”

'Rakku: “How about you be the first to do so?”

Shizuo: “Don’t mess with me, f***ing b***d! I’ll crush you where you stand!”

'Rakku: “Like I said, I’m not your enemy.”

Shizuo: “If you said that you’re not my enemy, then MOVE IT!”

'Rakku: “Good luck in making me bulge from this spot!”

Shizuo: “So be it. Looks like we have to do this the hard way!”

Shizuo cracks his neck while slamming his right hand into his left palm. Rakku positions his sword in a mid-stance to be on guard for any sudden changes in Shizuo’s stance. Shizuo charges in, launching a powerful straight punch with the intent to kill Rakku. In response, Rakku raised his sword above his head to intercept his attack to break his arm.

Shizuo: “GWAAAHHH!!!”

'Rakku: “YAAAAAHHH!!!”

Agri: “Now. Now.”

Agri tapped Shizuo’s shoulder from behind with her hiking stick.

“!!!”

Rakku and Shizuo ceased their movements as soon they noticed a 3rd-party person was interfering with their fight. They were in shock by how they were unable to sense her presence despite their background in fighting.

Rakku:  “When did she?”

Shizuo: '' “Who is this woman? I didn’t notice her.”''

Agri: “Rakku is correct. You can’t fight now. It’s lunchtime and there shouldn’t be any disturbances while everyone is eating as you previously stated before.”

Shizuo: “But this guy here….he is our enemy!”

Agri: “Oh? Is this due to your personal grudge or is it because you actually have the evidence to back up your claim?”

Shizuo: “It’s simple, really. Throughout my life as a Marine, I have fought throughout many battles. From those battles, I have developed my gut instincts to detect danger and….

Shizuo gave a scornful stare at Kirai. Kirai noticing Shizuo’s contempt towards him, smiles and waves back at him nonchalantly.

Shizuo: The moment that I saw him, I instantly knew that I hate his guts and I should destroy him whenever I get the chance.”

Agri: “…is that all? That shall not suffice as sufficient proof. I would require more evidence if we were to pursue this matter further.”

Shizuo: “But-“

Agri: “But nothing! Evidence is everything to the court of law! I’m quite disappointed in a man of your status being considered one of the honorable guardians of the sea and the citizens of the world. Furthermore…

Agri gestures Shizuo to look at a certain direction. It was Kouko paralyzed, holding back her tears as she shivering in fear as she embraced Amber for comfort. Amber patted Kouko’s forehead while moving her hands through her blue hair to calm her down.

Agri: “You’re scaring the children.

Kouko: “Sniff. Sniff. Bwahaaaahaaa. Sniff.”

Amber: “There. There. Shhh.. It’s okay to cry. Just let it all out. Everything will be alright. Your Uncle Rakku is still safe.”

Shizuo: “…”

Agri: Shizuo, I would advise you and personally request you to please cease your acts of violence at this moment and remember our objective. Were we not planning to cooperate and combine our findings from our search together during lunch? Don’t tell me you have forgotten that already?”

Shizuo: “No! I haven’t! I just-“

Jimmy: “We haven’t even started on the topic yet.”

Agri: “At least promise me to not fight until we’re done eating and make some progress to our dilemma! Are we not clear?!”

Shizuo: “Grr….but…”

Shizuo stares at Agri and back at Kouko being frightful of his presence. His shoulders lost their tightness and went limp.

Shizuo: “Sigh…Fine…you win. I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier.”

Agri: “That’s better…We don’t have to get along to escape from this island. We can just agree to disagree. Besides, I believe it was you who said that we should be eating in peace. Can we at least agree on that?”

Agri walked

Shizuo: “Humph. Very well but you should heed my words. I know that my guts are telling me that THIS MAN RIGHT HERE!

Shizuo pointed his right index finger at Kirai still eating his meal with no worries as he smiles while listening to the conversation between Shizuo and Agri.

Shizuo: “Is involved with whatever $HI#HOLE we’re in right now! And never once, my instincts had told me otherwise! And you!...”

Shizuo then turns his head towards Rakku.

“There’s something about you that I don’t like. You seem like a nice guy but I don’t buy it!”

Rakku: “Oh, you can’t afford me! I’m too invaluable! Try again next time!”

Shizuo: “Urgggh…Still…Kirai! You scumbag! What are you up to?”

Shizuo reverts his attention back to the person who he suspects the most.

Kirai: “Really? This again?! How shameful of you treat me like a criminal when we just met for the 1 st time. Perhaps your mother never taught you to be nice to strangers when you’re a little child. That would explain your brutality! I suggest you take tone down that sort of behavior before it will lead you to a life full of regret and loneliness. Tell me as I am a very curious man. How does it feel to have no friends?”

Shizuo: “You!… Snotty!... Little!...PUNK! You wanna start something again?! I’ll f**ing KILL YOU!”

Rakku: “Not this again.”

Shizuo was about to rampage towards Kirai once more, driving Rakku to intercept his tantrum again but it all stopped when Agri raised her stick on front of him.”

Agri: “Na-ha-ah! No more fighting! You promised! And a man never goes back on his promises!”

Shizuo: “Son of a-….Forget it. I’m out here. I’m going out for a walk to cool down my head. Catch ya later-huh?”

Izumi stood before Shizuo could completely walk off. In her hands, she held out another bowl of the stew, giving the meal to him.

Shizuo: “What do you want from me? I said I was leaving.”

Izumi: “Before you go, Master Shizuo, please take this with you. Master Shizuo had spilled his stew earlier so I thought that you might be still be hungry. I hope that my dish will meet your expectations once more so please do not waste it this time if they do indeed satisfy your appetite.”

Shizuo paused for a moment, reflecting back to his earlier actions and tries to wrestle the words of his head to reply back to her.

Shizuo: “I…I’m sorry. I know you took the time to make it for us and…I didn’t mean to throw it to the ground. It was really good!...I wouldn’t mind having some more…so…thanks.”

Shizuo scratches the back of his head while accepting the bowl of stew from Izumi.

Izumi: “It’s an honor to serve you, Master Shizuo.

Kirai: “So you can socialize with someone without shedding blood! There’s some progress there! Keep it up!”

Shizuo: “Screw you! I can kick your ass later.”

Shizuo taking the bowl with him, proceeded to leave until Agri blocks his path with her hiking stick once more.

Shizuo: “Now what?!”

Agri: “I advise you come back soon or stay little longer. We’re almost out of time.”

Shizuo: “Huh? Out of time?! What do you mean by that?!”

Upon hearing Agri’s statement, Amber turned her eyes upon the display on her bracelet. It reads, “00:19”

Amber: “You mean the numbers on the bracelet! Will something about to happen when it reaches zero?”

Shizuo: “Oh yeah. I almost forgot about this lame ass bracelet. It’s so frikking annoying! I can’t even crush it! What the hell is this? It’s tougher than steel!”

Amber: “Crush it? You mean you can crush steel with your bare hands? That’s incredible!”

Shizuo: “Ah? It’s not…so impressive as it sounds. My strength of mine tends to cause trouble for everyone…It’s really bothersome…”

Jimmy: “Not impressive? Are you kidding me? I wish I have your strength!”

Shizuo: “No, believe me if I tell you that I wish I didn’t have this power in the 1 st place. Whenever I lose my temper, everything around me just…break! I can’t control it. It’s like a curse.”

Amber: “No…”

Amber walked to Shizuo and held his hands together with hers. She looked deeply into his eyes with a friendly smile.

Amber: It’s only a curse if you allowed it to be. I know there’s a good person deep inside of you. I believe that you can put it to good use. You are a Marine after all! You joined the Marines to protect people like us, right? I’m sure that you were given this incredible power as a gift to protect those you hold dear. So you just need to have more confidence in in yourself. Okay?”

Shizuo: “Yeah…you might be right. Thanks…I feel better about myself now…”

“…”

Amber and Shizuo rapidly realized that their hands were touching. They snatched their hands back to themselves, acknowledging how awkward their relationship and the situation is.

Rakku: “I can’t wait for the wedding for you two lovebirds!”

Kouko: “Yay! I love weddings! I want to catch the bouquet!”

Amber: “You guys! It’s not like that at all!”

Kirai whistles with his finger in his mouth to tease Shizuo even more.

''Whew! Whew!''

Kirai: “Yowza! I knew you could land a woman! Romeo! Be sure to not mess it up as always!”

Shizuo: “Piss off! I don’t need your yammering!”

Agri: “Not so fast! I want to have my wedding first!”

Gyoza: “Marriage is not a contest!”

Agri: “It is amongst girls! Whoever lands a hunk first is the winner!”

Gyoza: “So I’m a hunk to you…I’ll take it.”

Agri: “I want you to take something else from me too!”

Jimmy: “Oh love, such a joy to behold! A genuine normal aspect of life!”

Slappy: “Mischievous banter aside, everyone! I highly recommend that we return to the main subject of the matter. We have recently acquired the knowledge that the bracelet that are attached to our limbs are in fact, stronger than steel. It’s a rarity indeed to witness a material tougher than the standard industrial metal.”

Rakku: “Please shorten it to steel.”

Jimmy: “So it’s stronger than steel...Hmmmm…What could it be? Diamond?”

Agri: “If only! I would have it stone cut into the best wedding ring ever made!....When are you going to propose to me, Honey?”

Gyoza: “Eek! Umm….well…don’t spoil the surprise now…you can’t just…eemm.. force it out of me! It needs to be the right moment!”

Agri: “Wheenn…is the right…moment?”

Gyoza: “Any time after we get out of this island, of course! Ahahaha!”

Agri: “I’ll remember what you said…”

Gyoza: “…ok.”

Rakku: “Well, diamonds is not that bad for an answer but I’m pretty sure it’s seastone.”

Jimmy: “Seastone? What’s that? Some kind of rock made of seawater?”

Rakku: “Well, kinda…You see, seastone is a substance that contains the power of the sea. It is said to be at least hard as diamond and can prevent anyone from using their Devil Fruit ability.”

Amber: “Devil Fruit ability? Are you referring to the rumor of people gaining the powers of the devil if they took a bite of a strange-looking fruit?”

Rakku: “Yes, I’m a Devil Fruit user. And also, the rumor didn’t mention how the devil fruit taste like disgusting!”

Kouko: “Yeah! It tastes like $HI#!”

Rakku: “Kouko! Watch your language! That’s not how little kids should behave!”

Kouko: “But it’s true! I was told to always tell the truth!”

Rakku: “There’s such thing as being too honest!”

Agri: “By your previous statement, are you admitting that you cannot use your devil fruit ability?”

Rakku: “Ahem…Yes, I am.”

Agri: “Well then…”

Agri stood up and glance at everyone’s wrists for a while before reaching to a conclusion.

Agri: “Would I be wrong to assume that everyone here is also a Devil Fruit user? I see no difference in the design in everyone’s bracelets. Though, I am curious why Rakku has another similar looking bracelet attached to his sword. Is the sword also a devil fruit user?”

Jimmy: “Wait a minute? You’re asking if that samurai’s sword ate a devil fruit? How is that even possible?”

Rakku: “Aren’t you observant, Agri? Very well, the truth is out already. Yes, you are correct. My sword is also a devil fruit user.”

Jimmy: “An object eating a fruit…That’s not normal.”

Amber: “Aren’t you bit obsessed with that word, “normal? It’s not normal to talk about being normal.”

Jimmy: “Then I guess I’m not normal after all. Saikokoko!”

Amber: “Wait…I don’t recall being a devil fruit user.”

Agri: “It’s a theory at best but at the very least, it does not seem like we can take these bracelets off without fulfilling the conditions.”

Amber: “Conditions? What conditions?”

Shizuo: “Yes, tell us! This thing is starting to piss me off!”

Agri: “I prefer not to tell you as of now as the method is not anyone willingly take. That info can be saved for another time.”

Amber: “What does that mean? Are you telling us that taking it off will make it worse for us?”

Rakku: “Damn, we sure have the devil’s luck, don’t we?

Shizuo: ‘I don’t freaking care! Tell us how to get this crap off of me!”

Jimmy: “You learned about this when we were separated, didn’t you?”

Agri: “Indeed. Gyoza and I found it in the southern side of the island. It was a big surprise to find some rather….useful information engraved on a rather large stone block.”

Slappy: “A large stone block? How peculiar. That seems reminiscent of the infamous polygraphs that I have overheard from my fellow archeologists before. They were said to be message that could even survive the passage of time due to the fact that the stone is practically impervious to damage, even to explosions. Are they one of the same?”

Gyoza: “No, the stone block is made of a different material that is far less durable. The inscription is well made but it was incised on a regular stone.”

Slappy: “That is most unfortunate. It would have been enlightening for me to witness such a historical spectacle. I suspect that it is not within world’s equation to provide that opportunity for me.”

Agri: “We can go look at it later to show you why I am reluctant to tell you what I read from it. I wanted you to see it yourself rather you hearing it by word of mouth.

Gyoza: Yeah, from I read from it…The instructions were not very pleasant to read. Even I wouldn’t want to believe it.”

Slappy: “Ah, I see. Since we are still unfamiliar with each other, you reached to a conclusion that it would be much more efficient for us to confirm it ourselves rather than unnecessarily be suspicious of your statements. You have exceeded my perspective of you, my lady, Agri.”

Agri: “I want to confirm something with everyone here. I was hopeful that Gyoza and I were not the only ones who brought back some valuable information? How about you, Jimmy?”

Jimmy: “Ah, yes. Well, what I found is not as grand as your discovery. I only came upon Amber northeast from here on the beach chores.”

Amber: “Gee, thanks. I’m not that important to you, aren’t I?”

Jimmy: “Oh, come on! You know that I didn’t mean it like that!”

Amber stuck out her tongue and then, smile slyly.

Kirai: “If I may interrupt this couple scrabble, I would like to share that I, along with my dear friend, Shizuo!”

Shizuo: “Oh, go f***k yourself, you prick!”

Kirai: “Have discovered an abandoned temple in the east. That’s where we found a lovely little critter named Starling, hiding on top of the gate.”

Jimmy: “A temple? Does that mean people used to live here? I thought this island has no civilization.”

Kirai: “Don’t get your hopes up. So far, there’s only us on the island; otherwise, we would be talking with them right now.”

Shizuo: “I wonder about that. How do I know that you haven’t silenced them or even working with them right now?”

Kirai: “Oh you of little faith! What could I possibly gain from trapping you all here? Tell me!”

Shizuo: “Don’t know. The only reason I tagged along with you in the 1 st place is to figure out your motives but I guess I was too naïve. I realized that after being with you for such a short time, I could never understand people who are screwed up in the head like you.”

Kirai: “Oh, you wound me so! So that’s why you went with me? I thought you liked me! How does that saying go? “Keep your friends close, and keep your enemies even closer?” Kirararara! I thought you were such a moron but you got more brains in your empty head than I gave you credit for!”

Shizuo: “Oh, when this is all over, I’m going to enjoy putting you away! You can bet your life on it!”

Shizuo slams his right fist into his left palm, exerting his eagerness for violence through his devilish smile, which scared Kouko a little. She retreated behind Rakku as he is available this time.”

Kouko: “Eeek..”

Rakku: “Stop scaring Kouko already! In fact, stop smiling! 1000 puppies will die every time you grin like that!”

Kirai: “Oh, Shizuo even scares children more than this giant clown here. Man, this $HI# is hilarious! Kirarara!”

Slappy: “Your comment is not beneficial to our current state of affairs. I highly recommend that we cooperate to resolve this matter as soon as possible.”

Kirai: “Ah! Yeah! Yeah! I’ll get along as soon he’s gone.”

Shizuo: “Ah, sorry about that, little girl. I…let my anger go too far again…”

Kouko: “Sniff..sniff….brruuaaaaaggg….”

Shizuo: “…”

Rakku: “Maybe another time.”

Kouko completely hid behind Rakku, leading Shizuo to give up making peace with her. He just sat back on an empty log and continued to eat his meal while listening silently to the conversation.

Agri: “You never saw nothing unusual about the temple?”

Kirai: “Well, I can take a guess of why it’s abandoned. It seems to be haunted.”

Amber: “Haunted?”

Rakku: “Oh?”

Gyoza: “…”

Slappy: “So the occult are involved too? Fascinating.”

Jimmy: “The paranormal too?”

Izumi: “ZzzzzZZzzzzz”

Hide and Mindy were still unconscious from Shizuo’s previous outburst of anger.

Hide and Mindy: “___”

Shizuo: “…”

Starling, still hiding in one of the tents, overheard the group’s conversation. Starling rolled back and forth from the edges of the tent’s inner area, crying in a panic as she started to have anxiety attack.

Starling: “Haunted?! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no! This is bad!!! Very bad! I thoughtttt…things….coulldddnn’t…posssssbily…geeet…annny…worssse…Ghosts! There’sss….no way I can….get…out of here! ALIVE!!! WHYYYYY MEEEE???!!!”

Agri: “By which notion did you reach to that conclusion?”

Kirai: “A picture is worth a thousand words. When we exploring the temple inside, we came across a courtyard with sorts of symbols drawn on the ground….with what seems to be…blood.”

'''!!!”

Amber: “What?”

Jimmy: “Blood?”

Rakku: “Oh?”

Starling: “Blood?...gaahahaAHHHHH! I wanna go home! I wanna go home! I WANNA GO HOME!”

Amber: “We can hear you from here.”

Slappy: “Ignoring her dreaded state, was the blood fresh?”

Agri: “Was there even a body there in the 1 st place?”

Kirai: If it makes anyone felt better, there’s no body and the blood had already hardened.”

Amber: “Whew…that means no one was recently killed.”

Agri: “It’s too soon to reach to that deduction.”

Amber: “Huh? What do you mean by that?”

Agri: “…I’ll save that for another time. So, Kirai, did the symbols resemble anything at all to you?”

Kirai: “I’m no expert but if I were to guess, I would say it looked like a demon summoning ritual.”

Amber: “What? Are you kidding me? First, there’s ghosts. Now there’s demons involved! This keeps getting crazier by the second!!!”

Jimmy: “Yeah, isn’t this interesting?! Tell me more!”

Amber: “You can’t be serious.”

Kirai: “There were all sorts of skulls and bones laying around in the room. Animal bones, by the way! I noticed that they were placed at certain intersections of the circle. It resembles what crazy demonic cults would do these days.”

Slappy: “Another mesmerizing site to explore in the upcoming passage of time! I cannot admit if this detour is truly detrimental to my timetable!”

Kirai: “But wait! There’s more! Besides the strange symbols, skeletons scattered all over, and the eerie atmosphere, there was something out of place there: chairs!”

Amber: “Chairs?”

Rakku: “What kind of chairs? Massage chairs?”

Amber: “That’s not important!”

Kirai: “Actually, the chairs are very refined despite its basic structure. The chair’s surface has a smooth glossy finish. My guess is they were made from genuine Mahogany. The cushion is not too soft or too firm so it was perfect to sit after a long hard day of work. Top-notch craftsmanship, I say!”

Amber: “…You didn’t have to humor him.”

Kirai: “What are you talking about? The chairs were fit for royalty as I said! You would know if you sat on them too!”

Amber: “...”

Jimmy: “They must be really good chairs. I want to check them out later.”

Amber: “...”

Agri: “How many chairs were there in the courtyard?”

Kirai: “Hmmm, I believe there were about…13 of them.”

Agri: “I see…as expected…how about the way they were positioned?”

Kirai: “Oh, yes. They were placed in a similar way the bones were except they were located on the perimeter of the bloody symbols, making a circle.”

Rakku: “If they took one out, we might have to play musical chairs!”

Kouko: “Musical chairs?! I love that game! I wanna play!”

Jimmy: “13 chairs and 13 of us…they were for us to sit on?”

Agri: “That would be a safe assumption.”

Slappy: “Will an event commence once we take our seats within the abandoned temple?”

Amber: “I can’t see the harm in doing so but I have a question for Agri to answer first. It’s been bothering me for a while.”

Agri: “Yes, Amber?”

Amber: “When you returned to the campsite, you were not surprised that there were 13 of us so far. No, more like you knew that only 13 people will be here. How would you know that?”

Agri: “What an excellent ears you have there! You would make a great assistant in the future if the role wasn’t preoccupied!”

Amber: “Assistant? What kind of assistant?”

Agri: “The answer to your question is that I read it from the stone that I told everyone previously...Calling it a stone block is redundant…how about referring it as the truth block?

Rakku: “Does that means there’s a cake block in opposed to that?”

Amber: “Why would you call it a cake block?”

Rakku: “Because it was a lie block!”

“…”

“…”

Amber: “Truth block, it is.”

Kirai: “I get it!”

Kouko: “I don’t get it. You’re not funny anymore, Uncle Rakku.”

Rakku: “…so….we’re the only ones on this island, right?”

Agri: “If the stone block is true, then yes. There are only 13 of us…hypothetically.”

Rakku: “That’s a downer. I was hoping to try the local cuisine but looks like it will be only seafood, seafood, and fruit. Unless, the ingredients we saw on the tables earlier will be resupplied every so often but I don’t see that happening based on our luck so far.”

Amber: “So we would have to gather food ourselves from now on?”

Jimmy: “There is no need to worry! We have plenty of talented people who are capable of gathering food! We won’t starve to death! But I do worry about obtaining fresh water. We can’t survive 1 day without it.”

Pop!

Izumi: “Ah….there…Yawn…no need to worry, my masters! We have an abundance of fresh water in the western part of the island.”

Amber: “How do you even know what we were talking about when you were sleeping? Were you really sleeping?”

Izumi: “To tell you the truth, Master Amber…yawn…I apparently learned how to listen to everyone’s conversation during my naps as I grew older.”

Jimmy: “That’s an amazing ability! I wish I could do that too but instead, sleep-eating! If only that was possible!”

Agri: “Does that mean you originally came from the west?”

Izumi: “Yes, Master Agri…Yawn…..I woke up in the western shores of the island….zzz….Pop!....When I was exploring to see if anyone was nearby, I came across a river mouth that lead out to the ocean….yawn…So…I thought that if followed the river back to its source, I would find a town that could….yawn…help me return to my home….sadly that did not happen….Yawn…I only found an onsen on the way and then…yawn…..finally, this camping site…Zzzzz…”

Agri: “Onsen, huh? Hold on, let me make a map of this.”

After hearing Izumi’s account of her travels after she woke up the first time on the island, Agri sketched a map of the island on the dirt within the camp fire site. Everyone else who was still awake, gathered behind Agri, watching her making the map until she finished.

Amber: “So this is what the island looks like.”

Jimmy: “This can be very useful.”

Kouko: “I want to look at it too!”

Rakku lifted Kouko up to his shoulders, placing her in a piggy-back position to give her a better view of the map rather than seeing on the ground level.

Kouko: “Wow!”

Gyoza: “I never knew that you were this good at drawing, darling.”

Agri: “I can even draw you a map to my special place if you want, honey.”

Gyoza: “Focus, darling. Focus.”

Kirai: ‘I would like to see that map!”

Gyoza: “Shut it or else I will let Shizuo kill you.”

Shizuo: “I will be happy to oblige!”

Kirai: “Kidding!”

Agri: From our testimonies, this is what the island looks like so far.

Agri pointed to each landmark with her hiking stick as she states each one to everyone else.

Agri: “Right now, we’re in the center of the island, the campsite as our headquarters. To the north are the sandy beach shores. To the east, is the abandoned temple with the strange courtyard with a blood-drawn circle. To the south, is the truth block. To the west, is the river that lead from the center of the island to the ocean. On the way there is the onsen.”

Jimmy: “This map tells us what the island looks like but it doesn’t tell where exactly we are in the world. Are we even in the East Blue? Or perhaps the south blue? Or even worse, the Grand Line?”

Rakku: ‘Hey, the Grand Line isn’t that bad. It’s traveling through it is the main reason why people get killed. I’m from the 2 nd half of the Grand Line, the New World.”

Agri: “Slappy, you said you were a professor in oceanography, correct? I, no…we would like to hear your expert opinion on our whereabouts.”

Slappy: “Very well…I had already perceived on our coordinates. Please give me some time mediate on this matter a little further before I give out my statement.

Slappy raised his chin with his right thumb and looked up to the sky while he was humming to himself. After half a minute later, Slappy finally snapped out of his inner thoughts.

Slappy: “Hmmm, as I dreadfully hypothesized. The truth of the matter is we are positioned on a secluded landmass in the Calm Belt.”

Agri: “You too, huh? Sadly, that is the worst-case scenario for us.”

Amber: “Wait?! The calm belt?! You mean where the sea kings, the giant sea monsters live?! That calm belt?! That’s where we are?!”

Starling: “Calm….belt?.....I’m that….far…awaaayy?.....Gaarrgghghhgh!”

DON!

Upon hearing the dreaded news through the tent’s opening, Starling couldn’t take the stress anymore, immediately causing her to lose consciousness.

Slappy: “Yes, ever since I regained consciousness, there was one factor that was absent in our environment: wind pressure. As I previously stated before, I am quite knowledgeable in oceanography, especially if the topic was as regards to the Grand Line. If you aren’t familiar with the Grand line, it’s an ocean current that runs from north-west to south-east across the middle of the world and perpendicular to the Red Line. The north and south of the Grand Line are strips of ocean known as the "Calm Belts".

Amber: So we’re on the edges of the Grand Line…Wow,  about half way across the world…I didn’t want to travel around the world like this!”

Jimmy: “So how does being in the Calm Belt, make it worse than being in the Grand Line?”

Slappy: You see, there’s one main way to enter the Grand Line, through reverse mountain where all four of the Blue Seas converge. If you try to enter the Grand Line through the Calm Belts, you will meet the ill misfortune of meeting the Sea Kings, whom will mostly likely leave you ship wrecked and be your predator. Even if by sheer luck, you do not encounter any sea kings, it would be physically impossible to reach the Grand Line as your destination.”

Amber: “Why not?”

Slappy: “Amber, please recall what I previously stated about a missing factor of our environment.”

Amber: “Missing factor, huh?...Ummm….hmmm…Oh yeah! Wind Pressure!”

Amber lightly slams her right fist down on her palm, indicating that she finally realized the answer.

Slappy: “Correct. While the Grand Line is near impossible to travel without a log pose because the weather patterns were constantly in alternation. The weather there can turn from a sunny day to of a typhoon in the next second without warning. The characteristics of the Calm Belt completely contradicts the Grand Line as the weather there is completely non-existent.

Jimmy: “Non-existent? There’s no weather at all…Ah…I see now…No weather means no-”

Amber: “Wind!”

Slappy: “Yes, without wind, it would be virtually impossible to even sail within the Grand Line. Furthermore, there is no occurrences of ocean waves at all as well.”

Amber: “So in other words-”

Kirai: “We completely stuck on this forsaken island!”

“…”

“!!!”

Rakku: “Oh crap. Today is not our lucky day.”

Kouko: “Does that mean…We’re going to die here?”

Rakku: “Wow, even Kouko, the go-lucky kid knows that we’re doomed.”

Everyone’s mood grew tense from hearing the recent terrible news and a few started to show signs of panic and hopelessness.

Kouko was about to cry but Rakku held Kouko’s hand even tighter. Kouko paused and gathered up all of the willpower she could muster from the depths of her soul to not cry as she knew that everything will be all right as long as her Uncle Rakku is there with her.

Kouko: “Yeah, I won’t cry.”

Kouko forcefully held her tears as she nods at Rakku, telling him that she will be fine. Rakku nods back with a fake smile on his face to attempt to soothe her despite how dire their situation is. Right now, all they could do was to tell each other silent is that they are not alone.

Agri and Gyoza held their hands together tightly as well, staring in each other’s eyes with a firm resolve to make it out of the island alive.

Other remained silent. Slappy was in deep thought. Izumi was asleep as usual but seems to have a nightmare, judging from the painful expression on her face. There were still no changes in Hide, Mindy, and Starling’s unconscious state. Kirai continues to smile asymmetrically as if the dire news hadn’t bothered him at all. Shizuo stare at his fist closing and opening continuously as he mumbles to himself of how he did gotten into this mess in the first place and if it was karma that led him to this dilemma. Jimmy paced around, thinking of how he was placed in such an abnormal position. Amber, however, was not accepting the news very well.

Amber: “Ahhhh, does that mean we’re be here forever! I haven’t even fulfilled my dream of being a doctor! I didn’t get married yet! My life is ruined! What am I supposed to do now?!”

Jimmy: “Ummm….Not die today? Hehe.”

Amber grabs Jimmy by his collar and shakes him violent while screaming at him, taking her frustration out on him.

Amber: “That’s not funny! This isn’t funny! You’re not funny! You’re never going to be funny!”

Jimmy: “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was trying to lighten the mood! Please let go of me.”

Soon Amber lost the energy to continue to shake Jimmy any further and loosen her grip on him. After pausing for a moment, she lost the tension in her legs and dropped to the ground, crying as she lost the will to fight anymore as she felt the world is hopeless to live in as of now. No one tried to comfort her as they knew that they could not offer an actual solution out of their predicament.

Amber: “Why does it has to be me?! I’m not strong enough to deal with all of this responsibility!”

Shizuo: “You don’t need to be strong.”

Amber: “Huh?”

Amber stopped wiping her tears and looked up to see Shizuo in front of her. He held out his hand for her to grab onto.

Shizuo: “Look, no one said that you have to do this by yourself. In fact, I don’t think anyone can. That’s why…I’ll lend you my strength and you can lend me yours. It’s not a big deal if you ask me. One of my fellow crewmate would call this equivalent exchange. Sounds cool, doesn’t it?”

Amber: “Yeah…it does sound cool. Hehe.”

Amber smiles with a big grin as she places her hand into Shizuo’s stretched palm. She pulled herself up while Shizuo supports her ascent to her two feet on the ground.

Shizuo: “Hey, listen…I know that whatever $hi#hole we’re in right now is not that great but…it doesn’t have to stop you. Stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Or who you want to be. You’re Amber and you can do whatever you want to do if you’re willing to fight for it. And if you want to escape from this island, you can do it and I’ll help you. Will you help me to help you?”

Amber: “…”

Shizuo: “….Well, say something!...ah, man…don’t leaving me hanging like that…with that dramatic speech that I just made…it was embarrassing for me, you know?”

As a nervous habit, Shizuo bends his right arm behind his head, scratching himself on the head to comfort himself.

Amber: “….heheHEhahHAHAHAHA!”

Transitioning from a blank face, Amber burst out of laughing, hugging herself as she couldn’t breathe. As her laughter was contagious, everyone else but Shizuo and those still down for the count, slowly started to laugh too, laughing along with Amber. Shizuo’s face started to blush deep red. He placed his hands into his pocket as he tries to hide his face by looking away from others.

Shizuo: “Come on, guys! Not you too! Man, this is the worst!”

After a minute has passed, Amber finally stopped laughing. Still holding her stomach, Amber was struggling to breathe and finally took some deep breaths to calm herself down to her natural state of energy.

Amber: “I’m sorry, Shizuo. What you said was very cheesy!”

Shizuo: “You didn’t have to rub it in like that. I thought I was being cool.”

Amber grabbed Shizuo’s hand and pulled his toward her.

Shizuo: What the? Whoa! What are you-“

To his surprise, he found himself staring at Amber’s eye: a reversal of their last stare-down.

Amber: “Thanks for trying to cheer me up. I really needed that…I thought you were cool too.”

Shizuo: “Ah…”

Shizuo pulled his hand away from Amber out of embarrassment and fiddling his sunglasses as one of his nervous symptoms.

Shizuo: “Um...Yeah! No problem…I was just….returning the favor for before… Equivalent Exchange, remember?”

Amber wiping the last of her previous tears, a drop of tears flow from her right eye.

Amber: “Sniff, yeah!...I remember.”

Her grin grew big enough to make up most of her face.

Everyone watching else, couldn’t help but remain silent as they knew it was a precious scene for the two people. Except for Kirai who was ever so eager to comment but Agri has the bottom of her hiking stick deeply implanted onto Kirai’s left foot.

Kirai: “Ow! Can’t you take it easy on me! I promise not to ruin the mood of this scen-”

Agri: “Shut it.”

Agri applied more pressure onto Kirai’s foot, cracking some of his bones.

KO-KI!

Kirai: “YA-OOOWWW!!!”

Agri: “Sorry to ruin the mood but it’s time.”

Amber: “Time?...Oh no.”

Everyone awake, quickly looked down at their bracelet, checking the numbers on its display.

It read, “00:00”.

The numbers started to flash constantly. The ground beneath them started to rumble. Then it became so immense that it became difficult for anyone to keep their balance. The powerful shaking became so loud that it would be impossible to hear anyone without screaming at them at full volume.

Amber: “WHAT’S GOING ON?! AN EARTHQUAKE?!”

Agri: “EVERYONE GET DOWN! THIS COULD BE IT!”

Gyoza: “DARLING! GRAB MY HAND!”

Rakku: “KOUKO! HOLD ONTO ME! WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T LET GO!”

Kouko: “I’M SCARED!”

Slappy: “IMPOSSIBLE! THE CALM BELTS LACKS HOT SPOTS WHERE THE TECTONIC PLATES WOULD COLLIDE TO GENERATE EARTHQUAKES INTO FRUITION!”

Jimmy: “HOW EXCITING! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT!”

Kirai: “PERHAPS THIS ISLAND IS ACTUALLY ON TOP OF A WHALE OR EVEN AN ELEPHANT! POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS INTO THIS WORLD! KIRARARARA!”

Agri: “DON’T BE ABSURD! WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU SPEWING NOW? DO YOU WANT TO CRUSH YOUR OTHER FOOT TOO?!”

Rakku: “I ACTUALLY HAVE THE STRANGE LUCK TO ACTUALLY BEEN TO AN ISLAND ON AN ELEPHANT AND IN A WHALE, YOU KNOW?”

Agri: “WHAT? YOU HAVE TO BE LYING!”

Kirai: “HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE YOUR FOOT UP YOUR MOUTH, MISS AGRI?”

Agri: “I RATHER HAVE SOMETHING ELSE IN MY MOUTH!”

Gyoza: “STOP IT!”

Shizuo: “WHAT THE F**K IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US NOW?”

Pop!

 

Izumi: “huh? IS THIS MY NEW ALARM CLOCK?...YAWN…THIS IS OVERKILL, MY MASTERS. I CAN’T HELP IT IF I HAVE A NAP ATTACK”

The vibrations also shook the tents, causing some of them to break down as they could not withstand the overwhelming amount of kinetic energy anymore. One of them collapsed onto Starling, forcing her to awaken.

Pop!

Starling: “Huuuuhhhh? What’s going on heeeerrrre? I caaaaan’t seeeeee! Why is everrrrryyy-thhiiinnggg shakkkkinggg? Is this the ennnndddd of the woooorrrrld! AH!!!”

Oddly enough, Hide and Mindy were able to peacefully avoid panicking over the shaking as they soundly sleeping during the chaos.

From the middle of the campsite, something was protruding out of the middle of the campsite.

Shizuo: “LOOK OVER THERE! SOMETHING IS COMING OUT OF THE GROUND OVER THERE!”

Amber: “WHAT THE? WHAT IS THAT?”

Kirai: “A WEAPON?”

A giant dark object steadily emerges as the entire island shakes. Everyone struggled to remain in their spot as the camping ground’s assets were flung around. They cowered to the ground in a fetal position to reduce as much damage to themselves. Eventually, the violent vibrations stopped.

Once everyone knew the catastrophic event was over, they slowly stood up from the ground, watching their previously acquired headquarters turned into a disaster site. They all looked up to see a giant statue of a figure, replacing where their campfire once stood.

They dusted off the dirt off their clothes and walked towards the mysterious object. Upon a closer look at the object, they noticed that newly arrived object was a tall white stone statue of a majestic angel. A divine holy being with large, wide wings extending across the sky as if it was about to take flight. The angel was in a position that gives out an impression that it wanted to touch the sky with its fingertips.

Suddenly, a cracking noise emerges.

The source of the uproar came from the base of the angel statue: transponder snails. There were a bountiful amount of the transponder snails attached to the statue.

Ahem….Testing 1, 2, 3! Testing 1, 2, 3! Can everyone hear me?! Good, good!...Now that I know the broadcasting system works!

Amber: “That voice…who is this? It doesn’t sound familiar…Is this the mastermind? Has he finally shown himself at last?”

“Hello! Hello to you all! Welcome! Welcome to Devil’s Island! Shall we get started with the main event?”

Chapter 1: Meet the Lost Souls – END

To be continued in Chapter 2

Results

Amber, Jimmy, Izumi, Kouko, Rakku, Mindy, Hide, Slappy, Starling, Kirai, Shizuo, Agri, Gyoza

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