Year 1511
The sky over Mad Hat darkened faster than usual. Thick, gloomy clouds hung low, like heavy curtains obscuring the face of the city. The salty wind from the roiling sea struck their faces, carrying the scent of death that slowly enveloped the place. This city, which had been the training ground for two young boys and the hidden weapon workshop of a legendary man for the past four years, now felt like a nest of venomous snakes, full of traps at every corner. And tonight, the pieces had begun to move.
For four years, the Marines had been observing, infiltrating, and spying. Their spies were scattered across all corners of Mad Hat, blending in with prostitutes, visitors at small bars, and even slave traders in the black market. They didn't come to save—they came to judge. And after years of observing, they came to a cold, merciless conclusion: "Apart from the children and slaves, nothing in Mad Hat should be spared." This was no ordinary decision. It was a decision weighed carefully, an execution that had been prepared for a long time. And now, it had arrived. The woman. On the warship, standing still in the fog, a silhouette of a woman with a slender sword stood tall, like a death statue exuding an aura of fear. Silent, calm, and carrying a chilling threat. The people didn't know who she was. Even the officers serving her could only refer to her by a vague name: "That woman." But behind the calm of her face, there was a terrible decision, one that she had thought over carefully: Mad Hat must be destroyed to the ground.
On the other side, Rick Blacknose watched the approaching storm with the eyes of an old chess player. He had never considered Lazhar an ally. Never thought they were on the same side. To Rick, Lazhar was too much of a threat to be faced openly—but too valuable to be discarded without gaining something. Now, the game had reached a turning point. With promises of wealth and reputation, Rick had invited two shameless, bloodthirsty pirate captains: Butcher Fang and Serpent Smile. Two pirate captains who were ruthless, greedy, and foolish enough to believe that Mad Hat was a treasure trove that could be plundered without anyone stopping them. Rick didn't need a victory. What he wanted was to destroy Lazhar and the two boys—then let the Marines take care of the rest. Tonight, the game had begun.
That afternoon, Bastien stood on the rooftop, looking at the two pirate flags flying at the eastern and western harbors. Beside him, Arthur squinted, gripping his sword tightly. "We're surrounded," Bastien muttered, his tone tense but still full of confidence. "Rick sold the city to pirates," Arthur scoffed, his mouth twisting into a smirk of disbelief. "Is he really that stupid or just too clever?" "He was never on our side," Bastien said quietly, almost whispering. "He was just waiting for the right moment." Behind them, Lazhar stood tall, wearing his old black coat that now seemed heavier. His body may have aged, but his eyes were as sharp as a sword that had been tested over time. He knew what was happening. "They're here to measure us," he said in a flat voice, as if he had already read this story from the beginning. "And that woman... she will come to sweep away the rest." No one asked further about who "that woman" was. The name was too heavy to speak, even just imagining it was enough to gnaw at the heart. But they all knew, if the Marines were moving, it wasn't about justice—it was about an inevitable punishment.
Nightfall arrived. And with it, hell came. From the west, Butcher Fang's forces arrived with the power to tear the earth apart, charging like a storm. The captain's massive body transformed into half-crocodile form, the power of the Zoan Fruit making him nearly impossible to injure. He roared in rage, destroying houses and knocking down walls with jaws like a saw. In the east, the Serpent Smile Pirates moved silently, like poison creeping through the city's veins. They didn't attack directly. They cut off escape routes, burned retreat paths, kidnapped children, and killed without a sound. Some of them continued toward the southern harbor, reaching a shop, but they didn't know one thing: the old shop wasn't just an ordinary house. It was the dragon's den that had been prepared for battle. When three Serpent Smile members snuck in through the back door, Arthur descended from the ceiling like lightning slashing through the night, his sword tearing into the shoulder of the first man who tried to ambush. He growled, kicking the second man, sending him crashing into a steel cabinet with unstoppable force. His body, stronger than an average teenager, a result of four years of brutal training, proved just how dangerous he was. In the familiar dark hallway, Bastien moved silently, faster than a shadow. His makeshift rifle exploded, sending silver bullets into the chest of an enemy trying to approach with intent to kill. He didn't kill out of anger. He killed because it was the only way to survive in a world filled with violence. On the highest rooftop, Lazhar stood waiting in deep silence. His hands gripped a long rifle, his eyes closed. He could feel the world below him, sensing the vibrations of murder speeding through the night air. He shot without looking. One bullet, one life separated from its body.
At the harbor, Rick sat in his dark office, sipping red wine calmly. He could hear screams, explosions, and the roar of slaughter echoing throughout the city. But he didn't move. He just smiled. "Good," he murmured in a low voice. "Kill them. Finish Lazhar... and let the Marines take care of the rest." Outside the window, the city slowly burned. Flames crawled from house to house, like a giant snake swallowing everything in its grasp.
In the distance, the Marine warship remained still, submerged in the thick fog that seemed like it would never end. The night wind swept across its deck. The woman stood tall on the deck, her long hair flowing gently, symbolizing an unavoidable threat. In her hand, a slender sword wrapped in dark haki glinted coldly. She read the report sent from Mad Hat Island. "Speed up departure," she said softly, her voice so calm but hiding the terrifying chill. "Once we arrive... we'll cleanse everything." However, what Bastien and Arthur didn't know was a far more terrifying reality: the woman they didn't know the name of—was still far, far away, further than they could imagine. On the ship, the Marines still waited for orders. Their journey to Mad Hat would take longer than they thought. Rick Blacknose was the only one who knew that the reinforcements were still far off. But for Bastien and the others, that woman was just a mysterious threat, drawing closer with every passing second.