The evening sun waned against the marble rimmed harbour of Puerto Arguin. Magpies flew back to their forests in fluttery flocks, as the vendors of the island began to close shop and wares to call it a day. Few of those magpies flew along the ruins of the collapsed church, Aposta Meduse. The autumn wind carries an ominous chill as it rustles the coast, the last stretch of wind flutters the flags of Argin Castle. Nobody would expect that such a small island to be the starting point where the Balance of the World and Powers would start to teeter. It begins at the Inn of Old Dread, the first gleam of moonlight wrinkled the clear glass windows, towards a group of pirates, unaware of the fate and the oncoming tides of the Great Sea.

---

Argin Kingdom, Old Dread Inn

A woman of grey cloak entered the inn. Short for a figure to be wearing such a cape, but she gazed at the list of bounty posters among the inn's notice board. Numbers that are higher than those the Pirate Captain was used to. Even the lowest of the Board would be considered a notorious pirate had it been in East Blue. The 'Cutthroat' Roarn Evans and Ezequiel's were amongst the list. None of those weren't of the poster she was looking for.

Alesia found herself bringing her dagger towards an old, browning wanted poster. All there was silence as the glass of the display plague shimmered into pieces. The Name, Face and Bounty of the enemy, Rel'chunk, one with a former bounty of two hundred and ten million, eight hundred thousand berries.

Alesia’s cloak carries a few bloodstains, as she announced, ”We, the Scarlet Pirates are recruiting, and we are taking down this man’s head!”

---

Flint who had disappeared on the crew had now returned. And he was now accompanying Captain with a new trinket in tow. It was The Sword of the Starry Night. It was a sword made of seastone, which was the Navy's favorite tool to use against the devil fruit users. The sword was a different sword with a different feel from his larger and wider sword that he regularly used. But before he had switched blades, he had used something similar in proportions to it. It was his to keep seeing as he was the only one that hadn't consumed a devil fruit. And it would be useful given he hadn't mastered the Hakis that would let him keep up with the others.

There would be the first recruit of the night. He would stand nearby and say nothing as the figure spoke to the captain. Truthfully he wasn't that worried. The tavern seemed peaceful enough save, for the slight disturbance by the Captain's attention grabbing boast. He would take a seat nearby. From there he'd order two iced teas and leisurely sip. He thouhgt about the encounter he wasn't there for with Rel'Chunk. A logia user, the most difficult of devil fruit users to fight. Well golly gee, wasn't it nice of Flint to come back and be able to use the one thing that would make the fight feasible.

When the time came, he would contribute to the fight and help snag that bounty. For now it was a time of replenishment. During the travels the crew had bled members off. That was expected, but not a good thing. The three weren't strong enough to withstand whatever the hell they'd be fighting next. More crew the better, and he was hoping that with the money they might get some improvements on the White Pearl.

Old Dread Inn - Alesia

The turnout of the gathering of pirates was lower than she’d ever expect. A good number of pirates pretended that they never seen what she did. As much as a scene that she don’t like, few pirates would dare to challenge one of the Seven Warlords. The supposed silence of the bar receded, whilst tension maintained along the poker tables of those cowardly pirates. All that could be heard are just noises of coin chips exchanges along the tables, then shuffling of chairs as the pirates walked away from the bar one by one. Even the bartender retreated away after serving Flint a drink, for a so-called ‘smoking break’.

“Yes, we are on an ongoing voyage to find the fabled treasure ‘One Piece’, ” Peeling away the bounty poster, Alesia turned to look at the cloaked man, “Needless to say, we are to settle a few grudges against the Warlord Rel’chunk, and my crewmates would be supporting my cause, regardless of the numbers on his former bounty.”

She took a seat along Flint’s table, glancing at the brick fireplace before taking a few sips on her iced tea. Her eyes shifted back towards the cloaked man with an odd hand, ”Alesia is my name. My late crewmate told us to be wary of ‘Dreamhounds’, do you happen to have any word on that of Rel’chunk’s ability?”

---

For Shinji - For people who resided in Argin kingdom long enough, there are rumours of those things. Rumours of ferocious messy eaters leaving bite marks on stone and cobble, often with no crumble of bones off their prey. But Dreamhounds are thought to be just tall tales, and even fewer would know that its one of that Warlord’s abilities.

---

Argin Kingdom

A long figure stood on the docks. Calm and serene, in a cloak that billowed with the breeze. Before her, drifting off to sea was a boat. Upon that boat there was a roaring flame which quickly engulfed the wooden vessel. The wind was in the cloaked figures favor, and quickly pushed the ship out to sea. The further away it was from the docks, and curious eyes, the better. If the variables were in her favor, the ship Grace stole from the marines wouldn't be found soon, and if she was really lucky, it would be found far enough by people who weren't fans of the world government and so would leave the ship to rot were it was. Sighing, the figure shook her head. Piloting a ship was something she had some know how in regards to, thanks to the myriad of books she'd grown up with, but it just wasn't practical, not with a single person. If she wanted to get further in the grand line, and then out to the new world, she'd have to align herself with a crew that was heading in the same direction. Shrugging off the death of the ideal situation, the figure turned and headed into the town, certain an opportunity would present itself. After all, there was a great big world of adventurers, and it appeared they were all restless. No doubt she'd find someone going her way. Then, it was just a matter of going with them as far as she could until either a better opportunity presented itself, or the current situation included too many negative variables to make worth the risk.

Grace headed deeper into the kingdom until her stomach started growling. When was the last time she ate? A day, maybe two? Strange how she was able to leave her home on a whim and pilot a vessel she'd never seen before, but couldn't remember when her last meal was. The outside world was a strange, and possibly wondrous place indeed. As she continued down the small road she caught the smell of something that doubled the pain in her stomach. Eyes closed she raised her nose to the air and sniffed gingerly. It was close.

Stopping to look around, Grace eyed the immediate area, and an old tavern looking structure caught her eye. On it was a sign that said the old dread in. That would be her first destination. She detected a seediness about it as she closed the distance, a fact that was all but confirmed as she noted a man coming out, with what looked like a drunkern in tow. There was a part of her, deep down that warned it might be wise to try somewhere else for a meal, but that was quickly silenced by another rumble in her tummy.

Hand on the door, she pushed inside and was met with silence, and the sight of a stranger in a cloak, talking with a group of individuals who were paying rapt attention to her, or at least one, in a cloak was paying rapt attention to her. The other man was watching with something akin to interested disinterest. Strange how nobody in the room seemed to care, but her eyes immediately zoomed in on the table. Without hesitating Grace stepped towards the group.

"I'm sorry to be so forward" Grace stopped and noted the paper with the blade in it. "But what's going on here?"

'Cutthroat' Roarn Evans

The consequences of failure was something he wouldn’t dare to even think of. The scar where his forefinger used to be ached more terribly as it has always been. Roarn Evans had nothing to gain, and nothing to lose from the very mission he was tasked to do. The Lord of the Evening isn’t as forgiving as his former Chancellor.

---

Street Alley
@BladeSS4
The bartender walked down the street of Argin. Street lamps cast bright shadows of rats and vermins of the night.

“I’ll want a good explanation on Mr Evans. Wasn’t he supposed to be on our side?” The Bartender turned to an alley, the other voice there was one that Bakuto had heard before.

“I sent him after Rel’chunk, but…”

“You actually believe a mere Logia alone can take down the likes of the Seven Warlord?!” That man raised his voice along the quiet alley. It was the Marine Lieutenant that the crew fought back in East Blue, Shakar. His rough grey eyebrows creased into a frustrated frown, there is just so much expression that his stone-faced composure could hide, but not towards the word of Arafael’s death. Right in front of Shakar was the Chancellor of Argin Kingdom and the Marine Captain, Bird Tamer Falir. All of them are donned in brown robes to blend in and avoid any unwanted attention.

Three alley rats stopped in front of the golden haired Marine Captain, as her green eyes gleamed at the direction of Bakuto’s hiding spot. “Someone’s tailing us, it's the Living Dragon Bakuto, one of those pirates that was with Arafael.”

What that Late Arafael told the crew about Falir’s fruit wasn’t any lie. The Whisper Whisper Fruit that allows her to listen to the language of animals of all kinds.

“Very interesting,” Shakar turned towards Bakuto in his refined composed steps, his grey eyes glinted back to his marine captain as he asked,“I’ve a gist of what is going on, it seems that Arafael trusted those daring pirates for a very good reason. Instead of moping over his loss, perhaps we shouldn’t let his death be in vain, don’t you think?”

---

Old Dread’s Inn
(@bladess4 shinji) @Jerkchicken@malmshodes

“Nothing much that I know of, Shinji-”

The flare of the fireplace smothered to a crisp. A man squeezed himself out of the fireplace via the chimney. It wasn’t the first time Alesia the Captain witness such a strange sight, “Be careful, he is a Logia user!”

“Where is Prince Bayonnes?!” The ‘Cutthroat’ Roarn Evans emerged in his less misty form.

“I’ll explain at a better time, both of you,” Alesia glanced at the young girl who just arrived at the bar,before her eyes shifted back at the ‘Cutthroat’ sternly. Alesia didn’t see Roarn’s scar clearly back at the dimly lit church, but those scars on his forearms looked more like bite wounds than a battle injury.

“Flint!” Alesia’s cutlass flung out of the Scabbard in a whirling arc, her other hand with her grasp on her pistol. There are definitely ways to fend off a person who consumed a Devil Fruit of the strongest type, however challenging as it it.

---

---

---

---

"Welcome aboard then Shinji." Flint would say to him. "Interesting question. Haven't interacted many times with them. They're amphibious humanoids with fish characteristics and they're pretty strong. Think they got other abilities but I can't remember right now."

Another stranger would approach. Female and with blue hair. Yet another potential recruit? He'd say nothing as he'd let the Cap' take care of things. He'd also notice Bakuto taking leave right after the bartender left. He wondered what that man was planning on doing. Surely he noticed something amiss? Well he was going to stay right here next to the captain for now.

It would be the right call. As shortly after the new girl, a talking cloud of mist was proceeding to flow out of the fireplace. Alesia would helpfully alert everyone to the fact this was a logia user. Flint would take one pre-battle sip of his iced tea which was deliciously refreshing. With a logia user, things were going to get spicy. "FLint!" She'd call out.

He already knew what to do from the moment she said it was a logia user. He'd leave Alesia, Shinji, and the new girl and depart from the side. He was trying to do his best to flank the devil fruit user attacking them. But really it didn't matter so long as he could get his attack in. With a practiced draw, his sea stone sword was already drawn and now he was delivering a chop at the mist. It wasn't a particularly heavy blow. As damage wasn't the objective here. He just was trying to get hit on the person so the sea stone effect could kick in.

---

---

"Ah! FINALLY I'M HERE!" With fist raised and a smile that spread across her face cheek to cheek. Lucille declared the beginning of her journey, as she stepped onto the docks of the Argin Kingdom. The journey from her home island to her current destination took one full day and a half. Seeing open ocean was something of a thrill for her since she'd never been in open water prior. There were numerous times the crew had to stop her from falling overboard. But now as she was on land once again, that excitement only increased.

With her head held high Lucille made it a solid 3 steps on the docks, before she heard her name from nearby. "Madam, Lucille! Please wait! Turning to see the voice Lucille was surprised to see half of the trading crew and it's captain all approaching her. They all stopped about an arm length away from her. Then the captain held his hand out and spoke. "Aye, the crew and i wanted to wish you safe travels. And to also wish for a great return back home. By now our people have noticed you left and are probably in panic. And who can blame them. You've stolen our tribes most prized possession and ran away. If you ask me you don't deserve to be standing here. But that brave recklessness is a true example of out people. Although not physically you represent us all spiritually. So the crew and I shall wish you safe travels from here on out. If you return anytime before, being the strongest. I'll end you myself!" The trader held out two ocean blue feathers, and Lucille took them without hesitation. Feathers in her tribe were a form of acceptance. She had been the only one to never receive them. By the time she had finished tying them on her right horn the crew had already boarded their ship and sailed off. Lucille never knew if she would see them again.

Lucille wasted no time to leave the dock yard after that brief encounter. She was brimming with excitement, and the urge to prove herself doubled tenfold. There was so much for Lucille to take in all at once. Seeing many new faces, and the smells that spiraled around her nose were almost intoxicating. It was almost like heaven on Earth. There were even groups of tough looking people that she had to hold back from approaching. Lucille's objective wasn't to just fight tough looking people. But instead people who were tougher than the average human.
Time passed and before Lucille knew it the streets were nearly empty and the sky had turned dark. Counting the small amount of beris in her pocket, she concluded there was enough to get food. Maybe even lodging if she was lucky. This led her to the door of the Old Dread Inn. As she walked through the door, Lucille felt as if her first day was over. It had been time to relax. At least that's what she thought. Once inside Lucille saw the signs that signaled a fight was about to begin. None of the people looked strong and yet for some reason they all seemed interesting. This was not a fight she would let slip. "If there's a fight dont leave me out of it!" Lucille had no idea which side she sent her declaration of battle to. But she did know this was where she was meant to be.

Old Dread’s @Jerkchicken@Senshu D Tyra@malmshodes @BladeSS4's Shinji

The water bullets phased through the Cutthroat Roarn with no sign of hindrance. The nine-finger cutthroat was almost as young as the Captain.

The seastone hilt struck Roarn right on the chest, sending the supposedly invulnerable man crashing against the wooden wall. As much as Alesia was expecting it to work one way or another, the plan went smoother than she’d expect. Still, it isn’t a reason to let their guard down. Roarn reached for a wall-mounted lamp, smashing it amidst his desperate drowning gasps from the seastone.

“You have no idea on which waters you’re threading into,” As the flames of the lamp spread out between Flint and the Cutthroat, Roarn darts towards the windows. Roarn didn’t expect those no-name pirates from East Blue to be so resourceful.

“Don’t let him escape!” Alesia sprang herself forth to the burning embers, she will, by all means necessary, make the Cutthroat pay for what he did. Flames aren’t a problem for a fishman. The turnout for her crew gathering turned out to be decent, but the occasion for them to introduce oneselves to the crew should be saved for later.

---

Back Alley @BladeSS4's Bakuto

“Challenging Rel’chunk, not many pirates have such courage, I’ll have to give praise for that,” Shakar offered a handshake, his thick forearms are seasoned in battle scars. “I’ve faced Rel’chunk once, he is a very difficult enemy. My only advice I can give is this: To break free of his ‘Dreamworld’, make yourself part of your own ‘Dream’. Sounds like simple task to do in theory, provided you get decent control of your Devil Fruit. Pardon me, but I’ve heard stories.”

A flock of magpies flew towards the Marine Captain. “For one thing Falir, how many crows did you send?”

“Three…?”

Gunshots could be heard from Shakar’s rifle, as one of those ‘Magpies’ went down in flickery motion, much like a fire that burnt out. The Marine Lieutenant ordered his Captain,“Step back, they are Dreamhounds!”

A few magpies shapeshifted into a large dark hound. Dreamhounds resemble creatures one would often see in dreams, large flickery fiends with shapes that aren’t deeply rooted into reality. Two dreamhounds managed to fit into the space of a narrow alley as if they don’t have a concept of space constraints. It showed its sharp wavy fangs, slithering itself along the narrow alley.

“I’ll deal with this one,” Shakar reloads his rifle, aiming it at a dreamhound upon approach, ”You’ll cover me, young man.”

In a trail of black soot, another Dreamhound slithered towards Shakar’s back with its distinctive scream.

Old Dread @Jerkchicken@Senshu D Tyra@malmshodes@BladeSS4

The seawater bullets phased through the Logia user just like the previous attack. Somehow the volume of water seems to be important Devil Fruit users, like an amount enough to flood the entire bar for the Devil Fruit nullifying effect to work. Still the water bullets extinguished away the embers of the broken lamp, as the path between the crew and the cutthroat becomes unhindered. The tip of Roarn’s fingers start to simmer through the gaps and corner of the sealed window. It is clear that its the last opportunity to seize before his escape.

---

Street Alley @BladeSS4 - Bakuto

The Dreamhound got sent crashing against the cobbled ground from that attack from Bakuto. In ist muffled groans, it gnarled at the ground in pain and struggle. Clear bite marks shaped the cobble ground that it crawled against. A tiny graze could also be seen on his tough dragonscaled fist.

Another gunshot from the back, and the Dreamhound fizzled in a crisp of black char. The lead bullet tumbled off from the spot that used to be the Dreamhound’s head a moment ago. “That technique just now is best to be performed silently, try easing the footwork a little. The same applies if you’re using the Storm Leg.”

“Dreamhounds usually come in packs, its better for us to part ways before the situation get too noisy,” Shakar buckled on his rifle, “Another thing, Rel’chunk’s band of privateers are quite likely to be dispatched for pirates they consider bothersome. Especially the man of the Crumple Crumple Fruit, Ezequiel. Even the weakest Fruit is deadly at the hands of a skillful user.”

Grace tilted her head at the man who was sliding through the window in his logia form. Bullets of water splashed harmlessly behind him. Well, harmlessly to everything, but for the flames which threatened to set the entire place up in flames. Which was Grace considered a win. Hands in her pockets she watched the man's retreat.

Unsure of what the variables or history was in regards to the situations, Grace started to feel like there was perhaps something she should be doing. After all, standing on the sidelines and watching people get hurt or try to get hurt, was paramount to doing harm herself. Frowning, she squeezed her fist. There was a flash of light in her eyes as she set her mind to 110%. Frowning she disappeared to sight and reappeared to snatch up the piece of paper, with the bounty of the logia user, and brought it up for a closer look.

By and large Roam was the greater of two evils, especially since she didn't notice any of the others around's pictures on the bounty walls. Which meant, at the absolute minimum, the opposing individuals hadn't done anything the world government blamed them for. She watched the man slipping through the window seal.

"He's gone." She said, crumpling the wanted poster and dropping the waded parchment on the ground. "Didn't seem you guys came very close."

Flint looked at Roarn's reaction to the blow with relief. He nailed Roarn good and from how he was reacting it seemed the seastone was working its effect on him. This was good as it mean the overwhelming advantage the Logia user possessed was lessened. Of course, Roarn wasn't an idiot and also aware his big advantage was undermined in the presence of the seastone sword.

"He's not getting away." He'd confidently say. Roarn was already trying to slip through the walls with his shadow magic. Luckily for Flint it was just right by the window. With sword in hand, Flint would try to beat Roarn to the punch again. This time by diving through the window. His sturdy frame would obliterate the wood and send glass shards flying.

Old Dread Inn

The chunk of seastone struck Roarn by the site, pinning him against the windows. ‘Pinned between the window frame’ was a better way to describe, the two halves of his body was conjoined by a thin film of mist, anchored between the misty and human form with no means to transform or detransform. Gasping from the drowning effects of seastone, his left eye widened at the sight of the enemy captain approaching.

Without wasting any breath, Alesia knew what need to be done. It wasn’t like the time she fought Valar, since stepping on this island she was ready to bear the full responsibility of her decisions as a Captain. Her grey eyes were calm and collected as she aimed her pistol at Roarn’s forehead, making it sure she wouldn’t miss.

“This one is for Scruffy.” Then goes the clicking of the trigger, and the loud gunshot that echoed the Old Dread’s tavern hall.

---

Argin Castle - Noble Quarters

The marble walls gleamed a mix of yellow and orange from the moonlight and lanterns. Rel’chunk shifted the stack of books to one side, the pile of books shimmered away upon Ezequiel’s arrival.

“Ezequiel, back then you couldn’t even Crumple away my Dreams. How was the cinnamon tea my servants prepared?” As expected, this room was the place where the influence of Rel’chunk’s powers were the strongest.

“Cut the chase. The ‘Cutthroat’ isn’t very successful on the job. This time, I’ll dispatch my entire squad to finish off the Scarlet Pirates.”

“Here I thought the upstart will learn his lesson after having his finger sliced off…” The warlord sipped on his brown tea, the taste was more bitter than usual. Back in the seas he hailed from, Logia fruits number to the dozens, with names of those pirates reaching far and wide. Amongst the three types of Devil Fruits, Logia is truly of the strongest category. The previous encounter with the ‘Cutthroat’ Roarn Evans felt like a hollow victory. Compared to his previous battles before retirement, it felt like an empty match against a boy who has yet to hone a Logia Fruit to any semblance of mastery. “Make sure you come back alive this time, I’ve a bad hunch on our true enemy---”

---

Old Dread Inn

The deed is done. Alesia turned back, placing the pistol on the bar table. Taking a seat, she looked at the broken window to take a breather for the oncoming battles that are ahead. It won’t be easy… She kept away her stray thoughts as the doors of the bar swang open.

A burly man of unkempt red hair, and a lady with a blue ponytail. The scar on his right shoulder, and the lady’s cold brown eyes suggest them to be less than friendly. Their names and face could be seen from the notice board of Bounty posters. ‘Butcher’ Gael, bounty of 77 million; ‘White Scythe’ Mila, bounty of 70 million.

“They managed to kill Roarn, just when we thought we weren't needed for this task.” Gael glanced at Roarn Evan’s corpse with a smirk, “So, shall I?”

“Feel free to go wild, after all, we don’t have a shortage of enemies.” Mila stared at Roarn’s corpse with no change in her expression.

With a feral laughter, Gael’s long hair elongated into thick brown fur, its fingers changing into long claws, letting out a disrupting howl. Tables and chairs shuffled close to the scene of Gael’s transformation.

Alesia thought for a moment that it was her late pet ‘Scruffy’, but that creature looked too feral and hostile. A werewolf that nearly towered the ceiling, one of the rare Mythical Zoan.

“I’m sick and tired of wolves…” Alesia stood up amidst Gael’s deafening roar. Drawing her cutlass, Alesia sent a gale of ‘Thrusting Winds’ towards the Werewolf.

---

Streets of Argin @bladess4

After the retired marine and Bakuto parted ways, loud sounds that resembled crumpling leaves are heard. From there stood a tall man with long browned hair. He straightened his white coat, walking in refined steps towards Bakuto. “You must be one of those ‘Scarlet Pirates’, name’s Ezequiel, I’m afraid we will be crossing swords from this point.”

Ezequiel reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small iron blob that resembled a scrap metal piece. “Uncrumple.” With the same rustling sound from before, the iron blob elongated into an oversized iron staff, its tip still soaring towards Bakuto.

Streets Alley@BladeSS4’s Bakuto

The dragonfire envelops Ezequiel’s iron rod. “Crumple.” In crumpling noises the flame wrinkled like roughened paper, then with one sweep of his staff, the flames crumpled itself onto a roadside shophouse.

“Interesting, a Dragon Zoan. My Crumple Crumple Fruit allows me to crumple things that I touch.” The thick plastered walls was as if made from paper mache, the two storey shophouse folded and crumpled itself down upon Bakuto as Ezequiel spoke.

Old Dread Tavern @Jerkchicken@Senshu D Tyra@malmshodes@BladeSS4

“As if such an attack have an effect on me!!” The werewolf pummeled the attack away with his thick arm. The thrusting wind attack however did make a gash on the wolf. But Gael’s wound healed so quickly that not even a scar remained. With one slam on the table from the humongous werewolf, the tables cracked into splinters, the floor underneath dislodged in a huge blast from its sheer strength.

Not a single corner of the bar was spared from the splintering floors or the overturned table. That man carries the same vibe as one of her crewmates, but this time its on the enemy side. Letting her thoughts slip away, Alesia embraced the Oneness, focusing everything on her core of her weight to anchor herself against the unstable ground made by Gael.

Alesia's one strong slash on the werewolf, but just as the slash almost got through the Werewolf's arm, the injury healed and regenerated. It will take more than brute force alone to take down Gael.

“He is sure a rowdy one…” Amidst the chaos, a crystal wall was erected in front of Mila.

---

Alley @BladeSS4's Bakuto

“Uncrumple.” Ezequiel’s iron staff unfolded towards the Dragonfire. As both ends of the attack collides, the dragonfire crumpled at the first touch of Ezequiel’s iron rod. But at the next moment, the huge Dragonfire proved too thick for that man to crumple, as the stream of dragonfire wrestled itself back at Ezequiel’s direction. His eyebrows twitched at this scene, his other free hand raised up towards the air. “Crumple”

The smoke clears, Ezequiel stood above an alley’s rooftop. Even with the use of Soru, he wouldn't be able to get away from a Dragon Breath of this scale. Yet that man had done the impossible, futhermore returning attack with a simple Uncrumpling iron rod at Bakuto. A strike from an iron rod doesn't look threatening, but Ezequiel's 'weak' attack crumpled Bakuto's dragon scales like paper.

“Just when I thought flying types are already rare enough, a Dragon, a Mythical Zoan stands before me. But something tells me that you're struggling control with that powerful fruit of yours.” Ezequiel recrumpled his iron rod, something around his free hand seems to crumple & uncrumple. “With my fruit, even 'Distance' can be crumpled. Mind if I ask on your name, and the name of your fruit as well?”