The Island appeared over the horizon. It took Renshu a moment to realize what he was seeing. Originally he believed it to be a beach, but then he realized the whole land was covered in sand, it was desert.
Renshu directed the Spirit pirate ship towards the dock, then let it sail forward. He stepped off the railing of the ship as it tore into the dock wood and began to destroy the wood. He did not turn back, he simply just kept walking onwards, glaring at all the people that looked as if to stop him, none truly tried.
That was, until he reached the end of the dock. He found himself in a large round center with many alley ways that led off into different directions. That was when he found out he was surrounded. A large glob of marines filled every inch of the alleyways.
Renshu looked at the buildings, they were all two story tall sandstone buildings. Could he get up there to avoid this? Rifles were cocked as they targeted Renshu, and a man stepped forward. He wore a white Marine jacket, the back emblazoned with the Kanji for Justice. The man had a helmet on that resembled horns, a large metal club in his right hand.
“Renshu the Boar.” The man said, pointing the club at Renshu. “I, Vice Admiral Coriso, hereby put you under arrest, and attempts to resist will lead to your death. Place your weapons on the ground and hands behind your back.”
Renshu felt his glare deepen. He hadn't slept a wink since his defeat of the Spirit pirates, so he could tell his eyes were beginning to sink in on themselves. Even without the sleep his body was still just as alert as ever.
Instead of dropping his weapon, Renshu drew them out and pointed them at Coriso. “Counter offer, put down your weapons, and I won't hurt you.”
Coriso smiled. “Men, Kill him.”
Renshu flexed. It wasn't the muscles he flexed, but his Rioso. He still had not mastered his abilities, known as Zuigao Rioso. He had heard legends of it from his father, but now he understood that he had it. He had the power of a king, now he had to master it to bring down a king. Only two years left.
Marines dropped left and right, leaving Coriso looking around frantically. “Damnit! Anyone weak willed retreat!” He yelled out frantically, then charged at Renshu.
The clash of the club to Renshu’s blade, Tusk, was terrific. The impact seemed to send out a wave of pressure that shattered windows, yet he had not even activated his Rioso Kuijia. This was just Renshu’s strength holding the weapon back.
“Do not take a Navy Vice Admiral lightly!” Coriso yelled out. Suddenly, the club doubled in size, and weight.
Renshu broke free of the strike, spinning away as Coriso’s club dug into the ground where Renshu stood. “Damn devil fruit user.” Renshu said, lifting his swords to strike.
As the dust cleared around Coriso Renshu noticed the man's club returned to normal. “That's right, I ate the Scale-Scale Fruit, now I can scale up or down any object I choose.”
Renshu did not care. “Just die already.” With that, he charged. His blade tips pointed at his target, he summoned his Rioso. His Rioso Kuijia lined the tips of the blades, and he thrust. To his credit, Coriso was smart and scaled up his club to take the brunt of the damage. However, that was a mistake.
Renshu’s eyes widened as he saw the club itself suddenly begin to shake and then burst. This was the final stage of Rioso Kuijia, internal destruction. He had pressed his spirit into the weapon and forced it to destroy itself from the inside.
With the club broken, Renshu’s blades were free to dig into the stomach of Coriso. Coriso let out a gasp of breath, blood spewing forth. Renshu went to push deeper, but then Coriso raised an empty hand, and mimicked his Rioso Kuijia.
Renshu went flying back, his feet the only thing keeping him grounded. Coriso held his stomach, blood beginning to pour out of him in a steady stream. He looked at Renshu with angry eyes. Renshu simply sighed.
“Seems this will be fast huh.” Renshu said. “Just make it easy and die will you?”
Coriso ran to an alley way as Renshu began to charge again. He touched a small stone wall that suddenly grew to block the alley way. Renshu swore, the man was going to get back up. How annoying.
Renshu decided to give up on the Vice Admiral, and began to walk away. That was when he saw what was in the middle of the center that he stood in. a large statue of the PIrate King Killer. Renshu did a stab at the statue, and shattered it to pieces. It made sense now, he was on the home island of Admiral Kirafukon.
Renshu found himself angry, and began to walk. That Vice Admiral wasn't that strong, but he had learned about Rioso, that was clear. Perhaps the higher ranked Marines were all capable of using Rioso? If that was the case, perhaps they were who he should be hunting. No, Pirates for now, perhaps Dalaran? Word was he used to be a Vice Admiral back in the day, maybe he was just as strong?
Renshu had walked into the night, not realizing that he was now along a long road surrounded on all sides by desert. He looked around, seeking direction but could only figure out where he had come from. He was only made aware of his position by the amount of sand that had thrown his footing off.
Looking forward at the setting sun, Renshu noticed something sliding down a large dune towards him. Renshu did not draw his weapon right away, instead letting the figure come close and slide to a halt.
The man was tanned, clearly from the island. He wore a shirt tied around his waist to reveal several crimson tattoos that lined his arms, across his shoulders, and over his chest to meet at the other arm. On his back was a spear made with a bronze shaft and head, and a bronze blade that was curved like a crescent moon.
“You are the one they call Renshu.” The man said, drawing his blade and pointing it at Renshu.
“That I am.” Renshu said, the sun setting behind the man.
“You may call me Nekra.” the man said, his hair shaved on the sides to only leave a set of hair that was spiked like a mohawk, though shorter than the ones he had seen in the Blues. “I challenge you.”
“What, cards?” Renshu said sarcastically.
“Battle pirate.” Nekra said. Renshu noticed something strange about the man. He seemed to be decorated with necklaces, bracelets, belt jewelry, earrings, all of random objects.
“Whats with the weird get up?” Renshu said, looking the man up and down.
“These are my trophies.” Nekra said, moving into a one handed stance with his blade bent back. “When I defeat an enemy I take something from them. I shall be taking the tips of your baldes.”
Renshu smiled, then drew his swords. “Over my dead body.” He charged. The sand below him made his footing slip, sending him carrening to the side. Nekra simply stepped around Renshu, and put himself behind him.
“You know not of how to fight in this land.” Nekra said. “You have not yet learned the sand dance.”
Renshu spun around, the sand making him lose his footing again as Nekra swung his blade. The crescent blade seemed to make a sound as it cut through the air towards Renshu. Raising Fang to guard Renshu realized his predicament. Even blocking was difficult as the force of Nekra’s strike sent his feet sliding back. The strike made a ringing noise and Renshu saw the tips of his blade’s go flying off to the side. Anger filled Renshu, but he swallowed it down to keep up the defense.
Nekra came at Renshu over and over, forcing Renshu into a guarding motion. The whole time Nekra waved the sword with his right hand, his left hand out for balance. Renshu felt a moment of panic, he couldn't fight like this, he couldn't let Nekra keep him on the back foot.
Foot. Renshu turned his eyes downward, and spotted Nekra’s trick. His feet were not straight like Renshu’s, they were tilted to the side. He was light on his feet, unlike Renshu who was always heavy footed. It seemed like Nekra was gliding over the sand as he charged Renshu on and on.
Renshu watched the footing while he defended, then began to imitate it. Once he got the rhythm of the dance down, he was able to defend without being pushed back. Renshu learned how to dodge and strike on his own, to which Nekra simply back stepped away as if gliding.
“I see you have learned it.” Nekra said with a smile.
“It was simple once I noticed what you were doing.” Renshu said.
“Very well.” Nekra said, using his left hand to draw out his spear. “In that case, I can truly let loose, with the Moon Dance.”
Renshu raised his blades and began to rush forward with his new footing. Nekra jabbed the spear out towards Renshu, who hesitated at the strike, giving Nekra the time he needed to clear the distance and swing his sword. Nekra became a flurry of swinging motion in an instant. When Renshu got near he would swing the sword widely, when he wasn't the spear would force him back with a reverse crescent.
However, Renshu was picking it up. He could see how the man was fighting and was able to block every attack, and dish out his own. It became a battle of attrition as the two constantly switched between attacking and defending. Neither gave an inch, dancing around each other to keep their momentum.
A trade caravan had happened by the sight, and rumors spoke of two sand tornadoes battling in the desert. A large Sand worm, a native to the island, had noticed the two and viewed it as easy food. Though as it neared, breaking the surface of the sand, it found only the swings of the two weapons sent it flying. Neither combatant had noticed either of these events.
Renshu had noticed Nekra using Rioso early in the battle, though it was clear he wasn't using Zuigao Rioso. The two’s battle went on and on, the sun rose and set again before they both began to tire.
Nekra panted, as did Renshu. “You fight fiercely.” Nekra said tiredly.
“As do you.” Renshu said with a pant. “Though it seems we are both tired, seems we will have a winner soon.”
“I have already won.” Nekra said.
“What makes you say that?” Renshu asked.
Nekra smiled. “You would defeat me if we kept going, but I would deal you a blow before my death, one that would hinder you.”
“And?” Renshu asked.
Nekra pointed his spear outwards to the top of a dune. Renshu spotted them, a group of people all watching from the top of the hill. “If I fall, they would finish you off.”
Renshu smiled, he had lost huh.
Nekra pressed his weapons to the ground as he bowed. “I accept defeat, Renshu the Boar.”
Renshu was caught off guard by the surrender. “What?”
“You are truly a powerful man.” Nekra said. “One that my men have been looking for. They look at me as a leader, but I am no such man. We need someone to lead us, and I believe only one who could defeat me would be a fitting leader.”
Renshu looked at the man. “You want me to be your leader?”
“You are a pirate, we are bandits.” Nekra said. “We are directionless, but perhaps you can give us purpose.”
Renshu thought it over, then offered a hand to Nekra. “Very well, you will be my first mate. We shall became legends on the sea. Our first job, find a ship.” After lifting Nekra to his feet, Renshu stepped over and grabbed the tips of his blades, then tossed them to Nekra. “Yours.”
Nekra tossed one back. “You keep one, as I did not truly defeat you.”
Renshu gave a smile. “Very well, lets go.”
