Standing on the tree trunk is a man with deep red hair, a bare tattooed upper body, and chains wrapped around him.
"All alone?"
Urouge laughed oddly, "Looks pretty weak."
It doesn't matter if they don't have Observation, they weren't born with it. Before mastering Haki, they also relied on observation to judge an opponent's strength.
"Being underestimated, huh."
The chain man curled his lips, "Never mind, it's fine. I'm a Treasure Hunter, not a Pirate who gets provoked easily. For treasure, I'll use any means necessary."
"Treasure Hunter..."
Hawkins didn't even stand up. Hearing this, he thought for a moment and said, "Mad Treasure?"
"Sha la la la la, I can't believe my name is known to folks like you 'big shots'." Treasure laughed loudly.
"No, it's just because you're from the East Sea, it just happened to come up last time."
Hawkins drew the long sword from his waist, aiming upwards, "If it's just you, then I think you can choose a better burial ground."
Fate might not be absolute, but it is the most likely to occur.
This chance of victory and escape can't just be because of him alone. Those broken chains on the ground aren't impressive enough for them.
"Sha la la la la, do the Great Pirates always look down on people like this? Never mind, I'm indeed not alone..."
Treasure laughed heartily, snapping his finger with the hand bound in chains.
"Come out!"
Whoo!
Within the Sea of Trees, a massive sound of wind rose, and at every thick tree trunk, small whirlwinds swirled. When the whirlwinds dispersed, strange figures over two meters tall appeared.
Behind them were things that looked like wings, but they seemed to be hidden in the air, slightly blurry, unclear, only resembling wing outlines, as if forcibly restrained by something, bound from the spine.
Their skin was pale, like a corpse's complexion, faces appearing to be masked with long nose masks, or perhaps inherently fixed into a mask-like visage.
Holding steel tridents, their muscles were knotted, and even if their facial features weren't clear, one could still sense the malice and coldness they emitted.
"Quite a few of them."
Urouge glanced around and frowned, "Very strange, like corpses."
As a Monastic Preceptor, his side job was exorcising spirits, and even his group of Monastic Preceptors had this service.
It's impossible for there to be no deaths on the vast seas. On such a large territory, whether subordinates who died in battle, or elderly people who passed away, Urouge would offer exorcisms.
So he was very familiar with the scent of the deceased.
These suddenly appeared weird beings resembled the dead.
Moreover...
Urouge raised a hand in a prayer gesture, with a smile tinged with confusion, "This outfit looks like the legendary Tengu?"
"Tengu?" Hawkins was even more puzzled.
He had never heard of such things.
"Yes, according to legend, in the mysterious Tree Sea Forest, those who died wrongful deaths would transform into Tengu, inflicting Divine Concealment on people, causing them to disappear forever."
Hearing this, Hawkins was stunned, "Sky Island People know about this too?"
Being from the North Sea, he wasn't familiar with this. He only knew the tales of the hero Sora and Germa's Evil Legion and was a fervent fan.
"Sky Island legends are many, this monk happens to know a bit. If they truly are Tengu..."
Urouge's smile widened, "This monk would love to see them!"
"Sha la la la la, you know quite a bit, indeed these are Tengu! Tengu born in the Sea of Trees!"
Treasure laughed loudly, "Since you wish to see them, then behold the power of these Tengu!"
Whoosh!
The movement of a hand propelled the sound of chains, prompting those surrounding Resentful Tengu to wield their steel tridents and leap from the tree trunks, attacking Hawkins and Urouge.
Though their figures were terrifying, their actions swift, and their numbers large, to them...
"Ha!"
Urouge let out a deep shout. As the Tengu neared, he swung the lead pillar in a wide arc, creating a gale, smashing into the Tengu, shattering them into dust with dull thumps.
Hawkins didn't even raise his weapon, holding his sword toward Treasure, "That's it?"
"Resolved so quickly? Well, how many can you deal with, sha la la la la!"
With Treasure's laughter, whirlwinds rose again on the tree trunks, and Tengu identical to before appeared.
"Tengu are manifestations of Resentful Spirits, and there are plenty of them on this land. Purely physical attacks are ineffective—how long can you withstand them? These Resentful Tengu attacks are relentless!"
The Tengu once more leapt from the tree trunks, launching an offensive.
Urouge wielded the lead pillar again, shattering them one by one.
Hawkins nodded slightly, "Resentful Spirits, that's exaggerated. It must be some kind of ability..."
His Stand Ability couldn't affect these so-called Tengu, which indicated they weren't real humans, possessing no life force.
As for true Resentful Spirits...
With Moriah in their Pirates, they're well-aware of whether those exist or not.
All the unknowns on the sea can be categorized as abilities.
Even if they aren't, there are corresponding other means, not attributed to ghosts or gods.
For example, there's a Plague Calamity under Kaido, who scatters ice plagues rumored to transform people into ghosts.
But in reality, it's merely mastering a technique named 'Ice Ghost'.