Airi hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
"I think… only two of you should come with me."
Emma folded her arms. "Why?"
"If all of you walk into town with me, it'll draw too much attention," Airi explained. "People here… they notice things like that."
Nyx smirked. "So we pick two sacrifices?"
"Volunteers," Emma corrected.
"No," Nyx said. "Definitely sacrifices."
Amy laughed. "Either way, I'm not going. That forest already traumatized me."
Alice nod. "Same...I'm not walking through that forest again...I'llonky come along if we fly."
Emma grabbed a handful of sticks from a crate nearby. "We'll draw. Shortest sticks go."
Nyx's grin widened. "Now this is fun."
Everyone picked.
Noah looked down at his stick… then sighed.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Nyx slowly raised hers.
Same length as Noah's.
She smiled.
"Destiny." She said.
Emma gave a satisfied nod. "Perfect. I'll stay and keep things under control here."
Amy stretched. "Good luck not starting a fight."
"Try not to destroy the island." Alice said.
Noah glanced at Nyx. "We're not starting anything."
Nyx clasped her hands behind her back. "I make no promises."
Emma points at Noah. "You promised me."
Noah sighed. "…Yeah. I did."
The three of them left the ship and headed inland.
The air changed the further they walked.
Less salt and More smoke.
The path stretched ahead, lined with towering stone statues.
Noah slowed down slightly.
Each statue showed one of the island founder.
Some held hammers. Others carried tools. One even held a blueprint carved into stone.
"They look… proud," Noah said.
"I think so too," Airi replied. "They built everything here."
Nyx walked closer to one of the statue, tracing a crack along its surface.
"No weapons," she noted.
"They didn't need them back then," Airi said.
Noah glanced at the statues again, his expression dimming.
"…Guess that didn't last."
Airi didn't answer.
The wind moved through the statues, carrying a silence that felt heavier than words.
As they entered the town, Noah's eyes scanned everything.
It was… beautiful.
Clean streets. Strong buildings.
CLANG. CLANG. CLANG.
The constant ringing of metal filled the air.
Everywhere they looked.
Forges and Blacksmiths shops at every corner.
"…That's a lot of weapon shops," Noah muttered.
"It's almost all we have," Airi said.
Nyx's gaze sharpened. "Forced labor."
Airi gave a small nod.
People glanced at them as they passed.
Noah exhaled slowly. "Yeah… I don't like this place."
Nyx smiled faintly. "I do."
"Of course you do." Noah replied.
They reached a small house near the edge of town.
Airi stepped forward.
"I'm home"
FWIP!
An arrow shot straight towards them.
Nyx caught it between her fingers without even looking.
"…Really?" she said, holding it up.
"It's okay!" Airi called out quickly. "They're with me!"
A boy slowly crawled out from behind a broken wall.
His movements were shaky.
His leg badly wounded, wrapped in soaked cloth.
"Airi…" he said weakly.
Airi rushed to him immediately. "Don't move! You'll make it worse!"
Noah stepped closer, his eyes narrowing.
"That wound…"
Nyx crouched slightly, studying it. "Blade. Not an animal."
The boy clenched his jaw, trying to stay conscious.
"They came back…" he whispered.
Airi froze. "…Who?"
"The governor's men…" he said, fear creeping into his voice. "They're searching houses again…"
Nyx slowly stood.
Her grip tightened around the arrow.
crack.
It snapped in her hand.
"…Good," she said.
Noah glanced at her. "Nyx."
She smiled.
"I was getting bored."
Noah sighed. "We're here to help. Not start a war."
Nyx tilted her head. "Helping might start one."
Airi looked between them, nervous. "Please… just help me bring him inside."
Noah nods.
"Yeah. That comes first."
Noah and Nyx bring the boy inside and lay him down carefully.
"Easy," Noah said. "Don't move too much."
"Thanks," Airi said. "I'm going to make a dressing to put on his wounds."
She walks off quickly.
Nyx watched her leave, then turns back to the boy and crouches in front of him.
"Aye, kid… what's your name?" Nyx asked.
"My name is Kiru," the boy replied.
"How old are you?" Nyx asked.
"I'm seventeen," Kiru replied as he grunts in pain.
Nyx stares at him for a moment.
"Now, Kiru… if you lie to me, I'll kill you," Nyx said.
"Nyx, don't say that," Noah said, upset.
Nyx ignores him.
"Tell us the real reason why those pirates are after you," Nyx said.
Noah looks at her, confused. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Kiru shifts slightly. "I don't understand," he replied.
"Don't try to play dumb," Nyx said. "Why would the governor...who's a pirate send his men after a seventeen year old boy?"
Noah holds his chin, thinking. "Yeah… that doesn't make sense."
Kiru looks away. "I don't know," he replied.
Nyx slowly stands.
Her presence changes. A dark pressure fills the room.The wooden walls begin to creak. Small cracks form as the air grows heavy.
Noah's eyes narrow. "Nyx…"
Her Haki surges.
The shadows stretch across the room unnaturally.
"One last chance," Nyx said.
Kiru panics. "Okay! Okay, I'll tell you!" he shouted. "But please… keep this a secret from Airi!"
Noah glances towards the other room.
"Talk," Nyx said.
Kiru swallows.
"…Because I have the one thing they need…" he said.
He looks up at them, fear in his eyes.
"…to make an ancient weapon," he replied.
Nyx's Haki fades instantly.
Noah lowers his hand slowly.
"…You're serious," Noah said.
Kiru nods.
"It belong to one of pur ancestors."
Nyx steps closer. " What belongs to who?" she asked.
Kiru hesitates.
Footsteps echo from the other room.Airi is coming back.
Kiru panics.
"I can't say it out loud."
Nyx leans in close. "Then whisper it," she said.
Kiru leans forward and whispers into her ear.
Nyx listens.
Her face stays calm at first. Then a slow smile appears.
"…I see," Nyx said.
Noah frowns.
"What did he say?"
"You'll find out soon," Nyx replied.
Noah sighs. "I don't like when you do that."
Airi walks back into the room with a cloth and a bowl.
"I made something to help with the pain," she said.
She pauses and looks around. "…Did something happen?" she asked.
"No, nothing happened," Noah replied.
"Yeah, just talking," Nyx said.
Kiru forces a weak smile.
Airi kneels beside him and starts treating his wounds.
"You'll be fine," she said softly.
Kiru nods.
But his eyes drift toward Nyx for a moment.
Noah sighs.
"…This just got complicated,"