Horizon

The Night Guild Ship – A Temporary Respite

The sound of the waves gently rocking the ship was a welcome relief after the chaos they had just escaped. The Night Guild Pirates had successfully retreated from the Marines, their lives spared for the moment. Hiro stood at the prow of the ship, the cool sea breeze ruffling his hair, eyes staring out into the distance. He had never felt so conflicted. The Admirals were formidable, but there was something else—something about today's encounter felt like more than just a battle for survival.

"Captain, you're still thinking about them?" Hikari's voice pulled Hiro out of his thoughts. She had approached quietly, as always.

Hiro didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his gaze to the horizon, his eyes narrowing. "We've encountered something new… something dangerous. The Marines weren't the only threat today."

Hikari nodded knowingly. "True. But we've made it out alive. We should focus on regaining our strength. We've been through hell."

The weight of her words hit him. The Night Guild Pirates were in need of rest—both physically and mentally. But Hiro knew that the peace wouldn't last. They couldn't afford to stay in one place for too long. The Marines would be hunting them down relentlessly.

He glanced over at his crew. The others were already scattered about, either resting or tending to the ship. Demetrius, his swordsman, was polishing his blade with an intensity that betrayed his fatigue. Soruto Feng, their sniper, was looking through his scope, scanning the vast open sea. Celeste, their navigator, was sitting at the helm, her hand absentmindedly tracing the map laid before her. And Musica, their musician, was plucking at his guitar, the faint sound of soothing melodies drifting through the air.

For the first time in a while, the crew felt like a cohesive unit again, though a dangerous storm was still looming in the distance.

---

A New Island on the Horizon

As the Night Guild Ship sailed onward, the crew began to notice something strange. In the distance, an island was visible.

At first, it looked like just another uninhabited landmass, but something about it felt… different. The vibrations in the air, the subtle energy radiating from it—it wasn't a place most pirates would dare approach.

"Captain, we're getting closer to an island," Celeste reported, her voice unusually tense.

Hiro's eyes glinted. The feeling in the pit of his stomach told him this wasn't just an ordinary island. He knew that it could very well be a trap, but it was the only place they could find to rest for a while.

"Let's go ashore," Hiro ordered, his voice resolute. "We need the rest. But stay alert. Something's not right here."

---

On the Shores of the Island

The ship anchored just off the coast of the island. The air was still, almost oppressive, and the sky overhead had begun to darken. There was no sign of life—no animals, no ships, nothing.

The island was overgrown with thick, dense jungle. The trees were ancient, their trunks twisted in strange formations as if they had grown for centuries, untouched by time. The feeling of loneliness in the air was unsettling, like the island had once been home to something—or someone—long gone.

"This place… gives me the creeps," Demetrius muttered, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Agreed," Soruto added, his sniper rifle at the ready. "Something's off."

Hiro nodded, his instincts on high alert. He could feel something drawing him toward the heart of the island—a presence unlike anything he had encountered before. It was ancient, powerful, and filled with an unsettling calmness.

Hikari, always attuned to her surroundings, raised her hand to signal caution. "I've been sensing something. It's not the island itself. It's something beneath it."

The crew's unease grew.

"We need to be careful," Hiro said, his voice low. "Everyone, stay sharp. Let's explore, but keep your distance from anything that feels wrong."

---

The Hidden Powerhouse

As the crew ventured deeper into the island, the atmosphere grew even heavier. The dense jungle seemed to close in around them, the trees casting deep shadows across their path. They had been walking for hours, yet it felt as though they hadn't moved at all. The gravity of the island's energy pressed against their senses.

"I'm getting a bad feeling," Musica said, strumming his guitar nervously, the sound echoing ominously through the trees.

"I think we're near it," Hiro said, his voice tense. "The power I'm sensing—it's unlike anything I've felt before."

Suddenly, the ground beneath them shuddered, and the jungle seemed to come alive. Trees groaned, their trunks bending unnaturally. The air thickened as if something was awakening.

At the center of the island stood a massive stone structure, half-buried under layers of vines and moss. The stone was covered in intricate markings, glowing faintly in the dim light. It looked ancient—older than any civilization Hiro had encountered.

"This… this is a monument," Celeste said, awe in her voice. "But to what? And why was it left here?"

Before Hiro could respond, a deep rumble echoed from within the structure. A figure slowly began to emerge from the shadows, a figure of immense power—a giant covered in ancient armor, its eyes glowing with a fiery light.

"Who dares disturb the sanctum of the Old Era?" the figure boomed, its voice rumbling like thunder.

Hiro's instincts flared. This wasn't just any ancient guardian—it was a hidden powerhouse, a relic of the past that had been sealed away for centuries. Hiro didn't need to ask what it was. He knew.

The island was hiding more than just old ruins. It was a tomb for a forgotten power, a power that Hiro and his crew would now have to face if they hoped to survive.

---

The ground cracked beneath the giant's weight as it took a step forward. Its eyes locked on Hiro, a deep, ancient fury burning in them.

"You…" the giant growled. "You are not worthy to walk this land."

The Night Guild Pirates quickly formed up, but Hiro's voice rang out before they could do anything. "Stay back. This is my fight."

The others hesitated but obeyed, stepping aside as Hiro moved toward the massive figure.

"I don't know who or what you are," Hiro said, his voice unwavering. "But I'll make sure you don't threaten my crew. If I have to, I'll destroy you."

The figure raised a massive hand, and the air around them seemed to bend under the force of its presence. "You are bold, pirate, but your arrogance will be your end."

Hiro's eyes narrowed. The Night Night no Mi pulsed inside him, its power growing in response to the threat before him. The battle for survival was just another stepping stone.