One Piece: The Deadly

Garmella had been everything Kikidori expected and more. The streets buzzed with life, filled with vibrant markets, people from all walks of life, and the promise of new discoveries at every corner. The island seemed to hold a deep, ancient knowledge, and Kikidori was excited to explore it all. The stories of the Cubala, the mysterious heart of the Earth, filled his mind with wonder.

But that was before the world turned upside down.

It all started with a loud rumble. At first, Kikidori thought it was just the island's natural movement—maybe an earthquake or some kind of tremor. But then, the ground shook again, and this time it felt different. A deep, heavy vibration that rattled his bones.

Kikidori froze in place, looking around in confusion. And then he heard it.

*Boom* *Boom* *Bam* *Bam* *Bam!*

Cannonballs shot through the sky, hurling towards the island with terrifying force. The explosions sent massive plumes of smoke into the air, and the ground trembled as each blast landed. The sound of destruction filled the air, mingling with the screams of the townspeople.

"W-What's happening?!" Kikidori gasped, his heart pounding in his chest.

He looked around, panic rising in his chest as people scattered in every direction. He'd wandered too far from the crew while exploring, and now, the island was under attack. Kikidori's thoughts raced. Was this some kind of invasion? He didn't know who was behind it, but the carnage was unlike anything he'd ever seen.

Kikidori's breath quickened, his small hands trembling as he dashed down the street, desperately searching for the crew. He ran faster, his mind filled with fear. The sound of cannon fire echoed in the distance, but now it was joined by the unmistakable sound of gunshots.

*Kikidori, don't panic,* he told himself, trying to calm down. *Find the crew. Find them now.*

But as he ran, the horrifying sight of Marines gunning down civilians caught his eye. His stomach turned as he watched a Marine take aim at a small child—barely six years old—who was trying to flee with his parents.

*No!* Kikidori thought, his heart stopping.

The shot rang out. The child crumpled to the ground.

Kikidori's legs locked in place, his eyes wide with disbelief. He could hear the child's faint cry of pain as the life drained from him. But there was no time to mourn. Kikidori turned and forced himself to run, his mind trying to block out the sounds of crying and screams. His heart hammered in his chest, and tears blurred his vision.

The island was burning. The ground was cracking under the impact of cannonballs, buildings were collapsing, and the sky was clouded with smoke. The Marines were systematically destroying everything. The chaos was too much for Kikidori to process. He was alone—surrounded by destruction—and all he could do was run.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kikidori found them.

The Straw Hats.

Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Franky, Robin, Chopper, Brook, and Jinbei stood together in the midst of the chaos, ready for battle. But Kikidori could see it in their eyes—they knew this wasn't a fight they could win. The Marines were too many.

"Kikidori!" Luffy shouted, his face grim but determined. "Get over here!"

Kikidori ran toward them, his legs shaking with exhaustion and fear. As he reached them, he could hear the sounds of gunfire getting closer.

"Captain," Zoro said through gritted teeth, looking out over the sea of Marines closing in. "We have to leave. Now."

Luffy's face twisted with frustration, but he nodded. "We can't fight them here. They're too strong."

"We have to save everyone," Robin said softly, her voice filled with sadness. "But we can't do it if we stay."

Kikidori could see the weight of the situation on his crew's faces. They had to leave. There was no other choice. The island was being destroyed, and they couldn't stop it.

With a heavy heart, Luffy made the call. "Everyone, back to the ship!"

The crew ran, fighting off the Marines who tried to stop them. But the Marines were relentless, and no matter how hard they fought, it was clear they wouldn't be able to hold them off for long. They had to leave.

As the crew raced back to the Thousand Sunny, Kikidori couldn't help but glance back at the island. The smoke rising into the air, the flames licking the edges of the town, and the sound of destruction—he couldn't unsee it. Garmella, a place of knowledge and culture, was being erased from the world.

The Thousand Sunny pulled away from the harbor, its sails catching the wind as it sped toward open water. Kikidori stood at the bow, watching Garmella grow smaller and smaller until it disappeared into the horizon.

Luffy stood beside him, his usual carefree demeanor gone. He clenched his fists, his anger palpable. "We'll never forgive them for this," he muttered, his voice low but filled with determination.

Kikidori didn't know what to say. He had never seen destruction like this before. But one thing was clear—this wasn't over. The Marines had destroyed Garmella, but they hadn't won. Not yet.

As they sailed away, Kikidori turned his back on the island and looked ahead. He didn't know what the future held, but he was sure of one thing: the Straw Hats would keep moving forward. No matter what.

End of Chapter 16