The sea had finally settled. The storm that had raged only moments ago now lay behind them, leaving the shattered remains of the Thunder Reaver's fleet floating aimlessly on the waves. The salty air was thick with the scent of burnt wood and gunpowder, a reminder of the carnage that had just taken place.
On the deck of the Midnight Reaper, the Night Guild Pirates moved swiftly, securing their victory. Some dragged unconscious enemies onto the deck, others salvaged what little loot remained from the wreckage. But Hiro stood motionless at the bow, his golden eyes staring into the endless horizon.
Hikari approached him, her silver eyes shining in the dim light of the fading storm. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you?" she said, folding her arms.
Hiro didn't respond immediately. Instead, he exhaled slowly, watching the last remnants of Vexor's fleet disappear beneath the waves.
"…He's moving fast," Hiro finally said, tossing a crumpled newspaper onto a nearby crate. The headline was clear:
"Straw Hat Luffy Defeats Donquixote Doflamingo! Dressrosa Liberated!"
Hikari followed his gaze, then sighed. "Luffy's name is spreading like wildfire. It won't be long before the whole world turns its eyes on him."
Hiro's fingers twitched at his side. It was strange. He had never met his little brother—never even seen him in person. And yet, he felt an undeniable connection. A bond that not even the sea itself could sever.
His thoughts were interrupted by Demetrius, who approached with his sword still resting on his shoulder. His usual smirk was absent, replaced with something more serious. "Captain. We've got a problem."
Hiro turned his attention to him. "Speak."
Demetrius jerked his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing toward the wreckage. "Some of the prisoners won't talk, but one of them finally cracked. Turns out Vexor wasn't the biggest threat out here."
Hikari raised an eyebrow. "Then who is?"
Demetrius hesitated for a moment before responding.
"…The Abyss Reapers."
A heavy silence fell over the crew. Even Celeste, who had been busy studying the weather charts, froze in place.
Hiro's expression darkened.
"The Abyss Reapers?" Soruto asked from the crow's nest, his voice laced with irritation. "Those lunatics?"
Celeste exhaled sharply. "If they're in this part of the New World, that means trouble."
Hikari's fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger. "They're not just trouble. They're monsters."
The Abyss Reapers. A pirate fleet that lurked beneath the waves, striking from the depths with brutal efficiency. Unlike normal pirates, they didn't care for treasure or fame. They hunted for something far more sinister—blood. Ships that encountered them never lived to tell the tale.
Hiro's jaw tightened. "So, what did the prisoner say?"
Demetrius ran a hand through his dark hair. "Vexor wasn't here by accident. He was running. From them."
The weight of his words sank in. The Thunder Reaver hadn't been hunting the Night Guild—he had been desperately trying to escape a far worse fate.
Hiro let out a low breath. "Where?"
Demetrius pointed toward the sea behind them. "…Beneath us."
As if on cue, a deep, guttural sound echoed from below.
A noise that should not exist.
A sound that made the very air tremble.
The crew fell silent. Even the waves seemed to hesitate, as if afraid to move.
Then, the ship lurched.
The entire Midnight Reaper shook violently, nearly knocking the crew off their feet.
Soruto's voice rang out from above. "Something's rising from the depths!"
Hiro's eyes flashed as he turned to Hikari. "Everyone, battle positions. Now."
The crew scrambled into formation, weapons drawn, eyes sharp. Celeste gripped the helm, adjusting their course. Musica, their musician, pulled out his violin and played a haunting tune—one that sent chills down their spines.
Then, the sea parted.
And from the abyss, they came.
Rising from the depths like phantoms of the underworld, the Abyss Reapers' fleet emerged, their ships unlike any Hiro had ever seen. Twisted black hulls, glowing crimson eyes painted onto their sails, and an eerie fog that seemed to move unnaturally. But worst of all was the ship leading them.
A leviathan of the deep.
A monstrous vessel forged from the bones of fallen sea kings, its mast adorned with the skull of a creature too large to be of this world. And standing at its bow was a figure clad in abyssal black, his glowing red eyes locking onto Hiro's.
The air grew colder. The weight of the ocean seemed to press down on them.
Hiro clenched his fists, his haki crackling around him. "So, they finally show themselves…"
The figure aboard the enemy ship lifted a hand. And then—
The Abyss itself swallowed them whole.
---
End of Chapter 4.