One Piece: Lost in the Tutorial #72

Law, Bepo, Penguin, Shachi, and Double Six wandered through the desolate streets of Flevance, their footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The once-prosperous island now lay in ruins, its former glory only a ghostly memory.

Flevance had once been a jewel of the North Blue, renowned for its stunning beauty and exceptional medical expertise. The island was like a scene straight out of a snowy country fairy tale, with its earth, trees, and grass all pure white. This ethereal beauty had left visitors questioning the island's reality, marveling at its otherworldly charm.

The source of this enchanting whiteness was amber lead, a mineral vein discovered beneath the kingdom. Initially celebrated for its stunning appearance, amber lead had been used to create utensils and tools that were sought after worldwide. The demand for these beautiful items had led to Flevance's rapid rise in affluence.

Yet, the very element that brought Flevance its prosperity also carried its doom. Unbeknownst to anyone, amber lead was lethally toxic when humans were exposed to it for prolonged periods.

The people of Flevance, living in constant contact with the mineral, began to suffer from mysterious ailments. Even the island's renowned doctors, who had been among the finest in the world, couldn't uncover the root cause of the illness.

The surrounding nations, fearing contagion, had isolated Flevance completely. This isolation led to the slow, agonizing death of everyone on the island, with one exception: Trafalgar D. Water Law.

As Law and the crew walked through the ghostly town, the echoes of its past still lingered. Despite the destruction, Flevance's beauty remained, a haunting reminder of what once was. Law's gaze was steady, his expression unreadable as he led his crew through the remains of his homeland.

"This place is... incredible," Shachi muttered, looking around in awe and sadness.

"Hard to believe something so beautiful could cause so much pain," Bepo added, his usually cheerful demeanor subdued.

Penguin kicked at a piece of rubble, his face grim. "The people here never stood a chance."

Double Six remained silent, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a thinly veiled curiosity.

Law stopped in front of a crumbling building, his eyes distant. "This is where it all started," he said softly, more to himself than to his crew.

Bepo's ears perked up, and he stepped closer to Law. "Is this where you grew up?"

Law nodded, his expression hardening. "It is..."

The crew fell silent, the weight of Law's words hanging heavy in the air. They continued their exploration, each step uncovering more of Flevance's tragic history.

The white landscape, still stunning in its ruined state, was a constant reminder of the island's cursed fate. As they walked, they passed remnants of what had once been homes, markets, and clinics.

"This place used to be filled with people," Law said, his voice tight. "Doctors, families, merchants... all gone."

Shachi shook his head in disbelief. "And all because of amber lead. It's just... tragic."

"Even with all their knowledge, the doctors here couldn't save anyone," Penguin said, a hint of bitterness in his voice.

Law's gaze hardened. "They didn't know. No one knew. They thought it was a contagious disease. That's why the surrounding countries isolated us. To protect themselves, the bastards...."

Bepo's eyes were wide with sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

Law took a deep breath, his expression softening slightly. "It's in the past now. But I needed to see it again. To remember why I'm doing this."

...

Law, Bepo, Penguin, Shachi, and Double Six continued their journey through the hauntingly beautiful ruins of Flevance. The air was heavy with the echoes of the past, yet Law’s focus was on the present and the future.

"It's all in the past now," Law said, his voice carrying a note of finality. "I'm not here to dwell on it."

The crew nodded, understanding the weight of his words. They had all heard the stories of Flevance, but seeing it firsthand was a different experience.

"After the death of its people, Flevance only remained deserted for a few years," Law continued. "Then, more people came to inhabit it. Pirates and wanted criminals with nowhere else to go."

"They used Flevance as a safe haven and a base of operations to continue their pillaging and plundering. Some even settled here permanently, opening shops and acting as middlemen, buying loot from pirates and selling it outside Flevance."

"Sounds like a perfect place to hunt down some pirates and build a reputation," Shachi commented, a smile forming on his face.

"Exactly," Law replied. "That's why we're here."

They walked in silence for a while, the scenery around them a stark contrast to the bustling activity of the pirate haven it had become. Soon, they arrived at a large, dilapidated building that still bore the faint markings of its past life: the hospital where Law's father had worked and where his family had perished.

Law's eyes narrowed as he looked at the structure. "This is it. The pirate we questioned was right. The place is crawling with them."

The crew's expressions hardened, readying themselves for the inevitable confrontation.

Law drew his sword, Kikoku, its menacing presence a promise of what was to come. "Attack. Capture everyone you can. Kill anyone who resists."

Bepo, Penguin, Shachi, and Double Six nodded, drawing their own weapons. They moved as one, their training evident in their coordinated movements into the hospital.

They burst into the hospital, the air filled with the shouts and curses of the pirates taken by surprise. Law led the charge, his sword flashing through the dim light as he cut down anyone who dared to stand in their way.

Bepo, in his full combat form, barreled through the halls, knocking pirates aside with his sheer strength. Penguin and Shachi moved with precision, their attacks swift and lethal, capturing and subduing those who surrendered.

 Double Six took a step back, using his devil fruit powers to send barrages of whatever discarded items he could get in the direction of the pirates, supporting the crew from behind.

The hospital, once a place of healing and hope, was now a battlefield.

...

The shores of Flevance were eerily quiet, the desolation only accentuated by the ghostly beauty of the white landscape. Amidst the ruins of what was once a prosperous island, a tall figure in heavy clothing and a hood surveyed the ground. He crouched, examining the tracks leading away from the shore.

“They've definitely landed here,” he murmured to himself, brushing his fingers over the imprints. “But I don't see their ship anywhere...”

A voice broke the silence, smooth and with a hint of amusement. “Who knows? I've been inside their ship and it's something else. Quite strange, really.”

The man stood up, removing his hood to reveal his face. It was X Drake, the former Rear Admiral turned pirate. He turned to face the speaker, a woman in a cowboy hat who stood beside him.

“You know... when you walked in on me while I was reporting to my superiors in the Marines, I thought I’d have to fight you to the death rather than team up with you,” Drake said, his tone serious but tinged with curiosity.

Kiera smirked, tipping her hat back slightly. “I didn’t expect to be working with a Marine pretending to be a pirate either. But I’ve got a bone to pick with Blake Thorne. Our last encounter made it pretty clear I can’t handle him on my own.”

Drake nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. “I suppose It doesn’t really matter. What’s important is finding out where Blake’s crew went and taking care of them quickly...."

Kiera narrowed her eyes, examining the tracks that led deeper into the island. “Their tracks lead this way. If we follow, we’re bound to find them.”

Drake nodded in agreement. The two of them set off, their steps measured and cautious as they followed the footprints winding through the desolate, white landscape of Flevance.

After several minutes, they stopped abruptly, their eyes widening at the sight before them. A pirate lay motionless on the ground, a gaping hole in the shape of a cube where his heart should have been. Strangely, he was still breathing, his chest rising and falling in shallow, labored breaths.

Kiera and Drake exchanged glances before kneeling down to inspect the pirate. Kiera muttered under her breath, “What the hell is going on?”

Drake’s face remained impassive, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of recognition. “It’s probably the work of a devil fruit. The higher-ups warned me that I'll be going against some unusual devil fruits in this mission... .”

Kiera frowned, glancing from the pirate’s wound to Drake. “So, who did this? More importantly, what kind of fruit lets you remove a person’s heart and still keep them alive?”

“I'd say it's the Ope-Ope no Mi, if I had to guess” Drake replied, standing up. “It grants its user the ability to create a room within which they can manipulate anything, even the human body. We need to be careful.”

Kiera nodded, still staring at the pirate with a hole in his chest. She winced, a shiver running down her spine as she thought of the implications. “This is... disturbing.”

Drake resumed following the tracks, his steps more cautious than before. “Stay focused. The Ope-Ope devil fruit's powers are formidable, but they’re not invincible. We just need to be smart about this.”

Kiera took one last look at the unconscious pirate, then hurried to catch up with Drake. “Right. Let’s keep moving.”

As they continued deeper into the island, the silence of Flevance pressed down on them, each step echoing ominously in the empty landscape. They knew they were getting closer, and with every passing moment, the tension between them grew.