This 'Ball of Death' was sat in a large wooden chair. Facing away from the doorway, small lanterns and Incense burning around him. His hair was stark white, and spiked into a messy nest of hair. Even still, in front of him, hanging on the wall was a mask, a half skull with a furred mane around it in a style just like the man's hair, a large set of horns sat atop it. Certainly it must've been his.
Most of the Crew stayed behind the chair, letting Awoga and Aponiv walk in front. But there was two of the crew that were ready to face this mysterious figure.
Leroy and Raven.
Raven was first to walk around the Chair, Leroy following quickly in turn.
Ravens journal clattered to the ground with a rough thud, pen clattering lightly as her hand was brought to her mouth, covering a gasp "Oh-"
She took a few steps back, shock etched into her face as Leroy looked confused at the Scholar
"Oh My…" She muttered again.
His face was deeply scarred, parts of his ears were charred with almost burn-like scars. His scars danced around his face and cheeks as if he'd been pushed through a dance of razors. White hair spiked, with his eyes a pale blue, the iris' that held no pupils were sharp almost as if it had been shattered, curving up and down going around and bleeding into his sclera
"What is it?!" Awoga, Noir, Kirk, Dezzi and Noir all said at once
"Whats wrong Rav?" Leroy questioned.
"Theres…How?" She lowered her hand as her eyes stayed looked on the deeply scarred face of the man
"What!" Leroy practically Demanded.
"That's-"
"Astrapi Tew…"
A Chill ran down Kirk and Jeannes Spine. Kále had a look of intrigue. The three in some way all had heard the name to some extent. Though not fully knowing what it held.
Raven Began to explain
Astrapi Tew was one of the Royal Marshal Privateers. Same as Hornigold Rackham and Hannibal Wolfheart. He was known as the Thunderbird, and held a bounty of 290,163,800 before being canceled by order of the world government and going under their employment. He'd been active for close to a Decade before many months ago, he was reported dead.
His death was never certain. Insiders said his body washed up, others said that the sudden disappearance confirmed it. The one thing that was known was supposedly the persons to last see him were two men by the name of "Edward" and "Vane"
But unknown at this time by any of them in the room, the real perpetrator was not two men. But one.
Blackbeard. Edwar D. Vane.
This revelation that the Man in front of them was a Marshal caused those from the Blue to recoil. And after a short explanation by Raven to Awoga and Aponiv, they too held their breath in this revelation
"Whats- Keeping him here?" Kirk asked, Dezzi hiding behind him.
"Well if it wasn't for his catatonic state…" She then lifted a finger, pointing to a pendant around his neck laden with silver and a purple gemstone in the middle. Symbols and characters etched into the silver pentagonal shape surrounded in a silver circlet.
"The Pendant of Tranquility keeps him bound. He's a Cursed Fortunate, and its the only thing we have that we know will keep him bound."
Leaning forward slightly, Raven observed the pendant before realizing "Terragym!"
Terragym, as spoken on before, is a special piece of Sea Stone that doesn't rely on contact, but proximity to nullify the power of a Devil Fruit user, and can even weaken, weaker powerful individuals.
This allowed the Crew to relax even more. There were not many more questions that puzzled their minds. Raven noting all that she could and after a few lesser questions about if he was feed and if he sleeps. The crew left the building. A larger air Nervousness hanging over them
"Well. That was. Interesting." Dezzi said, hopping up onto the bed. Their eyes blinking a few times
Noir was the last in, closing the room's door behind him.
Tapping ashes into his Handkerchief, he released a final puff of smoke "Yeah…"
"Who would've thought a place like this was housing another Marshal…" Leroy let his shoulders slacken as he spoke
* * *
The Rest of the Week was filled with nothing close to as Exciting or enthralling as the discovery of Astrapi. But the Games were well underway.
On the Second day, a Game of Football took place. In a small stadium, trained men kicked a hard and heavy ball into a hanging hoop that was up a slant embedded into a wall. There were three games that day, each was close to two hours. And after the preformed teams did their thing, non players were allowed onto the field to freeplay, Leroy and Noir were ecstatic! Leroy and Noir drilled the ball back and forth, and with a hard quick kick, Leroy passed it to Noir who Slammed his foot into the hard leather, causing a snapping sonic boom as he accidentally sent the ball flying a kilometer away in half a second!
The Third day was a bit calmer than the Second. Awoga informed the crew that the three days before the Survival tournament would be filled with games of all kinds. Today was mind games. Board games that were similar to Go or Shogi and Chess were played. Something where Dezzi and Jeanne actively Excelled in. With Leroy, in his own words 'Utterly dominating' a War Game that had 4 other players going against him.
Kále and Kirk enjoyed the Third day, with a few 'Boxing Matches' being a prelude of what was to come the following day. Specifically because one of the Attendants in a swordsmen bout, was none other than Atoni and Carlos
Kirk enjoyed it because he was able to do some gambling. Risk free as he thought. Given they were betting with Librae. Which held no value to himself. He knew who would win before the bouts even started.
With Aponiv and Leroy at the Sides, they watched three rounds of Atoni vs Noir, and Carlos vs Kále. To the glee of Leroy, but to the Chagrin of Aponiv. The two Red Sash fighters utterly dominated their opponents. Atoni was cocky, and was unable to keep up with the speed of Noir. Dozens of foot prints slamming into him before knocking him onto his ass on round three. The closest Atoni ever coming to a hit, was merely knocking Noirs cigarette out of his mouth.
In fact, Noir never once took his hands out of his pockets. Literally running blurs around Atoni, a smile across his face until the third round.
As for Carlos and Kále. Much the same occurred. They were given blunt Training swords similar to kendo sticks, but with fatter blades to resemble volcanic glass swords that Carlos was used to. Even with this clear advantage, Káles skill utterly outmatched Carlos, who quickly became enraged at the prospect of being beaten.
When it comes to swordsmanship, If one is skilled, they are certainly strong. But the opposite is also true. A swordsman can be immensely a brute force fighter, lacking in any finesse and out-do one who relies purely on Technique. But the Red Sash First Mate was both. Something that was a bit of a rarity in the world. You were either strong and skilled. Or Brute Force. Kále however, after his fight with Curtana, learned how to effortlessly switch between the two whenever the situation and moment to moment of a fight called for it.
With a Brutish and Skilled strike of his blade, manifesting a gust of wind, he disarmed his opponent.
As for Kirk, not only did he win bets from Skyderians for who would win, but there were a few of the mentioned mystics that Awoga and Aponiv had mentioned. The thing that caught his eye the most was the fact that they were using pieces of Steelamboon!
"Wait, What? This stuff is Native to here?" He asked one of the Mystics. "Correct . As far as I know, they've been grown in Skyderia for Generations. Though, there have been recordings that a a handful of Mystics from the old times took some with them on their journeys to the Blue Sea below."