The sand turned to cobblestone.
Nox walked barefoot, dragging wet footsteps down a crooked alley that smelled like fish guts and bad decisions.
His shoulders were still crusted with salt. His hair stuck to his face. His horns throbbed like someone was tapping them with a hammer.
And his stomach?
It sounded like it wanted to eat him from the inside out.
"Fantastic," he muttered. "Day one and I'm already homeless, naked, and starving."
Ahead, the town spread out in mismatched colors and chipped rooftops all leaning toward a small port where fishing boats bobbed like drunk ducks. Smoke rose from food stalls. Laughter, shouting, and bells blended into one messy background track.
He crept in like a ghost with horns barefoot, drenched, and completely naked.
Ducking between crates and fish stalls, he dodged a fruit vendor, slipped behind a stack of netting, and nearly scared the soul out of an old fisherman cleaning squid.
By the time he reached the edge of the market, half the town was still blissfully unaware they'd just been infiltrated by a very large, very naked Oni.
Then the side quest popped.
[SIDE QUEST AVAILABLE: Steal Clothes (0/1)]
He glared at the screen. "Steal? You really want me to start off as a thief?"
No response. Just the faint pulse of text, smug and silent.
He glanced around. laundry lines, market racks, and one open storefront with a stand of "discount" fashion flapping in the breeze. It was all junk. Torn tunics. Muddy boots. But one outfit stood out.
A black, short sleeved button up with faded red hibiscus flowers.Worn black cargo shorts, patched at the knees.And a pair of flip-flops so beat up they looked like they'd survived a war.
He stared at it.
"…That's actually perfect."
A second later, he was gone. A rustle of cloth, a quiet footstep, and
He reemerged behind the shop, fully dressed.
[SIDE QUEST COMPLETE: Steal Clothes][REWARD: +3 EXP, +1 AGI]
He rolled his eyes. "So I get stat bonuses for fashion crimes now?"
[SIDE QUEST AVAILABLE: Consume Food (0/1)]
Nox grinned. "Now that's more like it."
He started walking again, eyes drifting toward the food stalls.
And then he heard it.
A scream.
"MAMA! THAT GUY HAS HORNS!!"
Nox froze.
Heads turned.Eyes locked on him.Voices rose in panic.
Nox slowly raised a hand.
"…Hi."
Chaos.Stalls overturned. Fish flew. Someone screamed and tripped over a basket of squid.Doors slammed. Shutters dropped. Even a chicken bailed out over a rooftop.
Ten seconds later, the street was empty.
Then they came back.
Armed.
A dozen villagers marched in, gripping whatever they had. Leading them was a sharp eyed old man with a rusted musket.
He pointed it at Nox.
"You there! Horn head!"
Nox blinked. "…Me?"
"Don't play dumb! Who sent you?!"
Nox raised his hands lazily. "Woke up on the beach an hour ago. No plan. No memories. Just your average confused, starving, devil horned stranger."
The musket didn't lower.
The old man stepped forward. "You got a name, boy?"
"Wil D. Nox."
Silence dropped like an anchor.
Chief Bragga's eyes widened just for a breath. His grip on the musket trembled.
Then it steadied.
"He's not one of Red Tooth's," Bragga muttered. Loud enough for the crowd. "Lower your weapons."
"WHAT?!"
That shout came from a teenager near the back lanky, fire-eyed, a spear clutched in both hands.
"You're letting him in?! After everything they've done?"
"Lenny"
"He could be on of them! You don't know him!"
Nox glanced at him. "You always yell this much at strangers, or is it just me?"
"Shut up!"
Lenny turned to the crowd. "We chase him off now, or we regret it later!"
"Enough!" Bragga barked. "Everyone back to your homes. I'll deal with this."
Lenny scowled, spit to the dirt, and shoved past Nox.
Bragga looked tired. "You hungry?"
"I'd kill for fried squid."
"Then come on," the old man grunted. "You can repay me with answers."
Mayor Bragga's shack smelled like tea and oil.
Nox chewed.
"You really don't remember anything?" Bragga asked.
"Just the name."
"Well then, Nox, you're on Yaba Island. Wasn't on most maps until the sea changed."
"Changed how?"
"New current opened last storm season. Now we're a checkpoint between the north trade lane and a cesspool called Spider Miles."
"Spider what?"
"Black market port. Slavery, smuggling, Devil Fruit deals. No laws."
Bragga's jaw tightened.
"Smugglers use our island like a pit stop. They shake down locals. Their boss calls himself Red Tooth. Armed. Mean. Took the cliffs east of town."
"No Marines?"
"We're too close to Spider Miles. Too far from anything else."
Nox glanced at the extra chair near the table empty, pushed back, like someone left in a rush. An untouched plate sat across from him.
"That for the kid with the spear?"
Bragga nodded. "My son. Lenny."
He exhaled through his nose. "Proud. Stubborn as a goat, brave as a fool. He's been itching for a fight ever since Red Tooth's men started harassing the docks."
Nox set down his bowl.
[SIDE QUEST COMPLETE: Consume Food][REWARD: +5 EXP]
Then
BOOM!
The door slammed open.
"Chief Bragga! It's—he's gone!!"
"Who?!"
"Lenny! He took his spear and ran for the cliffs! Said he'd fight the smugglers!"
Bragga cursed under his breath. "I knew that idiotic son of mine would do something like this sooner or later…"
Nox stood as the system pulsed.
[QUEST UPDATED: Clear the Smuggler Nest][New Objective: Save Lenny before it's too late][REWARD: Skill Tree Access + ???]
"You fed me."
Bragga blinked. "…So?"
"So now I feel responsible," Nox said, cracking his knuckles. "I'll go get that brat back."
⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻⸻
Nox's Character Stats (End of Chapter)
[Name:] Wil D. Nox
[Race:] Oni
[Level:] 1
[Status:] Stable
[Memory:] Locked
[EXP:] 8 / 100 [▓▓▓░░░░░░░░]
[STATS]
STR: 18
AGI: 13 (+1)
STA: 20
INT: 11
AWR: 14
WILL: 22
[TRAITS] [QUESTS] [SKILL TREE] [INVENTORY]