Opus Island is a neighbouring kingdom near Dressrosa. A country with vibrant flowers, beautiful women, and an expressive fashion. Unlike its neighbour, the people of Opus rejected Government alliance and continued their independence to develop their own land through creative expression and traditions.
This independence was their downfall as the Island was invaded by a notorious pirate from the West Blue, François "Bloody Jean" Nau. A man with a 150 million Belli bounty has terrorised numerous Islands by slaughtering women and children and capturing the men, putting them through slow, agonising torture before he and his men would rip their organs out of their bodies and devour them piece by piece in front of the victim.
Many Marines who have encountered the sadistic man have always left horrified by his blood-drenched clothing, slicked black hair, and the sickening crunch of flesh grinding against his jagged teeth as he openly ate in front of them.
The country was under mayhem, the Bloody Pirates roamed every corner, killing women in front of their children, raining bullets on fleeing adolescents who had barely witnessed the murder of their mothers and fathers forced to watch their loved ones die in agony as the filthy pirates laughed hysterically at the pleas and cries of victims.
"Rip his chest open in front of his daddy –hahaha!" A Bloody pirate howled.
"Please–have mercy..." An older man begged, tears wet his face, shaky hands in prayer. "You can take all our money–just don't kill any more innocent. "
François walked over to the old man, begging, saber tainted with blood, boots stomped the ground with a slow, menacing pace. The man looked down upon the man, eyes vacant of light or emotion. His pale skin was cold like the bodies that littered the ground. Dressed in Spanish attire that many of his past victims ' men wear, a faint grin was evident on his face.
"Your people were dancing till their hearts' content, now their last beat will be to the cold rhythm of my blade." He chuckled. His men are rowdy at the statement.
"Kill him!"
"Let's crucify him at the church!"
His men spat out suggestions to torture the elderly man, but François held his saber by the man's throat, his steel licking a droplet of blood, savouring his victim's taste.
"Please –"
"It's a shame Doflamingo has claimed Dressrosa...I would've loved to drench your blood on their ruler's heart–a tantalising end to both Spanish colonies." François sighed at the lost opportunity. In a swift surgical cut, he decapitated the man in front of him, and blood sprayed out like a faucet. Decorating his clothing in his favourite colour. François inhaled the smell of iron and ash as the sounds of life leaving its host were his favourite tune.
"Men. Prepare the survivors for another banquet. "
"Yeaaaahhhh!" The Bloody Pirates chanted.
Another massacre to be celebrated.
[Marine vessel]
A Marine ship sailed near the Island, moving along the waves. Ramos sat cross-legged, eyes closed, with a scowl on his face.
"Vice-Admiral Ramos, we're 5 minutes from the Island." A Seaman notified his superior.
Ramos nodded at the notice, eyes still closed as he was processing the strong emotions wailing out across the sea. Cries for help and sobbing of children rang in his head. His empathy is highlighted by his observation haki, a gift and a curse shared by his fellow Vice-Admiral Fujitora who was blinded himself to escape the horrors of the World.
"So many children wailing..."
"Ramos-kun...are you alright ?" Tashigi asked, her hand caressing his shoulder in an attempt at comfort. "You've been shaking for a while now..."
"Tashigi. Once we land, you should prepare yourself for sights that will haunt you. If you can't handle what's coming –reconsider achieving your dream of getting strong. " Ramos warned her, a part of their job was pushing past shock and handling dire situations.
Ramos experienced that at Ohara, where he witnessed the deaths of innocents, his hands still bore the burn scars rewarded to him by Akainu. The scars are a light pink that he carries every day.
"Ramos..." Tashigi trailed off.
"I need you to be strong, this is the burden of justice."
[End of chapter]