Chapter 84 — Shadows Beyond the Trees
S.C. 1510 — Late December
Foosha Forest — Behind the Shed
Ren pulled the wrapped KEA 0.4 blade from its secret nook and held it up like a priceless relic.
Even through the cloth, it felt heavier—like the metal was politely reminding him:
"I am expensive. Treat me with respect."
Zemo sat beside him, watching the blade like it was a rival fox trying to steal Ren's attention.
Ren unwrapped it carefully.
The blade gleamed faintly—dark gray, almost black, with tiny mineral veins that shimmered whenever the light hit just right.
Ren inhaled slowly.
"…Time to see what you can really do."
Zemo wagged his tail like an encouraging cheerleader.
---
Stress Test — Ren vs. Tree Trunk
Ren set a thick slab of dry tree trunk on the ground.
He raised the blade— and swung.
WHACK!!
The blade sank halfway in.
Zemo jumped, spun, and stared at the trunk like it had attacked first.
Ren wiggled the blade free.
He checked the edge.
Still perfect.
"Good. Good. This is… ridiculous."
He swung again, harder.
CRACK—!
The trunk split cleanly.
Zemo's jaw dropped (in fox language).
Ren walked over to a small iron bar he'd salvaged from an abandoned farm tool and pressed the blade gently against it.
TING—
A perfect, thin shaving of iron curled off.
Zemo blinked at the curling metal scrap like he'd just witnessed sorcery.
Ren whispered:
"…Yup. This is officially dangerous."
And because danger attracted attention, Ren wrapped the blade immediately.
"No one sees this. Not Makino. Not random fishermen. Definitely not Luffy—he'll want to poke it."
Zemo nodded solemnly at the last part.
---
Underground Lab Expansion — A Blade That Eats Stone
Ren climbed into the underground lab, lit a lantern, and examined the compact stone walls.
"Alright… let's see what you can do."
He placed the KEA blade against the wall and pushed.
SHRRRKK—SHRRRKK—
Stone came off like firm clay.
Ren froze mid-scrape.
"…No way."
He cut again.
SHRRK!
Smooth, clean, perfect.
Zemo peeked down the ladder, ears raised in disbelief.
Ren grinned like a man seeing treasure.
"With this… we can expand the lab. Build storage. A proper workshop. Maybe even a… tunnel."
Plans raced through his head:
secret escape route
second lab chamber
temporary supply cellar
training room for future recruits
He carved for nearly an hour, opening up a circular doorway.
Sweat dripped from his chin, but he didn't care.
"This blade… it's a game-changer."
Zemo hopped down beside him, brushing against his leg with a proud huff.
---
Zemo's Warning
Just as Ren lifted the blade for another cut—
Zemo froze.
Ears stiff
Tail straight
Body low
Growl rumbling quietly
Ren whispered:
"…What is it?"
Zemo bolted up the ladder.
Ren scrambled after him, heart pounding.
He emerged behind the shed—
—and saw Zemo glaring toward the distant treeline.
Ren followed his gaze.
Figures.
Three of them.
Walking slowly along the village road.
Ren ducked behind the shed, pulling Zemo gently with him.
They listened.
---
Rumors Riding on Tired Feet
The men wore ragged clothes, faces smeared with ash, hands tightly gripping sacks.
Their voices were low, frantic.
"…I heard they torched another section of Gray Terminal…"
"…People running everywhere… nobles say it's 'cleaning up the trash'…"
"…Kids disappearing too… some say it's bandits, some say nobles took them…"
Ren's breath caught in his chest.
This was early.
Too early.
Goa Kingdom wasn't supposed to fall into chaos yet.
Zemo whined softly, nudging Ren's hand.
Ren whispered:
"…So it's starting."
Gray Terminal burning.
People starving.
Children missing.
Bandits growing bolder.
Everything he feared was accelerating.
He wasn't ready.
Not yet.
But he needed to be.
Fast.
---
Ren's Resolve Hardens
Ren clenched the wrapped blade.
"If things are collapsing already… then we can't stay slow."
Zemo gave a determined growl.
Ren looked at the forest path the refugees had come from—the shadows stretching thin, long, and uncertain.
He whispered:
"The world outside Foosha… is changing too fast."
He slipped the blade back under the shed's hidden plank.
"And if we don't prepare… we'll be swallowed by it."
Zemo pressed his head against Ren's leg.
Ren placed his hand gently on Zemo's head.
"…Let's move faster, partner."
The wind rustled the trees.
The shadows swayed.
And Ren felt it unmistakably—
something dangerous was creeping closer to Foosha.
---
End of Chapter 84