New World, Lamanda Sea.
The tides of the New World crashed against the shores of Ebit Island, a landmass that seemed frozen in time. Unlike the shifting seasons of other islands, Ebit remained trapped in a prehistoric era where ancient flora thrived and massive dinosaurs still ruled the landscape.
"So, this is Ebit Island?" a voice called out from the deck of a docking ship. "I heard the climate here never changed. They say dinosaurs still walk these woods just like they did thousands of years ago."
Three pirate ships slowly pulled into the natural harbor, their anchors dropping into the clear blue water. Dozens of pirates began to disembark, moving with the disciplined energy of a seasoned crew. Leading the group was a tall, striking woman. She wore a vibrant golden haori that shimmered in the sunlight, and her long, gradient-colored hair flowed behind her like a banner. It was Yamato.
Following closely behind her was Haruko, a trusted companion, along with a small contingent of subordinates. Since the primary goal of this expedition was simply to hunt dinosaurs for a feast, Yamato had only brought three ships and a handful of men.
"Look! Over there!" one of the pirates shouted, pointing toward the dense treeline. "Look at that long neck! That has to be a Brontosaurus."
Deep within the island, the massive head of a long-necked dinosaur peeked above the canopy of giant ferns, gazing curiously at the newcomers.
"I've heard dinosaur meat is a rare delicacy," Yamato said, her eyes burning with excitement as she gripped the handle of her weapon. "This time, I'm definitely going to eat until I can't move."
Haruko scanned the thick jungle, her expression more cautious than her leader's. "Young Master, the climate here hasn't changed since ancient times. That means we should expect more than just big lizards. There will be dangerous predators and poisonous insects everywhere. Please be careful once we head inside; a single bite from the wrong bug could be trouble."
Yamato nodded, though her grin didn't fade. "Yeah, you're right. That's definitely something to look out for. Even if we can treat a sting, there's no point in suffering through the pain if we can avoid it. Alright, everyone! Let's move out. It's time to start the hunt!"
With a confident wave of her hand, Yamato strode forward, leading her group into the shadows of the towering jungle. The air was thick and humid, filled with the sounds of unfamiliar birds and the distant, heavy thuds of massive feet. It wasn't long before they reached a clearing and came face-to-face with a herd of Brontosaurus.
The creatures were magnificent, standing twenty to thirty meters tall. Because they were herbivores, they showed little interest in the humans, continuing to graze on the high branches with a calm indifference.
"Listen up, men!" Yamato shouted, turning to her subordinates. "Spread out and find different types of dinosaurs. If you find something good, hunt it down immediately. If you run into something you can't handle, don't be a hero—come find me. Understood?"
"Yes, Young Master!" the pirates shouted in unison. They checked their weapons and vanished into the undergrowth, eager to prove their worth.
Soon, only Haruko remained by Yamato's side. Yamato scanned the herd, her eyes locking onto the largest creature in the group. "Let's go for that big one."
"Young Master, let me take care of this," Haruko said. She stepped forward and drew her kodachi in one fluid motion. With a sharp exhale, she swung the blade, sending a powerful compressed air slash flying toward the massive dinosaur.
The blue arc of energy sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, cleanly decapitating the Brontosaurus before it even knew it was in danger. A heavy thud echoed through the forest as the head hit the dirt, followed seconds later by the earth-shaking collapse of its enormous body.
The rest of the herd, startled by the sudden violence, let out low bellows of fear and scattered into the deep woods. Almost simultaneously, the sounds of gunfire and the roars of wounded beasts erupted from other parts of the island. The subordinates had clearly begun their work.
While the hunt intensified on the island, several other pirate ships appeared on the horizon of the Lamanda Sea. These ships bore a flag that commanded respect and fear across the entire world: the Jolly Roger of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"That's the place, right? The island where the dinosaurs live," a pirate on the lead ship said, squinting at the distant shoreline. "Man, it's been forever since I've had a good dinosaur steak."
"Zehahahaha! We need to catch a bunch of them this time," a pot-bellied man laughed, his voice gravelly and loud. "We should bring plenty of meat back so the Old Man and the others can have a taste."
The man had thick, curly black hair and an unremarkable face. He wore a simple white shirt and a hat, looking like any other ordinary pirate in the crew. This was Marshall D. Teach.
"You're right about that, Teach. We should definitely bring some back for Pops and Marco," another crewmember agreed. "Nothing beats dinosaur meat when it's roasted just right."
As the Whitebeard Pirates prepared to land, Yamato and her group had already set up a massive campfire on the island. The scent of roasting meat filled the air.
"This part is the tenderloin, and this over here is the thigh," Yamato said, tearing into a large piece of meat with gusto. "This stuff is amazing! It's just as good as the meat from a small Sea King."
She grabbed a handful of fresh wild vegetables and wrapped them around a juicy slice of steak. "It's even better when you add some greens," she mumbled through a mouthful of food, her face glowing with pure satisfaction.
Haruko and the other pirates joined in, finding that the combination of the rich, fatty meat and the crisp vegetables was indeed a perfect match. After they had finished their initial meal, Yamato stood up and looked at the various carcasses they had collected.
"This isn't enough for the whole crew," she noted. "We need to hunt a few more. Men, start hauling these back to the ships. Once you've dropped them off, come back for the next round."
"Understood, Young Master!" the subordinates replied, beginning the grueling task of dragging the multi-ton carcasses toward the shore.
"Come on, Haruko. Let's go find some different species," Yamato said, heading back into the jungle.
On the other side of the island, the Whitebeard Pirates had officially arrived. Their ships docked quietly, and the crew wasted no time heading inland.
"We're finally here. Let's get to work, boys! It's time to hunt!" the Whitebeard pirates shouted, heading into the trees with their weapons drawn.
The moment the newcomers stepped onto the island, Yamato froze. She had just finished taking down another dinosaur, but she suddenly paused, looking toward the distant shore where the other crew had landed.
"What is it, Young Master?" Haruko asked, immediately sensing the change in Yamato's demeanor.
Yamato let out a small, knowing smile. "It looks like we have some uninvited guests."
Haruko's hand drifted toward her sword, her eyes narrowing. "Pirates? Should we eliminate them, Young Master?"
"Eliminate them?" Yamato blinked, looking genuinely surprised. "Haruko, since when did you start saying such scary things?"
Haruko rolled her eyes. "I wonder where I could have possibly learned that behavior from?"
"I'm just kidding!" Yamato laughed, her golden haori fluttering even though there was no breeze. Her eyes sharpened, and her Haki began to ripple outward, sensing the strength of the newcomers. "Since they're already here, we might as well go say hello. Who knows? Maybe they're just fellow dinosaur enthusiasts."
Elsewhere on the island, the Whitebeard Pirates were making their presence known. Explosions rocked the forest, and the sound of heavy gunfire drowned out the natural noises of the jungle.
"Zehahaha! I'm going to hunt to my heart's content today!" Teach shouted. He jumped into the air, his iron claws gleaming. With a swift, brutal motion, he tore through the neck of a Brontosaurus, bringing the giant down in a spray of blood.
"Take it easy, Teach," a crewmate called out. "We only need enough to eat. Don't go wasting the island's resources for no reason."
Teach wiped the blood from his claws and grinned. "I get it, I get it. That way, we can come back and hunt again whenever we want."
"Exactly. Everyone, ten should be plenty!" the lead pirate shouted to the rest of the group.
"You got it!" the crew responded.
A short distance away, Yamato and Haruko observed the commotion from the shadows.
"There are a lot of them," Haruko whispered, watching the black smoke rise from the various explosion sites. She focused her senses for a moment before continuing. "But they don't seem particularly dangerous. Most of them are just rank-and-file pirates. I don't see many heavy hitters."
Yamato stopped walking and turned to Haruko with a thoughtful expression. "Hey, Haruko. What do you think is the best way for me to greet them?"
Haruko looked confused. "What do you mean? Why do you need a specific way to greet them?"
"Because first impressions matter!" Yamato explained with total sincerity. "If I'm going to introduce myself, it has to be cool. That's just my style."
"Is that really necessary?" Haruko sighed. "Shouldn't we just wait for our own men to catch up first?"
"No, that's way too boring," Yamato said, rubbing her chin as she plotted her entrance. "I think I've got it. I thought of a way better plan. Let's do this!"
"What better—" Haruko started to ask, but Yamato was already moving.
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