The original name of Jacob Island has long been forgotten. Today, it is known simply as a mid-sized island occupied by a member kingdom of the World Government.
Its terrain is unlike any other in the East Blue. More than half of the island consists of vast lowlands only a few meters above sea level, rich in vegetation and blessed with abundant fresh water, ideal for settlement.
The remaining half rises into a barren plateau over a thousand meters high. One side of the plateau connects to the plains by a steep slope angled at nearly forty degrees. The other side ends in sheer cliffs that plunge directly into the sea.
The island presents two completely different architectural styles. One belongs to the present-day Kingdom of Jacob. The other lies scattered across the plains in the form of ruins, remnants of a civilization destroyed by war a century ago and now reduced to historical relics.
Between them stands a massive wall over eight meters tall and stretching more than ten kilometers, dividing what appears to be two different worlds: ordered civilization on one side, desolation and wilderness on the other.
At this moment, soldiers lined the top of the wall. Armed with standard Marine-issued weapons, they formed tight combat formations and aimed down at the refugees pouring out from the ruins.
They opened fire without hesitation.
At one corner of the wall stood dozens of soldiers wearing the uniform of the Kingdom of Jacob. Yet instinctively, they adopted defensive formations identical to standard Marine tactics. Looking down at the nearly naked refugees below, unease filled their faces.
Two of them exchanged a glance.
After a moment's hesitation, they pulled the trigger.
Each shot burst with golden muzzle flash. Lead bullets tore through the night, brilliant streaks slicing across the darkness before piercing fragile bodies.
From inside the wall, artillery roared. Black cannonballs shrieked through the air and crashed into the crowd below.
Boom.
The explosion erupted violently. Flames spread outward. A wave of heat rolled across the battlefield. Shrapnel and shockwaves hurled ragged refugees into the air.
Some soldiers atop the wall watched the chaos and burst into laughter.
"Ha! These miserable peasants are worse than those brats who tried to steal water last night. At least they dragged their buckets a few meters before dropping."
"Last night we only used sniper rifles. Tonight we're using cannons bought straight from the Marines!"
A soldier clicked his tongue.
"You stole all my targets yesterday. My daughter laughed at me for not shooting a single one."
Beside him, a bearded man grinned proudly.
"My five-year-old son was thrilled when he heard what I did. Says he wants to join the army when he grows up and be just like his father."
They chatted casually amid the gunfire. Even under the thunder of artillery, their voices carried several meters down the wall.
Some of the more disciplined soldiers fell silent.
Instinctively maintaining Marine tactical posture, they subtly raised their aim so their bullets struck empty ground.
Then they looked toward their commanding officer.
The man stood gripping a katana, his expression grave.
At last, he spoke slowly, staring blankly at the slaughter below.
"Follow your own justice. I will bear the consequences."
After saying this, he sank down against the wall, face drained of color, eyes hollow as if something inside him had broken.
The soldiers beside him inhaled deeply.
They adjusted their aim slightly away from the refugees and fired again.
Suddenly, panic erupted from further down the wall.
"Concentrate fire! Kill that monster!"
Gunfire intensified instantly. Muzzle flashes illuminated the entire wall in strobing bursts.
Bullets and portable cannon shells tore through the air toward a collapsed ruin.
Thunder crashed as the already crumbling structure disintegrated completely.
Large chunks of debris scattered in all directions. Years of accumulated dust mixed with smoke from the explosions, swallowing the battlefield in a suffocating haze.
Within the swirling cloud, only flashes of fire and sparks from bullets striking metal remained visible.
The sudden shift even drew the attention of those who held true authority on the wall.
A tall, thin man dressed in a white suit and wearing a white mask raised a telescope. He stared through the drifting smoke at the massive shadow emerging from within.
A faint smile curved beneath the mask.
"So merely sniping a few children who stole water was enough to lure him out?"
He chuckled softly.
"He is quite different from the savages of the New World."
Lowering the telescope, he turned toward a middle-aged man clad in ornate armor, a Western sword resting at his waist.
"Vice Admiral Nathan, the target has appeared. As agreed, please cooperate with us in capturing him."
A shadow passed through the armored man's eyes.
Without turning his head, he replied coolly, "I retired from the Marines long ago. Address me as King Nathan."
He paused briefly.
"By our estimates, the Oni-blooded individual who appeared in our territory is at least fifteen years old. CP0, are you truly confident you can brainwash and control him?"
High above, more than five thousand meters in the clouds, Louis heard the key words.
His eyes narrowed.
He stopped midair, wings beating slowly to maintain his position.
His hand moved unconsciously to the spear on his back.
"CP0. Retired Vice Admiral."
He repeated the words he had heard with his heightened senses.
His expression remained calm, but the spear was already in his grasp.
A moment later, clarity returned to his eyes.
"Since I'm already here…"
With a single beat of his wings, the surrounding clouds twisted violently. Turbulent air currents erupted, and Louis vanished from his position in an instant.
On the high wall, King Nathan watched the white-suited agents of CP0 withdraw with their black-clad subordinates.
His gaze grew colder.
"He must die here. No one will take him out of this kingdom."
Years ago, the former king had executed a group of children in front of Roger and publicly humiliated Roger's companions.
Roger's fury had been absolute. He annihilated the kingdom's entire military force.
Forced into responsibility, Nathan returned from his hard-earned Marine career to assume the throne and rebuild what had been shattered.
Now, an exceptionally gifted Oni warrior had emerged among the kingdom's enemies.
As king, Nathan would not allow anyone to abduct him.
"Not even CP0," he said quietly.
His eyes turned sharp.
"Doro. From this moment on, you will work with me. Kill the horned one before CP0 reacts."
"Yes, sir."
A figure in a white suit with a Justice coat appeared silently and saluted in full Marine fashion, as if addressing a superior officer rather than a monarch.
King Nathan stood beside the city gate and watched coldly as a heavily armored silhouette stepped out from the dust.