Island with Beasts.
Under the deep black veil of night, a mass of swirling mist drifted quietly over the treetops of an unfamiliar island. Slowly descending from the skies was a large island cloud, its surface rippling softly under the moonlight. At its helm stood Zino, his cloak fluttering in the breeze as he steered the cloud down toward the shoreline.
With a light hum of energy, the cloud hovered just above the beach. Zino extended his hand, and a sturdy cloud staircase formed, linking the floating mass to the ground below.
"We're here," Zino announced. His calm voice echoed across the cloud. "Let's go down."
One by one, the scavengers began to descend the soft stairs. The moment their feet touched the sandy shore, their faces lit up with wonder.
The air here was different—clean, cool, and fresh. No trace of the metallic stench, chemical smoke, or the suffocating smog they'd endured back at the junkyard hub.
"This feels... so good," Sabi whispered, tilting his head back and taking a deep, satisfying breath. His face relaxed into a rare smile.
Children who had never stepped foot on natural ground in their entire lives were the first to dash off toward the sand. They squealed in delight, sinking their toes into it, grabbing handfuls, and tossing it up with wide grins. Some began rolling across the shore, giggling uncontrollably, as if they couldn't believe it was real.
"Are they… okay?" Binko asked awkwardly, watching one kid spin in circles before flopping face-first onto the sand.
Zino chuckled. "Let them enjoy it. This is the first time they've experienced something like this. Let them be kids."
He walked forward and faced the crowd of now barefoot settlers. "Everyone, listen up. Tonight, we'll make camp here on the coast. No need to head deeper into the island. We'll keep things safe and simple."
"Understood!" the people responded, almost in unison. Their voices were mixed with both excitement and nervousness.
Without delay, they began preparing camp. Some gathered driftwood, others organized their meager supplies. While they worked, Zino focused his element, forming a barrier of ice along the perimeter of the encampment to deter any potential predators from the inner forest.
At the same time, Galdino stepped in with his own skills. "Leave the shelters to me," he said, arms crossed.
He planted his hands into the ground, and wax began to rise—smooth, thick walls shaping into modest wax houses, solid and warm-looking despite their unusual material. Within two hours, every family had their own home, complete with doorways, beds, and space to sleep in comfort for the first time in years.
The scavengers watched in stunned silence.
"This is… unreal," one muttered.
They'd known Zino's power was unusual—but now, seeing the range of strange and fantastical abilities from the rest of his crew, they couldn't help but whisper among themselves. Their captain could control wind, ice, and mist. One girl, Kaya, glowed like an angel and healed the sick with ease. Two strange green children—Chloris and Moris—knew healing arts as well. And now this wax man, creating houses like it was nothing.
More and more eyes turned toward the rest of the Orcas. Was everyone in this crew blessed with strange powers? They watched them with curiosity and awe, wondering who else among them held such miracles.
Despite the strangeness, the atmosphere was peaceful. The waves lapped gently at the sand, the moon cast a silver sheen over the makeshift camp, and for the first time in perhaps their whole lives, the scavengers felt safe.
Once the settlement was complete, both Orcas and locals settled down for the night. Some whispered quietly in their wax homes, some simply stared up at the stars, while others hugged their families tightly, soaking in the surreal comfort.
And under the quiet canopy of this unknown island, a new beginning had taken root.
...
Next Day.
The first rays of morning light filtered through the trees, casting a golden hue over the newly formed camp. The island air was crisp and cool, brushing gently across the coastline. The wax houses glistened faintly with dew, and the stillness of the early hour was soon broken by the signs of life stirring within.
The Orcas, ever disciplined, were already up and active. Their morning routines had begun.
In a shaded corner of the camp, Zoro sat cross-legged in deep meditation. His swords lay across his lap, untouched. Today, he wasn't focused on sword techniques or brute strength. He was reaching inward, trying to awaken something deeper—his Haki. Sweat glistened on his brow as he concentrated, his breathing calm and steady.
Nearby, Binko and Gin were engaged in a heated sparring match, their bodies blurring as they utilized Rokushiki techniques. Finger thrusts, high-speed movement, and iron-hard stances clashed as they pushed each other to the limit. Dust and sand kicked up around them, drawing a small crowd of scavengers who watched in awe.
Further off, Hibari and Usopp stood side by side, aiming their slingshots at a line of empty bottles set on a fallen log. No gadgets, no tricks—just raw aim and control. Hibari landed shot after shot with perfect precision, while Usopp released shots slower, but still never missing a single target.
At the heart of the camp, Sanji worked diligently over an open fire, the aroma of freshly cooked breakfast already spreading through the air. Steam rose from the pots as he stirred, flipped, and seasoned, humming softly. "Smells like home," someone commented nearby.
Under a tree, Baral the mimic entertained a crowd of laughing children. His toy collection danced around him—clockwork soldiers, bouncing jellies—all animated by his mimic abilities. "Whoa! That one blinked!" a little girl gasped. Baral puffed up with pride. "They don't just blink, they could also walk."
On the far edge of the clearing, Kruz sat cross-legged, his eyes closed, palms outstretched. Before him hovered two glowing orbs—one red, one blue. From the red orb came the gruff voice of Friday, and the blue pulsed with Creed's softer tone. Somehow, Kruz had separated the two personalities within him and given them form. The orbs flickered as they debated something pointless.
Meanwhile, Moris and Chloris had set up a small field demonstration. They introduced a variety of plant seeds to a group of attentive scavengers.
"This one grows fast and filters water naturally," Chloris explained.
"And this one can be used for food or medicine," added Moris.
The locals listened, eager to learn how to make the land work for them.
At the same time, Stev had decided to share his "inventions." His enthusiasm, unfortunately, was not matched by success. A strange spherical device began sparking.
"Wait, that's not supposed to—"
BOOM!
The small explosion covered three poor scavengers in soot. Before they could complain, Nami and Alvida appeared like angry shadows.
WHACK! WHACK!
"How many times do we have to tell you? No untested junk near civilians!"
"Sorry, sorry! It was just a demo!" Stev wailed, rubbing his head.
Galdino, as usual, was nowhere near the chaos. He was still snoring in his wax-made lounge chair, completely unbothered.
On the artistic side, Nojiko, Kaya, Mikita, and Marianne were painting the wax houses in soft pastel colors. Some scavengers, eager to help, joined them. The dull white homes soon began to bloom with color—flowers, patterns, and even silly doodles from the kids.
Under a shaded tree, Robin sat with a book open on her lap. A small group of children gathered around her as she read aloud, her calm voice weaving a tale of ancient kingdoms and daring pirates. Their eyes widened with every turn of the page.
The whole scene felt peaceful—calm, productive, even nostalgic. As if this strange crew and the once-hopeless scavengers had always shared this bond.
Then, from above, a cool breeze blew through the trees. A moment later, Zino appeared, descending from the sky atop a swirl of mist. Behind him hovered the Silent Orca, his beloved ship.
"Forgot something yesterday," Zino grinned.
Yesterday, he tried to store it, but the system said it's alive now, and that he cannot store a living being. That's why the ship got left behind in the Junkyard island.
From the ship, a deep voice grumbled, "Some Sea King almost had me for breakfast!"
Zino winced. "Sorry, sorry! That one's on me."
The ship was grumbling, so he needed to appease it.
Just as the sun fully peeked over the horizon, Sanji clapped his hands and called out, "Guys, breakfast is ready! Come get it while it's hot."
That one sentence immediately brought the entire camp to life. The delicious smell of freshly cooked porridge with savory meat stirred everyone's appetite. The Orcas and the scavengers alike formed a line, chatting lightly as bowls were passed around.
It wasn't a grand feast—just simple meat porridge—but to the scavengers, it tasted like luxury. Some of them hadn't eaten a warm meal in weeks, even months. They ate slowly, savoring every spoonful. A few children giggled, cheeks puffed with food, while the older ones ate in silent gratitude. The tension and uncertainty of yesterday were fading.
Once everyone had finished, Zino stood up and clapped his hands. The crowd slowly quieted, their attention shifting toward their benefactor.
"Everyone," Zino began, his voice calm but firm, "I know we've helped you relocate, and things may feel better now... but I need to be clear about something."
The scavengers exchanged glances, growing quiet. They could sense something important was coming.
"We Orcas are pirates. And as pirates, we still have a long journey ahead. That means... we won't be staying here permanently."
A low murmur ran through the crowd. Faces shifted from confusion to worry.
"Wait... you're leaving?" someone finally asked.
Zino nodded. "Yes. We can't take you with us. But we won't abandon you either. You have a fresh start now, and we want to give you the means to build something new."
As he spoke, Zino raised his hand. and released the content stored in his System Storage. The air trembled for a second—then, like an avalanche, mountains of supplies spilled out onto the ground. Crates, barrels, bundles, and sacks stacked upon one another.
There were food supplies, weapons, medical kits, tools, building equipment, and more. Most of it was taken from Enies Lobby, now put to better use.
Gasps filled the air. Some of the scavengers' jaws dropped as they looked at the sheer amount of goods.
"This… This is for us?" one man asked in disbelief.
Zino nodded. "Yes. This should last you a long time if used wisely. Enough for thousands. But remember—divide it fairly. Build something together. Don't let this place become like the junkyard you left behind."
"Thank you!" the people shouted, bowing their heads and pressing their hands together in gratitude.
"We'll stay for a few more days," Zino added, "to help clear the island and teach you all some basic survival skills. But after that, the rest is up to you."
The people nodded, more determined now. This wasn't just charity—it was a second chance.
Zino turned to his crew. "Alright, now that they're settled, who's coming to explore the forest with me? We need to clear out the beasts."
"You want to go now?" Alvida smirked, cracking her knuckles. "I've been waiting for this."
"We'll stay here," Chloris said, Moris nodded beside her. "We want to teach the people about planting and farming."
"We're teaching shipbuilding," said Hibari, raising his hand. Binko nodded beside him.
"I'll show them the basics of navigation," added Nami, rolling up her sleeves.
"Cooking lessons for me," Sanji said confidently.
"Swordsmanship, obviously," Zoro muttered, eyes half closed.
"I'll teach them Rokushiki," Nojiko offered with a chuckle.
"Painting and design for homes," said Marianne, raising a paint-stained brush.
"I'll make… candles. Lots of candles," Galdino said, waving vaguely.
Zino frowned slightly. "You all sound awfully eager to stay behind…"
"I need to—" Usopp started, but Zino cut him off sharply.
"You're coming." He then pointed to Stev. "You too. No excuses."
"W-Why me?! I just fixed my goggles!" Stev groaned.
Zino clapped his hands. "Alright. Me, Alvida, Usopp, Stev, Mikita, and Robin—we're forming the exploration team. Let's deal with the beasts."
The others nodded, already turning toward their own tasks. The scavengers eagerly gathered around their chosen mentors, ready to learn.