The small boat glided softly across the gentle waves until the silhouette of land appeared before them. What came into view was an island covered in towering trees and lush green forestation that stretched endlessly into the horizon.
Dante's eyes widened as he leaned over the edge of the boat.
"Yamato! Look! That's the first island!" he called out, excitement bursting through his voice. "This is it! This is where our adventure starts!"
Yamato stood beside him, arms crossed, staring at the island ahead with calm focus.
"Yes," he replied simply. "This is where our legend will begin."
Without another thought, Dante's grin widened. "Come on, let's go!" he shouted and leapt from the boat straight onto the forest floor, landing with a loud thud.
"Oi, idiot!" Yamato shouted, gripping his sword in frustration. "There's a proper entrance at the front of the island! You just jumped into the back part!"
Dante waved his hand dismissively. "Doesn't matter! We're on the island either way, right?"
Yamato sighed heavily, dragging the small boat ashore by its edge and forcing it up onto the grass with brute strength. "Why do you always prefer to do this unconventional way," he muttered under his breath.
The two began walking through the thick greenery, sunlight leaking through the canopy in golden patches. Dante, full of energy, suddenly started singing loudly, his voice echoing through the forest.
>♪ Oh brave adventurer, sail the unknown seas!
Seek the treasures, chase the breeze!
For the world is wide and dreams are free,
And glory waits for those like me! ♪<
Yamato rolled his eyes. "You're singing that old thing again?"
Dante grinned. "It's the song Miss Palm used to sing, remember? Come on, sing with me!"
"No," Yamato said flatly.
Dante shrugged. "Suit yourself." He kept singing anyway, cheerfully marching forward.
Deep within the forest, a girl lounged lazily on a thick branch, a half-eaten fruit in her hand. A bright parrot perched nearby as she chatted idly with it.
"I'm telling you, Pico," she said, gesturing with the fruit. "If I eat one more of these, I'll become fat."
"Squawk! You already look like fat!" the parrot mimicked.
"Very funny," she said dryly, tossing the fruit pit at him.
She wore a black durag-like cloth that covered most of her bright red hair, with a few strands peeking out. A black tight vest fit snugly over her modest but defined chest, and a short brown leather skirt with a grey belt. Two daggers gleamed at her sides, and her brown boots were lightly coated in forest dust.
As she lazily swung her leg, her ears twitched. Someone was singing… and getting closer.
She tossed the fruit aside, instantly alert. "Pico, someone's here."
"Squawk! Trouble?"
"I don't know, let's find out," she said, unsheathing her daggers before disappearing into the trees.
Dante marched forward, still singing loudly, when Yamato suddenly raised his hand, signaling him to stop.
"What is it?" Dante asked.
Yamato's eyes narrowed. "Someone's watching us."
He turned toward a thick patch of trees. "Come out."
A rustle of leaves followed before a girl dropped down gracefully from a branch. She twirled one of her daggers in her hand, smirking. "Impressive. You actually noticed me. You must not be a simple person."
Yamato's tone was cold and direct. "You didn't do a good job hiding. Noticing your presence was easy."
The girl's smirk dropped, replaced with mild shock. "Wha—?! But your friend there didn't notice me, so clearly, it's not about my skill, it's because you're strong!"
Dante raised his hand casually. "Actually, I noticed you. I just didn't see you as a threat."
The girl froze, speechless for a moment. Then she coughed awkwardly. "Well… that doesn't matter! Who are you, and why are you entering the island from the back? Depending on your answer, I might just attack."
Dante laughed. "You're funny."
Her eyebrow twitched. "I'm not trying to be funny!"
Dante placed his hands on his hips. "You want to know who I am?" He puffed out his chest proudly. "My name is Dante! I'm the one who will surpass Eustass and become an SS-Rank Adventurer!"
Yamato added calmly, "And I'm Yamato."
The girl's expression brightened instantly. "Adventurers!? Finally! I haven't seen new ones in almost a month!" Her eyes gleamed with excitement. "Are you guys strong?"
Yamato sighed and turned away. "We don't have time for this. Come on, Dante." He grabbed Dante by the collar and started dragging him along.
"Wait!" the girl called out, stepping forward. "Can you spar with me? I want to test how strong I've become!"
Yamato didn't even turn around. "No. We're not your training partners."
But Dante pulled free from Yamato's grip, a grin spreading across his face. "Sure, I'll spar with you. I've been itching for a fight all week."
The girl smiled, lowering her stance slightly. "My name is Anitta. I'll be in your care, Dante-san."
Yamato pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed deeply. "This is pointless. She's nowhere near your level."
Dante laughed. "Well then, Anitta… come!".
Anitta tightened her grip on her daggers and exhaled deeply. "Here I go!" she shouted, lunging forward.
Dante grinned as she closed in, his posture loose and relaxed. Her twin daggers flashed under the sunlight as she swung with speed and precision but every slash met only air.
Dante leaned back, tilted his head, sidestepped, and turned effortlessly, avoiding each attack by the smallest of margins. The motion was fluid, almost lazy, as if he was just moving to music only he could hear.
"Not bad," Dante said, ducking under a horizontal slash. "You are at least stronger than Olly."
"What—?!" she gasped, slashing again, faster this time.
Dante slid behind her in an instant, tapping her shoulder with a finger. "See? When you swing with both hands, your right side is wide open. Then you become an easy target."
Anitta turned quickly, trying to strike again, but Dante was already gone now standing casually behind her once more.
He leaned slightly on her back like she was a post, arms crossed, smiling. "You're putting too much strength into every swing. Relax a little or you will burn through your stamina quick."
"Stop treating this like a joke!" Anitta yelled, spinning around to kick him.
Dante dodged without even looking, his hair brushing against her boot as he moved. "I am taking it seriously, you are doing good, let's keep going!" he said cheerfully.
For several minutes, the fight continued like that. A blur of movement from Anitta, and effortless evasion from Dante. Each time she attacked, he used the opportunity to point something out, her stance, her breathing, her balance all while grinning like he was having the time of his life.
Finally, Dante stopped moving. "Alright, I think I've seen enough," he said.
Anitta, panting heavily, rushed in for one last strike. Dante vanished from sight for a split second then reappeared right in front of her.
A sharp gust of air followed.
In that instant, he delivered a light, controlled blow just enough to knock her balance away and send her skidding back a few meters.
Anitta froze, her daggers trembling in her hands. She looked up at him, disbelief in her eyes. "Impossible… the gap can't be that big…"
Yamato, who had been watching the entire time with arms crossed, sighed. "I knew this is how it would go." He stepped forward slightly. "Don't feel too bad about it. Dante's not… normal."
Anitta's breathing slowed. She stood upright, placed her daggers back into their sheaths, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Dante-san. This has been a good experience for me. I'm nowhere near strong enough."
Dante scratched the back of his head, smiling. "No, you're plenty strong. You've got spirit, and that's what matters. When we fought, I could feel your desire to get stronger. As long as you don't lose that desire, you will get stronger."
Anitta's eyes widened slightly. No one had ever praised at motivated her for her strength. For a moment, she just stared at him, the same man who had effortlessly toyed with her a moment ago now speaking with such sincerity. Something stirred inside her.
Yamato exhaled loudly. "Alright, can we go now? We've wasted enough time already."
Before Dante could respond, a loud growl echoed through the forest.
Yamato turned slowly, staring at Dante.
Dante stared right back. "What? You're the one who's been stingy with food all week."
Yamato's forehead twitched. "That's because you ate a week's worth of food overnight!" he shouted.
Anitta raised her hand slightly. "Um… if Dante-san is hungry, I have food in my hideout."
Dante's eyes sparkled instantly. "Really?" he said, looking at her with an expectant grin.
Anitta felt her face redden as Dante stared straight into her eyes. She turned away, trying to hide it. "Y-Yes… I do. Follow me."
"Alright!" Dante cheered, immediately running after her.
Yamato sighed, rubbing his temple. "Fine. But we're leaving right after that."
The three of them disappeared into the forest, the sound of Dante's cheerful humming echoing faintly behind them, the start of an unexpected new bond.