Amigasa Village

Ace and Enel landed on the shore together. They had already taken off their eye-catching capes and badges, changed into the attire of merchants from Wano Country, and quietly went their separate ways.

"It's too unwise to fight Kaido that madman. Let's find out his strength first."

"We'll split up and meet back at the same spot this afternoon."

Enel nodded slightly, lightning dancing between his fingers, disappearing into the forest in the blink of an eye.

Ace then ventured deep into the heart of Wano Country, arriving at Kuri Village, a small village long forgotten by the world in the Amigasa Village.

Wano Country·Amigasa Village

The scorching sun beat down on the cracked earth, and the dilapidated thatched hut stood crookedly in the wind, barely providing shelter from the rain.

Ace stood at the village entrance, his gaze fixed.

The scene before him was completely different from what he had seen in the intelligence reports about Wano Country.

There is no peaceful and prosperous warrior kingdom here, only hunger, disease, and oppressive silence.

The emaciated villagers toiled wearily, their bodies utterly silent, devoid even of children's laughter.

"How did this place... come to be like this?" Ace murmured.

Just then, a group of villagers wielding hoes and sticks rushed over, their eyes filled with fear and hostility.

"Who are you?!"

"Was it sent by Kaido?!"

Ace quickly raised his hands. "Wait, I'm not a bad guy!"

But the villagers simply didn't believe it.

Soon, he was tied up with rough hemp rope by the villagers and pinned to a wooden stake at the village entrance.

Bound hand and foot, Ace sighed helplessly, "Sigh... you guys really don't listen to explanations at all."

He raised his head and looked at the thin villagers surrounding him, and a few emaciated children hiding behind their mothers in the distance, peeking secretly. His gaze softened.

"Hey, sir," Ace gestured towards one of the middle-aged villagers, "I have some food in my bag, take it."

The villager was taken aback. "What... did you say?"

"It's food. Don't worry, it's not poison." Ace grinned.

Half-believing, half-doubting, the villagers opened his package and were immediately stunned—

Inside were some dry food, smoked meat, fruit, and even a few bottles of precious water.

Although the amount was small, it was a lifeline in this almost barren village.

"These... can we really have them?"

"I'm not hungry," Ace shrugged. "You guys need this more."

As the food was distributed, the children finally smiled, and the villagers' expressions began to soften.

Ace was quickly untied.

Just then, a childish voice rang out. "Big brother... thank you."

Ace looked down and saw a little girl, only about three years old, with a cute appearance and a short stature.

She has large, round, purple eyes, her hair is styled in a bun, and she wears a light green short skirt kimono with many patches.

She was barefoot, wearing green strappy sandals, and holding a thin, komainu (guardian lion-dog) in her arms.

She looked up at Ace, her eyes big and bright.

"What's your name?" Ace asked softly, crouching down.

"My Tama," the little girl said timidly.

Ace patted her head. "Where are your parents?"

Tama lowered her head and whispered, "They... they worked at the factory... and never came back."

Ace's expression froze for a moment, then he instantly understood.

He knew it was Kaido's "hellish factory."

"Such a young child... and already all alone?!"

Half a day later, a bolt of lightning flashed at the village entrance.

Enel appeared at the end of the dusty village road, his face calm, but his powerful "Mantra" had already seen through everything.

He walked slowly over, glanced around at the desolate village scene, and his gaze landed on Ace and Tama.

"Is this your reason for delaying?"

Ace nodded. "Ah, isn't this little guy quite cute?"

Enel snorted coldly, but said nothing. He simply raised his hand and released a bolt of lightning, shattering the cracked rock formations in the distance.

An underground spring gushed forth, and clear water slowly emerged.

The villagers cheered and ran to fetch water.

And so, Ace and Enel stayed in Amigasa Village for two days.

Ace helped repair the roof, chop wood, and cook;

Enel used lightning to draw mountain spring water and purify the water—he was reluctant to do so, but he took it very seriously.

Tama followed Ace around every day, becoming his little shadow, and although Enel complained, he didn't chase her away.

On the day of parting, Ace knelt down and ruffled Tama's hair.

"Tama, when you grow up, become a cool and sassy female ninja..."

"I'll take you out to sea!"

Tama asked with sparkling eyes, "Really?!"

Ace grinned broadly. "Of course! I'm a man of my word!"

The two walked away with their backs to the setting sun. Tama stood at the village entrance, waving her little hand. "Goodbye, big brother!!"

Enel stood to the side with his arms crossed, "What a troublesome brat..."

But... it's not so bad.

The night was as dark as ink, the clouds hung low, and the cold wind howled over Onigashima.

Lightning and fire flashed and shone, illuminating the towers and prisons of the Onigashima.

In order to rescue the innocent children they had overheard being kidnapped while gathering intelligence, the two did not hesitate to venture into the deepest part of the Beasts Pirates.

--The core area of Onigashima.

"It's confirmed. Kaido and the All-Stars are currently on an expedition," Enel whispered. "Now is the best time."

"Then let's hurry," Ace clenched his fist, flames igniting in his palm, "If we're any later, the children won't make it."

They swept through the Pirate like mobs, their battle cries and screams echoing across the island, alerting many who were hiding deep within the Onigashima.

Onigashima Underground Laboratory

Meanwhile, in an underground Laboratory, amidst the mingled smells of chemicals and decay, a group of unconscious civilians from Wano Country were being subjected to unexplained experiments with tubes inserted into them.

"Tsk tsk... another low-purity blood sample, what a hassle."

As Caesar adjusted the reagents, he grumbled, "What's all this noise outside?"

A deafening explosion suddenly erupted outside the Laboratory.

Caesar frowned. "Hey! Go see what's going on!"

The Beasts Pirates beside him had just reached the door—

"Sizzle--!"

The next second, a bolt of lightning Sky Splitter like Inazuma, blasting the heavy metal door into charred fragments, and the Pirate was reduced to charred remains by the electric shock!

Amidst the billowing smoke, Enel's figure slowly entered, his eyes indifferent.

"I knew it, there was a disgusting smell here..." He glanced at the experimental equipment and the unconscious civilians filling the room.

"Oh, it was you..."

Caesar's eyes widened, his face instantly turning deathly pale. "W-Who are you?! This is Onigashima, the Onigashima of the Beasts Pirates!!"

"Beasts?" Enel scoffed, lightning swirling around him like dragons and snakes.

"They were nothing but livestock waiting to be slaughtered."

"And someone like you..."

"Nezumi that likes to lurk in the shadows and drain others of their lives deserves to die even more."

Upon seeing this, Caesar turned and fled, yelling, "Holy crap!!"

"Boom--!"

The lightning bolt pierced through the Laboratory Table, burning his shoulder charred, and his screams were deafening!

Enel looked down at him coldly. "Move again, and the next lightning bolt... will strike you on the head."