Spring turned to fall, and now thick, feathery snowflakes drifted from the sky.
Kaos had originally assumed merchant ships would swing by Goat Island every three to four months. That had been five months ago.
Not a single sail in sight.
He had miscalculated.
Now he stood like a lone, weathered pine on the island's tallest peak. Snow blanketed everything in pure white, save for patches of green still clinging to the mid and lower mountain.
It had been a long, dull winter.
Kaos, dressed in nothing but a pair of shorts, continued his training like a monk. His muscles weren't overly bulky, but his tall two-meter frame gave him a well-proportioned, lean appearance.
In a world where the average person stood over three meters tall, Kaos was basically a short king.
A tragic truth.
"Hmm?"
His eyes narrowed as he scanned the endless blue horizon. A large ship was approaching the island — sails wide, hull cutting cleanly through the water. No pirate flag.
Merchant ship.
Finally.
Five months of waiting — and now, salvation was here.
Kaos exhaled a cloud of white breath and jumped off the cliffside. As he plunged thirty meters toward the ground, he suddenly stopped midair, his body blurring into motion as he stepped off invisible footholds, soaring down the mountain at high speed.
Geppo — Moonwalk.
Mastered.
Over the past five months, Kaos had cracked it.
It made sense. He'd already mastered Soru, and Moonwalk was just an extension — the same principle, but in the air. Once you understood force balance and directional control, the rest followed naturally.
And that wasn't all.
Kaos had made massive strides across the board.
He was no longer the greenhorn who'd spent three years hiding.
He was ready.
Ready to write his legend on the seas.
As he shot through the forest, Kaos extended one hand, and a fist-sized clump of gold rose from the earth. It split into several miniature throwing knives, which zipped through the air with deadly precision.
Pfft! Pfft!
A wild rabbit and a pheasant dropped instantly, twenty meters away.
The prey floated over to him as he flew.
Kaos didn't even slow down.
He didn't stop to say goodbye to Lil' Jaw, Lil' Tiger, or Lil' Lion.
He had waited long enough.
Back at his cabin, he paused in front of the sakura tree. A wave of his hand, and buried gold erupted from the ground, wrapping around his legs and torso — forming a snug-fitting set of inner golden armor.
Then he slipped on a shirt, jacket, and pants. On the outside, he looked no different from any other traveler.
But hidden beneath his clothes was Kaos's ultimate trump card — a form-fitting suit of high-grade gold armor, refined and purified over the years.
It could shift shape into blades or shields in an instant.
Offense and defense, all in one.
A must-have for travel, conquest, or crime.
---
When he arrived in town, the place was buzzing.
People bustled through streets, buying and selling supplies. Guards and ship crew members gathered at taverns to eat and rest. Whenever a merchant ship docked, it was a big deal — time to stock up, trade, and get news from the outside world.
Kaos, carrying his fresh game and bundles of dried animal pelts, made his way to the port.
The ship waiting there was massive — thirty meters long at least — with workers loading crates and barrels. This wasn't some cheap, defenseless vessel.
On both sides of the hull, cannons gleamed in the winter light. Around the dock, heavily armed guards patrolled, some in armor, some carrying flintlocks. Trained. Disciplined. This was probably a merchant vessel backed by a kingdom or powerful trade syndicate.
No wonder pirates avoided them.
Villagers were already bartering with the crew — meat, herbs, wood, you name it. When they saw Kaos, a few waved hello.
The merchant ship was known to buy animal pelts, and Kaos had brought some of the best on the island.
But this time, he wasn't here for cash or goods.
He wanted a ride.
Preferably to Water 7 or Sabaody Archipelago.
---
"Fur trade's over here," a sharp-eyed crewmember called out as Kaos approached, eyeing the bundles in his hands with thinly veiled excitement.
He looked like a petty officer or quartermaster, and while he smiled, there was a glint of greed behind it.
The pelts Kaos carried were pristine.
Tiger skins.
Flawless white fox fur.
All of them luxury goods in wealthy kingdoms.
He could sell them for fifty times what they'd cost in this tiny village.
Time to play dumb and friendly.
"Are you selling or trading?" the man asked as Kaos approached.
The moment he saw those tiger skins — and especially the untouched fox pelts — his fingers itched.
Kaos responded with a smile, voice steady:
"Can I ask where your ship is headed? What islands do you stop at?"
"Final stop is Sabaody Archipelago," the man answered without looking up. "We'll pass through Alabasta, Water 7, and a few others you've probably never heard of. Doesn't really matter. You trading for goods or Beli?"
"I want a ride. To Sabaody. Will these be enough to cover the fare?"
Their eyes met. No hesitation in Kaos's voice.
"You serious?"
"I am."
The man paused, coughed lightly, then said, "Fine. I'll let you aboard. These pelts will cover your fare. But if pirates attack or things go sideways—don't expect protection. You're on your own."
"Deal."
"Ship leaves in three hours."
He handed Kaos a small ticket from his coat. "Show this to the crew. They'll take you to your cabin."
A real ticket.
Kaos wasn't surprised. Passengers like him — drifters, wanderers — were common on merchant ships. It was safer than sailing alone, and everyone knew trying to solo the Grand Line was a death sentence.
Hell, even Luffy set out alone — and Kaos couldn't even imagine trying that.
The Straw Hat's sheer plot armor was terrifying.
Kaos? If he tried that?
He'd end up as fish poop.
---
"Kaos, you're leaving?"
Some of the older villagers nearby asked with warm smiles. There was no surprise in their voices. Everyone knew Kaos wasn't from around here.
They had always expected he'd leave someday.
"Yes," he said, handing over the rabbit and pheasant to a couple of aunties. Then, he turned and looked back at the mountain, the cherry tree by his home, and the quiet village behind him.
Bittersweet.
He'd spent three years and five months hiding here, building his strength, pretending to be normal.
This was where it all started.
And one day, if he ever reached the top, maybe he'd come back — to see this place again.
After saying his goodbyes, Kaos boarded the ship.
A deckhand took his ticket and led him belowdecks, deep into the belly of the vessel. His cabin was… cramped. About the size of a bathroom. Narrow. Cluttered. Ugly.
But it had a small window that looked out to sea. And it was his alone.
That alone made it decent.
Other rooms in this section were packed tight — low-cost bunk spaces for the poor or traveling merchants. The richer passengers were housed above, where rooms were larger and furnished.
Kaos didn't mind.
No need to draw attention.
He had no intention of flaunting anything yet. Not until it mattered.
---
Three hours later, the merchant ship weighed anchor and began to pull away from the snowy dock.
Back on the mountainside, perched beneath a cherry tree half-covered in snow, three massive beasts sat quietly.
Lil' Tiger.
Lil' Lion.
Lil' Jaw.
All three stared out at the retreating ship in silence.
Then, as one—
They exhaled in relief.
"That damn bastard's finally gone."
Not even a goodbye.
No beastly decency at all.