????: AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!
????: HELP!!!
????: SAVE ME!!!
While terrified screams echoed all around, an eight-year-old boy sprinted through the woods, tears streaming down his face. After a few minutes, he reached a beach—where a small girl was crying, paralyzed by fear. In front of her stood a giant made entirely of ice, towering and menacing.
The boy ran straight toward her and grabbed her hand tightly.
????: Robin! Don't stay here, come on, quickly!
Robin: sniff... But Saul... I can't leave him behind...
????: And how do you plan to drag him out yourself, idiot?! Hurry, the Marines are coming!
Robin: But...
????: I said HURRY! Saul saved you so you could live—not die here! There's a small boat not far from here. I'll take you to it!
He pulled Robin along as she followed, stumbling slightly. The screams behind them grew fainter, but no one seemed to care anymore. When they reached the beach, Robin spotted the small boat at the shoreline. She quickly climbed aboard... but when she turned around, the boy hadn't followed her.
????: Alright, Robin. I'll push the boat out. Just keep going straight... I don't know where you'll end up, but live. I'm sure we'll meet again one day. SHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Robin: Wh-... What are you saying?! Get in with me! Hurry!!
????: SHAHAHA... To think you're supposed to be the smartest girl on the island—you're acting like a total idiot now. The Marines are killing everyone. I'll make a diversion so you can get away safely.
Robin: You'll die too if you do that...
The boy grinned and began pushing the boat with all his strength until it floated on the water.
????: Don't worry about me. I know we'll see each other again somewhere out there... on the sea. SHAHAHAHA! Wait for me, Robin. You still have a promise to keep...
The boat drifted farther and farther away. Robin burst into tears again, watching the boy grow smaller in the distance.
Robin: I... I PROMISE YOU, REI!! I'LL STAY ALIVE UNTIL... until you ask me to marry you... YOU IDIOT!!!
Rei: I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!! YOU STOPPED MID-SENTENCE AND... DON'T CALL ME AN IDIOT!!! GOODBYE ROBIN... AND GOOD LUCK!!
As the boat disappeared into the horizon, Rei turned around and dashed toward the heart of the island, where a massive tree stood tall.
When he arrived, the tree was already engulfed in flames... but he didn't hesitate. He ran into the burning library, ignoring the ancient tomes and scrolls catching fire around him.
He made his way to a chest standing in the center of the room.
He opened it swiftly—
And inside was... a katana.
Rei : ... Muramasa , one of the Saijō Ō Wazamono...
He quickly grabbed the katana with both hands and rushed across the beach to a small boat, jumping in to escape. As he drifted far from the shore, Rei suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Turning around, he saw a man throwing ice spikes on either side of the boat — not aiming to hit him, but blocking any way back.
Rei: YOU... YOU THINK THIS IS FUN, YOU BASTARD?! YOU'RE LETTING ME LIVE, HUH?!
REMEMBER THIS, YOU BASTARD — MY NAME IS KAZAN D. REI, AND I'M THE MAN WHO WILL REVEAL THE TRUTH TO THE WORLD AND DESTROY THE WORLD GOVERNMENT!
The man simply stared at Rei from the shore, then turned his back and walked away. Rei continued sailing, eyes filled with determination.
Four years later
In a small village in North Blue, Rei strolled through the streets, watching vendors sell fruits, fish, and other goods. After a few minutes of walking, he spotted four fruits on an old man's stand — and snatched them before sprinting away.
????: GET BACK HERE, REI! GIVE ME BACK THOSE FRUITS!
Rei: NEVER, OLD MAN! SHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Rei kept running full speed toward the forest, not even realizing the old man had stopped chasing him.
Rei: Shaahaha! That old geezer's way too slow.
He stopped running and sat down on a thick tree root. Without hesitation, he bit into one of the fruits while watching ants crawl at his feet. Then he ate the second... the third... and finally the fourth.
Rei:UGH... BLEGH... THIS FRUIT IS DISGUSTING!
He looked at one of the fruits in his hand. It didn't look normal at all — dark purple, with round patterns on top and a strange blue stem.
Rei:What the hell is this? The worst fruit in human history... Wait... why... ...WHY CAN'T I HEAR ANYTHING?! AHHHHHHHHH! HELP! I'M DEAF!!!
Freaking out, Rei ran toward the edge of the forest. But after only a few steps, he crossed through a strange red bubble, and the sounds suddenly returned.
Rei: Huh?! What the hell was that?!
He stepped back into the bubble — once again, total silence.
Rei: It's... it's like Robin's powers, but mine affect SOUND! Everything goes silent inside the bubble... THIS IS... FREAKING AWESOME!!!