Location: Isle of Veridahl – South Blue
Ankit stood at the crest of a sloped cliff, gazing down at an old war relic—a massive stone bridge stretching over a canyon of swirling green mist.
It was called Broken Bell Bridge.
Not because it was cracked.
But because a giant ceremonial bell once hung at its center—until it shattered during the Void Century.
Shanks leaned beside him, arms folded. "Sure you want to go alone?"
Ankit tightened the strap of his sword harness. "It's a personal challenge."
Makino's voice buzzed from the communicator. "The informant was too quick to offer this meeting. Be careful."
Benn Beckman didn't say anything. He just held out a coin.
Ankit flipped it.
Heads.
He descended.
Scene – The Silent Setup
The bridge was wide, ancient, and lined with rusted chains. Moss grew from its seams. Strange echoes trailed in the wind, like long-forgotten chants.
Halfway across stood the contact.
A slim man in black leather, holding a long staff tipped with coral steel. His hair was snow white, eyes like dull brass coins.
"Ankit," the man called.
"I'm here," Ankit said. "Talk."
The man tilted his head.
"You've made quite the noise."
"And you've made me walk to a convenient choke point."
A slow smile.
"Good. You're smart. Makes this more fun."
From behind the bridge's edges, figures emerged—six total, each cloaked in unique gear, each wearing red ribbons with bounty seals.
Faction Identified: Hollow Reeds – Independent Bounty Syndicate
Classification: Tier S – Capture-Only Protocols
Objective: Live Extraction
Estimated Threat: 4 Elite-Level, 2 Veteran-Class Combatants
Ankit's eyes narrowed.
"So that's how it is."
The man bowed mockingly. "Shall we?"
System Panel – Combat Forecast
Incoming Engagement: Hostile Elite Ambush
Skill Proficiency Boost: Activated
Soulflame Stability: 94%
Battle Focus: Razor Edge – Reaction Time Increased by 8%
Recommended Action: Disrupt Initiator First
New Combat Subskill Unlocked: Dual Flow Strike – Step Delay Variant
Combines delayed rhythm between both blades to fake openings
Countertype: Group Formations
Combat Initiates – Round One
Ankit moved first.
Like wind. Like water.
His left blade slipped under the opening strike from the coral-staff bounty hunter, while the right parried a thrown cleaver spinning in from the flank.
Clang!
Crack!
He stepped into the rhythm of the bridge—timing his motion to the sway of the stone beneath.
The bounty hunters attacked in sequence, not all at once.
They wanted him tired, not dead.
"Careful," one said. "Break his legs but keep the hands clean!"
Two attackers rushed in tandem—one with a hooked saber, the other with twin gauntlet-scythes.
Ankit leaned back into a twisting pivot—using one to parry the other, redirecting their force.
Slash!
The scythe bearer bled first.
Scene – Battle Watchers
High above, in a cloaked air-raft, Cipher Pol agents observed the duel.
R.O.N.'s voice buzzed in.
"Let them try. If he breaks this cell, we'll deploy the bait route."
A young Cipher Pol reader whispered, "Why not just eliminate him?"
"Because that would make him a martyr," R.O.N. replied. "But if he breaks... if the world sees him fall? That weakens the legend."
Back on the Bridge – Battle Tightens
The bounty squad adapted.
The coral staff wielder triggered a mist bomb—green fog spread instantly.
Ankit's sight blurred.
System Update: Environmental Debuff Detected
Accuracy -12%
Agility -4%
Passive Trait Triggered: Soul Awareness
Blind-fighting protocol activated
Ankit closed his eyes.
He didn't need sight.
He felt them. Six rhythms. Six flows.
Two circling. One charging. Three feinting.
He broke forward—
Step–Spin–Slash!
One down. Neck clipped by a delayed cross-cut.
Another tried to grab his wrist. He twisted out—used the opponent's arm as leverage to launch a kick into a third attacker's jaw.
Even as his breathing grew heavier, his stance remained solid.
Tactical Analysis – Ankit's Internal Struggle
Ankit wasn't winning.
Not yet.
He was surviving.
His flame was dimmed.
Not by exhaustion—by calculation.
They weren't trying to overpower him. They were learning. Measuring. Studying his fatigue curve.
That meant—
There was someone else behind them.
Someone waiting for the data.
Mid-Battle Flashback – Shanks' Lesson
A memory bloomed in the blur.
Shanks, leaning against a bar in a broken town, laughing after a bar brawl.
"You know the problem with smart enemies?"
"What?"
"They forget instinct."
"You don't beat them with better math. You beat them by being you."
Awakening the Flame – Final Round
Ankit smiled.
Lowered his blades.
Let the group think he was spent.
Then, when three charged in a tight formation—
He dropped low.
Swept the legs.
Activated Ignition Break – Twin Flame Collapse.
Manual Skill Triggered
Soul Split Mirage – Delay Pulse Echo
Creates two illusion echoes with 70% real motion speed
Duration: 6 seconds
Cooldown: 5 minutes
The bounty squad couldn't tell which one was real.
By the time they guessed—
It was over.
Three lay broken.
One retreated.
Two vanished into the mists, dragging their wounded.
Ankit stood alone on the blood-marked bridge.
System Update – Enemy Repelled
You have passed a bounty-level assassination test.
Trait Progression Achieved
Title Updated: Flame Unbroken → Flame Beyond Capture
New Faction Alert: Hollow Reeds – Flagged You as "Combat-Type Alpha"
Expect second wave with adjusted strategy
Your name will now be discussed in elite bounty channels.
Final Scene – The Sound of the Bell
As he walked back across the bridge, a strange thing happened.
The broken bell, shattered centuries ago, rang.
Not loudly.
Not in sound.
But in memory.
And across the sea, those tuned to Haki felt it.
Somewhere in New World, Mihawk opened one eye.
On a distant sky island, Enel twitched.
At Mariejois, the Five Elders paused in their debate.
The Flame Unbroken had rung a bell the world thought forgotten.
And it would echo.