The moon hung low over the G-1 base, casting a silvery glow across the tranquil waters. The serenity of the night was deceptive, masking the storm brewing beneath the surface. Haru, now sixteen, stood beside Naomi, twenty, as they received their latest assignment from Vice Admiral Tsuru.
"A series of gruesome murders have been reported," Tsuru began, her voice grave. "Civilians and Marine officers alike have fallen victim. The nature of these killings is… ritualistic."
She handed them a dossier filled with photographs and reports. The images were disturbing—bodies mutilated, symbols carved into flesh, and scenes reminiscent of dark ceremonies.
"This mission is voluntary," Tsuru continued. "It's dangerous, and the implications could shake the very foundations of the Marines. But if you succeed, Haru, you'll be promoted to Captain. Naomi, you'll attain the rank of Commodore."
Haru and Naomi exchanged a glance. The weight of the mission was evident, but so was their resolve.
"We accept,"
Disguised in civilian attire, Haru and Naomi began their investigation in the coastal town of Port Azure, where the latest murder had occurred. The town was shrouded in fear, its residents whispering about a cult known only as "The Eyes."
At the local morgue, they examined the latest victim—a Marine lieutenant. His body bore the same symbols as the others, and his eyes had been removed, replaced with polished obsidian stones.
"These symbols," Haru murmured, tracing one with a gloved finger. "They match the ones from the other cases."
Naomi nodded, her expression grim. "This isn't random. It's a message."
Their investigation led them to an abandoned chapel on the outskirts of town. Inside, they found evidence of rituals—candles, blood-stained altars, and more of the obsidian stones.
Suddenly, a noise echoed from the shadows. Haru drew his sword, and Naomi readied her battle axe.
"Who's there?" Naomi demanded.
A figure stepped into the dim light—a young woman, her eyes wide with terror.
"Please," she whispered. "I escaped. They're everywhere. Even
The woman, Lira, revealed that she had been a member of The Eyes, a cult that believed in attaining enlightenment through sacrifice. She spoke of ceremonies, of high-ranking Marine officers participating in the rituals.
"They wear masks," Lira said, trembling. "But I recognized one. Rear Admiral Darius."
Naomi's eyes narrowed. Darius was a respected officer, known for his unwavering dedication.
"This goes deeper than we thought," Naomi said. "We need evidence."
The full moon cast a pale light over the ancient ruins deep within the forgotten woods. Haru crouched behind a crumbling wall, his breath steady but sharp. Beside him, Naomi adjusted her Marine coat, her fingers curling tightly around the handle of her crimson-hafted battle axe. They had been tracking the cult known as The Eyes for days, unraveling the horrors of their actions—bodies mutilated in ritualistic formations, strange symbols burned into flesh, and civilians turned into sacrifices.
Tonight, they had found the heart of it.
A stone circle stood ahead, glowing with faint violet sigils carved into its surface. Around it, cloaked figures chanted in an ancient tongue. At the center, a Marine officer was bound to an altar—eyes wide with terror, blood trailing down his chin.
Haru's fingers curled around his blades—Honjo, the katana with a finely sharpened edge, and his Odachi, a longer, heavy blade made for sweeping cuts. The memories of his mother's death surged within him. He remembered the same eye-shaped symbol carved into a wall of her burning hideout.
Naomi leaned in, whispering just above the wind, "There are at least twelve cultists. Two are using Observation Haki. The others are armed."
Haru nodded. "Let's go loud."
They leapt.
The moment their boots struck the stone circle, the chanting halted. Dozens of heads turned, hoods falling back to reveal distorted faces—some marked with carvings, others showing glazed eyes full of zealotry. One man raised his hand.
"Heretics! Purge them for the eye of truth!"
A swarm surged forward.
Naomi was already in motion. Her axe spun in a glittering arc, catching the first cultist mid-charge and flinging him aside like a rag doll. Her Armament Haki flared along the edge, blackening it with shimmering power. A second cultist lunged with twin daggers—only to be met with a shoulder thrust that shattered bone.
Haru darted between two enemies. Honjo danced in his left hand, slashing a clean cut across a man's chest, while the Odachi in his right swept low, forcing two more to leap back. His Haki-empowered strikes were faster than the eye could follow, his aura flaring like wildfire. Blood sprayed across the ancient stones.
One of the cult leaders snarled. "They are infused with the devil's strength—show them the Eye's judgment!"
Three men advanced on Haru, forming a triangle. One held a chain whip, another a curved scimitar, and the third extended his arms, revealing explosive symbols etched onto his forearms.
Haru's eyes narrowed. "Naomi, left side's yours."
"Gladly."
The chain came first—Haru ducked under it, rolling forward. The scimitar followed, slashing down from above. Honjo rose to meet it, sparks igniting at the point of contact. Before the third cultist could detonate his limbs, Haru was behind him—his Odachi slicing upward with brutal grace. The cultist gasped, eyes wide as he crumpled to the ground.
To his side, Naomi was a tempest. Her red hair whipped in the wind, her axe cleaving through stone and bone alike. A cultist tried to grapple her. She grabbed him by the wrist, twisted it until it snapped, then slammed her forehead into his nose with a crunch.
Suddenly, the ground trembled.
A massive cultist emerged from the shadows. He was seven feet tall, his torso bare and covered in ancient tattoos. His arms were like tree trunks, and his hands crackled with dark energy.
Naomi's eyes widened. "He's using corrupted Haki."
"Together," Haru said, and they charged.
The titan slammed his fists into the ground, sending shockwaves that cracked the terrain. Haru launched forward, using Soru to vanish and reappear beside the brute. His blades lashed out—but the man caught the Odachi in one hand.
"What—?" Haru's eyes widened.
The brute grinned. "You're fast… but weak."
Then Naomi was there. With a roar, she brought her axe down on the man's forearm. The corrupted Haki tried to resist—but Naomi's will was stronger. The blade crashed through his defense, cleaving into his flesh with a spray of darkened blood.
The giant screamed.
Haru twisted free and plunged Honjo into his side. Together, the two Marines brought him down in a symphony of steel and fury.
The cult began to retreat.
But Naomi and Haru weren't done.
Naomi chased a group fleeing into the forest, her Observation Haki sensing their panicked heartbeats. A woman turned to strike her with a throwing knife—Naomi deflected it with the flat of her axe, then spun and smashed the hilt into the woman's jaw, knocking her out cold.
Haru pursued another group through the ruins. He leapt between broken columns, his blades sheathed momentarily as he gathered energy. "Rankyaku!"
His legs swung through the air, releasing compressed shockwaves that tore through stone and flesh. The last three cultists collapsed with gaping wounds.
All was silent.
The circle was littered with fallen bodies and blood, broken relics and extinguished flames.
Naomi returned to Haru's side. "That was intense."
He nodded, wiping blood from Honjo with a cloth. "They were more organized than we thought."
She knelt beside a symbol etched in blood. "These sigils… are ancient. This cult's roots go deeper than we imagined. The fact that some Marines support this…"
Haru clenched his fists. "I won't let this rot spread.
Naomi put a hand on his shoulder. "We will."
They looked at the ruin before them—battle-worn and battered—but victorious.
Their journey wasn't over.
The Eye was watching.