#liverless

From May 1st to 3rd, 2025, Ochtendung will transform once again into a vibrant hub for Heavy Metal fans as the legendary A CHANCE FOR METAL FESTIVAL (ACFMF) makes its return. Fans from across Germany and Europe will gather to experience a weekend packed with high-energy music, great company, and unforgettable performances from top-tier bands. Tickets for both weekend and day passes are available…

(Slightly, Hikari, and Peter to @opotakuism)

The night was cool and dark. The full moon is shining on the waves. As a large ship travels through the waves, the clock strikes midnight. Four men are patrolling on the deck. All of them are wearing Marine uniforms. They are carrying rifles on their shoulders and their eyes are observing outside of the ship. Despite there is no danger, the men are constantly alert in case of any surprise attack. 

One of the marines, named Ali, is observing the stern side of the ship. He is young and newly recruited. He is rather nervous as he didn’t expect to be thrown into a sailing Marine ship so soon as a night watcher. Especially in the New World. He worries that there would be a surprise attack if the ship is too close to a Yonko’s territory.

“Hey, Ali!” This shout pulls Ali away from his thoughts and turns to the lieutenant and navigator of the ship. “How’s the night treating ya?” The young marine sighs, “It’s alright” He looks back up to the sky. He turns to the front to see two stars, with the second one is on the right. 

“This is strange.” The lieutenant mumbled to himself. “Is there a problem, lieutenant?” Ali asked his superior and the lieutenant shows him the item he’s holding, a compass. The compass needle is constantly spinning around with no clear direction. “That’s not good. This could set us to get lost. “What should we do?” Ali asked. 

“Drop the anchor! We can’t risk getting lost at night!” The lieutenant shouted to the helmsman, who then pulls a lever, causing the anchor to drop. “But… Captain’s orders are to keep sailing…” Ali hesitated. 

“We will have to dock here for the night. At least by morning, the compass will be working better.” The lieutenant reassured Ali. “It won’t be too bad. The captain will understand. Besides, we have done this several times so there’s nothing wrong to worry about.” Ali reluctantly agreed with the lieutenant. The idea of being anchored in the New World feels uneasy to him. 

“I just need you to be on the stern for a while as I check this out. Your shift is about to end so it won’t be too long.” The young marine agreed and looked back at the stern. He looks at the ocean in front of him. Ali shouldn’t be too afraid of the New World. As long they stay in course, they won’t get attacked. Since they are in they’re anchor on a route where no Yonko or their allies pass through, the ship is safe from any harm.

He starts to feel drowsy. He rubs his eyes to stay awake. It’s strange that he starts to feel tired since he slept all afternoon to have enough energy to stay awake.

Ali looks up to see some dust falling on him. It was bright and dark blue. Ali gathers a bit on his hand as it stops flowing down. Suddenly, his eyes started to get droopy. He grips on the rails as his legs collapsed. He ends up letting go and his eyes closed, drifting off to sleep.

Ali wakes up and raises himself up from the ground. He realized that he had fallen asleep on his shift. If the captain knows about this, he could get a suspension or worse. He looked at his watch and it’s 1 AM. He realized that this is very unusual because his shift is supposed to end at 12:30 AM. Ali is wondering why did no one else come. Against his judgment and the rules, he leaves the stern side of the port and starts to investigate. 

He walks around the ship’s deck and he sees that the other three marines are missing. Ali starts to head below deck to the cabin. He suddenly has a gut feeling, telling him to not go to the cabin. However, he goes into the hallway to the cabin, gripping onto his rifle. On his way to the cabin, he looks at the walls and the doors on the side. He opens each door and positions his rifle as if he’s ready to shoot. He is checking if there’s an intruder. Fortunately, all the rooms are completely empty and nothing appeared to be unusual. Ali took a sigh of relief as he goes to another room.

Then a thud from the cabin catches his attention. 

Ali tries turning on the light but it seems that it has no power or that the light bulbs stop working. He takes a step forward and hears a puddle below him. It sounds like he stepped on one. But it’s impossible for water to drip or a pipe break. He kneels down to touch the puddle and step back to the hallway for light. 

His fingers are covered in blood. 

Ali felt panic around his body

He hears another thud but it sounds more wet, like a butcher cutting flesh. Ali quietly goes to the utility room to grab a flashlight and goes back to the cabin. He turns it on and looks at the group. It confirms that there is a puddle of blood below him. Ali moves the flashlight around and his heart sank.

The entire crew is deadly pale as blood comes out of their noses and mouth. He looks down to see the Captain, with a gun on his hand, with his neck bitten off and a hole on his abdomen. Ali turns to see the lieutenant lying on his chest with several stab wounds. The recruit moves his flashlight to show more of his twenty-seven fellow marines dead, most of them are still in their beds. Ali is on the verge of tears as he moves the flashlight, getting closer to the source of the noise.

The light exposed a figure on top of a recently deceased marine. He turns to Ali in surprise. The figure appears to be a fair-skin preteenage boy with vibrant autumn orange hair and yellow eyes. He wears a kimono shirt with shorts. The two biggest features to him are the fox ears and tail. It reminds Ali of the Mink tribe but the child appears to be mostly human. He could be a hybrid or a devil fruit eater.

He noticed the boy has a sword on his left hand, digging into the abdomen of his deceased ally. Ali wasted no time in grabbing his rifle and positioned himself to shoot when he saw it. He shouted, “Stand down! Or I will shoot!” His heart is racing in fear and his arms are shaking. The figure however didn’t listen to him. Instead, he went closer to the small window. “I’m warning you! Stand down!” Ali shouted in fright. The figure continues to ignore him. He turns to the window to look directly at the full moon. Ali is about to shoot until he noticed that the figure is transforming. 

His once autumn orange hair radiantly changed into cold glistening silver as the moon, growing as it reaches down his legs. Claws grow as hooked blades, black thorn tattoos flourishing through his arms, neck, and cheeks. His bushy tail sprung as it counted from one.

Two.

Three.

Four.

It did not stop until they grew nine. 

His almond eyes of yellow pupils shaded in red, sclera bleached in black. The half-fox mink flashed a mischievous grin, exposing his canine fangs, growling in anticipation... for the kill.

Ali paled as he is about to pull the trigger. However, it seems as the figure disappeared as soon he shoots at it. The marine is shaking in terror and looks around for the figure. Suddenly, he felt a sharp and burning pain in his chest. Ali starts gasping for air as tears fall from his eyes. He looks down to see the figure slowly stabbing him with his clawed. 

His clawed hand impaled his prey's chest. Fingers squeezing the lungs to detect his favorite part until it was found under the rib cage on the right side of the abdomen. He paid no attention to Ali’s painful scream, nor the warm crimson spilled from the hole his hand dugs in. The figure sighed in satisfaction as he grabbed the liver, pulled away from Ali’s now cold, unmoving body, and collapsed on the ground.

The half-fox mink looks at the liver. It’s big and untainted by alcohol and drugs. Its crimson color looks tasty to him. He starts to chow down on the organ. Having it being torn away from a terrified Marine gives it a more satisfying sweetness. His den-den mushi rings in his pocket, causing him to answer it. “Hello?” He responded. 

“Are all the Marines dead, Slightly?” Asked the voice. The voice sounds masculine yet childish. 

“Yes, Hikari…~ I had an easy time killing them off with Black Bow’s Sleeping Dust…~” Slight amused to the voice, now known as Hikari.

“Are there any weapons…?” Hikari questioned him. “There is an abundance of weapons here along with some sea stone…~ All in good condition…~” Slightly grinned as he wiped the blood from his mouth. “Great job…~ Get your fleet to raid the ship and I’ll send it off…~ Peter will be happy with this…~” The voice from the other end finally said before he hung up.