Location: Tide's Maw – Boiling Blade Tavern
The forge-town's tavern buzzed with metal clinks and echoing shouts. Unlike the smoky dives of East Blue, The Boiling Blade was a cavern carved directly into a volcanic ridge. Walls glowed faint red from residual heat, and hammering from the forge-pits above rumbled like thunder beneath the floorboards.
At a corner booth sat Benn Beckman, cigarette balanced on his lips, rifle propped against the table. He hadn't moved much since they entered.
His eyes had only flicked once—toward Ankit.
"You brought someone unusual this time, Shanks."
"He's earned his place," Shanks replied, tone calm.
Benn tilted his head. "Not saying he hasn't. But there's something off about him. He's… detached."
Ankit flinched slightly, but didn't speak.
Beckman studied him. "What's your story, swordsman?"
Ankit met his gaze. "I'm just here to get stronger."
Benn grinned faintly, smoke trailing from his mouth. "Aren't we all?"
Flashback: Benn Beckman's Warning
Benn poured them drinks, the bottle older than the war between pirates and Marines. "You mentioned a harpoon."
Shanks nodded. "Found it in the Deadmen's Vane. Gave off some… bad memories."
Benn's expression hardened.
"That thing is older than the Marines. Older than the World Government," he said, voice low. "When I was here last, the smiths of Tide's Maw spoke of a line of Relics—weapons forged to lock away ancient powers. Not to destroy… but to contain."
He tapped his cigarette ash.
"There are seven of them. Called the Hepta Seals. If you found one…"
He trailed off.
Shanks finished for him. "Someone's trying to gather them."
Benn looked at Ankit again. "And this guy saw something, didn't he?"
Ankit felt the heat of the system in his mind. He hesitated—but nodded once.
"I saw a gate. Underwater. And a creature… or maybe a god. Oureval."
Benn stood up, instantly more serious.
"That name hasn't been uttered in centuries. If you saw it—really saw it—then something's waking up. And you're already part of it."
Location: Tide's Maw – Blacksteel Alley
Later that night, as Ankit stepped outside the tavern for air, a loud clang rang out in the alley. He turned.
A figure in black leathers stood over a crumpled body—one of the smiths from the forge. The assassin didn't expect Ankit. Their eyes locked.
The figure fled.
Ankit chased without hesitation, swords drawn.
They weaved through alleyways, sparks from open forges casting flickering shadows. The heat, the steam, the ringing metal—it was chaos.
Finally, the assassin turned and lunged. Their blade gleamed silver-blue—unlike any steel Ankit had seen.
Ankit blocked high with one sword, countered low with the other—but the opponent's form was fluid. Not Marine. Not pirate.
Something else.
[Fight: Blacksteel Alley – Midnight Duel]
The assassin's strikes were precise, probing for weak points. Ankit stayed centered, letting his dual-blade rhythm keep him balanced.
Then the assassin spoke, voice muffled: "You shouldn't be here."
"I could say the same," Ankit replied, ducking a slash and riposting with a clean shoulder cut.
The assassin vanished in a blur—Shave technique?
No. Too unrefined.
Ankit blocked from behind at the last moment, sparks flaring as steel met steel.
[System Alert: Blade Clash – Reaction Sync: 0.34 seconds]
Counter Potential – HIGH
He twisted, elbowed the attacker, and slammed his off-hand blade into their thigh.
The assassin dropped a vial—smoke bomb.
The alley flooded with white.
By the time Shanks and Benn arrived, the fight was over. Only Ankit remained, panting, bloodied but upright.
Location: Forge Hospital – Morning
Benn applied bandages with practiced ease. "You fought well."
Ankit nodded, silent.
"Most people would be dead."
Still no reply.
Shanks leaned against the wall. "That blade they used… you recognize it?"
Benn grimaced. "Coldsteel variant. Forged in Wano, but adapted elsewhere. Could be part of the same group seeking the Seals."
Ankit finally spoke. "They said I shouldn't be here."
Shanks glanced at him. "They were wrong."
Location: Secret Forge Chamber – Noon
Benn led them through underground tunnels, deeper than the main forge. Here, ancient walls bore markings in Old Glyph—a language even Nico Robin would struggle with.
In the chamber's center was a molten ring of red stone. From within, a shape rose slowly.
A broken spear. Half-melted. But embedded with the same glowing rune as the harpoon.
"This," Benn said, "is the second piece."
Ankit stepped forward. The system pulsed.
[Relic Echo Detected – Hepta Seal Fragment: "Ashlance"]
Unlock Progress: 2/7
Passive Gained: Relic Intuition (Low Tier)
— Grants instinctual recognition of other Relic-based weapons/items. No activation cost.
He didn't say anything.
Benn noticed. "You felt something, didn't you?"
Ankit exhaled. "Just… a familiarity."
He lied.
What he really felt was a sense of calling. The spear fragment wanted to be whole. Just like the harpoon.
And worse—so did something else.
Location: Red Blade Ship – That Evening
Benn stood at the prow with Shanks.
"Still smoking?" Shanks asked.
"Still waiting for the world to make sense," Benn replied.
"You coming with us this time?"
Benn's eyes narrowed. "Depends. You chasing adventure again, or something darker?"
Shanks didn't smile this time. "Both."
Benn nodded once.
"Then count me in."
Ankit leaned over the railing nearby, swords across his back, the wind brushing against him.
He didn't know what the future held.
But he felt the weight of it now—like the balance of a blade just before the final swing.
[SYSTEM PANEL – USER: ANKIT]
Status: Recovered – Minor bruising remains.
System Sync: 12.9%
[Skill Proficiency Update – Dual Sword Style]
Level: 4
Efficiency Rating: 63%
Flow Reading: ★★★☆☆
Off-Hand Coordination: 78%
Passive: Reflex Echo
New Trait Unlocked: Intercept Timing – Small window to parry invisible or blink attacks if user remains calm.
[New Entry – Relic Tracker]
Whispering Harpoon – Located
Ashlance Fragment – Acquired
Bone Gate Key Fragment – Vision Only
Status of Hepta Seal Set: 2/7 Awakened
End of Chapter 15 – Benn Beckman and the Forges of Maw
Next: Chapter 16 – The Monster Hunter's Pact