The village sat on a narrow strip of land, the open sea stretching out in front while a wide, fast-moving river cut it off from the rest of the island at the back.
Most beasts avoided the crossing altogether—the current was strong enough to sweep even large creatures into the sea. Still, on rare occasions, some managed to leap across thus hunters always patrolled the entire area.
At six years old, Leo's daily routine was already far from ordinary. He would wake at four in the morning, soaking himself in cold water before beginning his training—push-ups and weightlifting as the sun slowly rose.
After a quick meal, he would head to the shore to fish and swim, careful to avoid deeper, dangerous waters where Sea Kings were said to dwell.
Once he sold his catch, he handed the money to his mother. After lunch, he would join the hunters in the forest not as a fighter, but as support. He carried their prey, observed from a distance, and learned how to track movement, set bait, and lure animals into traps.
He kept at it for two years.
By the end of it, Leo had mastered the basics of hunting, even surpassing some of the older members in technique. Yet, he still hadn't found a single clue about the Devil Fruit which could be anywhere in the world.
At eight years old, he began seeking guidance in combat. The hunters didn't refuse—if anything, they encouraged him. In a world ruled by pirates and Marines, strength was necessary to survive.
They trained him in different weapons—bows, spears, blades and Leo absorbed everything like a sponge. Still, he favored one path above all else.
His fists.
He focused on strengthening his body, refining his movements, and building raw physical power.
Four more years passed.
By the age of twelve, Leo was already a key part of the hunting team. His skill in martial arts and close combat had reached a level where most beasts couldn't stand after a single blow. With him, they had cleared much of the surrounding area of dangerous wildlife.
Until the day they encountered the one he has only heard a story about.
The moment the creature appeared, a chill ran through every hunter present. Their bodies froze, instincts screaming at them to run, but Leo felt something else. A strange pull… as if it were his purpose to slay it.
Arrows were useless—they bounced off its thick fur. Blades shattered before reaching its flesh. Spears broke apart on impact. Each movement it made felt like an earthquake, its sheer strength tearing through trees in its path.
It was an abnormally large bear, nearly twelve feet in length, with red eyes, its claws dark and sharp like black crystal, and his body covered in unknown tattoos.
The creature was old and massive beyond reason. Its senses were terrifyingly sharp. It dodged poisoned arrows and avoided strikes aimed at its vitals with precision that felt almost… intelligent.
Leo had once heard stories from Uncle James, the leader of the hunting group, tales of a "Beast King" that ruled the other side of the island. At the time, they had sounded exaggerated.
Now, standing before it, he realized they hadn't been exaggerated enough.
The other hunters had encountered it before and they knew one thing they had to do:
Fighting it was impossible.
Running was the only option.
They fled toward the river, moving faster than they ever had. One by one, they dove into the water without hesitation and just as before the bear stopped.
It stood at a distance, watching, refusing to come near the river… as if something about deep water triggered a buried fear within it.
It never followed them beyond that point, only roaring in frustration, thrashing wildly before retreating back into the forest.
The bear was slower than them, that was the only reason they survived. But if that creature ever managed to cross the river and reach the village, it would be the end of everything.
Since first encountering it fifteen years ago, they had searched for ways to kill it—but never succeeded, forced to live under its threat ever since.
By the time they returned to the village, it was nearly noon.
As always, life resumed its routine. Leo ate, rested briefly, then spent the rest of the day studying, training, and pushing his body further.
Punching trees and rocks until his fists bled and bones cracked, his small body turning red under the strain. Yet by the next morning, the injuries had mostly healed, leaving behind only a faint sense of improvement with each passing day.
His appetite matched that growth. Half of what he caught from the sea and forest was consumed by him alone, on top of whatever his mother fed him.
With constant training and some guidance from his mother, Leo gradually learned about Haki.
There were three types.
Observation Haki, Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki.
As their names suggested, Observation allowed one to sense and anticipate threats. With enough training, his mother claimed, it could even glimpse moments into the future.
Armament Haki reinforced the body like steel, greatly increasing both offense and defense—but it demanded years of training and a certain degree of luck to awaken.
As for the third, Conqueror's Haki… Leo neither hoped for it nor dismissed it. Time would reveal whether he possessed it or not.
Keeping all this in mind, Leo focused on Observation Haki and Armament Haki.
He pushed himself beyond his limits daily, returning battered and bruised, yet no matter how hard he tried—he couldn't grasp it.
Three more years passed.
At fifteen, his routine had evolved into something almost inhuman. Leo could now kill a house sized beast with a single strike, feats impossible for ordinary humans.
At around 5'5", he had developed a lean, athletic build. His Snow white hair fell to his neck, usually tied into a short ponytail, while his light blue eyes had darkened—now holding a sharper, more focused intensity.
By then, he has become a full-fledged hunter.
Years spent in the wilderness had sharpened his senses—his hearing, smell, and vision all heightened, while his reaction speed surpassed that of every other hunter in the village.
And as a result of all this training, he could feel it, an invisible force growing within his body, Haki, but no matter how hard he tried, it remained just out of reach.
It felt as if it refused to surface, like it needed something more. Something real. A true life-and-death moment. These controlled hunts and mock battles weren't enough.
At Sixteen, Uncle James finally retired from hunting due to age. In his place, a new leader was to be chosen.
Despite his age, Leo was nominated.
Objections rose immediately that he was too young, too inexperienced in leadership. So the village settled it the only way they trusted.
A trial.
The first round tested leadership, each candidate would lead a team and see who could bring back the most successful hunt.
The second tested individual strength and Leo dominated both.
He outperformed the team in efficiency and strategy, then defeated every contender in combat without breaking much of a sweat.
By the end of it, there was no argument left.
At just Sixteen years old, Leo became the leader of the hunting group—commanding a four-man team, his strength and ability leaving the entire village in quiet awe.
"Jack, I know I'm younger and less experienced than you. That's why you can't accept me as the hunting team leader. But I want you to understand—"
"You don't know shit, Leo. Just stay out of my way."
Even after a fair defeat, he refused to let it go. There had never been bad blood between them… which left only one reason.
"It's personal, isn't it?" Leo said calmly. "What do you hope to gain by becoming the leader?"
Jack stopped. His body stiffened—then trembled.
After Uncle James, he had been the second-best hunter. A skilled marksman and spearman. Someone everyone relied on.
"Leo… you're a better hunter than me." His voice dropped, rough with frustration. "And no matter how stupid this sounds… I need you to hear me." He lowered his head.
"I asked Uncle James so many times to set a trap to hunt that beast king. But he never agreed. That's why I wanted to become a leader… so I could kill it myself." His hands clenched.
Even Leo had proposed plans to hunt the beast, but Uncle James had refused every time, going as far as threatening to cast them out of the village if they tried. So Leo had held back, not until he was certain he could kill it.
"But now…" Jack's voice faltered. "I've lost my only chance to gather a team. I can't fulfill my oath." Leo's expression hardened slightly.
"Why do you want it dead so badly?" he asked. "You know even if both hunting teams go together, there's a real chance we'd be wiped out."
"I know," Jack said quietly. "I know I'm no match for that thing… but I can't keep living like this." He took a shaky breath.
"That thing killed my father. He was a hunter too. Before my mother died… I promised her I'd kill it." His voice wavered.
"That's why I left my work as a craftsman twelve years ago and became a hunter. But every time I see it…" He looked away.
"It feels stronger than before… and my resolve keeps slipping away. I am just angry with myself, I don't understand what I'm supposed to do."
"…You have to ask for help idiot." Leo answered immediately.
"You don't need to worry," Leo said, extending his hand. "I've been planning to kill that thing ever since I first saw it." He pulled Jack to his feet.
"We'll end it soon… and when we do, this island will finally be ours."