Ares walked up the hill alone. His crew waited at the base of the island, guarding his ship. He knew they were not capable enough for what he was about to do.
The pirate sat on the edge of a cliff, overlooking the island of Sisonyia. They say criminals always return to the scene of the crime, perhaps that is true, as Hekate looked out at the island in the night.
“Vice Admiral Ares, good to see you again.” Hekate said without turning towards him. “Wine?” He held up a bottle for Ares to see, it was a fine vintage even Ares knew that.
“You aren't getting away Hekate.” Ares stated proudly. He became a vice admiral for three particular pirates, Jericho V Brau, Jaquar Red Fist, and Hekate. Here he was, inches away from the first of his targets.
“Oh i'm sure I am.” Hekate said. “You know, this place has really changed since I left. The Pantheon has changed dramatically. Since the Umbras took down Hera and Aphrodite they were replaced with Demeter and Persephone. When old Zuesy moved on Pothos took over, you and Apollo were replaced with Leto and Nike. and I heard Hades was replaced by Eros. How'd he become an admiral before you huh?” Hekate threw back a wicked smile.
“I have no interest in being an Admiral, just to catch pirates like you.” Ares said.
“Still, look at it, the place has changed so much. Dionysus' faction is gaining a lot of strength and pretty much controls the island.” Hekate explained. “Yet the Marines hold him back from so much, still people go hungry, still people suffer from oppression. Its sickening.”
Ares tossed down the sea prism shackles. “Make this easy for us, put them on.”
Hekate stretched his arms. “You know, I thought this might be a dumb idea, coming back to paradise, but now I'm sure I made the right call.”
Ares was curious. “Why did you return?”
Hekate got to his feet, and turned to Ares. The man was massive now, he now rivaled Ares in build. “Call it, recruitment.”
Ares chuckled. “You come to a deserted island to recruit?”
“Nah that is stupid, what dumbass would do that? Ares you are a moron.” Hekate said with a look of shock on his face. “No, I came to the deserted island to drag you away from Sisonyia.”
Suddenly explosions erupted from the large city island. Ships began to depart, dozens of war galleons that were built for the navy along with transport ships. Ares felt his eyes widen in horror as realization flooded him.
“You didn't even bother to ask where my ship was huh.” Hekate said. “My crew handled gathering the people. Hundreds wished to join, all to escape the cruelty of what the government is putting them through. The Pantheon Pirates are the ones they turned to when the government failed them. They called us, and we answered them.”
“How.” Ares said, flabbergasted.
Hekate smiled, then his body began to shift to his hybrid hawk form. “Ares Ares. Cant you feel the tides changing? This is a new world we enter, best prepare before you're swept away.” with that, he shot off into the air, towards the ships he had stolen.
Ares just stood dumbfounded as he failed to not only catch Hekate, but also allowed so many of Illonia’s people to sail away with him.
The next day the news reported on this change. The world government had declared Hekate’s bounty to be worth over 1 billion berries. The title of the fifth emperor was given to him as he sailed a fleet back to the new world. Not far behind him was the fleet of Leva Oliver, the two forces though separate were enough to cause a shake in the seas of Paradise.
Meanwhile in the New World, things began to shift, the tides were beginning to change to the new era.
