Pangu sat atop the bodies of the pirates that attacked Chongking Port. They were a small group of greenhorns that didn't realize the strength of the New World, it is a wonder they had made it as far as Yoichi. He chewed at an apple, a spoil of war as far as he cared.
“Woh, you caused some serious damage here.” A new voice said. Pangu turned his eyes to the one approaching. He was tall and muscled, wearing his hair in a top knot held by a bronze zan. He dressed in a green set of martial arts robes, and on his back was a large bundle wrapped in cloth. “You beat all these guys yourself?” His voice was jovial, and his expression showed a fierce desire for battle. Pangu had seen many like this before, it was nothing new to him.
“That is right.” Pangu said, would this man try to fight him too? He could tell he was like him, early twenties at the least. That zan, was that a phoenix? “Whats it to you.”
The man got giddy with excitement. “That means your strong then, so, you should serve me.”
Pangu didnt react at first, just finished his bite of the apple. Then he laughed aloud. “Serve you? Why in hell would I do something like that?”
“Because your strong and together we would be unbeatable.” The man said.
Pangu hopped off the pirates, returning his dao blade from the dirt to its sheath. The man spotted the blade with interest. “Now, why should I serve someone if I am strong.”
The man smiled. “Because I am stronger, so you should serve me.”
It was a flash, Pangu pulled his blade free and lashed out, attempting to stop right in front of the insolent man's face. However, the man had pulled out a massive blade from the bundle behind his back. The blade was absolutely massive, made of some white steel that was curved like a fang. The man had stepped back, giving enough room for the blades to clash without him putting up a guard, it was an attack.
“Impressive.” Pangu said, pressing his blade to try and push back the mans blade. He must be exerting a large amount of strength just to keep the blade up, something that would make it hard for him to hold it in place. Blades like that were good for bludgeoning, not for slashing. In a sword fight the blade was just a hammer.
“Your blade is worn.” The man said. He looked at Pangus blade, it was worn, something he struggled to repair. “That blade is of the Jo clan, used by their soldiers. Though, there blades are much thicker.”
Pangu pressed his attack, charging the man. The man charged back, the blades both moving to a guard as their faces grew close.
“Could it be that your blade has seen so many battle that it has become as small as it is from whetstone?” The man said. “Yet you still hold me back with that broken blade.”
“It is not broken yet.” Pangu responded thru gritted teeth, the man had adjusted and now his blade was on top of the exchange, a position the man preferred.
“Is it not?” The man said, at that moment a crack formed in the blade, it had gone to far.
“No.” Pangu said, his blade had not failed him before, why now?
“Your holding back.” The man said.
Pangu felt annoyed. He infused his blade with his spirit, a power those from other islands called Armament Haki. His blade metal was held in place by the power, and Pangu moved to the offensive in force. Pangu dodged to the side, avoiding the massive baldes downward swing as he broke the stalemate, then came around to attack the man. The man swiftly swung his sword from the dirt upward, parrying the strike and throwing Pangu’s arm up in the air, leaving him open for attack.
The man took advantage and lunged at Pangu, who used his free hand to push against the flat of the man's blade. He was keen in the one handed fighting style, he would not lose that easily. Pangu used the momentum of his push to spin around the blade and attack the man's now open side, bringing his arm down in an upward swing.
The man responded swiftly, as if he knew Pangu’s every movement. He carried himself an inch out of the distance of the swing, eyes never even touching the blade, it must have been Observation Haki. Pangu activated his, and the two entered a battle of reaction, waiting for the first to slip. Blades clashed, sending sparks into the air between them. The man swung low at Pangu’s legs, but Pangu jumped up, stomping the blade into the ground and using it to charge forward at the man.
The man reacted in a way Pangu had never expected, he heaved the blade up, launching Pangu into the air. Pangu threw his body into a spin, hoping to gain some distance when he landed. He hit the ground in a tumble, then spun swiftly to face his opponent, only to find the point of that fang weapon at his throat.
“I win.” The man said with a smile.
Pangu breathed deeply, taking in his defeat. Then he recognized the weapon. “That is the Emperors Fang.”
“That it is.” The man said.
“Your.”
“I am Prince Yu Di, heir to the Jade throne, future emperor of Yoichi.” The man said with a large smile. The Emperor's Fang, a weapon apparently forged from the fang of a dragon during the void century. It was magnificent in person, he had only heard of it in legend.
Pangu dropped to a knee. “I apologize for attacking you, my prince.”
“Ew stop that.” Yu Di said. “That was a good match, you should stand proud.”
Pangu rose slowly. “Why are you here in Chongking Port? We are on the opposite side of Yoichi.”
“I'm on a journey of sorts.” Yu Di said. “You see, i'll become Emperor soon, and as such I need to find myself my own Gemstone Warriors, so I seek out the strongest warriors in the land. And well, you have impressed me, will you join me?”
Pangu was caught off guard by the invitation. “You wish me to serve as the Emperor's lead warrior?”
“No, I want you to be one of my lead warriors.” Yu Di said. “Still prince for a few more years.”
Pangu thought it over, the title of Gemstone warrior was the highest honor a man could achieve in Yoichi. Though the title had become more lax with the current era of Gemstone warriors, selected by advisors chosen by the previous emperor. Though he could not deny the strength of the four warriors, Sun Quan the Opal, Liu Shan the Topaz, Shima the Aquamarine, and Kiran the Onyx.
“I humbly accept.” Pangu said. “My name is Pangu.”
“Very well Pangu, I name you Pangu the Ruby.” Yu Di said.
The ruby, the representation of the well placed blade, the last ruby hadn't been named since the void century, a title so revered that it was almost sacrilege to use it, along with the other the warriors of that time, the Sapphire, the Emerald, and the Amethyst.
“I am unworthy of the title” Pangu said, taking a knee. “Please, I will be fine with a lower title my lord.”
“Impossible.” Yu Di said. “You see, my warriors are going to be the greatest in the world, so they need titles to match that. The greatest Emperor will require the greatest warriors to protect his country, so I will accept no less than the best.”
“It is a heavy title to live up to.” Pangu said, staring at the dirt.
“I believe you're strong enough to bear it.” Yu Di said. “Come, we have three others to recruit.”
The city of Baoling served as a crossroad for the entirety of Yoichi’s land travel. Ships would travel from Chongking Port to the capital of Hong Shidao, but most could not afford the travel, so they trusted overland travel primarily. As such the city of Baoling was quite prosperous. It also served as the garrison for the army of Yoichi, and where the jailer of Shan prison took there days off.
“Is that true?” Yu Di said to the local resident he had pulled aside.
“Aye, if your looking for strength there is no one better then Shangdi.”
Yu Di rushed to the edge of town where he spotted the man in question. He wore his hair long, tied back by a single tie. He dressed shabby and bore a snake head spear on his shoulder. When Pangu and Yu Di had arrived the man Shangdi was eating and drinking a juice made from a local fruit.
“Is it true?” Yu Di said, approaching the table the man sat at. “You're the strongest warrior in this city?” They had taken on two warriors that people had regarded as amazing, all of them were quite disappointing.
The man looked at Yu Di with annoyance. “I don't take requests.” He ate at some sweets that were presented to him.
“That doesn't answer my question!” Yu Di said, his excitement building. Pangu had learned that Yu Di had a thing for getting excited for a fight. At first Pangu figured the man to be bloodthirsty, but after a day of travel the prince would settle in and study from books he had brought, and based on conversations it seemed he had a good head on his shoulders.
“Yes.” Shangdi said with a sigh. “Now please leave me.”
“Perfect, prove it.”
“I will do no such thing.” Shangdi said, not even looking at Yu Di.
“Why not?”
Shangdi sighed. “A warrior does not waste his time on meaningless fights, a warrior fights for others.”
Yu Di pouted. “I respect that.”
“You sure?” Pangu teased. “You seem pretty heart broken by that.”
Yu Di straightened. “Nope, because that's the type of mentality that is important for my Gemstone Warriors.”
Shangdi eyed Yu Di. “I see, you have the Emperor's fang, I should have noticed before, However I will not raise my spear to my Prince.” He must have been using observation haki to see the blade threw the cloth bundle. “However, you are in luck.”
The sounds of hooves broke off the conversation, as a cavalry of bandits came riding towards the city.
“I see close to one hundred.” Pangu said, looking at the charge.
“They are here to try and destroy the garrison, thinking it will weaken the country enough to take control of it.” Shangdi said. “I shall deal with it.” he lifted his spear and headed out.
“Alright, we will cover your back.” Yu Di said. “Leave the city to us, focus on beating these guys.”
Shandgi eyed Yu Di, but headed off without a word. He approached the cavalry on foot, with only his spear.
“They are to spread out.” Pangu said, looking at the wide attack. “He cannot stop them all.”
“We will cover his flanks then.” Yu Di said excitedly. “He is going to join us, I know it. A man who walks into battle like this with no fear is the type of man I want.”
The attack began. Shangdi lashed out, using his spear to fling himself into the air. He swiped at a rider, knocking him free and having him fall to the earth to be trampled by his allies. Shangdi landed on the horses back with one foot, the other up to kick at another rider as the spear slashed out, cutting down three others.
“That is Crane style.” Pangu said. “Its a school focused on constant movement, making it appear that the attacker is only ever on one foot.”
“He's using his observation haki to decide his next move in advance.” Yu Di said. “That is why he can be confident in his motions.”
Changdi let himself go into a summersalt, landing on a newly vacated horse with his outstretched left hand. He swung his feet in a spinning motion, his right hand twirling the spear to knock down those that his kicks could not reach. He was a blur of motion, Pangu had to use his Observation to keep up with the man's wild movements in the cacophony of the charge.
“Many have gone down.” Pangu wondered.
“I count fourty.” Yu Di said.
Pangu focused on Changdi, and felt the panic in the man's body. The enemy was getting too close, and he had gone too far to the left, leaving the right almost untouched. His people were about to be trampled, he couldn't stop it in time.
Suddenly, the charge collapsed. The horses fell over themselves, the soldiers landing face down into the dirt, all unconscious. Pangu felt it like a strong breeze, if he didn't have his haki up it could have knocked him out too. Yu Di had used Conquerors Haki.
“You have my thanks.” Shangdi said as he approached, blood covering his form.
“That is what it means to be allies. We cover each other's shortcomings.” Yu Di said.
Shangdi cracked a small smile. “Very well, have I proved my worth?”
“I will name you Shangdi the Emerald.” Yu Di said.
The emerald, the spear that breaks through the barriers that block the others. A fitting choice.
The quest had been going well, the three arrived outside Guangzaloa. Many more challengers had come, word spreading about Yu Di’s quest, all had failed. It was in a shop that they caught a lead.
“Those people were being led by a man named Tian?” Yu Di asked.
“I have heard of him.” Shangdi said, drinking an orange juice as some local kids swung from the blunt edge of his spear. Kids always seemed drawn to Shangdi, and he seemed to have a hard time telling them no when they asked to play. “He is a ruthless man who wishes to claim his own turf.”
“Yu Di, what is that look in your eyes.” Pangu said, already knowing the answer.
That was how the three of them had ended up attacking a bandit camp the size of a small city. Yu Di had said no killing, making their slog through the camp a pain.
“All of you out of the way.” A voice called out from a gathering of the bandits. A man stood tall and lean, wearing loose fitted robes. “You have entered my camp for what reason.”
“To see if you're strong.” Yu Di said, charging the man with his blade drawn.
“I am Tian, leader of these people, I will not fall so easily! Everyone stay away, leave these men to me!”
A chain shot out from under Tian’s sleeve, a meteor hammer. It wrapped around Yu Di’s blade, throwing him off his course as Tian tugged hard to the side. Yu Di held his blade, letting himself be dragged along. Sadly that let Tian change it to a chain swing, sending Yu Di crashing through a small tent. Yu Di didnt even take a moment, launching himself out of the debris of the tent and at Tian. Tian threw another hammer, it wrapped around the railing of a building that had been built, and he pulled himself up onto the balcony of the building. He used the other chain to swing at Yu Di, who knocked the chain up wide then jumped, wrapping his blade around the chain, then pulling.
Tian flew off the balcony, pulled towards Yu Di who had hungry eyes. Tian twisted his body, swinging his free arm to launch his chain out, slamming into Yu Di's face. A smug smile crossed Tian’s face as the hammer made impact, until he saw Yu Di’s matching smile. Yu Di swung his blade down on Tian, blunt side down. The slam sent Tian into the dirt. He panted, clearly in pain by the attack.
“Yu Di is to reckless.” Shangdi said. “If he didn't have his Armament up he would have died.
“I have defeated you!” Yu Di said. “Now, per your own traditions, you serve me.”
It was something the had learned after Pangu had captured some of the bandits. They were separate from the revolutionaries that had attacked Baoling, those ones Yu Di had wiped out a few days before.
“You are correct. We are yours.” Tian said, wiping blood from his lip.
“Good, then I shall name you Tian the Sapphire.” Yu Di said. “You are a warrior under me now. Your men will be invited to join the army, any problems?”
The Sapphire, the crushing hammer. A simple but reasonable choice.
Tian didn't like the group at first, but after squaring away his men in the army of Baoling he started getting more open with the rest. They arrived at a town outside Hong Shidao, one warrior short.
“Is it true you ate a devil fruit?” Tian asked Pangu.
“Yes, though I do not like to use it. I was told it was a different fruit from what it is.” Pangu said sadly.
“He doesn't like showing it.” Yu Di said with a laugh.
“What is that?” Shangdi asked, looking ahead at the village they were closing in on.
Pangu squinted to see. A man was running with a bride over his shoulder. The man was dressed like a monk, but not one of Yoichi. Behind him the entire village people ran after him.
“Ji Gong give her back you drunk!” a villager yelled out, clearly the soon to be husband.
“Can't do that, not yet.” the monk, Ji Gong yelled back. “Not safe, not safe. The world is going to fall upon you if you don't follow me!”
“Should we do something?” Pangu asked.
Yu Di watched as the village grew closer to them. “Nope.”
Suddenly, a rockslide from a nearby mountain swept the town, destroying buildings.
“What the!” Tian shouted.
“He predicted that.” Shangdi said. “I didn't see anything.”
The man, Ji Gong came up to the prince, then placed the bride down. “Woo, made it. And we got everyone out. How was that huh princling?”
“You know me?” Yu Di asked.
Pangu caught the man's eyes, they were spinning wildly, never focusing on one thing for too long.
“Ji Gong sees much, too much in fact.” Ji Gong said.
“You're not of this land are you?” Yu Di asked.
“Nope, I am of the seas. I trained under the seas, where I learned to fight.” Ji Gong said. “I have learned to see, see all that has not happened yet.”
The village arrived, tackling the man and pinning him to the ground.
“That is enough.” Yu Di said. “You are attacking a member of the Gemstone warriors, Ji Gong the Amethyst.”
The Amethyst, the outlander who brings new thoughts to the other warriors. Pangu was begrudging to accept this eccentric.
