[b]Name[/b]: Ishizoku D. Zanza
[b]Title[/b]: Kaijin no Zanza/Zanza of the Ashes 
[b]Bounty[/b]: $125,000,000
[b]Nickname[/b]: N/A
[b]Crew[/b]: Ash Pirates 
[hider=Ash Pirates Jolly Roger][img]https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/2e7f9088-caa3-4eed-bd78-ea4b13bb59bc/dbdn0gw-74fb0a3c-1033-47eb-a2ec-2a8d885e284a.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzJlN2Y5MDg4LWNhYTMtNGVlZC1iZDc4LWVhNGIxM2JiNTliY1wvZGJkbjBndy03NGZiMGEzYy0xMDMzLTQ3ZWItYTJlYy0yYThkODg1ZTI4NGEuanBnIn1dXSwiYXVkIjpbInVybjpzZXJ2aWNlOmZpbGUuZG93bmxvYWQiXX0.g2xDTklRzwqapqItkVHxOkLuVR9OOIEIRcjxXE90DqY[/img][/hider]
[b]Occupation/Skillset[/b]: Captain of the Ash Pirates/Navigator
[b]Age[/b]: 27
[b]Age Appearance[/b]: 24
[hider=Appearance][img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6f/03/3c/6f033cd1938eff42671098644d33dcd0.jpg[/img]
Zanza is tall, about 6'3 with a lean, muscular build. He has silver-white hair and is usually wearing a headband. He wears loose clothing that appears one or two sizes too big for him. [/hider]

[b]Allegiance[/b]: Pirate
[hider=Personality]As a child Zanza was full of energy and life. He was born with an adventurous spirit and a nack of wandering into places he didn't belong. These traits turned to mischief as he grew into a young lad, playing pranks on the stern Marines who raised him whenever he got the chance. Because of this he was often reprimanded for his actions and would always question authority on why the rules and laws were the way they were. Being like everyone else and falling in line just never sat well with the young phoenix, who gradually became displease with his disposition. 

So Zanza resolved to live a life of liberty, of freedom, and above all, his own brand of justice. He vowed not to let the world harden him like he had seen it do to so many others. He vowed never to follow and order that went against his morals, leading to his defection from those who raised him before he could ever truly be called a Marine. You can't keep a caged bird locked away forever. And so through hell or highwater Zanza became the type of person that would have made his family proud. Not someone who blindly followed orders in the name of Justice, but a man who would protect the freedoms of those too weak to protect themselves. He stopped taking himself so seriously all the time, and learned to laugh and love with his friends.

By the time Zanza officially became Captain of the Ash Pirates, he had a much more relaxed nature than the energetic child he once was. Though he still likes to play jokes on his nakama and make wise cracks wherever possible, when push comes to shove, Zanza will staunchly defend himself, his ship, and his crew with a blazing fury that makes it clear to see why his crew follows and respects him. He is a born leader, quick to give direction and order in times of need. His gaze gives off the aura of dominance and precision, ever-observant of his surroundings nearly to the point of paranoia at times; this is both a blessing and a curse in the way that he couldn't turn his awareness off if he felt like it. It has been drilled into his head for as long as he can remember "Always be aware of your surroundings." [/hider]

[b]Laugh[/b]: Zarahahahahahaaaa (Zarazara is the japanese word for sounding rough or coarse)
[b]Birthplace[/b]: Garuzan Island, Grand Line
[hider=History]Garuzan Island will be a familiar name to anyone who has heard tales of the Grand Line. For some it is nothing more than a fairytale like many islands in the Grand Line, but for most the news of its fate has spread to every corner of the world. For decades it was just a small island home to a fishing port, a shipyard, and a massive volcano at the center.  The volcano, named The Garuza by the island's inhabitants, remained dormant for hundreds of years. Scientists stated that it was a relic of the past and had no chance of erupting, so the people that settled there lived peaceful lives, mostly as fisherman or shipwrights. All of a sudden, about twenty-five years ago when Zanza was only two years old, news of the volcano erupting spread throughout the world, and while nearly nobody even knew the name Garuzan island, it is now a tale of caution for any would-be pirates hoping to enter the Grand Line and find treasure and fame. 

When Marines arrived at the island to search for survivors, only one was found. A boy, barely two years old, crying amongst the ashes. Somehow, Zanza had survived. The Marines took him in. He was raised among them, fed well, given clothing and shelter. But as Zanza grew he yearned for home, he yearned to learn who he was. As a young boy he begged to go home, only to be sternly turned down each time. As a teenager he was taught how to fight and began training as a Marine. Yet all the while he kept secret books on pirates and the Grand Line and would hang out around the bars in town at night to hear the men sing songs of their adventures. In his heart he knew this was not where he belonged. This was not who he was. And he had to figure it out. 

So of course he went AWOL at 17, never having truly enlisted in the Marines eeing as he was a minor. With nothing but a makeshift raft and a sail made out of blankets, the stormy seas tossed him up ona deserted island in God knows where. He was stranded, living off of whatever he could find to eat and whatever fruits he could to replenish his thirst. It was here where he was rescued by a group of pirates, who took him under their wing and taught him how to fend for himself and live freely. It was here that he was taught how to navigate the four Blues and was shown how to enter the Grand Line and use a Log Pose. He was happier here, he felt closer to home when he was on board this ship with these people, it almost felt like he was part of a family. He told the Captain of this ship about the fate of his family and his home in the Grand Line. The captain had planned to journey into these dangerous waters anyway and figured that Zanza would make a good pirate one day with the right guidance and chose to bring him along on his journey and promised to stop at what remained of Garuzan when they reached that part of the Grand Line. Yet only a few short years later, the crew was ambushed, the Captain killed and the crew captured or disbanded into hiding before they could ever reach Garuzan Island. The ship was destroyed, and Zanza was left stranded on an island, barely being able to swim to shore. 

Washed ashore and stranded on an island he knew nothing about, he did his best to use his navigating skills to discern where he was. He had nothing left but a bo staff given to him by the Captain of his now-former crew. But Zanza is and always has been a fighter, and so he planted his staff into the ground and pulled himself up out of the sand and began his trek into a nearby jungle in search for food. For hours he found nothing but a giant beetle the size of his chest that bit his tongue before scurrying away when he tried to eat it. He searched for water, fruit, vegetables, anything! But nothing. He was nearly at the end of the line, dehydrated and exhausted. Bruised, beaten, bleeding and broken from the battle prior. And then suddenly... a rustle in the jungle from about 50 meters out... The ground began to shake with each step as something drew closer to Zanza, [i]something big[/i]... His eyes perked up. He hadn't even seen any fauna around besides the beetle, so this was a shock to him. He watched in awe as a tree fell to the ground, landing not too far from him and shaking the earth. He clambered up off the ground gritting his teeth as another tree fell, knocking him off balance and back to the ground. And then another tree, and another, as two massive tusks sprouted through the forest and into view. Within moments, there it was, a gargantuan elephant of mythical proportions came into view, collapsing the jungle as it made its way.

The beast looked down upon Zanza, who had backed himself up against a tree and was now staring wildly at the animal, mouth agape in complete awe of its sheer size. The elephant seemed to consider its options for a moment, almost as if judging Zanza. After the pair locked eyes briefly, the massive beast let out a mighty roar from its trunk, while Zanza let out a scream that was inaudible compared to the elephant. He immediately dug deep within himself for whatever energy he had left and took off running in the opposite direction as the elephant began charging forward, completely flattening the tree that Zanza was sitting against. 

The chase lasted several minutes with much screaming and many plants being trampled in the ensuing chaos. At this time Zanza realized there were many giant animals on this island, though none quite as fearsome as this elephant that he could see. They too were fleeing from this beast's rampage, and some gave Zanza cold stares almost as if to say "Did you really have to piss this guy off?" Zanza kept sprinting for his life until his looked back and the elephant had stopped cold in its tracks. For what reason? Zanza turned back around to see exactly why, which was a giant cliff just ahead of him. He was going too fast to stop, and a fall from that height would surely kill him. And so he fell, staring up into the sky as he thought he was about to meet his end. But before he could even think of how he was going to die, his back clapped against the surface of water before being swallowed up. He stared up at the light at the surface of the water, his body slowly descending into the depths. He pondered his life for a moment and what brought him to this point. He reached out toward the light, knowing that he may never see it again. He reached and reached, kicking hes legs and pulling himself up toward the surface with every last bit of strength he could muster from his being. He did not know it at the time, but this would be the last time Zanza swam for the rest of his life. From here on out, he would fly. 

His head breached the surface as he gasped for air, coughing up the water he swallowed when he unexpectedly went for a swim. He dragged himself onto the sands of what appeared to be a small lagoon within the island itself. A little alcove, hidden away from the rest of the island. Realizing where he still was, his head spun aroundm quickly scanning the area for anymore giant creatures. None. Good. He was... alone? No. There were a few trees that looked like stumpy versions of palm trees. And on that tree was... A FRUIT?! No, it couldn't be! His belly rumbled, and he clutched at it instinctively as he remembered he hadn't ate since before the battle that landed him here. And so first he crawled, and then dragged himself up to his feet and stumbled over to the odd looking fruit... It was blue and yellow with swirling wisps that almost looked like flames. He bit into it, taking a huge mouthful of what he thought would be delicious fruity juicy goodness, but instead was met with a mixture of sour and bitter pulp. Zanza almost instinctively spit it out but knowing this could be the last thing he ate for a while, he chewed and chewed and tore away at the fruit until it was gone. 

And so the Captain of the Ash Pirates was born. It was then he met his crew, building the first ship of his own and setting sail as the Captain of the Ash Pirates, promising to rise from the ashes and become a great pirate who would gain power to protect himself and his friends, and to ultimately find the truth about his family and his past. (Crew's history and relationship tg will be fleshed out and added when I actually know who's gonna be on his crew, lol.[/hider]


[b]Goal[/b]: To find the truth about his identity, and to live freely. Zanza aspires to become powerful enough to protect himself and his nakama from the evils of the world. 

[hider=Combat][u]Devil Fruit[/u] 

Name: [url=https://onepiece.fandom.com/wiki/Tori_Tori_no_Mi%2C_Model%3A_Phoenix]Tori Tori no Mi - Model: Phoenix[/url] / Bird Bird Fruit - Model: Phoenix
Appearance: (non-canon) The fruit has the iconic swirl patterns of most Devil Fruits, with the fruit itself being shaped like a wisp of flames. 
Abilities: The Mythical Zoan fruit functions just as it does in the canon manga. However, unlike the canon fruit, extended usage of the fruit's healing abilities will drain the user's stamina over time, causing Zanza to be unable to maintain a full beast form or even heal from damage if he is sufficiently drained of energy. 
Signature Moves: Shoushou (Cry of a Phoenix) - Zanza's base attack which can be performed with a partial or full transformation into his Zoan form using one of his legs to form a slashing kick, leading with the talons on his feet to savagely cut through his target. This attack can be used from a standing position by kicking upwards and launching his enemy into the air, or from the side like a roundhouse kick. 
Zangyaku Shoushou (Savage Cry of a Phoenix) - Zanza's base attack (described above) except now imbued with Busoshoku Haki, drastically increasing the power of the attack and its ability to pierce through defenses. 
Hai no Nakeru (Tears of Ash) - Zanza's signature ability to call upon his Phoenix flames around parts of his body to heal his wounds. The flames are not hot and do not burn enemies, and instead can be used to heal the wounds of others as well by touching the wound of another. 
Shugotenshi (Guardian Angel) - Zanza either partially or fully turns into his Zoan form while rotating or spinning his body, using his wings to act as a dome or shield of flames to protect from incoming attacks. This ability can be used while in the air as well, and can be used to protect others who are near Zanza. 
[u]Haki[/u]

Type of Haki: Busoshoku/Armament Haki
Control: Novice
Special Skills: None, Zanza has the ability to harden parts of his body by focusing his will. Just the basic Armament Haki. 

[u]Weapons/Equipment[/u]
[hider=Bo Staff][img]https://www.pngfind.com/pngs/m/17-172249_ready-for-battle-larp-staff-erico-ground-rod.png[/img][/hider]
Zanza carries a bo staff made of a lightweight semimetal on his back that is weighted on either end to provide better balance and heavier strikes while still maintaining maneuverability. He has trained with this weapon for years and is very proficient with it. The metal it's made out of is strong enough to withstand blows from steel blades, and is non-magnetic. 

[u]Fighting Skills/Attributes[/u]
Zanza is an extremely agile fighter, this being one of his most prized traits along with his speed. His power comes from the speed in his attacks, not their raw force. While he is of muscular build, he does not focus on brute strength. Rather he keeps himself loose an limber, usually stretching on the ship when sailing at sea. Other than his speed, he can take a lot of damage due to his Devil Fruit, giving him an astounding level of endurance in combat. In addition to this, Zanza has a keen eye for battle and is strategic in the way he approaches obstacles on his path to achieve his dreams. Speed, endurance and intellect. These are the attributes that have given him the name, Kaijin no Zanza, leaving nothing but ash in his wake. 

[i]Fighting Style[/i]: Zanza is a very agile fighter, prefering speed and agility to raw brute strength. He is nimble and elegant in his movements, and blends a combaination of aerial and ground attacks to confuse his opponent and create openings that normal fighters could not capitalize on without the ability of flight. Just like a bird of prey, Zanza will focus on finding his opponent's weak points and will use his strengths to his advantage, keeping his distance from stronger enemies until he finds a way to bring them down. His bo staff is a key part of his fighting style, offering a mid-range of combat to attack from seeing as he lacks any form of long range combat. 

The Tori Tori no Mi - Model: Phoenix allows Zanza to be somewhat careless in battle, affording him the luxury of being able to let himself be hit by an attack in order to gauge the enemy's powers and strength, before revealing that he can heal from the damage. This is a gamble, as it not only shows the enemy what his powers are, but in the end his stamina is being drained with each wound healed. He is also accustomed to tanking any damage that would befall his allies, as he is aware that what would kill others would be a glancing blow to him in his Zoan form. Zanza is more accustomed to fighting in partial Zoan form as opposed to his full Zoan form, in which he cannot use his bo staff if both arms are transformed into wings.[/hider]