Kapitel 33: Memories of the Past and Fragments of the Future

The Merry was sailing peacefully across the open sea, but the same couldn't be said for its inhabitants.

"Guess the Navy isn't following us anymore." Zoro commented, leaning casually against the mast.

"Uh-huh." The rest of the crew mumbled in unison, their voices low and deflated.

"I think we lost them." Zoro continued, glancing around.

"Uh-huh." Came the same lifeless response, as they lay sprawled across the second floor, arms dangling over the sides.

"Is that all you can say?" Zoro asked, irritation growing as he looked at their miserable faces.

"We miss Vivi!!" They cried out, tears streaming down their cheeks.

Zoro rolled his eyes. "Quit crying! If you couldn't stand to leave her, then you should've kidnapped her!"

"What!?" Chopper exclaimed, wide-eyed. "Barbarian!"

"Meanie." Nami added, glaring at him.

"Moss head." Sanji chimed in, clearly annoyed.

"Road idiot." Ryomen surprisingly joined, causing the others to glance at him in mild shock.

Zoro twitched at the combined insults, his patience quickly running thin. "Three-Sword Style…" Luffy began, trying to join in the insults.

"Wait, Luffy, that's not even an insult." Usopp pointed out.

"Four-Sword Style." Luffy corrected, looking proud of himself.

"That's not any better!" Usopp yelled in exasperation.

"Fine! Bawl your heads off, then!" Zoro snapped, throwing his hands in the air in frustration.

Suddenly, a voice interrupted their bickering. "Well, it's about time. I thought you'd never leave that oversized sandbox."

"Yeah." Zoro instinctively replied, then froze, turning around in shock. "Wha!?"

The crew's collective yell startled every bird within a mile radius.

"Here to avenge your comrades, huh? Bring it on!" Zoro shouted, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"What are you doing here!?" Nami shrieked, eyes wide with fear, but she held her ground, pointing the Clima-tact at her.

"What a babe!" Sanji cried, hearts in his eyes as he swooned over the mysterious woman.

"Enemy raid! Enemy raid!!" Usopp screamed through a megaphone, hiding behind the mast.

"Waaah! Who is she!?" Chopper exclaimed, trembling as he ducked behind Zoro.

Ryomen silently observed the woman, his eyes narrowing with curiosity.

"Huh? Oh, it's you. What do you want?" Luffy asked, completely unfazed.

"How rude. Didn't I tell you not to point those at me?" Robin replied calmly, as arms appeared on Nami's and Zoro's bodies, disarming them in an instant.

"How long have you been here!?" Nami demanded, clearly rattled.

"A while. I was reading a bit, then I took a shower. I borrowed some clothes. They're yours, right?" Robin said, gesturing to the white shirt she wore.

"You Baroque Works witch!!" Nami shouted, her face turning red with anger.

Robin then turned her attention to Ryomen. "Ryomen…" She said, her voice soft yet firm.

"What?" Ryomen asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

"You haven't forgotten what you did to me, have you?" Robin asked, her expression unreadable.

Ryomen blinked. "What did I do?"

"What did you do to this beautiful lady!?" Sanji suddenly grabbed Ryomen by the collar, shaking him violently.

Ryomen merely shrugged and freed himself from Sanji's grasp, looking even more puzzled than before.

"We don't want any trouble! Just get off the ship!" Usopp yelled, still using the megaphone from his hiding spot.

Robin sighed, her gaze fixed on Ryomen. "Don't tell me you've forgotten. You caused me a great deal of pain, and now…" She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locking with his. "Whether you like it or not, we're bound together. So take responsibility."

"What!?" The crew exclaimed in unison, their shock palpable.

"What'd you do, Ryomen!?" Nami demanded, glaring at him, while Sanji's eyes grew dangerously narrow.

"Please leave, or I'll call the Navy!" Usopp threatened from behind the mast.

"Okay, everyone, let's calm down!" Ryomen raised his hands in a placating gesture.

Luffy, always direct, asked bluntly, "So, what do you want?"

Robin smiled and rested her chin on her hand. "I want…to join your crew."

The entire crew froze, their jaws practically hitting the deck. "WHAT!?"

…

"I wanted to die, but your vice-captain made me live. That's his crime. I have nowhere to go, no home to return to. So let me join your crew." Robin calmly declared, her eyes meeting Luffy's with unwavering resolve.

"Well, I guess it can't be helped." Luffy replied with his signature carefree grin. "Okay."

"Luffy!" Everyone except Chopper, Sanji and Ryomen shouted in disbelief, their frustration evident.

"Don't worry! She's not a bad person!" Luffy reassured them with a wide smile, waving away their concerns like it was nothing.

...

Later, Usopp and Robin sat at a table, beginning what was supposed to be a serious interrogation.

"I've been an archaeologist since I was eight years old. That was also when I received a bounty on my head. For twenty years, I ran from the government by joining various outlaw groups. I can be of great help to your crew." Robin explained, her voice steady, with a slight hint of pride in her expertise.

"Hm...you sound confident. What's your specialty?" Usopp asked, trying to maintain an air of skepticism.

Robin leaned in with a sly smile. "Assassination."

"Luffy!! Upon interrogating her, I've concluded...She's too dangerous!" Usopp screamed, nearly falling out of his chair in terror.

Meanwhile, Luffy and Chopper were laughing and playing with the hands Robin had created, completely ignoring Usopp's warning.

"Did you guys even hear me!?" Usopp shouted, exasperated.

"She's already won them over, the idiots." Nami muttered from the stairs, her arms crossed in frustration. "You might have them fooled, but you won't fool me."

Robin tilted her head. "By the way, I brought a few of Crocodile's gems with me." She casually placed a small sack on the table.

Nami's eyes lit up as if hypnotized. "Oh, sister, I love you!" She immediately rushed to Robin's side, her earlier suspicions forgotten in an instant.

"Nami's hooked too." Usopp muttered to Zoro, watching the scene unfold with a sigh.

"What a dirty trick." Zoro added.

Sanji twirled onto the deck with hearts in his eyes, approaching Robin with a plate in hand. "I've made you a snack, my lovely Robin-chan~!"

"Oh, thank you." Robin replied politely.

"There goes Sanji." Usopp said, defeated.

"He never stood a chance." Zoro agreed.

"I guess it's up to us to be strong." Zoro then remarked, crossing his arms.

"What a bunch of pushovers." Usopp sighed in exasperation.

Just then, Luffy called from behind. "Usopp!" Usopp turned, only to see Luffy with two arms sticking out of the sides of his head, waving them comically.

"I'm Chopper!" Luffy declared with a goofy grin.

"Pfft!" Usopp fell over laughing while Zoro just glared darkly.

"Hey, are you just gonna let her stay?" Zoro asked, directing his attention toward Ryomen.

"Why wouldn't I? I'm partly responsible for all of this, after all." Ryomen replied, shrugging slightly.

"Hm. Don't come whining when she betrays us." Zoro said coldly, still skeptical.

Ryomen smiled lightly, catching Zoro off guard. "I see what this is about. You don't want us to get hurt because you care about us."

Zoro's face twitched, visibly uncomfortable with the observation, and he quickly walked away, ending the conversation.

…

Later, after everyone had settled down and the commotion quieted, the crew resumed their usual activities.

Ryomen gently placed a small tank filled with water beside Nami's tangerine trees. Inside, he carefully lowered the blue lotus he had been tending to for days.

"I'll protect this flower, Vivi. And when we meet again…I hope I'll be a different person. Stronger. And I'll finally have the courage to give you my answer." Ryomen whispered to himself, a soft smile tugging at his lips.

He quickly shook off the lingering thoughts, forcing a grin as he stood tall again. "Alright! Now what should I—" He paused, a sudden realization hitting him. "Wait...I feel like I'm forgetting something..."

Suddenly, an angry voice erupted from below deck. "Where is the Devil Fruit?!" Nami shouted furiously.

"...Right." Ryomen sighed, shoulders slumping.

…

The crew gathered on deck, waiting impatiently for Ryomen's explanation.

"I ate it." Ryomen stated plainly, leaving their jaws hanging in shock.

"What?!" They all exclaimed in disbelief.

"And you're still alive?" Robin asked, her eyes widening in surprise.

Ryomen smirked. "Mm-hm. My body's unique. The Devil Fruits consider me two people because of…" He gestured subtly toward his second pair of eyes, keeping the explanation vague but hinting at his abnormal physiology.

"And just why did you eat it?" Nami pressed, her tone sharp.

Ryomen avoided their gazes, his expression suddenly heavy. "Beacuse I…I wasn't strong enough."

"What do you mean?" Sanji asked, confusion evident on his face.

"Crocodile nearly killed Luffy." Ryomen explained, his voice low. "And I couldn't do anything to stop him. If it weren't for Robin, he would've died."

The crew turned to Robin, who remained calm, unaffected by their stares.

"So you did it because I lost?" Luffy mumbled, feeling embarrassed.

"No. I already knew I was weak. The fight with Crocodile only made that clearer." Ryomen replied, his head still lowered.

"Still, how'd you know you wouldn't just explode after eating it?" Usopp asked nervously before Nami punched him in the back of the head.

"To be honest…I didn't know. I just trusted something someone once told me." Ryomen admitted, a melancholic look crossing his face.

"Who?" Zoro asked, narrowing his eyes.

Ryomen paused before answering. "Isgor. He was the Celestial Dragon who…took me."

"Celestial Dragon?!" Robin repeated in shock, her calm demeanor faltering for the first time. "I think I'm missing some key information here."

"I'll…explain it all later." Ryomen said.

"Alright." Sanji interjected, his voice firm but concerned. "How about you stop with the mysteries and start telling us everything we need to know? Only if you're ready, though."

Ryomen nodded. "Right."

He took a deep breath before continuing. "After living as a slave for a few years, I quickly realized that Isgor wasn't an ordinary man. He was smart, powerful, and ruthless. He knew how to exploit people's weaknesses without them even realizing it."

The crew listened in silence, curiosity building with every word.

"He gave me privileges, things no other slave had, in exchange for letting him experiment on me. I became more of a servant than a slave." Ryomen explained.

Sanji's face grew darker with each revelation, his hatred for this 'Isgor' intensifying.

"Isgor wasn't your average Celestial Dragon. At least…that's what he claimed. Most of them avoided him, calling him a disgrace behind his back."

"Why would he be a disgrace?" Chopper asked, genuinely curious.

"Because he interacted with those who should be beneath him." Ryomen replied. "Which means…everyone except other Celestial Dragons."

"At least we know he's not a racist." Usopp muttered under his breath.

"Haha! I guess not." Ryomen laughed softly. "He even has an adopted son. His name's Mahito. I used to see him as an older brother, even though he treated me like dirt."

"And where is he now?" Luffy asked, intrigued.

"Most likely still with Isgor." Ryomen replied, his tone darkening. "Mahito's cruel…but I watched Isgor mold him into a monster. The last time I saw him was when I escaped at Sabaody Archipelago."

The crew leaned in, eager to hear more.

"Isgor made him proof…Proof that creating artificial Devil Fruits isn't impossible."

…

Late at night, the crew was trying to rest after processing so much information all at once.

Ryomen tossed and turned in his sleep, his body tense, as if something was clawing at his mind.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open, and he quickly got to his feet in alarm. He wasn't where he had been. This place–was unfamiliar.

All around him, there was an unnervingly perfect landscape, filled with bright, vibrant colors. The trees were too symmetrical, the skies too blue, and the air felt sterile. Despite the beauty, there was a subtle hollowness to the scene.

In stark contrast, at the center of this surreal scene, a grand, ancient shrine stood. Its dark stone structure loomed with an imposing power, jagged accents of deep red and black making it seem like a scar in the false beauty of the land. But the shrine exuded something that felt real—a dangerous, overwhelming presence that seemed to swallow all light around it.

Ryomen's breath caught in his throat. He didn't know why, but his body moved on its own, his legs carrying him closer to the shrine. The deeper he went, the heavier the air became. It was suffocating, like a weight was pressing down on him from every angle. His steps grew slower, as though the ground itself was pulling him into the darkness.

He stopped in front of a massive door, towering several times his height. Its surface was worn and ancient. He knew it, deep down. Once he opened this door…there would be no turning back.

But hadn't he already crossed too many lines? By defying the most powerful forces in the world, by consuming the Devil Fruit that now corrupted his very soul—regret had long since left him. With a deep breath, he pushed open the door.

As it creaked open, the aura inside surged, like a black tide rushing out to claim him.

In the center of the room, seated on a throne of black stone, was a man. No, not just any man—he looked almost exactly like Ryomen. But this man was taller, more imposing. He sat with a lazy, careless posture, one hand propped under his chin, as if bored by Ryomen's very existence. His gaze cut through the air like a blade, making Ryomen feel smaller by the second.

But it was the feeling—the pressure—that truly terrified him. A heavy, oppressive malevolence hung in the room, making the air too thick to breathe. Ryomen felt his heart race as cold sweat dripped down his face. His body trembled, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move. 'He'll kill me.' Was the only thought that rang in his mind. If he spoke, if he breathed, if he moved wrong—He'd die.

The figure on the throne finally spoke, his voice deep and commanding. "You finally came." The words weren't loud, but they might as well have been thunder, crashing against Ryomen's very soul.

"To think you needed my help to defeat such a weakling." The figure's lip curled into a sneer. "And you still had to rely on that brat."

"W-What?" Ryomen managed, his voice barely a whisper, struggling to keep the fear at bay.

"You used Cursed Energy against that…reptile." The man continued, the disdain in his voice palpable.

'Crocodile…' Ryomen's thoughts raced. "Cursed Energy…You mean those flames?" He asked, remembering the strange power he had unleashed.

The man's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Don't ever refer to such an incomprehensible power as mere flames."

"Right…Sorry." Ryomen replied quickly, realizing his mistake. He glanced around the room, trying to grasp the situation. "So…what is all of this?" He asked, gesturing vaguely.

"This is your mindscape." The man replied coolly. "The shrine represents the remnants of my soul, the part of me that resides inside of you."

Ryomen's heart sank. 'This guy…is a remnant?' His eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait…Why are you inside me?"

The man smirked. "You felt it, didn't you? The sentience of the Devil Fruit you consumed." His words struck Ryomen like a hammer, the weight of the truth settling in his chest.

'So…it's my fault…Of course.' Ryomen thought bitterly. He clenched his fists in frustration. He had let this power into his body.

"Now." The figure said, his tone shifting, more sinister. "Enough with the explanations." He leaned forward, his presence growing more oppressive, his gaze locking onto Ryomen like a predator eyeing prey. "Let me take over."

Ryomen's eyes shot wide open in shock. "What!?"

"I won't repeat myself. Give me control of your body." The man stated, his words like a vice tightening around Ryomen's throat.

Ryomen's knees almost buckled under the weight of the demand, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay upright. "Hell no!" He snapped, defiant despite the crushing fear.

The man chuckled, his laugh low and mocking. "Is that so? Fine then." He leaned back into his throne, as if Ryomen's refusal was of no consequence.

Ryomen stood frozen, disbelief washing over him. It couldn't be that easy, could it?

But then, the man spoke again, his voice colder, darker. "But know this—for your insolence, once I take control of you, I'll slaughter every single person on that ship of yours. Of course, I'll make sure to take my time with the women first." His grin spread wide, malicious enjoyment gleaming in his eyes.

Rage flared in Ryomen's chest, his blood boiling at the thought. "You won't lay a single finger on them!!" He shouted, his voice shaking with fury.

The man merely tilted his head, amused. "Oh? And why is that?" Before Ryomen could respond, the figure continued, his voice dripping with mockery. "You barely defeated that reptile, so tell me…what can you do to me?"

Ryomen's mouth went dry. He knew the man was right. He hated to admit it, but…in front of this overwhelming presence, he felt powerless. "I won't allow you to take over." He said, trying to muster as much determination as he could.

The man laughed, his voice echoing through the shrine. "Hahaha! Is that what you believe?" He stood, towering over Ryomen, his presence suffocating. "The truth is…you will do…nothing."

With that, the mindscape shattered, and Ryomen found himself kicked out, thrown back into reality.

But the man remained, sitting back in his throne, his gaze lingering on the spot where Ryomen had stood. A wicked smile curved his lips.

"Now…let us see if your path was truly better, Joyboy."