Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

Ryomen and Luffy stood on Pell's back in his falcon form, soaring toward Alubarna.

"Are you sure you can carry both of us, Pell?" Ryomen asked, concern tinging his voice.

"I have to. The kingdom is in danger, and the rebellion might've already started." Pell replied, his tone heavy with urgency.

Ryomen nodded, a decision already forming in his mind. He glanced over at Luffy, his brow creased with worry. "How do you feel now?"

"Better!" Luffy exclaimed with a grin, a barrel of water strapped to his back. "That meat really helped! I'm ready to kick Crocodile's butt now!"

Ryomen chuckled softly but his voice was firm. "You should still take it easy."

The trio flew in silence, the tension in the air palpable as Alubarna finally came into view. The towering castle loomed over the city.

"There it is!" Pell pointed with his beak, his wings beating faster. "That's the castle!"

"Huh? Is that Vivi?" Luffy mumbled, squinting ahead. Crocodile was holding Vivi by her neck at the castle's edge.

"Pell! We need to get there faster!" Ryomen yelled, his heart pounding in his chest. Without hesitation, Pell sped up, cutting through the wind in a desperate attempt to reach them.

…

"This kingdom is doomed, you can't save it!" Crocodile declared, releasing his grip on Vivi and letting her plummet toward the ground.

He barely had time to register the approaching figures in the sky before a massive falcon, carrying two figures, hurtled toward him.

"Impossible!" Crocodile spat, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.

"Crocodile!!" Luffy's voice rang out as Pell caught Vivi in mid-air, and Ryomen's arms wrapped around her tightly.

"You're alright!" Vivi gasped, her relief palpable as she clung to Ryomen.

Tears welled in her eyes, and she buried her face into his chest, her body trembling. "There's no time! There's going to be a huge explosion in the square! Everyone will be killed! Alabasta is…" Her voice cracked, the weight of the kingdom's doom pressing down on her.

"Vivi." Ryomen gently lifted her face with a soft smile, meeting her teary gaze.

Luffy stood beside them, grinning confidently. "Leave it to us!"

…

As Pell dropped them off on the castle grounds.

"Be careful, you two." Pell cautioned, his voice heavy with concern.

"Don't worry." Luffy shot back, his confidence unwavering. "There's no way…we can lose."

The two locked eyes with Crocodile, who stood menacingly atop the castle's highest point, his expression unreadable.

"I'm surprised. How did the poison not kill you?" Crocodile asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

"They're alive!" Chopper exclaimed from below, having just arrived with the rest of the Straw Hats.

"See!? Didn't I tell you all along!?" Usopp cried out, his body covered in bandages.

"Sure you did…" Sanji muttered under his breath.

"Usopp!" Nami growled, slapping him in the back of the head, knocking him over. "I asked you to make a weapon, not a party favor!"

"But it worked, right?" Usopp whimpered fearfully.

"When this is over, you're dead."

"Chopper…bury my remains in the wilderness," Usopp mumbled as he lay motionless.

"She already killed you!" Chopper squeaked, his eyes wide in horror.

Ryomen's shoulders relaxed as he took in the sight of his crewmates, wounded but standing strong. "You're all okay…"

"Hmph. Of course." Nami said haughtily, flipping her hair, "They were nothing to fear." She was the only one without serious injuries.

Zoro scoffed. "I wonder why."

Ryomen smiled. "It's good to see you all alive."

Nami, her relief clear, strode forward and punched both him and Luffy. "What the hell were you two thinking!? Fighting that guy alone!?"

"Why'd you hit me!?" Luffy whined, rubbing his head.

Ryomen chuckled and waved her off. "Sorry, Nami." He turned to Chopper. "Do you still have that backpack I gave you?"

"Yeah! It never left my sight!" Chopper replied proudly, handing it over.

"I knew I could rely on you." Ryomen smiled, patting the little reindeer's head.

"W-What!? It's not like I care what you think!" Chopper stammered, wiggling under the praise.

Luffy took a deep breath, squaring his shoulders. "You guys take care of things here. We're gonna end this, once and for all!"

"Yeah!!" The crew responded in unison.

"Luffy." Ryomen said, his voice suddenly serious. "Can you hold off Crocodile alone for a bit? I'll join you after."

Luffy blinked, confused. "Huh? Why?"

"I might have something that will help me hit him." Ryomen answered cryptically.

Luffy grinned. "Alright! But hurry up or I'll finish Croc before you get there!"

With a laugh, Luffy launched himself toward Crocodile, leaving Ryomen alone for a moment.

Vivi glanced at him, concern filling her eyes. "What are you going to do?"

"I'll…explain everything when this is over." Ryomen avoided her gaze and, clutching the backpack, walked toward the castle.

…

A young boy slowly walked through a dark corridor, his footsteps barely audible against the stone floor. He stopped at a slightly opened door, the voices from inside filtering out into the hallway. Curiosity piqued, he leaned in closer, trying to eavesdrop without being detected.

"How fascinating. His body is truly special, but what more can you expect from someone like him?" A man exclaimed in wonder, his tone filled with eerie fascination.

"Hm. There's nothing fascinating about that weakling," A child's voice responded, cold and dismissive. The boy was about the same age as the one standing outside.

"You should stop underestimating him, Mahito." The man chided. "His physique might actually allow him to hold two Devil Fruits—something that's never been seen before."

"Who cares?" The child, Mahito, protested. "Soon, I'll have the strength to look down on anyone. That's what you promised, right?"

The man chuckled softly, his voice smooth but full of malice. "Of course. I always keep my promises."

Then, without warning, the man's voice shifted, turning directly toward the door. "I guess that's enough peeking around, right, Ryomen?"

Ryomen froze in shock, his heart hammering in his chest. 'How did he know?' He thought, his mind racing. He hesitated but knew there was no point in hiding any longer. Slowly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

…

Ryomen knelt in a quiet corner of the castle, far from the chaos outside. His hands shook as he opened the backpack, revealing the Devil Fruit he had found back in Whiskey Peak. The strange, swirling patterns on its surface seemed to mock him, daring him to take the next step.

"I'll trust you…one last time, Isgor." He whispered, his voice filled with both resolve and doubt. His grip tightened around the fruit as he brought it to his mouth, taking a bite.

The taste was vile, worse than anything he'd ever experienced, but he forced himself to swallow. He clenched his eyes shut, bracing for something—anything to happen. A surge of power, the feeling of his body tearing apart from within…but instead, there was only silence.

Nothing happened.

Ryomen opened his eyes slowly, his heart sinking as a crushing emptiness washed over him. He remained as he was—no stronger, no different.

"Why…?" He muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why is nothing happening?"

Frustration and despair began to well up inside him, his emotions spiraling out of control. "Why!? WHY!?" He roared, slamming his fist into the stone floor. His knuckles split open from the force, blood dripping onto the cold stone, but he barely registered the pain.

"Why am I not enough?!" He cried, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. "Why am I not stronger? Why can't I protect them!? Why…" His fists clenched, trembling. "Why am I still alive?"

Tears blurred his vision as the hopelessness of his situation finally overwhelmed him. No matter what he did, he couldn't escape the feeling of powerlessness that had haunted him his entire life. He had put his trust in Isgor, in the hope that he could change his fate, but it had led to nothing.

All the rage, fear, despair, and sadness bubbling within him suddenly seemed to resonate, colliding deep within his soul. In that moment, something snapped—something dark and unfamiliar stirred inside him.

A spark ignited.

"Wha…?" Ryomen gasped, eyes wide in shock as black flames suddenly erupted from his hands. The flickering, inky fire danced along his fingers, its heat searing but unnatural. It wasn't like the flames he had seen before—it was something far more dangerous, far more twisted.

"Fire…?" He mumbled, staring in disbelief. "No…it's something else."

The flames didn't burn like normal fire; they pulsed with a malevolent energy, as if feeding off the storm of negative emotions inside him. Ryomen felt the darkness within him responding to his fear, his anger, his despair—manifesting into this ominous power.

He staggered backward, his heart pounding as the reality of what he had just unleashed began to sink in. This power…it wasn't something he could control. It was wild, dangerous, and terrifying. His fear deepened, and he wondered if it would consume him entirely.

"What…have I done?" He whispered to himself, the fear gripping him tighter. The thought chilled him to the core. Was this truly the path he was meant to walk?

But then, amidst the terror and doubt, he thought of Luffy. He thought of Vivi. He thought of the crew—his friends, the people who had come to mean everything to him. They were counting on him. He couldn't back down now. He had to be strong, not just for himself, but for them.

Wiping away his tears with a shaky hand, Ryomen stood tall once again, the black flames still flickering ominously. His heart was heavy with fear, but his resolve began to harden.

"I have to go." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I have to fight. I have to be strong…for them."

"Others may not think so…but I know…you will change the world."

Ryomen took a deep breath, steeling himself for what lay ahead. "Isgor…just wait. I'll take you down."

With that, he turned and walked back toward the chaos outside.

…

Back outside the castle.

Ryomen emerged into the open, his gaze sweeping the battlefield. Dozens of Marines lay unconscious, strewn across the ground.

"What happened here?" He muttered, then spotted Ms. All Sunday and King Cobra in the distance. "Dammit…what's she up to?"

He trailed them at a distance, his senses on high alert. They reached a mausoleum, and Ryomen watched as Cobra revealed a secret stairway leading underground. His pulse quickened.

"I can't hear what they're saying…" He muttered in frustration.

As they reached the end of the passage, a massive cube with inscriptions came into view.

"What are you doing?" Ryomen finally revealed himself, stepping out of the shadows.

"You…" Cobra gasped, recognizing the boy from years ago. "You're that friend of Vivi's…"

"Nothing that would interest you." Ms. All Sunday said with a smirk, clearly unbothered.

"I think it does. Especially if it involves the king." Ryomen retorted, his hands tightening into fists.

"Is that so?" The agent's smile widened, and in an instant, she drove her hand through Cobra's chest.

"Aahh!" Cobra exclaimed in pain, his eyes closing.

"No!!" Ryomen screamed, his blood running cold.

"Hahaha!" The woman's laugh echoed through the room, clearly amused by the chaos unfolding.

"Hm?" Cobra stirred, his eyelids fluttering open.

"You're still alive!?" Ryomen shouted in disbelief, his eyes wide.

"To be honest…" Cobra replied, a bit dazed. "I thought I was dead too."

Ms. All Sunday smiled, revealing the trick behind his survival. "I simply grew a hand on the King's chest."

Ryomen blinked, trying to process the absurdity of the situation. 'Is this guy really Vivi's father?' He thought, despite already knowing the truth.

…

"Where is he!?" Luffy shouted, frantically searching for Crocodile.

He then arrived at the beaten Marines and saw a woman still conscious.

"Straw hat…!" Tashigi exclaimed in surprise, her body wounded, barely able to move.

"Where'd Crocodile go!?" Luffy asked urgently, his eyes full of determination.

Tashigi stared at him in silence for a moment, her face etched with disbelief at the pirate standing before her.

"Tell me!!" Luffy shouted, the urgency rising in his voice.

"Toward the royal crypt…" She finally replied, pointing weakly to her left.

"This way!? Thanks!" Luffy shouted back as he bolted toward the mausoleum.

He ran as fast as he could, his breathing heavy, his mind focused. But then, out of nowhere, he clutched his stomach, a sudden sharp pain coursing through his body.

"Argh!" He groaned, collapsing to the ground. "Huh? I can't move. And I ate so much meat too..." He struggled, trying to push himself up. "C'mon, these wounds aren't anything…maybe…I'm just a bit tired…" Luffy finally fell unconscious, his body giving in to exhaustion.

…

Outside the crypt, Crocodile paused, his sharp eyes catching sight of a secret path leading underground.

"How interesting," He muttered with a sinister grin.

…

"Enough with the games. What are you doing here?" Ryomen's patience was running thin, his voice edged with frustration.

"I already told you, this is none of your concern." Ms. All Sunday replied coolly. "You should leave now, or you'll cross paths with Crocodile."

"Good. That saves me the effort of looking for him." Ryomen replied, his tone defiant.

"Oh? Were you waiting for me?" A deep voice suddenly cut through the tension.

"Crocodile!!" Cobra's voice rang out, laced with fury, while Ryomen calmly locked eyes with the Warlord.

"Nico Robin, were you planning on betraying me?" Crocodile asked, his voice dangerously calm.

"No! I–" She started to reply, but Crocodile appeared beside her in an instant, his hook stabbing into her without warning.

"Argh…" Blood spilled from her mouth as she collapsed to the ground.

"Robin!" Ryomen shouted, a surge of concern breaking through his usually controlled demeanor. "Damn you, that's enough!" His voice trembled with restrained anger.

"Hahaha! Your anger is useless if you can't even hurt me!" Crocodile mocked, his eyes gleaming with arrogance. Then, his voice turned darker as he added, "Do you know? Your captain's dead. I completely dried his body."

Ryomen remained silent, his eyes narrowing but his expression unreadable.

"What's the matter? Do you not care for your friend anymore?" Crocodile taunted, relishing in the supposed despair he expected from Ryomen.

"I believe in him." Ryomen said quietly, his voice steady and calm. "My captain will become the Pirate King. He wouldn't lose to someone like you." He clenched his fists. 'I can't let…my emotions control me anymore.'

"Your trust…disgusts me." Crocodile sneered.

"Enough talking!" Ryomen suddenly roared, charging toward Crocodile with a fierce determination. His four eyes locked onto the Warlord, his mind focused on every movement.

"How many times will you try, until you realize you can't hurt me—" Crocodile's eyes suddenly widened as Ryomen's fist smashed into his stomach, knocking him backward with unexpected force.

"How!?" Crocodile shouted, stumbling in disbelief. His body remained frozen for a moment as a dark wave of energy crashed over him, filling the air with a suffocating presence. 'Is this…Conqueror's Haki!? No…this is different. This…is pure malevolence!' Crocodile's mind reeled in shock. 'What…is this kid?'

The crypt began to tremble, stones and dust falling from the ceiling. Crocodile's attention snapped toward Cobra, who stood weakly against the wall.

"What's happening?" Crocodile demanded, his usual confidence wavering.

"One of the supporting pillars was knocked down. Once that happens, the entire crypt will collapse." Cobra explained, his voice pained but resolute. "Now, we'll all be buried here." He turned to Ryomen with regret in his eyes. "Sorry for involving you in this."

"You did the right thing!" Ryomen shot back, his determination unwavering as he suddenly appeared behind Crocodile, his movements faster than before. He swung his fist, aiming for the Warlord's head, but Crocodile turned to meet him, his expression filled with cold amusement.

"This is the difference between us." Crocodile said with a cruel grin as Ryomen's fist collided with something invisible—an unseen barrier of hardened air. "How do you plan to defeat me without even knowing how to use Haki?"

"Stop yapping already! Cursed Dismantle!!" Ryomen shouted, slashing through the air, sending crackling waves of cursed energy towards Crocodile. The dark slashes hummed with malevolent energy, tearing the ground as they flew toward their target. But Crocodile moved, twisting his body effortlessly to dodge the attacks, the edges of his coat barely grazing the destructive force.

Crocodile then summoned a storm of sand, blinding Ryomen with a whirlwind of grit and dust. He surged forward, his hand reaching out to drain Ryomen's life force. But before he could make contact, Luffy appeared from nowhere, his foot connecting with Crocodile's face, sending him crashing into the wall.

"Sorry I took so long. I was running here but then…I took a nap." Luffy said with his usual carefree grin, standing next to Ryomen.

"It's fine." Ryomen replied, grinning back. "Glad to see you're still in one piece."

"You…used your blood!?" Crocodile exclaimed, his voice betraying his disbelief as he noticed Luffy's feet and hands dripping with crimson.

"That's right!" Luffy replied, completely unfazed.

"Hahaha! Alright then!" Crocodile bellowed, recovering his composure. "This is the end! Let us settle this once and for all!"

The two pirates squared off, ready for their final clash.