In the dim, twisting corridors of a dream, Stussy fled in panic.
She ran until her lungs burned, but every time she looked back, he was there. A handsome young man, radiating a blinding, holy light, walking at a leisurely pace yet gaining ground with every step.
Atlas D. York.
"Stussy... stop struggling. Just immerse yourself in my joy."
His voice was like velvet. He raised a hand, and a tentacle of pure white light—etched with glowing, hypnotic runes—shot out.
Stussy's face twisted in terror. She turned a corner, bursting into an empty room and slamming the door.
"That kid... he's a monster," she gasped, leaning hands on knees, sweat dripping from her nose.
"Calling me a monster? You really hurt my feelings."
The gentle voice echoed from everywhere at once.
Stussy looked up, her blood running cold.
The stone walls of the room were melting. They transformed into writhing, runic tentacles. The floor, the ceiling—it was all him.
Stussy tried to scream, tried to fight, but her fist was caught easily by York's hand. His grip was iron.
"No... let go!"
"Shh."
She watched helplessly as the light consumed her vision.
"AHHH!!"
Stussy bolted upright in her bed, chest heaving.
She frantically scanned the room. Just her quarters. Just the familiar smell of old wood and sea salt.
She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. "It was just a dream... just a nightmare."
As her heart rate slowed, she prepared to lie back down. But then, a thought struck her, freezing her blood.
"In the dream... why wasn't it Newgate?"
Stussy's face flushed a deep, shameful red. Her eyes were complex, filled with self-loathing.
"Could it be that I..."
"No! Impossible! I absolutely refuse to admit it!"
After returning from the Temple raid, York's updated bounty was released.
660,000,000 Berries!
It was only a 60 million increase, but the description in the World Economic News was far more damaging than the number.
The article described the "most evil ability in history." It painted York as a "Desire Demon" who forcibly made his victims pleasure themselves to death.
In short, the World Government had branded him a living Succubus.
York put down the newspaper, rubbing his temples. He couldn't tell if the Marines were condemning him or running a free advertisement for every depraved pirate in the New World.
"Probably the latter," York guessed grimly.
Sea voyages were long and boring. Many captains kept "entertainment" on board. A Devil Fruit user who could grant instant, addictive euphoria? That was more valuable than gold.
And in a world where the average pirate looked like a toe thumb, York's 90/100 looks made him a prize.
"They want to turn me into a toy," York realized. "There will be captains who swing both ways coming for me."
"Well, let them come."
York stood up, his eyes cold.
There was no escaping this reputation. The only way out was through.
Kill.
He had to kill until they were terrified. Kill until the lust in their eyes turned to horror. Kill until they only dared to beg for his mercy, not his body.
Six Months Later.
For half a year, the Rocks Pirates remained dormant. The haul from the "Charity" Temple was massive enough to keep the beast fed for a while.
York used the downtime to grind.
He continued his brutal routine: Get smashed by Rocks, crawl to the Skull Eye, and heal by draining the life force of the crew.
It had become a twisted ritual. In the evenings, pirates would line up in the streets, arms spread, welcoming the Holy Light.
"Ohhh... yes..."
"More... Captain York... more..."
From her window, Stussy watched the island drown in an ocean of moans. Her expression was a mix of disgust and fear.
"Will I become like that one day?" she whispered. "No! I love Newgate! I will never yield to York!"
Through the cycle of destruction and regeneration, York's body adapted. He hadn't mastered the Conqueror's Coating yet, but he had stolen something else from the Captain.
The Sword Technique.
On the cliffs overlooking the sea, York took a stance. He gripped a standard, nameless katana.
He didn't use Haki. He focused on raw physical power and torque.
"Cannon Slash!"
SHING-BOOM!
He drew the blade. It wasn't a sharp cutting wave; it was a blunt force explosion of air pressure. The slash tore through the atmosphere, hitting the ocean surface like a cannonball and blasting a massive geyser of water into the sky.
"Hoh? You actually learned it, brat?!"
Rocks appeared behind him, eyebrows raised.
He hadn't expected the kid to master his signature "brute force" style in just six months.
York sheathed the katana and turned, smiling.
"How is it, Captain? Do you feel fear? Are you afraid the student will surpass the master?"
"Wahahahaha! Me, afraid?! Don't get arrogant, kid!!"
FLASH!
Rocks drew his blade and swung.
Just like before, York was launched across the skyline, flying over half the island before embedding himself in a wall.
York was recovering from his daily flight when a commotion stirred at the harbor.
A new ship had docked.
A woman stepped onto the dirty soil of Hachinosu. She had light reddish-pink, wavy hair, exquisite features, and a tall, athletic figure. wrapped around her shoulders was a live snake.
She radiated arrogance and beauty in equal measure.
The pirates on the island went wild.
"It's the Pirate Empress!"
"Gloriosa-sama!"
"Oh my god! The Empress of Amazon Lily is actually joining us?! Am I dreaming?!"
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