Cursed Seas and Slashing Tides

The Davy Back Fight

Ryomen found himself back in his mindscape, the shrine looming even more imposingly than before, at the heart of this peculiar realm.

But something was different. The place felt… alive. The sky had shifted from a tranquil blue to a churning gray, clouds rolling in as if battling to overtake the sun. The once-calm sea now roared, waves clashing as if in turmoil. The air was thick, a mix of freshness and something tainted, like the cities he’d walked through—alive, but far from pure.

“What…is going on here?” He murmured, glancing around.

The shrine called to him, a faint but unignorable pull. But unlike before, Ryomen was no longer blindly drawn to it. This time, he was aware, fully expecting what waited within.

With a sigh, he steeled himself and took a step forward. "I can’t keep hesitating…if I want answers.”
…

When he arrived, the shrine’s massive gates stood open.

Inside, a figure lounged on a throne, his face turned to the shadows, his posture exuding casual power. The demon wearing Ryomen’s skin looked out into the darkness, as if gazing beyond him.

“About time you showed up.” The entity’s voice cut through the silence.

“Yeah, like you’ve got anywhere else to be.” Ryomen scoffed.

The demon’s lips curved, unbothered. “Oh? A sudden burst of confidence.” His tone mocked him, lazy and condescending. “What is it? Some trivial increase in strength? Or do you really think you’ve finally ‘found yourself’?”

“What’s it to you?” Ryomen retorted, eyes narrowed.

The demon’s gaze sharpened. “Watch your tone, brat. Don’t mistake patience for weakness.”

Ryomen clenched his teeth, but his curiosity won out. “What’s going on outside?”

“It’s your mindscape. You should already know.” The entity’s smirk grew.

“Enough with the riddles. Go ahead, mock me all you want—but I want answers.” Ryomen’s frustration came through, but he kept his stance firm.

For a long moment, the demon’s face was unreadable. Then, almost faster than he could perceive, Ryomen felt a flash of pain at his neck—and suddenly, he was staring at his own headless body.

“Consider this…your final warning.” The demon’s voice echoed through the space, and Ryomen was suddenly whole again, gasping.

“What…was that?” He muttered, shaken.

“This is a battlefield between two forces, the person you’re trying to become and the version of you that I desire.” The demon’s eyes gleamed with a cold intent.

“Are you talking about how the Devil Fruit changes my soul? Is that why, when I fought Enel, I felt an actual thrill at facing someone so powerful?”

“Exactly. Your ‘resolve’ might help you resist—for now. But as you are, your chances are laughable.”

Ryomen’s hands balled into fists. “I won’t let these powers change who I am.”

The demon’s gaze turned colder, though a hint of amusement remained in his eyes. “We’ll see…in time.”

And with that, Ryomen was yanked back to consciousness, the entity’s chilling laughter ringing in his mind.
…

“Ugh…” Ryomen stirred, a dull ache in his side.

“You okay?” Zoro’s voice reached him.

“Yeah, but you didn’t have to kick me…” Ryomen grumbled, pulling himself up.