The last demon in the One Piece world

Chapter 140: Unlikely Alliance

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Impel Down

Level 5.5, Newkama Land


The world was darkness.

Then - agony.

Yushiro's body jerked violently, as if torn from the jaws of death himself. Every nerve screamed. His lungs pulled in a ragged breath, and the next thing he knew...

A raw, guttural scream tore form his throat, a sound no longer human. He clawed at the metal beneath him, crumbling beneath his nails.

His vision was blurry. Everything felt wrong. Too loud. Too sharp. Too much smell. the air reeked of life - of blood.

And he was starving.

With a growl, Yushiro clawed through the chains holding him down and sat up. His senses were spinning, consumed by anger and confusion.

With a roar, Yushiro staggered to his feet and ran into the matl door, breaking through it.

Voices called out - both familiar and unknown ones. Concerned. Kind.

It made no difference though.

His instincts screamed one thing : Feed.

With a feral snarl, he lunged toward the nearest shape. Shadows flinched. A weapon was halfway drawn.

But then --

"NII-CHAN!"

A figure stepped between them.

A starw hat. Open chest. Fierce, kind eyes.

Luffy.

Yushiro's body skidded to a halt, teeth bared, barely registering who stood before him. His limbs shook. He couldn't stop it. The hunger was overwhelming--his mind cracking beneath it.

Then Luffy did something that made time stop.

He lifted his arm - without any malice, without hesitation - and held it out toward Yushiro.

"I get it.", Luffy said softly, voice steady despite the tension around them. "You're hungry, right? You haven't eaten anything all this time. Then bite me. I'll be fine."

Yushiro stared, froxen and trembling. Confusion warred with instinct.

Then he lunged, and sank his teeth into Luffy's arm.

A sickening sound rung out - flesh giving way, blood flowing. Luffy flinched, but he didn't cry out. He didn't even pull back. His face twisted in pain - but not fear.

Yushrio drank and a surge of satisfaction washed over him, his vision beginning to clear.

The feral glow in his eyes receded, and he looked up at Luffy with an expression mixed with confusion and shame. Luffy, however, just smiled. "It's okay, Yushiro."