Shiro knew that a man like Roger would never be kept in the upper floors of Impel Down.
Without hesitation, he teleported straight into the Sixth Level—the eternal hell.
The air was damp and suffocating, heavy with rust and rot. Marines guarding the cells stiffened at the sight of the rank insignia on his borrowed uniform. They saluted him without question.
Shiro only gave a curt nod, wearing the calm authority of a senior officer as he strode deeper inside.
Immediately, the prisoners stirred.
Whistles and jeers rose from behind the bars.
"Damn Marine scum! Let me out and I'll crush your Fleet Admiral with my bare hands!"
"Bah! If you cowards hadn't tricked me, I never would've been caught!"
"Come closer, and I'll peel your skin off myself!"
The curses echoed endlessly, dripping with hatred.
Shiro furrowed his brows and ignored them. With a breath, he released his Observation Haki, letting it sweep through the darkness.
There—faint, weakened, but familiar.
Roger.
In an isolated cell at the far end.
With a flicker, Shiro vanished and reappeared inside.
The stench hit him instantly—blood, rust, and damp stone.
And there he was.
Roger, nailed to a crude iron cross, his wrists shackled in seastone cuffs. His once-proud crimson coat hung in tatters, filthy and stained. His wild hair fell across his face, hiding the starry eyes that had once commanded the seas.
Seeing his captain brought so low made Shiro's body tremble uncontrollably. His fists clenched so tight that his nails dug into his palms, drawing blood. He didn't even feel the pain.
"...Shiro?"
The voice was raspy, like sandpaper dragged across stone, yet it carried a spark of warmth.
Roger lifted his head. His bloodshot eyes, though weary, still glimmered with the same fire Shiro remembered.
"Yes! It's me, Captain Roger!"
Shiro's voice broke as he rushed forward, crouching to meet his captain eye to eye.
"I knew you'd come."
A faint smile tugged at Roger's lips. It was a smile that hurt worse than tears.
"Captain… why? Why were you captured?" Shiro's voice was full of confusion, trembling with anger.
"That's a long story," Roger murmured, his brow furrowing with bitter amusement. Then, with forced cheer, he deflected:
"Say, Shiro… did you bring any wine? My throat's dry."
Shiro's chest tightened. He knew Roger was trying to lighten the mood.
"I did."
He hurriedly pulled two bottles of rum from his pack.
Roger's eyes lit up. His throat bobbed hungrily. "Feed me a sip, will you?"
Uncorking the bottle, Shiro carefully poured it into Roger's mouth.
"Glug—glug—glug!"
Roger gulped greedily, rum spilling down his chin and soaking his filthy coat.
"What a waste," Roger chuckled, shaking his head. "Such a pity…"
"Enough. I'll break those shackles."
"Seastone cuffs. You think you can?"
"No problem."
Shiro's right hand flared with crimson Armament Haki. With a sharp strike, the cuffs shattered into shards.
Roger's arms fell free. He flexed his wrists, but his body remained weak, trembling.
"What did they do to you? What kind of torture—?!"
Shiro's voice shook with rage, his teeth grinding.
"Not the Marines," Roger interrupted quickly, eyes flickering evasively. "They haven't touched me." Then, as if to change the subject, he chuckled: "But Shiro… your Armament Haki has gotten impressive. Color me surprised!"
"I picked up Ryuo from Oden," Shiro muttered, pressing the rum back into his captain's hands.
Roger sat down on the cold floor, downing a few swigs with a satisfied sigh. He tugged Shiro's pant leg.
"Sit. Drink with me."
Reluctantly, Shiro cracked open the second bottle and took a swallow.
"Now tell me the truth, Captain. Why are you here?"
Roger's smile faded. He licked his cracked lips, his eyes darkening with gravity.
"A year ago, after I left the ship, I settled on Baterilla Island. I met a woman there… and fell in love. For a year, we lived like gods among men—mornings combing shells by the sea, evenings watching sunsets. She always said my grin was brighter than the sun."
A fleeting warmth crossed his face—then vanished.
"But then… something happened." His voice dropped lower. "While training Haki by the shore, a strange force stirred within me. The Devil Fruit I'd eaten… awakened."
Shiro's eyes widened.
"You mean—?"
Roger's fists clenched, his eyes burning with excitement.
"Yes. I awakened the Mythical Zoan, Model: Sun God Nika.
At that moment, my body glowed with flowing white light. Even the sea breeze seemed to laugh with me. I felt like I could flip the ocean upside down, like the very sky was mine to dance on. It was freedom itself… the joy of laughter made flesh."
He exhaled sharply, eyes fierce.
"And in that instant, I knew my destiny. I would go to Mary Geoise… and confront Imu."
Shiro shot to his feet, slamming into the iron cross, nearly knocking it over.
"What?! You went after Imu himself?!"
He stared at Roger in disbelief. When he'd handed his captain the Gomu Gomu no Mi, he never dreamed it would lead to this storm.
"Sit, Shiro," Roger said gently. "Listen."
He drew in a heavy breath.
"When I awakened Nika, I heard whispers—voices echoing across eight hundred years. History itself spoke to me. The Poneglyphs said it clearly: Joy Boy was chosen by the Sun God. And now…"
His chest swelled, his voice a roar:
"I carry that same power. I am the Sun God's incarnation in this age. To defeat Imu… that is my mission, etched into my very bones!"
His eyes sharpened like blades as he tilted back the rum, draining the last amber drops.
T/N: If you would like to read up to 20 chapters ahead for all my works, check out my P@treon: patreon.com/GhidorahWriter
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