He felt uncomfortable under her gaze. He tried to look away.
When people are awkward, they get busy. Rhett looked at the sky, the ground, scratched his head. But his hands were full. He held her with his right arm, his left arm keeping her steady. He coughed, trying to change the subject.
"Look at that overseer. He has wings..."
Her gaze didn't waver. She spread her small wings and rubbed them against him. See? I have them too.
He pointed at something else. "Look at that rock. It's..."
She kept looking at him.
"The word order is wrong. I can teach you."
Rhett: "..." You're too serious.
After a few failed attempts, he gave up.
"Okay, okay! I admit it! I'm new to this era too! I'm guessing at a lot of things!"
He looked into her eyes. "But I swear, what I said before was right! Trust me!"
She nodded seriously. "Mm." Her face was blank, but she seemed to remember.
Rhett grinned. He pointed at the country below. "Watch. I'll attack them. They won't hate me. They'll thank me. They'll worship me like a god."
She shook her head, repeating what she'd been taught. "They... country... attack..." In her mind, attacking a country was evil. It would bring hatred and revenge.
Rhett saw her confusion. His desire to destroy that country grew.
But he kept his voice calm. "I knew you'd say that. Let's make a bet. Let's go see for ourselves."
He took her into the "prosperous" main street. It was cleaner than the quarry, but still dark and oppressive. It showed the country's true face.
One Piece's history had blank centuries. It was never a kind world.
Before they could do anything, chaos erupted. A group of guards dragged a crying young woman from a house. Her family begged, but the guards kicked them away.
"Shut up! Being chosen to serve the nobles is an honor!" the guard leader shouted.
Rhett smirked. The leader's eyes fell on the girl in Rhett's arms. He noticed her.
Her simple clothes couldn't hide her delicate features and her otherworldly aura.
"Hey, you!" The guard leader pointed at Rhett. "That girl! She's been requisitioned! Hand her over!"
Rhett looked at the girl, who tensed. He smiled as if to say, "See? Here we go."
"Hey, you!" The leader and his men surrounded them. His finger pointed at the girl. "She'll do. Our master needs a servant. Come with us."
The girl gripped Rhett's clothes tightly.
Rhett looked down at her, his voice low. "Your answer?"
She looked up at him, her eyes full of her usual confusion and a plea for help. She was waiting for him to tell her what to do.
But this time, he only watched her.
The guards came closer, their threats growing louder.
"You're lucky our master noticed you!"
"Don't be ungrateful! You'll eat well!"
"Pretty face. He'll like her."
The girl trembled.
She looked at Rhett, her eyes full of fear and a silent plea. She wanted him to solve the problem.
But he just watched her.
The guards were almost touching her. She shut her eyes and forced out a word.
"No."
Rhett smiled.
"Good."
The world changed.
Blood mist exploded from Rhett. It swallowed the light.
Nine dragons of mist emerged from the swirling red. They roared silently, their cold eyes on the frozen guards.
"Monsters!"
"Devil's power!"
"Can it really do this?"
The guards' greed turned to fear. They tried to run. The leader transformed into a spotted dog.
An ancient zoan.
Rhett said one word.
"Slaughter."
The dragons descended.
The slaughter began.