When the white light faded, the two figures were gone from the plaza.
Roger and Shiro now stood beneath swaying palms, where sunlight sifted down through broad leaves and painted the sand in warm gold. The sweet fragrance of coconuts filled the air—this was Baterilla Island of the South Sea.
Roger's brows twitched, his body tensing for a moment. A sigh rumbled out of him, long and heavy, his shoulders sagging beneath its weight.
"Little Shiro… I told you already," he muttered, voice edged with helplessness. "Imu left her mark on me. It's like a rope you can't see. No matter where I run, she holds the end of it. Even if you break my chains, even if you free me from the Navy, one thought from her—and I'll be ashes."
Shiro shook his head sharply, messy bangs whipping with the movement. His gaze burned as it fixed on Roger's abdomen. His fingers tapped against his chin in thought before he spoke, tone hard with conviction:
"No, Captain Roger. It isn't hopeless. I've looked closely. The mark that seals your strength… and that cursed brand meant to kill you… they're not the same thing."
"What?!"
Roger's eyes widened. He yanked his cloak aside and looked down. Sure enough—beside the faintly glowing pentagram seal, a warped, black sigil writhed faintly, etched into his flesh.
"And what good does knowing that do us?" His shoulders slumped again, voice cracking into a rasp. "Even the two of us together couldn't unravel such a curse…"
"Not necessarily."
Shiro's voice rang out with sudden force. He pressed a finger against the dark sigil, his eyes sharp with resolve.
"The seal that binds your power—I can't touch that yet. But this curse mark? That, I can rip away."
Roger's pupils shrank, and a flame of hope flared in his tired eyes. His hands trembled as his voice cracked:
"You… you mean it?"
Shiro nodded so firmly the veins stood at his temple.
He hadn't come to this lightly. In the back of his mind, he remembered the story of Shanks—his desperate gamble, how he'd severed his own arm to escape Imu's curse. But Shiro wasn't about to sacrifice Roger's flesh the same way.
Instead, he clenched his fist, and a glow of soft pink light bloomed from his palm—the power of the Paw-Paw Fruit.
"I'll try to drive it out with my ability," he said, voice low but steady.
His hand pressed down.
Whum—!
The curse mark twitched violently, as though scalded. Black smoke hissed from its edges as it began to crawl toward Roger's skin like a parasite seeking escape.
Roger froze, holding his breath, wide eyes fixed on the mark. His chest shuddered, and sweat trickled down his temple.
But just as it was about to tear free, an unseen tether yanked taut. With a sharp snap, the mark shot back into him. Roger gasped and doubled over, a groan tearing from his throat.
"Again!"
Shiro's jaw clenched as he slammed his palm down once more. Again and again, he tried—three times in total. Each time, the black sigil slithered to the surface, only to be dragged back into Roger's body.
Shiro's brows knotted, his hand unconsciously drifting to the hilt at his waist.
"Do I really have to do it Shanks's way? Cut away the flesh, curse and all? But Roger's already weak…"
Just as his fingers brushed the cold hilt, a tiny, childlike voice chimed in his mind.
"Let me do it, master!"
Shiro's eyes sharpened. He drew a breath, then barked:
"Little Fang—come out!"
A lance of golden light burst from his scabbard. A small, glowing spirit emerged, body translucent and wrapped in faint radiance. Its big, round eyes spun curiously as it hovered in the air.
"Master, master! Is there anything tasty?"
Seeing nothing around, the spirit drooped, glow dimming in disappointment.
"Listen carefully, Little Fang," Shiro said firmly, pointing to Roger's stomach. "A black thing is going to come out of there soon. When it does, you eat it. All of it. Leave nothing behind."
The little spirit puffed out its chest, light flaring bright again.
"Leave it to me! I'll swallow it whole!"
Shiro inhaled, then summoned nearly all of his strength. His palm flared so brightly it seemed solid, crackling as it slammed down.
Pa!
The curse mark shrieked, bursting free like a writhing eel of shadow. It twisted violently in the air, tendrils flailing.
"Now!" Shiro roared.
The spirit opened wide, snapping down with a single gulp.
Chomp!
The wriggling shadow vanished down its gullet. The spirit shuddered, cheeks puffing before it licked its lips.
"Bleh. Bitter."
Shiro exhaled, shoulders slumping. Then his eyes widened.
"It's gone…"
Roger's face shifted. His hand pressed against his stomach, and his breath caught as he felt the suffocating weight that had haunted him for so long—gone. Vanished without a trace.
Tears welled in his eyes as he seized Shiro in a crushing embrace.
"Thank you, Shiro. Now… now I can watch my son grow up!"
From Shiro's shoulder, the little spirit popped its head out indignantly.
"Hey! Don't forget me! I ate the bad thing!"
Roger blinked, then chuckled through tears. He rubbed the spirit's round head warmly.
"Of course. Thank you too, Little Fang. You've done a great deed today."
But then—
Clang!
The black blade at Shiro's waist shuddered violently, metal clashing against its scabbard. The two men turned in shock as cracks split along the sheath.
With a final crack, the weapon burst free. Its blade rippled with shifting patterns, the steel darkening to pitch-black and pulsing with eerie violet light.
Both Roger and Shiro stared, stunned.
Shiro gripped the hilt cautiously. A chill seeped into his palm, but beneath it ran a strange, almost comforting warmth.
"Let me try," Roger said, reaching out.
His fingers brushed the blade—and he drew a sharp breath, eyes blazing.
"This sword… the power it holds is incredible!"
He turned it reverently in his hand, then returned it with care.
"Shiro… this blade surpasses any weapon I've ever seen. Treat it well—it will shake the world."
Shiro accepted it solemnly, his gaze fixed on the dark, gleaming steel.
The curse was broken. The Pirate King was free. And a new, terrifying blade had awakened.
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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