"Surprises are everywhere."
Shirogai Yamikuro sat casually atop a wooden barrel, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
His Master-level Observation Haki spread out like an endless web, enveloping the sea for several kiloters around the ship. Every detail, every movent within that range fell into his perception. At the sa ti, the ability of the Whisper-Whisper Fruit silently infiltrated, weaving through the surroundings and grasping every thought and whisper aboard the Bellamy Pirates' vessel, New Witch's Tongue.
Soon, Shirogai had gathered all the information he needed.
"So, the Going rry is destined to be destroyed? Even with all these changes, that fate couldn't be avoided…" he muttered, narrowing his eyes with quiet amusent. His grin widened. "Heh, so they've even lost their mories? No wonder they dared to co picking a fight."
While Shirogai toyed idly with the frozen power of the Ice-Ice Fruit, the Bellamy Pirates had raided the headquarters of the Ape Mountain Allied Forces. Their target: the golden bird Cricket had pulled from the sea.
Coincidentally, the Straw Hat Pirates' crew mbers had gone out overnight to catch guiding birds in the southern forest. None of them were at the headquarters. Even the Ape Mountain Allied Forces were out at sea testing their reinforced ships. That left the base defenseless—an opportunity Bellamy wasted no ti in seizing.
After all, Bellamy was a Spring-Man who wielded the Spring-Spring Fruit. Even though a few of his n were defeated, the crew easily overwheld Shoujou, Masira, and Cricket.
During the clash, the Going rry was caught in the fray. Just like in the original tale, its keel snapped in two, leaving the ship fatally damaged.
And when Bellamy's crew secured the golden bird and other treasures like the golden bell, their attention was drawn to sothing far stranger—an ice egg condensed by Shirogai.
"Hey! Look at this!" one of the pirates shouted. "A giant, crystal-clear egg!"
They had seen Cricket and his companions desperately defend it during the fight. To the pirates, that was proof enough that it held value.
"It's gotta be worth a fortune in Berries," another said, eyes gleaming.
Several of them reached greedily toward the alluring, glassy surface.
The mont they touched it, their bodies froze solid.
"My body… freezing…"
"Help—!"
"Ugh…"
In seconds, they were transford into ice statues. Even Libas, the crew's gunner, was caught when he brushed against the frozen forms, turning into ice himself.
"Oh my god! Don't touch them!" one pirate cried in panic. "You'll get frozen too!"
Bellamy only sneered at the chaos. "Idiots! Who told you to touch sothing you didn't understand? The rest of you, stay back! They're not dead yet."
He looked at the ice egg again, circling it with greedy fascination. "Heh… this thing can freeze people? Interesting. It has to be a treasure."
His lips twisted into a sinister grin. "If I deliver this to Doflamingo-sama, he'll be pleased. Maybe then I'll rise to beco a high-ranking executive in the Family."
Under his orders, his n used a wooden cart to haul the ice egg aboard the New Witch's Tongue.
But Bellamy had unknowingly brought aboard a nightmare. He hadn't taken a treasure—he had carried the living form of Shirogai Yamikuro himself.
Shirogai, whom the Marines had recognized as an individual with power rivaling the Four Emperors. If Bellamy ever regained his mories and realized what he had brought onto his ship, he'd collapse to his knees in terror.
Unfortunately for him, there was no turning back.
On the New Witch's Tongue, as it neared Mock Town, the Bellamy Pirates reveled in their plunder.
In the dining hall, several of the frozen n had been thawed with boiling water. Over twenty pirates drank greedily, feasting and boasting.
Sarquiss, the crew's vice-captain, downed his drink and laughed. "Hahaha! Captain, we've struck gold! And not just gold—we've got ourselves a priceless ice egg too!"
Ross, another combatant, smirked. "If only we'd killed that Straw Hat brat too. His bounty's worth thirty million Berries. Sha he wasn't around."
"Forget the Straw Hat. He's not worth anything compared to this." Bellamy raised his glass arrogantly. "With this ice egg, I'll report straight to Doflamingo-sama. Then I'll rise to beco one of the Heart executives."
"Hahahaha!" The n roared in approval. "Once you're in, Captain, we'll all be under the Donquixote Family banner!"
But in the shadows of their rrint, sothing sinister slithered.
Unseen, the Abyss Whisperer crawled through their minds, leaving trails of invisible corruption. If Shirogai wished, he could end them with a re thought. He could force them to carve their own throats while fully conscious, dying in terror.
But that wasn't his style.
"How boring would that be?" Shirogai chuckled softly, crossing one leg over the other. With a snap of his fingers, he whispered, "Sleep."
The entire crew slumped where they sat, falling instantly into deep slumber.
"Since you thrive on others' fear, why not face your own?" Shirogai muttered, a calm smile on his lips. He leaned back, waiting.
Minutes later, screams tore through the dining hall.
"Ahhh!!!"
The pirates awoke trembling, sweat pouring down their faces.
"There's a monster!!"
They stumbled, twitching in fear, eyes darting wildly. Even Bellamy was pale, breathing heavily.
"I… I'm alive? It was just a dream?" he panted, clutching at his stomach in panic.
But when he looked around and realized everyone else had shared the sa nightmare, unease clawed at him.
"Did… did we all dream at the sa ti?" he asked hoarsely.
"Y-Yes…" Sarquiss stamred, holding his saber tightly. "Captain, did you also dream of a monster… with claws for a hand?"
Bellamy's face darkened. "That's right. Did you…"
Before he could finish, Sarquiss raised his right hand. The hand had transford into a twisted tal claw.
"Captain," he said in a trembling voice, "was it like this?"
Bellamy froze. His eyes widened as the claw shimred under the dim light.
"That's… exactly…"
He never finished.
Pfft!
The claw plunged into his chest, ripping out his beating heart.
"Yahahaha…"
Sarquiss's face tore open, revealing the scarred, monstrous visage of the nightmare creature itself.
The burned, grinning monster leaned close, whispering with sadistic glee.
"Scum… how about I turn you into sausage? Bellamy-sama flavored sausage?"
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