Chapter 34: KING

I woke up and immediately thought: Ugh, did I pass out again?

Lately, I’ve been blacking out way too often. I cringe at my own weakness, but there’s no point wallowing in it—gotta bounce back fast. At the end of the day, getting stronger’s the only option. Dwelling on losses or failures is useless. What’s done is done.

So I try to recall the situation and move to escape, but—

"—You’re awake."

"! Oh, mornin’~. And you are…?"

"Who I am doesn’t matter. Let me brief you on your situation."

I’d just woken up, thrown out a greeting, and asked his name—but got no answer. Meh, whatever. At a glance, I knew: this young guy was the man we’d been hunting.

He spoke dispassionately, voice icy:

"You and your companion will be tortured. There’s no end. No terms for release. No hope. You’ll endure infinite pain. Understood?"

"Aah, got it~. Sooo, Kaido’s somewhere else?"

"…Correct. You won’t see each other or confirm the other’s status. You’ll be broken separately."

"Okey-dokey! Loud and clear~. Do your worst, then~."

"……Are you mocking me?"

Zak— A sharp stab in my palm. Mmm, pain. But… bland. Still, a solid opener to establish seriousness. 70/100. He glares, seething.

"You still don’t grasp your position. I don’t care how much havoc you’ve wreaked—every hardened monster cracks under relentless torture. Body or mind, one will break. Understand that. Despair."

"Ohh, you know about us! Thanks! Lemme reintroduce myself—I’m Nue, Beast Pirates’ Vice-Captain, and the cutest idol pirate on these seas! Nice to meet ya~♡"

"……Whatever. You’ll learn your place soon enough. Enjoy that confidence while it lasts."

"Aww. Just checking—‘learn my place’ isn’t lewd, right? Idols have standards, y’know~?"

"……Tch."

Oops, pissed him off. He leaves without another word. Maybe heading to Kaido? Or just letting isolation sink in. Confinement’s a legit torture method, honestly. Dark room, no sense of time, zero mobility—super boring. Physically rough, but the mental grind’s the real kicker. 85/100. Full sensory deprivation would’ve been nastier, though. That shit makes you question your own existence…

But what to do? I could probably escape if I pushed it, but the seastone cuffs are no joke—sturdier than Marine gear. Might pull it off if I go all-out, but… eh, I’m kinda curious. Maybe I’ll stick around till Kaido busts loose first.

For now? Yawn~ Super bored. Might as well nap. Nighty-night…

---

——? Day

"——!"

"…………"

A jolt of discomfort shocks me awake. My brain processes the situation instantly—water. My face is submerged. Aah~, my strength’s draining… So hard to breathe… How long can I hold out? Probably a few minutes? Maybe more—I have gotten stronger. Could clear ten? Twenty’s iffy, but hey, let’s aim high. Go for the world record!!

——And so begins my first underwater no-oxygen challenge. Around ten minutes in (fifteen, maybe?), my body finally rebels.

"Gh…!!"

Whew~, getting lightheaded… Agony floods in, seconds stretching like hours. Just as I’m about to black out—yank—I’m hauled up.

"! Haaah~~~… Ahhh, oxygen’s delicious~…"

"…………That was long. Enjoy your morning rinse?"

"Wow, so thoughtful~! Giving a girl time for skincare even during torture? Gotta stay fresh!"

"……Fine. Let’s rinse again."

"Eek—"

Round two of aquatic suffocation. Hmm, someone’s into hardcore play~. Waterboarding is terrifying, sure, but back-to-back? Rude. No time to refill my lungs means misery comes fast. Passing out’d be a mercy, but no way he’d allow it. 89/100. Alright, Coach Demon! Let’s smash that record!

——Hours later.

"Hah… hah…"

"Tch… Finally wheezing? Want me to stop?"

"Hah… Nope! Still good! Coach! I mean—please, let me keep going!"

"…………Your brain’s oxygen-starved. You’ve snapped."

"Hey! Calling a cute girl ‘crazy’ is mean!"

"……At least your stamina’s real. Fine. I’ll shut that mouth of yours for good today…!!"

He advances. Ahh, no! You’re gonna get rough, aren’t you?! Like some R-18 doujin!!——The retort earns me a vicious punch.

---

? Day

"Mornin’~! What’s today’s menu?"

"……These spikes. One by one. Slow. Unbearable pain."

"Ehh?! No way! Something that big won’t fit! It won’t~… …Should I say stuff like that to hype you up?"

"…………Hmph!!"

"Nngh! So rough after promising ‘slow’! Beastly♡"

"……You little shit…!"

——Postscript: Got brutally impaled (spikes). 84/100.

---

-- ? Day

"Flogging is often underestimated as torture, but just a few dozen lashes can deliver enough pain to cause fatal shock... Think you can endure it?"

"Ahn~♡ Nn~♡ Ahhh, right there~♡ Just a little to the right~♡ That spot's been so itchy~"

"...Stop with the weird comments...!!"

"Aaahn♪ Ahn♪ Ahn-ahn-ahn♪ Ah-ahn! Ahn-ahn-ahn♪"

"Who said to make it rhythmic?!"

"Ahn~. Can't take a little joke~?"

-- Afterwards, we did some hardcore vocal training. 87/100.

---

-- ? Day

"Heyyy, I'm staaarving. Gimme something to eat~. Bugs or whatever'll do~"

"...Fine... I'll give you some special meat then..."

"Yay~! Munch munch... Ugh! This meat is...!?"

"Heh. Noticed, did you? That's right—it's no ordinary meat! It's from a prisoner I just—"

"SOOOO GOOOOD~♡ Texture's a bit iffy though—were they overweight? Sweet with lots of marbling! With hunger as the ultimate spice, 92/100!!"

"...Goddammit!! You better realize this is human flesh!!?"

"GYAAAAHH...!! Y-yes...! No mistake...! So please st—"

"Oh, if you're killing them anyway, let me take that other cut off your hands~. Say 'ahh'! Ahh~♡"

"...Fine. Let's see if eating someone who just died in front of you keeps that sanity intact...!!"

"N-no—GYAAAAAAAAAAHH!!?"

"Wowee. Whole roast~! Perfectly charred~♪"

-- Afterwards, had a killer steak. Well-done. Prefer rare, honestly. 90/100. Burp.

---

-- ? Day

"Hey hey! Got bored so I wrote my theme song—wanna hear? Here goes! ♪~In peaceful times appeeeears~♪ Meee, abababababa—!"

BZZZT

"That's electroshock. Let's see if that mouth keeps joking after continuous doses."

"Ababababibi~♪ --Oh! The digital distortion kinda makes me sound cute! Now I'm a virtual idol~♪"

"............"

---

-- ? Day

"Hey! Let's play word chains to kill time! I'll start! 'Ri' from 'shiritori'! 'Quicksand'!"

"Sa... Sanguinary horse—GODDAMMIT!! Enough already!!"

"Eh... Would you prefer 'look-away tag'?"

"Not complaining about the GAME!! Ugh... Goddammit...!!"

---

Who knows how many days it's been since the torture started. Feels like awhile, but exact dates are fuzzy.

Then one day, my captor—normally so irritable—just turns his back without laying a finger on me. His black wings and flames look pretty cool, but anyway, I call out:

"Huh? Done already? Or is neglect part of the plan now?"

"............"

"Oop. Got ignored."

No reaction to my adorable teasing—just stalks out. Hmm. Was actually decent torture today. Maybe I overperformed and killed his confidence? Who knows.

More importantly... Wonder how Kaido's doing? Probably getting the same treatment, but... let's be real—that guy's immune to this stuff. Bet they're struggling with him...

---

For this man, torture was the finest tool to whittle away a person's spirit—and he knew it.

He was skilled at torture. Since setting sail, he'd done it countless times. He understood it through experience, through theory.

No matter how strong the opponent, once captured and subjected to relentless torture, breaking their will was simple. Most broke mentally before physically. Those who shattered physically first were amateurs. A professional's work was to push them to the brink of death without crossing it.

Yet beyond his methods, he believed no one was unbreakable under torture—and because that had always been true, he sought those who wouldn't break. By finding others like himself, he searched for... something.

Even if he did find someone unbreakable like him... he hadn't thought about what he'd do.

But when he finally encountered something close... the humiliation was worse than he'd imagined.

That girl, Nue, was insane. No matter what he did, she kept laughing. If anything, she seemed to be enjoying it. Her playful tone never wavered. Normally, this much torture would've shattered a mind or two by now.

At first, he wondered if she was already broken—but talking to her, she seemed... normal. She didn't seem mentally ill at all. Just a regular girl—which made her all the more incomprehensible.

For the first time, he felt fear while torturing someone. And that infuriated him more than anything.

But then, the other captive—the man—was just like her. A monster.

"Guh... bastard... you're pretty damn skilled at this...!!"

"...Tch...!"

Bound in seastone shackles and chains—Kaido, the "Strongest Creature."

A towering frame, dwarfing even his own. A body honed to inhuman strength. A face radiating brutality. The polar opposite of the girl, yet just as unnaturally resistant to torture.

The problem was simple: normal torture didn't work.

Needles wouldn't pierce him. Electric shocks did nothing. Bones wouldn't break. Muscles wouldn't tear.

Unless he wanted to hurt him beyond necessity, he couldn't even injure him—rendering torture pointless. Unlike the girl, Kaido at least reacted to pain—but his reactions never escalated beyond grunts. Far from screams.

He was attacking in earnest now, yet he was the one feeling fatigue. He prided himself on his stamina, but torturing this monster left him with a gnawing dread—as if his mind was eroding, not Kaido's.

"Damn it..."

"A-Are you alright...?"

"! —Shut up...!!"

"!!? GYAAAAAAAAHHH!!?"

Without thinking, he seized the concerned subordinate and burned him alive. His frustration had hit its limit. Tossing the charred corpse aside,

"—A fire ability user?"

"! ...No... This is... something I was born with..."

"Worororo... Not bad. You might actually be worth somethin'...!"

Caught off guard, he answered without thinking. He rarely spoke of his race—there was no need.

Yet, inexplicably, he had. And this man just laughed it off with a "Not bad." Brutal, yet carrying an odd aura.

"So? You torturin' Nue too?"

"...No need to tell you."

"—Not goin' well, is it? Just like me."

"!"

—He'd seen right through him. Or maybe not. If they were comrades, he'd know. About that incomprehensible girl. About how torture couldn't break her.

Sure enough, Kaido began talking about Nue, grinning sharply.

"That brat won't break. Don't believe me? Try it. She'll laugh even in a damn inferno...!!"

"…………You too?"

"Try it and I'll kill you—but join my crew, and I'll let it slide. If you've got the guts for either, go ahead. I ain't dyin' in a place like this...!!"

"Heh... Interesting."

Behind his mask, his lips twisted into a grin. But cold sweat dripped down his forehead. This pressure was unreal—not the kind exuded by a man broken under torture and humiliation. Everyone had cracked under his methods. He’d believed death was the only escape.

But this man… and maybe that girl too—

"Fine. I’ll do it."

With that, he turned back toward the cell where the girl waited—ready to sear her flesh with his flames.

---

──?? Days Later

"Haaah… I’m bored."

I yawned, sprawled in my cell. Turns out, solitary confinement was the ultimate torture—just not the fun kind. 99/100.

Honestly? Torture me properly if you’re gonna do it. At least then it’s entertaining. We could even chat! But this? Just dull. Maybe it’s time to bail. Kaido’s probably locked up tighter, but my restraints are lax. I could break out, swing by his cell, and—

"Mornin’~! What’s on the menu today? C’mon, I’m getting rusty here. Gotta keep those skills sharp, right~?"

"…Relax. This is the last one."

"Huh?—*!!"

The word "last" threw me off—just as he unleashed fire straight at me.

Flames erupted from his body, engulfing me in an instant. My skin blistered.

"…!"

"How’s this? Can you endure my flames? Or will you burn to ash?"

This wasn’t ordinary fire. It was hellfire—scorching from the inside out, pain cranked to eleven. A new sensation, even for me. Excruciating. Just being burned alive is torture enough, but to wield flames like this—

"—♡100/100♡"

"!!"

—Perfection.

I smiled. The heat licked at me, and I sighed.

"Mmm, what lovely flames… Ahh~ I could die like this… ehehe…"

"Why… aren’t you breaking!? This much pain—why—?!"

"Hmm~? Maybe ‘cause I’m used to it? A third of my life’s been torture. Since becoming a pirate, it’s daily near-death stuff. Captured? Tortured. Rinse, repeat~ Oh! Wanna see something fun? Check my back."

"…Fun? —!!? What the…?!"

He circled behind me, where I was still pinned—and froze. Fufu. Worth stripping for that face. Though undressing me so easily? Kinda pervy.

"Surprised? Ehehe~ That’s my resume. I’ve been to hell."

"…Tch. Figures. If you crawled out of their clutches, no wonder you’re resilient… But it doesn’t add up."

"Huh? What doesn’t?"

"Even so. You shouldn’t withstand my torture. This much agony, this much humiliation—why are you smiling? Where’s the rage? A normal person’s spirit would’ve shattered—"

I cut him off with a giggle. The answer was obvious.

"I’m not normal. I’m an enigma."

"…What?"

"Literally. What am I? Human? Beast? Who knows~ A cute, unknowable, terrifying pirate. And one of the key players in the strongest crew. You think a pirate aiming for the top with Kaido would break over this?"

"The… strongest crew?"

"Yep! Our goal? Get stronger. Do what we want. Raise hell. —Oh, and we’re hiring!♡ Immediate openings, officer positions available. So… interested?"

"Interested? You’re—"

A scream tore through the prison.

"—GYAAAAAHHH!!?"

"! What was—?!"

"…Oops. Too late~ Can’t blame ‘em, though. I kept you busy."

I’d sensed it before he did—the arrival of captain dearest.

"—Hey, Nue. Looks like you’ve been havin’ fun… Worororo…!!"

"Was waiting for you to bust out. So… caught the pitch?"

"Yeah. And I’m thinkin’ the same thing. —Hey, you."

"! What now—"

Kaido loomed over him, grinning. The man stiffened—terrified.

And why wouldn’t he be? Kaido had shattered seastone chains to get here. A monster in the flesh. His hand twitched toward his sword.

But Kaido just boomed:

"I’m buildin’ the strongest crew—and you’re joinin’!"

"…………"

A direct invitation to join his crew.

Yet the man remained silent. Was he deep in thought? Overwhelmed? Or... sizing us up?

Realizing silence wouldn’t get him an answer, he finally spoke after a pause:

"...Can you two change the world?"

A loaded question.

I couldn’t fully grasp its weight—but I answered anyway, flashing a defiant grin.

"ONLY WE CAN!!!""Only we can change it!!!"

"…………I see."

Kaido and I answered in unison, brimming with conviction. The man inhaled sharply, as if satisfied.

"...What if I refuse?"

"We beat you half to death until you join."

"Hah... You’re insane..."

He snorted, almost amused—then drew his sword. And—his body transformed. Whoa. First time seeing that. A human-beast hybrid. I stared, wide-eyed, while Kaido eyed him with interest.

"Zoan-type, huh? What fruit?"

"Ryu Ryu no Mi, Ancient Model... Pteranodon."

"PTERANODON!! A DINOSAUR!! PEAK ROMANCE!!"

"Ancient Zoan... Not bad. You wanna fight me?"

"Yeah—use this."

With that, he tossed a keyring at Kaido’s feet. Probably the seastone cuffs’ keys. Handing them over—demanding Kaido go all out—he raised his massive blade.

"I don’t follow weaker men... If you can’t beat me, you can’t change shit... So prove it...!!"

"...Worororo...!! Fine."

Kaido unlocked his cuffs and hefted his club. (Where’d he even get that? I wondered idly. Also, hello, still roasting here—might pass out soon.)

As Kaido faced him, the man’s flames surged, cloaking his body and sword.

"Flame Blade Style—"

"...!"

"—Imperial Pteranodon Slash!!!"

"WHOA!!"

I couldn’t help but shout. The fiery slash hit Kaido—

—but it only hit.

"Gh... OOH...!!"

"!?"

A single strike wasn’t enough to take Kaido down.

"—Raidou Hakke!!!"

"!!!"

A thunderous counter. Kaido’s lightning-wreathed club sent him flying—straight at me.

"OOF!!?"

Seriously?! Already woozy from the flames, now I’m a crash pad?! I glared at Kaido.

"HEY! WATCH IT!!"

"...! You—that form..."

"LISTEN TO ME!!"

While I fumed, Kaido kept his eyes on the man. Bloodied and gasping, he stood back up. Damn. Tough. Most wouldn’t survive a direct hit from Kaido’s full power. Ancient Zoan stamina’s no joke.

...But what caught my eye wasn’t his endurance—it was his appearance. Brown skin, white hair, black wings—unmasked for the first time. Kaido and I were both stunned.

"Hah... Hah... So this... is your strength... Shit..."

"You... What are you? A power?"

"Dumbass, Kaido. Remember what Captain Rocks and Whitebeard used to say? That ancient race called 'gods' who lived atop the Red Wall—the ones with fire powers... Lunarians, was it?"

"…………"

When I casually dropped the name of his race—something I’d only heard in old legends—he fell dead silent. Confirmed. No hiding that rare heritage now, not with those black wings, flaming back, and that face.

But honestly? We cared less about his looks and more about that power. For me, this was like seeing a myth come to life. For Kaido? A total first. No wonder we were both grinning like idiots.

"Heh... Tough bastard. Still got fight left? Wanna go again?"

"…………No... I’m done... Kgh..."

He outright refused Kaido’s challenge, staring up at him defiantly. Smart move. Just standing took insane effort—he knew he couldn’t win yet.

"Hah... Hah... First time someone’s... shown me the gap this clearly. And that girl included..."

"Eh? Me? Aw, you’re making me blush~"

"So... what now? I’m the one who tortured you. Kill me if you want."

Huh? Wait, am I being ignored? Hellooo? Can you hear me? Am I on mute? Let’s test this—

"Hey, can you guys hear me?"

"Nah, we’re good. Just join my crew."

"...Your crew? Never planned to serve anyone, but..."

"Helloooo? I’m feeling left out here. Super lonely."

"Name?"

"…………Alber."

"Alberrrr~ We’ve been through so much together! Don’t ignore me~! Keep this up, and I’ll leak it worldwide—how you did naughty things to a poor, innocent idol! You’ll go down in history as ‘Alber the Perv’! Cool with that?"

"Worororo... Hilarious. From today, you’re our right-hand man! Call yourself ‘King’!"

"...Tch... Fine. Understood, Kaido—"

"Pirate Idol Anthem!! Nuezilla Theme Song!! ♪~That mysterious girl is cute~♡ And super~♡ UNKNOWN~♡ She’s the New World’s~♡ Shining idol~♡ Nuezilla~♡"

"BOTH OF YOU, SHUT THE HELL UP!!!"

"Ohhh, so you can hear me! Then stop ignoring me! If we’re done, mind untying me?"

"…………Right."

So they were ignoring me. Unforgivable. What kind of monster could resist this adorable voice? Even animals would kneel! Probably. Anyway—finally freed, I shook off the flames and splashed water everywhere. Oh, right—

"—YAAAY!! Initiation splash~!!"

"Wha—?! What kind of welcome—?!"

"Oop, tougher than you look! Congrats on joining the Beast Pirates! From today, you’re Kaido’s subordinate—and mine. Listen well, or I’ll torture you next! Also, you’ll call me Nue-sama!"

"...Yeah, got it—Nue... san."

"WRONG!! For the record, I’m older than you! Show some respect! Also stronger!"

Age aside... Now that I looked, he had a babyface. Might be way younger than me. Plus, stupidly handsome—total opposite of Kaido’s rugged mug.

"...Wait, why were you washed up on that beach?"

"Aaand ignored again! That’s strike three! Five strikes, and you get Nue-tastic Time! Let me explain: Nue-tastic Time is when you practice fan chants! ‘Nue-tan is adorable~♡’—100 times, loud and clear! Refuse, and it’s mandatory happiness! Or you could, y’know, answer me?"

"PLEASE, NO!!!"

"Aw, you didn’t ignore me this time. Too bad. I was ready to give you the ultimate fan-training session if you did. Guess you really didn’t want that, huh? Tch… So stubborn! After all that torture you put me through!"

As I teased King—our newest recruit—Kaido tilted his head, suddenly thoughtful. When I followed his gaze, he met my eyes and grunted:

"...Hey. Why the hell were we even captured in the first place?"

"Eh? —Ohhh… Right… We went to catch a Sea King for dinner, didn’t we?"

"Now that you mention it… Got too into the fight, missed the storm, and woke up underwater…"

"…………"

"Ah! You’re totally thinking ‘What kind of idiots…’ right now, aren’t you?"

"...Not at all..."

Liar. He’s absolutely second-guessing this alliance. I can tell—Observation Haki doesn’t lie! Time to pivot.

"Anyway! Now that we’ve got King—"

"Alber."

"—King as our new crewmate, let’s regroup with the others and hunt for the next one!"

"Yeah. But those morons… Can they even find this island without you, Nue?"

"...Next recruit?" King interjected.

"Yep! We’d already heard rumors about you before this. And there’s another pirate with a rep we’re scouting next."

"Strong bastards are always welcome. More firepower," Kaido rumbled.

"...I see. Then, Kaido-san, I’ll—"

"You’re the strongest after me and Nue!! So you’re an officer now!!"

"We’re meritocracy incarnate! Work hard, King~! ♡"

"...Understood. I’ll serve under you two. Beneath monsters like you… there’s purpose. Maybe we can change the world… And it’ll be… fun."

—King smirked as he swore allegiance. Another beast drawn to the "Hundred Beasts." Savage, instinct-driven. The kind of creature who’d never bow to lesser men—yet now pledged loyalty to those stronger. Our pack, the Beast Pirates, had finally gained a true beast of its own.

And so, we set sail again—hunting for the next predator to join our ranks.

---

Grand Line, somewhere in the New World

A small island, once famous for its vibrant music and dancers. A place where laughter never faded, where illness rarely touched its sunny shores. Its annual dance festival would drown the streets in joy, young and old alike moving as one.

Now? A hollow shell.

All thanks to one man.

"—♪Someone’s calling out for me~♫"

At the island’s central stage, a booming voice sang—backed by music wrong for this place. The audience?

Dying.

"Ugh… Hah… Please… stop…"

"We’ll die at this rate… Medicine…"

"It hurts…! Everywhere…! Help…!"

Not a single soul was spared. Yet the man onstage showed no mercy.

"Want salvation? Then hype up my entrance~♪"

"Ngh… Y-You can’t be… serious…"

"In these conditions... how could we possibly... dance...?"

"Not my problem~♪ The star doesn't concern himself with such things~♪"

The cheerful melody clashed violently with the groans of the suffering crowd as a massive figure bounded onto the stage, making the wooden planks groan under his weight.

"Do I look fat to you? No~♪ This is all muscle, baby~♪"

『"FUNKY FUNK!!"』

And indeed—the man was enormous. A mountain of flesh squeezed into a jumpsuit, sunglasses glinting as he launched into an energetic dance. His crew moved in sync around him, backup dancers to his main act.

"Don't think I can sing and dance? No~♪ I'm a star who can hype up any crowd~♪"

『"FUNKY FUNK!!"』

Despite his size, he moved with shocking agility—twirling, sliding, and belting out lyrics with showman's flair. The audience had no choice but to join in. Dance or die. Entertain or be executed.

By any objective measure, the performance was masterful.

But this was no ordinary show.

It was a carnival of suffering—a hellish revue.

"GET EXXXXCITED!!!!"

Finally, the man struck a pose at center stage, addressing not just the broken crowd before him—but the world itself:

"Sorry to keep you waiting, you worthless maggots~~~~!!! Now, scream my name! Who am I~~~~~?"

And scream they did—some willingly, most through gritted teeth—their voices painting the air with forced adoration:

"QUEEN~~~~~~!!!"

"YEEEEAH!! That's right—your one and only QUEEN-sama!!"

"QUEEN!! QUEEN!!"

"WOOOOOAH!!"

The man—Queen—basked in the spotlight, his dance never stopping.

Yet beneath the glitter and theatrics...

He was just another beast.

A predator who followed his instincts—raw, vicious, and utterly without remorse.