Chapter 121

Title: Steam

....

After Amon left, Yona started to chase Brook throughout the ship.

Although Brook's 'gentlemanliness' wasn't at the level of Sanji, he was still against the idea of harming Yona. More so, when he could feel she was only trying to capture him, not harm him in any other way.

Finally, giving up, Brook handed himself over to Yona who chanted some weird lines as Brook acted dead.

"Good, the evil spirit is now gone."

Yona made a proud face after exorcising an evil spirit, she almost jumped up in happiness!

But it was then when she witnessed black humanoid creatures, almost as if shadows, flying through the air.

They definitely looked like evil beings too, she assumed they were this skeleton named Brook's friends.

Looking at the sky, Yona closed her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she jumped. "Geppo!"

This was Geppo that she learned along with many others from Wyper.

Yona jumped in the air and started to go towards the shadows!!

However, they weren't bonded by the concept of gravity so they moved very fast, out of Yona's reach. Yona's face distorted while she tried her best to reach the shadows.

However,

Zzz...

There was no need for her to work hard anymore because the familiar sound of passing electricity made her sigh in relief.

In seconds, the shadows that passed hundreds of kilometers were captured by a trail of lightning. Indeed, it was Amon.

Yona returned to her ship with a smile on her face. 'As expected of Kami, he is also strict against evil spirits.'

As a follower of a religion that believed in multiple gods, but worshipped only one, Yona believed the more evil spirit she hunts for her Kami, the more her Kami will have an increase in rank. Her Kami was still a young God, to become Omnipotent, he needs more divinity!

Yona glanced at the bones of the evil spirit in a corner of the ship. Her eyes narrowed while Brook was sweating. He was waiting for Amon to come back since he knew Amon would help him.

But Yona didn't know that as she went back to the table where tea was kept. It was already proved that this spirit named Brook wasn't a devil fruit user, rather an actual evil spirit since her exorcism worked.

Her Kami would never favor him after learning he's an evil spirit. She saw him hunt them down just a second ago after all. He might even praise her!

Praise...

If... that was right, why was he saying this now?

"Yona, this will grant you the power over Shadows. You will be the Lord of Shadow. All shadows of the world would be your subordinate, serving you all their life. You will be able to call people back from death, the other world, you will be the Goddess of Death herself!"

If he really wanted to punish evil, why was he offering such an evil power to her?

"What do you think? It's a good fruit."

Yona was suddenly confused. Her face darkened as she glanced between Amon and the fruit.

From the side, Brook was also observing the situation. Brook's shadow had returned to him, Amon allowed it. So Brook could guess what is happening here.

'So he killed that man named Moria and extracted his fruit...? Can everyone after 50 years of my isolation do such a thing?'

He was very interested. But since he already promised he would join his army after gaining his shadow back, thus making Amon his leader now, Brook held back from prying into his new leader's secret.

'To begin with, it's not a bad thing.'

Now, Brook was more interested in Yona's response. What will she choose?

.....

A few minutes passed.

Amon stared at Yona who had a darkened face, thinking.

'She is taking so much time...? I assumed she would be happy to take it after a while, to be honest. Oh well-'

Amon had an idea. He lightly pinched her cheeks as Yona's eyes twitched and she returned to reality.

"My Kami..."

"Have you decided?"

Hearing Amon, she made a determined face as if she decided something. Though Amon still couldn't tell what she decided.

'...Alright, [Future Sight].'

After waiting for three seconds, Amon's vision twisted and the space became blurry.

He saw the future. Unfortunately, Yona wasted a lot of time so his low-level future vision couldn't see what she chose.

So he rather chose to make her view things from another perspective.

"Yona," Amon called her name. One of the rare occasions. "The most important things are most of the time dirty. Every God needs someone to manage their dirty work, and I need you."

Yona blinked a few times.

Amon continued. "You know, I already ate 1 fruit, but I absolutely need this power over death. I could have chosen Raki or any other person, you should be grateful that I chose you." Amon lied. He doesn't plan to give Raki any fruit other than the Mythical Zoan that the AI is hiding.

Still, by making her see this from the lower perspective; making it seem like Amon is doing her a favor, the words hit Yona harder.

As Yona's lips quivered, Amon smiled and caressed her hair. "You will be 'The Keeper of Death', my executive who will break the concept of death for me. For the sole reason of erasing the concept of death from my people."

'It's harder than I thought.'

Ignoring his thought, Amon said the half-truth. Although he can revive people with the fruit's power, after the job is done, it won't be the same person anymore. It is a flawed reincarnation.

However, Amon didn't mind it. He only had an attachment with a few people, he didn't care about the leftovers. Besides, the power of shadows is already awesome enough.

Amon again looked to the future... still too long for him.

Yona looked down, contemplating on his words. In truth, Amon didn't have to say all this. She already decided that she would do anything her Lord asks for. Handling an evil power like this was just a small deed.

However, Amon's words weren't meaningless. She did receive another perspective in this power. Just because this power seemed evil, doesn't mean it is evil. So Yona was feeling a lot better.

'Oh...'

Ignoring the future, Amon also learned this through his trusty mind-reading powers.

To solidify things, Amon pushed further.

"You know Yama right?" Yona nodded. "He has the power of death, but does that make him evil? No." He smiled. "Just because you are managing this power doesn't mean you are evil, assume I am letting you borrow one of my powers, thus making you a part of me."

Bullshit.

But it worked.

Anyone would love to be praised. Even more so, getting praise from your God. But this exceeded the word 'praise'. She was offered the power of her own Kami?! She would become a part of him with it?! Then she would obviously accept it!

"M-My Kami!" Yona stuttered with shining eyes.

Yona didn't have any romantic feelings for Amon, just like how he didn't have any for her. The feeling she directed towards Amon the most was 'Faith'. She was an extreme devotee.

"You don't have to say anything more, I already decided to accept it.... Is it to murder a hundred virgins and thousand of children? As long as you ask, I shall do it. Compared to that, this is a blessing!"

"I am more than happy that you are bestowing me with such powers..."

Yona bowed.

Brook from the side seemed to be enjoying what was happening here, some words went above his head, but he understood the gist of it.

'So Amon is a God?'

That's what he understood. As someone who returned from the cycle of reincarnation... Brook did believe in divinity, though he has yet to confirm that thought. However, he did feel a strange sense of familiarity with Amon, it was almost as if, just like himself... Amon had also died already.

Though, it's just a feeling. He assumed Amon just lived a dangerous life where he almost lost his life many times.

'Now, now. No useless thoughts, yo-ho-ho!'

Brook intensely stares at the duo.

....

In the end, Yona accepted his proposal. She would take it, the fruit was good for her overall growth, and her Kami's growth as well. She will utilize its power to the fullest.

It was then—

"Yohoho! Looks like you returned before half an hour, you weren't boasting!"

Brook, after finally building up some courage, reformed and looked at Amon.

Yona, who was wiping her teary eyes, suddenly made a shocked expression as she looked at Brook.

"Ehh! My exorcism didn't work! What a powerful evil spirit!"

Amon laughed again. "Yona, I asked you to not attack him. He is your new colleague, treat him nicely."

Brook laughed while Yona protested for a while. He was satisfied with his new leader's attitude. He wondered, how life would work for a pirate like him not being a pirate

But—

....

"What?! There are 5 pirates more powerful than any other in this world and you are one of them?!"

Brook was surely surprised when he found out he was still a pirate. He felt a strange warmness enveloping his heart.... But he doesn't have a heart, Yo-ho-ho-ho-ho!!

Perona just looked at him strangely.

«...★...»

After that, nothing special happened on the ship. Yona ate her fruit and Amon took them both to the Thriller Bark, they flew into the sky to avoid all the Zombies.

After Brook learned about Amon's identity from Perona and before proceeding to insert the shadows back into the bodies of the Zombies, Amon had a talk with Brook.

"As you can see, we are quite the evil group. Though we don't hurt innocents, we do not show any mercy to any of the pirates."

Again, Amon said the half-truth. He wouldn't think twice to use any innocent people for his gain.

However, it was true that his subordinates were different. If he didn't show any kind of morals, his faction would never last long. It's a fact, humans are emotional, they would surely feel sadness, pity, sympathy for others. Amon can't let this small fact mess big things up, so he keeps his condition to himself.

"However, it is true that as long as the opposite party is a Pirate or criminal, I won't show any mercy," Amon said in a serious voice.

He pointed behind him, where all the shadows were tied.

"All these shadows belong to people who were brave enough to come to Thriller Bark, they were definitely pirates since marines won't come after a Warlord," Amon said. "I plan to use these shadows rather than freeing them, just like Moria, I also plan to get the shadows of the people hiding in the darkness of this island back."

Brook listened to him in silence. This was no different than Moria... no, maybe a little different.

Amon asked the important question. "Are you fine with that, Brook?"

Brook took some time to answer his question. Ultimately, morals are actual things.

Brook had morals thus, even being a pirate, he cared about children and sang them songs. But in no sense was he an innocent man, he also did bad deeds like stealing and robbing, even though he had his limits.

So, the answer was simple. "I'm fine with it, I rather feel good that you are asking for my thoughts even though I just joined. I would thank you for that, yoho!"

Humans are emotional, emotions are easy to manipulate.

Amon smiled with his eyes closed.

«...★...»

Same time,

On Fishman Island, a familiar yet unfamiliar face to Amon was preparing to enter the New World.

"Hey, catch that man! He's a criminal!"

He was currently being chased by Fishmen guards. He stole food from a restaurant after all.

"Haha, sorry guys. I don't have money!! I will pay later, for real!"

The guards didn't stop. They kept chasing him.

"Stop him! A human would always be human!!"

A large crowd of Fishmen blocked his way. The man sighed.

Who would have thought,

"Ahhh, so troublesome. I guess I have to force my way through."

Fate would go according to Amon?

"Ahem,"

The man's hand shined, his fist became half transparent.

"Sorry guys," He swung his fist. "!!"

It was the Pirate King's son, Steam Fist Ace!!

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A/N: Steam Fist Ace is here, kya!

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[Read 15+ chapters before release in P.A.T.R.E.O.N]–

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This chapter was proofread by Discord members and edited by @Retuculum and @AyyZelos and @Shortmotor!

Discord: discord.gg/sek3gZV2jg