ONE PIECE: WORTHLESS PROGRESSION

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Waiting...

And More Waiting...

Toshi and Maliketh waited in silence until nightfall, but even then, they couldn't make a move. The sound of pirates' laughter and the creaking of footsteps above kept them rooted in place. Toshi slumped back into his hammock, his eyes closed, waiting patiently as time dragged on.

Without a clock, they had no way of telling the time—only their instincts. And they both knew that if they misjudged, there would be consequences.

The hours passed slowly, quietly. Not a single sound broke the stillness. The moonlight filtered through the caged windows, casting faint shadows on the walls. Eventually, the laughter from above faded, and the creaking of the boards stopped.

It was utterly silent...

Toshi slowly rose from his hammock. With a quiet click, he used the key to unlock his cell door. The hinges groaned as it creaked open. Toshi stepped out, his bare feet barely making a sound on the cold floor, and moved toward Maliketh's cell.

Maliketh was slumped against the wall, his long white hair cascading down to his waist. He was shirtless, a bandage wrapped tightly around his torso, stained with dried blood.

'Blood...?' Toshi wondered briefly, but there was no time for questions now. He quickly unlocked Maliketh's cell.

Toshi's gaze swept down the narrow hallway, where rows of cells stretched before him. Most were empty, with only a few occupied by the occasional slaves.

These slaves had lost all hope. They laid there unresponsive in their cells, food trays left untouched outside their doors. They had resigned themselves to starvation, slowly dying.

Could Toshi help them? Yes. But the ship was already full with two, and there was barely enough food to last for two, let alone everyone. Toshi gritted his teeth, forcing himself to make a painful decision.

He had to leave them behind...

Maliketh slowly rose from the floor and made his way to his cell door, stepping out slowly.

"Let's go, right now," Toshi whispered. Maliketh nodded in response, his movements slow and silent.

Toshi went to his own cell, using his shirt to bundle the food inside. He tied it into a knot and slung it over his back.

"Alright, we good now," Toshi muttered, slipping out of his cell. Both he and Maliketh crept down the hall, taking careful steps. They had to be extra quiet, as the boards beneath their feet were old and loose, creaking loudly with the slightest pressure.

Slowly, they made their way up the stairs.

"Alright... first, we need to get to the boat and get out of here," Toshi whispered. They moved across the deck, each step slow and deliberate, the floorboards creaking beneath their feet.

*Creak* *Creak*

They reached a table where a knife had been left by one of the pirates. Toshi grabbed it quickly, and they headed toward the ledge.

The boat was tethered to the ship by thick ropes. Toshi knelt down, carefully beginning to cut through them, each stroke of the blade making a soft but distinct sound in the still night.

"Hurry..." Maliketh whispered, glancing anxiously over his shoulder as he crouched down beside Toshi

Toshi gritted his teeth. "I'm going as fast as I can..." he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. His hands moved frantically, slicing through the rope with all the strength he could muster. The blade cut halfway through when, with a sharp snap, the rope broke.

BAM!

The front of the boat crashed downward, slamming against the side of the ship with a violent jolt. Toshi's eyes flew open, his heart pounding in his chest. "Fuck..." he muttered, his breath ragged.

Without hesitation, Maliketh leapt onto the slanted deck of the boat, gripping the edge with all his might.

Toshi's hands worked hard, slicing at the remaining rope with all his strength.

"HEY! THEY'RE ESCAPING!"

The shout pierced the air as a door on the ship's hull burst open. Pirates stormed out, weapons drawn, swords in one hand, guns in the other, their furious cries echoing in the night.

With a final slash, the rope gave way. The boat dropped into the water with a violent splash, rocking violently beneath Toshi's feet. He didn't hesitate, stepping onto the ledge of the ship and launching himself into the air, landing hard on the boat as it bobbed in the choppy water.

The small boat splashed into the water, rocking violently as Maliketh and Toshi scrambled to steady it. Shouts erupted from above, and Toshi glanced up to see the pirates leaning over the railing, weapons in hand. Muskets were raised, the faint sound of metal clicking echoing in the air.

"Row faster!" Maliketh barked, his voice frantic as he dug the oars into the water with all his strength.

"I'm trying!" Toshi snapped back, sweat dripping down his face as he matched Maliketh's rhythm, every pull of the oars a desperate attempt to put distance between them and the ship.

Gunshots rang out, splintering the wooden edges of the boat and sending water splashing into the air. Toshi ducked instinctively, his heart pounding as the bullets whizzed past.

"They're not going to stop!" Toshi shouted, panic creeping into his voice.

"Shut up and row!" Maliketh growled. He wasn't about to let them drag him back. Not after everything.

The ship behind them was still a towering silhouette against the dark sea, but it was shrinking as the began to row off.

"Where do you think you're going?!" a voice screamed from behind. The sound of clatter chains slicing through the air grew louder, each rattle sending a shiver down Toshi's spine. He spun around, eyes wide, but before he could react, the chain coiled around him like a serpent and yanked him off the boat.

"TOSHI!" Maliketh roared, diving forward with an outstretched hand. But he was too slow.

 The water was merciless, forcing its way into his lungs with every frantic gasp, choking him as his struggles grew weaker.

With a sickening thud, his body collided against the side of the ship, pain erupting through him. The impact left him dazed and gasping as he felt the relentless pull, dragging him upwards, inch by inch, from the cold, suffocating waters.

' No... No! NO! ' His thoughts were frantic as he struggled against the unbreaking chains, panic clawing at his mind as he fought against the water that incased him. No matter how he fought, there was nothing he could do. The outcome he had dreaded had become a harsh reality.

...Toshi was going to die....

"Aguh!" Toshi sputtered, coughing up water as he was yanked up from the cold salty waters.

"Did you really think you could run from me, boy?" a voice taunted from above. Toshi's eyes slowly focused, and he saw Apollo towering over him.

Toshi's body dangled helplessly from the ledge, his strength completely drained. He met Apollo's gaze with a weary stare, and a wide, cruel grin spread across Apollo's face.

"I HAVE YOUR FRIEND, MALIKETH!" Apollo screamed into the darkness below. But there was no answer, only the sound of waves crashing below. Apollo chuckled. "Looks like your little friend has abandoned you."

With a sharp tug on the chain, Apollo hauled Toshi closer. He grabbed him by the neck, letting Toshi dangle precariously over the edge.

"I could kill you now and feed you to the sharks... but that would be too merciful, wouldn't it? It would let you escape the pain," Apollo mused, rolling his eyes upward as if contemplating Toshi's fate.

Suddenly, from the group of pirates trailing behind Apollo, a man stepped forward. It was Lord Waltz, this time dressed in a sharp, all-black suit with a red rose tucked neatly into his chest pocket.

"Commander, sir, please allow me to handle him," Waltz said, bowing deeply to Apollo, a cheerful grin spreading across his face.

"Hmmm... Waltz, you always use that tone when there's something you truly desire," Apollo remarked, smirking. "Very well. Do as you please." With a dismissive shrug, Apollo swung Toshi overhead and tossed him to the ground as if Toshi weighed nothing.

"Don't kill him, though. I still need to sell him," Apollo said, unraveling the chains from Toshi's limp body before heading back to the captain's quarters.

Toshi lay there, utterly defeated, his skin pale as death. His soaked wet clothes clung to him, and his body trembled with chills.

"Hohoho... I'm going to have fun with this one," Waltz sneered, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he loomed over Toshi's broken form. Toshi's empty gaze shifted upward, staring at Waltz with eyes that had lost all trace of hope.

Waltz lifted his boot high above Toshi's head and brought it down hard, knocking him into unconsciousness.

. . . . . . . .

Toshi's breaths came in shallow, rapid gasps as his senses slowly returned. The cold metal of the chains dug into his wrists, leaving his arms aching from supporting his weight. His vision wavered as he blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of his surroundings. The dim, flickering light above swayed slightly, casting a circle of light around him.

"Where... where am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse and dry. His chest heaved, struggling to calm his frantic breathing. The air was damp and reeked of rust and mold, making it even harder to breathe. He was stripped completely only leaving his underwear. His body was weak, trembling slightly as he hung from the ceiling.

A sharp clanging sound echoed from somewhere beyond the light, causing Toshi to flinch. His head snapped toward the noise, but the oppressive darkness beyond the light circle gave him nothing. He strained his ears, listening intently. Footsteps. Slow, unrushed, and patient. They grew louder with each passing second, accompanied by the faint jingle of metal.

"Who's there?!" Toshi demanded, his voice cracking as he struggled against his restraints. The chains rattled loudly, the sound echoing in the confined space.

The air felt even heavier as Waltz stepped into the light, the rhythmic click of the cart's wheels cutting through the silence. His red demon mask glinted faintly in the moonlight, the twisted grin painted on its surface far more menacing than any expression a human could muster. The whip in his hand cracked against the floor, making Toshi flinch involuntarily.

Toshi's breath quickened, his mind racing as he tried to think of a way out. "L-Look, Waltz… I get it, you're mad. But let's not do anything hasty, yeah? I mean, we're both—uh—rational people here," Toshi stammered, his voice betraying the sheer panic coursing through him.

Waltz tilted his head slightly, the mask's eerie grin making it impossible to gauge his emotions. He spun the whip lazily in his fingers, the leather tip flicking against the floor with a faint hiss. "Rational?" Waltz repeated, his tone mockingly calm. "Do you honestly think rationality has a place here?" He gestured to the cart behind him. "Do these look like the tools of a rational man?"

Toshi swallowed hard, the lump in his throat almost suffocating. "...Fair point," he muttered under his breath.

Waltz let out another low chuckle. "Do you know how long I've waited for this, Toshi? Watching, waiting... knowing you'd try something foolish. And you didn't disappoint. You actually thought you could fool me? Steal from me? And just…Get away with it?" He stopped spinning the whip, his entire body still as his voice dropped an octave. "Did you think there wouldn't be consequences?"

Toshi sweated profusely. "I mean… not these consequences," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Waltz took a slow step forward, dragging the cart closer, the wheels creaking. "Oh, but this is the fun part," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "You see, Toshi, I'm not just going to punish you. I'm going to make sure you never forget who you crossed."

Toshi's eyes darted around, hoping to find a way to escape, but there was nowhere to go. With his wrists bound tightly by the cold, unbreakable chains, Toshi hung helplessly from the ceiling. The sharp metal bit into his skin, leaving angry red marks and stinging pain with every slight movement.

His body dangled limply, exhaustion weighing him down. There was nothing he could do to fight back, no room to struggle or resist.

"Your time," Waltz said, his voice icy, "has run out."

Waltz moved slowly behind Toshi, cocking his arm back before snapping it forward, the whip cracking across Toshi's back.

"AHHHH!" Toshi's scream tore through the air as saliva sprayed from his mouth and tears welled in his eyes. Waltz drew his arm back again and lashed out, the whip cutting into Toshi's back, leaving raw red marks that slowly peeled away layers of his skin.

He did it again...

Pssh*

Again...

Pssh*

" AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! " A loud scream escaped from Toshi with all the might he could fuster. Yet that didn't stop Waltz from hitting him.

" YEEEESSSSS! SCREAM! SCREAM! LET ME HEAR YOUR PAIN! " Waltz screamed madly as he kept at it.

 Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again...And Again.....

Pssh*Pssh*Pssh*Pssh*Pssh*Pssh*Pssh*...

Hours passed..maybe even days..as Toshi hung there, his body covered in lacerations, blood seeping from his open wounds. Scars marred his flesh from his torso down to his feet, leaving him utterly marked by scars.

He slumped against the cold chains, eyes rolled back in his head, dried tear stains tracing lines down his face. He had cried until there was nothing left inside him, no more tears to give.

A weak groan escaped his lips. "Gragh..."

Yet, despite the searing agony coursing through him, only one thought remained in Toshi's mind.

Kill them...Kill them alll...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill

them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill

them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill

them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...Kill them...

KILL THEM ALLLLL

The heat that had long lain dormant in his gut surged, overwhelming him. The hatred he'd suppressed for so long was boiling over. A wave of rage washed all over, fueled by the bitterness of his own weakness. He despised how utterly powerless he was...how worthless he felt.

Everyone he had ever cared for had abandoned him, and those he loved were ripped away, snatched by forces far beyond his control. Everything he'd once had was stripped from him by a power he couldn't hope to defy.

For so long, he blamed it all on God. But deep down, he knew the truth...it was his fault. No one else was to blame. The root of his suffering was himself.

He had to change. He needed to be faster, stronger. He had to become powerful. Strong enough that he could...KILL THEM ALLLLLLL...... Strong enough to protect what mattered, to grab what was taken, and to crush anything, or anyone, that dared stand in his way.

The heat in Toshi's gut was no longer just a simmering campfire; it was an inferno. It burned through every nerve in his body, surging into his limbs, defying the chains that bound him. His breaths came sharp and heavy, his muscles straining against the unbreaking metal.

 He hated this world...the cruelty, the powerlessness, the pain. But more than anything, he hated the weak version of himself that had allowed it all to happen.

' Never again.... I'll kill them all. '

Unconsciously, his eyes rolled back in his head. His teeth ground together as he clenched his fists, muscles tensing and pulsing. Then, his mouth flew open.

"I'LL KILL YOU AAALLLLL!" Toshi roared, his voice raw with pure anger. A brief surge of red energy burst out from him, a faint flicker of air that went barely unnoticeable. Then, just as suddenly, he collapsed back, sinking back into unconsciousness.

TO BE CONTINUED

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