When Davy Jones's tentacles withdrew from Drake's face, Drake suddenly felt strength returning to his body. Even stranger, his body no longer seemed to reject the seawater.
As a Devil Fruit user, he found himself with enough power left to pull free from the ocean's grip and climb into the safety of the bubble membrane.
What's happening to me?!
Kneeling on one knee, Drake stared at his drenched body in shock. The faint green glow lingering around him gradually faded away, leaving him utterly confused about what had just transpired.
The other "Supernovas" had also noticed this bizarre phenomenon. Their faces showed disbelief — this was something none of them had ever witnessed before.
Could it be that signing a contract with Davy Jones negates the Devil Fruit weakness?
Drake's breathing quickened. Only now did he realize that making a pact with Davy Jones might not be a decision to take lightly.
The very fact that he could now resist seawater spoke volumes about how terrifying that contract must be. For though he might gain certain powers or privileges, he would surely have to pay a heavy price in return.
What's the cost…?
Regret welled up inside him, but none of it showed on his face. Maintaining his kneeling posture, he bowed his head once more in submission.
"Captain Davy Jones, I — X. Drake — shall become your loyal subordinate."
Davy Jones nodded approvingly, then turned toward Hawkins and Bonney, whose situations were far better than Drake's.
"Captain Davy Jones," Hawkins said, kneeling halfway down this time without even bothering to consult his tarot cards, "I am willing to serve as your crew member for the next one hundred years."
He had completely given up on the idea of using his Straw-Straw Fruit abilities to divine the outcome of a contract with Davy Jones. He knew such a thing would be impossible — and attempting it would only lead him into a dead end.
Davy Jones smiled with satisfaction.
"Then the contract is sealed."
Hawkins looked down at his hands, then at his body, feeling the strange, subtle transformation that came with the pact.
Drake cast a glance at him — his earlier regret fading slightly. At least he'd been faster to submit. Surely, that meant his standing with Davy Jones would be higher.
Davy Jones's gaze then fell upon Jewelry Bonney.
She had watched, wide-eyed, as Davy Jones bound two of the "Supernovas" into his eerie contracts. Inwardly, she wondered what kind of power could do such a thing. Then her eyes met Davy Jones's — and her breath caught.
For a moment, she forgot how to breathe at all. When she finally inhaled again, her heart pounded as memories flooded back — memories of the Paramount War just a week ago.
She and her crew had been too far out at sea to see clearly, but Bonney had glimpsed the familiar figure of "Bartholomew Kuma," one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea — and alongside him, numerous "Pacifistas" that looked exactly like him.
While the other "Supernovas" had focused on the life-and-death clash between Whitebeard and Marine Headquarters, Bonney's eyes had been fixed on her father.
Yes — Bartholomew Kuma was her father.
Back at Sabaody Archipelago, she could never understand why her father had become such a cold, emotionless machine — nor why there were so many identical "Pacifistas."
Now, seeing her father used as one of the Navy's secret weapons against the Whitebeard Pirates, Bonney could only begin to guess the truth.
Her father had hidden something — many things — from her.
She had to find him again. And she needed to find the man most likely responsible for what had been done to him — Dr. Vegapunk. Only then could she uncover the truth and free her father.
She couldn't die here. Her path was clear.
Bonney lowered her head at last and spoke:
"I will also serve you, Captain Davy Jones. If it means staying alive… anything is fine."
With that, only five remained uncommitted — Kid, Killer, Apoo, Bege, and Urouge.
Urouge suddenly broke into booming laughter.
"Hahaha! I refuse! I won't surrender!"
Everyone turned toward him.
"When the so-called 'Thunder God' Enel destroyed my homeland, even then I didn't yield," he declared passionately. "And today will be no different!"
"'Thunder God' Enel?"
Davy Jones looked at him curiously.
"And who might that be?"
Urouge hadn't expected the "Deep Sea King" to latch onto that detail rather than his defiance. His brow furrowed in irritation as he replied:
"He's a self-proclaimed god — the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user who ruled over the sky islands. After being defeated by 'Straw Hat' Luffy, he went to the so-called 'Endless Vearth.'"
"Defeated by Straw Hat Luffy?"
Davy Jones's interest waned instantly. If that man had been beaten by that boy, he couldn't be all that strong.
"Their abilities simply countered each other," Urouge explained. "Straw Hat was Enel's natural enemy. But I don't believe Enel will stay in the heavens forever. One day, he'll descend upon the sea… and he's far stronger than I am."
Davy Jones yawned slightly.
"I care little for this Enel. What I want to know is this — your final answer: will you refuse the contract and choose death instead?"
Urouge paused, then said resolutely:
"I will never sign a contract that strips me of my freedom and dignity—"
Before he could finish, something seized his legs and yanked him backward.
"What—?!"
He barely had time to shout before being dragged into the freezing seawater. As he twisted around, he saw it — lurking in the dark corner of the Sea Forest — a massive orange beast.
The creature's enormous body and countless writhing tentacles left no doubt. It was the Kraken, the monstrous sea creature known as the guardian of the abyss.
It was the Kraken's tentacles that had ensnared him, pulling him deeper and deeper toward its gaping maw.
Urouge struggled desperately, but he had no strength left. His Devil Fruit powers failed him; seawater filled his mouth and nose, choking his breath.
He was dragged ever closer, until he could see the sharp, glinting fangs between the Kraken's coiled limbs.
With eyes wide in terror, Urouge let out a muffled, gurgling scream — and then he was swallowed whole.
Drake and Bonney watched in stunned silence, their hearts pounding in horror.
Had they refused the contract, that fate would have been theirs as well.
Hawkins, however, remained calm, muttering under his breath:
"I told you before… none of us bore the sign of death that day. But those who tempted fate… those who kept dancing on the edge… have now met their end."
Hawkins would never do anything that increased his odds of dying. But Urouge, it seemed, had always flirted with death — and at last, it had claimed him.
Kid, Apoo, and Bege couldn't see what had happened from their positions — but that only made it worse. Their imaginations filled in the gaps, making their skin crawl and the hairs on their necks stand on end.
Killer, who had seen everything, breathed heavily beneath his mask. He strained against his restraints, trying to drag the others closer to Kid.
He knew Kid's nature — proud, defiant, unyielding to the last breath. But if Kid uttered a single word of defiance here, he'd end up like Urouge — with no chance to regret it.
Killer refused to let his dearest friend die like that.
Davy Jones's voice broke the tense silence:
"I dislike delays, and I have no patience for indecision. Make your choice now."
Contract — or death.
It was a question that would decide their futures, and time was running out.
Once the limit in Davy Jones's mind passed, there would be no turning back.
Bege closed his eyes, the shadow of his sharp nose casting down his face. After a moment's thought, he opened them again and said:
"Captain Davy Jones, I'm willing to follow you."
Seeing the "Gangster" submit, Apoo grinned his signature sly grin.
"Heh, looks like I've got no choice but to go with the flow. Captain Davy Jones, hope there's still room on your ship for a musician like me?"
And so, as expected — killing one "Supernova" outright had made the rest far quicker, and far more resolute, in their decisions.
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