Ulquiorra skipped across the ocean in massive arcs, each step launching him forward and covering kilometers before he touched down again.
He was moving forward but his thoughts stayed behind with the conversation he had with the old human.
'Look for it in yourself, not in others.'
The old man's words repeated in his head.
He didn't understand why.
Why did they sound so familiar yet so distant.
He looked down at his palm.
Nothing. Completely empty.
Ulquiorra's steps slowed slightly.
There was something he couldn't place. A sensation that existed and didn't exist simultaneously, like reaching for an object that was there and wasn't.
Had he once possessed the heart?
Ulquiorra stopped running.
He stood motionless on the water's surface, staring at his open palm.
Had he held it before? Had he understood it once?
...No.
Impossible.
He could feel it. No, he knew it
He was born empty. He woke up empty.
And yet.
The feeling persisted.
Ulquiorra closed his hand into a fist and resumed traveling.
Hours passed.
Finally, an island appeared on the horizon.
Ulquiorra's eyes focused on the strange formations rising from the land. Massive rock mountains, covered in hundreds of graves. The whole island looked like it was surrounded by giant cacti.
A town sat at the center where pueblo-style buildings lined the streets.
With a final jump, he landed at the dock.
Ulquiorra walked onto the main street.
The city was split down the middle by the ocean running straight through its center.
He moved forward, his eyes scanning the houses on either side.
Less than a minute had passed since his arrival when people started gathering from all over the place.
Then the street erupted.
People started shouting and cheering. Confetti exploded overhead in bursts of color.
"Welcome!"
"Another traveler!"
"Praise the warriors of the seas!"
Ulquiorra stopped walking.
He stared at the crowd gathering around him.
Strange.
A tall man pushed through the crowd toward him, with long curly blonde hair falling past his shoulders.
He stopped in front of Ulquiorra and spread his arms wide.
"Welcome to Whisky Peak, traveler!" The man's smile stretched across his face. "I am Igarappoi, mayor of this fine town."
Ulquiorra said nothing.
Igarappoi gestured broadly at the buildings around them. "Whisky Peak thrives on two things: liquor and music! We are musicians, brewers, and above all, we pride ourselves on hospitality." He placed a hand over his heart, closing his eyes. "Any visitor to our shores is treated as an honored guest."
The crowd cheered again as even more confetti fell.
Igarappoi's eyes cracked open slightly.
Ulquiorra stood completely still. His expression hadn't changed, and he wasn't even looking at him.
Igarappoi's smile twitched.
The crowd's cheering faltered. People glanced at each other, uncertain.
"I see."
That was it. That was Ulquiorra's response to them celebrating his arrival.
The mayor cleared his throat and glanced past Ulquiorra toward the docks, his expression shifting to confusion. "Though I must ask, where is your ship? We'll help you dock it properly, of course."
Ulquiorra looked at the mayor.
"How long."
Igarappoi blinked. "Pardon?"
"The Log Pose." Ulquiorra pulled the stolen compass from his coat. "How long until it resets."
The mayor's smile faltered for just a fraction of a second before returning full force. "Ah! Straight to business, I see." He laughed. "The Log Pose takes approximately half a day to lock onto the next island. Plenty of time to enjoy our town's famous brew and—"
Ulquiorra turned and walked past the mayor.
"W-wait!" Igarappoi hurried after him, his smile still plastered on. "Surely you'll stay for the feast! We've already prepared—"
Ulquiorra didn't bother to answer.
Igarappoi caught up, walking alongside Ulquiorra now. His tone remained cheerful but something shifted beneath it. "You must be exhausted from your journey. We have rooms prepared, food, wine, everything a man could need."
No response.
"Surely you won't refuse our hospitality? It would be an insult to our town's traditions."
Ulquiorra walked past Igarappoi without acknowledging him further.
The mayor remained frozen in place, his smile twitching at the corners.
A tall woman approached from the crowd. She wore a nun's outfit, but her expression was anything but holy.
"Lost your charm?" Miss Monday crossed her arms. "That's the first time I've seen someone walk away mid-speech."
Igarappoi's smile finally dropped.
"He just entered the Grand Line." Another nun stepped forward, this one shorter with a softer face. Miss Catherina adjusted her habit, annoyed. "He's probably nervous. You know how rookies get."
Miss Monday snorted. "Didn't look nervous to me."
"He's cautious then." Catherina pointed toward the empty docks. "Look, he even hid his ship somewhere. That's why we couldn't see him arrive."
Miss Monday's eyes narrowed as she looked at the harbor, confirming there was nothing.
She turned to face the crowd of bounty hunters. "Alright, listen up. Search the shoreline. That ship has to be somewhere on this island."
The crowd dispersed immediately, splitting into groups that headed in different directions.
Night fell over Whisky Peak.
Catherina adjusted her habit for the fifth time, making sure the fabric clung tight to her curves. The nun outfit was supposed to look innocent and pure. But she modified it just enough to send different signals entirely.
After the final look, she went outside where Beans waited, and together they searched for their prey.
Two hours later.
"This is such bullshit," she muttered. "We've been walking around this damn town for two hours."
Behind her was a small kid, Mr. Beans. He walked one step behind her, scanning the rooftops and alleyways as they moved.
"Maybe he left already," Beans suggested.
"With what Log Pose?" Catherina looked back at him. "That thing needs half a day minimum. He's here somewhere, probably holed up in some corner."
She stopped at an intersection and looked both ways.
Empty streets. Nothing but shadows and still no sight of their visitor.
"Fucking hell." Catherina practically yelled. "Where does one pale weirdo hide in a town this size?"
"Maybe he went to one of the bars?" Beans pointed toward the largest tavern at the town center. "Most pirates head straight for the booze."
"Did he look like he was interested in alcohol?" Catherina started walking again. "When people are interested in booze, they don't just walk away when offered some for free."
Beans hurried to catch up. "So what's the plan?"
"The plan is simple. We find him, I seduce him and get him drunk and talking, where he has hidden his ship." Catherina grinned. "Men are simple. Flash some skin, laugh at their dumb jokes, and they'll tell you everything." She pointed at her nun outfit. "Add some forbidden love on top and you got yourself a man begging to become your pet."
They turned another corner.
Still nothing.
Catherina's frustration mounted with each empty street.
"This is ridiculous," she growled. "Where the fuck is he?"
After another hour of searching, they finally found him.
Ulquiorra sat on the last rooftop at the edge of town, completely motionless.
She waved Beans off quickly. The kid nodded and disappeared into an alley.
Catherina went around the building, finding the ladder to the roof access. She plastered on her sweetest smile and climbed up.
"Well, hello there." She walked forward slowly, adding a slight sway to her hips. "I didn't expect to find anyone all the way out here."
No response.
Catherina moved beside him anyway, sitting down. She made sure to position herself close enough, but keeping some distance for temptation to do its work.
"Beautiful night, isn't it?" Her voice became softer. "The stars are so clear up here."
Ulquiorra stared at the Log Pose.
Catherina leaned back on her hands, arching her back slightly.
"It must get lonely traveling all alone." She tilted her head, looking at him. "A strong man like you... surely you'd appreciate some company?"
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I thought—"
"Your thoughts are irrelevant." Ulquiorra's eyes shifted to the woman beside him. "Leave if you seek to waste my time."
Catherina froze.
The sweet smile vanished.
Her face twisted into something ugly. Raw fury replaced the fake innocence.
"Fucking prick."
Her hand shot to the cross around her neck and yanked the chain.
Sleeping gas erupted from the cross, a thick cloud that engulfed Ulquiorra completely.
"PLAN B!" Catherina yelled.
Beans appeared at the ladder's edge with rope in hand. He scrambled onto the roof and rushed next to the cloud.
"So much for seduction!" Beans called out.
Catherina scowled. "What the hell was I supposed to do? Keep batting my eyelashes while he ignored me completely!"
Beans reached the spot where Ulquiorra had been sitting and waited for the gas to dissipate. He looked back at Catherina, mouth opening to respond but—
A pale hand shot through the white smoke.
Fingers wrapped around Beans' face.
Ulquiorra stood there, completely unaffected by the gas surrounding him.
Beans struggled, his small hands gripping Ulquiorra's wrist. The kid's legs kicked uselessly in the air.
"Let go!" Beans yelled.
Catherina's hand went to her back, pulling the pistol from her belt. She fired three shots, but Ulquiorra moved the kid's body to block the bullets.
The rounds punched into Beans' torso. His small frame jerked with each impact before going completely limp in Ulquiorra's grasp.
Ulquiorra's eyes shifted to her.
"Your accuracy is excellent."
He released Beans' body.
"Three shots and all fatal."
Catherina stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening right now.
The pistol slipped from her hand and clattered on the ground.