41 Nico Robin Adventures: P2*
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Mexica:
Kusanagi:
Prince Itzel:
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A few minutes ago,
In the mystical world of One Piece, nestled deep within the dense jungles, lies the remnants of an ancient and once-prosperous kingdom. At the heart of this overgrown and long-forgotten realm stands an imposing Aztec-style pyramid, its weathered stones and moss-covered steps telling tales of a bygone era. The hunt for poneglyph has brought Robin to this island, after thorough exploration for a week and battling the wild beasts she finally discovered this pyramid hidden in the valley surrounded by tall cliffs.
Unbeknownst to her, she was not the only one living on this island. The sound of gunshots and her opening the doors of the ruins woke up something she shouldn't have. On top of a golden throne inside the depths of the pyramid sat a very old man who looked very feeble but his eyes were very sharp. The old man had numerous tribal face tattoos and was dressed in various accessories made of human bones. He had an unnaturally ghostly appearance and when he heard that someone had entered the ruins he burst out into an evil smirk. He slowly stood up and walked toward the ruins carrying a bloody red long sword in his hands.
***
A few minutes ago:
Robin looked at a large inscription written on the walls of the ruins, parts of it were already fading away. Using a flashlight she started to decipher the writing:
[Centuries ago, the kingdom of Mexica tasked with guarding a poneglyph thrived under the benevolent rule of Prince Itzel and Princess Izel. Their love was celebrated throughout the realm, and the kingdom prospered under their wise and just leadership. However, the seeds of their downfall were sown when a powerful cursed sword, Kusanagi, found its way into the hands of a jealous and ambitious advisor named Tlaloc after looting a merchant from the Grand Line.
Tlaloc, consumed by envy and greed, coveted the throne and the love that Prince Itzel and Princess Izel shared. In a moment of treacherous intent, he sought out the forbidden arts and rituals to make a pact with the demon king to enchant the legendary sword Kusanagi.
The Yōtō blades are said to be cursed and known to bring horrific death or enormous suffering or misfortune to their wielder. So no one shouldn't mess with these swords unless they are capable of rewriting their fate.
The cursed blade, infused with malevolent energy, became a harbinger of doom for Mexica as to complete the pact the sword needed to feed on thousands of innocent souls.
Unbeknownst to the royal couple, Tlaloc gifted the cursed sword to Prince Itzel as a symbol of allegiance and loyalty. However, the moment Kusanagi touched the prince's hands, an insidious curse began to spread, anyone without enough willpower would be slowly turned into a mindless puppet under its influence. The once-prosperous lands withered, and a shadowy veil enveloped Mexica, casting a pall of despair over the once-vibrant city as Prince Itzel turned into a mad tyrant.
The cursed sword's influence corrupted Prince Itzel's mind, turning him into a puppet of darkness. The love he once shared with Princess Izel twisted into an unhealthy obsession, driving a wedge between them. As the curse intensified, Mexica's inhabitants suffered from violence, nightmares, plagues, and unexplainable tragedies one after another.
The once-mighty kingdom descended into chaos. Famine, pestilence, and internal strife plagued Mexica as the cursed sword drained the life force from the land. Tlaloc reveled in the chaos he had unleashed, manipulating events from the shadows, and seizing the opportunity to manipulate the weakened prince to wreak havoc and see the world burn.
Desperate to save her kingdom and her beloved, Princess Izel embarked on a quest to find a way to break the curse. Guided by ancient prophecies and whispers of forbidden knowledge, she sought out mystical artifacts and consulted wise shamans. The malevolent spirit, however, seemed to anticipate her every move, thwarting her efforts at every turn.
The kingdom's decline reached its peak when Prince Itzel, completely consumed by the curse, declared endless war on neighboring kingdoms in a mad quest for power. Mexica, once a beacon of prosperity, became a land of ruins and despair. Princess Izel, now a symbol of hope for her people, faced the heart-wrenching decision to confront the man she loved, wielding otherworldly powers.
As the cursed sword's dark influence reached its zenith, a tragic battle ensued. The final confrontation between Tlaloc, Prince Itzel, and Princess Izel unfolded within the sacred chambers of the pyramid.]
Robin couldn't read more as the text ended abruptly. No records of the outcome of the battle were recorded when suddenly she felt something was amiss. The air inside the pyramid suddenly grew colder and thick fog descended unnaturally as a sense of foreboding danger hung in the atmosphere. She quickly activated her observation haki and stood defensively.
"Impressive! You can detect my presence, lady with the knowledge of the ancient language. May I know your name?"
"Show yourself, Who are you?" she demanded, her eyes piercing through the darkness as she became cautious.
A ghostly faceless apparition with a golden halo manifested before her eyes, "My name is Itzel and I don't mean you any harm. Your life is currently in danger."
"Huh? Price Itzel, how are you still alive?"
"I am not alive, only my soul is trapped here. You shouldn't have read the stele aloud lady, it broke the seal containing the Demon King Kusanagi." He said with sorrow. "We are not in the physical world anymore, the demon has also pulled you into his domain, the dreamless zone."
Robin was surprised by the sudden turn of events. She had read about demons and ghosts but she thought they were merely some folklore.
"How can I trust your words? For all I know you could be lying to me."
"You can try to leave, I am not stopping you anyway. But once someone is pulled into Kusanagi's domain there's no escape. You are stuck in limbo while the demon king would try to take over your body as its new vessel." He said ominously. "I know all this because I have been through the same for 200 years, neither can I die nor can I live."
Robin looked around her and only found thick fog, she suddenly became wide-eyed when she noticed thousands of more faceless apparitions emerging from the fog one after another.
"If I were you, I should have run. These mindless starved souls will try to absorb your dreams until you become a husk of your former self like them." Prince Itzel gave a warning.
***
Following the vivre card Victor quickly traversed the foggy ruins for a few minutes until he arrived at a huge altar on top of the pyramid. What he saw shook him to his core, an unconscious Robin was bound to a crucifix as an old man holding a sword chanted something in the ancient language. There was a fairy pit under the crucifix with a glowing pentagram drawn around it.
"You bastard, leave her alone!!!" He felt deep anger boiling inside of him as burst into flames and flew towards him as he tried to punch the old man. He didn't need to know what he was doing, by no means he held any good intentions.
The old man who was trying to draw her blood was surprised by Victor's arrival and sudden attack but he didn't panic. He swiftly drew his sword and sliced a sword attack towards Victor who was caught off guard. He clashed with the attack mid-air when he suddenly felt immense pain. He crashed into the ground and a gaping sword wound appeared on his chest as blood spurted out of his injury.
"Amazing!! You survived my attack Lunarian," He said in an eerie demonic voice. The old man was intrigued as he looked at Victor who was trying to stand up despite his pain. "I previously wanted to make her my new vessel but I guess today is my lucky day."
"What have you done to Robin?" Victor said as he gritted his teeth in anger. This old man was strong, he must proceed cautiously if he wants to rescue Robin.
"Ohh she's just sleeping! Did I forget to mention that she's also facing her worst nightmares? I have become a little forgetful with my old age." He said with an evil smirk. "Do you want to save her boy? It seems you are very close to her."
"Who are you and what do you want? I doubt she'd have done anything to antagonize you."
"She didn't antagonize me at all, she's rather my benefactor who released me from my seal. You can call me Kusanagi, the Demon King of nightmares." He said as he burst out into an evil laugh. "You see, I need a vessel to exist in the living world but due to a whore I was struck in this godforsaken ruins for decades. I'll give you a chance, if you willingly become my vessel then I'll let your little lover go."
"Let her go first, how do I know you'll not go back in your words?"
"Do you think I am stupid boy? Why would I let go of my leverage?" He burst out laughing. "I don't need you, you need me."
"If you hurt her, you'll regret ever being born." This motherfu*cker has really crossed the line that shouldn't be crossed. Victor was very angry but felt powerless, he had to make sure Robin was okay before acting rashly. He knows a demon king exists in this world from his knowledge about the future. Tot Musica, known as the "Demon King of Songs", is a monstrous entity that was sealed under Elegia by a past user of the Uta Uta no Mi. It can be summoned when the user of the Devil Fruit sings its namesake song. But he was completely in the dark about this bastard who claimed to be the "Demon King of Nightmares."
"I like the helpless and angry look on your face! But there's nothing you can do about it, can you? Love and emotions make a man weak!" The Old man mocked smugly. "I'm standing right in front of you, kill me if you can but you won't be able to save your lover."
***
A/N: Let me know if you like the story in the comments.
