The ship sailed through the night, cutting through the glassy waters under the blanket of stars. Raizen had no particular destination in mind. He didn't know where he was heading, only that he was leaving behind the shattered remnants of Noctis Island — a place that would forever haunt him.
His hands were still raw from handling the ropes, but the pain didn't matter. What did matter was the feeling in his chest — a gnawing emptiness, a hunger that refused to be sated. It was the hunger for vengeance, for power, for something greater than what the world had offered him up until now. He had chosen this path, but it wasn't enough.
Raizen wasn't sure what exactly he sought out on this vast ocean, but he knew it was the key to the world he wanted to create. His mind was a battlefield, torn between the darkness of his grief and the clarity of his ambition.
The ship creaked under the weight of the silence as Raizen stood at the helm, watching the moonlight reflect off the calm water. His thoughts drifted back to Kael, his brother. He could still hear his faint whisper before the life left his body.
"Keep moving... you can't stop."
Raizen closed his eyes, the words of his brother echoing in his mind. The memory of his death had become a fire that burned inside him, but with every passing minute, the fire began to feel colder. Raizen needed something more — something to give him the power to crush those responsible for his brother's death and forge a new world in his image.
And then, just as his resolve began to waver, the voice came.
It was faint at first, just a whisper in the back of his mind, like the sound of a distant, forgotten memory. But it was enough to make his pulse quicken. The voice spoke to him, its tone smooth and malevolent.
"Raizen D. Crow... The boy who survived. The boy who craves power. What will you do with that power? What price are you willing to pay?"
Raizen stiffened, his grip on the wheel tightening. He spun around, searching the dark, empty sea around him. There was no one there. No one except for the endless horizon and the dark sky.
"Show yourself." Raizen's voice was steady, though his heart was racing. The whispering voice seemed to come from nowhere, and yet, it felt like it came from within him.
"Power, Raizen... power greater than anything you've ever dreamed of. You've already tasted it, haven't you? That Devil Fruit... It's just the beginning. You're nothing but a boy, yet already you've cast aside the world's chains."
The voice paused for a moment, as though it were savoring the silence. Raizen could feel his own heartbeat in his ears, the weight of what was being offered to him heavy on his chest.
"But what good is power if you cannot control it? What good is strength if you are destined to fall like the rest? Would you rather rise as a king... or fall into the abyss like all those who sought more than they could ever grasp?"
Raizen's hand clenched, his nails digging into the wood of the ship. He had already made his decision. He was done with weakness. He was done with looking over his shoulder, wondering who would take what was his. His eyes hardened, and a low growl escaped his throat.
"What do you want from me?"
The voice chuckled softly, the sound like the rustling of dead leaves in a forgotten graveyard.
"I offer you a bargain, Raizen. A deal for power. Power not just to destroy your enemies, but to reshape the world itself. The world is ruled by weaklings and fools. The pirates, the marines, the nations... They fight amongst themselves, but none have the strength to rise above the chaos."
Raizen's breath hitched. This was what he had been seeking. The chance to rule. To reshape the world, to leave behind a legacy no one could ever tear down. But at what cost?
The voice continued, its tone dripping with poison.
"I offer you my power, Raizen D. Crow. All that you desire. But you must understand — power comes at a cost. Every king must pay the price of his throne. Do you want to rule the world, Raizen? Or will you cower and fade into nothingness?"
Raizen's mind raced. He had lost everything. His family, his home, his future. He was alone, and he would remain alone if he did not seize this opportunity. He needed strength, and if this was the price he had to pay, so be it.
"What is the price?" he demanded, his voice steady, unwavering.
There was a long pause before the voice responded, its words cold and final.
"Your soul."
Raizen felt a chill run through his spine. He knew that this was a crossroads. A decision that would seal his fate. But deep down, he already knew the answer. He had no choice. He had to take it. The world would not wait for him to grow stronger.
"Take it," Raizen whispered. "I'll pay any price."
The voice laughed, a deep, resonating sound that seemed to echo through the very air around him.
"Very well, Raizen D. Crow. From this moment forward, you are mine. And I, in turn, am yours."
Suddenly, the ship lurched, and a blast of dark energy surged through the air. Raizen stumbled back, his body rattling with the sudden onslaught. The ship creaked and groaned under the force of the energy, as though the world itself was trembling at the bargain that had just been struck.
The sea around him began to swirl, the waters churning violently as dark shadows rose from the depths. A figure appeared before him, a towering silhouette draped in shadows, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
Raizen stared at the figure, his breath coming in shallow gasps. The shadows parted, revealing the figure's true form — a tall, cloaked being with crimson eyes that glowed like fire. The air grew colder, the presence of this creature suffocating.
It was the Devil.
The Devil's voice was smooth, enticing, yet cold as ice.
"Remember, Raizen... There is no turning back."
Raizen's heart pounded in his chest, his hand shaking as it reached for the hilt of the sword at his side. But in that moment, he understood. There was no going back now. The path he had chosen was set in stone.
And the world... the world would know his name.
End of Chapter 4: The Devil's Bargain