One Piece: Rise of Valoria

The arena roared with the frenzied cheers of the Celestial Dragons, their grotesque laughter echoing through the towering stone walls of Mariejois. In the center of the pit, Boa Hancock and her two sisters, Sandersonia and Marigold, stood covered in dirt and sweat, but this time, their expressions weren't those of fear. There was a cold determination in their eyes. They were no longer helpless girls at the mercy of their sadistic masters. They had fought—hard—and they had won.

As the dust settled, Hancock looked up toward the stands, her gaze briefly catching the chilling eyes of Master Callen. His pudgy face was twisted into a pleased grin, his twisted sense of satisfaction evident. Beside him, the other Celestial Dragons clapped and whistled, delighted with the brutal spectacle they had just witnessed.

William stood at the edge of the pit, arms crossed, watching them with his usual detached demeanor. His long sandy blonde hair fell around his face, but his green eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the fight. Hancock glanced at him, her chest rising and falling heavily as she caught her breath. There was a time when she had been terrified of him, his strength, and his coldness. But now, after months of brutal training, she understood him more than she ever thought she would.

The sisters had done exactly as he had taught them—fight without mercy, without hesitation, and never let fear control them. That was the only way to survive in this world, William had told them. And he was right.

After their victory, the sisters were led back to the dark slave quarters. They walked in silence, their minds still racing from the adrenaline of the battle. When they entered the cell, William was already there, leaning against the wall, his expression unreadable.

"You did well," he said flatly, though there was a hint of approval in his voice. It was as close to praise as William ever gave.

Hancock nodded, still catching her breath. "We had no choice," she muttered. "But... thank you."

William raised an eyebrow, not used to gratitude. "Don't thank me. You fought because you wanted to live. That's all."

Hancock met his gaze. Despite his harshness, there was something different about him now. Over the past few months, he had begun to open up, though only slightly. It was as if their shared pain and suffering had forged a quiet, unspoken bond between them. He wasn't the heartless monster she had once thought him to be. He was just like them—a slave, trapped in this nightmare, trying to survive.

Later that night, Callen summoned them all to his chambers. His grotesque form sat upon a luxurious chair, draped in fine silks and gold jewelry. His eyes gleamed with a twisted kind of excitement.

"My precious fighters," Callen drawled, his voice oozing with false affection. "You've made me very happy today. And when I'm happy, I like to reward those who please me."

The sisters exchanged wary glances, unsure of what was coming next. William stood behind them, his jaw clenched, his fists tight at his sides. He hated being near Callen more than anything, but he had learned long ago to suppress his anger. It would do no good to lash out. Not yet.

Callen raised his hand, and one of his servants stepped forward, holding a small chest. The servant opened it, revealing a Devil Fruit inside. The fruit was shaped like a heart, covered in swirls, and it glowed faintly under the dim light of the chamber.

"This," Callen said, his voice dripping with satisfaction, "is a rare and valuable fruit—the Mero Mero no Mi. A fruit that bestows the power of love… or more specifically, turning others to stone with love."

Hancock's eyes widened as she looked at the fruit. She had heard of the power of Devil Fruits, but to be given one? Her mind raced. Why would Callen give them something so powerful?

"Eat it, girl," Callen said with a dismissive wave. "It will make you even more valuable to me in the arena."

Hancock hesitated for a moment, but then she stepped forward and took the fruit in her hands. She glanced back at her sisters, who nodded, and then at William, who watched her carefully, his expression unreadable. She knew that if she didn't accept this "gift," Callen would punish her and her sisters. So, without another word, she bit into the fruit.

It tasted foul, like rotten meat, but she forced herself to swallow it down. Almost instantly, she felt a strange energy pulse through her body, as if something deep within her had been awakened. Her muscles tensed, her heart raced, and for a brief moment, she felt invincible.

Callen clapped his hands together, delighted. "Wonderful! Now, my dear, we shall see how you use your new power."

Over the next few months, Hancock trained relentlessly with her new Devil Fruit ability. She learned how to wield it in the arena, turning her enemies to stone with just a glance. Her beauty, combined with her newfound power, made her an even more formidable opponent. And under William's continued guidance, she, Sandersonia, and Marigold became a force to be reckoned with.

But as they grew stronger, so did their bond with William. He no longer barked orders at them with the same coldness as before. Instead, there were moments—fleeting, but real—when he spoke to them not as a commander, but as an equal. They were all in this together, trapped in a hell they could only escape through strength and blood.

One night, after another brutal day of training, the four of them sat in their cell in silence. Hancock glanced at William, who was staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. She hesitated, then spoke.

"Why do you help us?" she asked softly.

William didn't answer for a long time. Finally, he sighed and turned to face her. His green eyes, once so cold and distant, now held a flicker of something else—something human.

"I know what it feels like to lose people you care about," he said quietly. "Seeing you protect your sisters, let's just say I don't want you to find out what it feels like."

Hancock looked at him, surprised by his honesty. For the first time since they had met, she saw not the brutal, savage fighter, but a boy—a boy who had suffered as much as she had. A boy who had once known kindness, love, and friendship, but had been forced to bury those feelings deep inside just to survive.

And in that moment, Hancock knew that they were no longer just allies bound by circumstance. They were bonded by something stronger—something forged in blood, pain, and survival.