The life in the real world... is it over?
Roger's body tensed slightly, meaning...
Was he killed by Aatrox?
"Those killed by demons fall into hell, their souls unable to escape. They become like the 'Hollows' you saw before. In Hueco Mundo, their hearts are worn away, and they can only exist in this chaotic form, bearing sins until their consciousness is completely eroded, leaving only the instinct of their bodies."
Kuchiki Byakuya said calmly.
Hollows and Hueco Mundo...
Is this Hueco Mundo?
Roger glanced around, then suddenly smiled. "So, what if I can keep my heart?"
"You do have such an opportunity," Kuchiki Byakuya said. "Because before you were killed by the demon, you had the Key to Hell within your body, which allowed you to come directly to Hueco Mundo. Otherwise, you would have become a Hollow first."
"What opportunity?" Roger asked. He knew Kuchiki Byakuya's sudden appearance wasn't just to watch him become a Hollow.
"Hueco Mundo is a special place within Hell. I can take you out of Hell," Kuchiki Byakuya said calmly. "But in return, you must become an unknown 'Substitute Soul Reaper'."
"Substitute Soul Reaper? What's that?"
"To perform the duties of a Soul Reaper in the real world, purifying the demons who escape from Hell." Kuchiki Byakuya held a white, five-sided metal object in his hand, with a black skull on it.
"This is the Substitute Soul Reaper badge. Use it, and you can split off the 'Soul Reaper' version of yourself."
He threw the badge to Roger, who quickly grabbed it. It felt like it had a special power...
"...How do I use this thing?" Roger asked.
As for whether he agreed to Kuchiki Byakuya's offer, wasn't it already obvious?
Become a Substitute Soul Reaper and purify demons?
It seemed like a good job. Although he didn't like being controlled, it was different if it was something he liked doing.
"You have been tainted by Aatrox's power. Use this to separate the demon within your heart and try to create your 'clone'."
Following Kuchiki Byakuya's instructions, Roger tried to activate the power of the Combine-Combine Fruit. When the badge entered his body, it seemed to resonate with a power within him, and he immediately felt pain.
His body swelled, and he fell to the ground, propping himself up with his hands in the desert. He saw his body seemingly splitting apart, and the swelling flesh separated, slowly turning into a...
Woman?!
The woman was naked, with short blue hair. She was also supporting herself on the ground with her hands, panting heavily.
"Huh?!
!"
Roger exclaimed loudly. "What's going on?!"
His shout caught the attention of the woman who had split from him. She glanced at Roger and said,
"What are you shouting about? I am you..."
"Don't joke around!" Roger took several steps back. He looked at the naked woman and blushed, then felt a special connection between them.
It was like...
They were the same person!
"She is another you, split off by the Substitute Soul Reaper badge." Kuchiki Byakuya's voice echoed in their minds at this time.
"She represents the part of you that belongs to Aatrox, and also merges with other parts of your power. She is your future Soul Reaper's substitute body. Remember, you cannot let anyone else know the relationship between you and her."
"How... can this be?!" Roger looked at the woman in shock, and then said to Kuchiki Byakuya, "Hey, don't look over here!"
The woman was indeed his clone. Roger could feel this connection, and he could even control her life and death.
So, seeing her naked, Roger also felt ashamed, which was why he told Byakuya not to look.
Thinking about this, he quickly took off his shirt and threw it to her.
"Hey, do you have a name?"
"Ann." The woman took the coat Roger threw, casually draped it over herself, and slowly stood up. She then said to Roger, "I used to be you. What's your name?"
"Gol D. Roger!" Roger said.
"Ann..."
Roger thought about the name and felt it was pretty good.
He stood in front of An and said to Kuchiki Byakuya, "You mean An can become a Soul Reaper substitute to purify demons? I don't need to do anything?"
Byakuya glanced at him, then his body gradually turned into cherry blossoms and disappeared, leaving only his last words.
"Go find the flaw of 'Control'. She is your greatest enemy."
After the words fell, the world changed again into a vast white desert.
"Wait, what is Control?!"
Roger shouted loudly before Byakuya completely disappeared, but by the time he finished speaking, Byakuya was gone.
No one was destined to answer him...
But he knew who Control was.
The Black Order's Fleet Admiral, Makima!
When he fought Aatrox, the demon lord had also mentioned these two words.
Whether it was the demon lord or the descendant of the Soul Reaper, they seemed to care about Control, or Makima. Who was she?
"This is not a problem you should be thinking about."
At this time, An said from behind Roger, "You're just a pirate, and I'm a Soul Reaper substitute. This is what I should be thinking about."
"..." Roger turned his head awkwardly. Although she had put on his coat, it couldn't cover Ann's body.
An was about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a good figure. She was currently wearing only Roger's coat, which wasn't much different from before.
Roger quickly said, "How annoying, I'll just give you my clothes!"
As he thought about taking off his clothes, An looked at him strangely and said, "What are you doing? I used to be you. Are you shy in front of yourself?"
"That's not the same thing!" Roger wanted to say something, but An spoke again.
"If you care so much, then prepare some clothes for me later. Remember not to let anyone else see me."
?
Roger was thinking about Ann's words, but the next moment, the world spun, the white desert and the black sky of Hueco Mundo seemed to merge into one.
Then...
"Huff!"
Roger suddenly woke up in bed. He opened his eyes wide and wanted to sit up, but the intense pain in his body made him wince.
"Roger!"
Seeing him wake up, Rayleigh suddenly became excited. Moreover, the entire crew of the Roger Pirates was in the room!
----
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