DXD: The Awakening Of Phenex

The gentle sea breeze filled the air as the Going Merry sailed through the Grand Line, its hull cutting through the calm waters. The crew was scattered across the deck, still digesting the events of Whiskey Peak.

Alvida, leaning against the railing, gazed at the horizon with half-closed eyes. 'Something feels off... I sense we're not alone.'

Riser, standing close to her, noticed her unease. Without a word, he placed a hand on her shoulder, a silent but firm gesture. 'Stay quiet,' his calm yet attentive expression seemed to say.

A soft, provocative female voice cut through the air, coming from above.

"A small ship for such an interesting crew. You're lucky it's in good condition."

Everyone's eyes turned upward. Sitting casually atop the mast was a woman with long black hair and a wide-brimmed hat that partially shaded her face. Her smile was enigmatic, and her eyes sparkled with amusement.

Sanji froze for a moment, his eyes widening as a lovesick grin spread across his face.

"A goddess…"

Zoro placed his hand on the hilt of one of his swords, his sharp gaze analyzing every move of the stranger.

'Danger level… high,' he thought, his muscles tensing for any sudden action.

Nami crossed her arms, frowning as she assessed the woman. Usopp, beside her, gripped his slingshot with trembling hands.

"Who are you, and what are you doing on our ship?"

Luffy, standing at the bow, pointed directly at the intruder, his displeasure evident.

"Hey! You can't just invade our ship like that! This is the Going Merry!"

Igaram and Vivi exchanged quick glances, both visibly tense. Vivi stepped forward, her voice wavering as she spoke.

"She's… Miss All-Sunday. The only one who knows the leader."

"You all are quite talkative," said Nico Robin, adjusting her hat with elegance. "But don't worry, I didn't come to cause trouble. I just wanted to take a look at the peculiar crew sailing to Alabasta."

Usopp raised his slingshot more confidently, pointing it directly at Robin.

"You think you can just show up here and intimidate us? I'm the Great Captain Usopp, and I won't stand for this!"

Zoro drew his swords with a swift motion, the metallic sound echoing through the air.

"If you think you can walk away unscathed, you're underestimating our group."

Robin sighed, almost bored, before crossing her legs and making a casual hand gesture.

"How adorable," she murmured, just before a peculiar sound filled the air.

POP!

Hands sprouted from nowhere, appearing on Usopp and Zoro's backs. The two were disarmed instantly, their weapons clattering to the ground. More hands appeared around Luffy, gently removing his hat before handing it to Robin.

"Hey! That's my hat!" Luffy shouted, trying to grab it back, but the hands disappeared before he could reach it.

Robin held the hat between her fingers, examining it with interest before placing it on one of her knees.

"Interesting… so you're the Straw Hat. A man of great ambition, from what I've heard. And your crew… well, let's say you have a unique style."

Luffy, now visibly irritated, stepped forward.

"Give me back my hat! And tell me what you want!"

Before Robin could respond, Riser appeared behind her with movements so fast no one could follow. His Jitte was already pressed against her back, while he casually rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Return the Captain's hat."

Robin shivered. The pressure of the Jitte sent a chill down her spine, and her usually calm expression wavered for a brief moment. 'What is this... why is my body so... weak?' She tried to move her arms but felt her strength slipping away. The thoughts forming in her mind seemed vague, as if something was blocking her ability to act.

Riser took the hat from her hands with his other hand and tossed it to Luffy without even turning around.

"Your hat, Captain."

Luffy caught the hat mid-air and placed it back on his head, still confused but with a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes.

Robin, trying to regain control of herself, felt the weight of the Jitte increase. Her voice came out low, almost inaudible. "You... who are you?"

Riser leaned slightly, the tip of the Jitte pressing more firmly. "I think the question should be: how much longer do you think you can hide?"

Robin maintained her enigmatic smile, but inside, she felt a growing tension. 'He's playing... he can't know.'

"Hide? It seems you're confusing me with someone who has something to fear."

Riser let out a soft laugh, almost inaudible. "You're good, Nico Robin."

Robin's smile faltered for a moment. The reaction was imperceptible to anyone, but Riser saw through it.

'He knows my name.'

"You seem confident," Robin tried to regain control, crossing her arms gently, as if the weight of the Jitte meant nothing. "But you're just playing. A name means nothing."

Riser stepped even closer, his tone low, almost intimate. "If that were true, you wouldn't be so surprised right now."

Robin looked up, meeting Riser's eyes. There was something there—a certainty that disarmed her.

"You must be mistaken. I'm just Miss All-Sunday, the vice-president of Baroque Works."

Riser laughed again, this time softer, but there was a sharp edge to his voice. "You're good at pretending. But I know you were listening to every word of my conversation with Miss Valentine."

Robin felt her stomach churn but maintained her relaxed posture. 'How does he know that?'

"Perhaps you're overestimating my influence."

"Or perhaps you're underestimating my perception," Riser replied, his tone colder now. "You know, you don't need to keep up this facade with me. I admire intelligence, and yours is impressive."

Robin tilted her head, trying to gauge what he wanted. 'He doesn't seem ordinary... there's something more to him.'

Riser smiled, stepping back slightly and walking slowly around her, like a predator analyzing its prey.

"You're fascinating, Robin. Your methods, your calm... and, of course, your reputation. Meeting the sole survivor of Ohara isn't something that happens every day."

Robin felt a chill run down her spine, a shiver that even the Grand Line had never caused. His words cut through the air, striking her heart like sharp blades. Her eyes widened for a moment, betraying her attempt to maintain composure. 'How does he know? How can he know that?'

Memories flooded her mind without mercy. The destruction. The flames consuming Ohara. The roar of the Buster Call. Her mother's scream echoing amidst the explosions. Her breathing grew heavy, almost ragged. 'No... he can't be from the government. He can't. But... how else would someone know?'

Riser continued to walk around her, his posture relaxed but his eyes relentless. "The story of Ohara is tragic. A child carrying the weight of an entire nation destroyed. You survived, but you've never truly been free, have you?"

Robin tried to respond, but the words wouldn't come. Her lips trembled, and her expression wavered. The mask of calm she wore so well began to crumble, visible fragments of fear spreading across her face.

'He knows. He knows. He's from the government. No, that doesn't make sense... or does it?'

Riser stopped in front of her, tilting his head slightly as he observed her. His eyes pierced hers, as if stripping away every layer of her soul.

"You're trembling, Robin. That's not like you. The survivor of Ohara, the most wanted woman by the World Government, shouldn't be so vulnerable, should she?"

She clenched her fists, trying to regain control. But the mention of the World Government made her mind spin. 'What if he's a disguised agent? What if this is a trap? All this time... all this effort... was it all for nothing?'

"Why are you so nervous?" Riser smiled, his voice dripping with irony. "Am I that scary?"

'Yes. You are. You know too much.' The thought screamed inside her, but she couldn't voice it. Her throat felt tight, choking any attempt to speak. Her eyes searched for any way out, any escape route, but Riser's presence was like an impenetrable wall.

Riser took another step toward her, closing the distance even further. "You don't need to pretend with me, Robin. I see through the lies, through the masks. Ohara may have fallen, but you're not alone. Not anymore."

His tone shifted, becoming almost gentle, but it brought no comfort to Robin. 'Don't trust him. He's manipulating you. He wants something. They always want something.'

She swallowed hard, desperately trying to gather the composure that seemed to slip through her fingers. But her mind continued to scream, a chaos of memories, fear, and insecurity. 'If he knows about Ohara, then he knows about the Poneglyphs. He knows about my mission. He knows the government will hunt me to the ends of the earth for it.'

Riser's expression softened, but his eyes remained relentless. "You must be wondering who I am, where I got this information. But don't worry, Robin. I'm not your enemy."

'That's what they all say before they attack,' she thought, gritting her teeth. Her body trembled slightly, betraying her internal struggle. 'He could turn me over to the government at any moment. He could destroy everything I've fought for.'

Riser took a step back, finally breaking the suffocating tension. He raised his hands in a gesture of apparent surrender. "Relax, Robin. I'm not here to hunt you. I'm here because I know what it's like to carry such a weight. And because I know that sometimes, you need unexpected allies."

She blinked, her eyes fixed on him. Her mind was still a chaos, but his words, strangely, carried a different weight. 'Is he telling the truth? Or is this more manipulation?'

"You're free to think what you want," Riser said, turning to walk away. "But remember this, Robin: not everyone is against you. And sometimes, the best way to survive is to trust the unexpected."

Robin remained still, her thoughts a whirlwind as she watched Riser walk away. The security she had always pretended to have slowly crumbled, leaving her exposed and vulnerable for the first time in a long while.

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