Titus POV
                                                          “You useless slave! How dare you collapse and make a fool of me! I’ve spent a fortune on you and graciously gave you food and water and this is the gratitude I get for saving your pathetic life!”

I coughed up blood, laughing through the pain and the exhaustion, “hey now, I never said I was a worthy slave to begin with but to be fair, carrying your large ass for miles will make anyone exhausted.” I spouted, patronizing him. I knew I had nothing to lose so if I could piss him off even a little before I die then my death will be worth it.

The veins in the Celestial Dragon neck throbbed in rage. “How dare you insult me, you filthy abomination! I don’t care if your species is rare, you freak of nature! Now die!” He pulled out his gun, pointing it at my forehead and I smiled softly, closing my eyes.

Looks like this is it for me. Man, if someone told me a few months ago that I would have be caught and forced into slavery. I would have laughed and blew it off as a sick joke but here I am now about die a senseless death.

“Wh-what do you think your doing girlie?! How dare you stand before me!” My so called master yelled in shock and I opened my eyes to see a woman’s back facing towards me.

What does she think she’s doing?!

“I am sorry but I can not allow you to kill this man.” Her voice was angelic but even I could hear the power hidden in her soft voice.

“You wretched women! How dare you tell me what I can and. . can. . not. . do.” He’s raging eyes widen slowly as he began to fumble over his words and his greedy eyes roamed her hourglass figure in a lustful manner. “What a beautiful creature you are.” He whispered as his eyes narrowed with an evil smirk resting on his lips. “Tell you what, my darling. I’m willing to forgive your disobedience this once as long as you promise to never disrespect me again and become my tenth wife.” He began to laugh, forgetting all about me as he drooling over the young girl in front of him.

Oh no, this isn’t good! It’s not like she can refuse!

“I refuse.” She stated without hesitation and everyone, including me was in shock.

Our jaws were touching the ground as the Celestial Dragon stomped his foot like a child. “You can’t refuse me! I’m a World Noble! I can have whatever I want and that includes you, girlie! Now get on your hands and knees and beg for forgiveness!”

She ignored him and turned to look at me with kindness in her eyes as she knelt down, taking my hands into hers. “Please, allow me to heal your wounds.” She smiled brightly at me and I couldn’t help but think she resembled an angel.

I was speechless, looking at her angelic pale fingers and I was hesitant on touching her soft, radiant, clean skin with my rough, dirty, dry bloody hands but the moment she touched me, my wounds began to heal and my exhaustion dissipated as power began to flow through my body.

Who is this girl and why is she helping me? Isn’t she scared of helping a slave in front of a World Noble?

“How dare you turn your back on me.” The Celestial Dragon’s face was shadowed in darkness as he growled through his teeth, pointing his gun at her back.

“Watch out!” I got up quietly, shielding her with my body as I squinted my eyes shut and the gun went off but the bullet never pierced through my skin.

Please tell me he has a terrible aim and missed me. I opened my eyes and the bullet was only inches from my face. I quickly took a step backwards, letting out a gasp of air as I gawked at the crushed bullet against a wall of ice.

What is this? A barrier of some kind of ice?

I turned to the girl behind me and her grey eyes glared dangerously over at the Celestial Dragon and before I could stop her, she slammed her hand against the wall of ice and it went hurdling towards the Celestial Dragon.

The fear and shock was written clear as day on his face but a wave of thorny ice slammed against it, stopping the wall of ice in it’s tracks.

“It seems we have similar devil fruit powers.” Aokiji said kneeling down not to far behind the Celestial Dragon with a trail of ice leading towards him.

“Not likely.” She said seriously turning all the ice, including his into liquid as it fell to the floor.

“My oh my, you are a stunning beauty but aren’t you that girl. . uh. .” Aokiji stood up, scratching the top of his head as he took his time finishing his sentence. “Umh, I can’t remember where I recognize you from.”

“I don’t care if you recognize her or not and I don’t even care how beautiful she is anymore! She tried to kill me! Kill her! Kill her now!” The Celestial Dragon roared in rage as he yelled at the admiral but Aokiji let out a deep sigh, “the amount of force she used wouldn’t have killed you, if anything it would have just knocked you off your feet.”

“I don’t care! I want her head! Do as I say or I’ll have you court martialed!” He continued to yell and make a ruckus and during all the mayhem the girl beside me tapped my shoulder, placing a key made of ice in my palm.

“Use this to unlock the collar around your neck.” She whispered softly, pointing to my neck. “I plan on leaving this place soon if you want to tag along with me.”

I stared down at the key in my hand for long solid moment. She’s already healed my wounds and put herself in danger just to help me and now she’s even giving me a chance at gaining my freedom. How can I ever repay her for her kindness?

Aokiji cleared his throat, letting out another sigh as he rubbed the back of his head, “sorry, young lady but orders are orders.” He took a threatening step forward but an outside guard came crashing through the ballroom, sliding on his back before he came to a stop in front of us.

Everyone was in suspense, watching the chaos unfold in front of them but not long after the guard came crashing in, fear began to fill the air.

He coughed, breathing heavily as he was teetering on passing out, “pirates. . pirates are invading the castle.”