Chapter 14 Miss Zala

Zala felt like she had just woken from a long dream!

In this dream, everything she had experienced from childhood to adulthood flashed before her like a spinning lantern.

Born in a war-torn country in the first half of the Grand Line, she endured starvation and faced death countless times. Everyone around her perished, leaving her as the sole survivor after accidentally consuming a Devil Fruit. For that reason, she survived alone.

With the aid of this Devil Fruit, she joined numerous clandestine organizations. While witnessing countless shadows, she also honed various survival tactics to stay alive.

Then, five years ago, a monstrous man named Crocodile appeared before her.

Since then, she joined the Baroque Works established by this man, abandoning her name and assuming the alias Miss Doublefinger.

Becoming a member of Baroque Works was the most significant achievement in Zala's life to date.

Though the man's cruel methods silenced every agent within Baroque Works, it had to be acknowledged that he possessed an extraordinary allure, motivating every agent within the organization to work fervently for him.

She believed she would live under this identity until her final breath.

However, an unexpected man entered the scene.

That fateful night was a nightmare that Zala would never forget, culminating in an utterly absurd resolution.

Logically, as a woman, it was an exceedingly humiliating conclusion.

However, Zala did not find it as repulsive or repugnant because she had long grown accustomed to such circumstances.

Nevertheless, initiating intimacy was out of the question.

Then, one night on Little Garden, when Zala found herself alone in an empty room, she realized a strange shift in her emotions—she felt a twinge of loneliness.

Upon reflection, she pinpointed the source of her perplexing emotions: for once, this man seemed to treat her simply as a woman!

It sounded absurd!

If she were not a woman, why else would he treat her this way?

Yet Zala, who had matured amid war and the dark underworld since childhood, understood that in this chaotic sea, beautiful women were merely tools for men to satisfy their desires. At times, they were treated worse than slaves—mere instruments.

She had witnessed countless beautiful, unfortunate women subjected to unimaginable humiliation, used, abused, and discarded like trash, eventually reduced to a lifeless corpse, riddled with wounds and rotting unattended.

Though the formidable power of the Devil Fruit spared her from such a fate, she could never erase the desolation and despair etched in the eyes of those women before their demise. Sometimes, she had even been complicit in their suffering.

"Is it finally my turn?"

This was why, when she beheld Gnar's covetous, possessive gaze, she readily acquiesced—she suspected this might be her ultimate fate.

However, after more than ten days, she realized her anticipated tragic fate had not come to pass.

While Gnar's strength posed a challenge, unlike the vile men she had encountered before, he did not treat her as a mere plaything to be used and cast aside after use.

Instead, within his possessive grasp, Gnar...

He even cared whether he was hurting her, and upon receiving confirmation, he allowed her time to recuperate.

This left Zala somewhat bewildered, but overall, the prospect of living this way seemed like a favorable outcome.

Yet at that moment, a voice as chilling as hell itself shattered her reverie.

"Miss Doublefinger, are you planning to betray me?"

Accompanying this voice were eyes that bore into her like those of a demon.

Zala recognized them—those were the boss's eyes.

Instantly, Zala snapped out of her daze.

Betrayal? No, she had not...

She vehemently denied it within her heart, for she could never forget the dire fate that befell the agents who betrayed the boss.

As if in response to her inner turmoil, Zala found herself suddenly submerged in a vast tank filled with sharks.

Empowered by her Devil Fruit ability, she struggled feebly, helplessly watching as countless sharks bore down on her, ripping her limbs to shreds, piece by agonizing piece.

"It hurts!"

She lost track of time, feeling as though she had been pierced through countless times. Her entire body was mangled, and the blood turned the water of the shark tank a gruesome shade of crimson.

"Are you prepared to die?"

Zala's mind began to drift into delirium, as if she lay upon her deathbed.

Yet in that moment, she noticed the world grow eerily silent. The once tumultuous water in the tank, teeming with terrifying sharks, grew eerily calm. Beneath the vivid red surface, a figure gradually emerged.

As the crimson blood dissipated, Gnar's robust physique came into view.

Zala watched all this through weakened eyes.

"Why?"

She muttered softly to herself, as if it were surreal that the last person she saw before death would be this man.

The man offered no answer; he simply gently lifted her from the pool of blood and kissed her.

This time, Zala did not resist as usual; instead, she willingly met his kiss.

After all, she was prepared to die—better to perish in this depravity.

And so it happened. As their intimacy deepened, Zala felt her body melding with Gnar's sturdy frame, the pain inflicted by the sharks fading away, replaced by an overwhelming sense of euphoria.

Until finally, tranquility descended.

She did not perish; instead, the dreamlike scenes around her dissolved.

All that remained in her ears was a tender, caring voice.

"Wake up, Zala."

Abruptly roused by the sound, Zala weakly opened her eyes.

Glancing around, she realized she lay within a warm, white chamber, snug beneath a beautiful quilt.

Yet she was drenched in sweat, too feeble to even lift a finger.

Beside her bed, the man who had claimed her regarded her with concern.

Such a gaze was unprecedented for Zala. As a woman, she had always yearned for it—a lover's gaze!

She wanted to say something, but her lips were parched, her throat ablaze, so all she managed was a single word.

"Water...water..."

A bloody bat fluttered through the window, delivering a cup of warm sugared water.

Gnar accepted the drink and then cradled Zala, who lay in his arms.

Zala greedily sipped the sugared water, soothing her parched throat and moistening her lips.

However, sensing that this Gnar was entirely unlike before, his greedy desire to pull her into his embrace gave way to a gentle, warm hug, leaving Zala momentarily perplexed.

She attempted to speak, but before she could utter a word, her lips met his once more.

This time, she responded with greater fervor, akin to the dream.

Time slipped by until a somewhat reproachful voice interrupted them.

"Ah, Captain Gnar, you seem a tad impatient. Miss Zala is recuperating from a severe illness..."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've liked my work so far and would like to support me, your contribution would be greatly appreciated. since this is labor work and I'm not receiving any payment. your support means a lot to me to continue this fanfic. even a small amount, like 10rs. can make a significant difference.

Please consider using UPI id divyrajsinhsodha5167@ybl

Or you can visit my Patreon page:

patreon.com/PhoeniXcel

patreon have 5+ advanced chapters for you guys

Your help will be greatly appreciated.