Everything after that flashed by, before Atlas could even process what was happening he was whisked aboard their ship and they were sailing far away from the island. He had been held captive for what was not far off being half his life by now and seeing the Island shrink into the distance caused a whole flood of emotions.
They coiled up in his stomach like a lead ball as he watched the last dark storm cloud fade away into the horizon. Anger boiled through his veins just as a sense of relief washed over him and cooled him back down.
Like he was constantly going from flash fried to frozen in a second, the two emotions warring for control. Finally he slumped against the railings in a sigh as he decided to just enjoy the first time he could remember where hope felt real.
He had escaped that hell hole and whatever came next would simply be another challenge he could overcome. With that, his eyes hardened resolutely, a smile tugged at his lips.
The fresh air filled his lungs, another reminder that he was no longer in that stuffy prison any longer. He still didn't know what being a part of the Rock's pirates crew meant but if it meant he would be free then he didn't care.
While his mind occupied with thoughts, he barely even registered the presence beside him. Till now most of the crew had mostly ignored his presence as they went about their own routines.
Whitebeard had been the first to talk to him, slapping him on the back and nearly sending him stumbling from the force as he welcomed him to their crew. Then it was the horned kid that had attacked him, declaring a rematch soon.
After that though he barely got a nod or an appraising look from nearly all the rest. That was till a pink haired women in a tricorn hat suddenly blitzed Infront of him.
He had almost acted out of reflex as his hands clenched up into fists, before he stopped himself from making that mistake.
"You! How old are you?" The question had caught him by such surprise he had nearly fallen back in shock.
"Huh? How.. why does that matter?" He could barely even form a proper thought under her intense stare as she kept her eyes locked onto him.
"Because I asked. how old?" patience clearly not her virtue as irritation marked her features. Her fingers tapping ceaselessly against her crossed arms as she waited.
"I..I don't know for sure, they never told me how long I was here for but, I'd guess around 22." He ended up saying as he could tell she would clearly not take 'buzz off' as an answer.
"Mama-hahaha, perfect." With that she turned and left, leaving Atlas stunned and completely at a loss for what the hell had just happened.
It seemed though that now he may be getting some idea, as the figure leaning against the railings besides him revealed themselves to be that same enigmatic pink haired woman.
"You know you never told me your name." Atlas decided he would speak first this time, hoping to be more in control of whatever was gonna happen next.
The woman simply tilted her head towards him for a second as a glint passed in here eyes. "Charlotte Linlin, although you know it's normally the man who says his name first."
With that he realised that he had never actually introduced himself, the last time they had spoken he was too caught off guard by her weird question to remember.
"Atlas, no other names I know of." With that he turned back to the sea. Silence returned, though this time it felt more comfortable. Both of them simply staring out at the horizon as the waves lapped at the ship.
The breeze picked up slightly as it played with their hair, reminding Atlas that he would cut it as soon as he could. During his time in the lab, even his haircut was controlled by them, along with every other aspect of his life.
He couldn't wait to finally decide for himself what he wore and how he looked, no one to force him to wear white uniforms anymore. He would make his own way from now on.
"Your fruit, what is it?" The question caught him by surprise yet again. Though this time for a different reason. The words causing his defenses to flair up as he eyed Linlin warily.
".. that's, you have no care for boundaries do you?" A sigh slipping out of him as he saw the nonchalance she had just asked that with. Asking someone for the name of their devil fruit, atleast for those who knew what that was, was akin to saying hey can you tell me all your weaknesses incase we ever fight.
"That's for weaklings, the strong don't care about that stuff. I can tell you my fruit and you'd still not be able to beat me" her answer came out with a smug snort as if his question was dumb.
"Right, well I still think it's a good idea not to just tell everyone how your abilities work." Atlas said back as he shook his head at the way she saw things. Clearly she had always been someone who overpowered those around her, no way she would see everythingile that otherwise.
"Mmm.. dumb." Was all he got back. He couldn't help but choke on his own salive before chuckling, well atleast she stuck to her words.
"Are ya gonna answer me? I'm getting annoyed!" Linlin shouted at him as her face scrunched up in frustration, having already waited way longer than she was used to for an answer.
A slight creeping cold wind worked its way up his spine at her outburst. He hated this feeling, nearly everyone on this crew was clearly stronger than him.
"It's the Toshi Toshi no mi" he finally relented even as his own anger at being forced to give in to her demands built up, already promising to triple his training and get rid of this feeling of weakness.
"Huh? Never heard of it, what's it do?" Atlas noticed some of the light behind her eyes dim slightly, as if she had already lost any real interest.
Still Atlas could tell she wouldn't be willing to drop the subject just yet. An unusual battle of emotions now played in his heart as he witnessed that.
Part of him, prideful and determined, refused to allow her to look down on his fruit like she clearly was by her disinterest.
Yet another part, the sly and cunning side of him that had allowed him to hide his growing resentment towards those scientists till the day he was finally able to rip them apart, told him to use that. To hide his true power and play off his fruit as being bland and underpowered.
He quashed it ruthlessly. The memory of having to stay his hand and scrape his head to those who had put him through so much surfaced like a knife jammed into the skull.
It was only short lived after that, resolve to never have to cower and hide away burning through him as his chest swelled to force his posture straighter.
"It's primary ability is manipulatung the age of anything... Though it's true capabilities are only limited by any unworthy of it." A wolfish smile arced back his lips as his teeth seemed to almost gain a sharper edge.
"That 'true capabilities' part have anything to do with the giant you from earlier?" Now it was her turn to grin. Atlas stared back at her, not answering but neither did he deny it.
The light came back stronger now as she held his eyes, searching him for something he couldn't quite tell what. He wasn't surprised she had figured it out, the sight of him turning into what was a respectable height amongst giants even from his already impressive stature wasn't exactly normal.
Though he admitted he wasn't really the authority on what was normal, having spent the last decade or so imprisoned as Saturn's pet project.
Still he knew that much and clearly so did all of his new crewmates. However, instead of the wary looks filled with a fearful respect for the strong hidden behind masked indifference like he was used to, these guys truly weren't all that impressed.
Sure it was unique and could be powerful if it were trained well, but they all held an underlying faith in their own strength that left them only interested in his ability and not worried by it.
To say this was off-putting to Atlas would be an understatement. Another reminder that he was nowhere near as strong as he had been lead to believe.
Doubt about what his true purpose was at that facility mingled with that of his own growing frustration at his lowered status. He had gone from a being that was capable of becoming the World Governments greatest defense to just another person slightly stronger than the average shmuck.
"Giants are strong and resilient, makes for a useful form when you aren't sure what to expect." Atlas finally spoke. It was true that his giant form was more of his tanky fighter, good to hit and get hit harder but not the fastest.
"So there are more forms, mama-hahaha, good to know." Linlin latched onto to that part with a sudden laugh of excitement. This was finally starting to get really interesting.
"You know for someone who berated me for not introducing myself first before asking your name, you've yet ta say anything about your fruit." Atlas huffed, the weird intensity that Charlotte's gaze brought him was uncomfortable.
Not to mention the way she dissected everything he said, as if she were searching for some hidden meaning in it. He had only just escaped the lab and still wasn't sure what normal etiquette was but he knew for damn sure she wasn't following any of it anyway.
There was pause then as a flash of annoyance past through Linlin, she was clearly not done asking about his fruit yet, but eventually she decided to throw the new guy a bone.
The was also the added bonus of being able to brag about her own abilities again, she was always find of that and the begrudging praise even her other crew mates had to give her ability.
"Soru soru no mi, that's the name. I can take souls and make homies." Before Atlas could role his eyes and complain about the vagueness of that statement, he saw Linlin raise her arm.
Atop it stood a small sun, so golden bright that small sun spots flared at the corners of his vision when he stared at it straight on.
The being wasn't truly small in the normal sense, being over 7 feet it could easily look down upon most humans with ease. It looked like a flaming ball of pure burnished golden yellow, blazing the way the midday sun does if it were inches away from your face.
Even from the few feet that seperated them, Atlas' thick skin felt like it was getting a nice tan from their proximity. Then, while Atlas was still admiring whatever it was, the miniature sun spoke.
"You gonna stare any longer." A male voice broke out, startling Atlas out of his examination as he looked around for who that came from.
"Here you daft giant, you were just looking at me." The voice came again as Atlas turned to look back at the ball of fire. His eyes widened slightly as he noticed that it wasn't just a ball of burning gas.
Glaring right back at him were a pair of eyes that looked just as searchingly at him as he did at it. Seeming to come to some conclusion, its eyes left Atlas as it spun to look at Charlotte instead.
"Not bad, though he's got a long way to go to be any goodm" it spoke with an almost reluctance at its words as it huffed afterwards and then ignored Atlas completely.
the turn of events was still leaving Atlas reeling to catch up. "What, is that?" Was all he could manage as he processed the things words, though that only ended up causing him more confusion in the end.
'what had it meant by that, was it judging him?' the thought almost made him grunt in anger at the audacity of this tiny things dismissive review.
The sun may be big to any normal man, but Atlas it was no more than a large bug in comparison. The idea it thought it could judge him, burnt him more than any of the fire it was made up of could ever manage.
"Mama-hahaha, you should see the look on his face Prometheus. He can't tell whether to be confused or angry!" Linlins voice boomed at in a laughingand mocking tone.
Her thunderous laughter shaking the wooden deck beneath them as she saw Atlas' growing upset.
"That is a homie. My homies, made from my soul! He can control fire and burn hotter than the sun, nothing can last under his rays for long." Linlin spoke with obvious pride lacing her every word.
Atlas had to admit it seemed to deserved if her statement held any truth. The power to create a miniature sun that can create and fire of literal fire was a powerful ability.
After calming himself down he even admitted as much, which caused Linlin to laugh again as if he had said something funny.
"I don't just create fire! I can create more than that, my homies all have special powers, especially the ones I made from my soul." Atlas was starting to understand what she meant.
This was clearly another fruit that was not as straight forward as some logia, he could already see how powerful this could be and Linlin clearly was using it well.
"So you create these.. 'homies', that have special powers?" Atlas finally said as he pieced together all the things she told him.
"Pretty much, now you know mine. Tell me what yours does and don't be vague like last time." Linlin all but ordered him as Atlas suppressed a small chuckle.
Once the initial abrasiveness was gotten past, he couldn't help but admit the straightforward nature of Linlin was kind of nice. The complete opposite of the mind games he was used to from the scientists and subtle manipulation of Saturn.
It was refreshing to know exactly what the other person wanted and not have to figure out the hidden meaning.
"Fine, seeing as you were so honest about yours I will explain more." He stopped to give her a little amused smirk, it seemed she didn't see anything to his words and that only made his smirk widen into a true smile.
"I can use my fruit to not just manipulate my age but also what I imagine my future self to be like. So far I can change races fairly easily and even managed a couple species swapping, though not for long."
That was what Saturn had managed to teach him through hard fought through lessons. Each new distorted future was tested rigorously to learn it's upper limits. That had always meant for Atlas that Saturn and his scientists would put him through more and more painful experiments till he broke and they deemed that it's limit.
The memories again stung like fresh wounds as he remembered them all so vividly. Being sliced apart as a giant to find out how tough his skin was, to more recently drowned as a Fishman or thrown from a high height as a Birkan to see how long he could glide before just falling again.
Each 'test' had felt more like a way to watch him struggle and wince in pain than any real training. Even now as he spoke he felt there was more to his powers than he was shown.
"Hmmmm, that.. might be good! It is decided," Linlin smacked her hands against the railings so hard the wood trembled, somehow holding under insane might though Atlas suspected it wasn't any wood.
Before he could ask what was decided, or even form up his footing from the sudden lurching of the ship as Linlins' actions caused the whole thing to tilt in the waters she practically shouted.
"You will be my first husband candidate!"