Location: Inside the Sorbet Kingdom Church
"Wow! Another me!"
Jewelry Bonney's eyes lit up when she saw the lifelike clay doll in Storm's hand. She wriggled out of Kuma's embrace and toddled over to Storm, looking up with big, pitiful eyes.
"Can I see her?"
"Here."
Storm handed the clay doll to the real Bonney. Since acquiring the powers of the Catarina Devon Template (Nine-Tailed Fox), combined with his Clay abilities, he could perfectly replicate the appearance of anyone he touched.
"Wow!"
Little Bonney hugged her mini-me tightly, spinning around in excitement. But then, Storm's earlier words echoed in her mind. She stopped spinning and looked up.
"Um, mister... what is a 'terminal illness'?"
"Bonney! Don't ask!"
Kuma, recovering from his shock, immediately shouted. His face was a mask of panic. Bonney was too young to understand death.
He looked at Storm, his expression humble and pleading. Please. Don't say it.
Storm ignored the father's distress completely. He crouched down to Bonney's eye level.
"A terminal illness is a sickness that will definitely kill an ordinary person."
Storm extended a finger and tapped the blue gemstones on the clay doll's face.
"The name of your disease is Sapphire Scale."
Storm had noticed it the moment he entered the dark church. On Bonney's fair skin, irregularly shaped, scale-like blue scars sparkled in the dim light.
Perhaps this was the origin of her name. Jewelry Bonney.
Storm looked at Kuma. This man had gone to great lengths to hide the truth. He claimed Bonney was his daughter, but Storm knew the tragic reality.
Bonney wasn't Kuma's biological child. She was the daughter of Ginny, Kuma's childhood sweetheart, and a Celestial Dragon who had enslaved her.
Storm recalled Kuma's life trajectory. It was a tragedy written in blood.
Born a slave in God Valley because of his Buccaneer blood. Escaped with Ivankov and Ginny. Joined the Revolutionary Army. Watched Ginny get kidnapped by a Celestial Dragon, only for her to return years later, dying of the Sapphire Scale disease, leaving behind an infant Bonney.
And the worst part?
In the future, to cure Bonney, Kuma would sell his soul to the World Government. He would become a Warlord, then a mindless cyborg—a Pacifista—sacrificing his free will to save her.
Storm looked at the giant man with a mixture of pity and rage.
'Kuma… your life is a tragedy not just because of what happened to you, but because you always accept your fate. You never truly fight back for yourself.'
"Sapphire Scale..."
When the name reached Kuma's ears, he slumped against the pew.
A year ago, a doctor had finally diagnosed Bonney. He told Kuma that any exposure to natural light—sun or moon—would accelerate the stone's growth. Bonney had less than five years to live.
The doctor had said it was incurable. Just like it had been for Ginny.
"So, it's called Sapphire Scales?"
Bonney was silent for a moment. She forced a smile, backing away until she bumped into Kuma's leg. She dropped the clay doll and buried her face in her father's shirt.
"Daddy..."
A soft sob broke the silence.
It broke the dam. Kuma fell to his knees, hugging his daughter, and burst into tears.
"Bonney! My poor daughter!"
"Daddy! I don't want to die! Waaah—"
In the dim church, the cries of the father and daughter echoed loudly.
"A father and daughter who are both crybabies? Is this a family tradition?"
Storm picked his ear, annoyed.
"The sea doesn't believe in tears. Instead of wasting time crying, you should think about how to find a cure!"
The crying stopped instantly.
Kuma raised his head, his face covered in snot and tears. "...Huh?"
"Cure?" Bonney sniffled. "But you said it was terminal! You said I would definitely die!"
"I said ordinary people would die," Storm rolled his eyes. "Are you two ordinary people? Just look at your dad. He's built like a tank."
Kuma was a Buccaneer, a race with the blood of Giants. His resilience was legendary.
Kuma wiped his face, ignoring the comment about his race. "But the doctors... they said it's like Amber Lead Syndrome. Incurable."
"Amber Lead Syndrome has a cure," Storm corrected calmly. "You just don't know it yet."
Kuma's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Listen to me, Kuma. I have three ways to save your daughter. Three paths you can take right now."
Storm held up three fingers.
"Option One: The Miracle Doctor."
"You know Emporio Ivankov, right? The Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom. His Horu Horu no Mi (Hormone-Hormone Fruit) can manipulate the human body. He might not be able to cure it fully, but he can definitely extend her life."
Kuma's heart skipped a beat. Ivankov. His old friend. Why hadn't he thought of him?
"Option Two: The Ultimate Operation."
"The Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit). It can cure any disease, including Amber Lead and Sapphire Scale. It is an absolute cure."
Storm paused, letting that sink in.
"And Option Three: Science."
"There are two scientific powers in this world capable of rewriting human biology. One is Germa 66 in the North Blue, masters of genetic engineering. The other..."
Storm leaned forward, staring into Kuma's eyes.
"...Is the man with the greatest mind in the world. Dr. Vegapunk."
....
.....
.....
Support my patreon
patreon.com/ImmortalDaoWriter