The residents of Whole Cake Island were initially wary of the newly opened clinic. After all, everyone knew that the least valuable things in all of Totto Land were the Queen's husbands. The day Her Majesty successfully gave birth was usually the day those Princes were kicked out. The lucky ones were exiled; the unlucky ones were simply killed.
In the beginning, the people of Whole Cake Island assumed the new Prince Kuma simply didn't understand his position, wasting time on strange activities instead of enjoying his temporary status.
However, after the first person who went there returned looking refreshed and completely healed, people realized that this Prince truly possessed an extraordinary healing ability.
Consequently, the small clinic gradually became packed with patients.
The price of being packed with patients was this:
After Kuma closed the clinic door, he turned around.
A giant red bubble floated before him, its top touching the ceiling, its bottom compressed and distorted on the floor.
The power of the Paw-Paw Fruit (Nikyu Nikyu no Mi) could expel the pain and injury from a person's body. But this pain didn't just vanish; someone had to absorb it, or it would quickly return to its original host.
So, now was the time to deal with it!
Kuma took a deep breath and stepped forward. His size was enormous compared to an ordinary man, yet he seemed quite small before this bubble.
When he used to treat the elderly in the Sorbet Kingdom, the accumulated pain bubbles had never been this massive.
Kuma pursed his lips, then resolutely reached his hands toward the bubble. Both hands sank deep into it.
And then.
"Ugh... Ahhh!"
Kuma's body began to tremble violently, and an uncontrollable scream escaped him.
But in the next moment, Kuma forcefully gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing the sound. Simultaneously, his skin began to tear, and blood immediately flowed out.
The flesh of the Buccaneer Race was indeed incredibly tough, but no matter how strong, it was not true immortality. Enduring one person's pain might be nothing, but ten, dozens, or even a hundred people's worth of pain was a completely different matter!
As the red bubble continuously shrank, Kuma's body shook like a sieve. Blood dripped down non-stop, eventually forming a small puddle.
By the time the bubble completely vanished, Kuma was lying prone on the floor, unable to move, the ground soaked with his blood.
"Hah... Hah..."
He gasped raggedly like a dying beast, seemingly on the verge of death at any second. Yet, his eyes remained calm and gentle, as if he felt no pain at all.
This was good enough.
"Oh, wow. Getting this messed up just by curing people. Looks like you're really not a qualified doctor."
The door had opened silently at some point, and Katakuri strolled in slowly, arms folded. Looking at Kuma lying in a pool of blood, he couldn't help but click his tongue. "I've truly never met anyone like you. You'd go this far without asking for any reward."
"I really might die, you know."
Kuma remained silent. After a long pause, his voice slowly emerged. "Perhaps it's for the best if I die."
If he hadn't been born, his father's Buccaneer identity wouldn't have been exposed, and his mother and father wouldn't have died. If he hadn't come into this world, he wouldn't have experienced so much pain and torture.
Except for, Ginny...
"Better to die?"
Katakuri raised an eyebrow. "I see. To satisfy your twisted sense of guilt, you're willing to sacrifice your own life to heal the pain of others."
"You might be able to die and get rid of it all, but the people you healed will be burdened by the guilt of your death for the rest of their lives."
"Honestly, your head is full of nothing but yourself."
Kuma's previously placid eyes finally showed a tremor.
Was he truly that despicable?
No.
That's not it!
It was just because he had suffered, and he didn't want others to be enveloped by pain!
"But you, buddy, you absolutely cannot die."
Katakuri rubbed his chin. This guy had a strong self-destructive tendency, which only grew stronger after Mama forcibly took him.
Think, Katakuri, what would Roa say?
Katakuri's eyes suddenly lit up. "You don't want your child to be bullied later, do you?"
Child?
Kuma's pupils dilated in shock.
Truthfully, after being captured, he hadn't suffered any physical torture—at most, a fractured pelvis. However, the emotional pain was equally indescribable. Not only was his pure, youthful love trampled underfoot, but the one thing he had always resisted—passing on his bloodline—had been forced upon him.
He had a child.
In that woman's belly.
Though they shouldn't have been born, the child was innocent and shouldn't suffer any consequences.
Kuma fell silent, unable to speak.
Bullseye!
Katakuri smiled smugly. He would, of course, never harm his future sibling, but that didn't stop him from using the child to threaten this excessively kind-hearted man.
"Just stay put on Whole Cake Island from now on," Katakuri said. "Isn't this place more prosperous and peaceful than ninety-nine percent of the countries on the seas?"
Kuma couldn't refute this. After deeply observing Totto Land, he realized this kingdom, which he had initially thought was an evil realm ruled by pirates, was surprisingly peaceful and prosperous. The existence of the Homies largely replaced manual labor, and their tireless work ethic meant the nation's productivity far surpassed other countries on the seas. The only price the residents had to pay was perhaps two months of their lifespan each year.
It sounded cruel at first, but upon closer reflection, was it really? Kuma compared it to the Sorbet Kingdom, where ordinary residents struggled on the poverty line just to pay the Heavenly Tribute tax. Were they truly happier than the residents of Totto Land?
After a long moment of silence, Kuma could only manage a nod. "I understand."
"Good," Katakuri nodded, satisfied.
Then, he added with a knowing look, "If you're so unhappy with Mama, just wait a little longer."
Kuma looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes, staring at Katakuri. What did this guy mean?
On the other side.
Redfield still resolutely left. What a cold-hearted man.
Muttering this to himself, Roa returned to his loyal Calamity City. The floating island had specifically come to Egghead Island to pick him up.
"Boss! So what exactly happened after the broadcast was interrupted?"
As soon as he returned, the Executives eagerly rushed over, nearly everyone's face alight with anxious anticipation.
"Nothing much. After I finished off the Five Elders, that guy Imu descended," Roa said casually, shrugging.
"Imu!!"
Teach's voice suddenly went up eight octaves. "That guy personally moved?"
"Didn't the Boss just say it? He finished off the Five Elders!" Dylan's face was full of astonishment, providing ample emotional value. "Truly worthy of the Boss! The power of the Five Elders must be quite extraordinary!"
Though he hadn't seen the Five Elders fight and didn't know their strength, it didn't stop him from lavishing praise.
Doflamingo couldn't help but cast Dylan another glance. It was clear why Dylan managed to become the Chief Steward of the Calamity Corporation.
However, Teach's flattery skills were equally impressive. He immediately said with an amazed look, "No wonder your bounty soared to five billion! The newspapers are all saying that Roger is dead, and now it's your era!"
"Eh, it's not that amazing," Roa said earnestly, waving his hand. "The Five Elders were just so-so. They only had Observation Haki, Mythical Zoans, and immortality on average. Roger and Uncle Shiki could probably beat three of them, and I only beat two more than they could!"
Bege and Doflamingo both twitched their mouths. How he loves to brag.
"So, Boss," King asked, "What kind of power does that guy Imu possess?"
"That guy was only possessing a Holy Knight this time," Roa explained. "The power shown probably isn't his true strength, but it was still quite exaggerated."
"In a direct confrontation, there's probably no one in the world who could beat that incarnation."
"He's that strong?" Teach clicked his tongue in disbelief. Did this mean that even the Boss, who defeated Roger, didn't think he could beat a mere incarnation of Imu? Just how powerful was Imu's main body then?
Unimaginable. Truly worthy of being the great demon that even Joy Boy couldn't handle, leaving him for later generations!
"It's unlikely we'll challenge that guy any time soon," Roa said casually. "But there's no need to worry."
He lifted his head, gazing at the sky infused with a faint black aura. "Surpassing that guy is inevitable."
"Of course!" Bullet solemnly agreed. "Boss, you will naturally soon surpass the entire world!"
No one saw any problem with this. After all, the Boss, who was only sixteen this year, already possessed the strength to defeat Roger! Given his rate of progress, how strong would he be in five years? In ten years? Forget Imu, even if Joy Boy resurrected and teamed up with him, the Boss would eventually surpass them both!
"Alright," Roa clapped his hands. "The most wonderful era has arrived, and we need to work hard to build it up!"
"Have all the weapon factories increase production. Weapons will be the scarcest resource in this world!"
How could pirates set sail without reliable weapons? Without sufficiently refined weapons, how would they plunder and commit arson?
Roa thought for a moment and added, "Also, lower the price of weapons. We need to be considerate of the difficulties faced by new pirates setting sail. We don't need to rely on selling weapons for profit anymore. Let's just consider it repaying society. We should aim for every pirate to have access to a weapon, and a good weapon at that!"
Teach couldn't help but sigh from the bottom of his heart. "Truly worthy of the Boss, you are too generous!"
"I have taken too much from this world," Roa sighed deeply. "It's time to give back a little."
"Hahahaha! Boss, you love this world too much!" Loki laughed so hard his stomach hurt.
"Who doesn't know that?" Roa said with a look of deep emotion.
Then, he suddenly remembered something and looked at King. "I almost forgot, King, I brought you a gift."
With that, he pulled the Shodai Kitetsu from his waist and handed it to King.
"This is!"
As a Great Swordsman, King recognized the extraordinary nature of the sword the moment he saw it. He carefully took the sword from Roa's hands, then solemnly gripped the hilt, drawing the sharp blade from the temporary scabbard Roa had provided.
King's eyes lit up immediately. "A cross-guard, flame pattern tempering, and this strange, bewitching aura... Boss, is this a Kitetsu?"
Roa nodded gently. "One of the Supreme Grade Blades, the Cursed Sword, Shodai Kitetsu (First Generation Kitetsu). I took it from the hands of the Five Elders."
"Cursed Sword?"
King tentatively clenched the hilt of the Kitetsu, immediately feeling the sword's strangeness. It was actively rejecting him! However, this only made King excited and eager for the challenge. "Thank you immensely, Boss! I will tame it as quickly as possible!"
"Good," Roa finally nodded, satisfied. "Don't disappoint me. Aim to turn this sword into a Black Blade."
Black Blade...
King's eyes flickered. It would be extremely difficult to forge a Black Blade without Conqueror's Haki. Even so, fully mastering this sword would be enough to catch up to Bullet, who could already wield Conqueror's Haki through the remnants of Enma!
The time moved on.
South Blue, Sorbet Kingdom.
A group of three people walked through the dilapidated village, all wearing cloaks to conceal their identities.
The large-faced Emporio Ivankov strutted at the front. "Hee-haw! I wonder how Ginny and Kuma are doing! After so many years, they might already be married and have kids!"
"That doesn't matter," Crocodile, following behind Ivankov, snapped irritably. "After today, we part ways and go our separate paths!"
"Eh? Little Crocodile, aren't we companions?" Ivankov turned back, incredulous.
"Who said I'm your companion?" Crocodile retorted maliciously.
He had simply had enough. Ivankov spent every day trying to coerce and entice him to join the Freedom Fighters (Revolutionary Army). He just needed to leave!
"Enough, Iva. If Mr. Crocodile is unwilling, don't push it," Dragon felt compelled to intervene. He thought Ivankov was being a bit excessive.
"In that case, it truly is a great pity." Ivankov sighed. The strength of the Freedom Fighters was still too weak, too far from being able to change the world.
But he quickly cheered up. He was about to see Kuma and Ginny; he couldn't let them see him depressed—
"Is that Big Brother?"
A voice—excited, trembling, and five parts incredulous—rang out.
Ivankov suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with equal excitement. He clearly saw the girl in front of him. She had grown up, with not a trace of her former youthful innocence remaining.
But Ivankov instantly recognized her.
"Ginny!!"
Tears instantly streamed down his face. Ivankov spun like a top and rushed forward to embrace her.
"Big Brother!"
The beautiful, pink-haired woman, Ivankov's little sister Ginny, was equally tearful, rushing to meet Ivankov.
The siblings, reunited after a long separation, hugged each other tightly.
"No way?" Crocodile's mouth twitched at the sight. Were they siblings? Impossible, right? They surely had no blood relation? How could a monstrosity like Ivankov have such a beautiful sister?
"Big Brother! You finally came back!"
Ginny sobbed into Ivankov's embrace. "You finally came back!!"
Hmm?
Ivankov sensed something was wrong. Ginny's reaction didn't sound like tears of joy.
And—
"Ginny, what's wrong? Did something happen? And where's Kuma-boy? Isn't he with you?"
"Kuma-boy, Kuma-boy, he was captured!"
"What?"
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An Important Announcement: Time to Write Our Own Novel!
Hello everyone!
Thank you all so much for your support; it truly helps me keep going!
I have some exciting news: after translating many fanfics, I've decided it's time to start writing my own Novels! I plan to begin with a new fanfic—I'm currently thinking of either the Avatar: The Last Airbender or Douluo Dalu universe, featuring a Neutral protagonist.That is exactly what I meant by Neutral Protagonist (This refers to the character's Alignment. A Neutral Protagonist is not strictly bound by concepts of absolute good or evil, nor are they necessarily tied to Law or Chaos. Their actions are generally motivated by their own survival, personal goals, or a desire for balance, operating in a morally gray area.)
Once I've written a few fanfics and gained more experience, I can then move on to developing my own original novel soon after.
If you want a direct hand in shaping the main character's destiny and giving input, be sure to join the poll!
I've launched a poll on my P@t reon page!
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE:
1. Head over to our P@t reon page and become a member. (Don't worry, even those with a free membership can join the poll and share their input!)
2. Select any option you desire in the poll
3. Leave a comment on the poll post or send me a DM if you have any specific thoughts or ideas!
p@treon HongMengZi