Chapter 325
The massive Sea King roared in fury, its guttural bellow echoing across the calm expanse of the Calm Belt. Its eyes blazed with primal rage as it surged through the water, its gaping maw opening wide, ready to swallow the enormous ship whole in a single, crushing bite.
But just as it prepared to lunge, a thin streak of silver cut through the air like lightning. The blade sliced clean through the Sea King's thick, armored scales with a single, silent stroke. There was a breathless pause, the beast frozen mid-charge, before its head separated from its body.
The massive corpse, over two thousand meters in length, hit the water with a thunderous crash. The impact sent colossal waves spiraling outward, disrupting the once still waters of the Calm Belt, sending a heavy spray of seawater raining down upon the ship's deck.
The force of the collision created a surge so strong that it displaced massive volumes of water, waves rolling outward in a wide, rippling radius. The ship rocked and groaned under the weight of the ripples, though it remained steady, defying the tumultuous sea around it.
The Calm Belt, ironically named, was a scene of carnage, littered with the remains of Sea Kings. Hundreds of them sprawled in a grisly graveyard of scale, muscle, and bone. These weren't the ordinary Sea Kings that lesser ships encountered near the edges of the world's seas—these were the colossal behemoths indigenous only to the depths of the Calm Belt.
Even the smallest of them, over a thousand meters in length, lay in monstrous heaps, bobbing in the water as their lifeless bodies drifted. The blood of these creatures stained the water a deep crimson, stretching in a scarlet trail that extended for miles in every direction, a silent testament to the fleet's deadly progress.
Leading this formidable procession was a colossal ship, dwarfing the rest of the three dozen vessels in its wake. This ship, a monstrous war vessel once part of the Marine Giant Squadron, was now lined with seastone along its hull, protecting it from the predatory Sea Kings.
But the smaller ships, belonging to the Kingdom of Flevance, weren't as fortunate, and had to rely on a relentless defense as the Sea Kings continued to swarm around them. My blade had been the only thing standing between them and a massacre, as I cut down each creature that dared approach, their massive bodies falling like flies. Yet, at my current level, these Sea Kings were nothing more than an inconvenience.
As I returned to the lead ship, I felt a presence on the bow—a small figure waiting in the dusk's fading light. It was Law. His small silhouette stood firm, yet hesitant, and I could tell he'd been waiting for my return.
It had been more than a week since we'd first entered the Calm Belt, and every day, I could sense the boy's internal struggle. He had questions, ones that weighed heavily on his mind, but I could tell he was hesitating, unsure of how to voice them. Now, it seemed he'd finally gathered the courage to speak.
As I approached, I took in his expression, a mixture of steely determination and a flicker of something deeper—perhaps fear or awe. His eyes, young but hardened by the things he'd already seen, focused intently on me as I walked to the bow of the ship. The wind, damp and heavy with the scent of salt and iron, whipped through his short hair as he looked up at me.
"You're back," he said, his voice steady but barely more than a murmur over the quiet lapping of waves.
I nodded, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and expectation. "Seems like you've got something to say."
He hesitated, his gaze flickering momentarily to the water around us, the massive bodies of Sea Kings floating in the distance. "I've been… trying to figure out the right time," he finally admitted, his voice quiet but resolute.
"I know you didn't save me and my family just for me to stand around watching, and I am also not naive enough to believe that you saved us alone because of the goodness in your heart." He looked back up at me, his eyes hardening with a glint of determination. "So, what do I need to do? How do I become stronger?"
I studied him for a moment, taking in the intensity in his eyes. This wasn't idle curiosity—this was a hunger, a need born from a place far darker than most people could imagine. Law had seen and lost things no child should ever face, and it had carved a resolve into his young heart that most men couldn't fathom.
I couldn't help but let a small smile of amusement slip through. The kid was sharp—far too sharp for someone his age. From the shadows, Lucci stood watchfully, his hawk-like gaze narrowing in distaste at Law's forward tone. But with a simple gesture, I signaled for Lucci to stand down.
Law was here because he wanted something, and I had a feeling this conversation was about to get interesting.
"Sit," I said, nodding toward the empty chair across from me. Law hesitated for a fraction of a second, clearly weighing his next move, before he walked over and took the seat. His small figure seemed to carry a heavy weight, something beyond his years, as he settled into the chair.
I let a moment of silence hang between us, letting the tension build. Then, I leaned forward, my gaze locked onto his. "Why don't you tell me why, out of all the millions suffering in that cursed country, I chose to save only you and your family?"
Law's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he didn't back down. After a moment, he replied, "Because you want something in return. Something that I… haven't figured out yet."
His voice held a hint of doubt, like he knew his answer was only half-formed, a puzzle missing a crucial piece. Law's mind was racing, trying to piece together why a man with a bounty that could shake nations, a figure of terror across the New World, would have any interest in a single kid. It didn't add up, and he knew it.
"Ha… ha… hahahaha." I couldn't help but laugh, my voice echoing through the quiet deck of the ship. "You're really overestimating yourself, kid. Why would someone like me, of all people, need anything from you?" I watched his expression closely, the flash of realization dawning on him as his face tightened, a subtle crack in his mask.
"From where I'm standing, it looks more like you need something from me. Maybe you're just overselling yourself, trying to prove you're worth more than you are."
The words hit hard, and I saw him flinch, just slightly. His lips pressed together as he struggled to hold back his reaction. He wanted to keep his pride intact, but he couldn't hide from me. My observation haki, tuned to the quiet resonance of the Voice of All Things, made the boy's emotions clear to me, an open book of turmoil and desperation.
Law lowered his gaze momentarily, the truth sinking in. He knew what he wanted—what he needed—and it wasn't something he could get from anyone else. He was here to ask for my help, for the strength to save the family he had left. And even as he tried to hide it, I could sense the desperation clawing at him.
He knew his time was limited. He had overheard the hushed conversations between his parents about the toll Amber Lead Syndrome was taking on their lives. A couple of years, maybe, before the sickness would claim them. And he knew his fate and his sister's were tied to the same deadly clock.
The kid was here to negotiate, yet he had nothing of real value to offer. No power, no influence—just the will to try. But that took guts.
My eyes held his steadily, allowing the silence to do the talking. He shifted, uncomfortable, yet his expression was resolute, a fire in his gaze that wouldn't be easily extinguished.
Finally, he cleared his throat, his voice barely more than a murmur. "What… would it take for you to help me?"
I leaned back, crossing my arms, letting him squirm just a bit longer. "You're here to make a deal, yet you've got nothing to offer." My voice was calm, cutting through the air like a knife. "What could you possibly give that I would want?"
His jaw clenched, his hands tightening into fists at his sides, but he stayed silent, trying to hold onto some semblance of control. Yet we both knew the truth: he wasn't in a position to negotiate. He had come here because he was desperate—because he'd run out of options. And now, faced with the reality of his situation, he was struggling to keep his pride from crumbling.
His voice came out in a strained whisper, raw with emotion. "I'll do anything. Whatever you ask… just tell me what it'll take."
I raised an eyebrow, studying him with a flicker of curiosity. "Anything, you say? You don't even know what that means, do you?"
He met my gaze with a fierce defiance, a fire that had been born from hardship and suffering. "I know what it means," he replied, his voice steady even as his hands shook. "If it's for them, then I'll give whatever it takes."
Law's voice trembled, his resolve cracking under the weight of his words. "I want your help… I want to find a way to save my parents. I want to save Lami."
For a moment, he couldn't keep the desperation from his tone. He was a child facing a ticking clock, trying to grasp onto any chance to change his family's doomed fate.
I studied him, a glint of something softer slipping into my gaze, though I kept my tone steady, almost detached. "Law, you're blessed with a talent that very few in this world have. That's why I wanted you to join the Donquixote family. You need to understand… though we're pirates, we look after our own."
Law straightened, his eyes searching mine as he waited, and I could see the faint shimmer of hope in them. But I wouldn't let sentiment cloud the truth. I had to give it to him straight.
"I won't lie to you, Law. Your parents… they may have a couple of years left, at best. And you and Lami, you might have a few more than that. The Amber Lead Syndrome is a curse in your blood, and no devil fruit—at least not one like Mansherry's—can reverse what's embedded in your very genes. Even the Restore fruit would likely fail. The illness is woven into who you are."
The words hit him hard. For all his bravery, for all the defiance he wore like armor, Law's face crumpled. His voice cracked as he asked, "So… are you saying… there's no way to save my family?"
I felt a pang of something old and nearly forgotten, a memory I'd tried to bury, but I kept my voice firm. "Law, believe it or not, I know what it is to care for family. Look around you."
I gestured to the people around the deck, Lucci tending to Hattori with surprising care, Robin with a book in her lap, half-listening to our conversation as she pretended to read, Smoker sitting beside me, his presence intentionally adding a layer of unease to Law's nerves.
"These people, Law," I continued, "they're not just my crew. They're my family. And I protect them with everything I have. It's no different than what you feel for yours."
The fire in his eyes dimmed slightly, and he looked at them, realizing the depth of the connection here. I let my tone soften as I continued, "I don't like giving false hope. But there is one way I know of, a single way that might cure Amber Lead Syndrome—through the Ope Ope no Mi, a devil fruit considered the ultimate among all devil fruits."
I watched as Law's eyes widened, the small light of hope reigniting as he registered what I was saying. "Then… if I eat that fruit, I could save my family?"
But his hope crashed as quickly as it had risen when I shook my head. "Even if I were to find the Ope Ope no Mi, I can't just give it to you, Law."
His reaction was immediate, raw. "Why? If you gave me that fruit, I'd swear my loyalty to you! I'd serve you for the rest of my life if that's what it took. Just give me the chance!"
My gaze hardened, and I leaned forward. "Do you even understand why the Ope Ope no Mi is called the ultimate devil fruit? It's not just because it has the power to heal. The Ope Ope no Mi can grant a person eternal life—but only if the user sacrifices themselves in exchange. If I ever do find that fruit, it will go to someone willing to make that ultimate sacrifice, someone willing to give up their life to save one of my own."
The weight of my words hung between us, and I expected him to balk, to back down. But Law's response was immediate, his voice firm and unshaken. "I'll do it. If it means I can save Lami, then I'll do it. If you find the fruit and give it to me, I swear, after I've healed them, I'll use it to grant you eternal life."
I stared at him, surprised at the intensity of his resolve. There was no flicker of hesitation in his expression, just pure, raw determination. But I shook my head, sensing the recklessness in his promise.
"You don't understand the weight of your words, Law. Sacrificing yourself isn't a decision you can make so easily. When that time comes, if it ever comes, maybe then we'll have this conversation again."
Law looked like he wanted to argue, but a voice called out from the deck—Lami's, gentle and innocent, looking for her brother. Law's eyes softened, and, reluctantly, he tore himself away, glancing back at me with one last, defiant look. But he held his tongue, turning away to answer his sister's call.
Once he was gone, a quiet sigh sounded beside me. Miyamoto, arms crossed, stepped forward, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Was it wise to manipulate a child like that, Ross-kun?" he asked, his voice low. "Law is already a part of our family, and you're tormenting him with impossible promises. Giving him hope just to tear it away… it's cruel."
I chuckled, my gaze drifting to the distant horizon. "Miyamoto-san, maybe I am a monster, but I would never harm my family. Law is one of us, and I'll do everything I can to help him. But he needs to understand that nothing is given freely. Loyalty, true loyalty, isn't forced; it's earned."
A glimmer of understanding passed across Miyamoto's face, but his frown didn't quite disappear. "So you're testing him."
"Exactly. And who knows," I said, a smirk crossing my lips as I looked to the sea, "the Ope Ope no Mi isn't the only path to eternal life."
*****
Elbaph, New World
The Underworld of Elbaf was a brutal, unforgiving realm where even giants tread with caution. Known as the "First World" by the giants, this lowest region of their island was a place that held sacred reverence as well as unspoken terror, a place where the criminals of giant kind were thrown to suffer.
Snowfall blanketed the terrain with unrelenting ferocity, casting a white veil so dense that visibility was limited to mere meters ahead. The vastness of the icy land was punctuated by the shadows of ancient, towering trees and the haunting shapes of beasts known only to the legends of the giant race.
Leading a small company of warriors through this frozen wasteland was none other than Loki, the Prince of Giants, whose presence alone was enough to inspire both confidence and reverence in his kin.
Loki was no mere prince; he was widely hailed as the greatest giant prodigy in a millennium, a genius destined for greatness beyond any giant's memory. Some whispered that he would one day bring back the lost glory of Elbaf and rise to embody the Sun God himself.
Loki's tall, powerful figure cut through the blizzard like a steel lance, his sharp gaze scanning the treacherous horizon, unwavering even as the snow whipped fiercely around him.
A disturbing report had brought him here—a report suggesting an intruder had dared to breach the Underworld, an act of foolishness no sane pirate or warrior would attempt. Giants regularly guarded Elbaf's shores and forests from those seeking the legendary Adam Tree wood, but Loki had a gnawing feeling that this was no ordinary trespasser.
Approaching the corpse of a beast that sprawled across the snow-laden ground, he frowned. The creature was one of the titanic predators of the Underworld, beasts so massive and powerful that even giants exercised caution in their presence. And yet here it lay, fallen, its colossal body littered with brutal, decisive wounds that spoke of a terrifyingly skilled adversary.
"Are you certain this creature was alive the last time you patrolled here?" Loki asked, his voice deep and commanding, cutting through the blizzard's howl.
"Yes, Prince Loki. Last time I passed through here with Brolli, two weeks ago, we saw this beast locked in battle with one of the Mountain Kings," replied one of his warriors, glancing warily at the blood-stained snow.
The thought that something—or someone—could take down such beasts with apparent ease troubled him, and Loki knew his instincts were shared by the other giants.
"Then we press on." Loki straightened, brushing the snow from his furs and unsheathing his immense blade, which gleamed like a shard of silver lightning against the snowy gloom.
"This isn't the work of common pirates. Whatever is out here, it's more dangerous than anything we've encountered." He surveyed the land before him, sensing the enormity of the ancient Adam Tree's presence even from afar.
"You two, send a message back to the village and gather more of our brothers; secure the corpses of all the fallen beasts. Their meat and hides can be used if they're processed in time. The rest of you… follow me. We head to the base of the Adam Tree."
They moved through the frozen land with renewed vigilance, each giant fully aware of the respect and authority Loki commanded. Though only a prince, Loki's strength, wisdom, and daring had earned him an admiration surpassing even that of Elbaf's first prince.
As they trekked deeper into the vast wilderness, they found more signs of battle—more colossal beasts felled, their bodies strewn across the icy plains, leaving the air thick with the metallic scent of blood. Loki's resolve tightened. Whoever, or whatever, had ventured this far was no ordinary foe.
After nearly an hour of braving the storm and discovering two more fallen Mountain Kings—beasts considered overlords even among Elbaf's savage wildlife—they reached the base of the Adam Tree.
The tree itself was a marvel beyond description, an ancient giant of wood, with roots like mountains and a trunk that disappeared into the sky. And there, seated on a boulder at the base of the tree, was a figure. A man.
He sat with his back turned to them, seemingly at peace, one hand resting on his knee while the other toyed with a small, ordinary-looking stone. Though the blizzard raged, the air around him seemed eerily still, and from where Loki stood, he could feel an abyss-like darkness radiating from the figure.
Every instinct warned him that this was no ordinary man. This was a force of chaos itself. Loki's heart hammered, but his hand tightened on his blade.
Without another word, Loki's instincts took hold, and he swung his massive sword in a powerful arc, a blow that could cleave mountains, aiming to bring down this mysterious intruder. The blade descended with deafening force, splitting the air as it hurtled toward the man's small, unmoving figure.
But in a move that defied reality, the stranger lifted a single arm, his hand catching the colossal blade mid-swing. The impact echoed across the land, the force of Loki's blow sending a shockwave through the ground, causing the snow to erupt and scatter.
The giants looked on in disbelief, watching as their prince's full-powered strike was held in place, caught in the stranger's single, outstretched hand.
For a moment, silence fell. The giant blade trembled in the man's grip, but he held it firmly, without flinching. Loki gritted his teeth, pulling with all his might, but it was no use. The stranger's arm remained like an iron vice, pinning Loki's weapon in place.
Snow began to settle, but the dark presence surrounding the man only grew heavier, pressing down on the giants like a dense fog. Loki's eyes narrowed, and he knew in that moment that this was an adversary beyond anything Elbaf had ever known.
With a calm voice that carried a strange, chilling edge, the stranger finally spoke, though he did not turn. "Is this how the giants of Elbaf greet their guests?"