An Enigmatic Island

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Law's consciousness slowly returned, like emerging from a foggy dream. As his eyes fluttered open, he found himself in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by mysterious scenes and terrains. It looked like somewhere deep in the forest with strange enigmatic energy flowing around the areas...

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A sense of disorientation washed over him, and he struggled to piece together what had transpired...

"Where am I?!!"

His heart pounded with worry as thoughts of his crew being left behind to face the Blackbeard Pirates plagued his mind. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of responsibility bearing down on him.

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His surroundings remained a bewildering mystery as he jolted upright, searching for a trace of familiarity.

Amidst the uncertainty, his eyes landed on Kikoku, resting by his side. In that fleeting moment, a surge of relief washed over him, granting a fragile sense of security...

'How did I get teleported so far beyond the 'Room' to another place like this? It surely didn't look like anywhere on the Winner island!'

Confusion swept over him the more he pondered over it, but his instincts suddenly kicked in, drawing his attention to the distant sound of clashing swords and the chaotic symphony of battle.

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He knew that it wasn't the same one he just engaged in... .

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Curiosity and caution mingled within Law as he cautiously ventured forth, navigating through twisted trees and ethereal mist while trying to conceal his Haki at best. The source of the commotion grew louder with each step, guiding him closer to the heart of the conflict. His heart quickened, a mixture of anticipation and wariness coursing through his veins...

'I need to know where exactly I am and get back there as soon as possible!'

Emerging from a dense thicket, Law's eyes widened at the sight before him....

Some of the combatants' faces in action were recognisable from the bounty posters. It was the renowned Red-Hair Pirates, led by the legendary Red Hair Shanks, locked in a furious confrontation with another massive pirate crew. From the look of it, a few of them incorporated Devil Fruit powers into their fights.

The clash of swords reverberated through the air, accompanied by the thunderous roar of Haki-infused attacks.

Law watched in awe, despite his weird circumstances, as the Red-Hair Pirates showcased their mastery of each of their unique weapons, their movements fluid and deadly.

Shanks, his crimson hair ablaze in the sunlight, emanated an aura of unparalleled strength and charisma. His crew fought with unwavering loyalty, their attacks slicing through their adversaries with precision and power...

In the world swamped with all kinds of Devil Fruits, this was a rare sight of high-level traditional combat skills at its best.

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Momentarily later, nonetheless, the tides of battle took a sinister turn... .

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One of the members of the opposing crew, a Venomous Devil Fruit user, struck Lucky Roux, one of the Red-Hair crew's executives, with a sneaky deadly blow when he was engaging in a fight with another seasoned swordsman.

"DIEEE!!"

The venom coursed through the rounded guy's body, staining his skin a sickly purple. Roux cried out in agonising pain before falling down.

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The fate of the Red-Hair Pirates' comrade hung in the balance, threatening to disrupt the equilibrium of the battle...

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Witnessing this sudden attack on his friend, The redhead captain's eyes blazed with fury. Subconsciously, his immense Haki surged forth, an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki sweeping through the battlefield.

The sheer power emanating from the one-armed captain knocked out almost all of the enemy combatants, leaving them sprawled on the ground, most being unconscious and defeated...

"You did it again, Chief...THAT'S AMAZING!!"

"Never mind! Finish the rest of them ...NOW!!" Ordered the redhead.

"HANG ON, ROUX!! WE'RE COMING!!"

In that instant, time seemed to slow down as Law bore witness to the venomous strike spreading through the darkening figure lying still in just a short distance away from him...

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As the battles died down in the background, each and everyone of Red-Hair pirate crew dropped their weapons and came rushing towards their fallen comrade, unaware of the grave infections his body was brewing inside...

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...the act solely spurred from the deep camaraderies, just like what his own crew would have done...

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Law's mind raced... torn between his desire to intervene and his instinct to remain hidden. The sight of Lucky's suffering and the potential dooms all his friends were about to encounter tugged at his conscience...

With a clenched jaw, he stepped forward, quickly emerging from the shadows. "Stop right there!!" He raised his hand to bar any movements.

"Not another step towards the guy! The virus spores in his body is highly contagious through respiratory system...stay back!!"

And yet, before he could even finish his sentence, a sharp click shattered through the chaos, piercing his ears like a siren. His heart skipped a beat as Benn Beckman instantly emerged right next to him, gun in hand, directed at his brain...

The air grew heavy with a sudden tension. "Who are you?"

Knowing he could no longer remain concealed, Law heavily sighed. His hands raised in a gesture of non-aggression. "I am..." he paused, choosing his words carefully, "...a doctor, with surgical expertise. You can call me Law. I couldn't just stand by while seeing someone suffers."

If they didn't recognise him, then better not risk letting them know that he was a pirate captain with three-billion-beli bounty on his head. It would be too handful to face another Emperor's wraths on his own, in case things turned awry.

Red Hair Shanks studied Law intently, from his spotted hat, the tattoos all over his body, to the long nodachi he carried, the weight of his gaze unyielding...

But then, he glanced down at his unconscious friend, before asking with a serious voice...

"Is it true...what you just said, doctor? He got infected and none of us can even get close to treat him? Tell us how serious this disease actually is?"

"It's fatal. The purple spider web-like appearance on his skins tells it all. This venom that has infected your friend is a potent that rapidly spreads toxin through the lung, and then all respiratory channels. If left untreated, it will cause severe organ failures and ultimately lead to his death within half a day."

As Law spoke, his gaze shifted to Roux, whose complexion continued to darken, the venomous infection progressing...

"The symptoms include rapid discolouration of the skin, indicating systemic poisoning. His breathing will become labored, and his heart rate will increase, struggling to pump against the effects of the venom. Without immediate intervention, his vital organs will start shutting down, and there will be no chance of recovery after that point." The surgeon practically pointed out.

A heavy silence fell upon the area as Law's diagnosis sank in...

The single-armed captain exchanged a meaningful glance with his crew-mates, worries all evident on their faces. The urgency of the situation outweighed their shared skepticism...

It went without spoken then, that not a single part of this young brunet screamed an ordinary doctor's vibes, yet they all recognised the medical expertise and knowledge he possessed.

"And you're able to treat him in these conditions then?"

"Yes."

Shanks took a deep breath, his voice tinged with a mix of apprehension and hope.

"Then save Roux please, doctor Law." He said, his tone firm but still filled with a glimmer of trust.

"I won't question how you'll do it without being infected yourself. Just use whatever means necessary."

He finished before making a gesture to everyone to scatter around, in order to make room for the dark-haired doctor...

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"And we'll be watching closely."

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