The Discoveries
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The Surgeon of Death extended his power, creating a vast "Room", engulfing nearly half of the Forest area. "Scan." Within the confines of his ability, he focused his senses, scanning the surroundings with the purpose of locating a structure or house that would serve as their designated teleportation point.
The scanning power allowed him to perceive the layered details of the Forest's depths, searching for any signs of human habitation. After a thorough search...Law finally detected the presence of a structure nestled within the Forest, "Found it!"
Abruptly, the doctor grasped the redhead's arm, "Shambles!" and instantly teleported both of them into the designated location, expertly swapping their positions with objects near the house.
"Ouch!" As they materialized in their new location, Shanks was plunged down somewhat unceremoniously on the ground and found himself a little disheveled, earning a little smirk from the brunet who was standing gracefully next to him...
"You should've given me a little warning, Doc!" whined the single-armed captain. "This is the most unstylish entrance I've ever made!!"
While Shanks collected himself, the younger man immediately sensed an enigmatic energy swirling throughout an entire area. It was the same sensation he had experienced when he woke up in this place the day before, after being sent back in time...
The energy left him feeling somewhat dizzy and drained. Curious, Law turned to ask the taller captain, "Do you feel it, Red Hair-ya, this strange, foreboding aura surrounding us...?"
Shanks perplexedly replied, "No, I don't feel anything out of ordinary." Though it puzzled him, the doctor decided to drop the subject for the time being and focused on their objective.
They began to survey their surroundings and spotted a small wooden hut, believed to be the dwelling of the old man, Ashar, as mentioned in Fugar's account. The atmosphere around the hut was eerily quiet...devoid of any signs of life...
Before venturing towards the hut, both men instinctively scanned the area. To their surprise, they witnessed an unusual sight...
The landscape was filled with an assortment of trees, both large and small, bearing various fruits, flowers, vegetables, and even unidentified species. The vegetation appeared disorderly, haphazardly cluttered around, almost forming a barrier that enveloped the tiny house, obscuring it from the outer reaches of the forest...
"Isn't it peculiar," Law mused, "how the guy has surrounded himself with this chaotic forest within the Forbidden Forest itself?"
Shanks extended his Observation Haki, encompassing a large area around their location, he noted the absence of any immediate threat. "There are no signs of any creatures nearby, which is strange... From the advisor's story, these areas should be Saberos' territories as well," he muttered skeptically.
"Anyway, we should have some time before the marines venture into this part. Let's get into the house!"
Their anticipations turned to startles with only their first steps into an entrance... as everything seemed to be in disarray, its contents scattered and broken. The evidence of raids and pillaging was evident in every corner...
The grim reality set in, the Red-Hair captain instantly knew that The Basilisks were responsible for this devastation...
Their hearts sank even further as they entered the next room, which had been crudely transformed into a makeshift interrogation chamber. At its center lay the lifeless body of Ashar the Hermit, his face pressed against the floor...
The sight promptly sent a jolt through the redhead, as he clenched his fist. "No..." he whispered, his eyes closed... the tale of the compassionate, selfless man flooding his mind... The Hermit who had dedicated all his life to relentlessly serving others... now laid slain in his own sanctuary...
Law wasted no time in examining the old man's body, his expression growing darker with each passing moments...
"He has been dead for only a few days, perhaps 3 to 5," the doctor revealed. "There are numerous wounds and bruises all over his body. However, this blow..." he pointed to the deep stab wound near the body's heart, "...was the cause of his death."
His gaze then fell upon the knife lying on the floor next to the old man's lifeless hand... "I believe he took his own life, likely after enduring torture for some time..."
A mix of rage and sorrow coursing through Shanks' veins. The heartless acts committed by the Basilisk pirates left no room for mercy or forgiveness. He gritted his teeth. This was a scenario he had witnessed far too many times in his long journeys— a cruel and unjust fate befalling countless innocent people...
When would this cycle of suffering and injustice ever come to an end..?
"You mentioned something called the Guardian Seeds, right, Red Hair-ya?" Law inquired, his voice devoid of emotion..."Whatever they are, we should find them before the Marines do, as they're likely the cause of all this."
The redhead silently observed the young doctor, before nodding in agreement. They couldn't afford to waste another minute if they wanted to salvage anything from this already tragic situation.
"According to the old advisor's stories, they are the seeds found within some kind of fruits..." Shanks recalled.
Law posed a question, "If these pirates were looking for the fruit trees, why did they raid the house instead of targeting the trees outside?"
"Good question. What if they didn't know what kind of plants contained the Guardian Seeds?" Shanks suggested. "The term 'Guardian Seeds' is ambiguous, and my only knowledge of them comes from Fugar, who witnessed and consumed them long time ago..."
At that moment, the realisation struck the red-haired captain, "That's why Ashar, upon realising the impending danger of the pirate's invasion since their first settle-down near the forest, decided to grow numerous trees and various species to conceal the true Guardian-Fruit Trees among them!"
"And he was likely interrogated to reveal which ones were the true guardians, but he apparently refused," added the taller man, his voice darkened.
Law nodded, contemplating the situation... "But wouldn't it have been easier for him to save his own life by destroying or burning those trees instead?"
Shanks pondered the question before responding with a tinge of sadness, "This is only my speculation, but the old man had spent over 50 years cultivating and multiplying these plants for the inhabitants of the island. With no means of seeking outside help, he chose to risk his life to preserve them instead of destroying them..."
"Do you think he left behind any hints about their whereabouts?" Law asked as he ventured outside to explore the assortment of thick trees of all kinds.
"He might have..." Shanks replied, following the surgeon to inspect the area around the house. He concentrated his observation Haki on small areas, meticulously searching for any clues. Meanwhile, Law continued his exploration, delving deeper into the variety of trees...
"It's impossible to search for any specific seeds without knowing exactly what they look like..." Law mused. "The old man was incredibly clever."
He ventured further into the forest. As he surveyed the surroundings, his eyes fell upon a grisly sight— a mass killing of Saberos, their lifeless bodies strewn across the ground. The creatures now lay motionless, their black fur stained with blood, their piercing eyes forever devoid of light...
The tattooed man had grown accustomed to the brutal realities of the world, the transient nature of life, and the inevitability of suffering. "Another massacre..." he murmured quietly to himself. "Whether it's human or animal, the outcome is the same. We all fall preys to the cruelty..."
He took a moment to pay his respects to the fallen beasts, silently acknowledging their struggles and the lives cut short. With a heavy sigh, He pushed aside his emotions and refocused his attention on their mission...
Law's ears perked up as he caught a sudden cracking sound emanating from a cluster of trees in close proximity. His instincts heightened when he noticed the rustling of bushes near those trees. With caution, he approached the area, drawing Kikoku. Gently parting the foliage, he discovered a trio of Saberos cubs strolling aimlessly beside their deceased mother, oblivious to the harsh realities of separation...
As a fellow lone survivor of his own people, a wave of sentiments flooding his mind... "You've done admirably well to survive, little ones. Stay resilient."
Immediately after, he heard the call from the Red-Hair Captain from the back of the house, "Hey, I think I found something interesting, Doctor!"
The brunet then hurried over to where the older man was standing. As he approached, he saw him pointing down towards a small patch of soil amidst the chaotic tangle of bushes and plants.
"I sensed something underneath this area!" Shanks exclaimed. "The soil here is different from its surroundings, and upon closer inspection, the colours seem to vary slightly. It's possible that someone recently buried something here, don't you think?"
Law leaned in, his eyes fixed on the said patch of soil...
Shanks' brows furrowed while glancing apprehensively in the opposite direction... "But time is against us..." he muttered, voice tinged with concern. "I can sense the approaching presence of marines. They're closing in on our location! We don't have time to dig..."
"Scan!" A momentary pause filled the air before a small treasure box materialized in Law's waiting hands. He carefully held the locked dirty box while his eyes examining it... "It appears that the old man indeed hid something from the intruders," he calmly remarked before using another "Shambles" to swap the box with its content.
An old notebook appeared in place of its container...
Shanks, flabbergasted by the younger man's effortless retrieval of the deeply-buried items, couldn't resist a playful jab, "Well, well, Doctor... Is there anything you can't do?" He teased with a mischievous smile playing on his face...
Law's lips faintly twitched, "Let's say I have a knack for finding hidden treasures, Red Hair- ya."
But as the impending arrival of the marines loomed closer, the redhead's expression turned more serious, a sense of urgency in his voice, "They're coming!"
The dark-haired doctor then focused his attention on the notebook, searching for any valuable information regarding the coveted mystical seeds. As he swiftly scanned through the pages, his eyes landed on the opening passage... In the smooth, flowing hand-written scripts, the following words emerged:
Guardian Seeds: The natural counterparts to the infamous Devil Fruits.
Unlike the individual power granted by Devil Fruits, Guardian Seeds possessed the potential to be planted, multiplied, and bestow their "protective" powers upon a multitude of individuals.
While Devil Fruits were known for their destructive capabilities, shunned by the vast seas and rendering their consumers unable to swim, those who consumed Guardian Seeds would be given doubled strength, with their bodies infused with a unique form of protection.
They would become cherished allies of the sea, never getting drown into its depths, and immune to the attacks of sea monsters, for these creatures would recognize them as kindred spirits.
Their consumptions were welcomed to all living creatures; humans or animals, but fatal to those who had already consumed a Devil Fruit. The conflicting powers would clash, resulting in the demise of the unfortunate eater.
Yet, the true strength of the Guardian Seeds lay in their ability to nullify any powers bestowed by Devil Fruits that directly affected the seed's consumer's body and mind.
In the world where the dominance of all kinds of supernatural-powered Devil Fruit users posed a constant threat to the weaker species, be it humans or animals, these seeds are believed to serve as a means for Mother Nature to restore equilibrium and protect the delicate balance of existence.
They embodied the essence of the true earth's guardians, offering hopes to those who were otherwise overshadowed and vulnerable.
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