Chapter 35: Going to the Torino Kingdom

After examining the Devil Fruits he had retrieved from King Bekori's vault, Koa decided to explore the Sorbet Kingdom alone. While his crew enjoyed the capital at their own pace, he made his way toward a quiet hill where an old church stood—the very same one where Bartholomew Kuma had reportedly grown up.

The structure was still standing, surprisingly intact despite years of neglect. Time had weathered the stone and dulled the stained-glass windows, but the building retained its quiet dignity.

Koa stepped inside.

The air was still. Dust motes floated through the sunlight streaming from broken windows, and worn pews lined the hall leading up to a modest altar. It reminded him of the places of worship from his past life—a strange, nostalgic familiarity settled over him.

He knelt, bowed his head, and silently prayed.

'Whether you're the one who gave me this second chance or not… thank you-for this world, for this freedom, for the adventure I now live.'

'I don't know if this is fate, or some divine whim—but I won't waste it. So I offer this vow…'

His hands tightened into fists.

'For the opportunity you've given me, I swear I will hunt down and kill every Celestial Dragon I come across in these seas. And in return, I will not harm a single civilian. Not one innocent soul will fall by my hand.'

A gust of wind stirred through the open doorway, rustling the torn flags above the altar. Koa rose slowly, eyes sharper, clearer.

He felt no divine response—but he didn't need one.

His path was already set.

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As the day passed, turmoil swept through the Sorbet Kingdom. Their king was found dead in his sleep, and according to the royal doctor, it was due to natural causes. With no legitimate heir to take the throne, the kingdom's nobles convened to select a replacement from among themselves—a decision to be made in the coming week. But none of this concerned Koa anymore.

By then, he and his crew had already set sail that very morning.

Everyone had gotten what they came for:

Kuzan had stocked up on his favorite alcohol;

Greenbull expanded his wardrobe with local fabrics and accessories.

Joichiro managed to purchase rare Sorbet Kingdom spices and ingredients to enhance his dishes. He also made sure their ship was resupplied with essentials like food and water barrels.

As their ship glided over the calm waters of the South Blue, Koa stood at the helm, already charting their next destination.

This time, he had a clear goal in mind: he wanted a doctor on board. Not for himself—his Dog Talisman ensured he could recover from any wound—but for the sake of his crew. He needed someone who could treat them in his absence, should anything ever happen. It was about preparation, not paranoia.

Their course was now set for Torino Island, known for its advanced medical research and natural pharmaceuticals. It was the island where Tony Tony Chopper, the Straw Hat Pirates' doctor, had once been sent by Kuma to learn about medicine.

Koa gathered his crew on deck and informed them of their next stop. Afterward, he turned to Greenbull and gave a simple but firm order:

"Handle the wheel. Make sure we stay on course—we're heading to the Torino Kingdom," Koa instructed.

"Where's that, boss?" Greenbull asked, scratching his head as he leaned on the helm.

"Idiot. That's the island full of medicine and those weird birds," Kuzan cut in, not even looking up from the bottle he was inspecting. "Read a book once in a while, would you?"

"Ohhh, so we're getting a doctor?" Greenbull said, finally catching on.

"If it's fated, then it will happen," Koa answered vaguely, eyes focused on the horizon.

"Fate?" Kuzan raised a brow. "You beat me into submission and now you're saying this is fate?"

"Hehehe, it just proves you weren't meant to be here. I met the boss through a real fated encounter," Greenbull grinned smugly, poking fun at Kuzan. "We met Joichiro the same way too."

"No, it just proves I'm more important than you," Kuzan fired back. "Boss sought me out. You were just hanging around. So enjoy your third place, rookie."

"Tch—say that again, ice-for-brains!"

Their usual bickering resumed, echoing across the deck. Joichiro simply shook his head and returned to polishing his knives.

Meanwhile, Koa approached him quietly.

"Joichiro. Do you want to eat a Devil Fruit?"

Joichiro looked up, mildly surprised. "Why?"

"No real reason. I just figured you should have the option. We've got a vault full of them, and if you ever want to get stronger, it's there for you."

Joichiro considered this for a moment. Then he nodded. "...Yeah. I think I will."

Koa led him below deck, to the secured hold where the Devil Fruits were stored. As Joichiro stepped inside, his eyes scanned the rows of chests, and Koa handed him a list of the available fruits, each with brief descriptions:

Wapu-Wapu no Mi (Paramecia)

– allows the user to teleport themselves and others from place to place

Hebi-Hebi no Mi, Model: Titanoboa (Ancient Zoan)

– Transform into a giant, venom-breathing Titanoboa. Enhanced durability, constriction, and fangs.

Mushi-Mushi no Mi, Model: Hercules Beetle (Zoan)

– Gain the immense strength and armor of a Hercules Beetle. Lift hundreds of times your weight.

Hone-Hone no Mi (Paramecia)

– Generate and manipulate your own bones, shed flesh at will to become a living skeleton.

Tanso-Tanso no Mi (Paramecia)

– Turn your body into carbon and shift between its many forms, from diamond to graphite to oil.

Buta-Buta no Mi, Model: Calydonian Boar (Mythical Zoan)

– Become a mythical war boar, nigh-unstoppable in charge, armored in mystical blue fur.

Tome-Tome no Mi (Paramecia)

– Place "bookmarks" on objects, locations, or physical states. Snap fingers and say "Page turn!" to revert to any saved state.

Michi-Michi no Mi (Logia)

– Become, control, and create tar at will. Excellent for traps, corrosion, and mobility.

Chira-Chira no Mi (Logia)

– Become, generate, and manipulate crystal. Useful for offense, defense, and utility constructs.

Out of them all, Joichiro was drawn to two: the Titanoboa and the Hone-Hone no Mi. Something about both resonated with him—but in the end, he chose the Hebi-Hebi no Mi, Model: Titanoboa.

Koa watched him with a serious expression. "If you ever want to awaken it, be careful. The Zoan's instincts can consume you. Lose control... and you become the beast. But if you succeed, you'll gain power worthy of a monster."

Joichiro didn't flinch. "I'll manage."

Without hesitation, he bit into the Devil Fruit and swallowed it whole. Not a single grimace crossed his face.

Koa blinked. "...You really are a chef. No normal person eats that without gagging."

Joichiro simply shrugged. "I've tasted worse. Ever tried sea slug sashimi fermented in milk?"

Koa actually looked disturbed.

The ship sailed steadily toward Torino Island, the next destination in their growing legend.