After calming people of his race, Nereus looked toward Kuma, the tyrant who had saved all his gentleness for others.
Nereus had originally noticed Kuma activating his ability, which was why he came over. He planned to use Kuma's power to help send people away.
But judging from Kuma's current state, he seemed to have already consumed a lot of stamina.
"You should have only just eaten your Devil Fruit, so you're still not very proficient with it. I have a way to help you recover some stamina and also make your ability work more smoothly. It'll hurt a bit, though. Want to try?"
Kuma's power was currently the safest way for ordinary people to leave this island. In the original timeline, Kuma had also saved many people with his ability.
"If it can save more people, I can do it."
"Hey, Kuma, you're just going to trust him like that? What if he does something to you…?"
Ivankov looked somewhat nervous. Living under such conditions for a long time meant constant pressure, and toward the suddenly arrived Nereus, Ivankov still harbored doubts.
"Ivankov! Lord Nereus wouldn't lie to us. With his strength, if he really wanted to do something, he wouldn't need to go through so much trouble!"
"It's fine, Iva-chan. He's also a good person who saves people, isn't he?"
Both Fish-Men and Kuma gave their answers. Ivankov said nothing more and instead lowered his massive head toward Nereus.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me. This island is just too dangerous…"
"It's nothing. Being cautious is normal. There really aren't many trustworthy people on this island. You don't need to worry either. I'm just going to take something from him for now, and I'll give it back later. How old are you this year?"
Nereus turned his gaze to Kuma and asked a question no one present understood.
"Nine years old."
"Nine, huh? In that case… ten years should be about right. When you're ready, just relax. It won't take long."
Kuma nodded, then closed his eyes. As long as he couldn't see it, he wouldn't be afraid. This was a kind of human instinct.
Nereus casually placed his hand on Kuma's body and then activated his ability.
A strange sensation instantly spread throughout Kuma's entire body. An aching soreness came from deep within his bones, but it was still within what Kuma could endure.
Compared to the pain the Celestial Dragons had inflicted on him over the years, this pain was nothing at all.
Rip—
The vest on Kuma's body was torn apart, revealing the sturdy physique beneath. Nine-year-old Kuma already had a big build, but he was nothing compared to how he was now.
"I… got bigger?"
Feeling the change in perspective, Kuma looked at his hands and sensed the transformation of his body.
"Hee-Haw… Kuma, you've become… really huge…"
Ivankov could now only look up at Kuma. After gesturing for a moment, he realized he didn't even reach Kuma's waist.
"Not bigger, older. I took away ten years of his lifespan. Don't worry, I'll give it back later."
The Vampire Fruit's use of lifespan wasn't simply taking away a portion at the end and leaving the body unchanged.
Those whose lifespan was forcibly drained would normally become extremely aged, experiencing the passage of time in an instant.
But by slowing down that process, Nereus could allow the body of the person being drained to continue growing along its predetermined trajectory, just much faster, thus achieving an effect akin to forced maturation.
That was Kuma's situation. Nereus had brought Kuma forward to the age of nineteen in advance, helping him complete his growth early.
However, this method was ultimately an unconventional one, far inferior to natural growth, and was only used as an emergency measure under these circumstances.
"You can feel it, right? The power contained in your body now is far greater than when you were still a child. Using your Devil Fruit ability will also become much more effortless."
No matter the race, childhood is a stage of incomplete development, and an adult body can make better use of a Devil Fruit's abilities than a child's.
After all, activating a Devil Fruit ability always consumes stamina to some extent, and adults have a clear advantage in that regard.
This is even more evident with Zoan-type Devil Fruits. If the eater is a child, then the transformed animal form is also in its juvenile stage, leaving many abilities unusable.
Adults, on the other hand, can directly exert far more complete power, provided they are not Momonosuke, who is comparatively useless.
At nineteen, a young man is in the prime of his vigor. In this state, Kuma was naturally capable of doing much more.
"I can feel it. Thank you for your help. This way… I can save more people."
Just moments ago, Kuma had only been sending people off the island in small groups. After being turned into a young adult by Nereus in this way, Kuma immediately began working with both hands at once, sending people off the island at a much faster pace.
Buccaneers itself carried the blood of Giants, and the traits manifested by the race were outstanding recovery and endurance. After reaching adulthood, these traits became even more remarkable.
"Iva-chan, Ginny, come on. I'll send you two away as well."
Kuma had originally wanted to send the two of them away first, but both had chosen to stay with him until the very end.
"Kuma, be careful too. Hurry up and send yourself away."
"Yeah, Kuma, we'll be waiting for you over there!"
Thump! Thump!
Accompanied by two dull sounds, compressed bubbles wrapped around Ginny's and Ivankov's bodies, sending them toward a safe island.
"Mr. Nereus, let me send you away as well. But I've never been to Fish-Man Island, so I can only send you to the South Blue."
The anchor point of the Paw-Paw Fruit's transmission had to be a place the user had personally been to. If the user has never been there themselves, then naturally they cannot send people to it.
"No need. I came to this island with things to do. Just send this kid away."
This more mature Kuma matched the image in Nereus's memories much better. Aside from the clothing, Kuma's current outfit made him look more like a 'shorts-wearing superhero.'
"Lord Nereus, I…"
"My ship is a bit far from here, and I don't have time to take you over right now. Go to a safe island first. We'll come pick you up and take you home later."
At the speed of ordinary Fish-Men, swimming to the area where Nereus had arranged for the others to hide would take quite some time, and large numbers of Marines and pirates were still rushing toward God Valley.
Using Kuma's ability to send away those with little combat ability was far more convenient.
Although it would take some time to go pick him up later, that was nothing. Nereus had been frequently sailing outside all these years, often taking care of other matters along the way.
This was also one way Nereus sought to change the mindset of the Fish-Man Island residents, mainly conveying that no matter where you are, as long as you are still a member of this race, this race will never abandon you.
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