Chapter 49: Arrival at the Island and the Conflict"I see the island!" Sanji's voice, wrapped in the biting wind and snow, crashed down from the crow's nest. The urgency that had been weighing on his brow for the past two days nearly broke his voice.His hands, gripping the binoculars, were frozen red, yet his knuckles were clenched tight. He had even stolen the watch post that Zoro usually manned. Apart from ducking into the kitchen to make hot soup for Nami, he remained pinned to this high vantage point the entire time, just hoping to be the first to spot the land that could save their comrade.Inside the cabin, Luffy crouched by Nami's bedside. The corner of his mouth, usually upturned, was pressed into a tense, straight line.His fingertips lightly touched Nami's burning forehead, then quickly pulled back as if touching a hot iron. He kept his voice extremely soft: "Nami, we've arrived. There will be a doctor soon. Just hold on a little longer, okay?"On deck, Zoro said nothing, merely raising a hand to press against the hilt of his sword at his waist. His gaze swept over the distant Drum Island, shrouded in wind and snow, and his brows furrowed even tighter—the silhouette of the island flickered in the storm, and even the air carried an indescribable chill.Robin, wrapped in a thick cotton coat, leaned against the cabin door, watching Luffy's back. Her eyes were full of worry: "It really is true. Whenever Luffy and the others lose their usual rowdiness, something big must have happened.""Luffy, the people on the shore aren't right." Mark's voice came from the ship's rail. He was bundled in a thick blue cotton coat, his scarf wrapped twice around his neck, yet it still couldn't block the cold.Snow particles clung to the edges of his scarf, freezing into tiny ice crystals. Every step he took in his snow boots made a "creak" on the deck: "At least a hundred people, all holding guns, and their eyes are full of hostility.""R-really!" Usopp hurriedly raised his binoculars to look, his voice trembling after seeing clearly, "How can there be such great hostility?"Luffy pushed open the cabin door gently, took one last look back at Nami, and then closed it with soft steps. But as soon as he stepped onto the deck, he was stunned by the sight before him—Drum Islandlooked like a frozen ice ball.Dozens of snowy mountains rose from the ground, shaped like factory chimneys. The most prominent one pierced the clouds, its waist wrapped in thick mist, and even its peak was hidden in the wind and snow, with no end in sight.As the going merry approached, a roar suddenly exploded from the shore: "Pirates! Stop!" The speaker was a burly warrior, his tight green cotton coat straining over solid muscles, and the metal shoulder guards on his shoulders gleaming with a cold light.A sword-like weapon in his hand pointed directly at the going merry, and his spit froze into tiny ice crystals in the wind: "You are not welcome here! Go back to where you came from!"Robin stepped forward, bowed slightly, and placed a hand on her chest, her tone sincere: "Please calm down, everyone. We are not here to cause trouble. Our comrade has a high fever and has been unconscious for two days. We only ask to go ashore to let a doctor see her. We will definitely not disturb anyone.""Stop acting like good people!" A middle-aged man wearing an ear-flap hat suddenly raised his gun higher, the butt of the rifle pressed against his shoulder, his eyes full of vigilance: "Are there any good pirates? That bunch of bastards last week said they were just looking for someone too, but they ended up leaving the village in ruins! As long as you are pirates, get out!""That's right! Trying to pull the same tricks as Blackbeard's crew? We won't fall for it!" The person next to him gritted his teeth, his finger already hooked on the trigger: "Raise your guns! Aim at them!"In an instant, over a hundred guns were raised in unison. The dark, hollow muzzles looked like countless cold eyes, staring fixedly at the people on the deck.Zoro instantly crouched, his scabbard gleaming coldly in the wind and snow; Usopp gripped his slingshot tightly, jamming a gunpowder star into the leather pouch, his whole body shaking but he didn't look away; Sanji bit into his cigarette, his shoes tapping a rapid "thud-thud" on the deck, his eyes full of vigilance.In the tense atmosphere, someone's hand trembled—"Bang!" A gunshot suddenly exploded, and the bullet flew straight toward Robin! Robin was a user of the Hana Hana no Mi, but she hadn't mastered Haki yet. If this shot hit, she would definitely be severely injured!"Robin!" Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, Mark suddenly vanished from his spot—the next second, he stood in front of Robin, his palm covered in black Armament Haki, steadily catching the bullet. A faint "click" sound came from between his fingers; it was the sound of the bullet being crushed out of shape.He didn't look back, only shook his head gently at Robin, his eyes hiding reassurance: He could have blocked it with his body, but he feared that his Devil Fruit ability would further provoke the islanders. He wanted them to see clearly: the Straw Hat Crewhad the strength to fight back, but had no intention of hurting anyone.Luffy's anger surged instantly, his fists clenching until they creaked. He kicked off the deck, ready to charge ashore."Luffy!" Robin hurriedly grabbed his sleeve, her voice filled with urgency: "Think of Nami! She is still waiting for the doctor on the island to save her life. We cannot start a conflict!"Luffy's body stiffened. He looked at Robin's anxious eyes and remembered Nami's pale face in the cabin—if Nami couldn't wait for a doctor, she would really be beyond saving.He took a deep breath, the cold air stinging his throat. He slowly loosened his clenched fists, paused with his forehead against the wind, and spoke with unprecedented gravity: "I'm sorry, I was too impulsive. We don't have to go ashore, we just beg you to let a doctor come see my comrade. Please.""Heh, pirates can say'sorry' too?" A mocking voice suddenly came from the shore. The speaker had bloodshot eyes, blood seeping through the bandages wrapped around his body, and the gun in his hand was shaking violently, yet he still stared fixedly at Luffy: "You bunch of beasts who only know how to kill and plunder, you care about your comrades? You want a doctor? Fine—kneel down and beg us!"His voice trembled, every word squeezed out from between his teeth: "When I knelt down to beg Blackbeard's crew of pirates, they demolished my house, killed my wife and children, and kicked me into the snow to wait for death! Now you want to beg too? Then kneel!"Luffy swayed, his fingertips still stained with snow frost from the deck. When his gaze landed on the blood-seeping bandages on that man's shoulder, he suddenly thought of Nami again—her breath was growing weaker and weaker, and every rise and fall of her chest seemed like it was about to snap in the cold wind.The next second, his kneecaps began to sink down toward the deck, inch by inch."Luffy!" A sharp shout erupted from Zoro's throat. His scabbard slammed onto the snow-covered deck with a "clang," sending snow particles spraying onto the tips of his taut boots."Captain!" Usopp's eyes were bloodshot, tears already hanging on his eyelashes. He reached out to pull him, but his fingertips paused in mid-air—he was afraid that one touch would completely crush Luffy's resolve."Don't you dare kneel!" Mark suddenly lunged forward, his palm pressing firmly onto Luffy's shoulder, forcing Luffy's sinking body back up."In my hometown, we only kneel to heaven, earth, and parents. We aren't like those spineless princesses or kingdoms!" He forcibly turned Luffyaround, his eyes shining like burning fire: "Listen, Luffy! As long as you are my Captain and my friend, I will never allow you to kneel—unless I fall first! Do you hear me, you idiot Captain!"The last sentence was almost a roar, the sound crashing against the deck with an unquestionable force."Hmph, that's more like it." Zoro crossed his arms, the previous panic already replaced by arrogance, a hint of approval even spreading in his eyes: "It wasn't in vain that I acknowledged you as Vice Captain.""If Nami were awake, she certainly wouldn't agree either." The cigarette between Sanji's fingers swayed. His voice was steady, and the spark of the cigarette butt was particularly conspicuous in the snowy weather."But Nami's condition..." Robin gently pressed her fingertips against her chin, her brows still locked. She didn't finish her sentence, but all her worry was revealed in her eyes."Compared to bowing and begging, sometimes fists and confidence are more useful." Mark turned to answer her, his tone without a hint of hesitation.Then, he looked up at the residents on the shore, and suddenly unleashed his Conqueror's Haki—the force was controlled extremely steadily, enough only to intimidate, with no intention of taking lives.But in the end, he didn't quite gauge it right. Several timid ones collapsed on the spot, including the person who had just forced Luffy to kneel; the rest also had their legs trembling, and they ended up kneeling into the snow, the snow swallowing half their knees."Remember this—we are pirates." Mark's voice turned a few degrees colder. "What Blackbeard can do, we can do; what he dares not do, we can still do, perhaps even more ruthlessly!"Cold sweat dripped down Dalton's forehead, his back already soaked through. He finally saw it clearly: these people were simply monsters! His men couldn't even withstand the opponent's aura; how was he supposed to stand up to them?"But don't panic." Mark changed the subject, reaching out to pull Zoro in front of him. "We came here for one purpose: to find a doctor for our comrade. As long as you don't block our way, not a single person on this island will be hurt."He pointed at Zoro, his face tense and serious, but what he said was not serious at all: "See this? This is the ceiling of our Straw Hat Crew's combat power. If a single person is hurt on this island—I'll curse him to never find his way for the rest of his life!"Usopp, Sanji, and Robin hurriedly turned away, their shoulders shaking like sieves—how could the people on the shore know? This wasn't some curse; they were clearly struggling to hold back laughter, thinking it was a vicious curse that would make their comrade break down."Why me?" Zoro frowned, pulling back his arm with a confused look."Aren't you the strongest?" Mark retorted."That goes without saying!" Zoro's arrogance instantly flared up."Then does it need explaining?" Mark turned back to look at the shore, his tone turning cold again: "Now, what do you say?""Follow me!" Dalton was the first to react, speaking in a low voice, without saying another word—he had long since seen the true nature of these people. They were not villains, but truly pirates who would risk their lives for their comrades."See that?" Mark turned back, lifting his chin at his comrades, "When you have strength, why would you need to beg anyone?"
Chapter 50: Ascending Drum PeakHeading to Drum PeakWhen Dalton pushed open his door, the firewood in the iron stove was burning brightly.A wave of warm air instantly enveloped him.Orange flames licked the stove walls, and the copper kettle on the wooden table sizzled, emitting white steam."Quickly, put the patient on the bed!"Luffy carefully and gently laid Nami on the bed.Her face was as white as the snow outside.Every breath was accompanied by shallow gasps, and her chest rose and fell weakly.Robin held the thermometer, her brows furrowed into a knot.Her voice was heavy: "Nami must receive treatment immediately."Dalton turned and picked up the copper kettle.Amber-colored hot tea poured into the stoneware cup, the white steam immediately curling over his fingertips.He handed them out one by one: "Warm yourselves up first."When he reached Mark, he suddenly unslung the greatsword from his back—With a heavy "thud," he placed it on the wooden table, the impact causing ripples to appear in the tea.It was just a normal act of setting down a weapon.Sanji didn't even look up, his gaze fixed intently on Nami's face.Mark, however, inexplicably moved half an inch closer to Sanji.His shoulder lightly brushed against the other's arm.Sanji raised an eyebrow at him, his look clearly saying, "What's wrong with you?"The tips of Mark's ears turned bright red instantly, and he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck—Garen from a game in his past life uncontrollably popped into his mind.He felt like Dalton was going to grab the sword hilt and shout "Demacia" in the next second.He really couldn't get rid of this reflex.Seeing his small movements, Dalton thought he had been rude by unbuckling his sword in front of a guest.He quickly bowed: "Forgive my rudeness!"When he straightened up, his tone suddenly became serious: "By the way, there's something I must say beforehand—""There is only one doctor left in the Drum Kingdomnow, and that is the 'Witch' Dr. Kureha, who lives at the top of the mountain.""Witch?" Sanji looked up sharply, his voice filled with urgency.His gaze swept over Nami's furrowed brows: "I don't care what she is! Can you call her here immediately?"Dalton pointed to the window, the glass covered in thick frost patterns.He wiped a patch clear: "Look—that mountain outside piercing the clouds is Drum Peak.""It's exactly 5,480 meters high. Kureha lives in the castle at the summit; never mind you all...""...even we island residents rarely see her. She only comes down for a stroll when she's in a good mood.""When she's not, she won't show her face even if someone is dying at the foot of the mountain."Sanji looked out through the gap in the ice.The snowy mountain pierced straight into the grey sky, its peak hidden in the clouds without even a shadow visible.He gritted his teeth and complained: "It's one thing to live so high up, but she practices medicine based on her mood?""What kind of doctor is that!""Her medical skills are absolutely beyond doubt," Dalton quickly explained.His tone held a hint of admiration: "She just has a strange temperament. Every time she finishes a treatment...""...she takes the most precious thing from the patient's home as her fee."Usopp held his cup and gulped down some hot tea.He whispered in agreement: "Just like an overbearing old woman, it's practically robbery...""Just like a pirate!" Luffy chimed in immediately.Robin walked to the window then, her fingertips lightly tapping the icy glass.Her voice was soft yet reassuring: "Don't worry just yet, Mr. Dalton.""How does Dr. Kureha usually come down the mountain? Is there a faster way to see her?""I've heard she stays with a half-human, half-beast creature.""Some have seen her gliding down from the summit on a sleigh—that's where the title 'Witch'...""...comes from.""But Nami can't wait!" Sanji clenched his fists."If her fever doesn't break, she might..." The rest of the words caught in his throat.He didn't even dare to say them out loud.While everyone was as anxious as ants on a hot pan..."Nami, Nami, can you hear me?" Luffy lightly patted Nami's cheek."Hey! What are you doing!" Sanji was about to pull him away.But Nami slowly opened her eyes—they were clouded with a layer of mist.Her blurred vision swept over everyone, finally landing on Luffy's face.Luffy immediately leaned in, his tone firm: "We're going to climb that very high mountain to find a doctor.""Can you hold on for a little longer?"Nami looked at his bright eyes and suddenly twitched the corner of her mouth.Her voice was as light as cotton fluff scattered by the wind: "Must... get well soon."She paused, her breath so weak it was almost inaudible.Yet she still used all her strength to raise her hand, her palm toward Luffy: "Everyone... is still waiting for me.""So... please, Captain."Luffy's palm gently covered hers, his grip steady and reassuring: "Leave it to me!""Let's not waste any more time!" Mark suddenly stood up.A faint ink-colored shimmer emanated from his lower back, swirling around his waistline."I'll control Ink Meteor to carry us up."Usopp immediately grabbed his arm, his voice trembling: "How much Observation Haki does it take to fly while controlling Ink Meteor?""Can you hold out for a five-thousand-meter mountain?""No problem." His tone was certain and brook no argument.He glanced over Robin and Usopp: "Zoro is guarding the ship at the shore; Sanji and Luffy, come with me.""Any more people and it'll be too much for me.""Then Usopp and I will wait for news at Mr. Dalton's house," Robin said, looking at Mark.Her tone was calm: "I'm interested in the history of the Drum Kingdom, so I'll take this time to learn about it.""I can also keep an eye on the situation at the foot of the mountain."Mark nodded and, together with Sanji, carefully tied Nami onto Luffy's back—Strips of cloth were wrapped round and round, finally tied in a sturdy knot behind Luffy's waist.Sanji leaned close to Nami, his voice softening: "Nami-san, bear with it a little longer.""We'll see the doctor very soon."Dalton suddenly spoke: "I don't oppose you climbing the mountain to save your companion.""But I suggest climbing from the back of Drum Peak—on the front, you'll encounter the Lapahn snow rabbits.""Snow rabbit Lapahn?" Luffy tilted his head, his eyes full of curiosity."Is it very strong?""They are carnivorous rabbits as large as small hills, with brutal temperaments and extremely fierce attacks," Dalton explained."It's fine, we're strong! Even if we run into them, we can deal with them quickly! Right, Mark?"Saying this, Luffy took the lead and stepped out the door, the cold wind instantly pouring into his collar.He didn't shrink his neck, though; instead, he straightened his back even more—he knew...the person on his back couldn't afford to catch even a bit of a chill.Sanji and Mark followed closely behind.Dalton watched the three figures gradually blend into the snowy landscape.Snowflakes fell on them, quickly accumulating into a layer of white.Robin and Usopp stood at the door without moving.The cold wind swirled snow onto their faces, and Usopp's nose was frozen bright red.Yet he still stared in the direction of the snowy mountain."It's cold outside, come in and wait," Dalton advised.Usopp shook his head: "No, I'll wait here."Dalton looked at the determined pair and was silent for a moment.He also walked into the snow and sat down, waiting together with them.The closer they got to Drum Peak, the fiercer the wind became.The snowflakes were like small knives scraping against their faces, the pain making it hard to keep their eyes open.Luffy looked up at the summit; the clouds were hanging extremely low.As if they were going to crush the snowy mountain, he couldn't help but exclaim: "This mountain is just too high!""Don't talk, save your strength." The ink-colored shimmer behind his waist suddenly burst forth—The light expanded and grew brighter, eventually condensing into a pitch-black lion; it was Ink Meteor.As soon as it appeared, it lay down obediently on the snow.Its tail lightly swept away the snow by its feet, and it rubbed its head against Mark's hand.As if trying to please him.Luffy was the first to climb on, his excitement mostly suppressed.He even took off his own scarf and wrapped it tightly around Nami's neck.Mark sat down next, and as soon as he was settled, he took a deep breath—Observation Haki instantly spread out like an invisible net, tightly wrapping around Ink Meteor's entire body.Ink Meteor's paws slowly left the snow, and its body gradually rose into the air.Snowflakes slid from between its claws like tiny pearls.Sanji was the last to climb up, one hand gripping Ink Meteor's fur tightly.His other hand was placed protectively behind Luffy's waist, fearing the two might fall off.He looked up at Mark and saw cold sweat seeping from his forehead, his lips turning pale.Clearly, his Haki consumption was severe.Sanji didn't say anything; he just quietly moved a bit closer to Mark.He used his own back to block the oncoming cold wind."This is much faster than climbing by hand!" Sanjisighed with relief.Looking down, he felt Luffy tugging at his sleeve: "Sanji, look!""Is that the Lapahn Dalton mentioned?"Sanji looked in the direction he pointed.In an open space at the foot of the mountain, a dozen rabbits as large as small hills were surrounding and biting at ice rocks.Their snowy white fur was flecked with ice, and their red eyes were particularly striking against the snow.Their teeth crunched against the ice rocks with a piercing sound, sending ice shards flying."Good thing we didn't get too close," Sanji said with relief. "If we had run into them...""...it would have delayed us by at least an hour, and Nami can't afford to wait."Ink Meteor flew higher and higher, the cold wind growing even more intense.Nami's cheek was pressed against Luffy's back; her body temperature was still rising.Luffy grew more anxious and couldn't help but urge Mark: "Mark, can you go any faster?""Nami seems to be getting even hotter."Mark nodded, gritting his teeth.He poured a bit more of his remaining Observation Haki in—Ink Meteor's speed suddenly increased.The frequency of its four paws treading the air quickened, its inky fur leaving a trail of afterimages in the sky.It charged toward the summit hidden within the clouds.
Chapter 51: Successfully Reaching the SummitWapol, the user of the Munch-Munch Fruit, was clad in tin armor and draped in white animal skins.He was riding on the back of a hippopotamus, devouring the villagers' houses in large gulps—His mouth opened wide enough to fit a round table, sweeping in wood and bricks alike.With a movement of his throat, an entire wooden house was swallowed whole into his belly."As I thought, burnt houses taste the best!" Wapolsaid.He bit another large gap out of a villager's roof."Lord Wapol, according to our intelligence, your castle has been occupied by the 'Witch' Dr. Kureha."His subordinate, Kuromarimo, the user of the Static Hairball Fruit, bowed as he reported."What! That old hag actually dares to look down on this King!""I must show her what I'm made of!" Wapol's eyes instantly bulged as he jumped off the horse.He grabbed a cannon being pulled by someone nearby. His mouth opened even wider.He actually swallowed the entire cannon into his stomach! In the next second, his body began to transform:Cannon barrels emerged from his shoulders, and his belly bulged into a breech, turning him into a giant cannon."Lord Wapol, you can't fire!" Another subordinate, Chess, hurriedly stepped forward—He carried a bow and arrows on his back and held a map. "If the castle is destroyed, you'll have nowhere to live!""Besides, Drum Peak is too high; the cannonballs can't reach the summit at all!""So what if they can't?" Wapol's voice was full of arrogance, a fierce light flashing in his eyes."I want those commoners to know that their King has returned!""Even if I can't hit the castle, I'll let them hear the noise!"The subordinate didn't dare to argue and hurriedly stuffed a cannonball larger than a head into the muzzle.Wapol aimed at Drum Peak, black smoke instantly rising from the cannon barrels with a "BOOM"—The cannonball, trailing black smoke like a snake, shot straight toward the group halfway up the mountain!"Something is flying this way!" Mark's Observation Haki was the first to warn him.The trajectory of the cannonball tearing through the air was instantly imprinted in his perception. His face changed drastically: "It's a cannonball! Get down!"Before he could finish, the cannonball had streaked over their heads and slammed heavily into the ice wall above."BOOM—" The loud explosion echoed throughout the island, and the ice wall instantly cracked with spiderweb-like fissures.The cracks spread rapidly, and finally, with a "CRACK," countless blocks of ice poured down:Some as small as fists, others larger than hills, a dense "ice rain" carrying the breath of destruction crashed down!"Not good! Retreat, quickly!" Mark hurriedly controlled Ink Meteor to back away.But the ice rain came too fast and was too widespread; Ink Meteor couldn't dodge it at all.Luffy instantly raised his hand, his fist coated in pitch-black Armament Haki.He smashed it hard against the incoming ice blocks! Ice shards flew everywhere, coating his face.He was completely oblivious, only focused on striking the falling ice blocks with his hands.Sanji also acted immediately, kicking away a block of ice half as tall as a person.The ice blocks collided with a crisp "CRACK."But more ice blocks surged in. A block larger than a table smashed straight toward Nami, who was behind Luffy—Sanji reacted quickly, lunging forward to take the hit head-on!The ice block smashed into his back. He let out a muffled groan, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.Yet he still gritted his teeth and shoved the ice block away with force.Mark watched the pouring ice rain with burning anxiety, controlling Ink Meteor to dodge with one hand.With the other hand, he tried to use his ability to absorb the ice, but no matter how much he pushed his power...The ice blocks remained completely unmoved."Damn it! I can't absorb things formed by nature!" he roared, closing his eyes.He channeled all his remaining Observation Hakiinto Ink Meteor: "Ink Meteor, Gigantification!""Quick, hide under Ink Meteor's belly!" Mark's voice trembled.Seeing an ice spike the size of a house crashing down, he shouted urgently, "Luffy, the ground impact is up to you!"Luffy nodded immediately and took a deep breath, his belly instantly bulging into a giant rubber ball:"Gomu Gomu no Balloon!" His round body stood firmly under Ink Meteor's belly.Seeing this, Sanji grabbed Ink Meteor's fur and swung, jumping onto Luffy's belly.He held Nami tightly, shielding her head with his back, not letting a single shard of ice harm her.To better control the direction of the fall, Markinstantly transformed into Slime Form.Black slime enveloped Ink Meteor's entire body—this layer of slime was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet as hard as steel.It was like putting a pitch-black suit of armor on Ink Meteor. Ice blocks hit it and were instantly bounced away.Leaving only a crisp "CLANG CLANG" sound."BOOM!" The first loud crash came—Luffy hit the ground first.His belly slammed hard into the snow, sending snow flying.The elasticity of his belly gently bounced Nami up, and Sanji quickly reached out to catch her.Then came the second loud crash as Ink Meteor, clad in armor, slammed into the snow.His claws sank deep into the ice layer, and Luffy, beneath his belly, held his breath tightly.He let out a muffled groan—he knew.Once he let his breath out, Nami and Sanji would lose their buffer and would certainly be injured.Countless ice blocks and spikes crashed onto Ink Meteor's armor like a waterfall.The sound of the "CLANG CLANG CLANG" collisions made everyone's ears go numb.Ink Meteor's whimpering grew louder, but he never collapsed.This ice rain lasted for a full minute until the sounds of impact gradually faded.Only then did everyone manage to catch their breath.By this time, Ink Meteor had been pressed into the ice layer by the mountain of ice on his back.His belly was almost touching the three of them. Surrounded by ice walls, the air grew increasingly thin.Every breath became difficult. "Hey, Luffy, break the ice! I'm about to suffocate!"Sanji's voice was panting; Nami, in his arms, was deathly pale, her breathing growing weaker."Not good! Mark is still outside!" Luffy suddenly woke up, his eyes bloodshot."Mark is still outside Ink Meteor! Quickly, break the ice wall!"He coated his fists in Armament Haki and smashed them hard against the ice wall—The ice layer was harder than rock and had a certain resilience; his fists only left shallow white marks.His knuckles instantly became red and swollen, but he didn't care, throwing punch after punch.Soon, blood began to seep out, the droplets freezing into ice crystals the moment they hit the ice wall.Sanji also took action immediately, gently placing Nami beside Luffy to protect her.Then he used his kicking techniques to repeatedly strike the same spot on the ice.Sharp pain had already flared in his leg—with every kick...It felt as if countless needles were piercing his leg bones.But he didn't stop, only gritting his teeth and kicking with more force.His pant legs were soon torn by ice shards, and the exposed skin was covered in red frostbite patches.Finally, under their combined efforts, the cracks on the ice wall grew larger.At last, with a "CRACK," the ice wall broke! Cold air rushed in.Both men gasped for air, but they didn't have time to rest.Luffy turned to jump down to find Mark, but Sanjisuddenly pulled him back:"You carry Nami up first! Leave Mark to me; Namican't hold on much longer!"Just then, Wapol's arrogant voice came from the bottom of the mountain, broadcast across the island via a loudspeaker:"Commoners! Your King has returned! Everyone, come out and welcome me!""If you dare hide in your houses, I'll swallow them all!"Luffy's gaze instantly turned cold, killing intent flowing from his eyes, his fists clenching tighter.But he only glanced in the direction of the voice before immediately arching his back: "Quickly, tie Nami on."He knew that saving Nami was more important now; once she was safe, he would settle the score with Wapol.Sanji tore his only shirt and used the strips to carefully tie Nami to Luffy's back.Nami's face was flushed with fever, her breathing rapid; the hot air she exhaled condensed into frost on Luffy's collar: "Luffy, go quickly.""I know." Luffy's voice was firm. He suddenly stretched his arms and gripped the rocks above.He clung to the ice wall like a gecko. When he encountered areas with no support...He would coat his fingers in Armament Haki and thrust them forcefully into the ice—With every step he climbed, the blood from his fingertips dripped onto the ice wall, freezing into red ice beads.Sanji, left behind, finally felt the bone-chilling cold: his eyebrows were covered in frost.The frostbite patches on his arms grew deeper, and his hands were cut by the ice.Blood seeped out, quickly freezing into ice shards.But he didn't stop, first kicking away large chunks of ice and then digging through the crushed ice with his hands.His fingers had long since lost all sensation, and ice shards were wedged under his fingernails, causing a piercing pain.But he acted as if he felt nothing—Mark was still under the ice, and he couldn't give up."Hey, cook, how did you end up in such a pathetic state?" A familiar voice suddenly came.Sanji looked up and saw Zoro standing in the snow not far away, carrying three swords.His hem was covered in snow, and a layer of white had fallen on the tips of his hair—there was no need to ask.He must have gotten lost again and stumbled here by mistake."Don't ask, just come and help!" Sanji's voice was hoarse as he pointed at the ice mountain in front of him."Mark is buried underneath; dig him out quickly!"Zoro's face instantly darkened, and he immediately drew his yodo himawari.The blade glowed with orange-red flames: "Move aside, don't get in the way."Before he finished speaking, the sword light flashed: "Itto-ryu: Demon Fire Slash!"The flaming sword qi struck the ice mountain, and the ice layer instantly split open with a large gap.The high temperature caused the ice to melt rapidly, and water flowed down.Sanji immediately stepped forward to clear the obstacles; the two of them, one slashing and one clearing, were in perfect sync.Before long, Ink Meteor's head poked out from the ice mountain—His fur was matted with ice, and his eyes were anxious. Seeing them, he immediately opened his mouth.Mark rolled out from inside. He was covered in frostbite, his face as white as paper.His breath was so weak it could barely be felt.Zoro immediately stepped on several floating ice blocks and jumped over, catching Mark in mid-air.He held Mark and landed gently on the ground."Mark, can you hear me?" Zoro shook him, a hidden worry in his voice.Mark's eyelids flickered, and he slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurred for a while before focusing on Zoro's face.His voice was as weak as a mosquito: "Zoro... are Nami and Luffy... okay?""They're fine, just worry about yourself." Zorofrowned deeply.He took off his cotton coat and draped it over Mark, the fabric still carrying his body heat."I'll take Mark up for treatment; his frostbite is severe and can't wait." Sanji walked over.He glanced toward the summit, "You dig Ink Meteorout.""In your state, you can still carry someone up a five-thousand-meter mountain?" Zoro raised an eyebrow.There was mockery in his eyes, but even more concern. "You're already trembling while walking; don't push yourself."Just as Sanji was about to argue, Ink Meteorsuddenly shrank to the size of a pug.He crawled out of the ice hole and rubbed his head against Mark in Zoro's arms.Then he lay on the ground, signaling for Sanji to get on.Only then did Sanji dare to acknowledge the sharp pain in his leg bones, climbing onto Ink Meteor's back despite the pain—Ink Meteor's movements as he stood up were slow and steady.Meanwhile, at the summit, Luffy was almost at his limit.His fingers had almost lost all sensation, and his Armament Haki was nearly exhausted.With every step he climbed, his body was sliding down.Just as he was about to lose his grip, a large, furry hand suddenly grabbed his arm—Warmth flowed through him as he and Nami were pulled up together.In a daze, he saw two figures: one tall and thin, the other small."Severe full-body frostbite, extremely high risk of hypothermia." Chopper knelt down and touched Luffy's forehead.His expression changed drastically. "Your body temperature is too low; you'll be in mortal danger if this continues!"Kureha walked to Nami's side, lifted her cotton coat, and placed her fingers on her wrist.At 140 years old, her gaze was still as sharp as a blade: "This girl is in even more danger!""A fever of 40 degrees, along with a severe infection; her lungs and heart are both affected—""A few hours later, even a god couldn't save her!"She paused, looking at the cloth strips on Nami and the bloodstains on Luffy's back.A flash of surprise crossed her eyes. "They actually climbed up... and she's wrapped in three cotton coats...""You brats are really gambling with your lives.""Chopper!" Kureha's voice carried an unquestionable authority."Immediately prepare emergency medicine and a heated bed. Lower her temperature first, then treat the infection—""She doesn't have much time left!"Chopper nodded and turned to leave, but Luffygrabbed his ankle.Luffy's eyes were half-open, his voice weak but firm: "Below... there are still my partners...""Mark, Sanji... they're still down there..."Chopper was struck by the word "partners." "Is this what partners are?"Kureha looked at his clenched hand, her eyes softened even more.She patted Luffy's shoulder: "Don't worry, your partners will be fine.""Chopper, after saving this girl, prepare frostbite ointment and hemostatic medicine—""It seems I'll have to collect a few more medical fees today."Stopped🔊 Browser
Chapter 52: Chopper Makes His EntranceMark was startled awake by a piercing chill.His consciousness felt like it was submerged in icy water; as he struggled to float to the surface, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze focusing on the castle ceiling above him.Intricate carvings were layered with a thin frost, and the beams gleamed a cold, hard brownish-tan in the dim light. A few snowflakes drifted in through the cracks in the window, landing on the oil lamp and instantly turning into white mist."Where is this...?" he murmured softly, his throat dry and aching. Fragmented memories surged up: landing on the island, Wapol's cannonballs, the sight of Zoro's back as he carried him up Drum Peak... Was he inside the castle?Subconsciously, he tried to prop himself up to check his surroundings, but just as he exerted a bit of strength, a soft, somewhat timid voice drifted over from the doorway."Y-you'd better not move! Your body is severely overextended, and you have frostbite. You need to lie down and rest properly, and you must eat something nutritious to recover."Mark turned his head toward the sound. His gaze pierced through the dim light of the room and immediately locked onto a flustered little figure at the door, as if it were hiding from something!The little fellow's brown fur was dusted with a bit of unthawed snow. Two tender brown antlers poked through a pink top hat, sticking up on its head. Its nose was a striking shade of blue—who else could it be but Tony Tony Chopper?But at this moment, Chopper was hiding behind the doorframe, though he was doing so quite clumsily: half of his body was still exposed, his hooves were tightly gripping the edge of the frame, and his round eyes were peeking timidly into the room.Mark couldn't help but chuckle. "Um, it looks like you're... hiding in the wrong direction.""Oh!"Chopper suddenly realized his mistake and scurried back in a panic, his claws making a faint "scritch-scratch" sound against the doorframe. He finally managed to hide himself completely behind the frame, leaving only half of his round head and a pair of antlers exposed, his ears twitching slightly from nervousness.Mark's heart skipped a beat.How could there be such a cute creature? The soft fur, the protruding little antlers, and those round eyes filled with unease—it was as if the word "adorable" was written all over its face.However, he knew all too well how sensitive Chopper was right now, given his experiences of being ostracized by the reindeer herd and treated as a monster by humans...Fearing his excitement would scare the little guy away, he forced down the urge to reach out and pet him, keeping his tone as gentle as possible."Aren't you afraid of me?" Chopper poked half his head out from behind the doorframe, his voice even lower than before, his eyes full of uncertainty."Why should I be afraid?" Mark replied, sounding genuinely confused."Even though I'm a reindeer, I can talk and walk on two legs..." He sat down on the floor as he spoke, his head drooping. The blue of his nose swayed in the dim light, and his ears slumped. "And I have a blue nose..."That aggrieved look made Mark's heart tighten. He forced a smile and said in a light, teasing tone, "What's the big deal?We're pirates! Out on the sea, I've seen plenty of strange things—centaurs with human lower bodies and horse upper bodies, and giants as tall as small mountains.I've even seen dragons that can fly in the sky! Your little uniqueness isn't unusual at all.""P-pirates?" Chopper's ears perked up instantly, and his round eyes lit up like small lanterns. "Really? Are you guys really pirates?""Of course it's true!" Mark nodded, his tone firm. "Our ship is called the 'going merry,' and we have our own pirate flag on the sail—a big skull wearing a Straw Hat with two crossed bones underneath, and there's also... it's super cool!" He gestured as he spoke, trying to help Chopper visualize it.Chopper's eyes grew even brighter, and he was just about to ask if "pirates are all very free,"when a booming shout of "MEAT—!" smashed through the room's warmth like a cannonball.Before the person even arrived, the voice pierced through the walls; even the snowflakes drifting in from the window cracks seemed to vibrate from the sound."Hey! I saw that reindeer! It's around here somewhere!" Then, with a loud crash, the castle's wooden door was sent flying. Cold wind carrying snowflakes rushed in with a "whoosh" as Luffy and Sanji burst in, one after the other.Luffy looked around in every direction but couldn't find the reindeer he was longing for. Then he suddenly noticed Mark on the bed, and his eyes lit up. "Oh! Mark, you're awake!"Sanji hurried over and skidded to a halt by Mark's bed. The snowflakes on his bandages fell onto the stone floor, instantly turning into a small puddle. "How are you? Feeling any better?""I'm fine now." Mark shook his head and rubbed his stomach, a hint of embarrassment in his laugh. "It's just that my stomach is growling like crazy right now.""Hungry? Perfect!" Sanji's eyes lit up, and he straightened up, ready to rush out. "We saw a reindeer in the courtyard just now, and it looked delicious! Once we catch it, I'll make you some venison soup.""Wait!" Mark quickly reached out to stop him, leaning his head on his hand with a helpless smile. "Didn't you two notice anything special about that reindeer?""Something special?" Luffy stopped and tilted his head in thought. Then he suddenly struck a "very serious" pose—tilting his head at a forty-five-degree angle to look at the ceiling with his right hand supporting his chin, looking exactly like a philosopher pondering a major issue."Now that you mention it! I remember! That reindeer seemed to be walking on two legs!""..." Mark was silent for two seconds before sighing. "Stop overthinking it. He's not an ordinary reindeer; he's a doctor. He's been the one taking care of us while we were unconscious.""Huh? He's a doctor?" Luffy's eyes widened, clearly not processing it. "But how can a doctor be a reindeer?"Sanji also paused, then frowned. "I think I remember that reindeer was wearing clothes and a pink hat." Thinking about it now, he really might be a doctor.Mark waved his hand and changed the subject. "By the way, where's Zoro? How are his injuries? Is Namifeeling better?""Nami's fever has broken. When I went to check on her just now, she was awake for a bit before falling back asleep." Sanji's tone softened when he mentioned Nami."As for Zoro..." He curled his lip, his tone laced with a bit of helplessness. "He's sleeping like a dead pig in the room next door.""That's good." Mark breathed a sigh of relief. His wounds still throbbed slightly, but the weight on his heart had lifted. "It's so cold out, and everyone just woke up. Let's eat something warm! Sanji, you start cooking; I have ingredients here."As he spoke, a black halo appeared at his fingertips. The next second, a pile of fresh ingredients appeared out of thin air on the wooden table in the center of the room: large chunks of beef, pork on the bone, several bundles of leafy green vegetables, and even a bag of flour and some eggs. The ingredients still had a few dewdrops from being recently harvested."I originally wanted to make hot pot so we could all gather around and stay warm." Mark glanced at Luffy, who was already staring at the beef and swallowing hard. He smiled wryly; given Luffy's state, the hot pot probably wouldn't even finish cooking before the soup was all drunk."I'll leave it to your creativity, Sanji. Just tell me if you're missing any ingredients; I have more here."Sanji stepped on Luffy's hand as he reached for the meat. Sanji carefully inspected the ingredients on the table and nodded. "These are enough. Just give me some millet. I'll make a light millet porridge for Nami; she just got over her fever and can't eat anything too greasy.""Alright." With another flash of Mark's fingertips, a bag of millet landed in Sanji's hand. "By the way, you can add some mild medicinal herbs to the porridge, like Licorice root or Poria cocos. They can replenish Qi and blood without irritating the stomach.You can talk to that reindeer doctor later. He knows medicine and will know what's appropriate to add.""Yeah, I got it." Sanji had just gathered the ingredients and was about to turn toward the kitchen when an aged but powerful voice came from the doorway."Oh~? You brats recovered quite fast, already daring to get out of bed and cause trouble?"Everyone turned toward the sound and saw an old woman standing at the door. Her face was covered in wrinkles, especially deep around the corners of her eyes, like marks carved by time. However, her outfit was exceptionally avant-garde:An off-white crop top wrapped around her thin midriff, with a short purple jacket over it. Below, she wore low-rise purple trousers with rolled-up cuffs, revealing a silver anklet on her ankle. A pair of small black sunglasses rested on top of her head, the lenses reflecting the light in the room.She scanned the three people in the room and said solemnly, "What are you staring at me for? Don't tell me! You want to know the secret to my eternal youth?""N-no!" Luffy, Sanji, and Mark waved their hands in unison, their faces full of confusion—none of them had even thought of that."Old la—" Sanji had just uttered the first word, but before "dy" could come out, Mark clamped a hand over his mouth. Mark signaled him with his eyes to "not say anything reckless."But Luffy was a "death-seeking expert" with no sense of the situation. He looked at Kureha and spoke casually, "Old hag, thanks for saving my friends! If it weren't for—!"*Bang!*No sooner had the words left his mouth than Kureha's foot slammed into Luffy's stomach. The force was so great that it sent Luffy flying backward, hitting the stone wall behind him with a "thud." Several fine cracks even appeared on the stone wall.Immediately after, Kureha pulled out a gleaming Scalpel from somewhere. With a flick of her wrist, the Scalpel flew with a sharp whistle and pinned itself precisely into a crack in the stone right next to Luffy's head. The blade was still vibrating slightly, and the reflected light shone directly onto Luffy's face.The room fell silent instantly, with only the "whoosh" of the wind and snow outside. Luffystared at the Scalpel, cold sweat pouring down; Sanji's hand was still frozen in mid-air, his expression stiff; Mark hadn't expected Kureha to be so fast either, and he didn't react for a moment.A few seconds later, everyone swallowed in unison, reaching the same conclusion in their hearts: This old hag is definitely not someone to be messed with!Mark was the first to react. He hurried forward and pulled a bag of exquisitely packaged Dried fruitfrom his space—made from fruit he had gathered on Little Garden.The fruit from Little Garden was high in sweetness and had a faint floral fragrance. He had gathered a lot of it back then, using some for fruit wine and some for Dried fruit, wrapped in oil paper and tied with a red string, looking very refined.He handed the Dried fruit to Kureha, his tone sincere and polite, pointedly avoiding the term "old hag." "Madam, I heard Mr. Dalton mention you before. He said you are the most skilled doctor on Drum Island and also very 'kind.'"Your aura is also so impressive; it's truly admirable. These are Dried fruits I made myself. I didn't add too much sugar, and the taste is quite good. If you don't mind, please accept them and have a taste."AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteKureha slanted her eyes at him, her gaze falling upon the preserved fruits. She gave a gentle sniff—the sweet fragrance of the fruits mixed with a faint fruity aroma was indeed very enticing.She took the preserved fruits, weighed them in her hand, and the anger on her face dissipated slightly. Her tone softened as well: "You brat certainly have a way with words. I am Kureha, though you may also call me Doctorine. By the way, do you have any plum wine?""We don't have plum wine at the moment, but we do have some freshly brewed fruit wine." Mark's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly took out two glass bottles from his space—The bottles were transparent, filled with amber fruit wine, and one could even see a few pieces of fruit settled at the bottom. "This was brewed from wild fruits. The time has been a bit short, so the flavor might not be mellow enough yet, but if you don't mind, you can have a taste.""As long as there is alcohol, I can stay young forever." Kureha took a bottle of fruit wine, pulled out the stopper, and tilted her head back to take a large gulp, the liquid flowing down the corners of her mouth and dripping onto her crop top. She didn't mind, wiped her mouth, and her expression suddenly turned serious. "Have you been to Prehistoric Island?"Mark nodded: "Yes, we passed by a while ago and stayed on the island for a few days.""No wonder." Kureha put down the wine bottle and pointed toward the adjacent room. "That brat's illness was caused by the poisonous tick 'Cassia' found on Prehistoric Island."She paused, her tone turning a bit stern: "That kind of tick is very small, hiding under the leaves in the jungle. After biting someone, it injects bacteria into the wound.These bacteria will incubate in the human body for five days before symptoms appear—first a high fever exceeding 40 degrees, followed by myocarditis, arteritis, and in severe cases, even encephalitis. If not treated in time, there is no hope after five days.""What? It's that serious?" Luffy slid down from the wall, clutching his stomach as he leaned in, his previous playful expression gone, replaced by anxiety. "Then is Nami okay now? Will she...""Rest assured, I still have a bottle of anti-venom serum here." Kureha interrupted him, her tone firm. "I already administered it to her yesterday. With three more days of rest, she will fully recover."Luffy breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest: "That's great! Thank you, Doctorine!" This time he learned his lesson and didn't call her "old hag" again.Sanji also relaxed, then remembered what happened earlier and couldn't help asking: "Doctorine, that reindeer... the one who took care of us, what is his background, exactly?""You're talking about Chopper, aren't you." Kurehasaid, turning to walk out the door, her hand resting on the stone railing of the castle as she looked out at the snowy yard.Mark, Luffy, and Sanji followed her out, looking in the direction of her gaze—they saw Chopper riding on Ink Meteor's back. Ink Meteor was lying in the snow, and Chopper was tugging at its fur, not knowing what he was saying.Kureha's eyes softened, and a faint smile even appeared at the corners of her lips, a stark contrast to her fiery demeanor from just moments ago: "That child, I have passed on all the medical skills I have acquired in my lifetime to him."The snow in the yard hadn't stopped, and tiny snowflakes landed on Chopper's fur, like a dusting of white sugar. He rode on Ink Meteor's back, his hooves gently patting Ink Meteor's head, his voice tinged with confusion:"Ink Meteor, you just said that your master's injury was self-inflicted? Why? Why would he hurt himself?"Ink Meteor raised its head and let out a "Woo-wah—&*" cry, its voice deep and gentle, as if explaining."Is that so! Was it to make the villagers believe that you wouldn't hurt them?"Chopper murmured to himself, his gaze gradually drifting, as if lost in memory. The cold wind blowing across the snow reminded him of a blizzard from many years ago—It was also a day this cold when he had collapsed in the snow, covered in wounds, thinking he was going to die, until a man in a white lab coat walked over and said with a smile, "I absolutely will not hurt you."That man, in order to make him lower his guard, had stripped naked in the biting cold wind, and even though he was shivering, he didn't leave."Dr. Hiriluk..." When he uttered this name, Chopper's eyes instantly turned red, and large teardrops like broken pearls fell onto Ink Meteor's fur, melting quickly.He hurriedly wiped his face with his paws, but the tears only came more, his voice choked with sobs: "Are you... really pirates? Are pirates all very free, able to go to many places with their companions?"Ink Meteor let out a few more "&*#" sounds, its tail gently sweeping across Chopper's face, as if answering his question."W-what?" Chopper's eyes suddenly lit up. Even with tears still hanging on his face, he already had an expression of surprise. "You said you are a pirate with a bounty? Ink Meteor, you are too amazing! Are all pirates with bounties this incredible?""Huh... why can that reindeer communicate with Ink Meteor without any barriers?" A hoarse voice suddenly came from the doorway. Everyone turned back to see Zoro wrapped in bandages, standing in the hallway.His complexion was still somewhat pale, his body partially covered by bandages, and his right hand was still rubbing his eyes, clearly having just woken up, with the bandages on his body still crooked."Zoro, you're awake!" Luffy instantly forgot his stomach pain and rushed over excitedly. "Chopper is a doctor, and he can talk!"Zoro's gaze shifted from Chopper to the fruit wine bottle in Kureha's hand, his lips curling up: "Hmm, I smell alcohol. How is this wine? Can I have a taste?""Want to drink? Wait until your wounds are healed." Kureha glanced at him, her tone turning stern again. "You are still in the recovery period. If you dare touch alcohol, I will tear off your bandages and let you freeze in the snow."Zoro curled his lip and didn't say anything else—he could tell that this old hag was not to be trifled with."Chopper, that child... sigh!" Kureha's voice sounded again, her tone filled with a touch of melancholy. "He was born with a blue nose and was abandoned by his parents the moment he was born; the reindeer herd ostracized him.Later, he accidentally ate the Hito Hito no Mi, allowing him to speak human language and walk on two feet like a human. He thought that would allow him to make friends with humans, so he snuck into the village, but was treated as a monster, a snow man, by the villagers, and people even shot at him."She paused, her voice lowering: "He didn't know what he had done wrong, nor did he know who to hate; he just wanted to find some companions.It wasn't until one time, when he collapsed in the blizzard, covered in wounds and nearly frozen to death, that he happened to encounter Hiriluk, who was being hunted by the King's guards.""Hiriluk was a doctor, and although others called him a 'quack,' his heart was very kind."Kureha's gaze drifted into the distance, as if recalling the past. "He saved Chopper, brought him back to his small wooden shack, treated his gunshot wounds, and even named him 'Tony Tony Chopper.'""Hiriluk took care of Chopper like his own son for a year."The yard was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind and snow. Luffy stopped making noise and listened with wide eyes. Nami had arrived at some point as well; she was wrapped in a thick blanket, standing in the doorway. Her complexion was still pale, but she was listening with exceptional focus. Mark was also silent, watching Chopper in the snow, a sense of bitterness welling up in his heart."A year later, Hiriluk discovered he had a terminal illness, an incurable disease, and only had ten days left to live." Kureha's voice trembled slightly. "He was afraid Chopper would be sad, so he deliberately lost his temper at Chopper and drove him away. Chopper didn't know the reason, thinking he had done something wrong, and hid in the mountains crying for several days.""Later, Chopper overheard a conversation between me and Hiriluk and found out about Hiriluk's condition, and that he only had ten days to live." Kureha's voice grew even lower. "Hiriluk had previously told Chopper that 'a skull is a symbol of an omnipotent belief.' Chopper believed it, so he braved the blizzard to find the 'Amiudake Mushroom' with a skull mark on it in an encyclopedia, not knowing that the skull was a mark of deadly poison.""When Hiriluk saw Chopper holding the poisonous mushroom and returning, he knew the child was trying to save him, so he said nothing. In front of Chopper, he drank the soup made with the poisonous mushroom and even said with a smile, 'It's delicious.'""The poisonous mushroom soup only accelerated the process of death, and in the end, he chose to end his life by detonating himself in Wapol's trap.""Before he died, he specifically found me and knelt in the snow, begging me to take Chopper in and pass my medical skills on to him. Now, Chopper is my son too."She looked up at Luffy and his group, her eyes glistening with tears. "If you have the ability, then take my son out to the sea—even if he becomes a heinous pirate in the future, it doesn't matter."Everyone looked at Chopper, who was still chatting with Ink Meteor, and then at Luffy!"Everyone, I've decided!" Luffy suddenly stepped forward, his tone resolute, his voice particularly clear in the snow. "I want to invite Chopper to join our ship as our ship's doctor! I want him to be my companion!""That is absolutely a wise choice, Captain." Namisaid softly, a long-lost smile appearing on her face."Nami-san, you're awake!" Sanji instantly switched to "gentleman mode," walking quickly to Nami's side and carefully supporting her. "It's cold outside; why did you come out? Go back inside and stay there; the porridge will be ready soon.""You smelly blonde brat, who told you to get out of bed?" Kureha's tone instantly turned fierce. She pushed Sanji aside, picked Nami up, turned, and walked into the house. She threw Nami onto the bed and pulled out a Scalpel, holding it to Nami's throat, her eyes full of "killing intent." "In my hands, patients only have two outcomes: either they get better, or they die. Which one do you choose?"Nami was so scared she stiffened, not daring to even breathe loudly; Luffy and Zoro didn't dare to speak either; Sanji could only worry helplessly, not daring to step forward—everyone knew that this old hag meant what she said."T-that... I'll go cook so the porridge doesn't burn." Sanji quickly found an excuse and slipped into the kitchen, though he muttered to himself: "This old hag is truly fiercer than Nami."Luffy shouted to Chopper in the yard: "Chopper! Be my companion! Let's go on an adventure on the sea together and eat meat together!""Hey! Zoro, dinner is almost ready, where are you going?" Mark looked at Zoro's bandage-covered back!"Taking a walk." Zoro waved his hand."Again with this, I don't believe this guy would get lost in a place as small as the palm of a hand!"
Chapter 53: The Weight of LifeInside the castle dining room's stone fireplace, the firewood crackled and popped, sparks occasionally leaping from the grate to land on the old wool carpet nearby, instantly turning into fine ash from the residual heat. The orange-red firelight washed over the long table, making everyone's cheeks glow.Sanji had just served a whole platter of sizzling roast wild boar leg meat. Luffy immediately reached out and grabbed a large piece. The juices dripped through his fingers onto the tablecloth, but he didn't care, chewing large mouthfuls until his face was covered in oil. His muffled cries of "delicious" mixed with the sound of chewing to become the perfect background noise.Chopper squatted on a chair, squinting his eyes as he swung his little feet back and forth. He held a marshmallow larger than his face in his arms, the tips of his small ears dusted with fine sugar crystals, and his little tongue would occasionally dart out to quickly lick the fluffy sugar threads.This marshmallow was made by Mark, who had found an empty spice tin, drilled pinholes in the side, and used his control ability to make the tin spin rapidly. When the tin was heated over the fire, Sanjiwould precisely sprinkle sugar into the opening.The melted sugar liquid sprayed out from the fine holes, condensing into snow-white sugar threads upon contact with the cold air. Mark then used a bamboo stick to reel them in, creating this cloyingly sweet thing that Mark called "Marshmallow Bait.""Mm..." Chopper suddenly opened his eyes, his small nose twitching rapidly, and his previously drooping ears snapped upright.His paws unconsciously tightened around the marshmallow, tearing several sugar threads that fell onto his legs.He abruptly turned to look at Kureha, his round eyes filled with uncontrollable anger: "Doctor Kureha! It's Wapol's scent! He's here!"Chopper's anger at Wapol's arrival was natural—he would never forget Hiriluk, the man the world called a "quack doctor."Hiriluk had died back then in an "emergency patient" trap set by Wapol.He had used an explosive potion to blow himself up. The splashing blood droplets mixed with the snowflakes falling on Drum Peak, that streak of red exceptionally piercing against the white snow, becoming the most tragic epitaph written with a life. Thinking of this, Chopper's eyes quietly turned red.Mark was unhurriedly cutting a fried egg on his plate with a silver fork. The runny yolk flowed out along the knife marks and coated the fork. Hearing the news, his movement in putting down the fork remained steady, the silver fork making a soft "clink" as it touched the porcelain plate.He picked up a folded linen napkin from the edge of the table and gently wiped the corners of his mouth. The pressure of his fingertips across the paper was as light as brushing away snow, but the flash of killing intent in his eyes was as sharp as ice shards."That saves us the trouble of looking for him," he said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. Only the edge of the table, which he had "gently" touched with his finger, was left with a shallow indentation."That guy!" Luffy suddenly swallowed the roast meat in his mouth, choking so hard he had to thump his chest violently.A loud "gulp" sound came from his throat. He hurriedly grabbed a glass from the table and gulped down half a glass of cold water, the ice cubes clinking against the glass, before he finally recovered.A second later, he sprang up from his chair, hands clenched into fists with his knuckles cracking: "He's the one who shot cannonballs at us! Last time, I didn't fight because there were patients! Now I can finally cut loose and fight!"Outside the castle, the snow had already accumulated past the ankles. Large snowflakes fell endlessly like shredded cotton, wrapping the distant coniferous forest in a vast expanse of white.The wind carried snow particles that battered the stone walls with a howling sound, even causing the castle's window frames to tremble slightly.But Wapol completely ignored the biting cold. He hunched his body, mouth wide open with saliva dripping from the corners, the power of the Munch-Munch Fruit fully exposed on him—He took large bites out of the hard ice layers and thick snowdrifts. Ice shards cut the corners of his mouth, causing blood to mix with the snow as he chewed with a crunching sound and swallowed it whole.He had literally "eaten" a path from the foot of the mountain to the castle, leaving behind a slimy trail of snow mixed with his saliva that was exceptionally disgusting.He stood in the open space in front of the castle, panting for a while with his hands on his hips. His chest heaved violently, saliva and melted snow dripping from his mouth, and even his animal-skin cloak was covered in snow and ice fragments.Chess, who followed behind him, tightened the bow and arrows on his back, the snow on the bowstring falling in flurries. Kuromarimo rubbed his red, frozen hands, his chilblains cracking open, yet he still approached with a fawning expression, a few snowflakes stuck in his afro.Wapol scanned the familiar silhouette of the castle, his arrogant laughter exploding through the wind and snow, shaking clumps of snow off the branches: "See that? This castle is exactly as it was when I left! From today on, the Drum Kingdom is restored—and I am still the King!""Your brilliance, Lord Wapol!" Kuromarimo suddenly pointed at the top of the castle, his afro swaying in the wind and his finger trembling, his voice shaking: "Look quickly! That's not the Drum Kingdom Flagflying up there! It's a Pirate Flag!"Wapol looked up in the direction he pointed and immediately saw that flag with a skull and cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind, occupying the flagpole where the national flag should have been.His triangular eyes instantly bulged, and he spat directly onto the snow, creating a small pit: "Who hung this lousy Pirate Flag? Where is my Drum Kingdom Flag?""That thing? I burned it for warmth long ago." Kureha's voice came from behind the castle gates. In the minus-fifty-degree weather,everyone else was wrapped in thick cotton coats with hats and scarves tightly secured, but she wore only a cream-colored short-sleeved shirt. She didn't flinch at all, her pace remaining slow and steady, the snow crunching under her feet without her sinking too deep.Chopper followed closely by her side, having already switched to his animal form. His four hooves left small prints in the snow, the snow particles on his hooves shaking slightly with each step as he occasionally looked up to glare at Wapol.Luffy and Sanji walked behind them. One was rubbing his hands together, his knuckles still cracking and his breathing becoming rapid; the other leaned against the doorframe with an unlit cigarette between his fingers, the cigarette itself chilled by the cold wind, his eyes as cold as the ice on the ground as he stared fixedly at the three people in the snow.Kureha stood in the snow, the cold wind blowing her hair into a frenzy with several white strands sticking to her cheeks, but her gaze was colder than the wind."Get lost, Wapol. Since the day you were driven away by Blackbeard and abandoned your citizens to flee, the Drum Kingdom has ceased to exist. There is no place for you here now.""You old hag, you've finally shown yourself! Taking over my castle while I was away and daring to replace the national flag with that ugly thing!"Wapol's face instantly contorted, spitting saliva and snow onto the ground, his teeth grinding together: "I think you're tired of living!""I have no interest in your lousy castle," Kureha said, glancing up at the top of the castle with a tone full of mockery, not even a frown on her brow."But the flag of Hiriluk flying now—you should recognize it. It has long since transformed this place from your power-caged medical prison into a lighthouse of life that saves the dying and heals the wounded. This country will never fly your flag again.""It was your luck that my 'Doctor Hunt' didn't kill you back then!" Wapol's voice suddenly rose, his eyes full of ruthlessness, the veins on his forehead bulging: "Today is perfect, everyone who opposes me is right here—if I kill you all, this country will be mine again!"As he spoke, he laughed maniacally, the hem of his cloak sweeping across the snow in the wind."Long live Lord Wapol!" Chess quickly raised his bow, the string drawn halfway, the arrow tip pointed at Kureha with snow clinging to the shaft. Kuromarimo also rubbed his hands in agreement, the snow in his afro falling all over the ground, his voice dripping with flattery: "Your brilliance, Lord Wapol! Once they're dead, there will be no one left to resist in the Drum Kingdom!"But before the words "be yours" could land, a blur had already charged out from the castle entrance—Luffy's speed was so fast he was almost nothing but a gust of wind. As the blur swept across the snow, the kicked-up snow particles hit the stone walls with a rustling sound.His shout exploded within the wind and snow: "Busoshoku: Hardening! Gum-Gum Pistol!"Pitch-black Armament Haki firmly encased his right fist, the muscles taut and the knuckles glinting with a cold light. With a whistle that broke the wind, it slammed squarely into Wapol's face.A sharp "crack" was exceptionally jarring as Wapol's proud Tin Plate Jaw shattered on the spot. Several metal fragments flew far away, piercing into the snow while still stained with bloody saliva.Blood instantly poured from the corners of his mouth, staining the ice shards on his chin. Even one of his yellow teeth hidden behind the Tin Plate Jawwas knocked out, rolling into the snow.He didn't even have time to cry out in pain before he was sent flying like a broken kite, rolling a long trail of blood onto the snow. Snow particles stuck to his wounds, making him twitch in pain as he headed straight for the edge of the cliff on Drum Peak.At that moment, Mark's figure suddenly flashed at the edge of the cliff—not running, but a blur of near-instant movement. Snow mist exploded at his feet, and even the thin ice at the cliff's edge cracked under the pressure.In his hand, he held the black iron staff, "Ink Meteor." The staff glinted with a cold, hard light, its tip still dusted with snow, as he delivered a heavy blow to Wapol's back: "Don't be in such a hurry to go down; the good show hasn't even started yet.""Bang!" This blow was incredibly heavy, forcing Wapol's flight path to veer sharply. He flew back like a tattered sack, his clothes flapping loudly from the wind generated by the staff, directly toward Luffy.Luffy's eyes lit up, and his fist tightened again, the Armament Haki on his knuckles deepening: "Perfect timing! Gum-Gum Gatling!"Countless fists encased in Armament Haki slammed into Wapol's body in a dense barrage. The muffled "thud thud thud" sounds were continuous, and Wapol's screams were shattered by the impacts.Even the snow-covered ground trembled slightly, and snow particles fell incessantly from the surrounding pine branches.Finally, Luffy withdrew his fists. Wapol lay on the snow like a pile of mud, covered in blood, his clothes torn to shreds, struggling even to move a finger.Mark walked over slowly and used the tip of Ink Meteor to gently poke his waist. Wapol grimaced in pain, his face contorting into a mess, yet he couldn't even manage a groan."Oh? It's broken?" Mark's tone held a hint of indifference, but his eyes were devoid of warmth. With that previous strike, he had specifically aimed for Wapol's lumbar vertebrae to ensure the bastard completely lost his ability to resist. "Don't die too early; I haven't had a proper chat with you yet."He crouched down, grabbing Wapol's collar to lift him slightly. The fabric of the collar was soaked with blood, sticking slimily to his hand.His voice was low but loud enough for everyone around to hear, his breath carrying a chill: "This 'good buddy' of ours used cannonballs to blast us yesterday, nearly burying us all in an iceberg and almost making us lose an important companion.Today, I need to have a good 'discussion' with him about how to compensate us for our losses."AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-liteChopper stood beside Kureha, watching Luffy's arm, which had suddenly stretched just a moment ago. His little brow was furrowed tight, full of confusion, and even his ears had drooped a little."Just now... how did Luffy's arm stretch? Like rubber... and it could even become that hard..."Sanji walked over and flicked the tip of Chopper's ear lightly. His fingertips carried the faint scent of tobacco, and he shook his head with a smile: "Don't worry about that so much. In short, that guy is just a monster.""Scenes of conversation aren't really suitable for children to watch." Mark dragged Wapol by his collar, heading toward the coniferous forest behind the castle like he was dragging a dead pig.Wapol's face was scraped painfully against the snow. His skin was broken, and beads of blood mixed with melted snow, dragging a pale red trail across the snow, yet he didn't even have the strength to struggle."How dare you touch Lord Wapol! Where are you taking him?" Chess and Kuromarimo finally reacted upon seeing their master being dragged away.They hurriedly raised their weapons and chased after him—Chess rushed forward holding his bow and arrow shaft; Kuromarimo followed in a panic, clutching a static-charged fur ball.But they had only run two steps when they were forced to stop by the sudden darkening of Mark's expression—at that instant, the air pressure around Mark plummeted, and invisible Conqueror's Hakiexploded like a giant wave. The surrounding pine branches trembled violently, lumps of snow fell with a patter, and even the air seemed to solidify."Scram."Chess and Kuromarimo's faces turned deathly pale instantly. Their eyes widened, they forgot to even breathe, and their weapons clattered onto the snow.The next second, the two of them collapsed onto the snow, foaming at the mouth as if all their strength had been drained away. Their bodies were still twitching slightly, and the foam at the corners of their mouths was quickly frozen into ice chips by the cold wind.When Mark turned his head, the coldness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by his usual cute, smiling expression. His eyes curved into crescents, and even the corners of his mouth carried a hint of a smile.He waved at Luffy and the others, his tone as relaxed as if he were going for a stroll: "Everyone go back, keep the music playing and keep dancing. I'll be back soon; remember to save me a piece of roasted meat!"Kureha watched Mark's back disappear into the entrance of the coniferous forest. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, her fingertips pinching the cloak's ties. She shook her head with a smile, her tone filled with a hint of emotion:"Young people these days, they really are ruthless—but, for this kind of bastard, this is exactly what's needed. There's no reason to be soft-hearted."Chopper looked at Chess and Kuromarimo lying in the snow, then looked toward the coniferous forest. His little paws clutched the corner of his clothes, his nails almost digging into his flesh, and he whispered to himself: "Is this what pirates are like?..."Sanji leaned against the stone wall of the castle and finally lit his cigarette with a match. He tossed the matchstick onto the snow, where it quickly extinguished. The smoke dissipated rapidly in the cold air, leaving behind a faint smell of sulfur.He looked at Chopper's bewildered eyes, and his tone softened: "This time, Wapol went too far—he almost killed our crewmate, destroyed our ship, and wanted to kill all of us... He crossed the line, so we can't show mercy, otherwise, we'll be the ones getting hurt.""Alright, alright! Don't think about those things anymore!" Luffy had already put what happened just now behind him. He ran over and grabbed Chopper's hoof, pulling with so much force that he almost dragged Chopper down, pulling him toward the restaurant, "Let's go back and eat roasted meat, Chopper! The roasted wild boar leg Sanji made is super delicious."In the coniferous forest behind the castle, snow pressed down on the pine branches, bending the twigs until they looked like they would snap at any moment. Occasionally, a few flakes of snow fell from the branches, hitting the thick snow, making no sound. Only the wind passing through the gaps in the needles made a "rustling" sound, which instead made the place seem even quieter, to the point where one could hear their own breathing with extreme clarity.Mark threw Wapol into a snowdrift, causing a large pit to sink into the soft snow. Snow particles splashed onto Wapol's wounds, causing him to twitch in pain, yet he couldn't even dodge.There were a few dry pine needles hidden in the snowdrift that pricked his face, but he didn't have the strength to brush them away. Mark squatted down and patted Wapol's face—The blood and snow on Wapol's face mixed together, sticking stickily to his fingertips. After the snow on his fingertips melted, it turned into pale red water, dripping onto the snow."On the left, the Green Dragon pine branches block the wind; on the right, the accumulated snow White Tiger marks the burial spot. This place is quiet and clean; the feng shui is pretty good, isn't it?"Mark's tone was as light as if he were chatting about the weather, but in Wapol's eyes, that smile was scarier than the cold wind in the forest. "I've given you enough face, haven't I, former King?"Wapol's mouth had been beaten into a bloody mess by Luffy, making his speech whistle. Saliva and blood flowed down together, dripping onto the snow and spreading into small red circles.He looked into Mark's eyes, which were filled with fear. His body trembled uncontrollably in the snow, and even his teeth were chattering:"You... you want to kill me? I am the King of the Drum Kingdom... You can't kill me! I'll give you money... I'll give you a warehouse full of gold... I'll let you be the King! Please don't kill me!"As he spoke, he tried to crawl toward Mark, but the moment he moved, the excruciating pain from his lumbar spine made him scream, and his body arched like a shrimp.His fingernails were stuffed with snow and pine needles, scratching shallow marks into the snow, yet he hadn't even crawled half an inch, looking as wretched as a stray dog.Mark smiled innocently, even reaching out to brush the snow off Wapol's head. The coldness of his fingertips passed through the snow to Wapol's scalp, making him shiver."Can... can you tell me why you must kill me?" Wapol's voice was filled with a crying tone, full of begging, and even his tears streamed down mixed with blood and snow."The reason for killing you?" Mark tilted his head, his fingertips gently grazing the wounds on Wapol's face. Watching the other man wince in pain, his voice remained soft but carried a bone-chilling cold:"You used cannonballs to bomb the castle, almost burying all four of us in the ice mountain. This matter actually isn't the most important—after all, we were lucky and nothing happened."Wapol thought there was a turning point and nodded hurriedly. Blood and snow streamed down his cheeks, forming red-black ice on his chin, and he couldn't even speak coherently:"Yes! Yes! I was wrong! I won't dare to do it again! I'll be your slave! I'll work like a horse or ox for you! Please don't kill me! I beg you!""But you have the Munch-Munch Fruit." Mark's voice suddenly turned cold, the smile in his eyes freezing like it had been solidified by the cold wind.He drew a black knife from the black leather sheath behind his waist—the sheath was embroidered with a small lion pattern, corresponding exactly to Ink Meteor.The drawing of the blade made a slight "clink" sound. The blade was very thin, reflecting a cold, biting light in the snow, making Wapol unable to open his eyes:"Do you know Marshall D. Teach? That guy who could wear out a Devil Fruit encyclopedia just to find a good Devil Fruit—he came specifically to the Drum Kingdom to find you, wanting to steal your fruit. As it turns out, you were lucky; you were able to use your own citizens as human shields just to escape, which is how you survived."He used the back of the knife to gently pat Wapol's chest, his tone full of mockery and his eyes full of disdain: "A piece of trash like you, who can even abandon their own citizens, is simply wasting the Munch-Munch Fruit.""Keeping you alive, if the fruit ever falls into the hands of Blackbeard, it will be a big problem sooner or later—whether it's for the personal grudge of you bombing us, or for our Straw Hat Crew to have one less hidden danger and more strength in the future... you have to die today."As soon as the words fell, a cold light flashed. Markslightly turned his wrist, and the small knife precisely plunged into Wapol's heart, without a hint of hesitation.Wapol's eyes widened to the maximum instantly, his pupils reflecting the cold light of the blade and the snow-filled sky. He made a "ho-ho" sound in his mouth, like a broken bellows.Fresh blood gushed from the wound, quickly staining the snow beneath him, spreading a glaring red patch across the pure white snow, and even the snow on the pine branches was stained red.Mark watched his pupils slowly dilate and said softly: "Take a deep breath. Dizziness is normal. It won't hurt soon."Wapol's consciousness gradually blurred, and Hiriluk's face suddenly flashed before his eyes—That man, back then on Drum Peak, was also smiling peacefully just like this, with exploding firelight and snow-filled skies behind him, saying: "When does a man die? Is it when his heart is pierced by a bullet? Is it when he suffers from an incurable disease? When he drinks a poisonous mushroom soup? None of those. It is when he is forgotten by the world."This memory was like an ice pick piercing through the wind and snow, revealing the ultimate proposition of life. Unfortunately, he only understood it at the moment of death, but he had already ruined his own path, not even leaving time for a final word.One minute later, Wapol's body became completely still. Only the snow continued to fall, slowly covering the expression of fear on his face, and even his eyes, which were open until the end, were gently covered by snowflakes."Ink Meteor." Mark called out softly. The voice didn't travel far in the silent forest, but it was clear enough that even the wind seemed to pause for a moment.From the shadows, a huge figure slowly walked out—it was a black giant lion twice the size of a normal lion, its mane like burning black flames, covered in fine snow particles. With every step it took, the mane swayed gently, and snow particles fell with a rustle.Its golden pupils shone in the dim forest, and its paws made not a sound as they stepped on the snow, clearly moving with extreme lightness.It walked to Mark's side, lowered its head, and rubbed against his hand. Its mane brushed over Mark's wrist, carrying a bit of warmth; then it opened its large mouth, revealing sharp fangs, carrying a cold, chilling aura, and swallowed Wapol's corpse in one bite, not even leaving a scrap of bone, leaving only a bit of blood on the corner of its mouth, which was quickly covered by snow.[Ding! Detected that the devoured energy is highly compatible with the weapon's ability. Merge?]Mark stood up and brushed the snow off his body. Snowflakes slid off his clothes and landed on the ground without a sound. He gently grazed his fingertips over Ink Meteor's mane; the mane trembled slightly, as if responding to his touch, and his voice was flat and waveless: "Merge."[Merging... Energy consumption 0... Merging progress 5%...]The snow continued to fall, flakes landing on Mark's shoulders and Ink Meteor's mane, quickly covering the bloodstains on the ground tightly.The wind passed through the coniferous forest, carrying away the last bit of the smell of blood. Even the footprints they had left behind were slowly covered by the snow, leaving only the soft sound of Ink Meteor occasionally shaking its mane and snow particles falling.In the distance, Luffy's laughter from the restaurant could be heard faintly, forming a strange contrast with the silence here, as if this reckoning of sin had never happened in this silent, snowy forest.