Chapter 45: Chapter 045
"Are you alright, Luke? Liz mentioned her healing ability doesn't work on you." Minutes later and Nami approached Luke with concern.
She noticed Luke looked deathly pale and appeared frail.
The battle of Luke with the other guy must've weakened him. Not to mention, he looked bloodied and haggard with his clothes in tatters with bruised skin.
Overall, Luke was wretchedly spent in the battle.
"I'm good, just a bit tired. I'll clean myself first." Luke waved his hand and he stood up slowly. He then proceeded to the bathroom to clean up.
Nami just stared at the back of Luke in silence. She realized that the latter must be shouldering the heaviest burden alone, yet he put up a tough front. Even Grimmjow told them that his partner was more powerful than him and Luke just fought him alone.
Luffy finally woke up after being healed by Liz. He was the greatest contributor for reducing Grimmjow's power to the minimum so that Zoro and Johnny can keep up with the fight.
Luffy's concern was on Sanji. After knowing they defeated the enemy, he didn't rejoiced. Instead, he looked for Sanji.
The Strawhats also joined in to check on Sanji's condition.
"Err.. I didn't heal him first. Because if I do, he will be crippled forever." Liz explained in a low voice. She glanced at the unconscious Sanji.
The condition of Sanji was very tragic. He looked like a crumbled piece of paper by his disordered broken bones.
Nami and Vivi just shred tears while the men clenched their fists until their hands bled.
"Luffy... What shall we do?" Zoro braced himself as he asked.
Luffy was also in a dilemma. If he accepted the suggestion of Liz, he will basically destroy Sanji's future.
"I'll align his bones." Luke arrived at the room. His bruises were gone, but he looked deathly pale. His clothes also restored.
"Luke! You-" Liz wanted to say something but Luke waved his hand to stop her. She knew Luke was severely injured, but she didn't know the root of his injury since her healing ability wouldn't work on him.
Luffy observed Luke and wanted to stop him, but the latter was resolute, so he stayed in place.
Luke raised his hand and a white gooey ball manifested.
Everyone watched carefully as Luke injected the white gooey ball on Sanji's body. They were surprised to see Sanji's body moved on his own like a controlled puppet.
Liz and others who were present where Luke healed Johnny earlier, lit up their eyes. They watched a miracle happening once again.
Luke busied himself waving his hand as he aligned all Sanji's broken bones. It took him a few minutes of bone setting before deactivating his power.
Cough!
Luke coughed and blood leaked out of his mouth and he wobbled a bit.
"Luke... Are you alright?" Liz supported Luke and she began to heal his body.
"I'm fine. Just need a little rest." Luke shook his head as he wiped the blood stain on his mouth. He knew her ability won't work on his depleted life span.
Everyone also got worried when they saw Luke looked so frail as if a slight wind will knock him down.
Nami also appeared beside Luke as she gave him a support.
"Sanji has a special body than all of us. He can heal his broken bones slowly. That's a part of his secret he doesn't fully know yet. So keep this information a secret from him."
Luke explained to the group. He purposefully didn't connect Sanji's bones, he just aligned them. This is also a way for Sanji to slowly awaken his hidden talent in his bloodline.
Everyone's eyes lit up since there's a chance for Sanji to be normal again. They didn't mind Sanji's secret as long as he's fine.
Liz also started to heal Sanji since she can't heal Luke.
"I need to rest first." Luke has a droopy eyes as he barely kept his consciousness up.
He wasn't playing around. He really spent everything on that last attack on Ulquiorra. After he received the latter's soul to absorb, he noticed the soul was different.
Ulquiorra's soul was something that has been contaminated. His Soul Soul power repelled absorbing such a dirty soul. Like it would rather drink a piss than devouring a soul of a Hollow.
With no other choice, Luke returned empty handed.
After Luke left the scene, Everyone had a self-reflection. They realized that there are monsters among monsters out there. If they don't improve themselves fast, those powerful individuals will just devour them whole.
They must get stronger to protect their Nakama. To be strong and not be a burden to the group.
Today they barely escaped a calamity, but they swore to never let another one happen again.
Everyone became resolute on getting stronger from today henceforth.
...
The next day...
Luffy and the Strawhats bade farewell to their giant friends, Dory and Broggy.
The two giant warriors also decided to go back soon to their home land, Elbaf.
As the Strawhats exited the island, they met with a huge carp fish that devoured little Islands to be it's food. Apparently, it's waiting at the exit river of Little Garden to eat some pirate ships.
Each of the Strawhats can deal with the giant fish. However, the giants insisted that they will help dealing with the carp as a parting gift.
Luke's eyes flickered as he expected a good soul harvest for this giant fish. And minutes later, he received the soul that restored bits of his lifespan.
However, he will be retaining his sickly appearance. Of course with a purpose. The next island will be the home land of Tony Tony Chopper, the future raindeer doctor of the Strawhats. He can't just neglect one of the main crew. However, it will be up to Luffy on how to recruit the raindeer as their doctor or.. the emergency food.
Despite in a hurry to save the Alabasta, Vivi suggested for the group to go on a nearby island to find a doctor and check up on Luke's strange condition.
Even Nami showed the news to her that majority of the soldiers are revolting, Vivi still insisted on finding a doctor for Luke.
Liz occasionally went at Luke's side to try her healing ability on him. And everytime she tries, she always failed.
Meanwhile, Zoro, Yosaku and Johnny kept on interrogating the Baroque Work agents about those two powerful individuals they defeated.
However, none of them knew those people. Even Vivi had no recollection of such weird looking men.
Zoro then glanced at Luke who naps at his reclining chair. He had the guts that Luke somehow knew those people. However, he wouldn't disturb the latter's rest.
...
Jaya Island...
An exceptionally tall woman at 15 feet was casually sitting on a tall stool while drinking a juice. She wore a hood that hid her identity. The only thing was visible about her are those prominent lips of a woman.
A tall hooded man at 10 feet entered the bar and sat beside the tall woman and ordered a drink.
"You found something?" The woman asked.
"Yes. I got this information from the Bellamy Pirates. A few months ago, a blood-like storm appeared near this town, then these pirates were captured the next day by an unnamed man and another hooded man who has the ability to freeze their blood." The hooded man nodded.
He continued, "The two individuals actually went to the legendary Sky Island through knock-up stream that happen once every two days."
"Sky Island? Do you think that man that captured mama lives there?" The woman narrowed her eyes.
"We'll know once we go up there." The man revealed himself as Charlotte Cracker, Officer of Big Mom pirates.
"Then we need to Hurry. Katakuri is buying us some time. If that man wasn't on that island, then we'll take it as our new base." The woman revealed herself as Charlotte Smoothie, Officer of Big Mom pirates.
...
Level 6 Impel down...
Ace was chained in a cell. He was sitting cross legged while bowing down in silence.
Outside the cell was Garp. He looked nonchalant as if the capture of Ace doesn't affect him at all.
"Why are you here, old man?" Ace muttered.
"Hmph! Look at you. I told you before that being a pirate won't do you good." Garp chided as he sat cross legged.
"My decision to be a pirate doesn't concern you. I do what I want and I don't regret my actions." Ace retorted.
Garp sighed, "Maybe you're right. Something happened and I actually let Luffy become a pirate."
"You did?" Ace found it impossible as he asked in disbelief.
"Yeah." Garp scratched his head in annoyance. He continued, "That brat probably entered the Grand Line by now. And if he heard you are here, he will surely become reckless and bust his way in no matter what it takes."
Ace turned silent. A few seconds past and he asked, "So why aren't you worried? You should know this place has been upgraded ever since that monster escaped. There are more powerful guards roaming here every hour and you know that. If Luffy barge his way in, he will only be courting death."
Garp squinted his eyes at Ace and said, "If he dies, he dies. That's what he wants and he's old enough to take responsibility for his actions."
He added, "But.. He will surely be able to come and get you out of here safely."
Ace frowned as he didn't know what Garp meant. He just didn't know why this old man was so confident of his grandson.
"Oy oy old man. For a marine, your words have no filters at all. You are practically cursing every marines out there. It sure is quite amusing in my opinion." A new voice resounded in a cell next to Ace.
"You are that brat that got caught alongside Ace? What was your name again? Ban was it?" Garp squinted his eyes at the white haired man in the cell.
"A brat huh? Anyway, I 'willingly' surrendered, old man. I just want to see if this place is good for my hibernation, that's all. My captain is busy finding a potential wife all over the place so I got bored and visited this place for a change." The man named Ban replied nonchalantly.
He didn't know why his captain was so adamant on finding a potential wife when there's so many women waiting in line just to partner with his captain.
Whatever the reason why his captain was so picky on women, he doesn't care too much.
"Careful though, my captain may enter this place sooner than your little boy." Ban added as he chuckled.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone