noveltune Chapter 80: [80] : The Ultimate Human! Cherry Blossoms in Bloom!
Chapter 80: [80] : The Ultimate Human! Cherry Blossoms in Bloom!
Chapter 80 - [80] : The Ultimate Human! Cherry Blossoms in Bloom!~ As Usual. Bonus Chapter Every 300 Powerstones!
~ 18 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
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Hearing the name 'Nika', Dr. Kureha's eyes widened, flickering with intense emotion.
She hadn't heard of the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nika before.
After all, it was the World Government's greatest taboo, hidden for eight hundred years, its true nature disguised by the rubbery properties attributed to the Paramecia-type Gomu-Gomu Fruit.
Even someone who had lived 139 years like Dr. Kureha wouldn't know of this specific fruit.
But 'Nika'—Dr. Kureha had heard of Nika.
"The legendary Warrior of Liberation... Fought to free slaves eight hundred years ago—brought hope to the people back then—That's why he was revered as the Sun God, Nika," Dr. Kureha murmured, her words sending shockwaves through everyone present.
"Exactly. The previous owner of the Nika fruit—was Joy Boy—the figure considered taboo by the World Government during the Void Century. For eight hundred years, fearing this fruit's power, the World Government relentlessly
"Of course not! We've met giants! They're true warriors of the sea! Incredibly respectable!" Usopp immediately countered, thinking of the warriors he admired.
Chopper looked at the admiration in Usopp's eyes, heard the praise from the others, and felt an overwhelming urge to cry.
This was the first time anyone had looked up to him, praised him like this. All the things he thought were flaws—seemed like strengths in their eyes.
"So? The sea is incredibly vast. Want to become our comrade and adventure with us?" Rowen asked with a smile.
Chopper blinked, then looked towards Dr. Kureha.
Kureha knew Chopper was moved.
"Can you entrust Chopper to us? Let him... become our comrade," Rowen asked Dr. Kureha respectfully, standing up.
"Do whatever you want," Dr. Kureha huffed dismissively.
"YOSHA! A talking reindeer!" Luffy cheered excitedly, looking at Chopper.
"Idiot! He's our ship's doctor!" Zoro smacked Luffy on the head.
Luffy's priorities were still bizarre; wasn't Chopper's medical skill the most important thing?
Though Zoro hadn't experienced it himself, Rowen said so, and Zoro trusted Rowen unconditionally.
"Welcome, Chopper!"
"So cute, Chopper!"
"And a doctor too!"
Chopper stared blankly at the enthusiastic praise from the crew, then awkwardly started doing his happy dance.
"E-Even if you praise me like that... it won't make me happy, you bastard!" Chopper exclaimed, blushing furiously while dancing, his eyes closed into happy crescents.
"Hahaha!" Seeing Chopper's reaction, everyone burst into laughter.
"By the way, this is Wapol's castle. That trash has already been dealt with by me. This is his key; must be for something in the castle, right?" Rowen handed a key to Dr. Kureha.
"This is..." Dr. Kureha's expression changed as she took the key.
It was the key to the weapon vault—which actually contained Dr. Hiriluk's research: pink dust designed to adhere to snowflakes, capable of making the perpetually snow-covered Drum Kingdom bloom like cherry blossoms.
It was Hiriluk's lifelong research and dream.
"Wapol—was defeated?" Chopper froze. Then, tears uncontrollably streamed down his face, and he bolted out of the castle.
"Chopper?" Everyone except Rowen and Kureha looked confused.
"Let's go see," Rowen suggested, knowing Chopper's outburst was because of Hiriluk.
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"Dr. Hiriluk! Wapol was defeated by Rowen and his friends!" Chopper cried, looking up at the pirate flag he had placed atop the castle—a skull surrounded by cherry blossom petals. It was the flag Hiriluk had drawn.
"I... I want to go to sea! I want—to be their comrade!" Chopper, now in his human form, paid respects to Hiriluk in the human way.
The crew, having followed, learned Chopper and Hiriluk's story from Dr. Kureha nearby and were deeply moved.
"CHOPPER! LET'S GO! TO THE SEA!" Luffy yelled towards Chopper, who had stood up again.
"Oh... OHHHH!!!" Chopper looked at Rowen and the others, sobbing uncontrollably. For the first time... he had comrades.
Dr. Kureha silently returned to the castle.
"Doctorine! I'm leaving! I want to become a pirate!" Chopper entered the castle, wanting to say goodbye to Dr. Kureha.
"I take it back! You're my assistant! I taught you all my medical knowledge—not so you could leave!" Kureha suddenly declared, her face stern.
"Eh?!" Chopper froze, bewildered.
"I said—I won't let you escape! Prepare yourself!" Kureha suddenly produced numerous knives, axes, and other sharp implements.
She began throwing them towards Chopper, forcing him backwards. "Don't think you can run!" Kureha yelled menacingly, but her throws deliberately guided Chopper towards the exit.
"EVERYONE! RUN!" Chopper transformed back into his reindeer form, quickly harnessing himself to the sleigh where the others, prompted by Rowen, had already climbed aboard.
Chopper pulled the sleigh, fleeing towards the cliff edge.
"Hah... Silly son. Go chase your dream." Kureha watched Chopper disappear into the distance, a faint smile on her lips as she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye.
She hated tearful goodbyes.
Then, she turned and walked towards the weapon vault.
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After saying goodbye to Dalton and the others, Rowen's crew boarded the Going Merry.
"Oh no! I was in such a hurry to escape, I forgot my medical supplies!" Chopper yelled, clutching his head.
"Here you go. They were already packed in the sleigh," Rowen handed Chopper a backpack.
"My bag..." Chopper stared blankly for a moment, then his eyes reddened. He understood Doctorine's true intentions.
WHOOSH! BANG!
The next moment, an explosion echoed from the mountain peak.
Countless particles of pink dust rained down from the snowy summit, adhering to the falling snowflakes.
From a distance, centered around the snowy mountain, it looked as though a giant cherry blossom tree had miraculously bloomed in the winter landscape.
"DOCTORINE! DR. HIRILUK! I'M OFF!" Chopper yelled towards the mountain, his voice choked with emotion.
——
—[Trait list equipable from Chopper updated.]—
—[Human-Human Fruit equipping in progress.]—
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