October 29, 1498, Age of the Sea Circle
After several hours of treatment, Orion managed to stabilize Sharinguru's parents' condition, though he was still unable to bring them completely out of danger. He had been forced to spend 10,000 SP to raise his 'Medicine (Level 5)' skill by one level in order to treat the blacksmith couple's wounds.
The main issue was that the injuries they had suffered weren't ordinary — they had been directly caused by the curse on Hanafuda's scythe, placing them in a category beyond the normal reach of a doctor's expertise.
With the upgrade of his 'Medicine' skill to Level 6, Orion had taken a step into the realm of the extraordinary, and could now be counted among the few supernatural doctors in this world. Even so, while he could keep Sharinguru's parents' wounds under control, he could do nothing about the cause of those wounds — the curse itself.
To remove that curse, he would need a completely different kind of skill, one he did not currently possess, and could not purchase from the system store either.
That was why, despite having successfully treated the blacksmith couple's injuries, their situation remained precarious. If he didn't find a way to break the curse that had been cast upon them, they would have no chance of escaping the tragic fate of death.
Still, Sharinguru had been immensely grateful after Orion saved his parents. Even though he understood they were still in danger, it didn't stop him from expressing his gratitude over and over until Orion finally made him stop.
"Is there any way to dispel that curse?" Orion asked seriously, looking at the Shichibukai who sat in the corner with his eyes closed.
"Of course it's possible," Hanafuda replied. But before Orion could say anything else, he added:
"However, I don't know how to do it myself. I usually don't care about the well-being of the enemies I cut down with my scythe."
The curse on Hanafuda's scythe affected anyone who came into contact with it, indiscriminately. Most of his enemies ended up suffering from it to some extent.
The difference with Sharinguru's parents was that they were ordinary people, completely unable to resist the curse — which was why it had nearly killed them instantly. Without Orion's intervention, the blacksmith couple wouldn't have lasted an hour before perishing.
On the other hand, someone like Orion would also be affected by the curse if cut by the scythe, but the effect would be far weaker thanks to his powerful body.
"..." Orion brought a hand to his chin, mentally reviewing everything he knew about curses, trying to think of a way to save Sharinguru's parents.
Hanafuda, watching him intently, grinned and said:
"If you really want to lift the curse, I think I can offer you a solution."
Orion looked at him inquisitively, waiting for him to continue, but Hanafuda only smiled aggressively and said:
"But if you want that information, you'll have to fight me first."
Once again, he was wearing the same aggressive look he had shown the first time he saw Orion, and it was clear that he was itching to exchange blows with him.
In truth, Hanafuda was a very simple man. Aside from his ambitions as a pirate, his love for his newborn daughter, and his fascination with Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits, he only had one thing on his mind most of the time: fighting.
You could say he was a battle fanatic, always enjoying the chance to find new opponents to clash with — even if it sometimes got him into trouble.
Orion's fighting spirit began to stir in response to the Warlord's aggressive gaze. Nodding, he used Soru and dashed toward the surface at high speed, with Hanafuda following right behind.
Once they reached the surface, Orion drew his cutlass and, without giving him time to react, attacked Hanafuda the moment he emerged from the depths.
The pirate wasn't the least bit bothered by Orion's "dirty" tactic. With a cheerful laugh, he unsheathed his scythe and repelled the attack with ease.
"Let's see what you can do, boy," Hanafuda said, disappearing from sight and reappearing behind Orion — who immediately opened a door in the air to avoid being struck by his enemy's weapon.
Hanafuda eyed the Space Door with curiosity before vanishing again, making use of his incredible speed. Orion knew he couldn't match him in raw power, especially with his inability to use Armament Haki, so he didn't attempt a direct confrontation. Instead, he decided to rely on his wide array of abilities to take him on.
Hanafuda appeared in front of him and tried to cut him down with his scythe, but Orion managed to dodge at the last moment using his Observation Haki. Then, he hurled several small rocks as a distraction — rocks that suddenly grew into massive boulders and came crashing down on the pirate, who destroyed them effortlessly with a single strike.
However, Orion had gained a precious second of distraction, and before Hanafuda could react, he used his new ability, "Un Fleur," materializing a single finger right in the pirate's blind spot, and striking with a lightning-fast Shigan.
Hanafuda moved quickly and took the Shigan to his shoulder, feeling his muscles spasm from the pain of the damaged nerves as blood spurted from the small wound like a fountain.
"HAHAHAHA! This is interesting!" the pirate said with delight, throwing himself fully into the fight, like a child enjoying the most exciting game.
…
Their fight didn't last long, as Orion was no match for the Warlord and couldn't keep up with him at his current level of strength. While Hanafuda acknowledged Orion's great potential and spirit, the gap between them was simply too vast.
Even so, the Shichibukai seemed satisfied after the battle, finding Orion's varied tactics and attack styles both refreshing and entertaining.
Orion had only managed to land a single effective hit with his Shigan, after which he was beaten down unilaterally by Hanafuda. Once Orion collapsed to the ground covered in bruises, the pirate let out a contented sigh and didn't insist on prolonging the fight.
"Hey, your name's Orion, right? You're pretty good. In a few years, I'd like to fight you again! You'll have some new attacks by then, won't you? Hahaha!" said the Shichibukai cheerfully.
Orion looked at him with a hint of resentment. After being beaten so badly, the pirate's cheerful laughter irritated him, and he swore to himself that next time, he'd return the favor!
Of course, Orion wasn't petty enough to truly hold a grudge against Hanafuda just for winning in a spar. He was simply extremely competitive and didn't want to leave this loss sitting on his record—so he had already sentenced the pirate to a beating in their next match… Perhaps he was a little petty after all.
"Can you tell me now how to undo your scythe's curse?" Orion asked, keeping his focus on what really mattered.
Even though he had agreed to a short spar with Hanafuda, his mind had never strayed from the condition of Sharinguru's parents. Right now, the only thing he truly cared about was dealing with the curse affecting them.
"Of course, it's what we agreed to," Hanafuda said, pulling a piece of paper and a pencil from his clothes—something that surprised Orion, who hadn't expected a fight-obsessed pirate to carry such items.
Noticing Orion's expression, Hanafuda could guess what he was thinking and said casually while beginning to write on the paper:
"I always carry paper and pencils to draw pictures for my adorable daughter, so when I return I can show her where I've been on my travels!"
Orion's expression turned odd—he couldn't reconcile the image of Hanafuda as a ruthless pirate with this facet of a loving father. Once again, Orion was reminded of the complexity of people. No one was entirely good or evil, black or white. People had shades that made them unique, and this was as true for Hanafuda as it was for anyone Orion had met along the way—although perhaps this Warlord showed the starkest contrast between his different sides.
Hanafuda finished writing and handed the paper to Orion, who took it and saw that it was a map of an island.
"This is a nearby island called Moai. There's a tribe there that specializes in these types of curses. Even if I can't undo the curse myself, I can at least point you toward someone who might help. Whether they actually help you… that's another matter," Hanafuda said with a shrug.
Then, he pulled an Eternal Pose from his pocket and handed it to Orion.
"This Eternal Pose will guide you to that island, and I've marked on the map how to reach their village. The rest is up to you," the pirate concluded.
Orion stored the map and the Eternal Pose, looking at Hanafuda with gratitude. Thanks to Revolutionary Army intelligence, Orion understood the role of this pirate who had just become a Warlord. Technically speaking, they were enemies, since the pirate was an ally of the World Government—but Orion felt no hostility toward him.
Hanafuda wasn't the kind of pirate Orion considered deplorable, unlike many others he had met, and leaned more toward the category of "Good Pirate," though Orion didn't have enough information to make a definitive judgment.
"Thank you very much, Hanafuda," Orion said, shaking the pirate's hand.
"No problem. It's partly my fault for exposing them to my kusarigama, so it's good if you can break the curse and save those blacksmiths," the pirate said casually
"Although it's a shame they couldn't repair my scythe… now I'll have no choice but to head to Wano. That's a long and troublesome trip," the pirate added, sighing in annoyance.
At first, the recommendation he had received was to go to Wano, where there were undoubtedly blacksmiths capable of repairing his scythe. However, his daughter had just been born, and he didn't want to undertake such a long and complicated journey—especially because Wano was a country closed to the outside world, and getting in wasn't easy.
That was the reason he had come to this underground city, after hearing about the presence of a legendary lineage of blacksmiths. But now, it turned out that his trip here had been in vain, and he would have to go to Wano anyway.
However, Hanafuda didn't stay discouraged for long. He quickly cheered up, thinking that maybe he'd find some powerful rivals to fight on the way to Wano, or perhaps even in that legendary country itself.
On the other hand, upon hearing Hanafuda mention "Wano," Orion's mind recalled the many stories his master Roger had told him about that legendary nation, and about the man called Oden, who had traveled alongside Roger through the Grand Line. In the future, Orion wanted to visit that legendary land and perhaps meet Oden, to hear his own version of the story his master had told him years ago.
Finally, Hanafuda stretched to loosen up and patted Orion on the shoulder in a friendly manner.
"Well, it's time for me to go. Every second I spend here is a second I'm not with my adorable daughter!"
Orion's lips twitched involuntarily, thinking this pirate was truly obsessed with his little girl!
He could already imagine that in the future, Hanafuda's daughter would grow up to be a spoiled princess under her father's overprotection. Though that had nothing to do with him, so it was just a fleeting thought.
"I also need to head to the island you mentioned as soon as possible. I guess this is goodbye, Hanafuda. Next time we meet, let's have another spar!" Orion said with a smile.
"Hahaha! Of course, kid, I'll be waiting for you. By the way, you can easily find me at my base—everyone knows where it is, so there's no way you can get lost!" Hanafuda replied with a cheerful grin.
However, his smile suddenly vanished, and a bloodthirsty aura began radiating from his body. He looked at Orion seriously and spoke in a deeper tone than before.
"However, don't try to lay your hands on my daughter, or we'll have a problem."
Orion's mouth opened in surprise at the sudden warning/threat from the Shichibukai, unsure of how to respond. But Hanafuda simply smiled cheerfully again and waved goodbye as he left at high speed.
Only Orion remained on the barren surface of this island full of underground cities. A gentle breeze blew, sending tumbleweeds rolling in front of him. In his mind, however, he was shouting,
"Fuck! Who said I wanted to lay my hands on your daughter?!"
Orion felt a surge of indignation at being accused of something he had no intention of doing. But then he remembered he already had three concubines and several fiancées, and immediately coughed lightly, trying to justify his past actions in his mind.
"From what he said, his daughter's just a baby. Besides, if she looks like her father, I don't think she'll be very attractive…" Orion kept searching for justifications in his mind to deny the possibility of ever having a romantic relationship with Hanafuda's daughter—mainly because he still felt a bit indignant about being warned in advance not to do something he had no intention of doing in the first place.
"Well, in any case, I don't think I'll ever run into his daughter in the future," Orion concluded at last, dropping the matter.
Using Soru, he returned to Sharinguru's house and informed him of the solution he had found to treat his parents. The young man reacted emotionally, tears in his eyes, and swore that if Orion could save his parents, he would become Orion's subordinate and follow him without hesitation.
Orion simply placed a hand on the young man's shoulder and told him not to think about such things for now—that there would be time to decide once the situation was resolved. He didn't want to take advantage of Sharinguru's moment of vulnerability to recruit him, nor use his parents' health as an implicit threat to do so.
Of course, if after lifting the curse and saving his parents the young man decided to become his subordinate, Orion wouldn't be so hypocritical as to refuse to accept him into his ranks.
Orion opened his Pocket Dimension and simply placed Sharinguru's parents inside. He couldn't leave them here alone while he traveled to the island Hanafuda had indicated. If the curse reactivated and he wasn't there to treat their wounds, they would die before he could return, so there was no choice but to take them with him.
Sharinguru would, of course, travel along with his parents, so now inside the Pocket Dimension—along with Hina and Olive—the family of blacksmiths was accompanying them.
Wasting no more time, Orion ran toward the coast, pulled out his small sailboat, and began to navigate, following the direction indicated by the Eternal Pose's needle.
…
Meanwhile, on Moai Island—the very place Orion was heading to—
A group of shamans was performing a ritual. After drinking a concoction refined from the local mushrooms and herbs, the shamans entered a trance and began to dance erratically around a large bonfire.
After a few minutes, they collapsed to the ground, convulsing with their eyes rolled back as they received visions from their gods. In a distant corner, a young man was watching the scene with deep fear. Timid by nature, he was terrified of these ceremonies in which the shamans came into contact with the spirits of the dead.
Just being present here made every hair on his body stand on end, but as a shaman apprentice, he could not shirk his duties—or he would lose his place within this closed community.
The shamans convulsed for several minutes, and the young man feared they might die from the sheer effort they were putting into the ceremony. But eventually, the tremors began to subside, and the shamans' eyes regained clarity once more.
They struggled to their feet and looked at each other with concern, fear, and a hint of resignation.
"How can this be possible?..." said one of the shamans.
"The spirits have spoken. They carry the words of the gods! We must accept the truth and prepare ourselves," replied another, older and more experienced.
"But we've lived for centuries without bothering anyone, without interacting with the outside world… why now?..." the first shaman said again.
"The reason doesn't matter. What matters is that we face a great problem for our humble community. We must prepare for the worst," another shaman said firmly.
"Did anyone receive a specific prophecy?" asked one of the elder shamans.
The method they used to obtain predictions was not infallible, which was why these rituals were performed as a group. Usually, the visions they received were extremely similar, though vague in detail, indicating future events of either positive or negative nature.
However, on occasion, a participant might receive a more specific prophecy, and such revelations were taken very seriously by the shamans, for they held valuable information that could complement the general prophecy.
This time, for example, they had received a disastrous prophecy: a powerful enemy would appear on their island. The enemy was already approaching and was coming to seek something specific here. However, a conflict would erupt between the shamans' people and this powerful enemy, leading to a monumental tragedy for their tribe.
As for the specific details, they did not know them—which was why the elder shaman was now asking if anyone had received an individual prophecy. Such information could mean the difference between life and death.
A young woman timidly raised her hand. She was a shaman who had only just joined their ranks—until just a month ago, she had been an apprentice like the timid boy who was now watching them from afar.
"Hada, did you have an individual prophecy? Tell us in detail!" said the elder shaman.
Hada nodded shyly and pointed at the timid apprentice who was watching from a distance.
"I-It's Gab… In my vision, he was covered in blood, using the shamans' attack technique…" Hada said slowly.
The shamans' eyes all focused on the boy, making him startle and feel an overwhelming urge to flee immediately. But the young woman's words continued:
"A-And… I also remember a word echoing in the background."
"A word? What kind of word?" asked the elder shaman.
"Umm… I'm not sure, but I think it was something like… 'Kamusari'," the young shaman concluded.
...
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