"Come with me to another place later."
"Where?" Bear Cub looked at Moses with confusion in his eyes. "Aren't we going back to sleep?"
"Are you tired?"
"Not really."
"Then let's go." Moses smiled. "Later, we'll merge, and I'll take control of the body. You can just rest your consciousness."
"Mm. That works."
Moses closed the door to the forging room, and he and Bear Cub left the place.
Along the way, they found a secluded spot where Bear Cub swallowed him up.
Instead of returning to Kaido's stronghold at the rocky skull, they transformed into a white-headed eagle and flew through the sky toward the back of the skull on Oni Island.
Soaring over the vast ocean, they headed northeast. Twenty minutes later, Moses arrived at another peninsula in Wano Country—Shirabi, home to the nation's only port city.
Continuing northeast from the port city, after another twenty minutes or so, Moses flew over a wide river and entered a snowy landscape.
Ringo
This peninsula was perpetually blanketed in snow.
In this country, it was also known as the Snow Village.
Descending from the sky, Moses transformed mid-air, and the Panda Person, A Bao, made his appearance.
The surroundings felt eerily familiar to Moses, almost as if he had returned to Drum Island.
At the southeastern corner of Ringo, near the coast, Moses glanced around. As his breath rose and fell, he entered the State of Oneness, and the surrounding snowstorm grew gentle.
His Observation Haki expanded outward, sensing every fluctuation in the breath frequencies of the environment.
This peninsula, roughly twice the size of Oni Island, was nearly half-covered by Moses' Observation Haki perception.
With each breath, his Observation Haki contracted and expanded. Finally, under Moses' control, it spread outward in a long, frame-like shape centered around him, enveloping the island horizontally.
Fortunately, the island wasn't large, and his Observation Haki could easily cover it.
Starting from the southeastern coast, Moses began walking slowly toward the opposite northwestern shore.
With each step, he continued to sense.
The breath frequencies of the snowstorm.
The breath of plants, soil, and rocks.
The breath of rivers.
The breath of various animals.
Like an ascetic monk, Moses measured the land with his own footsteps.
Half an hour later.
Moses found nothing.
He stopped on a mountainside.
Opening his mouth wide, he took a bite of the earth and rocks before him. One bite, two bites, three bites—swallowing, swallowing, and swallowing again. Soon, a five-meter-wide hole had been eaten out.
Looking at the flat ground beneath him, he then spat out some compressed chunks of earth, sealing the entrance to the hole while leaving enough gaps for air to flow.
From the back of his neck, Moses produced a five-meter-wide fur blanket, spreading it on the ground. He lay down, wrapped himself in the blanket, and fell into a deep sleep.
This trip was a gamble—somewhere on this peninsula, there should be a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit that hadn't been eaten yet.
Everything in existence has its own unique breath frequency fluctuations.
Devil Fruits were no exception. Moses had handled and sensed several before, recognizing their distinct breath frequencies.
Though the fluctuations varied, their peculiarity was undeniable.
But now, Moses didn't know its exact location. Searching for it on this island was like looking for a needle in a haystack—impossible to pinpoint.
But as long as he meticulously scanned inch by inch with his perception, carefully distinguishing any breathing rhythms that differed from normal nature or living beings, he could find it.
This was a clumsy method.
But it worked.
Perhaps in the end, it would all be for nothing.
Yet this "surveying" might not be a bad way to cultivate.
Moses was open-minded about it.
Even if he gained nothing, he wouldn't lose anything.
His time was quite tight, after all.
If he didn't take this opportunity to explore now, he would surely feel stifled whenever he looked back on it later.
...
The next day.
Moses woke up early.
Using his consciousness to "wake" Bear Cub's consciousness, he had the bear spit him out.
Moses went to the coast, dove into the sea, trained for a while, and took a bath while he was at it.
He caught a large lobster in the ocean and shared a meal of fresh sashimi with Bear Cub.
Moses expanded his Observation Haki perception.
Continuing his land survey.
Bear Cub followed closely behind, step by step.
The bear also seemed happy, occasionally rolling in the snow or gathering snowballs to ambush Moses from behind.
Every time this happened, Moses acted as if he had eyes on the back of his head—either dodging or turning to catch the snowball and throw it back.
Each snowball he threw.
Would land squarely on Bear Cub's big face.
Making him howl in pain.
Bruised and battered.
As they walked.
Moses immersed himself in sensing the fluctuations of various breathing rhythms in the environment.
Unity of Heaven and Man—his body and mind merged with nature.
Interacting with all things in the natural world.
The frequency of his aura rose and fell continuously around him.
Like a snowflake, a tree, a blade of grass, or a piece of earth and stone. As Bear Cub put it, if not for keeping his eyes firmly fixed on Moses and his keen sense of smell, he might lose track of Moses in no time.
For Moses, this was not just a treasure hunt but also a spiritual baptism.
Heading northwest.
Flakes of snow settled on Moses' body.
His own breathing rhythm blended with the wind and snow. With each rise and fall of his breath, his bodily functions turned inward, his heartbeat slowed to its lowest, and his entire aura became ethereal.
Crossing mountains and valleys.
At noon, Moses arrived at a flatland area.
The surroundings were blanketed in white, ruins scattered everywhere.
But to the south of the ruins, Moses sensed human presence—and quite a lot of it.
A town?
Moses headed in that direction.
Ten minutes later.
Moses entered a town.
The roads were piled high with snow.
Even in broad daylight, the wide streets were nearly empty.
It could be called a ghost town.
Along the way, Moses sensed several pairs of eyes peering at him from the houses lining the streets.
"Here they come again? Damn Orochi's men, here to extort us once more? Didn't they just come?"
"After killing Lord Ushimaru, they still torment us."
"Has the Shimotsuki Clan all died out?"
"This place is unlivable now. All the able-bodied men are gone, taken to Udon."
As Moses and Bear Cub passed by, all they heard were such negative remarks.
Before long, an ornate building came into view.
Though "ornate" was a stretch—it only appeared so at a glance.
The gatehouse had collapsed.
And bore signs of having been burned.
Then, Moses heard the clashing of swords from inside the building.
Along with the roars of beasts.
Curious, Moses stepped through the ruined gatehouse and entered.
Passing through the garden corridor ahead, in an open area, a group of men dressed as samurai were besieging a strikingly beautiful black-haired girl and a komainu (guardian fox). The girl wore a cold, elegant kimono, her delicate features accentuated by striking red makeup, her black hair styled in the traditional hime-cut. Her expression was blank as she swung her sword—again and again and again.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Amid the harsh clashing of metal.
Five men surrounded her, while another five attacked the komainu.
Soon, the girl was overwhelmed. Her sword was knocked from her grasp, and the five burly men pinned her to the ground, raining down kicks and punches.
Minutes later, seeing the girl lying on the ground, her chest rising and falling weakly, one of the samurai straddled her waist and struck her lovely face with a thick, calloused hand.
After several sharp slaps, her delicate face swelled, blood trickling from the corner of her lips. Yet her eyes remained defiant, glaring fiercely as she spat:
"Orochi's lackeys. One day, I'll slaughter every last one of you."
The man sneered, his gaze dark and mocking. "You'd have to live that long first, brat. You're just like your dead father—stubborn and worthless. Both of you were nothing but Oden's lapdogs."
Suddenly, the girl's eyes burned with fury, and she thrashed violently beneath him.
"Don't you dare insult my father! And he was never Oden's lapdog—that bastard Oden wasn't worthy of him! Get off me! I'll kill you!"
The man smirked, amused. His right hand clamped around her throat as he studied her, his gaze dripping with malice and lust.
"Someone as noble as you… we'd never have been allowed to touch you before. But thanks to Lord Orochi, highborn trash like you can finally be crushed beneath us."
Heh heh heh… "You look delicious, Lady Ushiwakamaru."
With that, he reached for her kimono. The others crowded around eagerly, jeering and demanding their turn.
Riiip—
The sound of tearing fabric.
A glimpse of pale, flawless skin.
"Hahahaha! As expected of the daughter of the Ringo daimyo—such exquisite skin!"
"Slurp~ Hehehe, I'll go first!"
"Grrr—ROAR!"
Nearby, the komainu, held down by several men, let out a furious, anguished howl as it watched the "girl" being violated.
Witnessing this, Moses—still in his Disguise—stepped forward, his expression icy. His left hand tapped the shoulder of the man atop the girl.
"What the—? It's not like you won't get your turn—"
The man turned—just as a flash of steel erupted in his vision.
Thunk.
A dagger slashed deep across his throat.
A spray of crimson splashed across the girl's snow-white, blood-streaked face.
Moses grabbed the man's hair and yanked him backward, hurling his bulky body like a ragdoll.
BAM!
He crashed into the snow ten meters away, blood blooming beneath him like a gruesome winter plum.
The sudden violence stunned the remaining men.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Damn it! He's with Ushiwakamaru! Get him!"
"You bastard! How dare you ambush us—the noble Oniwabanshu of Orochi!"
Swords drawn, they charged at Moses.
Witnessing this scene, Moses' feet pushed off the ground as his figure instantly appeared before one of the men. Cold Dew parried a descending longsword, followed by a flash of cold light that pierced through his chest.
Moses' figure swiftly passed before the remaining few, streaks of cold radiance erupting as screams followed one after another.
After several breaths,
only Moses, Bear Cub, the young maiden, and a white-furred fox with black limbs and ears—its eyes filled with urgency—remained in the surroundings.
Soul Crystals of varying sizes materialized.
[Obtained D-grade Soul Crystal*1]
[Obtained D-minus-grade Soul Crystal*3]
[Obtained E-plus-grade Soul Crystal*6]
Flicking the blood off Cold Dew with a wave of his hand,
Moses then turned his gaze to the stunning young maiden who had risen from the ground, her clothes torn, delicate shoulders partially exposed—a sight that stirred pity. Moses spoke calmly:
"You're from the Shimotsuki Clan?"
The maiden wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and expressed her gratitude to Moses:
"Thank you. I am Shimotsuki Ushiwakamaru, son of the late Shimotsuki Ushimaru. I am eternally grateful for your life-saving grace."
A glint of curiosity appeared in Moses' eyes: "You're... a boy, right?"
Surprise flashed in Ushiwakamaru's eyes, but he nodded frankly:
"Indeed. This appearance of mine takes after my mother, so people often mistake me for a girl—even my father did, which has been quite troublesome.
How did you notice?"
Moses smiled. All things in existence have their own rhythm of Breath, and between males and females, there are subtle differences in these fluctuations:
"Intuition."
Ushiwakamaru nodded thoughtfully.
"If it's convenient for you, please come inside for some humble tea."
Ushiwakamaru then extended an invitation to Moses, exuding the demeanor of a well-bred young lady.
Feeling somewhat thirsty, Moses agreed.
Moments later, in a relatively intact room,
Ushiwakamaru, having changed clothes, sat across from Moses. Between them was a low table with a teapot resting atop a small stove.
Steam rose gently.
Both Moses and Bear Cub had cups of steaming tea before them.
"This place seems quite dilapidated. Are you the only one left in your family now?"
Moses asked.
Sorrow surfaced in Ushiwakamaru's eyes as he nodded:
"My father and uncles were killed by Orochi and Kaido six years ago. In our branch of the Shimotsuki family, only Onimaru and I remain."
As Ushiwakamaru finished speaking,
the fox Onimaru lifted its head and let out a mournful "whimper."
"Mm. After tea, you should leave quickly. Those ten men earlier were members of Orochi's personal guard, the Oniwabanshu. Orochi's influence is vast, and by killing them for my sake, you've already brought trouble upon yourself."
Because Orochi seized the throne unjustly, he has been relentlessly hunting down nobles within Wano Country who once supported the Kozuki Clan.
With sincere concern, Ushiwakamaru advised Moses: "You should depart soon. I will never forget your great kindness in this lifetime."
"And what about you?"
Moses looked at him and asked: "Will you stay here waiting for death? For them to return and torment you again?"
"I usually live in the cemetery of Ringo. The terrain there is complex, so they generally can't catch me. Today I happened to come back to get some old clothes from home, and since my father's death anniversary is approaching, I also came to retrieve some family-stored wine. I didn't expect to run into them again."
「Appraisal」
Strength Evaluation: D-
Moses silently observed him before asking, "How old are you?"
Ushiwakamaru replied, "I was born in January. I'm twelve this year. And you?"
"I was also born in January. As for age... that's a secret."
Ushiwakamaru studied Moses with probing eyes. His appearance and height were similar to his own, suggesting they might be around the same age.
"Where are you from? I'd like to repay you someday."
"Oni Island." A faint smile curled at Moses' lips. "I just arrived there two days ago and am staying with Kaido."
Ushiwakamaru's face stiffened, his complexion shifting between pale and flushed as he stared nervously at Moses. "You're one of Kaido's men?"
Moses chuckled:
"Though everyone in Kaido's crew thinks I'm one of his, I don't consider myself his man. I come from the open seas beyond and will be leaving here soon."
Ushiwakamaru looked utterly bewildered before finally processing the words and sighing in relief, his expression tinged with envy. After a few seconds, as if remembering something, he said:
"The open seas... I faintly remember my father mentioning it. My great-aunt and elder cousin left the isolated Wano Country over forty years ago to sail those seas."
"If they're still alive, I might still have direct relatives out there."
Suddenly clenching his teeth, Ushiwakamaru blurted out:
"From what you said earlier, you'll be leaving Wano soon? Could you take me and Onimaru with you?"
With these words, Ushiwakamaru abruptly prostrated himself before Moses in a dogeza, pleading earnestly:
"I want to leave this place. I want to grow stronger and return someday to take revenge on Orochi. Otherwise, under their relentless pursuit, I might die here any day."
"Orochi? Not Kaido?"
Ushiwakamaru raised his head, his gaze resolute:
"My father was a mighty warrior. He lost to Kaido and died by his hand—a defeat in fair combat. I don't hate him for it. When I'm strong enough, I'll defeat Kaido to restore my father Shimotsuki Ushimaru's honor.
But Orochi is different. He's despicable—the architect of all these tragedies. He's my true enemy."
"I heard you cursing Oden earlier. What do you think of him?"
Ushiwakamaru's eyes burned with contempt. "That man Oden was a fool. He squandered every advantage and reduced Wano to this wretched state.
I despise him. If not for his indecisiveness, my father wouldn't have died."
Moses looked intrigued. "You must have been very young then. How do you know all this?"
Ushiwakamaru hesitated. "Shimotsuki Yasui, the former daimyo of Hakumai from our Shimotsuki clan's other branch, told me."
He bowed again to Moses. "Will you grant my request? Take me to sea. Take me away from this country."
"Sure," Moses said with a smile.
Ushiwakamaru froze momentarily before his eyes lit up with joy, his beautiful face breaking into a radiant, sunlit grin.
"Thank you. By the way, what's your name? After all this time, I still don't know what to call you."
"Moses. That's my name."
"Lord Moses, I have a presumptuous request. Since you're so strong, after you take me out to sea, could I follow you?"
"Reason."
Moses looked at him and asked.
"To grow stronger."
Ushiwakamaru said earnestly.
In his eyes, Moses, who was the same age as him, had not only saved him but also easily defeated a man he could hardly beat. By following him, he was certain to become stronger.
"Fine."
"Thank you, Lord Moses."
Hearing the title, Moses felt somewhat awkward and said, "Ushiwakamaru, you don't need to call me 'Lord.' I'm not used to it. Just call me by my name."
"Alright then... Moses."
Ushiwakamaru hesitated slightly, but since Moses had said so, he would address him that way.
Ushiwakamaru gathered his belongings and followed Moses as they left the place.
Once outside the town,
before long, they came upon a wooden bridge and a few old trees.
They stepped onto the bridge.
Not far ahead lay a stretch of small mounds—this was the cemetery of Wano Country.
Moses and Ushiwakamaru stepped across the wooden bridge and entered the burial grounds.
Moses focused his senses, searching for the object of his quest.
Ordinary people's tombstones.
Nobles' memorials.
Daimyo's shrines.
Before long, they arrived at a rather opulent aristocratic mausoleum built in shrine style.
Upon entering,
At the forefront stood a stone statue seated in meditation.
Shimotsuki Ryuma.
The Sword God of Wano, said to be a man who could slay dragons.
Ushiwakamaru knelt before the statue, placing a bottle of sake on the offering table. He kowtowed reverently before rising to explain:
"This is my ancestor."
But then his eyes burned with grief and indignation:
"Some bastard dug up our family grave about ten years ago. They stole our ancestor's remains and his weapon—the Great Grade Sword Autumn Water that was enshrined here."
Moses' expression turned peculiar, though he remained silent. He had a vague premonition that some obese otaku might face consequences later.
Too absorbed in worship to notice Moses' strange look,
Ushiwakamaru finished his prayers and composed himself.
Turning to Moses with curiosity, he asked: "Why did you come here? You seem to be searching for something?"
Moses nodded:
"A miraculous fruit covered in spiral 'Arabesque' patterns—called the Devil Fruit."
"It grants incredible powers, allowing those who eat it to gain extraordinary abilities."
"Both Kaido and Orochi are Devil Fruit Users."
"Ah—" Ushiwakamaru's eyes widened in shock, thinking he'd misheard. "You mean that weird fruit covered in spiral patterns?"
Moses raised an eyebrow:
"You've seen it?"
"Yeah, a few days ago. It's at my place—I'll take you there."
Ushiwakamaru nodded, then grabbed Moses' hand, pulling him toward another direction.
Moses watched as the boy naturally took his hand, his gaze turning subtly complex.
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/QueenTL
Thanks!