In the Kingdom of Sorbel, a lawless place, in front of a slightly dilapidated church:
"Bo!"
The four members of Ji Ge's group were teleported one after another. Ivan shook his dizzy head and muttered,
"What happened? I feel so dizzy... Where is this place?"
Xiong looked up at the church in front of him, sadness clouding his face.
"This is the country where I was born—the Kingdom of Sorbel."
Ginny glanced around curiously.
"So we escaped? There's a church here!"
Xiong nodded.
"Yes, this church belongs to my father. He was a pastor..."
Ivan and Ginny fell silent. They had heard Xiong's tragic story before and knew these memories brought him pain.
"Ugh..."
Suddenly, Ji Ge groaned in pain.
The three turned to see Ji Ge clutching his forehead, sweat forming on his brow, his face tense. He was clearly not doing well.
Ji Ge's actions back in the Valley of the Gods had already earned him the others' deep respect, even Ivan—the oldest—now called out in alarm,
"Brother Ji Ge! What's wrong?!"
They rushed to his side. Ivan knelt, supporting Ji Ge's arm over his shoulder. Ginny gently rubbed Ji Ge's chest while Xiong extended his paw, ready to use his Paw-Paw Fruit ability to try to remove Ji Ge's pain.
Ji Ge understood Xiong's intentions but raised a hand to stop him.
"You're still not skilled enough with the Paw-Paw Fruit. Don't use it recklessly. Even if you do, without anyone else here to take the pain, it will just return to me."
"No, I can—" Xiong started, patting his chest to show he was willing to take Ji Ge's pain himself.
But Ji Ge interrupted him. He didn't want Xiong to suffer. Besides, what Ji Ge felt wasn't just pain—it was mental chaos.
Fragments of memories spun through his mind like a broken reel, impossible to stop and examine. It all started when Garin had spoken the word "Fegalando" before leaving.
Images flashed: Ji Ge's body on a cold lab table, a Celestial Dragon staring at him greedily.
Anger, fear, and confusion overwhelmed him. His head throbbed violently.
Crack!
Silver arcs of electricity shot out from Ji Ge's body, shocking Ivan through his arm.
Xiong quickly yanked Ginny away and dragged Ivan to safety with his Paw-Paw power.
Ji Ge suddenly looked up. His once-dark pupils now glowed blood-red. Darkness surged from beneath his feet.
"Must kill him! Revenge!!!"
A tide of darkness spread, forming a giant mouth that rushed toward Xiong. But suddenly Ji Ge collapsed, unconscious.
The shadowy mouth froze midair, then retreated, vanishing back into Ji Ge's body.
Xiong wiped sweat from his forehead, shaken. He had tried to use his Devil Fruit powers to escape, but the darkness had somehow disrupted his abilities. If Ji Ge hadn't fainted, they would have been devoured.
After ensuring Ji Ge was fully unconscious, Xiong picked him up. Ginny helped drag Ivan, and together they entered the church.
That night...
In a haze, Ji Ge slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on a soft bed. He sat up carefully, another wave of dizziness hitting him.
A hateful voice echoed in his mind:
"You are me. I am you. Avenge me!"
Ji Ge remained calm, murmuring softly,
"I know. We are one. I'll have revenge."
A weight lifted from his mind, replaced by clarity. His senses sharpened to an incredible degree; he could now feel every corner of the church, smell Xiong and Ginny's scents, and...
"Where did this mummy come from?"
Beside him lay a figure wrapped like a rice dumpling.
"It's me, Ji Ge," came a muffled voice. "Ivan. The guy you almost fried... ha... ha..."
Ji Ge finally remembered shocking him. He scratched his head apologetically, helping Ivan up.
"Sorry, Ivan. My mind was a mess."
Ivan grinned, waving it off.
"No worries. I escaped from the Valley of the Gods, didn't I? This little injury is nothing!"
Ji Ge felt guilty. He scooped Ivan up onto his back with surprising ease, shocking Ivan. Ji Ge had always been fit but nothing special—yet now he could carry Ivan's heavier body effortlessly.
Ji Ge carried Ivan to the living room. Xiong, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen with fish soup. Ginny sat at the table, lost in thought.
Seeing Ji Ge carrying Ivan, Ginny froze. Xiong nearly dropped the bowl in surprise—
Buzz!
A pulse of gravity held the bowl steady in midair. Ji Ge smiled faintly.
"Xiong, your cooking smells amazing. This soup is perfect."