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The Strongest Frost Loli (124)
🕑 Added 2024-09-14 17:00:06 +0000 UTCChapter 124 - Inherited Will
Kanata’s attack, empowered by Muramasa, sliced deep into Octavia’s flesh. It was a fatal blow. Even a monster like her wouldn't survive such a grievous wound. And, more importantly, she was alone.
“Ha… Ha…!”
Her left hand, scorched by lightning, gripped her spear. Her right, in slightly better condition, held Muramasa. She glared at Octavia, who lay sprawled on the ground, unmoving. Realizing her opponent had been defeated, Kanata’s legs buckled, and she collapsed.
The immense drain on her Haki, the hours of intense combat… It was a miracle she was still conscious.
She had been defeated once, nearly dying. While she had endured battles that had lasted for days in the past, the exhaustion she felt now was on a completely different level.
“…I would have preferred it if you had overcome it with your own strength.”
“…There’s no honor in a pirate battle. You – you prioritize individual strength… I don’t. That’s the difference.”
Even then, Kanata was strong enough to face Octavia head-on. Octavia had been slightly stronger, but even she was impressed by how far Kanata had come through self-study.
Haki blossomed in battles against strong opponents.
Her fight against Octavia had forced her to grow exponentially. Now, she wouldn’t lose to anyone.
“You… You read Xebec’s experiences, didn’t you?” Octavia realized.
Rocks had been a powerful figure who commanded a crew of unruly pirates through sheer force of personality. He had never trusted others, relying solely on his own strength. He was the strongest, the most terrifying pirate of his era.
Octavia, too, had never relied on anyone, but… In the end, Rocks had been defeated by Roger and Garp, and she herself had been defeated by Kanata.
It had been a close call, a battle that could have gone either way. But results were all that mattered.
Rocks’ way hadn’t worked. Their defeat proved that.
“I’m going to follow my own path. I won’t become like you.”
“Fufu… As you wish. I never intended to control you. Do as you please.”
Octavia’s blood stained the cloud ground crimson. She didn’t have much time left. She gathered her remaining strength and spoke weakly.
“…Both you and I… We were born in Wano Country. We belong to the “Dark Moon” Clan. There are probably no records left… but we’ve always fought alongside the “D Clan”, throughout history, at every turning point.”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’ve fulfilled my duty. I’m going to die… What happens next is up to you.”
Octavia’s mother – Kanata’s grandmother – had chosen not to fight. She had deemed the time wasn't right and had passed everything on to Octavia.
There were still many things she could have told Kanata, but… Kanata could read the memories from her spear.
Even if she died, her story would live on.
“Xebec’s will will be inherited. By you, or by someone else… Our sacrifices weren't in vain. One day…”
Her words trailed off. She was losing too much blood. It was a fatal wound.
Kanata stood up, sheathed Muramasa, and approached her.
“Dwelling on the past is pointless. The world is constantly moving towards the future.”
And sometimes, to reach the future – you had to sever the past.
Whether it was the right choice, no one knew. Perhaps there were no right choices.
To Octavia, Kanata was a symbol of her past failures.
To Kanata, Octavia was a symbol of the past she had left behind.
But the past always returned to haunt you, no matter how many times you tried to bury it.
“No… vem…”
Octavia called out to her, using the name she had given her. Perhaps it was the only thing she had ever truly given Kanata. She was afraid that once she abandoned that name, once she acknowledged Kanata as “Kanata”, she would lose her connection to her daughter.
Kanata understood her feelings. She held out her scorched left arm.
Lichtenberg figures, branching patterns caused by electrical burns, stretched from her wrist to her shoulder.
“…This scar will remain forever. I’ll remember you every time I see it. Is that not enough?”
“Fufu… It’s… not bad…”
Octavia whispered her name quietly.
And then, Kanata plunged her spear into her heart.
***
Kanata, spear dripping with blood, reached Teach, who was sitting on the ground, and Kuro, who was barely clinging to life. George’s ship had been lowered nearby. While Angel Island was now a dangerous wasteland of blizzards and lightning strikes, this area, for some reason, was calm.
Caterina was rushing about, moving medical equipment, but Kanata ignored her and sat down next to Kuro.
“…It’s over?” he asked.
“Yes. I’ve settled all my past grievances… I didn't intend to kill her.”
“Hehehe… Don’t worry about it.”
His wounds had been treated, but he didn't even wince in pain. Perhaps he couldn't even feel it anymore.
“I’m going to die, but your journey continues. It’s a shame I won’t be able to see where it leads…”
“…Are you content?”
“Yes. I was supposed to die on that island.”
He had been a broken man, destined to die alone, ridiculed and scorned by the world. Kanata had saved him, shown him a different life. There was nothing but gratitude in his heart.
“Sorry about this, Teach. I dragged you into a losing battle.”
“Zehahahaha!! Don't say that! A man’s gotta stand by his friend’s decision! It's only natural!”
“Hehehe, that’s so like you.”
He was injured, but he laughed cheerfully, hiding his pain. Kuro chuckled, then turned to Kanata.
“Kanata.”
“What is it?”
“You’re trying to leave the past behind and move towards the future, but the past will always follow you. Not everyone can simply abandon it like I did.”
His past had been confined to the island he was born on. He had been able to leave it all behind when he left the island.
But Kanata’s past – her lineage, her parents, her actions – had global implications. She couldn't simply ignore it.
Refusing to acknowledge it would only make her life more difficult.
“No one can carry that burden for you… but you have friends to support you, right?”
“…Yes, you're right.”
He remembered a man who had forgotten his own name. He had been saved by a young girl who had reached out to him. It was a memory he would never forget, even in hell.
He could no longer support her, but…
He prayed for her happiness.
“–It’s almost time.”
His vision was blurring. He could barely hear anything. Even his own heartbeat was fading. But the warmth of someone’s hand, holding his own, was proof that he was still alive.
Her voice, calling his name, was growing faint.
She would be sad. She might even cry. But he believed, more than anyone, that she would overcome this and continue her journey.
“…Take care.”
“Yes… I’ll tell you all about my adventures. Enough to make you jealous.”
“Hehe… I look forward to it…”
He smiled.
And then, his consciousness faded.
***
“Kuro…”
George stood there, stunned.
Caterina was still preparing for treatment, but Kanata stopped her.
“Let him sleep,” she said.
“But! But…!”
“It’s no use. He wouldn't have survived those injuries anyway,” Teach said.
Caterina, her face etched with grief, examined Kuro's wounds.
He had been impaled through the heart by Octavia. It was a miracle he hadn’t died instantly.
Kanata handed her spear to Teach and lifted Kuro’s body into her arms.
“Captain, are you sure you’re okay carrying him? I can–”
“It’s fine. I’ll carry him.”
She ignored Teach’s protests and carried Kuro’s body towards the ship. Caterina and Teach followed. George joined her.
“George, Octavia’s body is over there. Recover the Goro Goro no Mi.”
“Yes… I’ll take care of it.”
It was a troublesome ability. It would be best to keep it within Twilight.
She would decide who to give it to later. A promising subordinate, or perhaps a loyal captain from one of their affiliated crews. Either way, she needed time.
…And then, there was Kuro’s Devil Fruit.
“Big sis, can I have the Yami Yami no Mi?” Teach asked.
“You want to eat it?”
“Yes.”
She had been planning to decide what to do with it later, but Teach had volunteered to eat it.
Kanata turned to face him, trying to discern his true intentions.
Ambition, excitement, regret… His emotions were a tangled mess, but she couldn't sense any malice.
Feiyun was quite concerned, but Kanata didn't dislike Teach. He had been close to Kuro, and she was willing to give it to him if he wanted it.
She turned back and continued towards the ship.
“…There’s one more thing I want to ask.”
“If it’s something trivial, then save it for later.”
“It’s important to me… You were called ‘Novem’ earlier, what was that about?”
“…It’s a name I abandoned long ago. No one else knows it.”
The orphanage she had lived in had been reported as destroyed by an unknown disaster. With Octavia dead, she was the only one who knew the name “Novem.”
“Why do you even care?”
“No… I just wanted to know your real name. I overheard your conversation with Octavia earlier.”
“It’s a meaningless name. No one knows it.”
“No, it’s valuable – You’re Rocks’ daughter, aren’t you?”
Kanata stopped in her tracks. Teach had likely deduced it from the way Octavia had casually addressed Xebec by his name.
While Rocks was rarely referred to by his name, his wanted poster had been in circulation for a while. It wasn't strange for someone to know his real name.
“Then I have no reason to betray you. I had plans to climb to the top, but they don’t matter now.”
“You were planning to betray me?”
“I wanted the Yami Yami no Mi. But I don’t know how to extract it from someone. I thought I’d wait for an opportunity… I was truly Kuro’s friend, you know? I don't know what he thought, but… I considered him my best friend.”
Teach rambled on, but Kanata simply sighed. He was revealing his true intentions because he trusted her, but this wasn't the time or place.
“I’ll question you about it later. Is Kaie alright? She should know how to do it. I’ll leave the Yami Yami no Mi to her.”
“Huh? Oh, um, yes, she’s fine. She’s injured, but… she’s doing much better than the others.”
Caterina, who had been looking dejected, responded quickly, flustered. She hadn't been paying attention to their conversation. Kuro’s death must have been a shock to her.
They prepared a space on the ship for the bodies, and Kuro’s remains were stored there. They would hold a funeral after things calmed down.
“…Is David alright?”
“…David…”
He had been impaled through the back by Octavia. It was thanks to his sacrifice that she had been able to defeat her.
Caterina’s face was grim. “He’s still alive, but…” she trailed off.
“His aorta was severed. We managed to connect it, but his lung is collapsed… He probably won't last the night.”
“…I see.”
She visited the intensive care unit where David lay, covered in tubes, clinging to life.
Perhaps the Ope Ope no Mi could have saved him, but they still hadn’t found it.
…He wouldn’t survive. His injuries were too severe. Even with their advanced medical technology, there was no hope.
Perhaps she could cryogenically freeze him until they found a way to heal him, but… he wasn't strong enough to withstand the process.
All she could do was to ensure he had no regrets.
She placed her hand on his forehead and read his thoughts.
“His wife and children… I’ll make sure they’re taken care of… And the Bomu Bomu no Mi… It’s yours now.”
It was a valuable Devil Fruit, but David had played a crucial role in their victory. She wouldn’t be stingy.
She wished he could have survived, but… it was unlikely.
David couldn’t hear her. He was unconscious, clinging to life with the sole desire to see his family again.
She left the intensive care unit, where Caterina and Teach were waiting for her, and was led to another room for treatment.
She had sustained severe injuries, almost as bad as Kuro and David. It was only natural.
She collapsed the moment she entered the room, and the medical team panicked.
They decided to return to Hachinosu. They needed Sukura to treat their wounds, and they had to bring back Octavia’s body to retrieve the Goro Goro no Mi.
Angel Island was no longer habitable, so they prepared temporary shelters for the natives in Upper Yard. A small contingent of Twilight Pirates would remain behind to maintain order.
They were mostly low-ranking members, as the executives were all injured, but even they were stronger than the Sky Island warriors.
They left the island in Gan Fall’s care, and that night – David passed away peacefully.
