One Piece: Reborn in God's Valley

One hour later.

Dressrosa, King's Plateau.

Inside the palace, the wounded had been carried here, and Dressrosa's doctors were working around the clock.

"There's nothing more we can do. King Riku's injuries are too severe." 

With a sigh, Marco withdrew his right hand from the king's chest and continued.

"That Shigan grazed his heart. He didn't die instantly, but his arteries are ruptured. There's practically no saving him."

"What?" Tank dashed over, pulling down the doctor who had been tending to him. "There's got to be something we can do."

"Yeah, Marco, is there any other way?" Kyros's voice trembled. 

He didn't have many close ones left in Dressrosa, but Riku had always cared for him. Seeing the king like this struck him hard.

"I think… I might have a way. It's worth a try."

Everyone turned at the sound of the voice. It was Gancho, the elder of the Tontatta Tribe.

In his hands, he held a strange-looking fruit. He walked slowly to King Riku's bedside and said.

"Garta found this Devil Fruit a few days ago by chance. I cross-referenced it with the Devil Fruit compendium passed down by our ancestors. It should be a Paramecia-type, the Heal-Heal Fruit."

"Oh? The Heal-Heal Fruit? It hasn't surfaced in years. If it really is what you say, then King Riku might be saved." 

As the Whitebeard Pirates' doctor, Marco was well aware of the fruit's reputation.

"Then what are we waiting for? Have someone eat it, there's no time to waste." Kyros shouted, hope reigniting in his voice.

"Well then, why don't you eat it?" Gancho stepped up to Kyros and raised the fruit toward him.

"No, no, I can't. That's yours. I can't take something so valuable. As long as it can heal King Riku, that's enough for me." 

Kyros waved his hands frantically. He knew just how precious Devil Fruits were, especially one with such a rare and specific ability.

"There's no need to be modest. This fruit was meant for you from the start, Kyros. When we found it, we told King Riku right away. 

He was worried about you, afraid that you'd get hurt out at sea with your current strength. 

The moment he heard about this fruit's ability, he said it should be given to you. I gave him my word," Gancho explained, expecting Kyros's refusal.

Kyros was overwhelmed by emotion. Being cared for like this… it left him speechless.

"Then eat it already. Riku can't wait any longer," Ashen said firmly, seeing the conflict in Kyros's tearful eyes and deciding for him.

He hadn't expected this fruit to appear so soon. He had thought it would follow the original timeline and end up with Mansherry. 

But maybe this was for the best, her kind nature and frail body wouldn't have done the fruit justice.

Crunch…

At Ashen's urging, Kyros took a decisive bite.

…

Half an hour later

Now familiar with his new powers, Kyros pulled Riku back from death's door.

He then went on to heal all the injured from the war. Of course, such extensive use of the fruit's abilities left him thoroughly exhausted.

Inside the dining hall, everyone gathered around the table. After such a long and brutal battle, they were starving.

Though war had taken its toll, in the world of pirates, survival meant moving forward. So, they buried their sorrow deep within and celebrated their hard-earned victory with fiery joy.

King Riku, Gancho, and Jean didn't blame Ashen for the losses. They knew that to gain something, one must also risk something.

And after this war, one thing was clear. The Helgrave Pirates were destined to become one of the powers ruling the seas. This only deepened their trust in Ashen and his crew.

"Thanks for everything, Marco." Ashen raised his cup in gratitude.

"Pwahahaha… Don't mention it. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Besides, I had my own reasons for taking out Komilin." 

Marco said sheepishly, clinking cups with Ashen. 

"But seriously, I let my guard down. I didn't expect that government dog to be hiding so deep."

Just the thought of being captured made Marco shudder. If that had happened, Whitebeard would've gone to war with the World Government without hesitation.

And if that had come to pass, Marco would have become the greatest burden on the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Don't worry. I got played by the World Government too, this won't end here," Ashen said, then asked curiously, "So, what brought you to Dressrosa in the first place?"

Ashen knew the Whitebeard Pirates well. They rarely split up. Marco being here alone definitely meant something.

"Ah…. I almost forgot." Marco slapped his forehead, remembering his task. 

He quickly pulled out a Den Den Mushi and handed it to Ashen. 

"I'm actually here to deliver this. Pops has something he wants to say to you."

Taking the Den Den Mushi, Ashen nodded. "Alright. I'll contact him."

…

After dinner, everyone went off to handle their business, there was no shortage of work in postwar Dressrosa.

Only Ashen and Marco remained in the dining hall.

Puru…Puru….

Ashen activated the Den Den Mushi and dialed in.

Gurarara…Is that you, Ashen, my boy? came the deep, unmistakable laugh of Whitebeard.

"Hahaha…. It's been over ten years. Hearing your laugh really brings back memories, Old Man Newgate."

Ashen had inherited his predecessor's memories and truly held deep respect for Whitebeard.

I bet you missed my fists more than my voice. It's been over a decade since I beat some sense into you.

"Hahaha..."

"Gurarara…".

Their shared laughter echoed, memories of wild days and foolish fights lighting up their conversation.

"Alright, enough reminiscing. What the hell are you up to? Stirring up all this chaos, what's your goal?"

After a moment, Whitebeard finally got down to business.

"Nothing much," Ashen said casually. "Just thought the world's been a bit too quiet… figured I'd add some fuel to the fire."

"You haven't changed a bit… Still just as restless," Whitebeard muttered, then grew serious. 

"But you realize, right? If your little technology gets mass-produced, it'll throw the New World into complete chaos."

"Hahaha…. That's exactly the point. Just look at what's become of the New World, full of dead weight and nobodies calling themselves pirates. 

I'm going to unite the West Blue, the North Blue, and the New World into one battlefield and wipe out the old trash from the last era."

Ashen laughed like it was nothing more than spring cleaning.

"But if you do that, there'll be no rules left in the New World," a young voice suddenly shouted through the Den Den Mushi.

"You're Teach, aren't you? Then listen up, listen well, Teach.

What damn rules do pirates need? The only rule is the size of your fist. If your fist is hard enough, then every word you say becomes law."

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