I Am In One Piece Summit

Chapter 2: 002 Breathe! · Chapter 2: 002. Breathing! · Crunch! · Crunch! · Crunch! · Garp trekked through the soft snow, passing through a forest of snow-laden pines. Thanks to his perfect mastery over his physical strength, he left only shallow imprints in the white landscape. · Snowflakes drifted down, and within a few breaths, his footprints vanished entirely. · Guided by the presence he had sensed with Observation Haki minutes ago, he wove through the wintry woods. The surroundings grew increasingly desolate and silent, while the trees loomed thicker and more ancient. · Garp glanced down at the infant in his arms with a look of helplessness. Meeting those two round, inquisitive black eyes, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Being scanned inch by inch by someone else's Observation Haki was an incredibly unpleasant sensation. · Yet, he was powerless to stop it. He couldn't exactly surge his own aura back in retaliation; if he did, the consequences would be something he didn't want to witness. · Enduring the mental strain, he could only pick up his pace. Half an hour later, he reached a mountain hollow. Standing before a massive tree nearly ten meters in diameter, Garp knocked on the wooden door built into the base of the trunk. · Knock! Knock! Knock! · "Who is it?" · Almost as soon as he knocked, a sharp, weathered female voice rang out. As footsteps approached, the door creaked open. · A trendy-looking old woman with an exposed midriff poked her head through the gap. Fine wrinkles lined her forehead, and she wore a pair of stylish glasses. She frowned as she looked up at Garp. · The door swung wider, allowing the cold wind to rush into the house. She lowered a glinting scalpel held in her left hand and curled her lip in a cold sneer. "I was wondering who it was. It’s just you, you brat. What are you doing here?" · In the next heartbeat, a dark shadow flashed. Garp snapped his head back, narrowly dodging a whip-like kick, then leaped backward. · Looking at the overly energetic old woman who was already prepping a second kick, Garp wore an expression of total exasperation, though his words remained conciliatory. · "Big Sister Kureha, what are you doing? I haven't offended you in years!" · Retracting her right leg, Dr. Kureha remained silent for a moment before snapping, "Who gave you permission to use Observation Haki to probe me? And who said you could call me 'Big Sister'? If you don't want me to keep beating you, then shut off that Haki of yours right now!" · Garp’s face stiffened as he sheepishly scratched his head. "Sorry. I didn't mean to." · Kureha's brow furrowed. "Then why is it still active?" · Hearing this, Garp looked down at Messer in his arms. His eyes twitched as they met Messer’s curious gaze, and he gave a bitter smile. "Big Sister Kureha, you’ve misunderstood me." · "It's this little guy who's throwing his Observation Haki around." · "Do you take me for a—" Kureha started to snap, but then she stopped, her eyes widening in surprise. "This little guy..." · She stepped forward, taking Messer from Garp’s arms with her left hand while pressing her right index finger against the infant's forehead. Her amazement deepened. "How strange." · Kureha looked up, her gaze meeting Garp’s nervous eyes. Her brow was tightly knit, but her voice carried a hint of scientific curiosity. · "This little guy is quite interesting. His body is perfectly healthy, yet his aura feels like he’s on the verge of death. It makes no sense." · "It’s abnormal, completely abnormal. It doesn't feel like a disease; it feels... it feels like he’s been cursed by something." · On these vast seas, bizarre powers were not limited to Devil Fruits. In hidden corners of the world, there were many strange and mystical forces. · Priestesses... incantations... · Having lived a long life, Kureha was naturally well-versed in the world's mysteries and had encountered various curses before. · As for Garp, backed by the Marines and having spent half a lifetime at sea, he had seen his fair share of the bizarre—like the magical seahorse he’d found and eventually released into a specific stretch of the Grand Line. · "Ee-ee, ya-ya." Messer looked at the familiar face of Dr. Kureha. Comparing his current situation to the last ten days, a sense of resignation settled in his heart. · It seems I really have come to this world. · One Piece. · A world of blades and guns, of blood and fire. · A world where dazzling Devil Fruit abilities clashed. In the original timeline, this was a fantasy realm filled with joy, adventure, and romance. · But that was only from the perspective of the protagonist’s crew. The reality was a dangerous "Era" of rising powers, shifting regimes, and constant chaos. · Human life was as cheap as grass. · To live in peace was the greatest blessing heaven could bestow. · It was a paradise for the strong. · A hell for the weak. · By now, Dr. Kureha had brought Garp and Messer into the treehouse. The interior, carved out of the heart of the massive tree, was incredibly warm. · Sitting cross-legged on a folding surgical table, Kureha poked Messer’s soft cheek with her finger while addressing Garp. "I can't fully figure out this little guy's body, but for now, he won't die. For anything more specific, I'll need long-term observation. If you want to take him, go ahead." · Garp took a deep breath, his eyes clouded. He had known Kureha since his youth, a friendship spanning nearly thirty years. Although they didn't meet often, she had once saved his life. She was a true friend. · "Then, I’m leaving Messer to you. I’ll come to see him when I can. I’m counting on you, Big Sister Kureha." · "Pah!" Kureha laughed mockingly. "Do you think my place is a junkyard? You just drop a mess in my lap whenever you feel like it? This brat isn't yours, is he? His features look nothing like yours." · Changing her tone to something more businesslike, she added, "You haven't forgotten my rates, have you?" · The moment Garp arrived, Kureha knew a big deal was coming. Opportunities to fleece a high-ranking official didn't come often. · Especially a reckless one like Garp. · Garp’s eyes twitched, knowing he was about to suffer a heavy financial blow. "I know." · "I’ll have my men deliver half of my warship's supplies to you shortly," Garp said, his voice aching with the cost. · Kureha nodded, giving Garp a look that said 'at least you're sensible,' before continuing. "That’s not enough. I heard that Vegapunk is working for your government now. Bring me the latest research data on life blueprints—the 'Lineage Factor.' I have a use for it. I suspect this little guy’s physical issues might be a defect in his Lineage Factor. Get it to me as soon as possible." · Before Garp could object, Kureha’s expression turned cold. "The 'merchandise' has been handed over. Now, get lost." · Garp grumbled and picked his nose, preparing to flick it, but when he saw Kureha looking at him like he was a dead man, he gave a dry laugh. "I didn't throw it yet!" · "Get out!" Kureha barked, pointing at the wooden door. "Get out right now before I lose my temper." · Garp smiled helplessly, muttering under his breath, "How old is she and still so short-tempered? No wonder she never got married." · Whoosh! · A flash of cold light shot through the air, reaching within ten centimeters of his pupil in the blink of an eye. Garp snapped his head aside to dodge. A sharp thud followed as a scalpel buried itself completely into the wall of the treehouse. · Garp left. · He practically fled. · However, he did leave Kureha with a name: Messer’s full name. · So, ten days later, I’ve been handed off again? Messer stared blankly at the wooden ceiling. · [Merit Points +1] · In the middle of the night, an infant’s cry rang out. Soon after, an old woman, grumbling and cursing, threw on some clothes to change a diaper. · Practice makes perfect. · During the day, with dark circles under her eyes and sipping on refreshing plum wine, she would carry Messer to the nearby Great Antler Village for medical rounds. · And to find a wet nurse for Messer. · There were plenty of people there, so milk was never in short supply. · In a flash, time passed. · January 10th, Sea Calendar 1501. · A tiny tot about a year old, wearing a white, fuzzy Lapahn hat, was being carried down the snowy street by a trendy, midriff-baring old woman. She held him by the straps of his overalls as if he were a bag of trash, glancing at him occasionally with a look of pure annoyance. · "Messer, didn't I teach you?" Kureha said with a look of disdain. "Be a bit sweeter with your words. If you're sweet, you get the good stuff." · Being swung back and forth, Messer felt his brain rattling. "Doctor Auntie, that lady was so ugly. She wasn't even as pretty as you. I couldn't bring myself to say it. I can't be sweet like that." · "Tsk!" Hearing him call her something so close to "Mom," Kureha’s eye twitched. She lifted him up and glared. "Brat, you’re sweet enough with me, but it’s useless. And I told you, don’t call me that. Call me Doctor Auntie." · "Auntie?" Looking at the fierce old woman, Messer tilted his head. "Do I have one?" · Kureha’s blood pressure spiked. Her temples throbbed. · She rolled her eyes, feeling exhausted. She didn't know what sin she had committed to agree to that fool Garp’s request a year ago. · Every night, he had to pee or poop. Why couldn't he just wet the bed like a normal baby? No, he had to wake her up in the middle of the night to help him. · On the bright side, because of that, she never had to wash a dirty diaper. · I guess that's something to celebrate. · At nearly a hundred and forty years old, she was experiencing the "joys" of motherhood for the first time. · In less than half a year, the brat had learned to speak basic sentences. By now, he knew over eight hundred words and could "communicate" quite well. · After a year of observation and treatment, Kureha had made zero progress on Messer's "condition." She had, however, burned through a massive amount of precious medicinal herbs. · At least half of her stock had been used on this brat. · Regardless, with Garp and the Marines as a backing, resources weren't an issue. · The only consolation was that the little guy’s physical fitness was already on par with a healthy, strong adult. · In fact, the brat was naturally gifted; from birth, his physical foundation had been superior to that of an ordinary person. · Pouting and swigging her wine, she silently used Observation Haki to monitor Messer. · She carefully studied the little guy's breathing—a fascinating technique she had noticed long ago. · Most infants used this type of breathing when they were first born. · Abdominal Breathing. · Kureha had found it interesting before and had done some research, but it had never led anywhere. She had found that as children grew, this breathing naturally transitioned into chest breathing. · But now... · Through a year of meticulous observation and comparisons with her adult patients, Kureha had recorded her findings daily. She had summarized a set of training points for Abdominal Breathing based on Messer’s patterns: · 1. During exhalation, the area below the navel contracts. The diaphragm moves up, the chest contracts, and the stale air is squeezed out from the bottom of the lungs. · 2. During inhalation, fresh air is slowly drawn in through the nose, filling the lungs. The diaphragm moves down, and the abdomen expands. · 3. Both inhalation and exhalation should gradually become deep and long, reaching the lower abdomen, keeping the core tight and full. · Combined with high-nutrition beast meat, it was immensely beneficial to the body. · Switching between chest and abdominal breathing was difficult. Changing an instinct was a struggle even for her. · However, even after practicing it for a short time, Kureha noticed the benefits. Her energy was more abundant than before, and even her kidney function had improved. · "Cough! Cough! Cough!" Walking through the snow, Kureha suddenly broke into a coughing fit, her face turning red. "Dammit, I lost the rhythm. This cursed Abdominal Breathing!" · She glanced at Messer, who was using the technique as naturally as if it were instinct, and felt a wave of speechless frustration. · This brat really was one of a kind. · Then, Messer’s sweet voice rang out: "Doctor Auntie, I told you not to drink while walking, but you didn't listen. See? You choked." · Kureha wiped the wine foam from her lips and scoffed, "You little rascal, you think you can lecture me? You're a hundred years too early for that." · "True. Doctor Auntie is over a hundred years older than Messer. You're right." Messer said in his adorable baby voice, dangling from her hand. · Kureha’s eye twitched. She gave him a fake smile. "When we get back, I’m cooking a pot of 'Perfect Restorative Soup' just for you. Make sure you drink every drop." · The so-called "Perfect Restorative Soup" was a chaotic stew of vegetables, minced meat, and a blend of nourishing herbs she’d formulated for a one-year-old. · It was nutritious, strengthening, and easy to digest. It was also disgusting—bitter and astringent. · As for why it was a whole pot, Kureha had discovered that Messer's digestive capacity was extraordinary, rivaling that of an adult. · This was another benefit of his Abdominal Breathing. · "Can we add sugar?" · Seeing Kureha ignore him, Messer sighed helplessly. He let his head, hands, and feet hang limp, allowing her to carry him toward the house. · Messer didn't notice the slight upward curve of Kureha's lips. · Merit Points: [375] · He closed the light screen in front of him. Like checking in for a daily reward, he gained one Merit Point every day. · Unfortunately... · [Legend Rank]: Each level of Legend adds a certain number of Merit Points per day. · [Ordinary Person]: Unknown (+0/day) — A negligible character, like common weeds. · [Minor Celebrity]: Millions Bounty / Officer Level (+5/day) — People in certain places know your name. · [Rising Star]: Hundred Million Bounty / Supernova (+15/day) — Enough to be a topic of conversation. · [Renowned]: Warlord / Emperor's Commander / Elite Vice Admiral (+25/day) — Your name is widely known across the seas. · [Man of the Hour]: Emperor / Admiral (+50/day) — Every appearance stirs the world. · [Legendary]: Figures etched in history (+100/day) — Even if your name is erased, your story will be passed down through generations. · [Quality Level]: F-E-D-C-B-A-EX (Concept/Demi-god) · Each tier is divided into three ranks: e.g., F- / F / F+ (representing entry-level, standard, and peak of that tier). · [END]