CHAPTER 37 - Overtaken? Blood Demon Art & Nox Battles
"There's no end to this swarm of scum!" bellowed Kid, slamming down a Demon, crushing its head.
Eustass Kid, a pirate Captain from the Worst Generation was in swell of fury, bashing and stomping Demons as the man walked down the forested path.
One of the Demons dodged his metal attack, springing back towards the pirate with double the speed. Kid got hold of a spear within his armoury slamming it into the Demon's face. With the momentum of the jumping Demon itself, the whole body was impaled into the spear. Kid hacked off the head, knowing well of their weakness by then. The Pirate Captain had undergone a hard week. After being defeated by one of the Four Emperors, Kaido, he had been flailed around like a ragdoll taking the beatings from the Beast Pirates under Jack, who had been provided the responsibility to break Kid. During the malicious ordeal, the rest of the Kid Pirates were locked up upon Jack's ship.
Kid remembered Jack's ship embarking upon the mysterious island of Zou, where he had known Jack and his crew wrecked the population out there. The surprising defeat of Donquixote Doflamingo had withdrawn Jack's crew out of Zou and towards the island of Dressrosa where the alliance of the Straw Hats and the Heart Pirates had caused a major uproar.
"Damn that Kaido!" Kid rumbled, "I'll get him once I put Hawkins and Apoo six feet under."
He knew he was on the right path with the increase in number of Demons along his path. Kid had planned an attack on the Beast Pirates Fleet two nights back, hoping to free his crew from the brig of Jack's flagship. He was furious to find the Demons beating him to the destination. More troubles followed when a Marine Fleet had followed suit right after the Demonic attack, revealing unneeded terrors like former Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Fujitora. Kid had no choice but to abandon the attack. Instead, he knew that the Demons had taken his crew prisoner along with others.
Upon reaching a clearing within the forest, Kid's senses keened ahead. He couldn't see far ahead thanks the waning moon, but could feel the disturbance. Calming himself down, he made a light grin, expecting excitement and trouble.
A battle ahead. Metallic clangs and slashes were heard with often shockwaves of blows.
"Killer!" Kid bellowed.
The clash did not stop. Kid observed that Killer was busy fighting an opponent who showed high calibre compared to all the small-timers that he had to face off against.
"Captain!" Killer replied, back-leaping through the air. He landed next to Kid.
"Having a great time?" Kid asked, glaring ahead.
The Demon ahead had a pale complexion with blue stripes and unfaltering yellow eyes.
"I have seen him." Kid added. Killer looked at him curious.
"That's the crazy bastard who stormed onto Jack's ship. Took all hostage." Killer explained.
"No wonder. I saw the bastard at the beachhead. You won't believe it, I tell ya. Two Admirals showed up soon after." Kid bellowed.
"You must be joking. And where were you? We could have used some help out there. These creatures, I don't know what they are. They won't die after being hacked in half."
"Where are the others?"
"You might know there were more of these creatures. The rest of them fled off with our captive crewmates the moment I broke loose. Heat and Wire, and the others, they are out there along with a bunch of other prisoners. Amongst them I realised, a few hailed from the Revolutionary Army."
"Those snoops from the Revolutionary Army are everywhere these days. You'd be surprised to know that I had the uncanny coincidence to encounter Roronoa Zoro*."
"The Pirate Hunter?"
"Straw Hat's henchman is drifting. He has no clue what he's doing out here."
The Demon turned around towards the chatting pirates, ready to attack.
"Alright, I may have some idea regarding the Pirate Hunter." Killer said, observing the Demon ahead, "But we need to deal with that guy before that. He's quite formidable."
"These beasts have annoyed me long enough. Time to put him out of his misery."
It was late in the afternoon. The room crowded with the concerned. Suma had brought in a small pail. Makio entered after her bringing in Lady Tamayo's medical bag and the first aid box.
"What happened to him?" demanded Inosuke, blaring into the room.
"Hush!" hissed Aoi, indicating her forefinger over her lips.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Nezuko rushed in hearing of the news.
"It's some kind of poison." mentioned Hinatsuru, observing the fainted man turn pale white.
"I knew something was wrong. I should have diagnosed him when I had my doubts." Lady Tamayo regretted. Her brows creased in angst.
"You shouldn't regret, Lady Tamayo. Law's a doctor, isn't he?" Yushiro tried to comfort.
"But I should have done something. He must've been infected with Demonic blood during that fight against the Upper Moons. I thought he'd have found something about it. I should have taken care of him instead of being engulfed in my research."
"Please, Lady Tamayo. It is not your fault." urged Sumi.
"Lady Shinobu has conversed with the Captain regarding his wounds." mentioned Naho.
"Captain Law was adamant to look after himself. He was very stubborn." added Kiyo.
"Who's stubborn? What are you talking about?"
To everyone's surprise, Law had woken up. His voice was feeble and his face pale white. But his eyes were stern and committed despite his situation. He was trying to take deep breaths but couldn't help the pain throughout his body. He winced once or twice to indicate his symptom to Tamayo.
"What were you thinking? Why didn't you approach me when your health was going worse?" Tamayo demanded in angst.
"I guess I didn't realise." Law mumbled.
Everyone was awe struck with his laid-back reply. The man himself wasn't much concerned over his situation. He struggled but managed to sit up with his back resting on the headboard, with his pillow.
"You shouldn't strain. I'll have to check on you before you should move again." Tamayo advised.
"No time. Those brats are in the middle of their training. Especially, Nezuko and the boar head."
"Come on, Law-san. That's not wise given your situation. Seriously, you don't look good." Tanjiro remarked.
Law demanded for a mirror. Kiyo brought the one situated inside the room cupboard and presented it to the man.
Law's eyes widened seeing his pale face.
"I've become pale in the past few hours." he told himself, "But I don't feel as bad as I had in the morning. Time to resume work."
"WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF? YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ANYBODY!"
All out of the blue, everyone was dumbfounded. Tears in Aoi's eyes. She was wailing as her tears drooled down her face.
"Aoi." Zenitsu mumbled.
"Why do you hurt yourself whilst taking care of others? Why can't you rest and take care of yourself? It's so dreadful to see you turn weary every day as you work tirelessly outside, whilst taking no moment of respite from your desk throughout the nights. You are going to kill yourself!" Aoi spoke her mind, and no one could have told it better.
Since the invasion of Gyutaro and Daki a week back, Aoi had volunteered to be the personal attendant of Law, herself hoping to repay the good Captain for saving her life, as well as, gaining respect and affection for the man because of his selfless actions. And thus, no one had seen Law's deteriorating situation better than Aoi herself.
"I apologise that you had to see me degrade in health in the past few days. But there are reasons behind my routine." Law tried to explain.
"We don't want you to leave, Law-san." urged Kiyo.
"Yeah, what's the hurry? I heard your new ship is yet under construction, and I heard you were making no progress on your return course." said Yushiro, "Maybe your situation wouldn't have gotten this worse if you had rested once in a while. You do know you'd die here if you keep this up."
He added, "The girl's right. You are reckless. There will be a less pirate leaving the shores of this land."
"Yushiro!" rebuked Lady Tamayo, in disbelief. No matter how hardened Trafalgar Law must've been, she knew better than to berate and belittle a sick man.
"But it's the truth." Yushiro tried to justify.
There was a silence. Law glared upon Yushiro. Until he broke off with laughter.
Everyone was dumbfounded from his reaction. Law's laughter simmered down to a smile whilst he seemed to give himself an understanding nod.
"You are right." he said with another nod, "Any common man would have kicked the bucket. Here I am not in great health as you all are very much aware. But, me being in a bad situation or at death's door won't recuse me of my obligations. First, I'm a doctor and no matter my stance, except if I'm incapable to move, shall treat any patient within reach. That goes for the increasing surge of wounded Demon Slayers who are risking their lives to protect humanity out here. Now, I'd be disgracing myself as a doctor and as your ally, if I'd simply take the easier path. Second, I decide to stay up the nights should someone like Daki come knocking on our doors. Now, I admit that taking a stab from Daki's brother was not the best outcome, but I can say with clarity that Kibutsuji won't stop with the attacks out here. And should any of his cronies show up, I shall fight with you."
"I thought you were staying up nights whilst charting maps to leave this place." said Makio.
"In a way, yes. But with the pirate Jack 'The Drought' presenting himself on the mainland, and Muzan Kibutsuji's goddamn Demons attacking Jack's flagship, releasing Doflamingo of all people? And there's some news regarding the landing of the Marines." There was a grave look on his face. "There's no saying what might go wrong. There's severe trouble on this land now. I believe, our crews in the New World can wait a little longer until we get things squared up out here."
Law felt a pressure of obstructed breathing. He coughed holding a scarf to his face. Thankfully, there was no blood.
"We need to get to your treatment immediately."
Before Lady Tamayo could begin her procedures, Nezuko had stepped up to the ailing pirate.
"Mmmmfgh mmmngh mmmf." she conveyed.
"What? You want to try that flame thing you did that day?" Law asked. Nezuko nodded.
"What 'flame thing'? Is she capable of using a Blood Demon Art?" Yushiro asked in surprise.
"She can. I saw her flames in the Upper Moon fight and it was beautiful and astounding." remarked Zenitsu, trying to please his beloved. Nezuko gave him no mind.
"Lady Tamayo?" enquired Yushiro with uncertainty.
The lady had a pensive look.
"If indeed Captain Law was poisoned by the Upper Moon, I may be able to reverse the spread of the Blood Demon Art. But then again, I was ignorant of the possibility that the Captain was not infected with any Blood Demon Art since that Upper Demon Moon was killed. And with the death of a Demon, in the usual case, their Blood Demon Art ceases to exist."
She walked ahead and touched Law's left arm, trying to sense through his blood. Her fears came true. Indeed, there were Demonic traces inside and spread throughout his body. The result of the diagnosis was something she had expected the least. With Gyutaro being dead, Law shouldn't have been affected by a Blood Demon Art, she believed. And besides, Law had been working outside the whole week, training the kids. He had enough sunlight to have burnt off any traces of Demonic toxins.
"You said sunlight removes the demonic crap off an infected body." Law mentioned.
"I did, and it's true for the cases that I have worked on." Tamayo replied. "I don't know how this is possible." she muttered.
"Is he treatable?" asked Suma, with tears on the brim.
Nezuko observed upon Tamayo, tensed and eager to know.
"Now that I think about it, I could have used my Devil Fruit powers to check it out. Gah, I'm starting to feel weak right now." Law grumbled.
"Hush!"
Tamayo tried to feel the amount of the spread toxin. She soon came to a conclusion.
"The Blood Demon Art has spread through the body and thus the Captain's pale skin colour. In a way, Captain Law's in the process of turning into a Demon himself."
"What?" everyone bellowed. Law almost snapped onto Lady Tamayo.
"I do have a drug in development which can prevent a Blood Demon Art from progressing. It's called the Anti-Blood Demon Coagulant. But there are some untested limitations to it. The drug can prevent the spread if the person was infected within a few days, preferably a day or two at most. Since, it has been a week, I don't know if the drug's going to do anything at this stage. I truly regret this."
"Lady Tamayo, Nezuko might be able to help. Her flames cannot hurt humans. They are meant only to wound other Demons." Tanjiro suggested.
"Kid. Nezuko." Law grabbed the young girl by her arm. "Do it." He glared at her.
"Wait, I'll need to check a few more things…" Lady Tamayo urged, but it was too late.
Nezuko trusted Law's order and engulfed his left arm with the pinkish flame, which spread throughout his body. Law began to feel pain. He winced at first trying to withstand the pain. The wince turned to occasional yells.
"Don't you dare stop, Nezuko! Better to die a human!" he bellowed, trying to disperse his pain.
Suma, Aoi, Kiyo, Naho and Sumi cried as they saw the Captain writhe in pain. Nezuko was filled with angst. Her great trust for Law was the only thing that kept her to continue through his arduous ordeal. Tanjiro and the boys observed the terror of a painful operation. Hinatsuru and Makio, though emotionally hardened kunoichis, more so than their younger co-wife Suma, felt uneasy. Yushiro, for the first time, felt compassion for the man.
"Aaarrgh!" Law roared.
The flames went on for another five minutes. Soon after, Tamayo stepped in and stopped the flames. Nezuko was heaving from the effort, tired, hoping she had made some difference to help Law.
Tamayo put her hands onto Law's chest. The man himself was on the brink of exhaustion and yet, he glared ahead at the rooftop with an unfaltering glare.
There was a look of worried surprise on Tamayo's face. Nezuko observed her with sweat and impatience.
"What happened?" asked Makio, awaiting in the same boat as Nezuko.
"My lady?" Yushiro asked in a feeble voice.
"Very intriguing." Lady Tamayo remarked, looking upon Nezuko. She then looked to the others.
She nodded with a smile.
Big cheers in the room.
"What the hell just happened?" Law heaved in fatigue.
"We are not out of danger yet." mentioned Lady Tamayo with her usual calm face. Her smile had disappeared, "Nezuko's Blood Demon Art has reduced the Upper Moon's infection by a substantial amount, but yet, the infection remains and tend to spread again should we neglect again. Which we won't. For the same reason, I believe my prepared drug might help in stopping the whole infection altogether…" She looked at Nezuko, "And I will need the help of Nezuko's wonderful powers."
"I'd say this was a folly on my part, despite being a researcher on anti-Demon medicines, failing to see this." Lady Tamayo turned towards Law, "My apologies, Captain."
"Quite the contrary. I should have checked more into the situation than simply ignoring and being involved into other stuff. You have my thanks." Law replied, appreciating her kindness and help.
Loud chatter sounded across the corridor. Enclosed inside the darkness of the secret room was the head of the pirate Captain Gecko Moria. He grinned in menace, he laughed his iconic laughter, resounding the room unaware of the others. What was going inside Moria's head?
TO BE CONTINUED…
Footnotes:
*Refer Nightmares: Gaiden - A side-story of mine, based on Zoro's disappearance since his imprisonment on the Beast Pirates ship, that took place between Chapters 14-17 of Kaizoku: Kimetsu no Yaiba.