The abundant flora and radiant surroundings confirmed Hades' absence, allowing the group to continue their path back, guided by the guardian, while the wounded vessel stubbornly refused aid from those who had unintentionally attacked her.
"It seems we're lost... Everything here looks the same," Zoro complained.
"YOU'RE THE LEAST QUALIFIED TO SAY THAT, MOSS-HEAD!"
"What did you call me? You perverted cook!"
"Actually, Zoro is right... But that's because everything here is identical," Nami commented.
While the pirates tried to orient themselves in their surroundings, Yagi approached their guide, attempting to strengthen the bond that had been weakened by the lack of communication.
"Miss Yue... Um..."
"It's fine, it's fine... Just add it to the list of misunderstandings," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
"Yes... That's actually what I wanted to talk about... You see, you should work on your communication skills..."
"Now is a good time to practice..." he suggested, nodding toward the group.
"I'm not good at making friends, remember? Last time, your coworker wouldn't stop strangling me with his filthy, smelly rags..."
"Actually... Last time, Straw Hat punched me straight in the face..." She added, leaning her head on the guardian's back with a mocking smile.
"You also tend to introduce yourself in a very suspicious manner..." Yagi said, with beads of sweat rolling down his temple. "Come on, try again."
"Alright..." she exhaled tiredly, turning her attention to the pirates.
"So... How's it going with your parents?" she asked with a forced smile, leaving everyone in silence.
"..."
"WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?!"
"I'm not surprised they turned into delinquents..." she whispered to Yagi.
"But you don't have any either..."
"Exactly, I was curious... Genuine curiosity, not malicious in any kind..." she explained, shrugging her shoulders, noticing how such a simple question had made the group uncomfortable.
"Rest my case! Don't force me to start conversations! This is the last time I take your advice."
"YOU'RE NOT EVEN TRYING!"
Their pointless argument was interrupted by the intrigued navigator.
"How are we supposed to go back? Terk said no one had ever managed to go return."
"Oh, that's simple... we just have to die." Yue replied matter-of-factly.
"Oh, is that all..." The clueless trio said, looking relieved.
"WE DON'T WANT TO DIE, YOU IDIOT!" they yelled almost instantly, glaring their eyes and showing sharp teeth in frustration.
"Well, you could always stay. It's nearly impossible to die here."
"THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEANT!"
"It's not that easy; plenty have tried to kill us, and they've failed," Zoro boasted smugly.
"But not like that..." Bakanee muttered nervously, with sweat running down her neck at the green-haired braggart's comment.
"I DON'T WANT TO DIE!" the reindeer wailed, clutching his captain's leg.
"YOU USED AN AMBIGUOUS TERM AGAIN ON PURPOSE, DIDN'T YOU?"
"Yup~," Yue replied in a mocking sing-song tone.
"WHAT DID I JUST SAY ABOUT COMMUNICATION? STOP CAUSING MISUNDERSTANDINGS!"
"Alright..." Yue muttered, feeling chastised, before addressing Nami.
"Actually, it's more of a change of realm..."
"THAT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!" The group's collective outburst sent a gust of air that tousled Bakanee's white hair.
She wiped her face, now wet from their spit-laden shouting.
"The Poneglyph at the entrance said, 'We must die, to live,'" Robin interjected, catching up to Bakanee with intrigue in her eyes.
"Exactly... we need to leave the realm of the living to get out."
"Want to give it a try? It's simple. Everything will be fine," She invited, stretching her arms out dramatically.
"No."
"Oh, come on, it'll be fun, I promise!" She said, raising her hand in a mock oath.
"Come on, guys! She says it'll be fun! Shishishi!" Luffy cheered, with stars as eyes.
"You can't trust her, Luffy! She's probably out for revenge!"
"No grudges, it was just a misunderstanding... It always is."
Yue felt the weight of Yagi's hands resting on her shoulders, offering support.
"IT'S FINE. LET'S GO," he said calmly.
"YA-TA!" Luffy cheered, leaping joyfully toward them.
"Oi, Mummy, are you sure about this?" Zoro asked, following his captain's lead.
"HER BIGGEST FLAW IS HER CONSTANTLY MISLEADING EVERYTHING... BUT SHE DOESN'T MEAN ANY HARM."
"That sounds exhausting," Yue muttered, tying her long hair into strands. She handed one end to Yagi and began binding his hands securely, as though holding him hostage.
"THAT'S WAY TOO SUSPICIOUS!"
"Eto... what are you doing?"
"Giving my plus ultra, I suppose..."
"YOU REALLY NEED TO LEARN TO COMMUNICATE BETTER!" Toshinori chastised, exasperated, sweat trickling down his temple.
"It's pointless. The trick is to avoid getting attached to people... and ensuring they don't get attached to you. The less we interact, the better," she remarked, dividing her hair into strands and signaling the guardian, who lay feigning exhaustion on the ground.
"That's stupid," Luffy retorted.
"Whatever..." Yue sighed, noticing Robin's injured arm. Hesitant, she wrapped a strand of her hair around the archaeologist's waist.
She made a strange, intermittent sound, akin to water gulps with sharp notes.
"Prepare to depart."
"What was that?" Brook asked, confused.
"It's... a name, in a way. It can't be translated."
"Oooooh, so you have a name!" Chopper exclaimed joyfully at the being, trying to mimic the sound alongside Luffy and Usopp. The result sounded like mating turtles, disturbing the guardian, who dissolved into a glowing mantle that enveloped Yue, forming a thick white robe.
"It can morph into clothes too?" Franky asked, lifting the heavy fabric.
"It becomes whatever it wants. What's important is that it stays with me to cross the other side," Yue explained, moving closer to the pirates and tying their arms with her long hair strands, except for Zoro, who refused.
The swordsman glared defiantly, but the vessel ignored him, wrapping the designated strand tightly around his torso.
"If you feel threatened, you're free to use your swords to cut yourself loose," she said, pointing to his still-free hands.
"Tie me up Yue-chaaaaan~3! I can be your slave." Sanji swooned, leaping toward her with hearts in his eyes.
"You have no right to decide while I'm still feeling the burns from your kicks," Yue retorted.
Her words stabbed Sanji like daggers, leaving him collapsed on the ground in tears.
"Oi, oi, oi..." Everyone watched the scene, feeling sorry for the cook, who would never forget the incident. Yagi knelt beside Yue, whispering a reminder of her own words.
"Remember, you said you understood it was just a misunderstanding."
"Yes, but look how miserable he is right now," she replied with a smirk.
"She's enjoying it!" Yagi thought, alarmed, watching as Yue finally tied the captain's hands.
Bakanee sat down, resting her hands on the reflective ground, trying to break the surface tension with her nails. As she succeeded in breaking through the mirror realm, her hands emerged from the other side, gripping her elbows and pulling her body into the depths. In an instant, she was replaced by her own translucent silhouette, like a spirit.
Her body had been replaced with a transparent version, but her hair retained its natural color. They watched as it slowly began to cross into the other side, soon to be dragged by it.
"I'M NOT READY! I'M NOT READY!" Usopp screamed in terror, trying to untie his bound hands.
"Usopp, stop crying, nothing will happen." Zoro scolded him.
"How can you be so sure?" Usopp cried, still struggling.
"Orumaito was already there." Franky pointed to Toshinori.
Bakanee's translucent figure stared at them with an unyielding expression. She planted her feet firmly, and with a sharp tug of her hair, which still connected the living and the dead; pulled them all into the other realm in a single movement.
A blinding flash of light enveloped everything, followed by total darkness.
The cold atmosphere wrapped around them, and while their eyes could discern nothing, they could still feel the surroundings. Unlike the underworld, the flora in that realm did not shrink away from contact; on the contrary, it responded: when their bodies made contact with the ground, it emitted a glow that changed depending on who touched it. These bioluminescent patches created an almost magical atmosphere, faintly illuminating their environment.
The delicate movement of soft anemones under them created a peculiar tingling sensation, making the pirates laugh uncontrollably.
"What is this place?" Jinbei asked, struggling to see anything in the perpetual darkness.
"Hell" Bakanee answered calmly, as her hair lighted the ground so the others could orient themselves.
"What do you mean by that?" Zoro asked, adjusting his katanas.
"Mmm..." Bakanee tilted her head thoughtfully, before her thinking how to explain it. "For example, a Vivre Card would disintegrate completely if its user is in this realm."
Upon hearing this, Nami immediately took out the remainder of Luffy's Vivre Card. The paper, which had once glowed brightly, began to fade until it was entirely consumed, leaving no trace.
"It's gone..." Nami murmured, disbelief.
"That means, technically, in the outside world, we are no longer considered alive." Bakaneeexplained with unsettling calmness.
"THIS IS WHERE YOU BROUGHT US BEFORE"
"That's right... It's safe." she said, undoing the knot of her hair from Zoro, who had already drawn his swords to free himself.
"NO! LET HIM STAY TIED UP, HE WILL GET LOST OTHERWISE!" Sanji intervened, annoyed by the swordsman.
Bakanee gave Zoro an appraising look... His angry expression lit from below by the glow of the ground, made him seem especially intimidating.
"No... I think I will let him free" she decided, deliberately untying him.
"Why is this place safe?" Robin, intrigued, asked
"If an aggressive entity were to appear, this would be our final refuge. Guardians, being manifestations of life, cannot cross into this realm unless brought by someone who breaks the surface" Bakanee explained, adjusting the cloak that covered her.
"What does that mean exactly?" Nami frowned.
"Once someone manages to cross, everything connected to that person will also cross. It's like..." Bakanee hesitated, thinking for the right words.
"Like giving birth?" Robin ventured calmly.
"WHAT KIND OF EXAMPLE IS THAT?!" Franky and Usopp yelled in unison, scandalized.
"Yes... Something like that" Bakanee admitted, shrugging.
"How does birth work?" Luffy asked, genuinely curious.
"DON'T EXPLAIN IT TO HIM!" Usopp protested, crossing his arms as if to block the conversation.
"HE'S OLD ENOUGH TO LEARN ABOUT IT"
"Well, you see, Luffy-san..." Brook began his explanation.
The discussion continued on the background, making Kizuna uneasy.
"Could this truly be the genius behind the infamous Impel Down escape?" she thought, with her gaze filled with doubt and concern as she studied the supposed mastermind standing before her.
"Baka-nee... How are we supposed to know where to go in a place like this?" The sniper asked trembling while glancing around.
Their surroundings were nothing but an endless expanse of darkness, devoid of even the faintest trace of light.
"We're in the complete opposite of the previous realm... Over there, everything is full of life. Here, on the other hand... Let's just say we have to rely on Haki to locate the strongest energy source."
"Wouldn't it be better to travel through the other side instead? This place give me the creeps... It feels like being trapped in a void," The navigator murmured, as her voice tinged with unease.
"Terrifying, isn't it? But at least you can hear your own voice, see your friends, and feel what's around you." Bakanee replied before letting herself fall onto the peculiar, velvety foliage.
With a carefree movement from her arms and legs, she made the shape of an angel into the glowing surface, leaving behind a faint blue imprint of her body.
"I've wanted to see this place for so long." The words left their lips like a breath of contentment.
Their brief moment of tranquility was abruptly shattered as Luffy, Chopper, Brook, and Usopp hurled themselves onto the ground, tumbling and rolling about in a frenzy, leaving behind a vibrant, chaotic explosion of color. Strangely, each of them radiated a distinct glow, their individual lights shining in different hues.
"HAHAHAHA! Oi, come on! This is amazing!" the captain called out between uncontrollable laughter, reveling in the ticklish flora and dazzling lights with pure, unfiltered joy.
Bakanee stood up, intrigued by the group playing like children among the glowing, multicolored foliage. A small smile formed on her lips, followed by a quiet chuckle.
"Plus Ultra!" she declared playfully, raising her hands in triumph as she saw them enjoy the surreal landscape. Then, with a sudden burst of excitement, she struck the strange flora, causing the tiny anemone-like structures to shift into a vibrant neon blue upon contact.
Seizing the moment, she jumped into action, running in large circles with her hands brushing against the surface, leaving glowing blue trails behind. The pattern she formed gradually came together, completing a circuit.
As the beginning and end of the design touched, it sparked to life with a gentle blue light, rising off the ground and floating upward. The surface, adorned with anemones, stayed bright, while the irregular ground below crystallized, emitting an otherworldly glow.
"This looks just like Mu's illumination." Jinbei noted, drawing a comparison to the glowing crystals that served as light sources in the kingdom.
"Is this also found on the surface?" the white-haired inquired, as her curiosity sparked.
With his usual brevity, the fish-man gave a firm nod. "Hm."
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper, unable to contain their excitement, rushed to draw their own shapes on the dense, glowing ground. The moment their creations connected at a single point, they began to break away, transforming into floating islands of varying colors.
Luffy's carefree and playful nature radiated a bright orange glow, a testament to his boundless energy and childlike spirit.
One of the smaller islands, which rose faster than the others, shimmered in a soft pink hue, reflecting the noble, kind, and gentle heart of its creator.
Meanwhile, an intensely bright yellow light emanated from an island bearing Usopp's 3D face, standing out among the rest and illuminating the entire area.
"That's not fair! Why does yours have your face on it?!" Luffy protested.
"Because you don't have the incredible artistic skills of the great GOOOO USOOP!"
As he bragged, Luffy smashed the nose of his creation with a swift hit.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEH! MY FAAACEEE! What's wrong with you?!"
"That's such an intense yellow..." The archaeologist remarked amazed, watching as Usopp's island lit up pretty much all of the area.
"He must be a huge liar... " The white-haired gasped in surprise.
"What?! NO... THAT'S NOT TRUE! NOT THAT MUCH!" The long-nosed protested.
"And also very insecure too..." She added, shielding her eyes from the brightness.
"How do you know that?!" the captain and the doctor asked, turning to look at her in surprise.
"It's the color of his soul... Words may be false, but essence never lies" she explained, then shifted her attention back to the troubled shooter.
"But it also reflects your creative and innovative nature" she concluded with a soft smile.
"Don't pretend to be all casual before throwing insults at me!"
"But is it true?"
"Yeah..." he admitted, sagging under the burden of his flaws.
The little reindeer hopped over to the girl, eagerly asking for meanings.
"Bakanee, what does mine mean?"
She bent down to answer him directly. "You have a pure heart, filled with good intentions." she said, playfully poking his unusual blue nose, which brought a smile to the reindeer's face.
"Straw Hat is someone hyperactive and cheerful... He must cause a lot of trouble."
"Yeah" Everyone replied, looking down in unison.
The crew moved forward slowly, captivated by how the darkness gradually faded away, fueled by their collective vitality. They weren't just the only living beings; they could also infuse their life and essence into this world, as if it were a blank canvas.
"This place is fascinating." Robin said, struggling to take in her surroundings.
"It's beautiful" Nami chimed in, touching the soft foliage and painting it a gentle yellow that leaned towards orange.
"INCREDIBLE..."
"Aren't you going to ruin the magic by saying you've seen this before?" The cook muttered to the swordsman.
"Tsk..."
The white-haired paused, waiting for her large island to fully emerge from the ground, reaching a height above her.
"Oi Bakanee! You're going to fall behind! Let's go!" the captain urged, eager to continue on their journey.
"Patience, young captain... This is just the beginning." She placed her hands near the lower part of the crystallized blue island, careful not to make direct contact.
"Have you ever played... 'The floor is lava'" She asked with a playful smile towards the ever-childish captain.
"Huh? What are you talking about all of a sudden?" Usopp and Luffy tilted their heads in sync with question marks practically popping above them.
Without another word, she seized the massive crystal and altered its gravitational pull. Instead of falling away, her body was drawn toward the floating structure, allowing her to stand effortlessly on its surface—almost as if it had become its own miniature world with its own gravity.
The crew watched in awe as she defied all logic, standing effortlessly upside down on the crystal when she should have fallen. She simply smiled at them, waiting for a response.
"AAAH! SUGOOOOI!"
"The game is simple: cross the path by jumping onto anything in front of you; just don't touch the ground." She gestured toward the scattered floating crystals they had created earlier.
"OH! I WANNA TRY, WANNA TRY, WANNA TRY!" The captain dashed toward the islands, inspecting them with pure excitement.
"HEY! MAKE MORE!" Luffy commanded while running, sketching more circles to expand their floating playground. Brook, Franky, Usopp, and Chopper eagerly joined him, scattering across the area to create more platforms.
Bakanee turned toward the remaining crew members, extending her hand in invitation. Robin, unbothered and ever-curious, stepped forward, taking it without hesitation.
The moment their hands met, the gravity of the floating island took hold of her. The archaeologist fell, but with a swift movement, Bakanee guided her landing, ensuring she touched down on her feet instead of tumbling onto her head.
Robin wandered around the strange crystal, fascinated by the sight of dozens of other floating islands emerging as the hyperactive pirates continued their antics.
"Fufufu..." She chuckled, entertained by her friends as they leaped between the floating structures.
The gravity in this place was peculiar. Depending on the strength of their jumps, they could either hover midair, drifting as if swimming through space, or propel themselves from surface to surface, activating new gravitational pulls upon landing.
Luffy continued bounding across the floating islands, eventually veering off course and landing beside his archaeologist.
"Robin, come on! This is so much fun! Shishishi!"
"Fufufu, of course, Captain." She smiled, stepping forward to join the game.
Luffy took his nakama's hand, guiding her along the path they created. Their steps left behind trails of glowing orange and violet, weaving together until they rejoined the group.
The constant leaping had scattered the floating crystals, leaving the hyperactive captain momentarily stranded as they eagerly awaited their next creations to rise.
"Regarding your earlier question, Miss Cat Burglar..."
Drifting effortlessly alongside small floating debris, Bakanee continued, "Traveling through here will be faster and easier thanks to the altered gravity."
From her vantage point, she observed the colors left behind by each pirate's steps, the hues of their "voices" painting a vibrant display. A sense of ease settled over her—this was a balanced group of adventurers. The dominant yellows spoke of innovation, creativity, intelligence, and fear, intertwined with bursts of energetic orange, mirroring their lively personalities. At the center stood the former Warlord and the Hero, their presence marked by a radiant white aura of purity and optimism.
Yet her quiet amusement faded the moment she caught sight of two intense, clashing reds. The color burned fiercely, emanating from the wings of the king—two spirits locked in endless conflict, neither willing to yield to the other.
Suppressing a sigh, she pushed the thought aside, exhaling slowly as she cast off the white cloak draped over her shoulders and continued forward.
"Your turn." She gently instructed.
The cloak obeyed, dissolving into shimmering fragments before reforming into a massive whale with six pairs of fins, gliding effortlessly through the air.
"Let's go..."
"SUGOOOOIII!" Half the crew shouted in awe, their eyes sparkled at the sight of the mystical creature as it descended, allowing its rider to step down while offering the rest a chance to climb aboard.
As the mysterious woman advanced toward the musician, she absentmindedly hummed a melody; the same tune that had nearly cost his life.
But before she could take another step, the cold edge of a sword pressed against her throat.
"What are you plotting?!"
She barely blinked, her expression was calm as she met the swordsman's sharp gaze.
"Would you be so kind as to lower your weapon?"
"MISS YUE, YOU SHOULD START EXPLAINING THE REASONS BEHIND YOUR ACTIONS, OR SOONER OR LATER, IT'S GOING TO GET YOU INTO TROUBLE." The hero cautioned, positioning himself between them.
She simply acknowledged his words with a nod and continued humming her tune, causing the light beneath her feet to expand further until it reached Brook.
"Let's brighten up this place; Shall we?" Without warning, she seized the musician's skeletal hands and pulled him toward the darkness.
"Brook, you damn pervert! Don't you dare lay a hand on her!"
"As long as it's not a flaming foot!" The white-haired voice echoed from the depths, instantly crushing the blonde's spirit.
Sanji collapsed onto the floor, which pulsed with a brilliant red glow before gradually shifting to blue.
"Oh... The color changed..." Chopper muttered, confused.
"What does that mean?"
"He's feeling blue" Jinbei stated matter-of-factly.
*Growls
"Blue has always been associated with serenity, honesty, but above all, melancholy." Robin explained, watching as their friend remained face-down in the foliage.
A short distance away, swallowed by the darkness, only faintly outlined by a dim blue and greenish-yellow glow, Brook stood somewhat apprehensive about the girl's proposal.
"Is this safe?"
"Yes. It doesn't need to consume life for now... We need to draw the presences from the upside realm to light our path. The life of the other realm can be projected here."
"Alright... Ladies first." The skeleton gestured, placing his bony fingers on the strings, ready to play an E-flat.
Bakanee smiled, appreciating his trust despite their earlier incident. She began humming a tune, forming a glowing blue circle around her. As Brook followed her lead, matching her tempo with his instrument, the vibrations intensified the effect, flooding the surroundings with a brilliant golden light.
Stepping back, Bakanee positioned herself behind him.
"Now!"
"YEAH, BABY!"
Brook broke into a powerful note, shattering the gentle melody.
The soundwave shattered the ground in front of them, launching numerous floating islands into the sky, each adorned with thousands of glowing pebbles that illuminated the path ahead.
"YOHOHOHO! IT WORKED!"
"AHAHAHA, IT REALLY DID!"
They cheered at the skeleton's feat, but the celebration was short-lived. Suddenly, the woman smacked both of her cheeks, breaking the flow of their synergy and startling Brook.
"Bakanee-san..." The skeleton straightened his ruffled shirt, studying her now reddened face.
"Would you be so kin—"
"I don't have any. Stop insisting." She replied flatly, unfazed.
Brook immediately suffered a nosebleed.
"HOW SHAMELESS! YOHOHOHOHO!
"How the hell can he even bleed?"
With the path illuminated by pebbles of all sizes, the floating islands, and the pirates traveling on the mystical whale, the journey became more enjoyable as they uncovered various elements hidden in the deep darkness.
The playful trio, noticing a cluster of large crystals ahead, left the guardian behind to continue their earlier game, veering off course and creating colorful trails as they altered the paths of the floating islands.
The abundant light allowed everyone to see each other more clearly, and the Kizuna couldn't help but notice the bandaged arm of the archaeologist.
"What happened to your arm?"
"I sustained some injuries during the battle with Hades..."
"Oh, I'm sorry..." The girl stood up and walked along the unstable back of the guardian until she reached the dark-haired pirate.
"May I?" she shyly asked, extending her hand toward the archaeologist, who readily accepted.
Bakanee placed her palms against Robin's, lifting them to head height since she couldn't stretch her arm fully. She began to hum the melody she used to heal the Gaians.
Her hair glowed softly, and the splint the guardian had made for her disintegrated, swirling around them and enveloping both women in a warm light as the tune continued.
Robin's scars flickered back to life, illuminating most of her body, while new ones appeared on her arm in the same spots as Bakanee's injuries, healing her simultaneously.
Bakanee's hands lowered to remove the bandages, revealing Robin's arm with no traces of wounds, while the scars on Bakanee's marked body began to fade, illuminating her skin and face.
"ARE YOU OKAY?"
"Yeah, thank you," she replied, holding her head slightly dizzy.
"Thank you, Kizuna-san," Robin said with a gentle smile.
"No problem... That battle shouldn't have occurred at all."
"You could have explained beforehand..." Jinbei grumbled.
"I don't quite know how he works either... Is there anyone else injured?" she asked, scanning the passengers.
"The zombie..."
"Idiot Marimo, didn't you see that healing weakens her?!"
"Is the zombie Shaggy? Fine, let me take a look," she insisted, but All Might crossed his arms in refusal, understanding the consequences it could have for her.
"NO, IT DOESN'T MATTER; IT'S AN OLD INJURY."
"Well, we might as well take advantage of this place... It's a luxury I can only use here without fully suffering the repercussions, apparently."
"What are the repercussions?" asked the cook.
"I usually absorb the pain and trade years of my life for health... In Hell, I only keep the pain," She explained with a wide smile, wiping the sweat from her forehead, which revealed the residual pain from the battle with the Straw Hats.
"THAT'S NOT NECESSARY, REALLY," he insisted, trying to stop her by raising his hands.
"I wish I could say I respect your opinion... but I don't care... So let's just get this over with."
"Yue~chan, if you absorb his pain, you'll end up with serious damage..."
"It can't be worse than the heat of your feet..."
"PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT!" he pleaded with tears streaming down his face as he spat blood.
"Pirate Hunter... If you're going to share information, at least make it complete... Where is his injury?" the woman pressed, fixing her gaze on the green-haired, who remained silent.
"Tch"
"HERE IT IS..." The hero lifted his shirt, revealing a deep, gaping scar where his organs should have been.
The sight left the travelers speechless, except for the swordsman, who had already seen it before.
"They really did a number on you," She remarked, stepping closer to examine the wound. "It's pretty fucked up"
"I LOST MY STOMACH AND PART OF MY LUNG... YOU NEED TO UNDESTAND, I CAN'T LET YOU HEAL ME IF THAT MEANS TAKING THE DAMAGE FROM MY INJURIES ONTO YOURSELF... SO PLEASE; STOP INSISTING."
"I see... Thank you." She exhaled in relief before suddenly, digging her nails into his wounded side.
A low vibration emerged from her throat, resembling the soft melodies she often hummed, though this time, the sounds took the form of words in an unfamiliar language.
"Bakanee, stop! You're only going to hurt yourself!" Nami yelled along with Sanji and Brook backing her up, while the others simply watched in tense silence.
Her hair glowed brightly, and two of the guardian's fins disintegrated, offering their life force to the bond between them.
The energy entered through her nose, coursed through her body, and transferred through her hand into the hero's body, slowly regenerating one of his missing organs. But the cost was immediate... Blood dripped from her mouth and nose as one of her own lungs took the damage instead.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" The hero, furious, shoved her away.
She tumbled back into the group, who caught her just in time.
Her body was trembling, fever creeping in, yet she still managed a smile at the pirates, pretending she was fine.
"I'm not done yet..." she whispered, trying to push forward.
"STOP SACRIFICING YOUR HEALTH FOR OTHERS!"
"You should follow your own advice before suggesting it to others," she muttered, wiping the blood from her lips as she struggled to move.
"Are you okay?" the navigator asked with concern, helping her sit up.
"I'm fine. I've endured worse torture," she said with a playful smile, glancing at Sanji.
The blond bit down on his shirt, as tears streamed down his face. "Yue-chan, why do you have to be so cruel?" he sobbed, while Zoro smirked at the scene.
"Hahaha, sorry, I—" Her apology was cut short as she coughed up more blood. "Excuse me... my lung isn't fully regenerated yet."
"SORRY, THIS IS MY FAULT" Yagi muttered.
"There he goes playing the victim again..." the cook grumbled.
"Instead of apologizing, just say thank you, you damn old man," he snapped, lighting a cigarette in irritation.
"Uh... you're right. Thank you very much." The hero bowed, pressing his forehead against the whale's back—only for the irritated white-haired woman to kick him aside, knocking him onto his side.
"Knees are meant for bowing before a king or a god. Don't soil them—it's disgraceful."
"How cruel! Yohohohoho!"
"Oi, help!"
A familiar voice called out ahead, drawing their attention to where Luffy floated aimlessly in the dark expanse.
"Ruffy-kun, what happened?"
"I couldn't reach the next island, so I got stuck... I can't move."
"Try pretending to swim," the white-haired suggested.
"But I can't swim. Baaaakaa... Oh, never mind! Shishishi... I got it now!" he laughed, wiggling like a worm, moving painfully slow, until Sanji grabbed him mid-motion to stop the nonsense and bring him back with the group.
"Where are Usopp and Chopper?"
"They went ahead."
"I'll go get them," Bakanee offered.
"YOU SHOULDN'T! YOU'RE NOT IN ANY CONDITION!"
"I don't care... I need a moment of solitude." She muttered before spotting a cluster of floating crystals beneath them.
Without hesitation, she dove, landing on the largest one and using it as a springboard to propel herself forward.
The six years of carrying the massive guardian within her had paid off. Her body felt incredibly light—no exhaustion, aside from the lingering pain from battle, the tightness in her chest, and the shortness of breath. But most of all, the sheer strength she possessed allowed her to move at speeds she hadn't experienced in centuries. She shot across the void, leaping effortlessly between floating islands and debris, leaving the others far behind.
"WOOOOOOAAH!" Luffy scrambled to the front of the whale, with his eyes wide as her glowing blue trail vanished into the darkness.
"She's fast!" Sanji whistled, clapping his hands.
"She'll find them in no time. "Nami sounded confident, but Zoro and Jinbei weren't as convinced. Meanwhile, Robin seemed unsettled, as beads of sweat formed on her skin despite the frigid air.
"Guardian-san... Can you go after her?" Robin gently stroked the glowing creature.
The mystical whale complied, increasing its speed as it surged forward, picking up Usopp and Chopper along the way.
"She's fine, Robin. She's just having fun." Luffy grinned.
"No, Luffy, she has every right to be worried... She's injured, and she could hurt herself if she keeps going." Nami said serious.
"No." Robin interrupted sharply.
"She's not planning to help us. She just wants us gone."
"Are you sure?" Nami frowned.
"Oi, why would you think that?" Franky raised an eyebrow.
"Is it because of this creature last message?" Jinbei asked, having noticed Robin's reaction to the Guardian's last written words.
"She's done what she needed to do... Once she leads us to the exit, she'll leave us behind."
"At least she'll help us get out." Zoro shrugged.
"But not back to our time." Robin's words made everyone freeze.
"Well... then we just have to kidnap her! Shishishi!" Luffy laughed, flopping onto the Guardian's head.
Before anyone could respond, an upside-down waterfall surged through the Guardian, cascading over the crew and refracting light into a rainbow that stretched high into the void.
The glow of the inverted waterfall illuminated a figure drifting in the distance, the body was tangled in strands of its own hair, floating limply.
"See... There she is!" Luffy pointed, launching his arm to pull her back.
"Chopper, check on her."
"She's weak, but she'll be fine."
*Grumbles*
"Stupid hair... Stupid body still recovering from the attack... Damn incomplete lung..." She muttered under her breath, her complaints triggered a wave of depression in Nami, Sanji, and Yagi.
"Well, that'll make it harder for you to escape, Shishishi."
"HE NEVER HOLDS BACK HIS THOUGHTS!"
"Nope." They replied in unison, bowing their heads.
"Huh..."
"You told them... Traitor...Fiend..." Bakanee mumbled, giving the mystical whale a weak headbutt.
"Now that we know, we won't let you go, that's for sure." Luffy teased, wrapping his arm around her, causing her to wince in pain.
"Why don't you want to help us get back?" Chopper lamented with teary eyes.
"Because I don't want to participate."
"Participate on what?"
"We're being used as pawns in Hades' game... Once we win the match, we'll be rewarded with our return..."
"Just play without me, I know you can do it." She said with a nervous smile.
"What do we have to do?" the merman asked seriously.
"Don't know... I don't know what your role is... Just be yourselves; that's will work eventually."
"And what's your role?" Nami asked, causing the girl's expression to turn serious.
Exhausted and frustrated, she let out a sigh and leaned against Robin.
"I just want to be free... At this point, I think the only way is to take my own life."
"DON'T SAY THOSE THINGS, YOU IDIOT!" Luffy yelled angrily, giving her a headbutt.
"Luffy, don't hurt her more." Chopper interjected after the hit.
The girl simply rubbed her head in silence, not protesting the blow.
"Don't say things like that so easily! You must have someone waiting for you back home."
"Yeah, the government is always at my door... There's nothing for me there!"
"Then stay, but help us get back." The navigator urged.
"Here, you can be free... They're not looking for you!" Usopp exclaimed joyfully.
"You have a friend." Chopper pointed at Yagi, who waved nervously, only to be met with a pout...
"I barely know him."
"YOU SAID WE WERE FRIENDS..."
"Well, it was a lie."
"Oh, come on... You knew it was a lie all along."
"Rude," the Straw Hats said in unison as they saw All Might looking confused.
"What? Wouldn't you say that in an unknown place in front of someone who can help you in case of an emergency?"
"I DIDN'T DO IT AT THE TIME... THE RELATIONSHIP WAS BUILT ON RESPECT AND TRUST." The blonde's words caught the woman's attention
"Torao?"
"TORAO."
"..."
"I guess I can stay in Lemuria," she said, a bit more resigned.
"Will you help us get back?" Franky asked.
"Whatever."
"YA-TA!"
"Luffy... She didn't say yes."
"She didn't say no either."
As time went on, the path began to glow with a brilliant white light emanating from a colossal pillar of water that disappeared into the void. The whale disintegrated, leaving everyone standing before the immense and perilous vertical current.
"Impressive." The pirates were left speechless, unable to express their excitement as they usually did.
"Is this it?" Brook asked.
"Yep Styx exit... On the other side, it looks like the whirlpool at the entrance... This will take us to the surface."
"Aren't we... going to drown?" Chopper and Usopp asked fearfully.
"Terk mentioned something about it reclaims the life that's offered..." Nami explained.
"Reclaim what? No, no... It's safe... It's the only way out."
"If it's so safe, why couldn't the others come back?"
"They didn't know how to change realms"
"Then how did the one who returned manage it?"
"Let me guess... He was found dead." She asked with a tired expression, confirmed by everyone with a nod.
"In the rare case that a body dies in the underworld realm, it body is swallowed by the surface and brought to hell realm... He probably drowned trying to swim against the current." She explained, sitting cross-legged, leaning her weight on her hands behind her, watching the imposing vertical current.
"So it's safe?" Nami asked.
"Completely."
"Good, then you go first." She invited her to go first.
"I'm sorry, I can't."
Without the group noticing, her hands, which she had hidden behind her back, had crossed to the other realm, pulling her body away and leaving them alone at the exit as she returned to the underworld.
"That cheater betrayed us!"
"Technically, she helped us get to the surface, not back to the past." Robin pointed out.
"Damn loopholes in contracts." The sniper complained.
"Hey! Come back! Bakanee!"
"YOU PROMISED US, TRAITOR!"
"She's not listening, Franky."
As both stood in the same area, it caused the foliage of hell to conceal itself, allowing them to see a crystal-like view towards the illuminated side where the girl was rising, shrugging her shoulders and placing her hands over her ears in mockery for not hearing them.
"Hey, you idiot! You were planning to live in Lemuria!"
"Idiot! Tell us what we're supposed to do!" Chopper and Usopp repeatedly punched the mirror-like floor that connected to the other realm.
"YUE, STOP PUSHING AWAY THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT YOU!"
Bakanee only smiled at them, saying something that couldn't be heard, and cheerfully rose from the surface to leave.
Before she could take her first step, a claw pierced through her chest, causing a significant amount of blood to pour out. Both from her wound and her mouth, that iron liquid flowed continuously, painting the ground red and allowing a faint reddish light to seep into the dark realm.
"BAKANEEEEEE!" the captain shouted in desperation, trying to mimic the movement of crossing planes by digging his nails in but failing in the attempt.
The Kizuna's eyes dulled, their once-vibrant gleam extinguished as her vision darkened, a sign of her body surrendering to unconsciousness. Blood poured freely from the deep wound, engulfing the thick claw that impaled her, staining her hair and bandages with a sickly, vivid red that dripped from her in torrents.
Her hands, weak and trembling, futilely tried to dislodge the foreign object, but with a sickening lurch, it violently ripped through her insides. Her hair fell in clumps, pooling on the ground, a macabre veil over the horrific scene.
Those who watched were unable to tear their eyes away as her body split in two, with the gruesome sight of her exposed spine being the only thing keeping her remains together.
"NO, NO, NO, WHERE IS SHE?" Luffy tried to wipe the blood from the surface, but failing in the attempt, since it was on the other realm.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" The swordsman exclaimed, agitated.
"A remaining guardian." the archaeologist said with a trembling voice.
"SHE COULD STILL BE ALIVE! THE LIFE FROM THAT SIDE MIGHT SAVE HER!"
"All Might... —the merman tried to keep calm."
"NO! IT CAN'T END LIKE THIS!"
"All Might!... That overdose of life only works on wounds and old age."
The undergrowth began to glow blue, painting a straight path into the deep darkness.
"What's happening?" the reindeer asked through tears.
"It's dragging her... Yue said that the life from another realm reflects in this one," the musician commented.
"If it body being dragged has life, it means she's still alive."
"If that's the case, don't celebrate... She might only live long enough to see us one last time."
"Listen, you damn Marimo..." Sanji angrily grabbed his nakama by the collar of his shirt.
"Sanji-kun, even if we don't want to hear it... We have to accept that it's the most likely outcome." Jinbei explained, trying to be the voice of reason.
The guardian lost its bright white color, transforming into a black fox that ran along the blue path that began to disappear as it advanced.
As they watched it ran away, Luffy stretched out his arms to reach it, along with Sanji, who managed to ride its back, followed by the rest of the crew as they arrived at the location of the River of Souls, which barely created any light, revealing how both realms were connected by it and indicating that something had submerged within.
"Damn, how do we get to the other side?" the captain asked angrily, about to plunge his hands into the depths to fish for the Kizuna, who suddenly floated up.
"Well...That was easy." Zoro pointed out.
Straw Hat launched his arm to catch her and bring her to the shore, seeing how her translucent body was still mutilated, releasing her as soon as he managed to drag her near the group.
The dark guardian acted as a doppelgänger, transforming its body into Bakanee and using its hand to completely submerge her, causing it to lose a significant amount of mass as time passed.
"It looks like it wants to drown her..." they expressed with sweat trickling down their heads.
The group sat impatiently at the riverbank, waiting for the healed body to emerge once more.
"When she comes out, she'll be unconscious again... We can take her against her will."
"MR. FRANKY, THAT'S NOT RIGHT, IT'S CONSIDERED KIDNAPPING."
"As we understand it, you all did the same thing when you took her to school." Sanji replied.
"I NEVER CONSIDERED IT FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE."
"Because when a hero does it, it's a rescue; but when a pirate does it, it's kidnapping," Franky declared, causing embarrassment for the hero after reconsidering.
"Sort out your values, man," Usopp complained.
The fennec sat down next to the group, barely reaching their shoulders.
"Don't you see it's smaller?"
"Without a conscious bond, it's just losing its life... If it keeps this up, it'll disappear," the archaeologist deduced as the creature formed a message on its back.
"What does it say?" Nami asked
"Hades rejects her presence; he'll ensure she suffers but won't let her die until she submits and leaves."
"Then she's condemned to eternal punishment if she stays..." Zoro mentioned.
"Yosh!... We'll take her with us whether she likes it or not. If she wants to stay in Lemuria, jut let her be."
The fennec went to retrieve the woman's body, dragging her by the feet and trying to lift her onto its back, but its small size wouldn't allow it. Yagi assisted by lifting her in his arms, resting the girl's head on his shoulder, where he could feel her warm breath.
"Dude, you're body is going to break..." The sniper pointed out.
"Is she ready?" the doctor asked.
"IT SEEMS SO."
The group once again made their way toward the imposing vertical current, its howling winds resembled tormented wails.
"It sounds just like the entrance..." the navigator murmured, rubbing her arms as a shiver ran through her.
"Are you coming with us?" the swordsman asked, glancing at the small fox that barely reached his knees. The creature simply stared at him before dissolving into wisps of darkness, reforming as a thin, black layer around Bakanee's bare feet—solidifying into boots similar to those of the pirates.
"I guess that's a yes."
Bakanee's skin flushed with renewed color, and the void in her eyes began to fill as her pupils slowly reformed—proof that awareness was creeping back into her. As her vision cleared, the blurred silhouettes around her sharpened into the familiar faces of the crew.
"If you try running again, you'll just end up impaled all over and over," Zoro warned, his voice dark and matter-of-fact.
"...It was worth the risk," she muttered, averting her gaze in disappointment.
"What are you all doing here?" she asked, finally taking in the tear-streaked faces surrounding her. Luffy, Nami, Sanji, Chopper, Usopp, and Yagi still bore swollen eyes, as their relief raw and unrestrained as the weight of their emotions spilled over.
"We were worried, you! they shot back, eyes glistening.
"idiot!" Added Luffy
"YOUNG LUFFY, THAT WAS UNNECESARY"
"I told you not to get attached..."
"How could we not?! Idiot!"
"Yeah, idiot!"
"How could you? I've being a bitch..."
"We jumped together! We're friends!"
"You say that so easily..."
"We're not friends... I was just your guide." She muttered, exhausted by their persistence.
"Chopper, give her something—she's delirious." Usopp ordered.
"Right!" Chopper knelt beside her, rummaging through his whale-shaped backpack for anything that might help.
"We're just glad you're still with us... Don't ever do that again." Nami scolded, pressing her finger against Bakanee's forehead, pinning her head to the ground.
"And now, how do we get out?"
"Simple... You just have to let the current pull you in." She explained, attempting to stand—only to collapse instantly.
"YOU..."
"Wait! You're not recovered yet!" Chopper scolded.
Her trembling hands pressed against the cold surface, pushing herself forward, trying to cross again.
"Oi, WAIT!" Chopper hoisted her up in his hybrid form before she could slip away.
"She's trying to run again..." Usopp muttered.
"She really does have a death wish..." Zoro said disappointment.
Meanwhile Luffy picked up a shard of crystal from the ground, tossing it into the air. Instead of falling, it remained suspended, caught in the gravity of the place.
Then, a gust from the towering water pillar seized the fragment, swallowing it instantly. Luffy's gaze followed its path, tracking the vortex's endless ascent.
"So that thing just has to suck us up... YOSH!"
"NOT THE YOSH AGAIN!" Toshinori panicked as he saw the mischievous grin stretch across Luffy's face.
Before anyone could react, one of his arms stretched out, wrapping around the entire group.
"EEEEEEH?!" Usopp, Chopper, Nami, Brook, and even Jinbei screamed in unison, still unprepared for their captain's madness. Meanwhile, Zoro, Sanji, Franky, and Robin remained unimpressed, merely accepting their fate.
With an unshakable grin, Luffy hurled them all into the air. As the unnatural gravity faded, they were drawn upward—first weightless, then helpless as the roaring current seized them. The wind howled, ripping at their bodies, twisting and pulling them into the vortex's merciless embrace.
And then—violently, mercilessly—it spat them out.
They crashed onto the blackened shores, sand clinging to their battered forms as they tumbled against the unforgiving ground. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of something ancient, something watching.
Awaiting their arrival, Terkchak stood rigid with impatience. The moment they crashed onto the darkened shore, he wasted no time—his sharp gaze flickered before he dialed Malakat.