章 34: Deja Vu #34
After a grueling battle that left the surroundings in shambles, Blake leaned on his knees, his chest heaving as he glanced at Law.
On the other hand, Law, propped up by his sword, displayed signs of fatigue, a thin trickle of blood staining his lips—a testament to the toll of his overextended use of his devil fruit power.
Nearby, Bepo, Penguin, and Shachi lay sprawled on the ground, their eyes upturned and their bodies drained of energy.
"Looks like... looks like you're running on fumes," Blake wheezed between panting breaths, a victorious grin spreading across his face. "It's... my win," he declared triumphantly, wiping the sweat from his drenched forehead.
Despite the pain coursing through him, Law clenched his jaw, determination etched on his features. "Not... not yet," he countered, his voice strained. "I still have more fight left in me!"
With a broad grin, Blake steadied himself. "Let's see what you have then!" he challenged, drawing in a deep breath. "Come at me!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms wide in anticipation.
Law took a moment to gather his resolve, his gaze flitting to the unconscious form of Bepo. Then, with no hesitation whatsoever, he surged toward the polar bear mink, katana poised for one final strike.
Blake's initial confusion melted away as he deciphered Law's strategy. He realized Law intended to swap his and Bepo's places, leaving Blake vulnerable to Law's impending strike.
Reacting swiftly, Blake leaped backward, leveraging his momentum to evade the attack after the anticipated switch.
However, His anticipation turned to disbelief as Law's figure vanished, reappearing behind him, switching places with a piece of floating debris that Blake didn't notice instead of executing the expected maneuver.
With his reserves depleted, Blake attempted to engage Kami-e and forcefully twist his body away from the sword swing, but exhaustion hampered his efforts, leaving him unable to avoid the incoming blow.
Faced with the looming attack, Blake clenched his jaw and instinctively reached out, catching the edge of Law's katana with his bare hand just before it could carve through his side.
A searing pain shot through him as the blade sliced into his palm, halting at the resistance of his bones. Despite the agony, Blake maintained a grin as he met Law's gaze.
"It's my loss," he conceded, pausing as Law suddenly released his grip on the katana and crumpled to the ground, unconscious with the tension leaving his body.
"Bwahahaha! A shame... but it was really fun," Blake muttered, mirroring Law's fate as he collapsed onto his back, a wide grin etched across his features.
Wolf approached the fallen youths with a mixture of concern and exasperation evident in his expression. "My oh my, youngsters these days are something else... or maybe I'm just getting old," he remarked with a sigh, shaking his head as he moved toward Blake.
"I should bandage that hand before he loses too much blood," Wolf muttered to himself, reaching into his first-aid kit. However, before he could proceed, Sif loomed over him, emitting a fierce growl as a warning. Wolf met her gaze with a placating smile.
"Easy there. I just want to treat your friend's wounds. I mean no harm," he reassured, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender.
After a tense moment, Sif relented slightly, her icy blue eyes still fixed on the old inventor. Wolf retrieved a bottle of disinfectant from his bag, intending to apply it to Blake's injured hand.
However, his actions were interrupted once more as a turquoise light began to gather around Blake's unconscious form.
Slowly, the light transformed, shaping itself into the form of a cutlass. The curved blade gleamed with a polished silver hue, adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of waves and maritime motifs.
Its hilt, crafted from weathered wood and ocean-blue metals, bore engravings depicting ships navigating tumultuous seas. The guard, fashioned in the likeness of a serpent coiling around the blade was forged from the same shimmering metal.
In Wolf's eyes, the sword emitted an aura reminiscent of the relentless force of the tides, captivating him with its beauty. He reached out to touch the hilt, but recoiled before his fingers could make contact.
"Somehow it felt as if I'd lose my hand if I touched it carelessly," he muttered, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead. "Is it some sort of devil fruit ability?" he pondered aloud, lost in thought for a moment.
However, he quickly dismissed the stray thoughts, shaking his head to clear them away as he refocused on his task. "Oh well, it's none of my business anyway... I need to patch him up quickly."
With renewed focus, Wolf set about attending to Blake's injuries, setting aside any further speculation about the mysterious sword.
...
As Blake gradually opened his eyes, the unfamiliar sight of a dull grey ceiling greeted him. The dimly lit hospital room whispered with the soft hum of medical equipment, adding to his disorientation.
Glancing down, he noticed the blood transfusion device attached to his wrist, confirming his location.
"So it was just a dream...." he murmured with a heavy exhale. Memories of his recent misadventure flooded back— setting out with his squad against orders, the daring rescue attempt, and the unexpected gunshot in the back that had abruptly halted his heroics.
"Guess I pushed my luck a bit too far," he muttered, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Yet, beneath the bravado, a tinge of apprehension lingered. He didn't resent his subordinates anymore, understanding they were acting in self-preservation.
What's more, they had all the reasons they needed to act since Blake had dragged them along with him. Only now, after seeing such a long dream did he understand that he was enforcing his ideals upon the soldiers and forcing them to disobey orders as he did.
Blake couldn't help but dread facing his comrades again. "If only it weren't a dream... things would have been so much simpler and easier," he sighed, resigning himself to the uncertain path ahead.
Shifting uncomfortably in his bed, his gaze fell upon an unexpected visitor—the stoic figure of a polar bear in an orange jumpsuit, watching him with an inscrutable expression.
Blake and the bear shared an awkward stare, the silence between them thick with uncertainty. The bear shifted nervously in his bed, clearly ill at ease under Blake's gaze.
"A bear...?" Blake muttered, a sense of déjà vu washing over him.
The bear managed a tentative smile before speaking, his voice trembling slightly. "Um, h-hello...?" he ventured, his words hesitant and unsure.
Blake's eyes widened in shock as he processed the unexpected sound. "The bear spoke! The bear is wearing a jumpsuit and it spoke!" he exclaimed, pointing at the polar bear with disbelief.
The bear's smile faltered, his expression turning downcast. "I apologize for being a talking bear..." he said, his voice heavy with depression, his shoulder slumping.
Blake took a moment to collect his thoughts, rubbing his forehead in bewilderment. "Hold on... Bepo?" he ventured tentatively, studying the polar bear's face. .
Bepo blinked in confusion, clearly taken aback by the situation.
Blake couldn't help but chuckle at the bear's confusion. "It really is you... so it wasn't just a dream after all," he remarked, a glimmer of amusement in his voice. "No wonder I felt the ground rocking under the bed... are we inside a ship?" he asked, puzzled by their unexpected surroundings.
Bepo nodded in affirmation, confirming Blake's suspicions. "Yes, captain," he replied, causing Blake's confusion to deepen.
"Captain?" Blake echoed, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about? I lost, remember?" he reminded Bepo, a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice.
"No... Wolf said you won. He was keeping the time. Law didn't argue either" Bepo declared, shaking his head as he recalled the events. "We woke up before you since you lost a lot of blood so we decided to set sail," he added, standing up and pulling back the curtains to reveal the expanse of the deep sea through the small round window.
Blake chuckled at the revelation. "Well, if that's the case, then who am I to argue?" he remarked with a grin, leaning back into his bed. "Where are we headed, by the way? And where's Sif?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
Bepo scratched his head, pondering the questions. "Law had me chart a course to Minion Island. He said it's a good spot to gather the supplies we need," he explained. "As for Sif... You mean the big wolf that keeps following you around?" he asked, a hint of annoyance flickering across his features at the mention of the oversized she-wolf.
Blake's expression turned puzzled. "That's right... Did something happen between you two?" he asked, sensing there might be more to the story.
Bepo's annoyance became more pronounced as he recounted the encounter. "I was trying to establish my position as a senior crew member, but that damned wolf had the audacity to slap me on the head with her massive paw! That's how I ended up in the treatment room!" he grumbled. "Anyway, she's got her own quarters down in the lower decks..."
...
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