My Special Ability

Chapter 36: My Special Ability

"Boy, where did you hear about the Rumbar Pirates?" Crocus asked, standing on Laboon's back.

Rodney couldn't see anyone, so he signaled to Momoo, "Wait for me here for a while." 

He leaped up and landed on Laboon's wet skin, using his heels like suction cups to climb straight up.

Laboon, being an island whale, lived up to its scientific name. It resembled an island, gradually growing in size. Due to its increasing volume, Crocus had to retreat into its body to provide medical treatment. 

Inside Laboon's stomach, Crocus had created a space for his own leisure, where he had placed various items. However, this arrangement did not disrupt Laboon's daily life. 

'What a fascinating creature, belonging to the pirates…'

Upon reaching Laboon's back, Rodney realized it was much larger than he had imagined.

There he met Crocus, the ship doctor from Roger's ship, who gave him an unfriendly gaze. Beside him was a deck chair with a sun umbrella attached—a symbol of a life well-enjoyed.

"You claim to know about the Rumbar Pirates?"

"Yes, that's correct," replied Rodney.

Crocus asked, "Do you know that this pirate group existed fifty years ago?"

"Yes, ah, this island whale Laboon was brought forth by them, although they are all deceased…" 

"Woo!"

 Laboon had excellent hearing; it could even detect ultrasound. How could it not hear this sound? Its mood turned sour, causing its body to shake for a moment.

"Wait, I haven't finished speaking," Crocus interrupted.

Crocus questioned, "Boy? Are you here to entertain me and Laboon?"

"Of course not. Fifty years ago, the Rumbar Pirates were annihilated by their enemies in the Florian Triangle. Everyone indeed perished, except for one member named Brook. He came back to life after consuming the Revive Revive Fruit. That's the last remaining member of the Rumbar Pirates. 

However, he was trapped in that place and unable to escape. I heard that Gecko Moria of the Seven Warlords of the Sea took away his shadows, preventing his escape." Rodney explained.

"Woo~"

The sound emanating from Laboon's body was no longer sorrowful; instead, it carried a hint of joy.

"You're not lying to me, are you?" Crocus inquired.

Rodney shook his head and assured him, "No, why would I lie to the ship doctor of Roger Pirates? That would only bring trouble."

Crocus stroked his beard and said, "Now the old man is starting to wonder where you acquired this news. Ordinary people don't know that I am the ship doctor of Roger. I am curious about the whereabouts of the Rumbar Pirates that you mentioned."

Rodney smiled and said, "I consumed a peculiar Devil Fruit, and my eyes occasionally see random visions. I happened to catch glimpses of the Rumbar Pirates. Brook was dressed in a black suit and wore a top hat. He had an afro hairstyle and thick lips—seemed like a peculiar character." He activated his Sharingan, adding a touch of credibility.

"Well, after giving it some thought, it does match the description of Brook," Crocus admitted. 

"Your eyes... they're truly extraordinary, possessing a special power. Are you really venturing into the Grand Line alone?" Crocus felt that Rodney might be overestimating his own abilities. 

A pirate's journey was never a solitary one; it required the mutual support of companions to reach the end.

"There's also Momoo... Although I will release it later, I entered the Grand Line to hone my strength, and I won't die. If I want to escape, ordinary people won't be able to catch me."

He planned to go to a densely populated area, where he would utilize his transformation technique to blend in seamlessly, ensuring that no one would recognize him.

"These eyes grant me more than just those abilities." Rodney looked confidently at Crocus, causing the latter to shake his head. 

He folded the deck chair and said, "Young man, if what you said is true, then Laboon and I owe you a great debt."

"It's just a small favor," Rodney dismissed with a shake of his head. 

Then, as if remembering something, he rubbed his hands together and spoke with an embarrassed smile, "Well, I don't have a Log Pose... Look..."

In this world of chaotic magnetic fields and unpredictable weather, the Grand Line could only be navigated with a Log Pose. The Log Pose sensed the magnetic fields between islands, guiding the user in the right direction. 

However, each time they traveled from one island to the next, it took some time for the Log Pose to recalibrate and point toward the next destination.

Crocus chuckled. "Not to worry, come with me. Laboon , wait a moment; you'll soon meet someone you've longed to see."

"Woo~" 

Laboon's body moved, and with a flick of its tail, it created a massive wave, swimming towards the edge of the lighthouse.

Once they reached land, Crocus learned that Rodney was a pirate hunter. He had slain numerous powerful pirates in East Blue, which led him to bind the manatee Momoo to the Grand Line.

Newborn calves really aren't afraid of tigers!(1)

Today's youngsters aren't much different from their predecessors.

"Wait here for me." Crocus entered the lighthouse and retrieved the Log Pose for Rodney.

Meanwhile, Rodney examined the scars and pits on Laboon's body. Some were fresh wounds, likely caused by recent collisions with the Red Line. Over the years, Laboon's body had suffered from these constant impacts.

"Then... Summoning Art!"

Boom!

A slug measuring over 20 meters in length appeared beside him. The Sister Slug asked, "Master Rodney, please give me your orders."

"Sister Slug, do you think Laboon can recover from its injuries?"

"Laboon is massive," remarked the slug sister. "However, it's still smaller than my body in the Shikkotsu Forest. You must know that my body, Katsuyu, encompasses the entire Shikkotsu Forest.

Well, these injuries should heal quickly, taking about half an hour to complete. Lord Rodney, would you like me to start? But please clean Laboon's skin of the seawater; the salt content will harm me. My slime won't cause harm, but it will be quite uncomfortable." 

After all, Sister Slug was still a slug, and salt would dissolve her tissues. Although she wouldn't die, it would be an uncomfortable experience.

"No problem. Laboon, could you come a bit closer?"

Laboon obediently leaned forward, almost touching the nearly vertical cliff.

"Here we go. Water Release: Whirlpool!"

Chakra formed a large quantity of fresh water, which Rodney used to cleanse Laboon's skin, removing some of the salt residue.

"Alright, I'm going up." 

Sister Slug began to crawl towards Laboon, stretching over 20 meters as she settled on Laboon's back like a doll.

The green medical chakra emitted by Sister Slug stimulated the combination of Laboon's wounds. Those old scars couldn't be healed further, as they had already closed. However, the new wounds were manageable.

Even without chakra, medical ninjutsu could still have an effect on the body, using chakra to facilitate wound healing.

Laboon felt incredibly comfortable. Compared to Crocus injecting treatments directly into its body, this method of healing brought greater enjoyment.

"That's..." 

Crocus emerged from the lighthouse, holding the log pose in his hand. He asked curiously upon seeing the slug sister perched on Laboon's head.

"Oh, Mr. Crocus, this is my partner, Sister Slug. She can use my chakra to accelerate the healing process in the body. It's one of my abilities." 

"Is this ability a result of your transformation?" Crocus inquired.

"No, it's a summoning ability. These eyes of mine possess miraculous powers." The red eyes momentarily stunned Crocus, but he soon smiled and said, "Indeed, both of your abilities are quite astonishing. Young man, your abilities are truly remarkable. May I know more?"

"That's not a problem. You won't reveal my abilities, right?"

"You can trust me completely. Here, this is the Log Pose you requested. The magnetic power is fully charged, and it points to the next island. Now, which route do you intend to take?" Crocus inquired.

This was the starting point of the Grand Line. From here, seven distinct magnetic forces extended outward, representing the seven different routes. Whichever route one chose, they would ultimately reach the end, Raftel.

"But which route does Alabasta take?" Rodney asked.

"That route," Crocus pointed in a specific direction.

"Understood. Let's go that way." 

Rodney chose that route simply because Luffy had taken it in the anime. He was familiar with what awaited him on that particular path, while the other six routes remained shrouded in mystery.

Ratoon's Note:

Newborn calves really aren't afraid of tigers! - is an expression used to describe the fearlessness and audacity of young people who are willing to take on challenges and face risks without hesitation or fear.