"What? How can a father do something like that?" Ace exclaimed in disbelief. "He must be bluffing!"
Shin frowned. 'No, Kaido wasn't bluffing—there's actually a bomb inside those handcuffs.'
Whether or not it could kill Yamato was another matter. With her current physique and her powerful armament haki, she might only end up severely injured. However, when Kaido initially cuffed her, her defenses weren't nearly as strong. In other words, Kaido wasn't bluffing.
"Although I always thought my father might be bluffing, considering his personality, I've never dared to take the risk," Yamato sighed, lying down on the ground like a deflated balloon. "That's why I haven't been able to go to sea."
"Well..." Shin began, but Ace interrupted him, enthusiasm brightening his eyes.
"Don't worry, Yamato! Next time we meet, I'll help you break free from everything! Then you can join us at sea!"
Shin sighed and finally interjected, unable to hold back any longer. "You don't have to wait for the next time. I can remove the explosive handcuffs right now, so let's not get so dramatic, alright?"
Yamato and Ace turned to him in surprise, both echoing, "Huh?"
"These are special handcuffs made of Sea Prism Stone, with intricate mechanisms inside. Can you really unlock them?" Yamato asked her expression a mix of hope and hesitation.
Ace looked just as uncertain. "Yeah, Shin, I thought your Munch-Munch Fruit couldn't affect Sea Prism Stone?"
Shin rolled his eyes. "You're missing the point, Ace. Why would I have to deal with the actual handcuffs? Don't forget—my Munch-Munch Fruit can transform the human body. As long as someone isn't instantly killed, I can reattach even a severed limb without any lasting harm."
Ace's eyes widened as he finally understood. "Wait, are you saying you're just going to cut off her hand?"
"What? Losing my hand for freedom feels like a steep price," Yamato muttered, looking uneasy.
Ace quickly reassured her, "No, no, you didn't hear Shin! He can heal you immediately after. You'll have your hand back in no time."
"Really? That's incredible!" Yamato's face lit up with excitement. "Let's do it!"
Shin blinked, taken aback by her willingness. He had expected her to be more skeptical, maybe even requiring proof of his powers. Yet, here she was, placing her trust in him without hesitation.
"Alright, if you're ready, just relax your arm. With your strength, cutting through won't be easy if you're not relaxed."
Summoning a large, finely crafted blade from his storage scroll, Shin imbued it with haki until the metal gleamed darkly. "Alright, here we go."
Yamato stretched out her hands and relaxed completely. She was tough enough to endure steel, but in her current unguarded state, the sharpness of the blade would be enough.
With a swift slash, blood sprayed as her hands fell to the ground.
Shin wasted no time. He opened his mouth, expanding it until he could swallow her whole, then removed the Sea Prism Stone handcuffs from her detached wrists and promptly ingested the severed limbs as well.
After a brief moment of concentration, he carefully spat her back out, her hands now restored.
"Wha—?! Did I just get eaten?" Yamato yelped, scrambling to check her body. Suddenly, she paused, staring at her hands.
"This is amazing! My hands are back, and the Sea Prism Stone handcuffs are gone!" Yamato beamed, her aura surging with newfound power.
Now free from the Sea Prism Stone, Yamato's strength erupted, her aura shifting visibly. Ace couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort, suddenly aware of how powerful she was.
He swallowed. 'Yamato wants to join the Spade Pirates. But if I'm not the strongest, will I still be the captain?'
Being the backbone of his crew had always meant protecting them. Now, with both Shin and Yamato on board, he wondered if he'd end up as the one needing protection.
Resolved, Ace decided right then that he'd train harder than ever. He would seek out Whitebeard only when he could stand as Yamato's equal.
*******************************
Mass Release: [2/5]
For each power stones milestone—50, 100, 150, and beyond—I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also release a bonus chapter for every two reviews until it reaches ten reviews.
Review status: [7/10]