"By the way, Kaya, you're a user of the Healing Fruit, and your ability has already awakened, right?" Marco, feeling a little dizzy from the alcohol, suddenly remembered and asked as he shook his head.
"That's right! My ship's doctor is the best in the world. Even in terms of medical theory, Crocus can't compare to Kaya." Ace, grinning proudly, pulled Kaya into his arms.
"No, no, my medical skills are nowhere near Crocus-sensei's level," Kaya said modestly, her face turning red as she was embraced by Ace in front of everyone. Still, she didn't want to leave his arms, so she spoke shyly while resting against him.
"Crocus? You mean Crocus-san from Twin Cape?" Shanks, looking more like a drunken man than an Emperor of the Sea, widened his eyes in surprise at the mention of an acquaintance.
"Yes, I studied medical theory under Crocus-sensei for ten days," Kaya nodded.
"In just ten days, she learned all of Crocus's theoretical knowledge," Ace corrected with a grin, extending his finger.
"Incredible! You learned all of Crocus-san's medical theory in ten days?" Marco was shocked. Having sailed alongside Whitebeard and fought against the Roger Pirates many times, he knew Crocus's abilities well. After all, Crocus was the one who extended the life of the Pirate King, Roger, long enough for him to complete the Grand Line and become the Pirate King despite a terminal illness. No one else on the seas could have done that.
Crocus's medical expertise was legendary, filled with vast knowledge and original pharmaceutical techniques. Most doctors wouldn't be able to learn even a fraction of it in their lifetime, but the young doctor in front of him—Ace's ship's doctor—had mastered it in only ten days?
Kaya smiled but didn't mention that it was because of Ace's special ability to understand things so quickly that she could learn everything so fast. She simply raised her head from Ace's arms and gave him a sweet smile. Her skills, her power, had all been developed for Ace. The strength Ace gave her was part of her own.
Ace lovingly tapped Kaya's nose.
"Crocus-san, I really miss him. Is he doing well?" Shanks sighed, feeling nostalgic.
At that moment, Shanks also felt a bit strange. Ace was the son of the pirate he admired the most, Roger, and the brother of Luffy. And now even Kaya, Ace's ship doctor, had studied under Crocus, the same doctor who had cared for him in the past. The connections between their pirate crews ran deep.
"Yes, Crocus-sensei is doing great. He spends his days inside Laboon's stomach, enjoying his vacation," Kaya laughed.
"Laboon… I really miss that whale," Rayleigh added with a soft sigh, taking a sip of his wine. Roger had gone through a lot to convince Crocus to join his crew, and Crocus had only agreed because he wanted to search for the missing Rumbar Pirates for Laboon's sake.
"The Healing Fruit's power—pure healing, even surpassing the Op-Op Fruit in that regard. Kaya, your ability is awakened, right? Could you use it to heal father's body?" Marco took a deep breath, knelt in front of Kaya, and bowed deeply, his head touching the ground. As the second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates, with a bounty of over 1.3 billion beli, the only reason Marco would do such a thing was for his beloved father, Whitebeard.
The regenerative flames from his phoenix form were no longer enough to maintain Whitebeard's health, and his medical skills couldn't heal the deeper wounds Whitebeard carried. Now, he had met a doctor who not only inherited Crocus's knowledge but had also awakened the Healing Fruit's power. Marco couldn't miss this chance.
Whitebeard looked at Marco, but instead of stopping him, he smiled softly. As a father, he knew how to accept his son's love.
"I'm sorry..." Kaya's quiet voice suddenly caused Marco's eyes to widen.
"I'm not capable enough," Kaya bit her lip, hesitating before finally speaking softly.
"Could you at least take a closer look? Maybe with a thorough examination…" Marco pleaded, unwilling to give up.
"Marco." Whitebeard placed a hand on his son's shoulder, calming him. "About my condition, is there something you're not telling us?" He turned to Kaya, smiling gently. "Don't hold back, speak freely. My sons and I can handle the truth." His words carried the weight of his strength and resolve.
Kaya looked at Ace and then back at Whitebeard, her voice trembling slightly as she finally explained.
"Uncle Whitebeard, your injuries could be healed by the Healing Fruit, but... your body has almost no regenerative ability left."
"!!!"
Marco's eyes widened, understanding dawning on him. "No more regeneration…?"
Whitebeard clenched his fists, already sensing what she meant.
"Yes. Marco's Devil Fruit, the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix, allows him to generate regenerative flames that can heal injuries and even allow the body to regenerate. However, the human body's capacity for cell regeneration is limited. If the cells are forced to regenerate beyond their limit, the body loses the ability to create new cells. Once that limit is reached, healing becomes impossible.
Uncle Whitebeard, you must have overused the regenerative flames to treat your injuries in the past," Kaya said softly.
Devil Fruits all have their limits. Even a mythical power like the phoenix's regenerative flames has its drawbacks. Although the phoenix's power is almost a cheat-level ability, allowing even mortal wounds to heal, the human body isn't truly immortal. If the flames are overused, the cells eventually reach their maximum regenerative capacity, and after that, the body can no longer recover.
Whitebeard had been relying on Marco's flames for too long.
Whitebeard traveled thousands of miles to help Ace, a friendship built on Roger's legacy. Ace, though aware of this connection, still held the gesture close to his heart.
Through the "Realm of Comprehension," Kaya had already remotely diagnosed Whitebeard's condition. Whitebeard's body had lost almost all regenerative ability due to overuse of Marco's regenerative flames. In this state, even the powers of the Healing Fruit couldn't heal him.
Kaya, being soft-hearted, struggled to tell Whitebeard and Marco the harsh truth. Instead, she hesitated, wanting to claim her abilities were insufficient.
"How could this be? Is my regenerative flames ability the reason Father can't heal?" Marco's hands trembled as he stared at them, his body shaking in realization.
"Gura la la la!" Whitebeard let out a hearty laugh.
'Thud!'
Whitebeard wrapped his massive arms around Marco's trembling figure.
"You fool, without your regenerative flames, I would've died from my injuries long ago. To have lived this long, benefiting from my son's abilities, is the greatest joy I could ask for as a father," Whitebeard chuckled warmly.
Throughout his life, there wasn't a single scar on Whitebeard's back. A proud warrior, Whitebeard always faced his enemies head-on, taking all attacks to his chest—a testament to his strength and pride. But such pride also led him to suffer grievous injuries, especially to the vital organs in his chest. Marco's regenerative flames had allowed Whitebeard to recover swiftly in battle, continuing to fight without hesitation. It was Whitebeard's choice to fight this way.
"Father!" Marco broke down, tears streaming down his face.
"Is he beyond healing?" Ace asked quietly, downing his drink.
The Whitebeard who once stood atop the seas, rivaling Roger in strength, was now facing the slow deterioration of his body. The mighty hero who had once been invincible was fading, a tragic reality.
But while Ace mourned Whitebeard's condition, he also had other thoughts—about the immense power that Whitebeard and others like Kaido wielded. Power that Ace wanted to harness for a larger purpose.
These formidable forces could be critical in defeating Imu and the World Government. While Ace had the ability to kill Kaido and use the powers of the Underworld Fruit to resurrect him with the Great Burial Ranks of the Ten Trillion Fire Dead, there were limitations. The Great Burial couldn't replicate Haki or Kaido's unique physical prowess, and the process would drain Ace's energy.
Summoning too many powerful combatants through this technique would place an immense burden on Ace.
Of course, Kaido would need to die. After all, Kaido's actions in Wano and his desire to spark the world's greatest war were obstacles to Ace's goal of becoming the King of the World. However, Ace wanted Kaido's combat power.
After this public execution, Ace already had a plan to acquire top-tier fighters like Kaido and Whitebeard. The key lay in Bartholomew Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit.
Using the "Realm of Comprehension" in combination with the Paw-Paw Fruit, Ace could eject the consciousness and soul of powerful fighters like Kaido and Whitebeard. Then, by utilizing the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku, Ace could "forge a new body" suitable for them.
The Bird-Bird Fruit, Suzaku, grants its user unique abilities. Beyond its purifying flames, the most vital power is the ability to "rebirth from the ashes"—a complete transition from death to life. This resurrection power surpasses even that of the Phoenix form.
Of course, this terrifying ability is exclusive to those who consume the Suzaku Fruit. But with the Realm of Comprehension, Ace could extend this rebirth power to others, though with a catch—it could regenerate the body, but not the soul.
In other words, only a new body could be created. But by combining it with the Paw-Paw Fruit's ability to eject the soul, a complete individual could be restored!
The body created by the Suzaku form, paired with the soul and consciousness ejected by the Paw-Paw Fruit, would result in a fully restored, top-tier combatant. And since these fighters were brought back through the Realm of Comprehension, Ace would be the one controlling them. Without his influence, they wouldn't be able to move!
While this process would still consume Ace's energy, the toll would be far less than the Great Burial Ranks of the Ten Trillion Fire Dead, and it would allow for perfect replication of Haki and the fighters' physical abilities.
This method was perfect—an ideal way for Ace to gain control over powerful fighters who wouldn't otherwise bow to him.
Kaido was already marked as the first fighter Ace planned to resurrect using the Suzaku form and the Paw-Paw Fruit to create an elite combat force.
As for Whitebeard, Ace had no intention of killing him himself, but someone else surely would.
"By the way, Whitebeard," Ace said casually, "Do you have someone named Marshall D. Teach under your command?"
At Ace's question, Shanks stopped mid-drink, and Whitebeard's eyes grew sharp.
Meanwhile, across the room, Teach, who had been quietly drinking in the corner, broke into a cold sweat.