One Piece : Wild Hunt

After learning from Vivi that he had been out for the better part of three days, Thomas asked, "And Baroque Works didn't attack us? That...doesn't sound right..."
Though she also found it strange, Vivi did her best to sound optimistic, suggesting, "Maybe he realized the danger he was in and decided to flee the country?"
"That's...not impossible..." replied Thomas. He couldn't imagine Crocodile running away from a fight, but he didn't want to be pessimistic by voicing his thoughts aloud.
Standing nearby, polishing his swords, Zoro remarked, "We'll find out soon enough. Just try not to hog the spotlight this time. If that Mr. 1 guy shows up, he's mine."
Smiling wryly, Thomas replied, "It's not like I've been going out of my way to hog all the fights. Things just kind of happened that way..."
Holding up his sword to check its edge, Zoro reiterated, "Just remember what I said. Unless shit hits the fan and you have no choice but to fight, leave all the swordsmen to me..."
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Thomas returned his gaze to the ruins that dominated the shores of the Sandora River. Many of the towns that once ran its length had been wiped out by Pirates or members of Baroque Works pretending to be Pirates. As a result, Alabasta felt more like a post-apocalyptic wasteland than a prosperous Kingdom that had endured for more than 700 years...
Interrupting Thomas's silent contemplation, Vivi leaned her head against his bicep as she asked, "Do you truly believe it's possible to turn Alabasta into a Kingdom of green...?"
Though he was caught off guard by the sudden question, Thomas didn't hesitate to answer, "Of course. It might take a few years without the right Devil Fruit or Install Card, but there's no reason we can't change Alabasta for the better. I guarantee it."
Feeling more at ease, Vivi closed her eyes and allowed herself to envision a brighter future for her people. She was worried about her father, but she chose to believe that Karoo had been delayed or that Pell was simply too busy to come and find them...
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Despite Chopper's insistence that he takes it easy for a few days, Thomas was raring to go when the Merry dropped anchor near the remnants of a city called Erumalu, once known as Alabasta's 'Green City' due to its many types of flora. Now, however, most of the buildings were half-buried in the sand, the only observable plant life being a few desiccated trees.
With Rainbase located 118km from Erumalu, everyone was gearing up for a long trek through the desert when Lucy said, "We should split up."
"Split up? Do you mean we should leave someone to guard the ship?" asked Nami.
Shaking her head, Lucy stated, "Vivi is worried about her dad. She and Thomas should fly to Alubarna with Astolfo while the rest of us travel to Rainbase."
Before Vivi could protest, Zoro interrupted to ask, "And what if Crocodile and his goons happen to be in Alubarna?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Lucy casually replied, "This is ultimately Tom's and Vivi's adventure. If they encounter Crocodile before us, I'm sure they can handle it somehow. If not, we'll swoop in to save them."
Interrupting Vivi a second time, Zoro asserted, "Sounds good. We have too many powerhouses with us anyways. Even if we split up into three groups, we should be able to deal with anything Crocodile throws at us."
Understanding that Lucy and Zoro were giving her an excuse to check on her father, a warm smile blossomed across Vivi's face as she said, "Thank you...both of you..." in a faint tone.
Adopting a toothy grin, Lucy said, "Don't mention it," before directing her gaze to Thomas and teasing, "You better hope Crocodile is in Alubarna. If he isn't, you'll have to deal with Vivi's dad on your own."
Forcing a smile, Thomas exhaled a light chuckle before stating, "I'll have to face both sooner or later." Then, as Caenis had been staring at him with a half-lidded expression, he looked to her and asked, "There isn't a lot of room on Griff's back, but will you come us?"
Though she was tempted to answer in the affirmative, Caenis crossed her arms and replied, "Forget it. I'll stay here and make sure no one steals the ship. Just summon me if something happens. Understood?"
Holding up the hand containing his Command Spells, Thomas replied, "I'll do so the moment Crocodile rears his ugly mug."
Nodding her head, Caenis precluded herself from further discussion by promptly leaping back onto the Merry. Shortly after, Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo split off from the main group, flying over to Alubarna, while Lucy, Zoro, Usopp, Nami, Chloe, Illya, and Ruby made their way to Rainbase. This left Caenis and Atalanta to watch over the Merry while Benienma, as usual, lurked in the shadows...
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Though the Desert Island of Alabasta was one of the largest in the first half of the Grand Line, it only took a few minutes for Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo to reach their destination, a massive city built atop an artificial, perfectly circular plateau.
Situated on the northern edge of the plateau, towering above every other building, was the colossal Alubarna Palace. It vaguely resembled the Taj Mahal from Thomas's previous world, but the domes were constructed from solid gold while a rampart more than 50m tall elevated the structure above the rest of the city.
With Vivi's permission, Astolfo instructed Griff to land directly on the Palace's roof. The centermost dome contained a lush garden that served as King Cobra's rest area, so Vivi was confident they could find her father inside. If not, they would doubtlessly encounter one of the 100,000 Royal Guards that operated in and around the oversized structure.
Providing Vivi hope that everything was normal, well, as normal as they could be given the ongoing drought, guards began to gather the moment they landed. Better yet, they immediately recognized her, shouting things like, "Princess Vivi has returned!" and "Inform the King at once!"
Hearing the Royal Guards' exclamations, much of Vivi's worries dissipated. She was a little overwhelmed by the flurry of questions that followed, but the smile on her face made it clear she was happy to be home.
Interrupting the joyous atmosphere, a fairly tall, sword-wielding man with raven-black hair and brown skin emerged from the central dome. He had a naturally grim countenance, but it lightened when he saw Vivi, a rare smile adorning his face as he said, "Welcome back, Princess. I have been asked to escort you to your father."
Smiling even more radiantly than usual, Vivi exclaimed, "Chaka! It's so good to see you!" before calming herself and asking, "How have things been while I was away? Is my father okay?"
Nodding his head, Chaka adopted a serious expression as he replied, "His Majesty's health continues to deteriorate, but his will remains as strong as ever."
Hearing the first half of Chaka's response, Vivi's enthusiasm waned. Her father had been suffering from a debilitating illness most of her life. The drought and the subsequent rebellion had exacerbated his condition, so even though he was only 48 years old, Cobra was forced to remain in the Palace.
"Please, take me to my father," said Vivi, her expression and tone abruptly becoming resolute.
Lowering his head slightly, Chaka replied, "As you will, Princess..." before raising his gaze to scrutinize Thomas and Astolfo. The moment he did so, Vivi said, "These are my companions, Thomas Jensen and Astolfo. They have come to Alabasta to lend their support. I trust them with my life and would have them accompany me to meet my father."
Though it was a little unorthodox, Chaka didn't hesitate to reply, "Very well," before turning to lead the way. This was far from the first time Vivi had brought one of her 'friends' into the Palace, but even more than that, Chakra trusted in her judgment. If she believed that Thomas and Astolfo could aid them, he wouldn't question them...
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After wandering through spacious halls better suited to giants than ordinary people, Thomas, Vivi, and Astolfo found themselves in a room that smelled of herbs and incense. There, a bedridden man with dark skin, sharp eyes, wavy black hair, and a three-pronged beard awaited them, his body garbed in a loose green robe.
Seeing the man, Vivi exclaimed, "Father!" before running over to embrace him. Her actions caused the man to grunt, but the smile never left his face as he gently caressed Vivi's back and replied, "My beloved daughter. You have finally returned to me..."
Releasing her father, Vivi began to tear up but managed to avoid crying as she revealed, "And I didn't come alone; I brought back someone who can save our Kingdom. He may even be able to treat your illness..."
Directing his gaze to Thomas and Astolfo, Cobra maintained his smile as he said, "Thank you for returning my daughter to me. I'll have the guards arrange you a place to stay. I'm sure you're tired after your travels, so we will discuss this matter once you've had the opportunity to rest. For now, please leave us. My daughter and I have much to catch up on..."
Following Cobra's words, Chaka said, "Follow me," before attempting to lead the way out of the room. Instead of following him, however, Thomas held Cobra's gaze and asked, "Are you truly the King of Alabasta?"
Not expecting Thomas's question, Chaka, Vivi, and Cobra himself found themselves at a loss for words. The first to recover was Chaka, shouting, "Even if you are the Princess's friend, you cannot disrespect the King in such a manner...!"
Waving his hand, Cobra said, "That's enough, Chaka. I'm sure our friend here has his reasons for asking such a question."
Bowing slightly, Chaka replied, "Your Majesty is too kind..." before raising his head and directing a 'warning' look at Thomas.
Ignoring the raven-haired swordsman, Thomas continued holding the King's gaze, asserting, "I do. Now, please answer my question..." with a serious expression on his face.
Recalling Thomas's explanation of Mr 2 and his abilities, Vivi promptly separated from her father, causing him to stare at her incredulously as he asked, "Vivi? Do you also suspect me of being an imposter...?"
Instead of answering her father's question, Vivi became serious as she said, "Please answer Tom's question..."
Furrowing his brows slightly, Cobra looked between Vivi, Thomas, and Chaka before stating, I am Nefertari Cobra, the King of Alabasta. Who else-"
Before Cobra could finish speaking, Benienma promptly emerged from Vivi's shadow, whisking her away as she exclaimed, "He's lying...!" in a certain, no-nonsense tone.
In response to Benienma appearing and snatching Vivi, Chaka attempted to draw his sword but was prevented from doing so as Astolfo shouted, "Trap of Argalia...!" before stabbing him in the thigh with her lance. The moment it pierced his flesh, he felt like the world had been flipped on its head, forcing him to stumble face-first into the ground.
While Chaka was temporarily out of commission, Thomas charged toward the man on the bed, shouting, "The jig is up, Bon Clay! Now, tell us, where is the 'real' King Cobra...!?"
Though he initially had an expression of shock on his face, Cobra became serious the moment he heard Thomas's words, flipping backward like an acrobat to evade the latter's charge.
Instead of answering Thomas's question, the false Cobra inhaled a deep breath before shouting, "Guards! Come quick! The Princess is an imposter, and her friends are assassins sent by the rebel army!"
"Oh, fuck no..." said Thomas, aiming his finger at the imposter and firing a laser through his abdomen. It was only around a third the actual speed of light, but that was far beyond the ability of most people to dodge.
Not expecting such a swift attack, the false Cobra's eyes widened as the thin beam pierced cleanly through his body. Then, as Chaka rose to his feet and several other guards rushed into the room, his body 'flickered' violently before his face turned into that of a grimacing man wearing very heavy makeup...
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(A/N: Admiral Kizaru would like to know your location...)

Though Thomas had a decent impression of Bon Kurei from the anime and manga, his presence indicated that Vivi's father had been abducted. Time was of the essence, so his expression and tone were severe as he said, "I don't want to kill you. I know, deep down, you're someone who cherishes friendship above all else. Just tell me where Vivi's father is, and I'll let you go..."
Having recovered from his forced tumble, Chaka exclaimed, "That isn't your decision to make! This man-"
Before Chaka could finish, Vivi silenced both him and the Royal Guards clamoring into the room, shouting, "This matter is already outside the Royal Guards' ability to control! Commence searching for my father and leave things here to myself and Thomas...!"
"..."
Taken aback by Vivi's outburst, Chaka fell silent and looked around the room, his fierce gaze focusing on Bon Kurei before shifting to Thomas as he said, "The Princess trusts you. Do not disappoint her."
Without waiting for Thomas's response, Chaka ordered his men to begin searching the palace before storming out alongside them.
While the Royal Guards cleared out, Thomas kept his gaze firmly fixed on Bon Clay. Once they were gone, he said, "King Cobra is a good man who has treated his citizens fairly. I'm not sure what relationship you have with Crocodile, but he doesn't deserve your loyalty..."
Pushing himself to his feet, Bon Kurei seemingly ignored the hole running through his body as he lunged toward Thomas like a professional danseur leaping across a stage. The tips of his toes impacted Thomas's chest like a spear but ultimately failed to deal any damage as a thick magical barrier protected him.
Grabbing Bon Kurei's ankle like a vice, Thomas's expression became even more severe as he lifted the man like a gavel before slamming him to the ground. He wasn't lying when he said he didn't want to hurt him but now was neither the time nor the place for sentiments.
While Thomas's raw power couldn't compare to either Lucy or Zoro, Bon Kurei's 110kgs was nothing to him. His grip was also like an iron manacle, so he could fling the man around like the Hulk thrashing Loki if he really wanted to.
Despite having his face and upper body smashed into the marble floor, Bon Kurei managed to bounce back and pepper Thomas with a series of sharp kicks as he shouted, "A true Okama never betrays his allies...!"
Though Bon Kurei's kicks weren't able to damage him, having someone kick him in the face, throat, chest, and abdomen wasn't a very pleasant experience for Thomas. Thus, after seeing Bon Kurei take being slammed into the ground like a champ, he flung him toward the nearest wall before following up with a palm thrust that shot out a massive hand, pinning the man in place like Naruto utilizing Kurama's chakra.
While gradually increasing the force he was exerting on both Bon and the wall, Thomas shifted his attention to Vivi, saying, "He's not going to tell us where your father is. We'll need to find him ourselves."
As she could also tell that Bon wasn't the type to betray his allies, Vivi responded with a curt nod, asking, "Then what will we do with this one? Are you going to let him go...?"
Shaking his head, Thomas replied, "This is the path he has chosen. Your father can decide his fate once we rescue him."
With Bon eventually passing out, the result of Thomas converting the air he was breathing into carbon dioxide, Benienma quickly tied him up while Astolfo focused on trying to sense Cobra's location. Thomas suspected he was being kept in the Tomb of Kings, but he trusted Astolfo's intuition more than his own.
Fortunately, or perhaps not, Astolfo only hesitated for a short while before stating, "He's somewhere nearby. Maybe underground...?"
As the Tom of the Kings should be a fair distance away from the palace, Thomas's expression soured as he turned to Vivi and asked, "Does the palace have something like an underground dungeon or catacombs...?"
Unsurprisingly, Vivi replied, "There is an ancient waterway that connects to an underground water reservoir, but it fell into disrepair long before even my father was born. There have been several attempts to reclaim it over the years, but it has become a nest for Bananwani and other fierce predators..."
Imagining fighting Crocodile in an underground waterway, Thomas fell into a contemplative silence. Even a blind man could see this was a trap, and their enemies held most of the cards. However, so long as there was water present, Caenis could probably sweep through anything that came their way...
Though the notion of handling things himself crossed his mind, Thomas wasn't so self-obsessed that he would permit Vivi's father to remain in jeopardy just to 'prove' how strong he had become. He could wait until Crocodile appeared before summoning Caenis, but he imagined it would be pretty disorienting to be pulled through space and expected to fight without a proper understanding of the situation.
Having made his decision, Thomas balled his hand into a fist, focusing on Caenis as he said, "Come to me." in a faint yet assertive tone.
Following a harsh 'whooping' sound, Caenis manifested next to Thomas in an instant, spear in hand and eyes glowing red as she looked around for a target.
Holding up his hands, Thomas said, "Calm down. I called you a little early so you could help us search."
Retracting her bloodlust, Caenis brandished her spear and rested it on her shoulder as she clicked her tongue and retorted, "Do I look like a hound to you? Sniffing people out isn't exactly my specialty."
Shaking his head, Thomas clarified, "Our enemies have captured Vivi's father and holed themselves up in an abandoned waterway populated by dangerous creatures. They've likely set traps and other obstacles in the way, so I'd rather have you close by."
Adopting a wolfish grin, Caenis questioned, "So, you want me to protect you? And here I thought you were a man. What happened to your pride, hmm~?"
Catching nearly everyone by surprise, Thomas questioned, "What use is pride if it hurts the people I care about? Vivi's father wouldn't even be in this situation if we rushed over. Now, let's hurry. Every moment we waste is another moment Cobra is forced to pay for our mistakes..."
Furrowing her brows, Caenis replied, "I was just joking..." before looking away with a slight pout. She was tempted to point out that it wasn't her fault they were late but managed to restrain herself out of consideration for the circumstances.
Resisting the urge to apologize, Thomas maintained his intensity as he looked to Astolfo and instructed her to lead the way. Chaka and the Royal Guards intercepted and attempted to accompany them, but it only took a few seconds for Caenis to completely body them. Their heart was in the right place, but against a foe like Crocodile, a large group would only slow them down and get in the way...
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After traversing a hidden stairway that led deep underground, Thomas and company found themselves in a vast chamber with massive steel doors barring what he assumed to be the entrance to the underground waterway. Vivi quickly confirmed this, saying, "I hope Astolfo's ability to locate things holds up. The underground waterway is like a labyrinth that runs beneath the entirety of Alubarna. If we get lost, it would be difficult to find our way back..."
Snorting through her nose, Caenis said, "If that happens, I'll just blast a hole through the ceiling."
Recalling the massive explosion that accompanied Caenis taking out the Island Eater, a panicked expression marred Vivi's face. Before she could appeal to Caenis not to do anything rash, she and the other Heroic Spirits became tense, Benienma stating, "Someone is here..." while gripping the hilt of her sword.
Following Benienma's warning, the face of a woman materialized from the surface of the massive steel doors. It was one of the most uncanny things Thomas had ever seen, but he immediately recognized the face as Robin, commenting, "Long time no see, Miss All Sunday..." while gesturing for the others to remain calm.
Adopting a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, Robin remarked, "I was kind of hoping for a bigger reaction..." before materializing the rest of her body, fully clothed, from the door's surface.
"You and your friends should turn back," said Robin. "I understand your desire to save the King, but attempting to fight Crocodile on his terms is suicide."
Before Thomas could respond, Caenis interjected to say, "Eat a dick. We came here to beat Crocodile's ass. Get in our way, and I'll shove my fist so far up yours you'll be able to lick my fingers."
With everyone at least a little taken aback by Caenis's words, an awkward silence descended upon the chamber. Somewhat surprisingly, the first to break it was Robin, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh before cupping her cheek as she remarked, "What a curious choice of words. It's been a long time since I heard such a crude yet humorous rejoinder..."
Intervening before Caenis could make good on her promise, Thomas stepped forward to state, "We're going inside. If you could show us the way, we'd appreciate it greatly..."
Seemingly exasperated by Thomas's words, Robin exhaled a tired sigh before looking him in the eyes and revealing, "Even if you manage to rescue the King, Crocodile is a vindictive man. If he can't have Alabasta for himself, he's willing to bury it completely."
"What do you mean?" asked Vivi.
Shifting her gaze to Vivi, Robin casually revealed, "Baroque Works has spent the past week spreading high-yield explosive charges throughout the underground waterway. If that wasn't enough, there is an even larger bomb scheduled to be set off in the city's center. The moment Crocodile feels as though he might lose the battle, the entire city and its people will go up in smoke..."
Overwhelmed by what she was hearing, Vivi fell to her knees and covered her mouth in horror. Thomas also felt a bit cowed by Robin's words, but he forced himself to appear calm as he asked, "What triggers the explosives underground?"
Raising her brows, Robin questioned, "Do you seriously intend to charge in after everything I've just revealed? I thought you were smarter than that..."
Shaking her head, Robin added, "The smartest thing you could do is flee the capital and enact your plan to restore Alabasta's rain. Crocodile only intends to destroy the city as a last resort, so dragging things out forces him to come to you."
Though he could see the reasoning behind Robin's argument, Thomas still wanted to know how the explosives worked, stating, "I'll come up with a plan after you tell me how the explosives are triggered..."
Exhaling a faint sigh, Robin seemed more exasperated than ever. In spite of this, she replied, "There are two ways. The first is a manual trigger that will set the explosives to detonate precisely thirty minutes after the initial press. Crocodile intends to teach you a lesson, so he made sure he would have time to play with you beforehand..."
Adopting a wry smile, Robin allowed her words to settle for a bit before revealing, "The second trigger is a deadman switch linked to a Den Den Mushi in Crocodile's left breast pocket. If it breaks, all the explosives will detonate within a minute..."
Though Vivi felt even more helpless after hearing Robin's words, a fiery light emanated from Thomas's eyes. One of the distinctive properties of Mana was that it interfered with things like electricity and radio signals. He even had a method of dealing with the Den Den Mushi tucked away in his pocket, so even though the tips of his fingers were trembling, the look on his face expressed conviction as he helped Vivi to her feet and offered his usual, "Just leave everything to me..."
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(A/N: You know what they say. Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face xD...)

As powerful as Rune Magecraft was, it wasn't without its downsides. The foundation of Thaumaturgy was Equivalent Exchange, so you couldn't just power yourself up without paying the price. For Rune Magecraft, this price was the Runestone itself. They were single-use items that required a large gemstone and a tremendous amount of Magical Energy to produce. Since Thomas had used the Eihwaz Rune directly on his body, the price was his vitality.
Fortunately, thanks to his Chrono Dysplasia, Thomas didn't have to worry about dying of old age. Mana could also be converted into vitality, so the 'real' cost of using the Eihwaz and Ehwaz Runes was tremendous muscle fatigue and a shit ton of pain. The Berkana Runestone he swallowed was meant to counteract these effects, but it also came at a cost. Swallowing it caused his core temperature to briefly shoot up to 100&deg;C, hot enough to boil and vaporize blood...
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Feeling paradoxically hot and cold at the same time, Thomas opened his eyes to find that he was naked, submerged in an ice bath. He also had an IV attached to his arm, complete with a morphine drip.
Noticing Thomas was awake, Chopper, presenting in his 'human' form, said, "Don't try to get up just yet. You're suffering from anasarca, edema to the entire body. The water you're submerged in is to help regulate your temperature and extract excess salt from your body. If it isn't extracted quickly, you could suffer from kidney or liver failure."
"Sounds about right..." groaned Thomas. He was currently suffering from one of the worst headaches of his life, so excess salt in the body made sense. He couldn't fathom how it got there but trusted that Chopper knew what he was talking about.
Just as Thomas was thinking about falling back asleep, Chopper said, "It would be best if you stayed awake. I need to assess your condition, and having a responsive patient will make things a lot easier."
Though he was tempted to go to sleep anyways, Thomas forced himself to stay awake long enough to answer Chopper's questions and perform a series of tests. Fortunately, other than the anasarca he was suffering, he was perfectly fine. He just needed to rest and avoid salty foods for a few weeks and he would make a full recovery.
As a 'few weeks' was far too long, Thomas waited for Chopper to leave the bathroom before using Reinforcement to remove the excess salt from his body. Doing so left him exhausted, but the morphine drip and the ice bath made it exceptionally easy to fall asleep...
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Feeling a pleasant warmth around his groin, Thomas gradually regained consciousness. Instead of immediately opening his eyes, however, he pretended to be asleep, his mind sluggishly attempting to make sense of the situation.
Based on the sensation, Thomas suspected the Benienma or someone else was giving him a 'thorough' cleaning with a warm rag. Alongside the person cleaning his junk, there were at least two buxom women present, lying next to him with his body sandwiched between them.
As he couldn't really imagine Nami snuggled up next to him, Thomas concluded that he was currently sandwiched between Vivi and Caenis while Benienma gave him a sponge bath. More surprisingly, he could feel his body swaying slightly, indicating they were either out at sea or sailing up the Sandora River. Since the men's cabin didn't have a proper bed he could rest on, the only explanation for the softness beneath him was that he was currently resting within the women's...
Confirming that the person giving Thomas a sponge bath was Benienma, the marginally more mature Oni remarked, "Master is vigorous, even in his sleep..."
Emanating from Thomas's right, Caenis teased, "Wipe that hungry look off your face. Tom may have let you wash his back, but that doesn't give you a license to suck his dick while he's unconscious. If anyone has that right, it's Vivi and me."
Confirming that the person to Thomas's left was Vivi, the latter remarked, "Caenis...while I don't disagree with what you've said, you don't need to be so confrontational. Beni just wants Thomas to be happy..."
Seemingly disagreeing, Caenis asked, "Does she? If that were the case, she wouldn't continue to force her views and values on Tom. He might be a hypocritical idiot, but that's the result of the world he comes from. This little brat is basically trying to turn him into some kind of Shogun when he isn't even Japanese."
Placing her hand on Thomas's chest, Caenis added, "If she cared about Tom's happiness, she would let him figure out what he wants to do on his own. Everyone keeps forcing responsibilities on him when all he wants to do is have fun, travel the world, and fuck beautiful women..."
Nearly causing Thomas's body to tense, the voice of Nami could be heard remarking, "Tom was the one that said that people with power had an obligation to use it responsibly. Nobody is forcing him to do anything. He lets himself be taken advantage of because he believes it will benefit him in the long run..."
"At least he no longer has to worry about being taken advantage of by you..." replied Caenis, her voice deep and threatening.
Though Thomas couldn't see it, he could imagine Nami adopting a pout as she argued, "It was never my intention to take advantage of Tom. I won't deny that I did, but I was doing what I thought was necessary to protect myself and Lucy. Unlike Thomas, I didn't have the advantage of knowing everything about his past. If I did, I wouldn't have treated him that way..."
Snorting through her nose, Caenis retorted, "Literally, the only thing you had to do was ask. Instead, even though your Captain basically forbade it, you kept pestering Tom for information about the Grand Line and what to expect in the future. You even threatened him, saying you would hold him accountable if something bad happened because he withheld things from you."
Unable to argue against Caenis's claims, Nami and the rest of the room fell silent. For a brief moment, Thomas considered waking up to try and ease the tensions, but he promptly decided against it when the voice of Chloe could be heard musing, "You're all so dramatic~" in a teasing tone.
With everyone's attention focused on her, Chloe added, "Tom isn't all that complicated. It's just like the horsewoman said; all he wants to do is have fun, travel the world, and have sex with cute girls. Once he's done fooling around, he'll probably devote the rest of his life to helping people. Instead of worrying about making amends right this instant, you should just focus on doing your own thing until he makes another pass at you..."
Before Nami could say something, Chloe explained, "Tom was given the option to choose 'any' world to migrate to. It isn't difficult to imagine why he chose this one, so you should just focus on the journey ahead instead of fretting over your past actions. Unless you find someone else, it's only a matter of time before Tom makes another pass at you."
Though Thomas couldn't see her, Chloe briefly stared at his face, a faint smile developing across her own as she mused, "All you truly lost was the chance to have Tom all to yourself. However, considering the number of girls around, that's probably a good thing. After all, with his strong desire to attract women, it isn't just his appearance that is gradually becoming more appealing..."
Answering the question that popped into Thomas's mind, Vivi abruptly sniffed him before remarking, "He does smell really good, doesn't he...?"
"That's right," replied Chloe, explaining, "That's one of the scary things about the 'adaptive' Sorcery Trait. It is similar to the wish-granting trait but only applies to the person who possesses it. So long as Tom has enough Mana, he can eventually become anyone or anything he desires. In this instance, he is becoming someone 'everyone' desires."
Inadvertently voicing Thomas's concerns, Nami asked, "Isn't that kind of like mind control?"
"Not even close," replied Chloe, adding, "In fact, Thomas has the 'worst' aptitude for Magecraft dealing with the mind. Back in my world, memory erasure and perception alteration are among the 'fundamentals' taught to all Magi. Tom can't even utilize his Command Spells without being forced, so you don't have to worry about him trying to control your mind. He cares too much about his image and how people perceive him."
"So, you're saying he smells nice because he's afraid people might think he smells bad...?" asked Nami.
Shrugging her shoulders, Chloe replied, "It's a little more complicated than that. Once his power matures, his appearance will change to reflect the desires of the people around him. It's kind of like the yokai within the Enma-tei, but less 'intrusive' since he can't read our minds. At least, not at his current level. If he experiences enough betrayal or becomes jaded at the world, he could become a literal 'monster' in the future..."
Understanding that Chloe was speaking directly to him, Thomas fell into a deep, contemplative silence. When they initially learned his Sorcery Trait, she mentioned that the only 'creatures' who possessed it were Daemons, Elementals, and legendary monsters such as the Tarrasque. It wasn't a trait typically associated with humans, but thanks to the Mana-Mana-no-Mi, he had already become something...more...
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To avoid suspicion, Thomas tuned out of the girls' conversation until he eventually fell asleep. When he next awoke, he once again found himself surrounded by warmth. This time, however, the people snuggling up to him were Astolfo and, somewhat surprisingly, Lucy. It wasn't just the two of them, either. Rather, as many of the girls shared a single massive bed, Thomas found himself as the meat of a six-girl sandwich...
Despite his efforts to extricate himself without disturbing the two sleeping girls, Astolfo awoke the moment Thomas started moving. Then, before he could think to stop her, she startled everyone awake by shouting, "You're awake~!" before nuzzling against him with unfettered enthusiasm.
While Thomas would have been happy to have a cute girl rub against him in any other circumstance, his scalp tingled when Lucy sat up, revealing she was topless. He managed to avoid staring, but his efforts were in vain as the bubbly Pirate promptly hugged him, pressing his face into her soft yet noticeably rubbery breasts as she exclaimed, "I knew you would wake up~!"
Freeing Thomas from his 'torment,' Nami pulled Lucy away from him, her left brow twitching as she tossed the topless Pirate aside and shouted, "Put on some damn clothes!" despite wearing nothing more than a t-shirt and panties.
As she was standing on the bed, Nami looked down at Thomas and said, "Now that you're awake, you need to leave immediately. This isn't a place for boys."
Before Caenis, Vivi, or Astolfo could speak out in his defense, Thomas replied, "That's probably for the best," with a wry smile. However, before he could get up, Lucy abruptly yanked the covers, shouting, "You didn't have to throw me...!" with an indignant expression and tone.
Losing her footing, Nami turned and fell toward Thomas, her surprisingly hard butt landing squarely atop his lap. As he was completely naked, this could be called a 'lucky pervert' moment. However, while Nami was fairly light, weighing only 47kgs, even a gentle 'tap' to the testes could cause a lot of pain. Having a person drop their entire weight onto your pelvis was an experience few walked away from with fond memories...
...
..
.
(A/N: Caenis is still in the running for best girl...)

Chapter 80: Splitting Up