The Heavenly Human Realm!

"Damn brat, don't you know those things live in groups?"

Kureha narrowed her eyes, anger creeping into her voice. "You think your third-rate skills are enough to take on a whole group of adult Laboon?"

Seeing that she was really angry, Mercer hurried to explain:

"Don't get worked up yet. The one I ran into today was alone, a meter and a half long, and still a juvenile. He tried to ambush me, so I killed him in self-defense."

After briefly explaining the situation, Mercer saw Kureha's expression soften a little and let out a sigh of relief.

"Doctor Doriel, let's have roasted Laboon for dinner tonight."

Kureha looked at the half a Laboon Mercer had dragged into the house, surprise flashing in her eyes. "Where's the other half? Did you give it to your Panda?"

Mercer explained again, telling her what had happened at the tailor's shop.

Kureha gave him a humorless smile. "What, you want new clothes? You could've just told me. It's not like I wouldn't buy them for you."

Mercer scratched his head. "Um, they're not for me."

"Then who are they for?" Kureha's lips curled, as if she were looking forward to his answer. "Don't tell me they're for that bastard, your Grandpa Garp."

Mercer tilted his head and said quietly, "Not that it wouldn't work. It's just that the Laboon fur is a little small. Maybe I should ask the tailor to turn the coat into a jacket."

Kureha replied coolly, "You might as well go hunt an adult one, then. That bastard's built like a bear."

Mercer rubbed his chin, as if seriously considering it. Then he looked up at her.

"Then tomorrow?"

Kureha's expression stayed cold. "Sure. I'll collect your body afterward. If I'm quick, I might even drag you out before you turn into poop."

Mercer grimaced. "Maybe not, then. I still have to take care of you in your old age and see you off when you die. If I go before you, that'd be a little disrespectful."

"You little bastard, who are you cursing to die?" Kureha flushed with anger and snapped back, "Do you think I won't hang you up and beat you? I'll break your legs!"

Mercer: "..."

With no choice, Mercer gave in. He patted his forehead lightly and said, as if he'd just remembered, "That won't be necessary. I forgot to mention that the Laboon Coat was made to fit you. I don't think anyone else could wear it."

Kureha stared at Mercer through narrowed eyes. Now she was certain the little brat was clearly messing with her. Her tone was seven parts annoyance, three parts restraint.

"Who taught you all these tricks? I don't remember teaching you anything like that.

"Was it that bastard Garp?"

As she spoke, Kureha grumbled, "Why are we having roasted meat so late at night? We'll eat it tomorrow. You want to turn into a pig, eating that much meat at night?"

"Oh." Mercer's tone turned gloomy. He crouched down to look at Bear Cub, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Your Dolier mama thinks you're too fat. You'll have to eat dirt tonight, with some snow from outside to tide you over."

Bear Cub had been lying quietly on the floor, doing his best to keep a low profile. But at Mercer's words, his shiny, obsidian-black eyes sprang wide open, and he stared at Mercer in disbelief.

"Yip?"

His stomach joined in, rumbling loudly. With a pitiful look, he turned to Kureha, crawled to her feet, and rubbed his bear face against her as he anxiously whimpered.

He played the victim with all his might!

Kureha had no time for him. She was glaring at Mercer, her eyelids lowered and her smile utterly humorless.

"What did you just call me? Bear Cub's mama? Are you calling me an animal?"

Mercer hurriedly shook his head. "You raised Bear Cub, changing his diapers and feeding him. In his heart, you're his mama. I didn't make that up."

Hearing this, Kureha glared fiercely at Mercer. One hand on her hip, she pointed a spatula at his nose with the other. "You little brat, you've got some nerve! What did you say back then? In the end, I was the one stuck with all the trouble of raising him."

Mercer looked at Bear Cub helplessly.

"Your mama's fed up with you. Why don't you beg her again?"

Bear Cub whimpered plaintively, rose onto his hind legs, and wrapped both forepaws around Kureha's leg. He tilted his head up and gazed at her longingly.

Kureha slapped a hand to her forehead, exasperated. What on earth was this Panda made of? He was far too clingy.

Who had he learned this from?

With a sigh, Kureha gave her leg a shake. Bear Cub rolled away, and she went over to the Laboon meat and carried it into the kitchen.

"I give up on you two. All you do is cause me trouble. Mercer, you're going to learn to cook from me before long. You're not a little kid anymore; it's time you learned to cook for yourself."

Hearing the thumping sound of meat being chopped in the kitchen, as if Kureha were venting her anger, Mercer turned to Bear Cub and tried to tempt him.

"Want to learn Culinary Skills? You eat so much, and you can make pots and pans yourself, too. Once you learn, you can cook for yourself anytime, anywhere, and you won't have to watch your mama's mood anymore."

Bear Cub looked thoughtful, but the next moment, a sinister voice came from the kitchen.

"You really want me to beat you until your skin breaks, don't you? If you've got nothing to do, go read a book or wash up. I don't want to hear your voice right now. Shut up."

Mercer gave an awkward laugh and hurried to the washroom. Before long, the sound of running water came from inside.

After washing up, he sat at his desk and picked up a book of surgical case studies that covered the basics of dissection. Mercer was absorbed in the text and illustrations. Before long, as the aroma spread through the house, Kureha called out:

"Get over here and eat."

Her voice was cold, so she was evidently still angry. Mercer obediently went over and helped carry the meat from the kitchen.

The Laboon had been cooked into a huge basin of aromatic meat and bones, along with fragrant medicinal porridge and a steamer basket full of pork buns.

Dinner was simple, but packed with nutrients.

Mercer ate until his mouth was slick with grease, and Bear Cub did the same beside him. His forepaws each turned into an iron pair of chopsticks and an iron fork, and he opened his mouth wide, eating with wild abandon.

Kureha ate slowly, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. "Take it easy. There's more in the kitchen. Get some yourself if you're still hungry."

After they finished eating,

Kureha went upstairs alone. Once Mercer and Bear Cub had finished, Mercer took him into the kitchen. Bear Cub transformed his forepaws into a pair of rubbery gloves, then washed dishes alongside Mercer under his guidance.

A diligent child had to be raised from a young age. A Munch-Munch Fruit user would never starve to death, but to keep Bear Cub from growing lazy later on, Mercer had to teach him whatever he could.

Fortunately, this bear was smart!

Once everything was taken care of,

Mercer read for a while longer. When he felt it was about time, he went to bed.

Drum Kingdom was a major medical power in the world, and people from elsewhere often came here to seek treatment.

Those who went to sea to "make a name for themselves" also often came here looking for doctors to "join" them. But a certain man who occasionally showed up in this Sea Area was enough to give some people endless headaches.

That didn't affect Mercer's daily routine, though. Every day, he studied, hunted, and exercised by running while supplementing his diet. Sometimes, he went with Kureha to towns and villages to treat patients.

Along the way, they earned some money for everyday necessities.

Every day was fulfilling. Like a sponge, Mercer kept learning all kinds of knowledge and skills from Kureha.

Kureha was happy to teach him. When they'd first met, perhaps she'd only seen the infant Mercer as an interesting "test subject." But as time went on, everything changed.

They were like family, teacher and student, and close friends.

More than that, they were companions with the same goal.

In the blink of an eye,

it was September of Sea Year 1503. Winter on Drum Island made it impossible to see even the slightest change of season.

Mercer was three years and nine months old, 119 centimeters tall, and weighed twenty-five kilograms. Kureha had raised him into a clean, fair-skinned little chubby boy who looked every bit like a frail bookworm.

His short, slightly curly black hair framed a pair of clear, otherworldly black eyes. They were mysterious and lively, with a hint of slyness. His slightly rounded cheeks were soft and fair, and the skin that showed was smooth and pale. He also had a quiet, delicate air about him.

People were shaped by the land they lived on.

Most people on this island had fair skin.

But Mercer's fairness and temperament, in his view, came from his "A-rank Gifted Ability [Breathing]. I didn't expect it to subtly reshape every aspect of me. There's also something mysterious about how it interacts with the natural environment."

Breathing was, after all, an important medium through which living beings interacted with the natural environment.

A profound Breathing Technique interacted with the natural environment day after day, working from the outside in. Combined with the perceptiveness of Observation Haki, Mercer had a vague, indescribable instinct that he was about to undergo some kind of "transformation."

Recently, he'd often felt this strange, indescribable sensation.

When he didn't understand something, he asked. Mercer had asked Kureha for advice, hoping she might have some suggestions. She'd only said:

"How the hell would I know? My breathing isn't as profound as yours. Just go by your own feelings."

So Mercer continued to eat when it was time to eat, drink when it was time to drink, and sleep when it was time to sleep. Kureha might not have said anything useful, but she was a shrewd old woman, sharp as a tack.

He'd follow her advice and trust his instincts.

The day was clear.

For once, snow wasn't drifting down from the sky, and even most of the clouds had dispersed. The blue sky looked exceptionally clear.

The view of the sky swayed back and forth. Mercer lay on Bear Cub's back as he ambled through the Deep Forest, his paws crunching through the snow on the ground.

At just over two years old, Bear Cub was a full meter and a half long. Standing upright, he was at least 1.9 meters tall and weighed eighty kilograms. He was a round little ball.

Being able to eat was a blessing. Bear Cub was an absolute bottomless pit.

In one meal, he could eat several servings of food as big as Mercer. If it weren't for the Munch-Munch Fruit's ability to devour anything, Mercer might not have been able to afford to feed him.

Oh, generally speaking, he didn't need to feed himself, either.

With his head resting on Bear Cub's shoulder, Mercer was carried along. The soft, fluffy feeling was incredibly comfortable.

People often said that you became like the company you kept. Clever creatures were always good at imitation. With that in mind, Mercer let his Observation Haki envelop Bear Cub.

Mercer's breathing was calm, with a unique rhythm that was hard to describe. Unhurried and natural, he "tasted" a rhythm in Bear Cub's breathing that resembled his own.

Over the past year or so, Bear Cub, already a clever one, had learned that special Breathing Technique through Mercer and Kureha's tireless efforts.

He'd only learned the basics and didn't have Mercer's level of mastery, but it had still given Bear Cub much better control over his body.

Better control over his body naturally showed in every aspect.

They reached the nearest Drum Mountain east of their Treehouse, passing through the Deep Forest to get there.

Looking at the gray-brown peak before them, like a pillar supporting the heavens, Mercer saw that it stood a full five thousand meters tall and pierced the clouds.

The cylindrical mountain's surface was marked with fine crevices like veins, offering excellent footholds for rock climbers.

However.

For Bear Cub, a Munch-Munch Fruit user, eating the entire Drum Mountain might take a century or more. But carving a staircase up it wouldn't take long.

A winding, repeatedly zigzagging "Z"-shaped mountain path appeared along the cliff face.

Bear Cub led the way, climbing from the foot of the mountain. One side of Drum Mountain had been chewed into a narrow trail leading straight to the peak.

The trail was full of potholes, with a bite missing here and there. Under Mercer's instructions, Bear Cub had spent nearly five months eating it out.

Halfway up the mountain, fierce winds howled. There were no railings along the path, and it was only wide enough for Bear Cub to stand on. He stretched out all four paws and gripped the ground firmly.

The wind whistled around them. Mercer followed closely behind Bear Cub as they climbed. Two hours later, they reached the end of the ten-thousand-meter trail.

Mercer and Bear Cub emerged from an internal passage leading to the mountaintop. They lifted the stone slab covering the entrance and finally reached the peak.

There was no wind here. It was a pine forest, deserted and untouched, and the flat ground was blanketed in thick snow.

On this winter island, only the royal family of this kingdom had built their castle atop the central Drum Mountain.

The other Drum Mountains had not been put to use, leaving them utterly empty and desolate.

When he reached the edge of the peak, Mercer could see the whole island at a glance. Apart from the other similar peaks, everything seemed to lie at his feet.

At five thousand meters above sea level, the air was somewhat thin, and it seemed as though the clouds lay beneath him. With the expansive view, a surge of pride swelled within him.

Stand atop the peak, and all other mountains seem small!

He had to let it out.

He drew a deep breath, his chest and stomach slowly swelling. A childish shout burst from Mercer's mouth as he poured out all his strength, as though he were trying to roar the pride in his heart into the open.

"Ah—ha!!!"

"Yip?"

Drawn by Mercer's unusual behavior,

Bear Cub came up beside him and looked at the scenery below. Even though this wasn't his first time here, his legs still trembled a little. He looked at Mercer, then imitated him and roared.

"Roooar!!!"

After roaring out all the pride that had built up inside him, Mercer drew another deep breath. A faint warmth spread throughout his body, and he felt a subtle clarity emerging from within, flowing outward.

His eyes gleamed.

Feeling that wondrous clarity, Mercer followed the emotions in his heart. He breathed, shouted, and called out freely with all his strength. Gradually, a deep inner calm arose.

After a long while, Mercer stopped shouting and savored the special new sensation within him.

As his breathing rose and fell, his body seemed to become open and transparent. He felt a deeper connection with the natural world around him, along with an emotional sense of closeness.

Mercer had no idea what was happening to his body, so he happily opened the system interface.

Gifted Abilities

[A+ Rank Gifted Ability: Breathing] (Can grow freely)

[Gifted Ability Effects: Qi flowing throughout the body, Unity of Heaven and Man, greatly increased control over one's own body, greatly increased perception of the natural world, and permanently accelerated growth by a large margin for "Physique" and "Soul" attributes of A+ rank and below.]

[Gifted Ability Evaluation: Is this a Breathing Technique? No, it is the foundation of a certain cultivation method. At this moment, you have taken the most important first step.]

It had changed. The effects of [Breathing] had undergone a significant transformation. It had not only advanced further within the A-rank tier. Mercer understood:

"An A-rank Gifted Ability already has applications on a deeper level. Although I'd reached that level in one step before, I was still missing some details.

"After more than a year of adjustment and training, combined with today's emotional shock, it has finally revealed its 'true' effects.

"And it has made another leap forward."

Unity of Heaven and Man?

A state of realization in the mind and heart.

More than that, it was the foundation for stepping into the supernatural.

Mercer's lips curled into a satisfied smile.

And that wasn't all.

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Here's a brief overview of the state and sensations of Unity of Heaven and Man:

The state of Unity of Heaven and Man:

Emotional closeness: An individual feels close to all things in nature, forming an emotional connection with them.

Merging of consciousness: The images, states, and manifest or latent information of all things in nature become internalized in the individual's consciousness.

Unity of body and mind: An individual and an external object or another person form a harmonious whole, united in body and mind and coordinated in action.

Transcending the self: Going beyond personal desires and limitations, connecting with the mysteries of the universe and merging with its rhythms.

Inner tranquility: Attaining the state of Unity of Heaven and Man can bring inner peace and true freedom.

The sensations of Unity of Heaven and Man:

Unity with heaven and earth: Feeling one's body merge with the vastness of heaven and earth, becoming open and transparent, as if serving as a link between them.

Forgetting self and things: Reaching a state of forgetting both self and things through cultivation, acting without desire and embracing all things in thought.

Awakening of cosmic consciousness: Transcending the individual and experiencing an awakening of cosmic consciousness, with the ability to sense the power and wisdom of the universe.

Realization of life's meaning: Deeply realizing the meaning of life and the value of existence, and understanding the deeper meaning of Unity of Heaven and Man.

Following the laws of nature: Following the laws of nature and living in harmony with it, embodying the state of "Unity of Heaven and Man."