002 Diaphragmatic Breathing!

Chapter 2 002. Breathing!

"Creak!"

"Creak!"

"Creak!"

Stepping on the soft snow, passing by snow-laden pine trees, in the white forest, thanks to his perfect control over his body's strength, only shallow footprints were left behind Garp.

Snowflakes fell, and within a few breaths, the footprints behind him disappeared.

Following the trail of energy sensed by Observation Haki a few minutes ago, he shuttled through the snowy forest. The surroundings had become quiet at some point, and the trees had grown thicker.

Garp occasionally looked helplessly at the infant in his arms, gazing at its curious, dark, glistening eyes. The feeling of being scanned inch by inch by Observation Haki was truly terrible.

But there was nothing he could do. He couldn't possibly clash his own energy back. If he did that, the consequences would be something he didn't want to face.

Enduring the passage of time, he could only continuously increase his pace. Half an hour later, at a mountain hollow, in front of a thick tree about ten meters in diameter, Garp knocked on the wooden door at the base of the trunk.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?"

As soon as he knocked, a slightly fierce, weathered female voice rang out. Footsteps approached, and with a "creak," the door opened.

A stylish, navel-baring old woman poked her head through the door crack, her forehead adorned with fine wrinkles and a pair of pretty glasses.

She frowned slightly as she looked at Garp outside the door.

The door was then opened wider, cold wind gushing into the house. The newcomer put down the scalpel glinting in her left hand and said with a cold tone, curling her lips, "Who did I think it was? It's you, you damn brat.

What are you doing here?"

The next second, a black shadow flashed. Garp suddenly raised his head to dodge a whip kick, then retreated.

He looked helplessly at the overly energetic old lady who kicked out again. Garp wore a speechless expression but spoke kindly:

"Sister Dolier, what are you doing? I haven't offended you in recent years!"

She retracted her right leg, Dr. Kureha fell silent for a moment, then cursed, "Who gave you permission to use Observation Haki to probe me? Who allowed you to call me Dolier? And if you don't want me to keep beating you, then get rid of your Observation Haki for me."

His expression stiffened, Garp sheepishly scratched his head, "Sorry. I didn't mean to."

Kureha frowned, "Then why are you still using it?"

Hearing this, Garp couldn't help but lower his head to look at Mercer in his arms. His eye twitched, and he met Mercer's curious eyes, saying with a bitter smile:

"Sister Dolier, you've misunderstood me."

"It's this little guy who's using Observation Haki randomly."

"Do you think I'm blind?" Kureha's words stopped, and she exclaimed in surprise, "This little guy..."

Saying that, she stepped forward and took Mercer from Garp's arms with her left hand. She then pointed her right index finger at Mercer's forehead, even more surprised, "This is strange too?"

Kureha looked up and met Garp's somewhat tense gaze. She furrowed her brows, yet with a hint of curiosity, she said:

"This little guy is quite interesting. He's healthy, but his aura is like he's about to die. This is truly strange.

It's abnormal, very abnormal, and it doesn't feel like an illness. It's as if... as if he's been cursed by something."

On this vast sea, strange powers were not limited to Devil Fruits. In some hidden places, there were also many peculiar powers.

Like witches. Like prayers.

Having lived a long time, she naturally had seen a lot. Kureha had encountered certain curse-related things.

As for Garp, with the Marines at his back and having drifted for half his life, he had also seen some strange things.

Like the magical seahorse he found a sea area to release after entering the Grand Line.

"Yiyiyiya" Mercer saw another familiar face. Looking at Kureha, and comparing it to the past ten-odd days, he felt a sense of helplessness in his heart:

"It seems I've really come to this world."

"One Piece"

A world of swords and guns, blood and fire.

Various brilliant Devil Fruit abilities colliding, a fantasy world full of joy, adventure, and romance in the original timeline.

But that was only from the perspective of the main crew. The reality was that heroes were rising everywhere, various forces and regimes constantly changing, and the entire world was characterized by a turbulent and chaotic dangerous "era."

Human lives were like grass.

To live peacefully was the greatest gift from heaven.

A paradise for the strong.

A hell for the weak.

At this moment, Kureha, holding Mercer, had brought Garp into the treehouse. The house, built by hollowing out the tree's heart, was very warm.

Sitting with her legs crossed on the folding operating table inside the house, Kureha playfully poked Mercer's fair cheek with her finger and said to Garp:

"I can't figure out this little guy's body either, but based on current observations, he should be fine. For specifics, it might require long-term observation. If you want to take him away, that's up to you."

Garp took a breath, his eyes somewhat clouded. He had known Kureha since he was young, about thirty years of friendship. Although they didn't see each other often, Kureha had truly saved his life; she was an old friend.

"Well then, Mercer is all yours. I'll visit him when I have time. I'm leaving the child in your care, Elder Sister Dolier."

"Tch!" Kureha laughed mockingly. "Are you treating this place like a junkyard? Just dumping a mess on me like this? This brat isn't yours, is he? He doesn't look like you at all."

Her tone shifted, and Kureha said calmly, "You haven't forgotten my fee standards, have you?"

Kureha knew a big job was coming when Garp arrived; opportunities to fleece the rich were rare. Especially with a reckless fellow like Garp.

Garp's eye twitched, knowing he was about to bleed money. "I know."

"I'll have half the supplies from my warship sent over to you later," Garp said, wincing.

Kureha nodded, giving Garp a look that said 'you're being sensible,' then continued, "It's not enough. I heard that Vegapunk is working for your government now. Bring me the latest research materials on the life blueprint, the 'Lineage Factor.' I have a use for it. I suspect this little guy's body might have a malfunction related to his own Lineage Factor. Bring it to me as soon as possible."

Without giving Garp time to object, Kureha's expression turned cold. "We've finished the handover. You can get lost now."

Garp sheepishly picked at his nose. Just as he was about to flick it, he noticed Kureha staring at him like he was a dead man. He gave a dry chuckle. "I haven't thrown him out yet."

"Get out," Kureha snapped, pointing a finger at the wooden door. "Get out now, don't make me angry."

Garp chuckled helplessly, muttering, "She's so old, but still so hot-tempered. No wonder she'll never get married."

Whoosh!

A cold glint shot out, reaching within ten centimeters of his pupils in the blink of an eye. Garp jerked his head to the side, dodging it. The next instant, with a soft thud, a surgical knife embedded itself completely into the wall of the treehouse.

Garp was gone.

Fled in a panic.

However, he did leave Kureha with a name: Mercer's full name.

"So, after ten days, I've been given away again?" Mercer stared blankly at the wooden ceiling.

[Merit Points +1]

"Wah!"

In the middle of the night, a baby's cry rang out, followed by an old woman grumbling as she put on her clothes to change a diaper. It was second nature to her now.

During the day, with dark circles under her eyes, she drank stimulating plum wine and carried Mercer to Big Horn Village nearby for a consultation. She also needed to find milk for Mercer. There were plenty of people there, and no shortage of milk.

In the blink of an eye, Sea Year 1501, January 10th.

A little tot, about a year old, wearing a fluffy white bonnet, was being carried in a strap by an old woman dressed fashionably in overalls with a cropped top. They walked on the snow-covered street. She carried him as if he were a bag of trash, occasionally glancing at him with an expression full of annoyance.

"Mercer, didn't I teach you?" Kureha said with disgust. "Be sweeter with your words. If you're sweet, you can get good things."

Being jostled back and forth, Mercer felt his brain sloshing. He mumbled incoherently, "Mommy Dolier, that auntie is so ugly, not as pretty as you. I can't call her sweet, I can't!"

"Tsk!" Hearing 'Mommy,' Kureha's eye twitched. She lifted Mercer and said fiercely, "You brat, you're sweet-mouthed with me, but it's useless. And don't call me Mommy. Call me Doctor Dolier."

"Doctor?" Mercer tilted his head, looking at the fierce old woman before him. "Did I?"

Her blood pressure was rising. Her temples throbbed. Kureha rolled her eyes, feeling exhausted. She didn't know what sin she had committed to agree to treat this little brat for Garp a year ago. He had to pee and poop every night. Couldn't he just wet the bed or his pants? Must he wake people up in the middle of the night to get him a chamber pot and wipe his backside.

However, because of this, she had never had to wash diapers. Which was, in a way, A cause for celebration.

Nearly 120 years old, and she was experiencing the joys of motherhood for the first time.

In less than half a year, the brat had learned to speak simple words. By now, he knew no less than eight hundred characters and could have simple "conversations" with her.

After a year of observation and treatment, Kureha had made no progress on Mercer's "problem." She had consumed a significant amount of expensive medicinal herbs. At least half of them had been used on this brat. Anyway, with Garp and the Marines as a large-scale backing, there was no shortage of supplies.

The only comfort was that the little guy's physical condition was already on par with a healthy, strong adult.

No, rather, this brat was exceptionally gifted, possessing physical strength from birth that was no less than that of an ordinary person.

Pursing her lips and downing wine, she used Observation Haki to subtly observe Mercer.

Carefully savoring the little guy's breathing, this was a rather interesting breathing method that Kureha had discovered long ago.

Most infants used this type of breathing when they were first born.

Diaphragmatic Breathing.

Kureha had found it interesting before and had even done some research, but it all ended up inconclusive.

This was because she discovered that this breathing method gradually shifted to chest breathing as one grew older.

But now.

After a year of meticulous observation and occasional comparisons with adult patients, Kureha, who recorded details daily, had summarized a set of key points for practicing Diaphragmatic Breathing from Mercer.

Currently, there are three main points.

1. When exhaling, the abdomen below the navel contracts. The diaphragm moves upward, the chest contracts, and stale air is expelled from the bottom of the lungs.

2. When inhaling, slowly draw fresh air through the nose, filling the lungs. The diaphragm moves downward, and the abdomen protrudes.

3. Both exhalation and inhalation should be gradually deep and long, reaching the lower abdomen, with the abdominal muscles firm and full.

Combined with high-nutrition beast meat, it was very beneficial for the body.

Switching between chest and abdominal breathing was troublesome; changing from one instinct to another, even for herself, Kureha felt a great deal of discomfort.

But even after only a short period of adjustment, Kureha had experienced some benefits.

Her energy was more abundant than before, and her kidney function had also improved.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Walking on the snow, Kureha suddenly coughed, her face turning red. "Damn it, I choked on my breath, this damned Diaphragmatic Breathing."

Glancing again at Mercer, who was using Diaphragmatic Breathing as if it were instinct, Kureha was speechless.

This brat was truly unlike any other.

Just then, Mercer's sweet voice rang out, "Doctor Dolier, I told you not to drink so much while walking, but you didn't listen. See? You're choking."

Kureha wiped the wine foam from her lips and scoffed, "You little brat trying to boss me around? You're a hundred years too early for that."

"That's right, Mama Dolier is more than a hundred years older than Mercer, so what she said makes sense."

Mercer, held in Kureha's hand and suspended in mid-air, said in a cute, childlike voice.

Kureha's eye twitched, and she forced a smile, saying, "I'll cook you a pot of Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup when we get back. You have to finish it."

The so-called Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup was a stew of vegetables and minced meat, with some warming herbs personally mixed by Kureha, suitable for a one-year-old child.

It was nutritious, strengthened the body, and aided digestion, but it was also difficult to eat, bitter and astringent.

As for why it was a pot, it was because Kureha had detected that Mercer's digestive system was exceptionally capable.

No less than that of an adult.

This was also one of the benefits brought by Diaphragmatic Breathing.

"Can I add sugar?"

Seeing Kureha ignore him, Mercer sighed helplessly, his head, hands, and feet dangling naturally as she carried him forward by his straps.

Mercer did not notice the slight upward curve of Kureha's lips.

Merit Points: [375]

Closing the light screen in front of him, it was like clocking in, gaining a little Merit Points every day.

What a pity.

Newcomer, new book!

Please collect! Please recommend! Please invest! Please follow!

Regarding the relationship between Garp and Kureha, the author has made a second interpretation based on deduction.

Kureha truly knows Roger's full name, and perhaps knows about the D. From some details, it can be inferred that she had some acquaintance with Roger.

Therefore, the relationship with Garp was extended. After all, Kureha has lived long enough, so it's not surprising that they know each other.

No need to be overly concerned. Also, thank you all for your appreciation! Please refrain from insults, as I have a sensitive heart and cannot handle criticism.

PS: [Legend Status]: Each level of Legend Status increases Merit Points per day depending on the situation.

(Ordinary Person) Unknown +0/day (Like weeds, insignificant figures.)

(Famous Person, Bounty in the Tens of Millions. Division Commander) Little Known: +5/day (There are places where people know of your existence.)

(Bounty in the Hundreds of Millions. Supernova) Rising Star: +15/day (Enough to be talked about.)

(Shichibukai. Yonko First Mate. Elite Vice Admiral) Renowned: +25/day (Your name is widely spread across the seas.)

(Yonko. Admiral) Influential Figure: +50/day (Every appearance is enough to stir up trouble.)

(Figure to be recorded in history) Epoch-Making: +100/day (Even if your name is erased, you will be passed down through generations.)

*Quality Tiers: F-E-D-C-B-A-EX (Conceptual/Demigod↑)

*Each quality tier is further divided into 3 levels: e.g., F-/ F /F+

PS: Plus and minus do not indicate additional quality, but rather the initial, normal, and peak levels within each quality tier.