Disguise

Chapter 34: 034. Disguise

Not long after flying away, Karasu flew back.

He looked expectantly at Mercer and the meat. Seeing this, Mercer was not stingy and cut off another strip of meat, tossing it over.

It was the same as before.

Karasu carried the strip of meat in his beak to feed Crow Xiaoniu.

Only after several trips back and forth.

Did Karasu start eating himself.

Mercer laughed and cursed, "So you're a doting crow. Spoiling your wife so much."

"Caw~"

After eating nearly a pound of meat, Karasu flew back to the nest, satisfied.

He grilled the processed meat and brought some to Kureha. Mercer ate his fill heartily, leaving the rest for Bear Cub to finish.

Time passed day by day.

Nine days later.

Early morning.

Mercer was woken up by hoarse, tender crow calls early in the morning. He carried a basin of processed beef and minced meat to the top of the tree.

Seeing Mercer, Crow Xiaoniu looked expectantly at the basin in his hands. She flew straight out of the nest and landed on Mercer's arm.

She elegantly stretched her slender neck into the basin, picked up a piece of beef, and began to eat.

Mercer chuckled, "Eat slowly. Where's Karasu?"

"Caw~" Swallowing the meat, Crow Xiaoniu pointed her wing towards the distance and cawed hoarsely, "Caw caw~"

Mercer understood. That guy had gone hunting.

It was normal.

He didn't pay it any more mind.

After Crow Xiaoniu finished eating, she began to use her beak to feed the five chicks with minced meat separately.

This was specially processed food, mixed with medicine from the "Messenger Crow" breeding manual, which promoted bone and brain development and aided digestion.

It wasn't just the chicks eating; the couple ate too.

He remembered the first time he fed them meat mixed with the medicinal powder, both birds had looked at him with extreme reluctance.

Mercer had to pry open their beaks and force-feed them.

But now.

Their bodies were honest.

Mercer watched Crow Xiaoniu feed the chicks, and he also fed them minced meat with his own hands.

His fingers occasionally touched one, flicked another.

This caused Crow Xiaoniu to occasionally push Mercer's hand away with her wing, or peck at Mercer's finger with her beak.

Mercer found it amusing, and would often extend his fingers to tease Crow Xiaoniu, rubbing her head with his thumb.

Helping her smooth her feathers.

When Karasu returned, carrying a plump bamboo rat, he saw Mercer teasing his wife and children in his nest.

Fortunately, Mercer wasn't a bird, otherwise, the current scene would definitely have been a bloody fight with feathers flying everywhere.

Seeing the returning crow, Mercer waved and smiled:

"Yo~, you're back. I saved some meat for you, come and eat quickly."

Karasu let out a dissatisfied "Caw~", but he didn't refuse the food offered. He placed the plump bamboo rat he had caught outside the nest and ate the medicated beef strips Crow Xiaoniu had saved for him.

Mercer amusingly stroked his back feathers and said, "You're such a tsundere."

"Caw~" Karasu cawed in dissatisfaction, but he didn't resist Mercer's touch: "You are the tsundere."

Mercer didn't seem surprised by its words. Two days prior, the exceptionally intelligent Karasu had already learned simple words under Mercer's training.

And he would even use simple words to retort to Mercer.

Mercer, too lazy to deal with him, Turned and reached for his wife's head, scratching her neck and smoothing her feathers, then went to tease the five chicks again.

Karasu watched quietly from the side. After these days of interaction, he had become quite familiar with Mercer.

With Mercer, there was food and drink, and he didn't have to worry about survival.

But he still maintained his habit of going out hunting alone every day.

Rain or shine.

Mercer reached out and stroked its head. It only let out a soft "Caw~" from its beak, not resisting.

Mercer looked at the family of seven in front of him, feeling a little proud. The beginning is always the hardest, and with the passage of time, his crows would surely multiply.

After playing for a while longer, Mercer got down from the tree.

Upon entering the house, he saw Bear Cub tidying up the table.

After days of adaptation, Bear Cub had used self-devouring to return to his original panda form.

He said that after the novelty wore off, he felt more comfortable maintaining his original appearance under normal circumstances.

However, the modification to his hyoid bone remained.

Because Bear Cub had performed a rough self-operation, Kureha had given him a comprehensive physical examination.

She provided a lot of physical data and also helped Bear Cub optimize the design of his skeletal modification further.

Seeing Mercer now, Bear Cub stopped what he was doing and asked curiously, "Bird, hey, done feeding?"

Mercer smiled, "Yeah, I'm done feeding. Those young birds haven't even fully grown their feathers yet, they're so ugly. Not as cute as you were when you were little."

Bear Cub's mouth split into a wide grin as he let out a "roooar" laugh. After laughing, he pointed to the kitchen, then to himself, "Bowls, wash, me."

Mercer nodded, "You go ahead and get busy. We'll continue our Fusion training later. I feel it's quite beneficial for both of us."

Bear Cub's eyes lit up, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

"Free Breathing Method"

After the "Fusion" with Bear Cub, although the Devil Fruit ability belonged to Bear Cub and his body was primarily Bear Cub's, it was also a faster way for Mercer to cultivate Unity of Heaven and Man.

Because of the closeness to all things in nature, living beings were naturally a part of nature.

By comprehending the state of Fusion with Bear Cub, Mercer's understanding of Unity of Heaven and Man also improved.

It wasn't just Mercer who benefited. When Mercer used the "Free Breathing Method" during Fusion, it was also extremely beneficial for Bear Cub, and his comprehension of Breathing Techniques was also constantly improving.

Not only that, but in the "Fusion" state, Bear Cub also had unique feelings about Mercer's application of Observation Haki.

Perhaps one day, in the "Unity of Heaven and Man" state of Fusion, Bear Cub might spontaneously awaken Observation Haki.

Mercer was very positive about this possibility.

Haki existed instinctively within all living beings, and any creature had the potential to awaken it.

Didn't you see how skillfully the Kung Fu Dugongs of Alabasta used Haki?

Even Armament Haki.

After chatting with Bear Cub for a while longer, Mercer went upstairs to assist Kureha with her research and to learn from her.

When the time was almost right.

Mercer went downstairs.

He glanced at Bear Cub, who understood immediately. Bear Cub came outside with Mercer, hugged Mercer's waist, opened his mouth wide, and swallowed him in one gulp.

This scene was witnessed by Karasu and Crow Xiaoniu from the treetop. The two birds exchanged glances, seeing the novelty in each other's eyes.

They were not frightened, as these scenes were no longer happening for the first time.

Although they were both terrified the first time they saw it.

As Bear Cub's ability was unleashed, Mercer and Bear Cub merged into one once again.

A Panda Man appeared.

He had black and white fur, and his facial features were a combination of Mercer and Bear Cub. No clothes were visible.

Bear Cub habitually looked at his transformed body, then relaxed his control over it. Mercer, very skillfully, took over the control of the body.

In the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, Mercer pondered.

He perceived that all things had their unique breathing frequency fluctuations.

By visualizing these breathing frequency fluctuations, he adjusted his own breathing to match, to integrate, to become inseparable.

At the same time, he could then imprint and retain these unique breathing frequency fluctuations of all things in nature within his own body.

Thus, he could manifest these phenomena of all things in nature through himself.

Would it be a form of thought manifestation?

How to manifest it?

Could Haki power be used?

These were some of Mercer's insights and summaries.

Currently, the only way he could achieve something close to this was with Bear Cub, relying on Bear Cub's Gulp-Gulp Fruit ability.

All things in nature have their laws.

They all have a most basic way of operating.

Even Devil Fruits have this.

By Fusing with Bear Cub, he could comprehend the specific application and operational methods of the Devil Fruit abilities.

Swallowing all things, stomach space, digestion and absorption, fusion and combination, refining biological matter structure.

Thinking about these things, he strove to perceive similar ones.

Mercer's breathing deepened involuntarily.

Mercer was cultivating, and so was Bear Cub, savoring the sense of clarity that arose with each breath.

It felt as if he could perceive everything inside and outside his body.

His thoughts flowed along with Mercer's breathing.

Time always passed quickly during cultivation, and the Fusion between the two also consumed a lot of stamina. When Bear Cub felt tired, this cultivation session ended.

Bear Cub broke the Fusion and pulled Mercer out of his mouth.

Stretching his limbs, Mercer looked at the somewhat listless Bear Cub and smiled.

"Let's go hunting and find something delicious."

As he spoke, he saw Bear Cub's eyes light up. Mercer then looked at Karasu on the treetop of the treehouse and beckoned.

Karasu flew over and landed on Bear Cub's shoulder, looking curiously at Mercer, "Caw~ What's up?"

Mercer said, "Let's go hunting. I'll feed your wife and kids."

Karasu nodded his head and praised Mercer, "Let's go, hunt, meat."

Mercer pondered what to eat today and glanced at Karasu:

"Do you want to eat bamboo worms? The kind that are thumb-thick and palm-long, tender and white, high in protein and fat."

Mercer saw Karasu swallow, his bird eyes fixed, and drool dripping.

Seeing this, Mercer looked at the two cubs respectively, "We'll go to the Purple Bamboo Forest to catch rabbits, dig for bamboo shoots, and get bamboo worms."

He went back to get a large plastic container, and the person, bird, and bear set off.

At the foot of Drum Mountain to the east, in the sprawling Purple Bamboo Forest.

Crunch!

Bear Cub bit off a section of bamboo as thick as an arm, breaking it into pieces, holding it in his arms, and eating it with a crunch.

He searched for bamboo infested with worms, cut it, picked out the worms, and put them in the container.

Occasionally, Karasu would eat a few to satisfy his cravings.

The bamboo forest was not small.

There were many creatures living inside, and anything edible would not be let go if encountered.

They swept through the bamboo forest for several hours.

Carrying fifteen snow rabbits, a plastic container of plump bamboo worms, and a large bundle of tender green bamboo shoots, shouldering and holding, the three bandits emerged from the bamboo forest.

Mercer asked Kureha if she wanted fried bamboo worms with drinks, but she scolded him and kicked him out, almost kicking him.

There was no choice.

The entire box of delicacies was given to Karasu's family. Braised rabbit heads, roasted whole rabbits, stewed rabbits, all sorts of preparations were served one after another.

They had a whole rabbit feast.

Kureha was no longer angry.

Days passed, and the five young birds grew bigger and bigger.

Under Mercer's meticulous care, their feathers were glossy, their bodies were strong, they were lively and energetic, and their curiosity was exceptionally strong.

In the blink of an eye, time had come to October of that year.

One day, in the early morning.

Sitting on the steps in front of the treehouse.

In a state of Unity of Heaven and Man.

Mercer calmly watched the five "free-range chickens" frolicking on the snow in front of the house, letting out loud, hoarse caws.

He watched them, now thirty centimeters long.

Five white-necked crows played in the snow, darting east and west, occasionally darting to the bend of Mercer's legs, using his body as a cover like tree branches.

His eyes quietly watched them play, and they seemed to not notice that the "thing" surrounding them was a living person.

They could see Mercer, they could touch Mercer, but they would unconsciously ignore Mercer, as if Mercer were the treehouse, the snowy ground itself.

They would unconsciously overlook him.

For nearly five months, he had been practicing Fusion with Bear Cub every day.

Mercer sighed helplessly, "It seems that the Gifted Ability I envisioned is still lacking some core conditions.

However, by chance, another interesting Gifted Ability has manifested."

A Gifted Ability that has not yet truly materialized.

[Disguise]

An interesting ability comprehended through prolonged entry into the Unity of Heaven and Man state.

By perceiving the breathing frequency fluctuations of the natural environment, one aligns their own breathing frequency fluctuations with it.

The user's aura merges with the surrounding aura.

This achieves a form of aura-based disguise, not a visual one, merely causing others to subconsciously overlook the user.

After all, pedestrians on the street generally do not intentionally pay attention to stones on the ground or wild grass by the roadside.

Of course, for beings with strong consciousness, keen observation skills, or those who know Mercer, this current disguise would not be very effective.

After all, the "Disguise" has not yet truly materialized, nor is it enhanced by Gift effects.

At this moment, a flapping of wings sounded, and Karasu landed on Mercer.

His claws gripped Mercer's trouser leg, and he tilted his head, looking at Mercer curiously, croaking hoarsely, "Mercer is pretending to be a wooden man again."

Instantly, Mercer's act broke. He smiled and simultaneously withdrew from the Heavenly Human State.

"What's wrong? You came back so early today? Did you discover something today?"

Karasu considered himself Mercer's "eyes and ears."

After the five little ones learned to fly, they began scouting a ten-kilometer radius around the treehouse daily.

They also caught some food along the way.

"Warship. Doghead."

Karasu uttered these three words. A hint of curiosity flickered in Mercer's eyes. "Warship? Doghead? Has Grandpa come?"

That's right, it's been almost half a year, and Garp should be coming. He visits Drum Island almost twice a year.

"Then should I go to the East Blue to take a look this time?" Mercer asked himself and answered, "Yes, I haven't been there in quite some time."

"You've worked hard," Mercer reached out and stroked Karasu's feathers, smiling. "I understand."

"If you're hungry, there's meat at home. Just go get it yourself."

"Caw~"

Karasu spread his wings and flew up, heading towards the treetop.

Seeing Karasu return, the five little ones also flapped their wings and chased after him.

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