I Failed to Protect Her, Sakura

A few minutes later, with the sound of breaking chains, Ye Chen was freed from his restraints.

Just as Ye Chen tried to stand up, his body went limp and he couldn't maintain his balance because he was too weak!

"Slow down." Bai Doudou quickly stepped forward to help Ye Chen up.

"Boss, you stay in the fire pit for a bit, we'll be right out!"

"Good!"

"Boss, just bear with it for a moment."

Then, the fire opened its mouth wide and swallowed Ye Chen whole, turning into something the size of a fly.

"Let's go!"

Finally, Bai Doudou also turned into a fly. Just like that, silently and without anyone knowing, one person was missing from the Infinite Hell.

Outside, clouds rise and fall, stretching as far as the eye can see, like a huge ball of white cotton candy, in all sorts of shapes and forms.

The dazzling light shone down warmly. I raised my hand to shield my eyes, then slowly opened it again, adjusting to the sunlight that had been absent for so long!

There was a slight stinging sensation. I slowly moved my hand away, and after six months of darkness, color began to reappear.

Skin and bones, emaciated and frail, Ye Chen sat cross-legged on the fire's back, feeling the wind, the clouds, and everything else.

"Boss, I'm so sorry it took you so long to come rescue you!"

Sitting opposite Ye Chen, Bai Doudou looked at Ye Chen, whose eyes were sunken and who looked like a skeleton, gritted her teeth, and her eyes welled up with tears.

Their eyes met, and for the first time, anger appeared on those emotionless faces.

"You"

Trembling slightly, Ye Chen looked at Bai Doudou, whose appearance was completely different from before, and his lifeless pupils suddenly turned sharp.

It was missing an ear, and the scar on its face resembled a coiled centipede, looking somewhat ferocious; large scars covered its body, and the fur that should have been soft and smooth was difficult to grow, making it look like a stray dog, pitiful and incomplete.

"I failed to protect Nana, boss, I'm so sorry, sob sob sob."

This was the first time Ye Chen had ever seen Bai Doudou cry, just like a child, with tears streaming down her face!

Clenching his fists tightly, Ye Chen's eyes began to redden. Looking at Bai Doudou's battered body and her remorseful expression, his heart ached.

You did your best.

He leaned down slightly, his skin-and-bones hands stroking Bai Doudou's head.

"Sorry"

Even with Ye Chen's comforting words, Bai Doudou couldn't stop blaming herself. After holding it in for half a year, she could no longer contain herself and lost control, bursting into tears!

"Everything is in the past. We will settle all scores, tenfold, a hundredfold, a thousandfold."

With a heart-wrenching roar, Ye Chen's face contorted in rage.

After a long while, the two finally regained their composure.

"Boss, Sakura is so cute, she looks like Nana!" Wiping away her tears, Bai Doudou suddenly giggled.

Ye Chen paused for a moment, then pursed his lips and smiled.

"Tell me everything that happened back then, in detail!"

"Not long after you left Cherry Blossom Island, Sakazuki and Chaton..."

At an altitude of 10,000 meters, the country has many more buildings than before, and in the past six months, many residents have come to accept the existence of the country.

The God's Island, the Imperial Palace City, is magnificent and imposing. At this moment, many people have appeared in the backyard.

In the pavilion, Ye Chen held the girl in his arms, looking into her big, dark, bright eyes, and unconsciously smiled.

"Ya ya"

Not afraid of strangers, she grabbed Ye Chen's hair with both hands and made incomprehensible, childish noises.

This voice filled Ye Chen's heart with an indescribable joy, as if coated in honey.

"Sakura, it's Daddy!"

She called out softly, and in her reflected pupils, everything was there.

"Giggle giggle"

Slowly, a smile spread across her face.

Reaching out, he poked the chubby face, and unexpectedly, the little guy grabbed Ye Chen's finger and started sucking on it.

Outside the pavilion, Enel and the others waited with serious expressions.

"You all get back to work! We'll have a meeting tomorrow and resolve everything then!"

As he teased the creature, Ye Chen's voice was devoid of emotion.

"Yes, boss!"

"Your Majesty!"

Slowly, everyone withdrew from the garden, among them, Judge's expression was rather unpleasant!

Ye Chen's return this time was too sudden; he hadn't received any news at all. Before leaving, he glanced at the rabbit in the pavilion and clenched his fist.

Not only did Judge's expression change drastically, but everyone else also felt it was unreal. For example, Law, Bege, and others did not expect Ye Chen to suddenly return!

Only Enel and Caesar, nothing unexpected happened!

"Boss, because Sakura was only gestating for seven months, she was weaker than the other babies from the start. Even with Caesar's help, she's still physically lacking!"

Only Ye Chen, Bai Doudou, and Huo remained in the pavilion. Seeing everyone leave, Bai Doudou teased the creature for a moment and then spoke up.

"Is there any way to do this?!"

Holding the baby in their arms, two pairs of eyes, one big and one small, gazed at each other, one filled with happiness, the other with curiosity!

"Devil Fruit related to life, or even Mythical Zoan, like the Phoenix!"

Bai Doudou sat down and thought for a moment before speaking.

"Knew!"

Moving his feet slightly, Ye Chen swayed gently, his gaze never leaving his body.

And so, Ye Chen carried the creature and strolled around the garden until it couldn't resist and fell asleep.

Finally, Ye Chen handed the guy over to the caregiver and nodded to her.

The nanny with white wings on her back looked somewhat apprehensive when Ye Chen nodded to her.

After all, this was her first time meeting the king, and she was a little nervous.

Watching the guy being taken back to his room, Ye Chen's expression returned to calm. "Where is Hina?"

"She's been frozen in Caesar's lab. I'm wondering if there's Devil Fruit could revive her!"

Bai Doudou still clung to a sliver of hope, unaware that Hina was dead, truly dead.

Without answering, Ye Chen took to the air and flew directly towards the back mountain.

Not long after, deep inside the research lab, in a cold, icy warehouse, Ye Chen stood alone.

I don't know what material Caesar used, but although the whole room was bone-chillingly cold, it didn't feel like ice.

Upon approaching, there was a high platform Hina lay peacefully, as if fast asleep, but her face was deathly pale.

Reaching out to touch it, I felt the coldness on her pretty face, and tears welled up in my eyes uncontrollably!

"How could you be so stupid!"

His heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles; the pain was so intense that he could hardly breathe!

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you, I didn't even get to see you one last time."

Overwhelmed with self-reproach, Ye Chen couldn't help but burst into tears.

Ye Chen could imagine how desperate Hina must have been at that time, but for the sake of her child, she was not afraid of death, enduring the pain of having her bones and flesh cut open, and personally cutting open her own stomach to give birth to Sakura.

None of this would have happened if I had been more vigilant.

Self-blame and regret overwhelmed Ye Chen at this moment. Looking at the lovely girl lying beside him, Ye Chen was filled with remorse and guilt.

Looking back on their time together, this silly woman seemed to have always silently protected him, never expecting anything in return. They finally got together, so why... why...

"Foolish woman!"

He lowered his head, his lips touching hers with icy coldness; at that moment, Ye Chen's heart was bleeding!

Ye Chen stayed in the room for a long time.

Did you guess that they'd recruit Shiryu? Cause chaos in Impel Down? And then fight the Admiral?

So, wasn't this unexpected twist surprising? Hmph, trying to spoil the plot? Do you really think all those brain cells I died for were for nothing?