"This... this... you... you... I... I... I...!"
Double Axe was once again taught a lesson by a force that shattered his understanding, so shocked that his tongue almost tied in knots, and his beard stood on end.
His axe was powerful enough to strike and chop, and he was known for his ability to cut through other people's weapons. But today, he only encountered flesh and blood, and in the end, it was that axe that could cut people down as easily as chopping melons and vegetables that was destroyed.
Seeing the shattered axe, Dalton quickly put down on all fours to brake. Although he didn't think he could save Vic from being cleaved in two by rushing over, he would rush up and kill the pirate to avenge Vic.
But Vic once again challenged his understanding. He began to suspect that Vic was Devil Fruit User. He saw Vic turn dark for a moment, his body reflecting a metallic, eerie light, making him look like someone not to be trifled with.
The Double Axe was now driven mad with fear. He discarded the broken axe handle, grabbed the handle of the other axe with both hands, and quickly raised the axe above his head until it was behind his head.
Then he poured all his strength into that one strike, hoping for a miracle. But it was all in vain before a power beyond dimensions. The axe continued to shatter, and the Double Axe stood frozen in place.
"You think you're so great?" Vic's indifferent voice rang out, as he held Wendy in his arms.
Vic trembled slightly, and a strand of hair, aided by the Life Return technique, left his body. This strand of hair, carrying Vic's Haki and flying at Double Axe speed, flew towards Double Axe's forehead. Vic continued walking towards the doctor, Double Axe's body trembled and then collapsed onto the snow.
"I've seen other doctors before, and they diagnosed it as the Black Death, but they didn't have a cure, so I had no choice but to send it to Drum World, a medical Totto Land, to try!"
After tossing his hair, Vic continued walking towards the doctors. Once he reached them, Vic immediately stated Ethan's diagnosis. Without waiting for them to speak, he laid Wendy flat on the snow and began untying the doctors.
The doctors who had been untied first silently surrounded Wendy, their expressions grave. The Black Death was no minor illness; it was an extremely rare acute disease with a very short mortality period—it could kill someone in just a few days. All they could do now was pray.
When Vic was untying the rope, he saw a bald man in a white coat. He was not tall, looked somewhat old, and did not look like a doctor; he looked more like a monk from a temple.
Vic looked at him several times before untying the rope. The old man also looked at Vic with some surprise, as if he wanted to dissect Vic into pieces.
At this moment, Dalton and his soldiers were gathered around the corpse of Double Axe. Dalton stared intently at the single strand of hair between Double Axe's brows, now free of its imposing Haki and swaying in the wind.
This was the only abnormality he found after searching Double Axe's entire body. At first, he thought it was just something that Double Axe had grown on his own, since he naturally had a full beard and it would make sense for a single beard to grow between his eyebrows.
However, the middle of this hair seemed hollow, and blood droplets were slowly accumulating at the end, appearing continuously. This phenomenon only appeared after he moved his body; there were no abnormalities before.
This allowed Dalton to deduce the cause of Double Axe's death, but this deduction was unbelievable and incomprehensible to him. His gaze was fixed on Vic's direction, lost in thought, and the whispers of the soldiers around him couldn't bring him back to reality.
After Vic untied the last doctor's ropes, he returned to the snowy area where Wendy was. Several of the oldest doctors were whispering and discussing Wendy's condition. From their grave expressions, Vic sensed something was wrong. Could it be that even so many excellent doctors couldn't cure Wendy's illness?
That truly meant God wouldn't let her live. The Lao Si's revenge before his death was ruthless, using methods involving germs that had disappeared hundreds of years ago. As a member of the World Government, Vic believed they had the ability to obtain them.
"Young man, our preliminary diagnosis suggests your friend's condition does resemble the Black Death, but we lack the necessary equipment to definitively confirm it. We can only say the probability is high."
We need to send her to our research institution for a thorough examination to determine the cause; her condition is very serious, and we can't delay!
The old doctor who had been beaten by the pirates told Vic about their discussion when he saw Vic return, and they were very grateful for Vic's help.
"I only have one question for you: if she really does have the Black Death, are you confident you can cure her?"
Vic didn't care about the tests or anything; it was just an extra step. What he wanted to know now was whether the worst-case scenario could be reversed.
"Well... if it really is the Black Death, there's nothing we can do. The herbs that cure it are extremely rare, and we don't have any in stock. We can only pray that the final tests don't reveal it's the Black Death!"
The old doctor looked frustrated. He didn't believe that a disease could only be cured with a specific drug, but developing other drugs that could cure the disease was not something that could be done in a short time.
This is also the purpose of their group getting together to exchange ideas—to allow medicine to branch out and for a disease to have more directions for treatment!
"So that means you can't cure the Black Death either. It seems this is her fate; ultimately, humans can't defy destiny!"
Vic's tone held a hint of disappointment, but the blow to his heart was even greater. Wendy had already wasted several days, and it was too late to try to find a solution elsewhere. Vic carried Wendy on his back again, secured her with a rope, and prepared to leave.
"Hey buddy! Where are you going? Since you have a patient, just leave them with the doctors! They're the best doctors on the island."
Furthermore, you have helped our Drum Kingdom, and I will report your matter to the King. The wise King will surely have his personal physicians treat your friend!
Seeing that Vic was about to leave, Dalton became a little anxious. He was not an ungrateful person, and since his benefactor needed help, he would do his best to assist him!
"Not now. I'll come to you if I need him. I only need him."
After finishing his sentence, Vic walked straight towards the bald man who looked like a monk, and amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, hooked the old man to his side and stomped away.
"Who is this person? He can even fly, what can't he do?"
"He's no ordinary person. And that invincible defense just now—these are techniques I've never seen before!"
"By the way, do you know the person he took away? Who was that famous doctor?"
"Don't know him! I don't remember him!"
"I overheard him telling the pirates that he's not from our Drum Kingdom, he must be from overseas!"
"Could that young man know him? Is he a famous doctor from overseas?"
"Stop guessing, everyone. Look at this pirate! He was pierced through the brain by a single hair! How did he even manage that?!"
His hair is so soft you couldn't even poke it into your skin! This young man is truly mysterious; his methods are beyond our imagination!