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Chapter 780: Unfulfilled Yearning
Chapter 780: Unfulfilled Yearning
"Enslavement."
Noardi watched Sheridan's outburst with a conflicted expression, then murmured softly, "Even you think I'm trying to enslave people?"
...
"Sheridan! We should return home. Our dream remains the same. Since I set sail, this Devil Fruit has been my ultimate goal – the trump card we need. Let's go back together and fulfill our dream!"
On the Grand Line, the middle-aged Noardi spoke passionately to the equally seasoned, sharp-faced man beside him.
The latter regarded him with concern. "So soon? Noardi, you don't even have a bounty yet. Returning now to claim kingship won't command respect from everyone. Why not stay a while longer?"
"What does that matter? You'll be with me, won't you? With your help, affirmation won't be an issue", Noardi said, playfully punching his companion's chest.
"No, you're capable enough to earn your own fame. It feels unfair that I've gained notoriety while you remain unrecognized."
Sheridan shook his head. "This has happened too many times. You always shift responsibilities onto me, and I end up famous while you don't. That can't continue."
"My aspirations don't lie in fame."
Noardi smiled. "Rather, remaining obscure is precisely my intention. Sheridan, you're getting older – aren't you planning to settle down and start a family?"
"I've considered it", Sheridan admitted, scratching the back of his head. "But I still want to build greater fame. I've worked hard to establish my name. I crave more honor."
"Stop thinking like that. Come home with me first. Let's get married. When we set out to sea as pirates, wasn't it to provide a better life for our families? After all, Kolf Island produces nothing but stones."
Noardi patted his friend's shoulder. "The times have changed. We need more suitable methods for survival."
"But—"
Sheridan began to protest, but Noardi had already turned to leave.
"Hey, Noardi! You never actually told me your specific dream!"
Sheridan called after him, but the figure vanished into the distance.
"What's so strange", he muttered, scratching his head. "Could it really be marriage and family? Surely not. That's no pirate's dream. I've already earned fame – I'm nowhere near retirement!"
...
"This hand of mine was never meant for Control."
Noardi declared loudly. "After all these years, my ability could develop to the point of controlling entire islands. This power can be used for more than just subjugating others!"
He bent low, slamming his right hand into the ground.
Suddenly, shockwaves rippled through the earth. The bombs held by the pirates trembled violently, unleashing Bomb Rocks that burst forth like the land itself was vomiting them out. Irregular stones erupted from the ground, surrounding the pirates and hovering ominously.
"Explode, Bomb Rocks!"
The panicked pirates shouted in unison.
"The entire island is under my control!"
Noardi roared. "Did you think I wouldn't know what you were scheming? If not for that damned Luffy, I'd have crushed you all by now!"
Just one step!
Noardi's eyes burned with near-sanguine fury. It had been so close!
His dream had been on the verge of realization!
If not for Luffy, this rabble – this pathetic rabble –
"Spinning Jelly!"
A sudden shout shattered his thoughts. Sheridan's massive jelly-like form began spinning violently, launching countless gelatinous masses that engulfed the Bomb Rocks mid-flight. The elastic blobs hit the ground with a wobbly bounce.
"With just this, you can't threaten me!"
Sheridan bellowed. "You know this already – I'm the 'Jelly Man' who ate the 'Jelly Devil Fruit'! Bomb Rocks' explosion has no effect on me. When they detonate, they only destroy my jelly form without harming anyone else!"
"You think I don't know you're afraid – afraid your enslavement technique will be neutralized? Those scattered jelly blobs can become my clones. I can abandon this body at any moment! If I hadn't been careless back then, you'd never have controlled me! That so-called trump card of yours? Useless against me!"
A trump card...
You still remember that, huh?
Noardi's expression faltered.
"Jelly Impact!"
Sheridan lunged forward, his vast jelly belly morphing into a massive cylinder coated with Haki. The devastating blow struck Noardi squarely, sending him flying backward several meters before sliding to a halt.
"Cough, cough!"
Blood spattered from Noardi's lips as he struggled to his feet moments later.
Still unsteady...
The wounds from battling Luffy hadn't fully healed yet.
"What's wrong? Can't dodge anymore?" Sheridan laughed, his monstrous jelly body looming like a mountain. "Look at you now – where's that brilliant, sharp-faced youth from back then?!"
"You've changed completely! So weak, so aged! Finish him – kill him!"
The pirates rallied at Sheridan's command, charging forward weapons in hand – not just Bomb Rocks, but pickaxes and mining tools.
"Destroy Noardi and seize this country!"
Faced with the onslaught, Noardi instinctively clenched his fist in midair. The earth erupted, forming a collar-like shape. With this technique, he could control everyone here – except Sheridan.
But...
He looked at the advancing pirates. Their faces were familiar.
Some had been citizens of his nation, consumed by pirate dreams and subdued by his control. Others were invading pirates he'd captured and forced into labor.
They'd already married and started families.
Arranged by Noardi himself, their wives and children still lived safely in the rear. Their presence remained detectable.
Peace had already been achieved!
Why isn't it enough?!
They're my people!
He looked down at the forming collar, then relaxed his palm, dissolving its shape.
Then he raised his gaze to the grotesque Sheridan. When his old friend returned, he'd still been handsome. But in just two years...
You want revenge that badly?
Would you become this – just to get retribution against me?
Old friend... you've changed.
No, you changed long ago. Your youthful ideals and those of your middle age – utterly different.
Just one step!
In a few more years, he could have mastered this ability. These people, already accustomed to stability, would abandon piracy forever.
That dream – of peace for this nation, of everyone settling into marriage and family, of leaving piracy behind – had been so close to realization!
Yearning unfulfilled...
(End of Chapter)
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