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Compressed vertically, his body expanded horizontally. Liam's skeleton seemed reshaped, with adjusted muscle density and distribution.
Even more noticeable was his face. The bones, muscles, and the density and shape of his eyebrows had subtly shifted, as had many other features.
"Self-swallowing makeover. What do you think?" Liam asked, rubbing his face.
"Pretty impressive..." Robin studied him for a long while, took a sip of tea, and calmly said, "But you're not as good-looking as before."
"Really?" Liam grabbed a mirror. "I think it's fine..."
He opened his mouth, revealing his teeth, and smiled at Robin. "Want me to try it on you, too?"
Robin refused firmly, holding her tea in one hand and leaning on the sofa with the other. She tilted her head. "I don't think you just want to change your appearance for fun, do you?"
Liam stroked his chin. "I'm wondering if I can reverse it without relying on the Munch-Munch Fruit. Since Life Return can control hair, there's no reason it can't manipulate flesh, skin, and bones, too."
The JOJO pirate ship sailed along the magnetic course in the Grand Line. Leaving the relatively stable climate near the islands behind, the sea began to reveal its true nature.
Suddenly, towering waves crashed, lightning flashed, and thunder roared.
The small ship bounced in the waves. A lightning bolt illuminated the colorless face of Rosé inside the cabin.
The green Den Den Mushi nearly fell overboard due to the ship's movement. Rosé jumped to grab it in fright.
Little Green remained completely calm, as did B.I.B., who steered steadily.
…
After the lightning and thunder came a sudden, violent wind and heavy snow.
Despite her winter clothing from the cold island, Rosé shivered uncontrollably in the cabin.
Thinking quickly, Little Green extended a series of fan-like devices from the surface of City Castle, tiny heaters.
The heat from these devices was amplified once it left the castle's surface, providing enough warmth for the entire group of girls.
"So warm..." Rosé hugged the Den Den Mushi tightly. Her satisfied voice carried along the hot air.
At one of City Castle's entrances, Robin smiled at the row of tiny heaters Little Green had made. She held a sleeping bag she had intended to throw out.
Liam, chewing on fruit, walked over. "This kid is skilled at operating them."
He opened his mouth and swallowed the fruit whole.
Robin reminded him, "Liam, your nose is a bit crooked..."
"Really? Wait a second...now?"
"Hmm, it's back to normal."
…
Lightning, thunder, heavy snow, and a tempest...
The Grand Line's weather was chaotic and unpredictable. Magnetic cross-currents over the sea created random local climates.
"This is the last bit of food." Rosé broke off the last piece of bread in her hand and gave Little Green a small portion.
Little Green swallowed the piece whole.
"Ah!" Rosé cried out, half in tears. "How could you do that? I'm so hungry..."
After eating the small piece meant for the Den Den Mushi, the girl sighed and looked at the Log Pose in front of the wheel. The ship was still sailing along the Log Pose's course.
Rosé stared blankly at the temporarily calm sea, thinking that something was controlling this ship.
In Little Green's City Castle portal, Liam and Robin sat, each holding a cup. Liam had floral milk tea and Robin had black tea. They took a synchronized sip and observed the girl who had been alone on the empty little ship for two to three days.
"No matter how foolish she is, she should have guessed by now that something is controlling this ship's course," said Liam, back to his usual self. He licked the foam off his lips.
"Yeah..." Robin sipped her tea and murmured to herself, "But she never shouted at the air or tried to call us..."
Liam touched his chin, pondering. "She wouldn't be looking to die on purpose, would she?"
"... " Robin froze, but before she could think further, Rosé's voice came from outside the city castle.
"Ah... That's a pirate ship?"
During her time on the ship, Rosé had grown accustomed to communicating with just a Den Den Mushi. Holding it in her hands, she looked toward the distant sea. Sure enough, a large, three-masted ship—far bigger than her small vessel—appeared on the horizon. The enormous sail displayed the unmistakable skull emblem of pirates.
The pirate ship was approaching.
The B.I.B. at the helm glanced at the girl on the railing. She was clearly nervous.
However, with her Gomu Gomu powers developed to this degree, escaping would be easy. She could open an air tube, sneak aboard the enemy ship, slip to the next island, and make a quiet getaway.
The pirate ship drew closer, and the skull emblem on its sail became more visible.
Not planning to hide? B.I.B. silently observed Rosé on the railing, unflinching.
Clang! A heavy object dropped. Startled, Rosé jumped and turned to see an iron rod rolling across the deck.
She looked around left and right. "This..."
Where did this rod come from?
She picked it up—it was so heavy! Using both hands, she barely managed to lift it. Then, she had a sudden idea and used her Gomu Gomu powers to reshape the rod into a steel pipe. Now under her control, the rod became much lighter and could easily be swung as a weapon. The girl turned back to the pirate ship, which was getting closer.
At the City Castle entrance, Liam asked, having thrown the rod: "So, you really plan to face those pirates head-on?"
"Captain..." On the approaching pirate ship, a sailor held a telescope and aimed it at the small ship's black flag.
The captain of the Iron Boot pirate crew asked, "Can you see clearly? What kind of ship is that?"
"That flag..." The sailor holding the telescope went pale. "Captain, that's the JOJO Pirate crew!"
"The JOJO Pirate crew?"
All the pirates on deck nearly fell over at the name. Captain Iron Boot's expression darkened. He snatched the telescope and confirmed the black flag on the small ship. He broke out in a cold sweat.
"It really is the JOJO Pirate crew...those two Monster Pirates!" How did we run into them? What are you waiting for? Turn the wheel! Retreat quickly!"
"Yes, sir!"
The captain shouted hoarsely as the crew scrambled to turn the ship around. The large ship slowly began to retreat.
On the small ship, Rosé gripped her iron pipe and braced herself. She was dumbfounded; she hadn't expected the situation to unfold this way.
"..." She looked at the black flag on the pirate ship. "Is it because of that pirate flag? Did they actually get scared and run?"
Suddenly, the rod in her hands felt lighter; it had been "eaten" by Little Green.
"Hey!" Rosé exclaimed in shock. Then she realized something. Little Green hadn't actually eaten the rod. Instead, there was a small hole in its body. Someone appeared to be standing inside, reaching out to pull the disproportionately large rod in. Rosé held her breath. She seemed to understand where the two pirates had gone.
…
Wham!
As if punched by someone, the sea beast leapt straight out of the water.
In the water, Hanazai Flower's fist dispersed into a cloud of petals that faded with the currents.
Knocked unconscious, the sea beast fell toward the little ship like a massive shadow. Rosé stared up in shock, thinking she was about to be crushed. But then, the sea beast vanished with a whiz.
"... " Rosé looked at Little Green.
Hugging her knees, she sat on the deck. Soon, the smell of cooked meat wafted toward her.
She looked up and saw a steaming plate of sea beast meat tossed out from Little Green's body and placed before her.
With tears in her eyes, Rosé ate the meat bite by bite. Suddenly, the ship jolted as it hit something.
"Phew, finally docked," she heard Giorno say.
Looking up, she saw Giorno and Jolyne at the bow. They quickly jumped off the ship onto the shore.
Rosé hurriedly swallowed and gazed at the distant island landscape: winding mountains and an unfamiliar place.
Suddenly, the scenery sank...no, she was rising.
Looking down, she saw Giorno lifting the entire ship with his hand. He asked, "Hey, aren't you coming down?"
Rosé held her plate tightly and jumped to the shore. She turned around and saw Giorno grinning as he shoved the small ship into Little Green's mouth.
(End of chapter.)