The moment they learned that Zoro's arms could be restored, the dark cloud hanging over the Straw Hat Pirates lifted in an instant.
Zoro himself couldn't hide the excitement on his face.
Losing both arms meant that his dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman was drifting further and further out of reach.
But no matter what, he would never give up on that dream.
Even if it meant gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, he would chase that goal to the death.
He had already mentally prepared himself for "suffering," but now, the tide had turned...
The emotional roller coaster left even Zoro uncharacteristically shaken.
"Don't celebrate just yet," Maude said calmly, facing the crew's excited gazes. "You all should know—restoring lost limbs comes at the cost of lifespan. And healing a few fingers is not the same as restoring two entire arms."
He continued, voice steady:
"The larger the 'volume' of the restoration, the greater the price paid—and that price multiplies. One finger might cost you a few dozen days, but five fingers doesn't just mean five times the cost… Let alone two full arms."
With that, Maude turned to Zoro.
"And the actual toll? Even I can't say for certain. But at the very least, we're talking ten years of your life."
"What?!"
The expressions on everyone's faces froze in an instant.
"T-Ten years?!"
"That's… way too much…"
"Master… Is there no other way to bring back his arms without sacrificing lifespan?" Usopp asked cautiously.
"No," Maude replied with a nod. "It's a heavy price—but the arms you get back through this method will be as good as new in every sense of the word."
"Only ten years, huh…"
Unlike the others, Zoro showed no sign of hesitation. His eyes only grew sharper.
"Even if it costs me twenty… thirty years… I'll become the world's strongest swordsman in whatever time I have left!"
"Zoro…"
Everyone turned to look at him, wounded and worn—but radiating a fierce aura.
Sanji, standing off to the side, silently lit a cigarette.
He was reflecting.
"Impressive resolve," Maude said with a nod of approval. He walked to Zoro's side and glanced down at the shadow cast by the bed frame. "Since you have no objections, we'll begin."
"Go ahead."
Zoro gave a firm nod.
Maude said nothing more. He reached out his right hand, shrouded in shadow, and gently placed it over Zoro's shadow cast on the bed.
Shff—
A faint, almost inaudible sound rang out. Maude's hand sank into the shadow.
The Straw Hats—and even Zoro himself—held their breath, watching closely.
As they watched, the blood-soaked bandages around Zoro's shoulders suddenly unraveled, revealing the gruesome wounds beneath.
From the ragged ends of the stumps, clusters of flesh began to grow and writhe at an alarming rate.
In just a few seconds, those writhing growths reshaped themselves into two perfectly formed arms.
"My hands… They're back…"
Zoro looked down at his restored arms, slowly curling his fingers and flexing his arms.
They felt completely normal—just like before.
Maude hadn't lied. This was true restoration in every sense of the word.
Suppressing the surge of emotion in his chest, Zoro looked up at Maude with sincerity in his gaze.
"This makes it the second time I owe you."
The first was when Maude gifted him a sword in Alabasta. The second… was this—giving him back his arms.
Zoro didn't know how he'd ever repay this debt.
"No need to dwell on it," Maude replied with a shake of his head. "The ones who attacked you were aiming for me. You were just caught in the crossfire. So in a way… this is partly my responsibility."
He paused for a moment, then added:
"In any case, until your injuries heal, you're welcome to stay on my ship."
"Thank you…"
Nami quickly chimed in before anyone could say anything dumb. She gave Usopp and Bartolomeo a swift kick.
"Thank you, Master!!!"
"Thank you, Idol!!!"
The two men immediately took the hint and gave sincere thanks, skipping any talk of blame or responsibility.
Maude glanced at the Straw Hats.
"Rest well. If you need anything, tell the zombie stationed outside."
And with that, he turned and left without waiting for their response.
As he stepped out, Maude cast one last glance at the gravely wounded and unconscious Luffy.
"Lucky bastard."
He muttered to himself.
Given that Luffy's Haki and Gear 4 were still immature, Maude had fully expected Kaido's Raimei Hakke to kill him outright.
But somehow, the kid survived.
Maybe because Kaido didn't even see him as a threat.
Maude left the infirmary, with Perona and Bailey following behind.
Philo and Sabo stayed behind.
Though Chopper was now awake and more than capable of resuming his medical duties, Philo's sense of responsibility wouldn't allow her to just walk away.
She rejected Chopper's offer flat-out and even made him lie down and stay put like a proper patient, warning him not to do anything reckless while still injured.
Faced with Philo's firm attitude, Chopper could only relent with a sigh.
"The one who attacked us… it was Emperor Kaido, wasn't it?" Robin asked, now that Maude was gone, finally voicing the question she'd been holding back.
"Yeah."
Sabo glanced at Robin and nodded slightly.
"That giant dragon… that was Kaido of the Four Emperors?!"
The others were visibly shaken.
They'd all heard of the Four Emperors by name—but never fully grasped what they were capable of.
As for Kaido's powers? They had no real concept—until now.
Now, they understood what that title meant.
A monster among monsters.
Robin crossed her arms, thumb pressed to her chin, thinking calmly.
"So… how did the fight end tonight?"
"Maude slashed Kaido with a single strike, sending him flying into the sea. We boarded the ship and left immediately after."
Sabo didn't bother going into detail. He just gave them the outcome.
"He knocked Kaido into the sea?!"
"Kaido's a Devil Fruit user, right? If he fell into the ocean, then—?!"
Sabo's words left them all in utter disbelief.
The creature that nearly wiped them out in a single blow…
Maude defeated it?
On the bed, Zoro's head hung low as he recalled the earlier clash with Kaido.
He had poured everything into one desperate attack—and it hadn't even grazed the man.
It had been utterly hopeless.
But Maude…
Zoro clenched his fists, a reckless thought forming in his heart.
He wanted…
To become Maude's disciple.
So that a night like this—full of helplessness and despair—would never happen again.
Sanji, exhaling a puff of smoke, gazed at Zoro through the haze.
Watching his comrades fall one by one, unable to do anything—it was a helplessness Sanji knew too well.
And tonight, once again, he had witnessed the raw, brutal power of monsters that played by no rules.
Before him, the road to the future had suddenly grown taller, steeper—lined with towering walls.
"Are we really getting stronger?"
Sanji asked himself in silence, his heart weighed down.
...
In the castle corridor, candlelight flickered.
Maude walked slowly under the wavering glow, his footsteps echoing rhythmically through the stone hall.
Perona floated behind him, holding up a Den Den Mushi.
"Maude."
"Oh—almost forgot."
Maude took the Den Den Mushi from her, its lens catching the dance of candlelight in his eyes.
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