Chapter 68: The Scalpel and the Chore Boy — The Impossible Ascent
The cold, clinical blue light of the screen solidified, casting a sterile glow over a world that had just been screaming about the "Monkey Family." The names Trafalgar D. Water Law and Koby (The Hero) remained etched in the center, but this time, the silence that followed was one of pure, unadulterated confusion.
In Sabaody, Eustass "Captain" Kid slammed his metal fist into a brick wall, crumbling it instantly. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the screen.
"TRAFALGAR?!" Kid roared, his magnetic field causing nearby forks and knives to vibrate. "That gloomy doctor is Rank 43?! He's a rookie just like me! And who the hell is KOBY?! A Marine... Petty Officer? System, you're mocking me! How am I Rank 45 while these two 'bottom-feeders' are higher?!"
Killer sharpened his blades, his voice muffled by his mask. "Calm down, Kid. The screen shows the potential of the soul. It means that doctor has a trick up his sleeve we haven't seen... and that Marine boy is destined for something terrifying."
On the execution platform, Sengoku narrowed his eyes, looking through the Marine roster in his mind. "Koby... I recognize that name. A Petty Officer under Garp's wing. Garp, explain this. How is a boy who can barely throw a punch ranked higher than a Beast Pirate Calamity or a Holy Knight candidate?"
Garp was actually frozen mid-cracker-bite. He looked at the small, scrawny image of Koby on the side of the screen—the pink-haired boy who usually spent his days cleaning decks and crying.
"BWAHAHA! Is the System drunk?!" Garp shouted, though his eyes were gleaming with a sudden, sharp interest. "That brat? Rank 43? I haven't even started training him for real yet! I just liked his spirit! If he's Rank 43, then I guess I really am a genius teacher! I'll have to double his mountain-tossing practice!"
Akainu scoffed, his hands smoking. "A child who cries at the sight of blood is Rank 43? This ranking is a farce. Justice doesn't reward weakness."
Trafalgar Law, sitting on a crate in the Sabaody clearing, pulled his hat down low. His crew, Bepo, Jean Bart, and Shachi, were staring at him like he was a god.
"Captain! You're Rank 43!" Bepo cheered. "You're higher than that scary metal guy!"
Law didn't smile. He was sweating. 'Trafalgar D. Water Law...' The screen had shown his full name earlier. He looked at the other name: Koby. 'Why him? Why am I paired with a Marine chore-boy?'
> [Rocks D. Xebec]: "VOHAHARARA! Look at the 'Future' go! Hey, Roger! Did you see that? Another 'D.'! This Trafalgar brat carries the name of the Taboo! And the Marine boy... he has the 'eyes of a King' in that future-snapshot. Garp, you lucky old dog, you found a diamond in the trash!"
> [Roger]: "Wahahahaha!... A doctor and a soldier. The screen says Law 'chose the wrong path.' That usually means a man who traded his soul for a scalpel."
>
Because the screen was showing current images of the characters alongside their future rank, the world was struggling to bridge the gap.
In the East Blue: Alvida shrieked at her crew, "THAT'S THE BRAT I USED TO HIT WITH MY CLUB! HE'S A WORLD-CLASS THREAT?! GET ME TO THE GRAND LINE! I'll kill him before he grows up!"
In the Holy Land: Sommers looked at the name 'Law.' "The Ope Ope no Mi... so that's where it went. A 'D.' with the Ultimate Fruit. He must be pruned before he reaches that rank."
The screen began to pulse. The blue light didn't show their lives yet, but it showed two items representing them: A heart dripping with white lead, and a Marine Cape tattered by a thousand battles.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE]:
To understand Rank 43, one must understand the 'Price of Growth.' One paid in blood and tragedy; the other paid in sweat and broken bones. The world sees two rookies. The System sees the pillars of the New Era.
> [Kaido]: "WORORORO! Pillars?! They look like toothpicks! I'll crush them both before the day is out! Rank 43? I'll show them what a real Rank 1 looks like!"
> [Rocks D. Xebec]: "Patience, lizard-boy! Let's see the Doctor first. I want to see what a 'D.' does when his back is against the wall! And do you think you will be avobe me? Rank 1?"
>
[NEXT CHAPTER: THE WHITE CITY — THE BIRTH OF THE SURGEON.]
📝 Author's Note:
I think this feels much more authentic! Kid is rightfully pissed because he's physically stronger right now, but the System sees Law's haxy Devil Fruit potential. Garp and Sengoku are genuinely confused because, in their eyes, Koby is still just a kid who cries too much. And Rocks is the only one who truly senses the 'D.' threat. Chapter 69 will start with Law's origin—the White City—and it's going to be the first time the world sees the true horror of the World Government's greed.