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Arthur, half-asleep, felt something small gnawing at him—tiny, toothless gums that couldn't break his skin. He didn't bother reacting, drifting back to sleep.
Moments later, someone was shaking him, a voice whispering in his ear, trying to wake him.
Arthur hissed, his eyes snapping open. His muscles ached, his body screaming in protest, every fiber exhausted.
"Where…where am I?" He glanced around, his heart pounding, momentarily disoriented—thinking he'd been recaptured. Then, his vision clearing, he realized he was in a cave, the air thick with the stench of animal musk.
A deep voice echoed from nearby. Arthur turned his head—and almost punched the speaker. A figure, roughly his own size, stood before him—covered in what appeared to be a stitched-together dinosaur hide. The voice, however…
"What…are you?" Arthur frowned, then it clicked. Myskina Acier, the alchemist who created the Pure Gold. After Alchemi was swallowed, he'd evaded the dinosaurs in the anglerfish's stomach by creating this…costume. He had been living as a "dinosaur" for two hundred years.
"That's a rather rude way to greet someone," Acier said, slowly shedding the dinosaur disguise.
His face was round, his body plump, his Golden hair unkempt, his clothes tattered. Traces of his once handsome features were still visible, but two centuries of a diet consisting solely of dinosaur meat had taken its toll.
"Something spooked Bonbori a couple of days ago. It was thrashing around like crazy, probably ran into some other Sea Kings. That's when you were swallowed, right?" Acier asked, scratching his head.
"You saved me? How long was I out?" Arthur raised an eyebrow, ignoring the question, surprised that he was even alive. "Thanks for pulling me out of the acid."
He stretched his stiff neck, slowly getting to his feet.
"Hahaha! I should be thanking you! It's been almost two hundred years since I've spoken to another human. Living with these dinosaurs, I almost forgot what it was like to be…well, human! Hahahaha!" Acier's laughter boomed through the cave as he rubbed his plump cheeks.
"You were out for about half a day. But it wasn't me who saved you—it was the dinosaurs." He gestured towards the cave entrance.
Creatures, if they didn't die immediately from a drastic change in environment, adapted—evolving to survive. And in the world of One Piece, two hundred years was more than enough time.
The dinosaurs, having lived in the anglerfish's stomach for so long, were immune to the acid. They'd found Arthur, dragged him out of the corrosive sea—mistaking him for food.
"So, I owe my life to a bunch of dinosaurs?" Arthur rubbed his stomach, a wry smile on his face.
If they hadn't found him, he'd have been recaptured by Tsuru or Akainu—back to Impel Down.
"I was hoping for a decent meal—but I suppose I'll spare you for now. Hahahaha!" He glanced at a group of young dinosaurs playing near the cave entrance.
His battle with Garp had distorted his sense of time. It might have been a couple of days—or a week.
But the fight had purged the frustration of his Impel Down imprisonment—leaving him feeling strangely invigorated. His decisions were now driven by whim, not strategy.
"Your name is Myskina Acier, right?" Arthur stretched, trying to ease the ache in his muscles. Pushing himself to the limit—it had taken its toll.
Acier's jaw dropped. "How did you know? I was famous, once—but that was over a century ago! You've heard of me? Although…seeing my face now…it's a little disheartening…"
He had been quite the looker in his day, a successful scientist with a certain charm.
But time, as they said, was a cruel mistress.
"Your appearance doesn't matter. As long as the Pure Gold exists—your name will live on. And I just met a little girl named Myskina Olga." Arthur's gaze was steady, his tone neutral.
The creation of the Pure Gold—something that shouldn't even exist—proved Acier's genius, his understanding of metallurgy far beyond the ordinary. He was wasted here. He belonged with Vegapunk—researching Seastone weapons or creating the Pacifistas' metal bodies.
Acier wasn't surprised that Arthur knew about the Pure Gold.
Two centuries ago, news of its creation had spread like wildfire.
Everyone—the World Government—pirates—they'd all come looking for it. His wife had been killed by pirates seeking the treasure.
"Olga…Olga…My daughter! She's alive? Where is she?" Acier's eyes filled with tears, his voice choked with emotion. He grabbed Arthur's hand, his grip surprisingly strong.
Two hundred years…He hadn't expected to hear her name again.
The stench of animal musk intensified.
Arthur pulled his hand away, wrinkling his nose, his Observation Haki expanding, instantly locating Olga.
"She's in the second stomach. And in return for that information…I'll be taking the Pure Gold from Alchemi in the third stomach."
"The Pure Gold…that cursed thing…Take it! Just…please…bring my daughter to me! I beg you!" Acier's voice cracked as he struggled to move.
Two centuries in the anglerfish's stomach had atrophied his legs. Short distances were manageable—but anything more was impossible.
"Bring your daughter to you…That can be arranged."
Arthur considered the offer. A scientist like Acier was a valuable asset, too valuable to waste. He could be useful in the New World, helping fortify his future territory, shaping the metal with his electromagnetism.
"I'll bring your daughter to you—if you agree to leave this anglerfish and join my crew." Arthur smiled, his voice calm, his gaze steady.
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