In a shadowed corner of the cave, a small figure huddled tightly, its body trembling uncontrollably.
Under the dim light filtering in from outside, Shaq could barely make out the outline it was a boy, thin to the point of frailty.
Shaq exchanged a glance with Newgate before stepping forward slightly.
“Hey, kid.
We’re just pirates taking shelter from the rain.
Why are you here alone?”
There was no response.
The boy continued to shiver, his condition clearly abnormal.
Frowning, Shaq moved closer and crouched down to get a better look.
What he saw made his expression immediately change.
The boy’s body was emaciated, his skin marked with bruises and lash wounds.
His breathing was uneven, his eyes tightly shut, and his face twisted in pain.
His distinctive pineapple-shaped hair made his identity unmistakable.
Shaq recognized him instantly.
Without hesitation, he reached out to examine him further, and the result only deepened his concern.
This wasn’t just exhaustion this was prolonged malnutrition combined with serious injury and fever.
“Pops,” Shaq said quickly, his voice tense, “this kid’s in bad shape.
He’s burning up.”
Newgate stepped forward, his gaze settling on the boy.
For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, there was something about this child that stirred a faint sense of familiarity.
“You handle the wounds,” he said decisively.
“I’ll get medicine from the ship.”
With that, he turned and strode back out into the rain.
Shaq didn’t waste a second.
A faint green glow began to gather in his palm as he activated his ability, drawing in the surrounding vitality and guiding it into the boy’s body.
The bruises and external injuries began to mend slowly, the tension in the boy’s face easing bit by bit.
But Shaq’s expression didn’t improve.
Even as the wounds healed, he could feel it clearly the boy’s life force was dangerously weak, flickering like a candle in the wind.
If it went out, there would be nothing left to save.
Grinding his teeth, Shaq made a decision.
He began to draw upon the energy he had stored within himself, something far more potent than the natural vitality he usually used.
This was refined energy, stripped of its original imprints a resource he had painstakingly developed over years of practice.
It wasn’t easy to create.
Each time he purified it, it drained him mentally to the point of collapse.
But now wasn’t the time to hesitate.
Focusing his mind completely, Shaq began the process, carefully refining the energy until only a pure, stable form remained.
A faint blue-green glow appeared in his palm.
Without delay, he pressed it into the boy’s abdomen, guiding it toward the core of his life force.
The effect was immediate.
The flickering presence stabilized, no longer on the verge of extinguishing.
Shaq exhaled sharply, his strength giving out all at once as he collapsed to the ground, his body drenched in sweat.
Still, a smile appeared on his face.
As long as the boy survived, it was worth it.
Not long after, Newgate returned, carrying supplies.
The moment he stepped into the cave, he saw Shaq lying on the ground and immediately rushed over.
“Shaq!
What did you do?”
Shaq forced a weak grin.
“I’m fine… just need some rest.”
Newgate frowned deeply.
“I told you not to push yourself like this.”
“Yeah, yeah…” Shaq muttered, already half-asleep.
“Too tired…”
Before Newgate could say anything else, he had already passed out completely.
“…Brat,” Newgate muttered, shaking his head as he let him rest.
…
“I’m starving!”
Shaq suddenly jolted awake, sitting upright as hunger hit him all at once.
A fist immediately came down on his head.
“Keep it down!” Newgate snapped.
“Eat first.”
Moments later, Shaq was devouring food at an alarming pace.
“Seriously… chew… chew… you didn’t have to hit me that hard…”
“What are you mumbling about?”
“Nothing!”
Only then did Shaq notice that the boy had woken up.
Before he could react, the boy suddenly dropped to his knees with a loud thud.
Startled, Shaq quickly stood, but Newgate gestured for him to wait.
“Big Brother Shaq,” the boy said, his voice earnest despite his weak state, “thank you for saving me.
Please let me join your crew.”
Shaq blinked, then stepped forward to pull him up.
“If you want to join, talk to him,” he said, nodding toward Newgate.
“He’s the captain.”
Newgate chuckled.
“I told him he needed your approval first.”
Shaq paused, then sighed.
“Fine.
I don’t have a problem with it.”
The boy’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Thank you!”
“Hey, you’re thanking the wrong person,” Shaq said, pushing him lightly toward Newgate.
The boy quickly turned.
“Thank you, Captain!”
“Gurararara!
Once you’re on board, you’re family,” Newgate said, patting his head.
“Call me Pops.”
The boy hesitated for a moment before nodding.
“…Yes, Pops.”
Newgate smiled, clearly pleased.
“Then let’s celebrate,” he said, raising his voice.
“We’ve got a new crewmate!”
The storm still raged outside, but inside the cave, warmth began to take its place.