"It's been three days, hasn't it? Nero Sensei has been maintaining this posture the whole time."
Outside the door, Kuina whispered, lowering her voice, looking around furtively.
"Didn't Hathaway Nee-san say this was a special training method? It's called Sword Spirit, I think."
Zoro also crouched there, sneaking around.
"Idiot, it's Sword Zen! It's like a form of meditation, a technique for cultivating the mind in swordsmanship."
Kuina punched the green-haired idiot on the head; this guy's muscles had gone to his brain.
Then she looked at Nero with worry in her eyes. Nero had been like a wooden dummy for so long, not even eating.
Both of them were a little worried that Nero wouldn't be able to hold on if this continued.
Behind them, Hathaway stood in the shadows, also watching with a worried expression.
Nero had practiced Sword Zen before, but starting so hastily and continuing for so many days was truly a first.
Recalling Nero's recent abnormalities over the past few years, Hathaway knew that something she didn't know about must have happened to Nero.
The most obvious was that Doflamingo and Tesoro were still alive; according to her understanding of Nero, those two should have died in a way that wouldn't be too easy, yet Nero had let them go.
There was also the so-called Revolutionary Army; just that name alone should have been enough for Nero to harbor hostility towards them.
But the result was a cooperation, and Nero even funded them from her own purse. For such important matters, Nero would usually have the national treasury pay.
On one hand, it expanded the country's connections, and on the other, it separated public and private affairs. For an act like tying the Revolutionary Army to her chariot, Nero had hastily made the decision herself.
Was it because the pressure from the World Government was too great? Hathaway didn't think so. Unlike other imperial educations, Nicuss had never had the concept of checks and balances.
The strongest emperors of each generation had carved out the Nicuss Empire, a place in the New World that was practically a forbidden zone. Before Nero's founding of the country, it was a Copper Wall and Iron Barrier (impenetrable fortress) that even the World Government couldn't infiltrate.
Once an enemy was identified, the only outcome would be war. Even if they were outmatched, there should have been a tense, gunpowder-like atmosphere spreading.
Yet Nero uncharacteristically became a Celestial Dragon, repeatedly emphasizing her balance with the king of the celestial dragons, and began to hold expectations for Nika... expecting him to break the balance.
One after another, these overly deliberate actions revealed a flaw to Hathaway: Nero was going against her true self.
She was even doing things she wouldn't normally do to distract herself.
Connecting it with the increasingly inexplicable and profound demonic nature on Nero, and the occasional mentions of 'essence' and similar topics, Hathaway already vaguely had an answer in her heart.
The current Nero must have reached a point where she needed to make a certain decision, and this decision would bring about huge changes to everything around her.
Then, she only needed to wait for Her Majesty to make the final decision. No matter what the final outcome, what she needed to do would not change at all.
And just then, Nero, who hadn't moved for three days, swayed slightly. Opening her eyes, a primal bestiality surged in her crimson pupils, then quickly returned to her usual appearance.
But that instantaneous feeling, as if leading one into a depravity, made the eyes of the three people present hazy.
Sloth, anger, jealousy... dark emotions kept amplifying. Kuina and Zoro even had an urge to destroy the world, though such a thought only flashed for an instant.
Hathaway, however, showed no emotion on her face and quietly walked to the door: "Your Majesty, good evening! Do you require a meal now?"
"Mm, it's Hathaway! Yes, I do! My stomach is already rumbling."
Nero didn't explain, pouting as usual.
However, seeing Zoro and Kuina's faces flushed red, swaying as if drunk, Nero helplessly pressed her hand to her forehead: "These two idiotic brats, let them rest well today."
"Understood!" Hathaway nodded and went to prepare Nero's meal.
Although Kuina and Zoro looked quite serious, there was always a matter of priority. Young people sleeping on the floor for a while wouldn't have any impact.
Nero likewise didn't bother with the two on the floor. She stood up, stretched her stiff body, and let out a big yawn.
She knew her own changes. After three days of seclusion, the side effect of the Devil Fruit fearing seawater was gone, and it also brought about an awakening.
Calling it an awakening wasn't quite accurate; it should be that the Devil Fruit was eaten by her! Not in a physical sense, but more like a kind of consumption.
She had heard that the reason Devil Fruits had various magical abilities was because of a special factor within them.
If this factor were extracted, even objects could possess Devil Fruit abilities, and this factor was now completely devoured by Nero's body.
Nero also somewhat understood her own essence. The legendary Nika was a warrior of liberation who could bring laughter to people, and his essence was concepts like freedom and joy.
This concept was also why Nika was called the God Fruit, and she also had similar traits.
It was depravity, decay... a certain inevitable rule, the final chapter for life and even civilization.
A poem she had once foreseen with Observation Haki surfaced in her mind. Nero pushed open the door and looked into the distance.
The secret of the Celestial Dragons: the sea would drown the world, and only the beings on the Red Line could escape. Joy Boy would surely return, bringing laughter and equal freedom to people.
"Calamity comes from the sea...?" Nero murmured softly.
It seemed she had already seen the end of time and heard the melody of fate.
When the food was served, Nero paid no attention to her image and began to eat in large mouthfuls.
Hathaway stood by, skillfully serving the dishes, and occasionally took the time to wipe food residue from Nero's mouth. Her every movement had an indescribable fluidity.
"Mm, by the way, Hathaway! I won't be returning to Nicuss for a while." Nero chewed on a mouthful of meat, speaking indistinctly.
"Then how long does Your Majesty plan to be away?" Hathaway showed no surprise, her movements not pausing in the slightest.
"Mm, three... five years, I guess! I still have many places I want to go," Nero said uncertainly after struggling to swallow her food and drinking a glass of water.
"Understood. I will inform Lord Holio of this later. If Your Majesty plans to leave here, please notify me in advance; I need time to prepare supplies."
Hathaway nodded, patting Nero's back, helping her clear her somewhat choked windpipe.
"Mm, tomorrow then! I plan to visit the Kingdom of Women. I heard the architectural style there is quite unique and distinctive."
Nero's eyes darted, and she instantly decided on her next itinerary. Before traveling with Roger back then, they had already been there.
And this was a good opportunity for her to properly visit these places.
"...Understood. I'll go prepare supplies now. Can we set sail tomorrow afternoon?"
"Mm, no problem! As long as it's tomorrow, any time will do."
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