Chapter 10 - Can I absorb injuries from others?

Early chapters here and unreleased novels here: pa.treon.com/FFAddict

Upon this realization, everything suddenly clicked for Hiro. Previous attacks he had absorbed were all in the form of force, like the impact from a bullet or the force from an attack, none of which actually injured him but were nonetheless absorbed. However, what he was dealing with now was tangible damage inflicted upon Hancock – the welts from being whipped.

While he could store intangible damage within his body as energy, ready to be released when needed, tangible injuries could not be stored. Hence, the welts from the whipping appeared directly on his body.

Understanding the mechanism, Hiro's eyes suddenly lit up. If he couldn't absorb the damage directly, could he perhaps create an absorption sphere that would take in the tangible damage without touching it? He could control this sphere from a distance or even throw it at the enemy, thereby not harming himself and attacking others simultaneously.

Most importantly, it would be a long-range attack. If used correctly, it might deliver a devastating blow to the enemy. With this new approach in mind, Hiro became excited. Developing his devil fruit ability turned out to be an intriguing task.

With a clear plan, all that was left was execution. Hiro returned to Hancock's side, extending his hand towards her arm. This time, Hiro did not directly use his absorption ability to latch onto Hancock's wound. Instead, he attempted to split off a part of his absorption ability, controlling it separately.

The absorption ability began to converge on Hiro's palm, growing more concentrated. He then controlled the ability, slowly sinking it downwards, just like a droplet of water falling.

Hiro directed the ability to accumulate downwards, and the droplet-like power began to gradually descend, bit by bit separating from Hiro's palm.

Splash!

With an extremely faint sound, a sphere of absorption ability was formed.

What amazed Hiro was that, although the absorption sphere had separated from his body, he could still control it as if it were his own fingers. He tried to maneuver the energy sphere to hover over Hancock's whip scars, gently touching the wound.

Upon making contact with the wound, the absorption sphere automatically wrapped around the injury, like a hand grasping an object, and Hiro could pick it up with just a thought.

"Absorb!"

With Hiro's intention to absorb flashing through his mind, the scar on Hancock's arm disappeared instantly. In its place, a bright red line appeared on the absorption sphere.

Success!

Feeling somewhat excited, Hiro clenched his fist but didn't stop, because there were still many whip scars on Hancock.

Hiro then moved the absorption sphere across Hancock's body, drawing each whip scar into the sphere one by one. After that, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Hiro's careful manner, Hancock didn't dare disturb him. However, when she saw the focused look on Hiro's face as he healed her, his careful movements, and his sweating appearance, it made Hancock feel as if her heart was melting.

If initially, Hancock merely had a good impression of Hiro, mainly gratitude, now seeing him striving for her, she suddenly found herself falling in love with him.

Wouldn't it be nice to marry Hiro, who can protect me and is so gentle?

Marry?

Huh?

At that moment, Hancock came to her senses, her cheeks burning hot. She quickly turned her back to Hiro.

"What on earth am I thinking?"

Hancock's sudden movement caught Hiro's attention.

"Hancock, are you okay?"

Having been blushing from her thoughts just now, Hancock didn't dare to face Hiro. She extended her arm and waved it behind her, "I...I...I'm fine. You...you come over!!!"

In her flustered waving, Hancock inadvertently struck the hand with which Hiro was controlling the absorption sphere, knocking the sphere onto Hiro.

Hiro could not help but widen his eyes. However, by the time he reacted, it was too late to stop the sphere.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Over a dozen wounds burst open on Hiro's body, and blood spurted out.

The sudden appearance of the whip scars on Hiro's body multiplied his pain tenfold. The intense surge of pain nearly made Hiro pass out.

"Ah---"

"Hiro, what happened to you?"

"Hiro, are you okay?"

"I-I-I didn't mean it, Hiro, don't die, please don't scare me!!!" Hancock was frightened at the sight of Hiro, drenched in blood, his skin cut open from the lash wounds. She was holding onto him, trembling, thinking that he was on the brink of death.

"I..." Hiro began to speak but spat out a mouthful of blood.

At this point, Hancock's two sisters rushed over and held back the agitated Hancock. "Sister, Hiro was fine initially. If you continue to shake him like that, he might really get hurt!"

Hiro was in so much pain he couldn't speak. He could only look gratefully at Hancock's sisters.

Hearing her sister's words, Hancock quickly let go of Hiro.

Thud!

Hiro fell heavily to the ground, looking at Hancock in disbelief. The wounds on his body hurt even more when he hit the hard ground, his eyes bulging out like a goldfish. His face contorted in pain, he almost passed out.

Just then, Hancock rushed towards Hiro, intending to help him up. Seeing Hiro weakly raise his hand to stop her, she hesitated.

"I... I'm okay, I can handle it on my own!"

Hancock knelt on the ground, blaming herself after a glance at Hiro. She didn't dare to approach him anymore, but tears streamed down her face relentlessly.

"Hiro, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I'm so stupid. If I hadn't broken the dish, I wouldn't have been punished. If I hadn't been punished, you wouldn't have been injured trying to heal me. If I wasn't so stupid, you wouldn't have been hurt again. It's all my fault..."

At that moment, Hiro's hand gently patted Hancock's head.

"Fool, it's okay. Getting hurt just gives me another opportunity to practice my Devil Fruit ability, right?"

Hancock looked up at Hiro, her tear-streaked face wrinkling further with more crying.