The Mink King's Awakening

New World, Zou

Inside a bedroom, a middle-aged cat mink woman sat in the corner of the bed, her gaze fixed on the tiger mink child lying on the bed, his expression one of sadness and worry etched across her face. Ever since her child, Fang, turned three years old, he began to experience pain within his head, followed by episodes of unconsciousness. What worried her even more was that the doctors in the village couldn't determine the cause of these afflictions. A sense of hopelessness overcame her as she witnessed her child's gradual weakening over the past year, and her fear of losing him grew larger.

"I'm back, Catalina," a voice emerged from outside, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps. Catalina turned to see her husband, a cat mink named Felis, who had just returned from work. He stood in the doorway, offering her a smile.

"Welcome back, dear," she replied.

Felis studied his wife's countenance and, despite her smile, detected the underlying currents of sadness and worry in her eyes. He comprehended the source of her concern; he himself harbored the fear of losing their son. However, he knew he had to muster strength and be a pillar of support for his wife. Drawing nearer, he took a seat beside her, encircling her with his arm and embracing her.

"Don't worry, honey. Fang is a resilient boy. We must believe in him, and he will conquer this ailment," he reassured her.

"Yes, Fang is strong. He will recuperate and grow into a robust and vigorous mink," Catalina affirmed, as if endeavoring to convince herself. She then stood up, directed her gaze toward her husband, and remarked, "You've just returned from work, and I imagine you're famished. I've already prepared your meal. I'll set the table."

With that, she made her way outside.

After his wife departed, Felis shifted his attention to his son, his face etched with concern. Gently, he rested his hand on his son's forehead and caressed him.

"Get well, my son. Your parents will guide you through this accursed illness," he whispered before leaving the room.

Back within the room, unbeknownst to the mink husband and wife, a peculiar phenomenon was unfolding within their son's body, or more precisely, within his consciousness.

Two souls, one diminutive and the other larger, were in the process of intertwining. The smaller soul belonged to Fang; he appeared feeble and tormented, his transparency deepening as if he could dissolve into the ether at any given moment.

The second soul belonged to an adult, a youth in his twenties named John. On Earth, John had lived as a recluse, engrossed in video games, manga, and anime.

On his final day on Earth, while engrossed in gaming, John suffered a heart attack due to an excess of coffee and energy drinks, coupled with neglect of food. Alone and unaided, he succumbed to death. He vividly recalled the beseeching gaze of his parents, imploring him to seek treatment for his social anxiety—a plea he adamantly ignored, leading to his solitary demise.

"I rue not heeding my parents' counsel. If granted a second chance, I would eschew leading a purposeless life," were his last ruminations before his world turned to blackness.

Regaining consciousness, he discovered himself within Fang's body. Sensing Fang's proximity to death, he rejected the notion of the child's demise. His intention was to relinquish his soul to Fang, offering solace even in his own death. To his astonishment, Fang's soul displayed a willingness to merge.

Observing this, John acquiesced, and gradually, the two souls began to meld. As the merging occurred, memories intermingled—John's experiences and Fang's impressions merged and coalesced.

"Is this child a mink? Am I within the world of One Piece?" John queried, surprise evident. Initial revelation was delayed due to Fang's feeble state. In life, One Piece had been John's treasured manga—the first he ever perused.

Realization dawned upon him—on the day Fang turned three years old, he heard a loud noise inside his head that shattered his mind, almost claiming his life. Given his knowledge of the story's plot, John understood that Fang possessed an advanced talent for observing Haki, a rarity even among those with Royal Haki The Voice of All Things. The owners of this talent were tied to great destinies, yet Fang's frail mind and body couldn't withstand the sound of Zunicha, causing him to teeter on the edge of death. If not for John's intervention, Fang would likely have perished. This realization fueled John's remorse.

"Don't worry, Fang. I will ensure you live to make them proud of you," John said, his focus fixed on merging with Fang's soul.

On the other side, as Fang's experiences merged with John's soul, he began to sense improvement. At a certain point, Fang awoke and began to witness John's memories flowing into him. He could feel the fear of the outside world and the biting cold of loneliness, experiencing most of John's life and his greatest regret—dying alone. Compassion and sadness stirred within Fang, leading him to metaphorically embrace John's essence. With a touch of childlike innocence, Fang addressed John.

"Don't worry, big brother, you will never be alone again."

Unbeknownst to them, time flowed as the two souls merged. Abruptly, as the merger reached its culmination, a new soul emerged in the external realm. A colossal shockwave radiated from Fang's body, sweeping across Zou, rendering countless beings unconscious. A handful of stalwart mink warriors retained their senses, gripped by terror at the unfolding enigma, ignorant of its significance.

As the shockwave subsided, an ear-splitting reverberation pierced the air, dissipating clouds. Its resonance echoed across every island in the New World.

"At long last, a mink sovereign is born," Zunicha murmured, extolling the arrival of the mink king.