Chapter 26: Fruit of Cause and Effect
"Urouge, what is your dream?" the old monk suddenly asked.
"My dream..." Urouge paused for a moment, then said, "I want to go to the Blue Sea and witness that magnificent world for myself."
"Then what are you waiting for?" The old monk looked at Urouge and continued, "It's human nature to chase after dreams. Is there anything more important than pursuing yours?"
"Yes," Urouge replied, lifting his head.
Smack!
The old monk smacked Urouge lightly on the head and scolded, "Then what are you still hesitating for?"
With a stern expression, the monk said, "If something is more important, finish it first. Then go after your dreams with no regrets."
"I understand," Urouge said, scratching his head. He then bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master. I know what I must do now."
"Go on, then." The monk stood, turned around, and said as he walked away, "A man's dreams should never be bound by anything."
In the Sky Temple, there were many strict rules, including the prohibition against leaving Sky Island. This particular monk, who had once broken those rules himself, had gone to the Blue Sea in his youth. That was one reason Urouge enjoyed speaking with him—he would often share thrilling stories of his adventures below.
It was precisely because of this shared yearning that the old monk understood Urouge's desire better than anyone else.
---
The next day, Urouge arrived at the Sky Temple alone. He sat quietly outside its gates, closing his eyes.
"Isn't that Urouge? What is he doing?"
"Didn't he become a fallen monk? Why is he back?"
The monks who adhered to the temple's strict codes noticed him and whispered among themselves.
Not long after, a monk named Salman exited the temple and approached him.
"Urouge, have you finally made your decision?" he asked.
Urouge opened his eyes and smiled. "Yes, Salman. The person I've been waiting for has finally arrived. I've come to sever my karmic ties with the Sky Temple."
"Is that so? Congratulations. Now you can truly pursue your dream." Salman grinned, clearly pleased. "Master Zheng is waiting for you. Come with me."
Urouge stood and followed Salman into the temple.
They walked to the door of a private room. Salman gestured. "Master Zheng is inside. Go ahead."
"Thank you, Salman," Urouge said as he opened the door and entered.
Inside sat a white-haired, white-bearded old monk in meditation. As Urouge entered, the monk opened his eyes and smiled.
"You've finally come, Urouge."
"Master Zheng," Urouge greeted him respectfully, then sat cross-legged in front of him. The smile that always graced his face faded, replaced by sorrow.
"Urouge, you came here because you've made a decision. So why the sadness?" Master Zheng asked.
"Yesterday, I met a man from the Blue Sea. The moment I saw him, I sensed a powerful karmic bond between us. My intuition told me—he's the one I've been waiting for. I plan to follow him to the Blue Sea and start my own journey," Urouge explained.
"That sounds wonderful. So why are you sad?"
"Ever since I ate the Karma-Karma Fruit, I've been able to feel the causal bonds between people, events, and places connected to me. You once said that the Karma-Karma Fruit is the treasure of the Sky Temple—a power that signifies guardianship. Whoever eats it is destined to protect this temple."
"After consuming the fruit, I felt it—that deep karmic connection to this place. Even after breaking the precepts and being expelled, I couldn't bring myself to leave because my bond with the Sky Temple remained."
"But yesterday, when I met Ace, a stronger karmic thread formed—stronger than anything I've ever felt before, even stronger than the one I share with this temple. That's why I resolved to follow him and explore the Blue Sea. I came today to resolve my karma with the temple before setting off with him."
"But... as soon as I stepped into the temple, I felt it—our karmic link will be severed today."
"Not resolved—severed."
"If ending karma is like untying a knot, severing karma is like cutting it with a blade. I have no intention of doing that, yet I sense it's inevitable. That's why I feel sorrow, Master Zheng."
The old monk stood and placed a hand on Urouge's shoulder.
"I gave you the Karma-Karma Fruit so you could follow your dreams—not to bind yourself to an idea. If you believe in karma, then it exists. If you don't, then it doesn't."
"What you must do is master this power—not let it master you." He stared firmly into Urouge's eyes. "I don't want you to end up like Enel, someone ruled by the power of their fruit."
"Enel? The one who calls himself God and rules over the Upper Yard?" Urouge asked.
"That's right," Master Zheng nodded gravely. "If not for Enel's madness, I wouldn't have let you eat the Karma-Karma Fruit."
"But isn't it the Divine Pillar that's supposed to oppose Enel?" Urouge asked in confusion.
"The Divine Pillar can suppress his abilities, but it can't truly defeat him. What can defeat him is the power of karma within you."
---
Long ago, there were two sacred places on Sky Island—Sky Temple on Angel Island, and the Temple on Birka Island. Each protected a great power: one of Karma, the other of Thunder.
For centuries, the Sky Temple safeguarded the Karma-Karma Fruit of the Paramecia class, representing causality. The Temple on Birka guarded the Logia-type Thunder-Thunder Fruit.
But years ago, Enel consumed the Thunder Fruit and, in his madness, destroyed both the Temple and Birka itself.
After that tragedy, Master Zheng—the abbot of the Sky Temple—chose one among his disciples to inherit the Karma Fruit's power in hopes of opposing Enel.
To everyone's surprise, he didn't choose a monk who followed the rules—but Urouge, the monk who had broken them.
However, once Urouge had gained the Karma-Karma Fruit's power, Zheng realized karma alone might not be enough to stop Enel. So he instructed Urouge to leave, to seek growth beyond the confines of the temple.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 30+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at [email protected]/Translatingfanfics