Sabaody Archipelago
With the flames on Island One finally dying out, the Sabaody Archipelago sank into night.
Even so, the biting stench of smoke refused to fade.
In the darkness, countless Marines and World Government intelligence agents moved through the archipelago, searching for any trace of the Sky Pirates. But the Sky Pirates seemed to have vanished into thin air. The agents turned Sabaody inside out and still found nothing.
Shakky's Rip-off Bar, inside the alternate dimension.
As dish after dish was brought out, everyone ate with gusto.
"No matter how many times I see it, it's still such a convenient ability..."
It was Shakky's first time stepping into the separate space created by the Doa Doa no Mi. She looked around. Outside, her bar was still there, exactly as usual, and yet this place existed in a completely different dimension. Even with Observation Haki, it would be hard to notice unless you were extremely close.
"What a tense three days..."
On the sofa in the alternate space, Flare lounged back, looking a little worn out.
At Yemu's insistence, everyone had kept their nerves stretched tight for three straight days, guarding against all kinds of unbelievable possibilities.
Luckily, they'd made it through without anything happening.
"Honestly, it looks like the World Government isn't that scary. You were worrying too much, Yemu. Back then, we could've just used the Doa Doa no Mi and left together."
Yemu was tearing into a chunk of pork leg. He shook his head firmly as he chewed.
"Mmph… gulp… Don't get careless. When it comes to the World Government, there's no such thing as being too cautious. To be honest, compared to them, I think the monsters in the New World we're heading for are way cuter."
Rayleigh burst out laughing beside him.
"If the monsters in the New World heard you say that, they'd be so mad they'd hunt you down themselves."
Yemu didn't care in the slightest.
"If it comes to a fight, I'm really not worried. Honestly, I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to trade blows with Zephyr this time. But…"
His expression turned faintly puzzled.
"I made that much noise on Sabaody Archipelago, and the World Government didn't react at all. That doesn't add up. I'm actually curious what I'd have to touch for them to really get nervous..."
To everyone's surprise, Shakky shook her head.
"You're wrong, Yemu. It's not that the World Government didn't react..."
Everyone froze.
"Shakky, did you hear something?"
Flare asked, intrigued.
"Mhm."
Shakky nodded.
"I heard the World Government has already issued an order to erase all of you."
"Huh?!"
"Why?!"
"Simple. You're sitting on too many secrets. Whether it's your ability to extract Devil Fruits from Devil Fruit users, or the technology on your pirate ship, those are things the World Government can't allow to exist."
"And it's not just them. There's no such thing as a secret that stays sealed forever. Some of the monsters in the New World are interested in you too. So I'd say your future won't be boring..."
When she finished, Shakky gave a small, amused smile.
But the tension in the room rose all on its own.
"This… sounds kind of terrifying..."
Right then, Yemu suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha, it's fine. Let them come. Who would ever turn down a Devil Fruit?"
He swallowed the last bite in his hand, then looked around at everyone.
"Maybe from here on out, you can all start thinking about what your second Devil Fruit should be..."
…
Inside the alternate space, aboard the Twin Goddesses, Room 1.
Already changed and ready to rest, Yemu pulled out a Den Den Mushi from the cabinet.
As he pressed the dial, it began to ring.
Three or four seconds later, the call connected.
From the Den Den Mushi's languid, sultry expression alone, it was obvious who the caller was.
"I didn't wake you, did I, Anne...?"
Galahad Anne's lazy, alluring voice came through.
"If you'd called ten minutes later, you probably would have."
"Is that so? Then… are you happy to hear my voice?"
The Den Den Mushi shot him a flirtatious eye roll, so vivid it felt almost human.
Yemu laughed.
"Hehehe, alright, down to business. We're heading to Fish-Man Island tomorrow. I called to say goodbye—and to send you a bodyguard."
"A bodyguard?!"
"Yeah. A female giant I rescued at Sabaody Archipelago. She has nowhere to go now, so I thought I'd send her to Kuja to stay by your side. Tomorrow, I'll ask Rayleigh-san to escort her to the waters near your territory. You can pick her up there. Giants are born strong. The future's only going to get more dangerous. With a powerful giant protecting you, I'll feel more at ease."
A gentle smile appeared on the Den Den Mushi's face.
"Thank you."
"Hehehe, no need. Consider it my thanks for the past two months. You've been sparring with me every day. That couldn't have been easy."
"Oh? So that's the only reason?"
"Of course not. As for the rest… I'll tell you when I come back from the New World. Don't worry. It won't take long."
"…I'll wait for you."
The line clicked off.
A bright smile spread across Yemu's face.
Thinking back on the last two months of training, his gaze drifted to the cabinet by the desk. Beside his two treasured blades, Tengoku and Shishimaru, rested a pair of black wristbands.
As if recalling something, Yemu picked them up and fastened them around his wrists.
A wave of weakness washed over him instantly. The power of the Mera Mera no Mi felt suppressed, as though something was sealing it away, leaving him unable to use it.
Fortunately, after two months of getting used to it, the restriction no longer affected his basic combat ability.
With the black wristbands on, Yemu grabbed Tengoku.
This time, no flames burst from his body into the blade. Yet as Tengoku's temperature steadily rose, a blinding, searing heat radiated from it all the same.
But that wasn't the most astonishing part.
Right before his eyes, the hand gripping Tengoku turned a brilliant, glowing red.
That's right. It was the power of the Atsu Atsu no Mi, transferred through Tengoku into Yemu's body.
Watching the heat shimmer around his wrist, Yemu slowly rotated it, studying himself with interest.
"This is getting more and more fascinating. Just what secrets does this body of mine hold?"
A knock sounded at the door.
"Yemu, I was wondering if you've gone to sleep…"
"Please, come in, Rayleigh-san."
The door opened, and Rayleigh stepped inside, his expression carrying a hint of apology.
"Sorry to bother you so late, Yemu. There's a question I've been wanting to ask. If I wait until you leave for the New World tomorrow, it might be too late."
Yemu looked slightly surprised.
"You're too polite, Rayleigh-san. Go ahead."
Rayleigh nodded. His eyes sharpened as he looked at Yemu.
"Yemu… do you think you're the one this era's destiny has been waiting for?"
"…That?"
Yemu wasn't surprised by the question. Ever since Rayleigh learned he was one of the D., this had probably been on his mind.
Yemu shook his head.
"I'm not."
The one chosen by destiny was undoubtedly Luffy, not him. At most, he was an anomaly.
But that didn't discourage him in the slightest.
"Still, Rayleigh-san, does it really matter? Whether it was Rocks in the past or Captain Roger, maybe neither of them was the person destiny was waiting for. But what difference does that make?"
"As long as the answer is correct, wouldn't having a few more correct answers be even better for this world?"
...
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