Rorschach had never anticipated what the rebirth of a Devil Fruit would look like.
Along his journey, he had killed quite a few Devil Fruit users.
The only reborn fruit he had encountered was the Sand Worm Fruit, let alone witnessing the rebirth of a Devil Fruit with his own eyes.
Yet, at this very moment, this phenomenon—the rebirth of a Devil Fruit, a mystery in the world of One Piece comparable to the legendary One Piece itself—was unfolding right before him.
And it was a top-tier Devil Fruit.
The Logia Sand-Sand Fruit, from the deceased Shichibukai Crocodile.
"So, the rebirth of a Devil Fruit doesn't necessarily happen immediately in another location right after the user dies."
Looking at the somewhat bewildered Vivi, Rorschach couldn't help but feel a touch of sentimentality.
Crocodile had died yesterday.
And he had been precisely killed by Vivi, who stood before him.
However, the Sand-Sand Fruit from his body had only reborn today, and coincidentally, it had reborn on the fruit Vivi picked up.
Rorschach remembered seeing pictures of the Sand-Sand Fruit in his previous life; it looked like a cactus covered in thorns.
The fruit Vivi was holding was also a Cactus Fruit.
All these coincidences made Rorschach wonder about the so-called fate.
Could this be destiny?
Vivi looked at the strange fruit in her hand and, hearing Rorschach's words, was taken aback: "Major Rorschach, you... you mean this fruit is the Logia Sand-Sand Fruit?"
As the princess of Alabasta Kingdom, Vivi had naturally seen the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
Vivi was clearly aware of the Sand-Sand Fruit, this Logia type.
Precisely because she knew, she felt even more incredible.
This was a top-tier Logia Devil Fruit, and without a doubt, the most suitable Devil Fruit for use in a desert country like Alabasta.
One could say that in Alabasta, where desert regions occupied seventy percent of the kingdom's area, possessing the Sand-Sand Fruit would essentially make one the ruler here.
This was also why Crocodile was once called the "Desert Guardian God" by the people.
"Yes, this fruit should indeed be the Sand-Sand Fruit," Rorschach nodded, confirming Vivi's question.
Then, Rorschach smiled:
"Vivi, I've heard that Devil Fruits have their own will and choose the most suitable owner. Its previous owner, Crocodile, died. Now it seems it has made a new choice, and I believe this choice must be the right one."
"No! It's yours, Major Rorschach. I can't take something so precious."
Upon hearing this, Vivi quickly placed the fruit she was holding into Rorschach's hand.
"Huh? Why? Vivi, don't you want to eat a Devil Fruit?" Rorschach was puzzled.
Vivi quickly shook her head. "No, it's just that this Devil Fruit belongs to you, Major Rorschach. Crocodile was defeated by you. And this is one of the world's top Logia abilities. Wouldn't it be a waste to let a weak person like me control it?"
Rorschach smiled, peeled the skin off the Sand-Sand Fruit in his hand, and offered the red flesh inside to Vivi.
"Crocodile was killed by you, and this fruit has chosen you.
No one is born strong. You might not know it, but a few years ago, I was a helpless wretch who couldn't even feed myself.
At that time, I was far inferior to you, Vivi, and not as kind or strong as you.
So, eat it. Master this ability well. Crocodile used it to destroy this country; you use it to protect this country.
I never used to believe in fatalism, but now, I believe, Vivi, you are the destined Desert Princess."
Vivi stared blankly at the fruit flesh Rorschach offered her. She looked up at the gentle smile on the young man's face, her eyes reddened, and she pursed her lips. To Rorschach's surprise, she suddenly threw herself into his embrace.
"Uh... Vivi, are you alright?" Rorschach awkwardly held the fruit flesh in his right hand, somewhat at a loss.
Vivi buried her face in his chest, her voice choked: "Thank you, Big Brother Rorschach."
Rorschach reached out and patted her head. "Go on, eat it quickly. Don't keep it waiting."
"Mm."
Vivi, a little embarrassed, got up from his embrace, wiped her tears, and with a red face, took the peeled red fruit flesh from Rorschach's hand.
Looking at the fruit flesh in her hand, Vivi felt a surge of excitement.
What Rorschach didn't know was the immense significance of this Sand-Sand Fruit to the Alabasta Kingdom and the Nefertari Royal Family.
In the history of the Nefertari Royal Family, there had been many kings who were Logia Sand-Sand Fruit users.
Thus, the kings of Alabasta Kingdom were once known to the world as the Desert Monarchs, the Desert Emperors.
This fruit, like the Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Falcon on Pell and the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Jackal on Chaka, was a treasure passed down through generations in the Alabasta Kingdom for a thousand years.
Once the users of these three fruits died, the fruits themselves would usually be reborn in Alabasta or the surrounding desert countries.
This was destiny, a gift from fate.
In fact, if Rorschach hadn't come here, Crocodile, with the Sand-Sand Fruit, would have successfully taken over this country and become the King of Alabasta.
That too was destiny.
Now, this treasure, a gift of fate, had finally returned to the Nefertari family.
And the one who bestowed this treasure was the gentle young man before her.
He could have clearly taken the Sand-Sand Fruit away, but he left it behind.
Even if Rorschach were to take the Sand-Sand Fruit, Vivi would definitely not say anything, because Vivi felt that it inherently belonged to Rorschach.
With a mixture of complex emotions, and under Rorschach's expectant gaze, Vivi slowly ate the fruit flesh.
The Devil Fruit's flesh tasted terrible, but thinking that she could truly protect this country after gaining control over the desert, Vivi consumed the entire fruit flesh willingly.
When the last bite of fruit flesh entered her stomach, without waiting for Rorschach to ask, Vivi, as if she had an innate affinity with the Sand-Sand Fruit, stretched out her hands. Under her control, they slowly turned into sand, transforming into flowing yellow sand.
Strands of flowing sand swirled and danced around her wrists, like spirits of the desert.
Watching her own hands turn into yellow sand, Vivi felt not a hint of panic.
On the contrary, a captivating and brilliant smile appeared on her delicate face.
Suddenly, to Rorschach's astonishment, Vivi's long skirt swayed, and her petite body spun like a blooming flower bud. She leaned half her body forward, brought her blushing face close to his, closed her eyes, and quickly kissed him on the cheek.
The next second, Vivi, having just eaten the Sand-Sand Fruit, completely turned into sand, collapsing into swirling yellow sand in mid-air. Under Rorschach's astonished gaze, she flowed along the reception hall's passage, surging out towards the palace exterior.
"This is incredible. Vivi just ate the Sand-Sand Fruit; can she already control this Logia ability?"
Rorschach stood up and quickly followed Vivi, who was drifting away as sand.
Outside the palace hall, several Royal Guards standing guard held their spears, eyes fixed forward.
When they saw a long, ribbon-like stream of yellow sand flying out from the reception hall's passage and floating towards the exterior of the palace, their faces changed dramatically. They didn't hesitate to swing their spears at the wisp of yellow sand.
"Crocodile! It's Crocodile!"
The guards' eyes held fear, but they did not retreat or flee.
Some charged forward with weapons, attempting to attack the swirling yellow sand.
Others ran wildly towards the palace exterior, wanting to inform the King.
Still others, remembering Vivi who had entered the reception hall not long ago, immediately turned pale and rushed towards the passage.
"Quickly inform His Majesty the King, and Major Rorschach! Crocodile is not dead!"
Outside the palace hall, in the empty plaza, Marine soldiers stood ready, along with the Nefertari Royal Family who had come to see them off.
Cobra, who had left the reception hall earlier, was clearly among them, speaking words of gratitude to Hina.
The shouts and commotion from inside the hall behind them quickly drew everyone's attention.
When Enel, Law, Hibari, and Cobra saw the wisp of yellow sand floating out, they all froze.
Cobra exclaimed in shock, "Crocodile isn't dead? How is that possible?"
The Marine soldiers and Royal Guards were agitated, drawing their weapons.
However, Enel, Law, Hibari, and Hina were not panicked; only surprise and wonder appeared on their faces.
"It's not that arrogant guy from yesterday." Enel's Observation Haki was incredibly strong; with a brief perception, he sensed that the aura emanating from the yellow sand was not Crocodile's.
Hibari watched the yellow sand slowly transform into a rotating miniature sand tornado, her eyes unblinking, and said somewhat uncertainly, "It seems, it seems to be... Vivi's aura?"
Her Observation Haki had awakened early, but it wasn't very strong, so her perception wasn't very clear.
Invisible air currents in the air prevented the surrounding Royal Guards from taking further action.
Rorschach walked out of the palace hall, smiling.
"Hahaha, Uncle Cobra, don't panic. This isn't Crocodile resurrected."
"It's not Crocodile?" Cobra was confused.
If it wasn't Crocodile, who else could transform into this sand form?
Or was this sand just moving because someone was controlling it? Just then, the swirling yellow sand in front of everyone gradually stopped.
Strands of yellow sand rapidly gathered towards the center, gradually outlining a small, blurry silhouette.
Watching his precious daughter slowly materialize from the swirling yellow sand, Cobra's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"Vi-Vivi?!"
He stared in disbelief at his daughter, who revealed a brilliant smile, his voice trembling, "Vivi, wh-what's going on?"
Meeting everyone's shocked and curious gazes, Vivi smiled sweetly at Rorschach and said, "Father, I've gained Crocodile's Logia Sand-Sand Fruit ability."
(End of Chapter)
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