Ace eating the Devil Fruit, specifically the Logia-type Mera Mera Fruit, was naturally discovered by those nearby who were protecting Rouge and her child, and then reported to Yadina, who in turn informed Li Yuan.
"I didn't expect history to be so similar; although the grand circumstances have changed, the smaller ones remain the same."
Upon hearing Yadina's words, Li Yuan couldn't help but sigh.
He had previously confirmed that when Hancock sneaked out, she accidentally consumed a Devil Fruit on the way, which was the Paramecia-type Sweet Fruit.
Li Yuan had originally planned to wait until Ace grew up before taking him to Limitless Sword Gym to build a foundation, and then choose a powerful Devil Fruit for him to eat.
He never expected Ace to accidentally consume the Mera Mera Fruit, a fruit that had been joked about by previous netizens as something even dogs wouldn't eat.
The Mera Mera Fruit itself is not weak; it's just that in the original story, Ace didn't know how to develop the Mera Mera Fruit. The most important aspect of the Mera Mera Fruit is not how many flames it can produce, but the temperature of those flames! "I should give that kid Ace some pointers later, so he doesn't end up going down the wrong path!"
Li Yuan rubbed his forehead.
Ace's achievements in the original story can be said to be neither high nor low, but that was due to his own issues.
He relied too much on the power of the Devil Fruit and neglected to enhance his Haki and physical strength, yet the power of the Devil Fruit was not fully developed, making him easily countered.
At his peak, Ace was only at the level of Jinbei, one of the Shichibukai (Seven Warlords of the Sea), and that was Jinbei's combat power on land, not in water.
"Wait, could this be fate?"
"Or is it the choice of the will within the Devil Fruit?"
Suddenly, Li Yuan remembered that there might be a strange, unowned will within the Devil Fruits.
The most obvious example is the "Paramecia-type Rubber Fruit," which is actually the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Nika form, a perverse Devil Fruit.
The World Government has tried to reclaim this Devil Fruit every time, but has never succeeded.
It's as if the Rubber Fruit itself possesses a will and has a lucky buff, cleverly avoiding the World Government's attempts at reclamation every time.
Now, the Paramecia-type Sweet Fruit and the Logia-type Mera Mera Fruit had both been "accidentally" consumed by characters in the original story.
This made him suspect that there truly seems to be a kind of unseen will existing in this world.
But this will is not strong; at least Li Yuan himself has the ability to change this will.
"It seems that Zoan-type fruits all possess the will of the Devil Fruit. Once awakened, that will appears. I wonder what kind of will will emerge after my Vampire Devil Fruit Awakens."
Li Yuan thought with great interest.
He is very much looking forward to what kind of will will be present in the Vampire Devil Fruit.
"As for that unseen fate, let me give it a try. The time until Luffy eats the Devil Fruit is not far off."
Li Yuan stroked his chin thoughtfully.
When the time comes, he must try to see if he can snatch that Devil Fruit.
Infinite Pirates Training Ground:
Weevil and Fujitora were engaged in an intense battle.
However, just as Fujitora was able to defeat Weevil before, he was now also overpowering Weevil.
Although Weevil had become stronger and his combat instincts had sharpened through continuous battles, compared to Fujitora, Weevil's intelligence was an absolute gap, making it impossible for him to match Fujitora, who was becoming stronger as he became more familiar with his body.
"Ahhh, damn you! I'm going to kill you!!"
"Hahahahaha, come at me if you can, you brainless fool!"
"Woohoo, mommy, woohoo, I want my mommy, it hurts so much!"
"..."
After a long day, Weevil was once again defeated by Fujitora, but this time, Fujitora showed no mercy and knocked Weevil unconscious, bringing him to the brink of death.
"Hmph, what an idiot. With such great innate physical talent, how can he be so weak!"
Fujitora snorted coldly and dragged Weevil away.
Lazuli's Laboratory:
"Captain, I've brought this guy over."
Fujitora threw the unconscious Weevil onto the ground.
"Benjamin, I'll ask you one more time, are you really sure about this?"
Li Yuan looked seriously at Benjamin in front of him.
Months had passed, and he had completely separated Weevil and Stussy.
After observing for several months, although Weevil's strength had been increasing, compared to his own talent, this growth was snail-paced.
One major reason for this was Weevil's intelligence issue, which prevented him from tapping into his potential.
If this continued, it would be difficult for him to reach the standard of top-tier combat power, so Li Yuan decided not to train Weevil anymore and planned to, like Fujitora, implant another person's will into Weevil's body.
This led to the current scene.
"Thank you, Captain, for giving me this opportunity. I've thought it through completely; I have no problem switching bodies for the sake of powerful strength!"
After witnessing Fujitora's achievements, Benjamin agreed without a second thought.
The pursuit of power is an instinct for everyone; he himself had poor talent, and he could completely accept giving up his body for strength.
"Alright, then lie down in the nutrient pod."
Li Yuan nodded.
Benjamin then lay down in the nutrient pod, and Fujitora threw Weevil into another nutrient pod.
Lazuli controlled the machines of the nutrient pods to put both of them into a deep sleep.
"Mind Exchange!"
Once everything was ready, Yadina activated her ability, easily swapping the two sleeping minds.
The process of the exchange went very smoothly, with no accidents, and Benjamin successfully obtained Weevil's body.
"Benjamin, from now on, you will train with Fujitora and strive to familiarize yourself with your new body as soon as possible. You will inherit Weevil's name; the name Benjamin can be discarded!"
Li Yuan looked at Benjamin with great satisfaction, or rather, he should say Weevil.
"Captain, I will not let you down!"
Weevil said seriously, immediately consuming the Paramecia-type Pressure Fruit.
This Pressure Fruit was a very good Paramecia-type Devil Fruit collected by Law's Network; if developed well, it is no less than the Gravity Fruit, both being top-tier Paramecia-type Devil Fruits.
-Support me on Ko-Fi for 35+ advance chapters there.
https://ko-fi.com/zxc1015
Thanks!