At the moment Ain ate the fruit, Creed checked her details.
He wanted to know whether the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) still retained its power.
The moment she swallowed, her abilities changed.
[Name]: Ain
[Abilities]: B-rank Swordsmanship (Extractable), B-rank Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) (Extractable), B-rank Rokushiki (Six Powers) (Extractable)…
[Devil Fruit]: Beginner-level Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit) (Conditions not met, not extractable) [Overall Power]: B-rank
…
Huh.
Creed noticed the system itself had shifted, creating a separate category for Devil Fruits.
Perhaps the system was evolving as his strength grew.
Ain now possessed the Goro Goro no Mi.
So the fruit was still effective.
But why had Falkor reacted so strangely to it? And how had that petrified stone egg hatched into such a lively creature?
Falkor was wrapped in mysteries.
But what couldn't be solved now wasn't worth worrying about. Time would tell.
"This… this is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"
Lightning sparked around Ain's body. With a wave of her hand, a thunderbolt shot forth, blasting into a nearby island and leaving a crater.
She also discovered she could elementalize—her body transforming into lightning.
"Yes. This is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. You'll develop it slowly," Creed said.
Its potential rivaled that of the Admirals' fruits. In some ways, lightning was even stronger.
"Alright. It's late. Rest early."
"…Mm." Ain nodded, feeling the overwhelming power coursing through her. A smile lit her pale face, dazzling as if eclipsing heaven and earth.
Looking at Creed's back, she clenched her fists. I will never become your burden.
—
The next morning.
Creed stepped from the cabin. Falkor perched on his head, pudgy body wobbling, little wings flapping clumsily, chirping softly with a "ying" now and then.
On deck, Ain was already practicing her new lightning powers. Clearly she had risen early to train.
Seeing the sparks—
"Ying!"
Falkor's eyes brightened. Crackling with lightning, it flew to Ain, circling her gleefully.
It thought she was playing with it.
"Let's go ashore. Time to see the legendary City of Gold—Shandora!"
The two and the dragon stepped onto the Island of the Gods.
The island remained unchanged for four centuries—an ancient primeval forest of towering trees, coiling vines, and trunks as wide as ten men. Some trees shot up like pillars into the sky.
Birdsong and insect cries filled the air.
Here thrived creatures long extinct in the Blue Sea.
Falkor was ecstatic, darting about curiously, calling "ying" at everything new.
Creed's head throbbed. Excited? Ying. Curious? Ying. Doing anything? Ying.
It seemed incapable of moving without chirping.
The Island of the Gods was thrust up by the Knock Up Stream 400 years ago, bringing part of Jaya with it. Here lay the vanished civilization, the City of Gold—Shandora.
The island stretched vast.
As they walked, beasts sensed Creed's power and instinctively avoided them.
"…Where's Falkor?" Ain glanced around.
Creed blinked—Falkor was gone.
Then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The forest shook as something massive barreled through, shattering trees and brush.
A monstrous serpent appeared, body immense, head terrifying.
Creed recognized it. The Lord of the Sky, a colossal serpent native to Jaya, swept aloft with the island centuries ago. It had survived for 400 years.
The serpent halted before Creed.
"Ying!"
Perched on its head, Falkor gnawed happily on a fruit larger than itself.
Creed froze. Falkor had somehow befriended the Lord of the Sky?
The serpent showed no hostility—in fact, it looked pleased.
So Falkor could do this too…
"You know where the City of Gold is, Lord of the Sky?" Creed asked.
The serpent tilted its head, confused. It didn't understand.
Just then, Falkor gulped down its fruit, patted the serpent's head, and chirped, "Ying!!"
"…Seriously?" Creed muttered. You really think it'll understand that?
And then—
"ROAR!" the serpent replied.
"Ying ying!"
"ROAR ROAR!!"
"Ying ying ying ying!"
"ROAR!"
Creed: "…"
Watching Falkor and the Lord of the Sky converse fluently, Creed was dumbstruck.
…
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For 20+ Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!]
[[email protected]/Draumel]
[Thank You For Your Support!]