Chapter 2: Target – Devil Fruit!
Splashes of water struck Ji Ge's face, making him cough violently. His skin flushed unnaturally, and faint wisps of steam rose from his body, as if his blood itself was "boiling."
Ivan and the others rushed over. Supporting Ji Ge, Ivan asked anxiously,"Ji Ge, are you okay? Your body…"
Ji Ge steadied himself and slowly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a chest covered in scars and stitches, especially around his heart. The sight was terrifying.
His entire body glowed a deep red, steam curling off his skin, and the area around his heart was the worst—bright crimson, as if a miniature sun was branded onto his chest.
At a glance, Ji Ge looked similar to Luffy when he activated Gear Second, but that was only on the surface.When Luffy uses Gear Second, he's bursting with energy, practically unstoppable. Ji Ge, on the other hand, feels utterly drained in this state, his strength bleeding away.
This happens whenever he gets too emotional or exerts himself.Clearly, this was an issue tied to his "original" body. Judging by the scars and the distinctive clothing that set him apart from other slaves, this body had been through something extraordinary.
But Ji Ge had no memories of the body's previous owner. He had no clue what caused this condition."Damn it… no cheat abilities, and I even come with a built-in debuff!" he cursed inwardly.
Enduring the discomfort, Ji Ge slowly sat down. Kuma (Xiong) immediately sat upright behind him, letting Ji Ge lean against his broad frame.
Ginny, with her small, dirt-streaked hands, carefully lifted a bowl of water to Ji Ge's lips.The concern in their eyes said more than words ever could, and Ji Ge felt a warmth bloom in his chest despite his situation.
Meeting these three had been a stroke of luck amid tragedy. Without them, survival would have been nearly impossible, let alone escaping the Valley of the Gods.
Ji Ge's only real advantage was his knowledge of the manga's events. He knew some crucial information, like the fact that six Devil Fruits were hidden in the Valley of the Gods by the Celestial Dragons. Unfortunately, their exact locations were never revealed.
Still, if the rumor that "fruits choose their owners" had any truth to it, sticking close to Kuma would likely lead him to the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Among the six Fruits, Ji Ge was certain of two: the Paw-Paw Fruit and the Azure Dragon Fruit.These two alone represented the pinnacle of Paramecia and Zoan abilities—exactly the kind of treasures the Celestial Dragons would hoard.
The others would surely be equally extraordinary.In fact, Ji Ge suspected one of the remaining four was destined for none other than Red-Haired Shanks.That meant, in reality, there were probably five Devil Fruits on the island right now.
He speculated that the Phoenix Fruit and the Buddha Fruit were also here, and perhaps even Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit—if Whitebeard hadn't eaten it yet.
No matter which of these Fruits one consumed, they'd instantly rise above the masses, their future potential limitless.
People liked to say, "There are no useless Fruits, only useless users," but Ji Ge scoffed at the cliché.Everyone with a brain knew better.
Look at Luffy—his Gum-Gum Fruit turned out to be the mythical Nika. Without that twist, who would've thought "rubber powers" could change the world?
Could an ordinary bird Zoan ever compare to a Mythical Phoenix?Rob Lucci became terrifyingly strong with just a Leopard Zoan, but that was thanks to his raw talent and training, not the fruit itself.
If he'd eaten a Dragon or Buddha Fruit, his power would've skyrocketed beyond imagination.
This was the world of pirates, where Devil Fruits defined destiny.For Ji Ge, who lacked a "cheat," securing a powerful Fruit was his only hope of survival.
His thoughts turned back to Ginny, and he looked at her with intense seriousness.
Ginny froze under his gaze, sitting up straighter."W-what is it, Ji Ge…?" she asked softly.
"Ginny," he said firmly, "are you absolutely sure you broadcasted that message about the top-grade Devil Fruit being here?"
At that, Ginny's dirty little face broke into a confident smile. She slapped her chest proudly."Of course! That's my specialty. I can guarantee that everyone in the world who can pick up a signal knows about it by now!"
Ji Ge exhaled deeply in relief. His biggest fear was that his presence had caused a butterfly effect, preventing Rocks' Pirates and the Marines from coming to the Valley of the Gods.
If those two forces didn't arrive, this island would remain a hunting ground—and they'd remain prey from beginning to end.
As things stood, they were hopelessly weak.Aside from Kuma, Ji Ge doubted they could even beat an ordinary adult, much less a seasoned fighter.
To claim a Devil Fruit, chaos had to erupt in the Valley. That was their only chance.
Based on Ginny's timing, Rocks should already be here. The slave numbers on the island had dropped sharply—a clear sign of something brewing.
If Rocks hadn't arrived, they might miss their shot entirely.Perhaps tomorrow was when the real battle would begin.
Ji Ge narrowed his eyes, mentally reviewing his plan for the hundredth time.
The Paw-Paw Fruit was the linchpin. Its power was their only real ticket to escaping this nightmare island.A true god-tier Paramecia, and Ji Ge wouldn't hesitate to eat it the moment he found it. He'd already imagined countless ways to develop its ability.
The Azure Dragon Fruit was also incredible, but in Ji Ge's eyes, it was still a step below the concept-level power of the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Flying was nice, but flight alone wouldn't save him here—not when Haki masters could strike him out of the sky.
Besides, he had to think of his companions.Even though they hadn't known each other long, bonds forged in desperation ran deep. Ji Ge had already come to trust these three completely.
Sure, eating the Paw-Paw Fruit and fleeing alone was the most practical plan.But one glance at the arrow still buried in Kuma's back made him shake his head.
A man can be selfish.But to abandon his friends now would make him nothing but a beast.