Chapter 7: Dark Fruit!
Ji Ge and his companions hadn't run far when a clash erupted behind them. The collision between powerful Haki counterattacks and Devil Fruit abilities exploded instantly, filling the air with deafening roars.
The Valley of the Gods had completely become a battlefield of "gods." Ivan couldn't help but glance back and saw countless boulders floating into the sky, only to rain down like a deadly storm.
Ji Ge also noticed this and quickly grabbed the stunned Ivan, urging,
"That's the Lion Fruit's ability! Run! If we get caught in this, we're done for!"
Snapping out of his daze, Ivan swallowed hard and muttered in awe,
"The power of a Devil Fruit is terrifying… Do you think we could ever reach this level if we ate one?"
Ji Ge narrowed his eyes and answered firmly,
"Yes. At least, the Devil Fruits the Celestial Dragons use as prizes won't be any weaker than that Lion Fruit!"
Without another word, Ji Ge led the group toward the lavish mansion where the man in the suit had been earlier.
With all the Celestial Dragon guards summoned by Sartan to join the battle, no one was paying them any attention anymore. This was their chance.
When they returned to the site, the once-grand house had been reduced to a heap of rubble. Ji Ge didn't hesitate; he dove into the debris, shoving aside stones with his bare hands. Ivan and the other three followed suit.
Nobody dared to slack off now. A single stray shockwave from those battling monsters could kill them instantly.
BOOM!
A gust of wind from Rocks' fight whipped across the ruins. Ji Ge's robes flapped violently, and his small frame wavered under the storm's force. Gritting his teeth, he dug furiously, muttering,
"Devil Fruit… if you truly choose your master, then choose me! Let's climb to the top of this world together!"
His fingernails wore down to stubs, blood seeping from his fingertips and staining the shattered stones. The crimson stream trickled through the cracks, guiding Ji Ge's frantic hands.
Exhausted from a day of fleeing, Ji Ge's body was at its limit. He strained to move a heavy stone and nearly collapsed.
Then, a glimmer of golden light caught his eye beneath the slab. Ji Ge's pulse raced as he uncovered a wooden box, its corner lined with a golden plate.
Suppressing his excitement, he carefully pried it out. The box was mercifully unlocked—likely designed so even the weak Celestial Dragons could open it. Ji Ge's trembling hands lifted the lid, revealing a strange purple fruit shaped like a pineapple.
His eyes widened in shock, a jolt of recognition flashing through his mind.
"This… This is the Dark Fruit!?"
He had seen it before—in the comics. The legendary Devil Fruit Blackbeard had sought for over two decades. Ji Ge could never forget its appearance.
This discovery was beyond anything he'd dared hope for—a miracle.
The Dark Fruit was a top-tier Devil Fruit. While it couldn't grant Logia-style intangibility like other elemental fruits, such an ability was mostly useless beyond bullying weaker opponents. Many Logias without strong offensive power had become jokes over time.
But the Dark Fruit was different. Not only could it nullify other abilities, but it symbolized a natural disaster—the all-devouring black hole.
Within three seconds of confirming its identity, Ji Ge bit into it.
A strange lavender pulp filled his mouth, its taste indescribable and revolting. His face turned purple as nausea churned in his stomach, but Devil Fruits required only a single bite to grant power. Thankfully, he didn't need to finish it.
Discarding the now-useless fruit, Ji Ge stood still as a strange sensation washed over him. It felt as if a new "sense" had awakened—like gaining an extra limb.
He raised his right hand, focusing on his new ability. Darkness enveloped it instantly, tendrils of black smoke swirling upward.
From this moment, Ji Ge was no longer ordinary. He was the master of darkness.
"Ji Ge-chan!"
Ivan's voice broke his trance. Ji Ge turned to see Ivan holding up a paw-shaped Devil Fruit, shouting excitedly,
"Look what I found! Another Devil Fruit!"
Ji Ge's pupils narrowed. That was unmistakably the Paw-Paw Fruit.
Though this was a major find, Ivan's loud behavior was reckless. Ji Ge had been hiding his own Dark Fruit discovery for good reason. Ivan's shout was like a beacon.
Ivan, however, meant well. He didn't know Ji Ge had already eaten a Devil Fruit, and remembering Ji Ge's obsession, he'd thought this fruit would make him happy.
But the word "Devil Fruit" was dangerous here. Both the Rocks Pirates and the World Government were filled with people whose senses far surpassed normal humans.
As soon as Ivan yelled, the fighting abruptly ceased. Several deadly gazes locked onto him, freezing him in place.
Despite this, Ivan stood firm, proving his impressive talent; many would have fainted outright under the pressure of such Conqueror's Haki.
Saint Satan recognized the fruit immediately and barked an order to Saint Jialin to seize it. But Jialin's attention was fixed entirely on Ji Ge, his expression unreadable.
The Marines watched with suspicion. Garp scoffed to himself, blaming this chaos on the Celestial Dragons again.
Rocks didn't waste time. Before he could speak, Big Mom (Linlin) charged forward, eyes blazing with greed.
"Brat! Hand over the Devil Fruit to me!!!