As a formal member personally invited aboard by Ash, Fidel's Devil Fruit was naturally on par with those given to the veteran crew.
In the end, Ash used one of the few remaining Ancient Demon Race slots to craft a Mythical Zoan, the Kunpeng Fruit, specifically for him.
"In the Northern Darkness there is a fish, its name is Kun…"
Ash paused, then frowned slightly.
"No, that's not right."
After spending the entire day creating Devil Fruits, hunger had clearly taken its toll. His eyes locked onto Kirk, practically glowing.
Kirk recognized that look immediately. With a slight pout, he pulled his sister along to start preparing food.
McKinley and Conis, who had just been chosen to join the ship, quickly followed to help.
Ash corrected himself as he continued.
"In the Northern Darkness there is a fish named Kun. It is so vast that no one knows how many thousands of miles it spans. It transforms into a bird named Peng, whose back is equally immeasurable. When it rises into the sky, its wings resemble clouds covering the heavens."
From that description alone, the Kunpeng Fruit's nature was obvious.
It granted both aquatic and aerial capabilities, along with control over water and wind. In addition, it allowed flight even in its standard form and possessed a powerful Divine Beast transformation.
As for the transformation's scale, Ash kept it consistent with the Ten Great Demon Gods and Twelve Ancestral Witches. It did not reach the absurd size described in ancient texts.
In the world of pirates, a creature spanning several kilometers was already overwhelming. If it truly reached thousands of miles, it would exceed a million meters in length.
Zunesha itself stood at only about 35,000 meters tall. A creature of that magnitude could swallow it whole without effort.
Setting that aside, even if Ash wanted to create something that extreme, it simply would not be allowed.
Fidel accepted the Devil Fruit and took a bite without hesitation.
He paused.
"…That's it?"
There was no revolting taste.
Instead of gagging, he looked surprised, then pleased.
Without wasting time, Fidel joined the sixty-seven new recruits who had received their Devil Fruits to begin testing their abilities.
With that done, the atmosphere settled.
The village chief, sensing that the younger generation would soon discuss important matters, quietly led the idle personnel away.
Only the veteran members from the three ships remained, gathered together and waiting for Ash.
Ash, however, had no intention of discussing anything yet.
He needed food.
After quickly devouring the meal Kirk prepared, he wiped his mouth and finally spoke.
"Jabba and Rayleigh are still locked up on our ship. Red-Haired Shanks will come looking sooner or later."
"Yesterday, we killed Whitebeard's adopted son. The news hasn't spread yet, but our route is no secret. If Squard stays missing too long, Whitebeard will notice and come after us."
"There's no need for complicated planning. Just act based on the situation. We'll see whether the Red Hair Pirates or the Whitebeard Pirates show up first."
"Our next route passes through territory controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates, so chances are we'll run into them first."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"I'm not concerned about safety. With our current strength, even walking into an ambush, a single ship is enough to handle an entire crew."
"For now, I'll stay behind between the Sabaody Archipelago and Gran Tesoro to wait for new Devil Fruits to appear."
"But if you encounter any crews, assess whether you can eliminate them completely. You don't need support from the other ships, but you must notify me so I can be present. Understood?"
Pini and Youki exchanged glances before nodding.
"Of course. We're confident we can fight Whitebeard or Red Hair, but guaranteeing total elimination is another matter. If anyone escapes, it would interfere with your plans. With you there, we can act without restraint."
Ash nodded in approval.
However, Sali and Wyper were clearly dissatisfied.
"Hold on. What are you two implying?" Sali frowned. "Sounds like you plan to take all the action for yourselves. You're not going to leave us out when facing the Yonko, are you?"
Wyper stood beside him, showing his stance without saying much.
Pini and Youki quickly waved their hands.
"Nothing like that. We're just being cautious. When the time comes, everyone will have their chance."
The tension dissolved quickly, replaced by laughter and casual conversation.
Meanwhile, the siblings finished preparing a full feast and called everyone over.
A large bonfire was set up, and massive cuts of Sea Beast and Sea King meat were placed over the flames. The banquet began in full swing.
Fidel returned after testing his abilities, clearly excited.
Having spent months aboard the ship and trained under Pini and Youki, he was already familiar with most of the veterans.
The sixty-seven new recruits also returned shortly after. Aside from a dozen from Cathay Village who already knew many of the crew, most were Skypiea warriors and Angel Island guards.
They chose not to intrude on the veterans' gathering and instead set up another bonfire nearby.
Seeing this, the Cathay Village recruits followed suit, joining the group rather than forcing themselves into the main circle.
The area soon became lively, filled with laughter, food, and movement.
Kirk and his sister ensured the newcomers were well taken care of, preparing enough food and drinks for everyone.
Before long, the atmosphere grew even warmer.
Sali's wife approached, carrying their three-month-old babies.
The moment they appeared, the veterans immediately stopped what they were doing and gathered around.
Triplets.
Everyone wanted to hold them.
After some playful jostling, each ship ended up holding one child.
Robin held the eldest, Sali took the second, and Lanchi carried the youngest.
The babies did not cry or fuss. They simply smiled, making everyone even more delighted.
Once the excitement settled, Ash stepped forward.
Sali grinned proudly, while his wife gave him an annoyed look that could not hide her happiness.
Three sons.
Ash nodded slightly.
He had already promised a gift for their full moon celebration.
His gaze swept over the babies.
Right now, they were quiet and adorable.
That would not last.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
He raised his hand.
Three Devil Fruits materialized instantly.
"Zoan Type, Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Chentang Pass Double Flower Red Stick Form."
"Zoan Type, Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Flower Fruit Mountain Boss Form."
"Zoan Type, Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Guankou River Spokesperson Form."
Ash chuckled.
"These three will suit them perfectly."
He looked at Sali.
"Tell me what you think."
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