Luffy didn't hesitate for even a second. The moment the Rainbow Fruit came to mind, he immediately pulled it from his backpack,
and shoved it straight into Sanji's wide-open mouth!
The Rainbow Fruit.
This was the first item Luffy had ever bought by accident when he unlocked the system's marketplace.
Originating from the Gourmet Hunter World, it shared the same origin as the Gourmet Cells themselves.
It was a mythical fruit that could shift between seven colors depending on the temperature and humidity, each color carrying a different flavor.
Of course, Luffy had never been particularly interested in such flashy things.
After all, it couldn't make him stronger… or more handsome.
So the fruit had simply gathered dust in his backpack, forgotten over time.
It was said that a single drop of Rainbow Fruit juice could turn 25 cubic meters of water into rich, fragrant nectar, so potent that even a sip could overwhelm one's body with energy and cause temporary unconsciousness.
Luffy had actually tested it once. He made a whole pool of that fruit juice.The taste was amazing, far better than ordinary orange or apple juice. But after a while, it lost its novelty.
No matter how good something tastes, drink it long enough, and you'll get tired of it, he mused.
To Luffy, there were only two drinks that never went out of style: milk and yogurt.
The moment the Rainbow Fruit dropped into Sanji's mouth, something strange happened.
Luffy could've sworn he saw Sanji's throat expand for a split second, like a miniature black hole, and then, just as quickly, it returned to normal.
The fruit had completely vanished.
Instantly, the Gourmet Cells inside Sanji's body began to calm down. The madness in his crimson eyes slowly faded away. His breathing steadied. The golden aura that had been surging violently moments ago… began to quiet.
It seemed, for a brief moment, that everything was finally settling.
But, the calm never lasted long.
========
Thump…
Thump…
THUMP!
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP—!
Sanji's heartbeat began to deepen, each pulse heavier than the last.
The sound grew smaller, yet the rhythm only accelerated, until it no longer sounded like a heartbeat at all.
It was trembling!
From deep within Sanji's heart, a strange distortion opened, a rift to another dimension, pulsing with terrifying energy.
With each violent tremor, that alien space spewed out a flood of mysterious matter.
It surged through Sanji's body like a tidal wave, until the other dimension finally closed again, retreating to recover strength for its next eruption.
The energy coursed through his veins, carried by his blood to every part of his body.
The mysterious substance clung tightly to his cells but this time, things were different.
Ordinary human cells would never allow such an energy-rich force to invade.
Yet Sanji's Gourmet Cells responded like living creatures, rippling with awareness.
The cells opened wide, splitting to reveal gaping mouths and devoured the invading substance!
Ssshhh,
The moment the energy entered, it was melted down as if submerged in acid, transformed into pure power that nourished the cells.
Zzz… zzzzz…
Gululu… rrrr…
Under Sanji's skin, his muscles pulsed and twisted, producing sickening wet sounds, like something slithering through slime. It was enough to make anyone's scalp tingle.
Yet Sanji himself seemed unaware, his mind utterly blank.
The massive surge of energy condensed within his Gourmet Cells, coating their inner walls with a faint golden light that shimmered steadily.
========
"What… what is this…?"
Sanji looked down at his hands, eyes wide in disbelief. Beneath that calm expression burned a deep, stunned awe.
He clenched his fists experimentally. Then stomped his foot on the deck, feeling a surge of power so immense, it startled him.
"This… this is my power!?"
Whoosh!
Sanji suddenly raised one leg, lifting it to head height and kicked!
BOOM!!!
A gale exploded from his foot, the pressure crashing like a cannon blast against the distant wall.
Luffy waved a hand, unleashing a burst of Conqueror's Haki that instantly suppressed the shockwave.
Sanji blinked in astonishment, lowering his leg, still trembling from what he'd just done. He turned to the others, dazed and confused.
Just then, Koby finally came rushing back from the storage room, a basket of fruit clutched tightly in his arms, panting as he stopped before Sanji.
========
A few seconds of silence passed.
"Eh!?"
Koby blinked in surprise, staring at the perfectly calm Sanji.
"Y-you're… already okay?"
"Heh."
Sanji grinned, snatched an apple from the basket, and bit into it.
Crunch!
Juice splashed from the skin, but Sanji's next bite devoured it all in an instant.
In just two or three bites, the apple was gone.
Then he reached out, ruffled Koby's hair, and flashed his brilliant white smile.
"Thanks, Koby."
========
"Looks like it's over."
Luffy approached with a relaxed smile.
"So, how does it feel?"
"Heh-heh…"
Sanji's eyes widened again as he looked at Luffy, the man who had given him such an unbelievable gift.
He glanced at his palms and whispered in awe:
"It's… like I'm living inside a dream."
Luffy laughed heartily.
"Hahaha… I didn't expect even you to change this much."
While everyone else was still smiling, Luffy discreetly opened Sanji's status window in the system.
Name: Vinsmoke Sanji
Potential: SS (+)
Stamina: 1800
Strength: 1300
Agility: 2000
Mental: 600
Even without Luffy's bonus multiplier, those numbers made his jaw drop.
It was unbelievable.
Even if Gourmet Cells didn't dramatically boost raw stats, and even if the Rainbow Fruit was powerful, this level of explosive growth was still far beyond reason.
There were countless foods in the world of pirates more exquisite than the Rainbow Fruit.
If one fruit alone could do this,
then with Gourmet Cells, Sanji could travel across the seas devouring every rare delicacy…
and in time, become powerful enough to shatter stars with a flick of his hand.
But Luffy quickly sent a mental query to the system:
System, why did Sanji's power increase so much?
The system's cold, mechanical voice instantly replied:
[Answer to Host:]
Sanji's attribute surge was caused by his Gourmet Cells absorbing the dormant bloodline energy he had accumulated over many years. The reaction was an expected anomaly. Future awakenings will not trigger such extreme growth.
"Accumulated bloodline power, huh…"
The explanation made sense. But at the same time, it sparked a new question in Luffy's mind.
Bloodline power? What exactly… is that?
========
Notes: Rainbow Fruit, A legendary fruit from the Gourmet Hunter World that changes color and flavor with the environment. Its juice can infuse immense vitality into anyone who consumes it.