Reiju stood frozen, a wave of profound emotion washing over her. She had spent years training, and while her modified Lineage Factor provided her with strength far beyond an ordinary human, she knew her limits. At best, she was on par with an Oni Squad captain, and even then, she might struggle against the elite. In contrast, the Tobi Roppo were on an entirely different level; someone like Page One could dispatch an Oni Squad captain without breaking a sweat.
Kaido bestowing such a prestigious and powerful Devil Fruit upon her was a gesture she hadn't expected. For the first time, she felt a sense of belonging and value that her biological family had never provided—it felt like the protective love of a father. Beside her, Pudding's eyes sparkled with genuine joy. "That's amazing! Congratulations, Sister Reiju!" she cheered. As the two newest and only female members of the top brass, they both understood the crushing pressure of maintaining their status in a crew that worshipped raw power.
Reiju found her voice and looked up at the Governor with newfound resolve. "I understand, Lord Kaido. I won't let you down—I swear it".
"Good," Kaido nodded, his expression satisfied. "Don't let the opportunity go to waste. Eat it now".
Taking a breath, Reiju bit into the fruit. She endured the notoriously foul taste, and within moments, her body began to churn and shift. Under the watchful eyes of the All-Stars, she grew in size, her skin turning a pale green as she transformed into a massive Allosaurus. Despite the prehistoric ferocity of the form, the pink clothing she wore and her distinct features gave the dinosaur a strange, almost cute appearance—much like Ulti's animal form.
Reiju looked down at her massive, clawed hands. The sensation was bizarre, but the power surging through her was undeniable. She felt the legendary resilience and strength of an Ancient Zoan, a tier of power second only to the Mythical varieties.
Who's-Who chuckled, nudging Ulti. "Hehehe, look at that, Ulti. It seems you won't be the only 'tyrannosaurus' in the crew anymore".
"Shut your mouth!" Ulti barked, her temper flaring instantly. "Who are you calling a tyrannosaurus, you bastard?!". Meanwhile, Page One, who had always disliked Drake, found himself strangely impressed by Reiju's new form. He watched her with a look of newfound respect.
Kaido roared with laughter, pleased with the result. By giving Reiju this power, he had turned a potential security risk—Drake's fruit—into a massive boost for his own combat strength. He was certain that with two years of dedicated training, Reiju would reach the level of a Shichibukai-class fighter.
"A fine form, Reiju," Kaido said. "You can change back now".
Reiju blinked her large dinosaur eyes, looking a bit sheepish. "Um... Lord Kaido? I'm not actually sure how to do that".
The experienced Zoan users in the room broke into laughter. It was Ulti who finally offered some sisterly advice. "Just focus on your human shape in your head, rookie!". Reiju followed the instruction, and with a shift of her will, the massive dinosaur form shrank and dissolved, leaving her standing in her human form once more.
"You'll get the hang of it soon," Kaido encouraged. "If you have questions, ask Ulti. She's been a dinosaur longer than anyone else here".
Ulti beamed, her earlier annoyance forgotten. "Leave it to me, Father! I'll show her the ropes". The coldness she had previously shown toward Reiju had finally begun to melt away.
Kaido then turned his attention to the entire group, his voice booming with pride. "Look at yourselves! The Beasts Pirates are no longer the crew of the past. We have never been this powerful. Today, I can say with certainty that even if we faced the entire Marine force alone, I wouldn't have a single worry".
The executives responded with excited grins. They didn't need Kaido to tell them they had grown; every person in the room knew they could easily crush the version of themselves from just a year ago.
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Lord Kaido!" Sasaki shouted, his voice thick with ambition. Page One clenched his fists, nodding in agreement. "Father gave us this strength".
"Hey, Little Pei! You stole my line!" Ulti yelled, though she was clearly just as fired up. Jack, always the most eager for combat, stepped forward. "Does this mean we're going to war with the Marines, Big Brother?".
"Worororo!" Kaido laughed. "Against the Marines? I have no doubt we would win. But remember, our true enemies include the World Government itself. I saw the God's Knights at God Valley. I know the kind of trump cards the Elders hold". He thought of CP0 agents like Lucci and Kaku; if they could achieve Awakening, then the God's Knights were almost certainly masters of Awakened abilities. Currently, only King had reached that peak within their crew.
The mood in the room turned somber as the weight of Kaido's words sank in. "Don't worry, Big Brother," Jack said solemnly. "We'll train until even the World Government fears us".
"I believe you," Kaido said, his tone shifting. "But this world is inherently unfair. There are some gaps that effort alone can never bridge". Seeing the morale dip, he grinned widely. "However... you are all very lucky. Because your boss is me!".
He held out his massive hand, palm up. "Come. All of you, put your hands on mine!".
Though confused, the crew obeyed. King, Queen, Jack, and Enel placed their hands first, followed by the six members of the Tobi Roppo. As their hands touched Kaido's palm, a brilliant light erupted, enveloping them all. They felt a strange, warm energy flowing into their veins—a sensation that felt hauntingly familiar yet impossible to name.
When the light faded and they pulled back, they saw a black skull emblem—the mark of the Beasts Pirates—etched into their palms.
Kaido's grin was wider than ever. "I have news for you. Your Governor has finally found it—the legendary Ancient Weapon, Pluton!".
The room exploded into a silent shock of pure ambition and thrill.
"I have harnessed a portion of the divine power from that weapon," Kaido continued, his voice echoing like thunder. "And because you have all worked so hard to bring this crew to the top, I am giving you two final rewards". He held up one finger. "First: I bestow upon you the power to be immune to the curse of the sea!".
The executives gasped, their bodies trembling with the realization of what that meant for Devil Fruit users. Then, Kaido held up a second finger. "And second: I give you the power to destroy this world itself!".
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