Three days after returning to the Kingdom of Germa, Judge Vinsmoke brought exciting news to Eli Winters and his crew the experiment to fuse weapons with Devil Fruits had finally succeeded.
Eli was thrilled. Without hesitation, he handed over the items and the weapons that were chosen to consume the Devil Fruits.
A week later, Big Pan, Simon, and Dott those who hadn't eaten any Devil Fruits themselves received their new, enhanced weapons. The others were still waiting for suitable fruits to appear.
Simon's new trident shimmered with a cold blue gleam. It had devoured the Boom-Boom Fruit. Whenever Simon swung it with full force, the air itself seemed to shatter. A thunderous explosion erupted each time, the shockwave spreading like an ocean storm that swallowed everything in its path.
Simon's mastery of combat flowed perfectly with this new power. With his control over water currents, he could form thick, cage-like walls of swirling water, trapping enemies within. The confined space made escape impossible. Then, the ensuing explosions struck like a barrage of underwater bombs each detonation shaking the sea, each wave rippling with destructive might.
The synergy between his water manipulation and the explosive force was seamless, terrifying even. Anyone who dared to stand against Simon found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless cycle of confinement and destruction.
Dott's new weapon a pair of heavy gauntlets had devoured the Ton-Ton Fruit, granting them unimaginable weight. When Dott unleashed his mighty punches, each strike carried the crushing pressure of a falling mountain. Even a single tap from his fist could pulverize boulders and turn armored foes into dust. Under his immense strength, the air itself trembled. It wasn't just a weapon anymore it was a force of nature.
As for Big Pan, Eli had gone all out. His Dragon Coil Staff had been infused with the Stretch-Stretch Fruit, ensuring it could extend and retract freely. But Eli didn't stop there. From the System Store, he had spent twenty thousand prosperity points to purchase two Dense Stones each only the size of a fist, yet weighing over a ton.
Unfortunately, even Germa's finest craftsmen couldn't melt the Dense Stones. Reluctantly, Eli spent another five thousand points on a Forging Elixir. When poured over the stones, they dissolved into molten metal, merging seamlessly with the staff. The Dragon Coil Staff now weighed over five thousand pounds. As Big Pan's strength grew, Eli planned to increase its mass further, hoping one day it would rival the legendary Ruyi Jingu Bang itself.
The newly armed crew wasted no time in testing their weapons. The nearby uninhabited islands echoed with roars, explosions, and laughter.
To help them carry their gear, Eli crafted spatial pendants for each member a sleek necklace with a tag carved in intricate designs, containing ten cubic meters of storage space.
After a few more days of preparation, Eli and his crew were ready to set sail once again.
Before leaving, Eli exchanged a normal Devil Fruit for fifteen of Judge Vinsmoke's latest battle suits sleek, durable, and power-enhancing. Perfect for travel, combat, and style.
At Germa's western port, Eli released the Silver Dragon, their majestic ship, from his storage space. After being stored for so long, seeing it again brought smiles to everyone's faces. Big Pan and the others immediately began loading supplies, their laughter mingling with the sound of crashing waves.
Eli turned to Judge Vinsmoke and his children, who had come to see them off. His expression hardened slightly as he said, "Judge, you know me well enough. I never tolerate those who oppress the weak."
Judge and his children stiffened instantly. For a moment, it felt as though the air itself froze. Had Eli decided to silence them now that his business was done? Though Eli had seemed approachable during his stay, everyone knew that powerful men were unpredictable.
"But," Eli continued, his tone softening, "you've helped me. So I'll give you a chance."
The family collectively exhaled in relief.
Eli went on, his voice calm yet heavy with authority. "Judge, I know your ambitions. But if you wish to continue your conquests, there's one rule you must follow treat the innocent kindly. You're a brilliant scientist. Use your genius to help humanity, not destroy it. Science can bring prosperity just as easily as it can bring ruin. Choose wisely."
Judge fell silent for a long moment, then bowed his head. "I understand. I'll see to it that the people under my rule are treated well. But, Lord Winters, I would ask for your protection in return."
Eli smiled faintly. Judge was cunning he knew when to kneel and when to stand tall. "Protection, huh?"
He tossed Judge a gold coin engraved with a spatial rune. "Keep this. If your kingdom faces danger, infuse it with Haki and I'll come. But if you ever call me to help you wage war, I'll take your head myself."
A crushing aura flared from Eli's body, making Judge's heart seize in his chest. Though he wasn't a fool, Eli's warning left no room for misunderstanding.
"Of course, my lord," Judge said hastily, bowing deeply.
Eli turned to Judge's sons. "And you three don't forget the lessons Big Pan taught you. Otherwise, he'll knock those lessons back into your skulls the hard way."
The three brothers winced, half from fear, half from the memory of Big Pan's fists. "We won't forget, sir!"
Eli burst out laughing. "Good!"
With everything settled, he turned toward his ship, ready to leave. But just then, Reiju stepped forward.
"Lord Winters," she said softly, "may I come with you?"
Her father's face darkened. "Reiju, this isn't the time for jokes! Step back before you anger him!"
Eli raised a hand to stop him, smiling. "It's fine. Let's hear her reason."
Reiju hesitated, then spoke with trembling honesty. "I don't like war. I hate pretending to be cold just because I'm afraid. I've always been different from my brothers Father says emotions are useless, so I hid mine for years. But when my brother Sanji was born… he wasn't like us. He showed kindness, warmth, and courage. Even when it made his life miserable, he never hid who he was. I admired that.
When he escaped Germa, I envied his freedom. I want that too. So please, let me join you. I want to live without hiding who I am."
Her brothers stared in shock they had never realized their sister felt this way. Judge, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable.
Eli looked at him with an amused smirk. "Well, Judge? What do you say?"
"It's her choice," Judge said finally. "If you'll allow it, she may serve on your ship as a servant, perhaps."
Eli laughed. "You're mistaken. There are no servants on my ship. Only crewmates."
He turned to his crew. "What do you all think?"
"Really? That's awesome!" Filina cheered, wrapping Reiju in a warm hug. "I was hoping she'd come!"
Chiyo nodded. "She's strong. She'll fit right in."
Even Fiona gave her quiet approval. Big Pan shrugged more friends meant more fun. Simon and Dott both agreed without hesitation.
"Then it's decided," Eli said with a grin. "From today on, Reiju Vinsmoke is one of us a member of the Dream Exploration Crew!"
"Thank you, everyone!" Reiju said, her voice trembling with joy as Filina hugged her tighter.
"Captain!" Big Pan shouted with a grin. "We've got to celebrate this with a feast!"
"You glutton," Eli laughed. "But yes, you're right. Let's set sail and then we'll throw a real party!"
As the Silver Dragon slowly departed from the harbor, the waves glimmered beneath the sun, carrying the laughter of a crew ready for new adventures.
Judge watched silently from the docks, deep in thought.
Beside him, Yonji sighed wistfully. "I wonder when I'll see Filina, Fiona, and Chiyo again. Do you think they'll miss me?"
His brothers rolled their eyes. Before they could reply, Judge kicked him squarely in the ribs. "Enough! All of you train harder! Don't embarrass me again!"
As his sons scurried off, Judge's gaze lingered on the horizon, where the Silver Dragon was now just a glint in the sea. For the first time in years, a faint shadow of regret stirred in his heart.
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