Chapter 44: Holy Shit—This Tastes Like Hell!
"Phew~"
Luo Lin let out a long breath and skipped back to Robin's side, retrieving the fruit bag he'd handed her earlier. He immediately opened it and started rummaging.
"What are you looking for?"
"The good stuff!"
He got impatient and just dumped everything out.
A yellow fruit covered in lightning-shaped spikes rolled into view.
"Found it! Hahaha!"
He snatched it up.
"A Devil Fruit?! How was that in there?!"
Robin was stunned. She knew every single fruit in that bag—there had never been a Devil Fruit!
"Hehe, this is the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
"What?! How?!"
"I'll explain later!"
He hadn't been in a rush before, but the second he held it he couldn't wait. He took a massive chomp—
His entire body froze. Then he started shaking uncontrollably, face turning green.
Robin panicked—tears instantly welled up!
"Luo Lin!! Don't scare me!! Spit it out!!"
She even tried digging it out of his mouth with her fingers.
She'd eaten a Devil Fruit herself (by accident) and never had a reaction like this. Was this a poisonous fruit instead?!
Would he die?! She had to make him throw up!!
Meanwhile, Luo Lin's brain was buzzing from the taste. It was a hundred times worse than the original manga described!
Imagine surströmming + kæstur hákarl + century eggs + durian + vomit-fruit blended together, stuffed into a sweaty gym sock, and left to ferment for a month.
One single thought remained in his head: I. Cannot. Spit.
After his face cycled through every color of the rainbow, he forced it down with a loud gulp.
"Holy shit—disgusting!!"
Robin froze. The tears that were about to fall vanished. Veins popped on her forehead.
She'd been terrified for his life… and he was just complaining about the taste?!
Her fist hardened instantly.
"Anyway, one bite is enough. The rest is trash."
He was about to yeet the half-eaten fruit when his ear got grabbed.
Oh no. Danger.
He looked up, ready to make excuses, and saw Robin's red-rimmed eyes. The words died in his throat.
Robin hadn't looked this scared in years.
"I'm sorry, Robin-baby! I made you worry! It was just so nasty—I swear it won't happen again!"
He pulled her into a tight hug and gently comforted her.
Robin softened immediately. She let go of his ear and melted into his arms.
She'd really thought she was about to lose him.
In her life now, Luo Lin was the only person that mattered. If anything happened to him, she didn't want to live.
After a long while, she mumbled into his chest:
"So… you're a Devil Fruit user now?"
Her voice was muffled and adorably pouty. Luo Lin loved it.
"Oh yeah! Let me check!"
The moment he swallowed, he'd felt the power—he could control lightning. But then the ear-grab happened.
Now he could clearly feel the vast thunder inside him. He was lightning itself. Any part of his body could turn into pure electricity at will!
And his Observation Haki had been supercharged—he could hear Luffy singing all the way down there:
"The southern island so warm"
Luo Lin: …
What the hell is he singing?!
He immediately shut his Haki off.
He hated eavesdropping unless necessary. Only idiots like Enel kept it on 24/7, listening to thousands of voices nonstop without going insane.
"Yep! Official Rumble-Rumble Fruit user!"
A spark danced on his fingertip. He casually flicked it downward—straight onto Luffy's head.
Luffy: ???
What just hit me?
"Unbelievable… How did you know it was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit? And why did you have it ready in the fruit bag?"
Luo Lin knew she was asking how he recognized it—and why he ate it without hesitation.
"Uh~ I heard that when a Devil Fruit user dies, their power doesn't vanish. It respawns somewhere nearby as the same fruit."
"That explains the fruit appearing… but how did you know it would be here? And why was it in the fruit bag?"
"Ah~ those were actually just normal fruit! Total coincidence! Same with the one I gave Nami before! Haha… ha…"
Robin stared at him with those huge eyes. His scalp went numb.
"Oh. Okay~"
She didn't press further and buried her face back in his chest.
If he didn't want to tell her, fine. As long as he was safe.
They stayed like that for a while.
Then Robin suddenly looked up.
"I just realized something!"
"What?"
"You're a Devil Fruit user now! If we both fell in the water, we'd both drown and get eaten by fish, right?"
Luo Lin: …
(•́ω•̀ ٥) Can you think positively for once?!
"No way! There are tons of Devil Fruit users—no one's drowned! Plus we have Nami and the others!"
"Oh. Let's go!"
Robin let go and headed outside.
"Huh? Where?"
"Didn't you say the golden bell is higher up the vine? It's not here, so it must be even higher!"
"Wait a sec!"
Luo Lin tossed the half-eaten Rumble-Rumble Fruit aside, lowered his head, and stretched out his hand.
"What?"
"I'm hungry! Robin-baby, you go first? I'll catch up?"
Robin sighed.
"Fine, fine. I'll come with you."
She'd thought it was something important!
A shrine this big, supporting all those soldiers and priests—there had to be food.
Luo Lin dove straight into the back kitchens.
Jackpot—tons of food, a good portion already cooked.
He pounced and devoured everything in sight.
Even Robin, who'd had fruit for breakfast, couldn't resist trying some. Sky island cuisine really was unique!
For a full hour his mouth never stopped. He nearly turned himself into a ball.
A third of the entire stockpile—gone.
"Full?"
"Mm-hmm!"
"Then let's go!"
Robin slung her little bag over her shoulder and walked out.
Luo Lin took two steps, felt bloated, then used Life Return.
Stomach instantly flat again.
He cheerfully followed—no more fruit bag needed. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was inside him now!
…
Right before Luo Lin's fight with Enel, he'd stopped hiding his presence.
The three priests fighting the Straw Hats and Shandians suddenly sensed two extra voices at the shrine.
Less than two minutes later—one vanished.
They all assumed their god had swiftly executed the intruders.
Only Aisa knew better—she could identify every voice.
The instant Enel's head rolled, her eyes went wide.
"God… Enel's voice is gone! The Blue Sea people did it!"
Shock covered her little face.
She snapped out of it and realized she had to tell everyone.
After informing the chief, she hopped on a waver and raced toward Apayado.
…
Luo Lin and Robin continued upward.
The vine was getting thinner—now a spiraling pillar instead of a staircase.
Luo Lin had to use his sword as a walking stick to keep balance.
Robin just sprouted hands all over the vine and stepped on them like stairs. Easy.
Luo Lin was suffering. I have the power of lightning and I'm still walking?! Where's the justice?!
He shot Robin a resentful glare, like a neglected wife.
Robin noticed, of course, but pretended not to and smirked inside.
No matter how strong you are, you're walking with me♪ Humph!
Another hour later—they reached the very top.
A massive golden bell stood proudly.
And at its base—a Poneglyph!
"It's really here!"
"Told you. When have I ever lied?"
"Two nights ago."
Luo Lin: …
Okay, technically true, but that was just teasing! Who knew you were watching?!
(That bird-catching chapter)
"Hehe Kidding! Mwah"
Robin giggled, kissed his cheek, then practically skipped to the Poneglyph, eyes shining like she'd met a long-lost friend.
"The ancient weapon with the title of god, Poseidon…"
She finished reading quickly, but looked disappointed.
"No real history?"
"Yeah… just the location of an ancient weapon. I don't care about that."
"Don't worry! There are only a few Poneglyphs total. We'll find them all eventually! It only took the Pirate King a little over a year. No rush!"
"Mm."
She knew it couldn't be forced, but two in a row with no Void Century info still bummed her out.
"Robin-baby, look here!"
She followed his finger—beside the Poneglyph, carved into the golden bell's base, were the words from Oden:
"I came to this place and will guide this text to the final island! Pirate King Gol D. Roger"
"He took all the history to Laugh Tale… You were right, Luo Lin. Roger really did know everything. One day I'll decipher the entire Void Century and show the world!"
Robin silently promised herself.
Luo Lin scratched his head, conflicted.
୧(๑ •᷄～•᷅) "What the heck does it say?"
"Pfft—come on! You wouldn't understand anyway. I told you to study!"
Robin laughed and waved him over.
"Wait, we're leaving already? We're done, right?"
"You're not going back?"
"Well—yes, but no rush! Luffy and the others are still fighting down there. It'll take a while. Let's chill first!"
"Fine~"
They sat down to enjoy the view—the highest point in Skypiea, the top of the Cumulonimbus clouds. You could see forever.
Too bad they couldn't save the scenery…
Wait!
"Robin-baby, one sec!"
ZAP!
He vanished in a flash of lightning.
Robin blinked. We were resting—where'd he go?!
He reappeared on the Devil, rummaged through the cabin, found the super-expensive camera he'd bought ages ago, then ZAP back to the top.
"Come on! I'll take pictures of you! This fruit is so convenient!"
Robin rolled her eyes, took the camera, and immediately started photographing the Poneglyph.
Luo Lin: "Huh?"
I said I'd deliver food, now I'm a delivery boy?
Left with nothing to do, he activated Observation Haki to watch the fights below.
The battles were reaching their climax:
Zoro vs. Ohm, Webber vs. Shandra's commander Yama—both sides battered.
The giant snake "Lord of the Sky" was here too; Luffy, Nami, and others were riding a rollercoaster inside its stomach.
…
A few minutes earlier:
Aisa and Nami had arrived on the waver. Aisa told Webber that Enel was dead.
Nobody believed her. The two priests even mocked her.
Webber scolded her too. Scared, she hid.
Nami tried to hide as well—and got swallowed by the snake along with Aisa.
Webber saw red and opened fire on the snake.
Thanks to Enel's death, the Shandians still had over 30 warriors left. They charged Yama.
Zoro wanted to help Webber with the snake but kept getting blocked by Ohm.
Then Zoro snapped—he'd seen Ohm nearly kill Chopper earlier, and now the priest was stopping him from saving Nami.
Unforgivable.
Ohm's Mantra was annoying, but…
"Mantra, huh? Really troublesome… but we've got someone way stronger than you on our side!"
Zoro tied his bandana, breathing hard.
"But… even if he's stronger, that's his business. If I can't beat you, I definitely can't protect the others!"
He started reciting his poem—36 Troubles, 108 Troubles—Luo Lin heard every word from the top.
One slash later—108 Pound Phoenix—Ohm down!
On the other side, Webber went all out, using a Reject Dial at point-blank range and blasted Yama into oblivion.
Enel's entire team—wiped out.
Zoro and Webber locked eyes.
Now it was time to save the people they cared about.
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