Chapter 5 Rikou Rikou No Mi

The morning sun peeked through the cracks in the cave's entrance, painting the stone walls in streaks of golden light. Isaac stirred first, his sharp mind already racing before his eyes fully opened. Memories of the previous day came flooding back—the chaos, the loss, and the strange power now coursing through him. The Rikou Rikou no Mi.

He flexed his fingers, the sensation still foreign. The faint green glow that had enveloped the pens last night was gone, but he could feel something beneath the surface, like a quiet hum, waiting to be unleashed. He sat up, glancing over at Nolan, who was still fast asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily.

"Time to test the limits," Isaac muttered to himself, a determined glint in his green eyes.

He stepped outside the cave, where the cool morning air greeted him. The landscape was peaceful, with rolling hills and sparse trees dotting the horizon. Picking up a smooth, round stone from the ground, Isaac inspected it, his mind already calculating. He turned it over in his hand, feeling its weight.

'Force equals mass times acceleration,' he thought. 'If I can control inertia, then theoretically…'

Isaac focused on the stone, willing the strange energy to manifest. At first, nothing happened. But as he concentrated, imagining the stone suspended in space, he felt a faint resistance in his palm. The stone began to glow faintly green. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it forward.

The stone shot through the air like a bullet, piercing through the trunk of a nearby tree with a sharp crack. Isaac's eyes widened as he examined the results.

"Fascinating," he murmured, stepping closer to the tree. The hole in the trunk was clean, almost surgical. He crouched down, tracing the edge of the damage with his finger. "By reducing the stone's inertia just before impact, I increased its velocity exponentially. A perfect application of the second law."

Behind him, Nolan's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You're really up early, huh?"

Isaac turned to see Nolan emerging from the cave, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His disheveled hair and tired expression quickly shifted into one of curiosity as he noticed the tree. "Did you do that?" he asked, pointing to the hole in the trunk.

Isaac nodded. "I've been testing the fruit. It's… remarkable. The ability to control inertia opens up endless possibilities. I just need to refine it."

Nolan grinned, stepping closer. "Well, if you're testing it, I'm helping. Let's see what else that weird fruit can do."

Isaac picked up another stone, holding it up for Nolan to see. "I believe the fruit's power isn't just about enhancing force—it should also allow me to manipulate motion in entirely new ways. For example…"

He tossed a stone with a small green glow lightly into the air. As it reached its peak, Isaac focused, imagining the stone frozen in place. The green glow intensified, and the stone hovered midair, defying gravity. Nolan's jaw dropped.

"You're kidding me," Nolan said, walking around the stone as if expecting to find strings. "It's just… floating?"

"Not floating," Isaac corrected. "It's not moving because I've nullified its inertia. It has no tendency to continue its motion."

With a flick of his finger, Isaac sent the stone flying forward again, this time at a much slower speed. It tumbled harmlessly to the ground. He turned to Nolan with a small smirk. "Theoretically, I could suspend objects indefinitely or launch them with enough force to rival cannon fire."

"That's insane," Nolan said, his eyes wide. "You could make a pebble as dangerous as a cannonball?"

"Precisely," Isaac said, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "But the real potential lies in how I use it in motion. Imagine controlling the inertia of my own body—reducing it to dodge attacks or increasing it to enhance strikes. I could become untouchable."

Nolan nodded, his grin widening. "That's brilliant! But how do you even begin to test something like that?"

Isaac stepped back, taking a deep breath. He focused on his body, imagining the same green glow coursing through his limbs. At first, nothing happened, but as he concentrated, he felt a strange lightness in his legs. Tentatively, he jumped—and soared nearly ten feet into the air, landing with a soft thud.

"Unbelievable," Isaac muttered, his heart racing. "By reducing my body's inertia, I've essentially eliminated resistance to movement. But... there's a drawback."

He staggered slightly, his knees buckling. Nolan rushed to steady him. "What happened?"

Isaac winced. "It's exhausting. The energy required to maintain that state is significant. I'll need to train extensively to improve my stamina."

Nolan frowned but nodded in understanding. "Still, that's incredible. You've barely had the fruit for a day, and you're already figuring out things most people wouldn't even think of."

Isaac smiled faintly. "That's because they don't understand the laws governing their world. To them, these powers are mysterious and chaotic. But to me, it's all just physics."

The two boys spent the rest of the morning experimenting. Isaac tested throwing objects at different speeds, altering their trajectories mid-flight, and even deflecting stones thrown by Nolan by manipulating their momentum. Each discovery left both of them in awe, but it also underscored how much potential the fruit had—and how dangerous it could be in the wrong hands.

By midday, Isaac was lying flat on his back in the grass, sweat dripping from his brow. Nolan sat beside him, tossing a pebble up and down absentmindedly.

"So," Nolan said after a long silence. "What's the plan? You've got this crazy power now, but what are you gonna do with it?"

Isaac stared up at the sky, his expression thoughtful. "I don't know yet," he admitted. "But one thing's certain, this power isn't just for me. It's a tool, and like any tool, it depends on how it's used. I'll figure it out. And when I do, I'll make sure it's used to create something better."

Nolan nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Then I guess I'd better stick around. You're gonna need someone to keep you grounded."

Isaac chuckled softly. "And I'll need someone to patch me up when I inevitably push myself too far."

The two shared a laugh, the tension of the past few days easing, if only for a moment. They didn't know what the future held, but for now, they were content to focus on the present—on mastering Isaac's newfound power and carving out their place in a world full of chaos and wonder.

…

…

The morning after Isaac and Nolan's escape, the village was alive with tension. The small, quiet community had become a scene of unrest, with curious neighbors whispering among themselves and Marines patrolling the streets. The commotion from the night before—the murders, the devil fruit, and the boys' sudden disappearance—had drawn the attention of the Marines stationed in the nearby town. Now, they were determined to uncover the truth.

Inside the Newton family's modest home, Captain Renard of the Marines sat stiffly at the dining table, his polished uniform catching the morning light. His sharp eyes scanned the room, lingering on the broken furniture and splatters of blood still staining the floor. Across from him sat Isaac's parents, their faces pale and drawn, but their resolve unwavering.

Renard tapped his fingers on the table impatiently, his expression cold. "Mr. and Mrs. Newton," he began, his voice clipped. "You are harboring information critical to the safety of this village and the surrounding areas. I suggest you cooperate."

"We've already told you everything we know," Isaac's father said, his tone measured but firm. "Our son is gone. We have no idea where he is."

Renard's gaze narrowed. "Your son was seen using the powers of a devil fruit—a fruit that has caused significant harm and taken lives. Now, you're telling me you have no idea where he's run off to? Do you expect me to believe that?"

Isaac's mother clenched her fists in her lap, her nails digging into her palms. "Isaac is a twelve-year-old boy," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. "He's scared, just like we are. He didn't ask for any of this."

"Didn't ask for it?" Renard's voice rose, and he slammed a gloved hand onto the table, causing Mrs. Newton to flinch. "Your son killed three men in cold blood. Whether he 'asked for it' or not, he's a danger to everyone around him."

Isaac's father placed a protective hand on his wife's shoulder. "Our son acted in self-defense. Those men would have killed us both if he hadn't stepped in."

Renard's lips curled into a thin smile. "Self-defense, you say? Convenient. And yet, he fled the scene, leaving us to clean up his mess. Sounds less like self-defense and more like a guilty conscience."

Mrs. Newton's eyes flashed with defiance. "Isaac didn't flee because he was guilty. He fled because he knew people like you wouldn't listen. He's just a boy, Captain."

Renard leaned back in his chair, his cold smile fading. "Boy or not, your son possesses a power far beyond his understanding. If he can kill so easily now, what happens when he decides he doesn't need to follow anyone's rules? That's the kind of threat the World Government takes very seriously."

The room fell silent, the weight of Renard's words pressing down on the Newtons.

Finally, Isaac's father spoke, his voice steady. "We don't know where he is. And even if we did, we wouldn't tell you. Isaac is our son, and we'll protect him."

Renard's eyes flickered with annoyance, but before he could respond, there was a knock at the door. One of his subordinates stepped in, saluting sharply.

"Captain, we've found the boy's accomplice's father," the Marine reported. "He's agreed to speak with us."

Renard rose from his chair, straightening his coat. "Good. Perhaps he'll be more cooperative."

The Newtons watched in silence as Renard strode out of the house, his boots clicking against the wooden floor. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving them alone in the uneasy quiet.

---

Across the village, in a small clinic, Nolan's father sat on a worn stool, his face pale and lined with exhaustion. Two Marines stood by the door, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Renard entered the room, his presence filling the space with an air of authority.

"Dr. Henshaw," Renard began, his tone formal but with an edge of impatience. "Thank you for agreeing to speak with us."

Dr. Henshaw nodded weakly. "I don't see that I have much choice, Captain."

Renard ignored the comment, pulling out a notebook and flipping through its pages. "Your son, Nolan, was seen fleeing the village with Isaac Newton last night. We have reason to believe they're working together. Do you have any idea where they might have gone?"

Dr. Henshaw shook his head. "No. I haven't seen Nolan since yesterday. He… he's been distant lately. I've no idea what he's gotten himself into."

Renard raised an eyebrow. "Distant, you say? And yet, he seems quite close to young Isaac. The two looked like close friends according to multiple witnesses. Are you telling me you had no knowledge of their plans?"

Dr. Henshaw hesitated, his hands trembling slightly. "Nolan is a good boy," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He wouldn't… he wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone."

Renard leaned in, his gaze piercing. "Good boys don't run off with devil fruit users. Good boys don't get caught up in crimes that leave half a village in fear. If you're protecting him, Doctor, you're only making things worse for yourself—and for him."

Dr. Henshaw's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Renard straightened, snapping his notebook shut. "Fine. Have it your way. But know this: the World Government doesn't take kindly to those who aid fugitives. If I find out you've been hiding information, you'll share in the punishment. Do I make myself clear?"

Dr. Henshaw nodded reluctantly, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

Renard turned to leave but paused at the door. "One last thing, Doctor," he said without turning around. "If you do hear from your son… tell him the Marines will find him. And when we do, we won't be as lenient as I've been today."

With that, Renard strode out, leaving Dr. Henshaw alone in the oppressive silence of the clinic.

---

Outside, Renard barked orders to his men. "Search every road, every forest, every cave. Those boys can't have gone far. I want them found by sundown."

The Marines scattered, their boots kicking up dust as they moved to carry out his commands. Renard stood at the center of the village, his eyes scanning the horizon.

"Two boys, one with a devil fruit," he muttered to himself. "Let's see how far they think they can run."