9 Chapter 9

"Phew, at last, Diamante. Now all we have to do is carefully scour this entire island for that Devil fruit," I expressed in delight after we had tied the caravel to a tree after pulling it ashore.

"Screech." I heard an annoying bird cry, and I detected with my Observation Haki that the birds had finally taken notice of our arrival and started approaching us, thinking of us as prey. But Diamante quickly dispatched the first two birds that made it near us.

"It seems like this island is filled with some interesting creatures. What say we split up and use this as a training session? This way, we can scour the island faster," Diamante suggested, as this was a pretty huge island, and we would need weeks if we scoured this island together. So, it was better to split up.

"You're right. How about this: Let's meet back at the ship in a week. We can use this time to hone our skills." I quickly agreed to Diamante's suggestion because I could detect quite a few strong animals within the interior of the island, so it would be a perfect place to test my current progress.

As the sun set over the trees, I began my hunt for the devilfruit. The forest was alive with chirping birds and rustling leaves as I tiptoed through the greenery. But soon, the calm was shattered by the growls and roars of the island's creatures.

With my special sense, I stayed alert for any surprises. Wild animals pounced from the bushes, but I dodged and fought them off. There was a tough fight with a huge python, whose scales were like armor. It took all my strength, but I defeated it.

As I explored, I marveled at the beauty of the forest. I paused to admire a rare flower and watched a spider spin its web. But danger was always close—I had to fight off predators and other creatures.

When night fell, I camped under a giant oak tree, feeling tired but determined. I knew the Devil Fruit was out there, waiting for me to find it.

As the sun rose on the fourth day, I felt a sense of excitement in the air. I knew I was close to finding the Devil Fruit, and my heart raced with anticipation. As I explored the shore, I stumbled upon a hidden cove. It was a magical place, with crystal-clear waters and colorful fish darting between coral reefs.

Diving into the water, I felt a sense of wonder wash over me. I swam amidst the vibrant sea life, my eyes scanning the ocean floor for any sign of the fruit. And then, amidst the swaying seaweed, I spotted it—an old, tattered chest nestled amongst a bed of broken wreckage, probably from an old ship wreck. With a sense of triumph, I reached out and picked it up from its resting place.

Emerging from the water, I cradled the chest in my hands, feeling a surge of power coursing through me. Although I hadn't opened the chest yet, I knew in my gut that this was what I had come for.

After making it back to the shore, I settled into a comfortable spot and turned my attention to the small chest I had discovered among the wreckage. Despite its weathered appearance, the chest seemed surprisingly intact. Ignoring the scattered debris around me, I focused solely on unlocking the secrets within.

With two swift strikes, the lock yielded, allowing me to pry open the chest. To my surprise, the interior remained relatively untouched by seawater. Among the few items nestled inside—old maps, a logbook, a broken log pose—one item in particular caught my eye: a round, orange fruit adorned with flame-shaped patterns and a swirled stem at the top.

My initial instinct was to consume the fruit immediately, but I resisted the urge. I knew that if Doffy couldn't acquire the Goro Goro no Mi, this fruit could serve as a worthy substitute. Determined to choose wisely, I carefully returned the fruit to the chest and rose to make my way back to our ship, the potential of the devil fruit swirling in my mind.

I waited aboard the ship as agreed, and on the morning of the seventh day, I spotted Diamante approaching with a triumphant smile on his face. Initially puzzled, my confusion turned to joy as he revealed a makeshift bag containing a pear-shaped, crimson colored devil fruit. While I couldn't identify its type, the sight of an additional devil fruit thrilled me. Never had I imagined finding two devil fruits on the same island.

"Hehe, Ross, it seems like I've won this time," Diamante taunted, but my response left him momentarily stunned.

"That's not the devil fruit we're seeking," I smirked, leading him to realize the truth.

"You mean this isn't the Mera Mera no Mi? Then what kind of devil fruit is this?" Diamante's excitement mirrored mine as he saw me bring out another small chest, indicating that I had found our original goal.

"This, my friend, is the Mera Mera no Mi. Would you like to consume it?" I offered, though it was more of a test. I needed to be certain that Diamante wouldn't betray my brother, Doffy, as the Diamante I knew from canon might not be the same in real life, so I had to be sure.

However, my fears were unfounded. Diamante immediately declined, insisting it was better to give such a powerful fruit to Doffy to ensure his limitless future potential. I respected his decision and turned my attention to the other fruit.

"What about this one? Are you willing to take the risk?" I inquired about the crimson fruit, but Diamante's response only widened my smile.

"If it were earlier, I might have taken the chance and consumed any devil fruit available. But now, no. If I want to stand by Doffy's side in the future, I need strength. My talent doesn't compare to that of Doffy and Vergo, let alone a monster like you. So, if I truly aim to become a top powerhouse, I can't rely on luck alone. I'm confident that in the future, the family will find a suitable fruit for me," Diamante declared, showing no hesitation in declining both fruits.

His resolve impressed me, and I made a mental note to inform Doffy about the need to acquire a top-class devil fruit for Diamante in the future.

It had been a week since we found the two devil fruits. Currently, we were in Logue Town, a place I had longed to visit, as it would one day lay the foundation for the world of One Piece. The future Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, was still somewhere in the New World, yet to acquire his title. Although renowned, he had not yet reached the pinnacle of piracy. I had already informed Doffy about our successful mission using my personal transponder snail, and although he insisted on my immediate return, I managed to convince him to let me have a quick look around Logue Town. While I leisurely strolled around, Diamante was purchasing supplies for our return journey. Both devil fruits were under his protection, as he was undoubtedly the stronger combatant between the two of us currently, especially after awakening his rudimentary form of observation haki along with his decent swordsmanship.

As I walked, an old, shabby-looking store caught my attention. I realized it was the same shop where Zoro would later obtain Sandai Kitetsu in the future. My legs instinctively moved towards it, curious to see if my luck would hold. The interior of the shop was much better than its exterior suggested. As I entered, an old man behind the counter noticed me.

"Kid, are you lost? If so, I can help you find your parents," he offered kindly, assuming I was lost rather than a potential customer.

"No, sir, I'm not lost. I'm here to see if I can find a suitable sword. The one I'm currently using may break anytime," I replied, showing him the old katana Diamante had given me, strapped to my back. The old man was surprised at first, then composed himself.

"Kid, are you aspiring to become a swordsman in the future? That's a great dream. Just don't go around swinging the sword and cutting down innocents in the future, alright?" He advised, standing up from behind the counter and approaching me. He directed me towards the various swords on display within glass cases and started explaining them with relish. He didn't even inquire if I had enough money to afford a sword, but seemed more interested in sharing his knowledge. To my disappointment, none of the swords on display were what I was looking for.

"Sir, do you have any more swords other than the ones on display? Most of these look very expensive. I don't think I can afford them," I asked politely, despite having more than enough money from Diamante.

"Hmm, let's see. Other than these swords, I have quite a few well-crafted, affordable blades in the warehouse. Would you like to check them out, kid?" The old man must not have many customers, so he offered to show me the blades kept in the warehouse. As I entered, I noticed hundreds of swords, some brand new, some old, some ancient, but all in pristine condition. Every blade was well-maintained, even the cheap ones within the barrels. However, what caught my attention was a conspicuous corner of the warehouse where more than a dozen katanas wrapped in thick fabric were neatly set aside. I moved towards them, and the old man followed me.

"Sir, what about these swords? Are they for sale? If they are, I would like to look at them." I pointed at the dozen or so swords wrapped in thick fabric.

The old man hesitated for a few moments, then replied, "Kid, I suggest you look into other weapons from the warehouse. Although I don't strongly believe in the concept, every sword here is believed to be cursed in some form. These swords have been collected by my family for generations from various sources. People often threw these swords at us, thinking they were cursed, in exchange for chump change. We acquired all these fine swords at a dirt-cheap price. Although I don't believe in cursed swords much, I can't have a kid like you buying such swords. Why don't you select something else?" The old man patiently explained, but I couldn't resist my curiosity. Under his watchful eyes, I started unwrapping the blades and checking them one at a time.

The seventh blade that I unsheathed was the sword I was looking for. I felt an eerie feeling when I grabbed the blade. This was Sandai Kitetsu, the blade believed to be cursed according to One Piece lore. Its wielder is believed to become cursed and destined to suffer horrible deaths.

As an aspiring swordsman, I had learned how to determine the quality of swords from Diamante, and I studied the blade in my hand carefully without missing an inch. After careful examination, I was more than satisfied; she was a beauty. I carefully sheathed the blade and went back to examine the remaining ones. Although most of these blades were top quality, none matched Sandai Kitetsu, so I stood up with the blade I had selected in hand.

"Sir, I would like to buy this blade; please quote me the price." I showed the blade that I had picked to the old man.

"Kid, are you sure? If anything were to happen to you, curse or not, I would..." the old man still hesitated, despite not believing in cursed swords. He was reluctant to sell it to a little child.

"Sir, if that is my fate, then so be it. Cursed blade or not, if my time has come, then my time has come. I am not going to let a sword dictate my destiny," I declared simply because I knew that even if the blade was truly cursed, I had the will and determination to overcome it.