Chapter 2 Kingdom's Greatest Treasure

Now that the Battle for the Throne had concluded, Arch was finally crowned King of Tigria, while his father stepped down so as to enjoy his later years in life. After all Andronicus was already 60 years old, and he wanted to enjoy the quiet life after years of ruling.

Before that though, he naturally had to fulfill his final obligations. After the crowning ceremony concluded, Andronicus took Arch to a small hidden room which only the King could enter via a special key. Once inside Andronicus turned on the lights showing a brown fruit with swirls at the end of it.

The fruit had a brown stalk, brown skin an circular swirls, it was obviously a devil fruit, but it didn't look all that special although it was definitely well kept on a golden podium with a glass case surrounding it.

"This is?" Arch asked as he walked towards the devil fruit. Naturally he knew what it was but was more curious as to why it was so kept in such a secretive location. "This is the treasure of the Tigria Kingdom, the Tiger-Tiger Fruit Model: Byakko a Mythical Zoan said to give the powers of the White Tiger to the user." Andronicus explained with a longing gaze.

"I see, so is this mine?" The newly crowned King questioned as he gazed at the fruit with a new found look of greed. "Yes and no, this fruit unlike others is pretty special, it can only be eaten by those whom it itself chooses."

"So much so, it is said when our ancestor first found it he attempted to consume it but chipped his tooth while trying to do so, but later down the line it is said to have a sudden change." He told Arch before briefly pausing.

"Our ancestor commented "Only when the fruit turns white with black stripes and an azure stalk may he who holds the fruit consume it" Well at least that's how the historical records put it."

Hearing this Arch was immediately taken a back, but at the same time he couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "So you were unworthy?" Arch asked with a smirk as he looked at his father. "Shut up, its more likely than not that you too are unworthy." He replied as he looked away seemingly angered.

This was quite a comical scene at least for Arch, seeing his 2.6 meter tall muscular father look away in shame. The resemblance between his father and Apollo was quite uncanny.

"So what do I have to do?" Arch asked trying to get back on track. "Just touch the fruit the rest will be up to fate." His father replied as he looked back at his son. In reality he hoped more than anyone else his son would be worthy.

Since the 1st King none of his descendants have been able to receive the acknowledgement from the fruit and these days times were getting tougher for the Tigria Kingdom, they needed a new hope.

Finally arriving at the fruit, Arch lifted the outer glass casing, and held onto the fruit, and there was no reaction. Arch was stumped seeing this not sure what to do. "Welp, I guess we're not fated." He sighed as he was about to place the fruit back, when its colour suddenly shifted and its stalk turned azure.

'Was that some sort of test? Or am I just that lucky?' Arch thought as he brought the fruit back to his face. On the other side his father was amazed. 'He really managed to gain its acknowledgement!?' Andronicus thought in shock his mouth agape as he gazed at his son.

Back then he and his father had also taken the tests, and when they failed, they immediately tossed the fruit away anger written all over their faces, little did they know that this constant abuse lead to the lowering of the fruit's standards to the point where it would accept someone as long as they didn't try to destroy it as soon as they failed.

After exiting his stupor Arch immediately took a bite out of the fruit, afraid that it would change back any second, and then another and another and another. Although he knew that only bite was required, he had to make sure he inherited this power.

It was a fucking Mythical Zoan after all, you'd have to be insane not to want it. Almost immediately though, Arch had a feeling of instant regret as he consumed the fruit. It just tasted, so bad, like really bad.

'I want to die.' Arch thought as he collapsed onto the ground his face green, a few minutes later he rose from the ground and dusted himself off. Inside his brain he had a ton of new information, from the name of his fruit to how he could activate it and a few other things.

He felt as if he had gained a new limb of sorts, as he stretched his body, his father was still stunned by what had transpired though, and it looked like he'd need a few minutes to get over it.

As time passed by Arch waited for his father to come back to his senses, and after 10 minutes he finally spoke once again. "Arch, I need to see the Byakko!" He said with shining eyes as he grabbed his son.

Now that he had finally processed what had occurred he wanted, no he had to see the tiger Byakko the beast granted by their family's greatest treasure.

"S-sure, but first, can you let go of me." Arch said as his father realised how tightly he'd been clutching his son. He simply coughed before stepping back a bit to give Arch space to transform.

'So how do I do this?' The boy thought, as suddenly white fur sprouted on his body, his hands enlarged and turned into paws with sharp iron like claws. His teeth grew out producing a pair of sharp fangs, and his body extended backwards and his legs turned into those of a tiger.

Within a matter of seconds, Arch had turned into a 5 meter long, 3 meter tall majestic white tiger. His azure eyes flashing with a mysterious light, as he tail swayed back and forth with a swirly blue flame at the tip.

"Is it what you expected?" Arch asked as he locked eyes with his father. It was definitely an odd experience for him to be taller than his father, considering the man was a whopping 2.6 meters tall.

"Y-You, look so cute!" Andronicus said before hugging Arch in his Byakko form. Hearing this Arch's face twitched, but he didn't say anything as he knew that his father had an odd personality. 'I could probably be the most fearsome beast and this old man would still call me cute.' Arch thought as he shook his head, but his father got the wrong idea.

"Oh are you trying to snuggle with me?" The old man asked as he hugged Arch even more. Safe to say this was the most awkward hug of Arch's life.