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This soul wasn't originally Alex's own, but one plundered from a Conqueror's Haki user overseas. After a lengthy purification and cultivation process carried out by Hancock, it had been transformed into a pure and powerful essence.
Unlike the chaotic and whimsical Zeus wielded by Nami in the original story, this refined soul—pristine and formidable—was perfectly suited to Alex's hands.
As Alex felt the darkness coursing through his soul and into the weapon, he decided to test its power. Without hesitation, he flashed to an empty hillside within the base. Planting the blade into the ground, he watched as endless darkness erupted from the sword like a tidal wave.
In mere moments, the earth beneath him was consumed by the darkness. Black smoke rolled outward in all directions, and the ground within a kilometer radius was transformed into a void—a seemingly bottomless abyss.
—Dark Hole!
As Alex willed the ability forward, the churning black smoke seemed to gain a life of its own. It surged into writhing waves of shadow, and the abyss beneath him deepened, becoming an insatiable black hole. Anything within the darkness's reach—trees, bushes, rocks—was slowly drawn in. The scientists observing from afar watched in awe as everything touching the void sank into oblivion.
When Alex ceased his will, the darkness receded, leaving behind barren, lifeless terrain. The ground was stripped bare, a chilling reminder of the destructive potential now in his grasp.
Next, Alex swung the sword in his hand, unleashing another burst of power. A slash of darkness shot forth, expanding into the air as a massive, undulating black cloud.
It was as though night had fallen in an instant. The dark smoke spread across the sky, swirling as it compressed under the force of a black hole's gravity. Crushed fragments of wood and stone fell to the ground in a steady rain, accompanied by ominous cracking noises. The sheer destructive force of the slash sent chills through the observing scientists.
"This is the true devouring power of a black hole," Alex remarked to himself, his grip firm on the weapon's hilt. Yet even this was not its full potential.
Turning his attention back to the weapon, Alex activated its swirling darkness again. This time, the shadows coiled around the blade in a spiraling vortex. The gravitational pull intensified, and the sheer force of it caught the attention of Caesar, who had been watching from a safe distance.
Suddenly, Caesar's body jolted. He felt an overwhelming pull as the gravity yanked him off his feet. Despite his gaseous state, he was rapidly being dragged toward the tip of the sword held aloft by Alex.
"Ahhhh! Nooo!" Caesar screamed in panic, flailing helplessly. "Master Alex, please don't use me as a test subject!"
Before Caesar could collide with the blade, the gravitational force abruptly stopped, leaving him hovering mid-air, his body quivering. The tip of the sword had barely touched his scientific combat suit, and the intense pull ceased. Collapsing to the ground, he panted heavily, feeling as though he had narrowly escaped death.
"Now, Caesar," Alex began, his voice calm and analytical. "Can you still use your ability?"
Caesar, still rattled, glanced at his hands. Strangely, though Alex wasn't using Armament Haki, Caesar found himself unable to activate his Devil Fruit ability. His gas transformation was blocked entirely, leaving him stunned. Hastily, he nodded in confirmation.
The oppressive darkness receded at Alex's command, and with it, Caesar's abilities returned. Wasting no time, he transformed back into his gaseous form and floated a considerable distance away, his voice trembling with relief. "I won't stay this close again!"
This was the embodiment of the Dark-Dark Fruit's unparalleled gravitational force. Darkness could absorb all matter, and even if the Devil Fruit's essence was controlled in this way, it could still be plundered.
After concluding the experiment, Alex felt confident that the soul-weapon in his hand would perform flawlessly. While this ability didn't drastically enhance his current strength, its utility—through the diversity of applications and the nullification of Devil Fruit powers—made it a potent tool in his arsenal. A truly powerful Devil Fruit is one that offers more advantages than drawbacks, and this was no exception.
Even the "double pain," often cited as the Dark-Dark Fruit's most infamous disadvantage, had been negated by assigning its power to the soul inhabiting the sword. It was no longer Alex's burden to bear.
Alex examined the weapon in his hand with satisfaction. The blade, forged from the latest memory-form alloy composed of two monstrous substances, paired with the purified Conqueror's Haki-infused soul, could perfectly wield the Dark-Dark Fruit's abilities. And, most importantly, it was entirely under his control.
"From this moment on, your name will be Yoruichi," Alex declared.
The weapon pulsed briefly with energy, and the soul within the blade responded in a distinctly human-like voice, "Thank you for naming me, Alex. As Yoruichi, I will fulfill my role to perfection and ensure you are never disappointed!"
Alex nodded, content with the blade's loyalty and capability.
"I also hope you can show your gratitude to Lady Hancock for her contributions," Yoruichi added.
Alex turned toward Hancock, who shyly covered her cheeks but couldn't hide the gleam of excitement in her eyes. She had clearly gone to great lengths to ensure the success of this weapon, and now, her efforts were being recognized. For once, Alex decided a reward for her was appropriate.
Sliding Yoruichi back into its scabbard, Alex noted how the weapon's energy seemed to calm, its soul settling into silence. This sword, now his second weapon, was to remain by his side.
With his mastery of dual-swordsmanship inherited from the Golden Lion's template, Alex was more than capable of wielding both blades simultaneously. Moreover, as Yoruichi continued to evolve through its soul and the Dark-Dark Fruit, it could reach a level of development akin to the BIG MOM Legion.
Alex's gaze drifted to Akizakura at his waist. If Yoruichi could seamlessly integrate and expand the abilities of a Devil Fruit, there was no reason Akizakura couldn't as well.
His thoughts wandered to the Quake-Quake Fruit, a power renowned for its destructive capabilities. If a weapon like Akizakura were to inherit such power, especially when combined with the More-More Fruit, the results could redefine devastation itself.
As Alex considered these possibilities, he chuckled inwardly. If Blackbeard followed the same path as in the original timeline, things could get... interesting. For now, however, Alex turned his attention back to Caesar, who had been observing with a mix of caution and curiosity.
"Caesar, I need you to cultivate a Smile based on the Dark-Dark Fruit's appearance," Alex instructed.
"Understood, Master Alex," Caesar replied. "However, creating a high-quality Smile will take approximately six months."
"That timeline works. I'll leave it in your hands," Alex said, satisfied.
With over two years remaining until the main plot began, Alex had more than enough time to carry out his plans. And while this diversion might seem insignificant in the grand scheme, he couldn't help but imagine Blackbeard's reaction upon realizing his "ultimate weapon" was nothing more than a Smile.
The thought of Teach's bewildered face brought a sly grin to Alex's lips. Perhaps it was petty, but the idea of witnessing that scene in person was far too tempting to resist.