The God of Birka felt that this was the last straw. If they couldn't find it here, then he would truly despair and give up.
Everyone rushed to the laboratory with bloodshot eyes, searching frantically from one room to another. The research complex was not just a single laboratory but divided into multiple sub-laboratories. So, for a time, they split into several groups, each entering different labs.
After more than half an hour, a sudden, frantic scream echoed.
"Come here! Come here!"
Hearing this, the God of Birka felt a ringing in his ears before launching himself toward the source of the voice like a madman. He was overwhelmed with anxiety—desperate to find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit but equally terrified that it might not be the right one. If it wasn't, then all their efforts would have been in vain.
So, with every ounce of his strength, the God of Birka sprinted at full speed, recklessly charging forward. He even stumbled and fell but scrambled back up, refusing to slow down.
Finally, he reached the laboratory where the scream had come from.
Inside, a group of Birka guards had gathered around a glass case. Inside it sat a Devil Fruit—the exact shape and pattern as depicted in the drawings. Next to it lay a stack of blueprints.
"We found it!"
The God of Birka almost collapsed from sheer relief. No one but him could understand the fear and pressure he had endured over the past few days.
[123] The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was finally in hand.
The God of Birka locked eyes on the fruit behind the glass. Its swirling patterns and deep purple color matched exactly with the sketches given to them by Caesar. He had memorized its details so well that he could even see it when he closed his eyes.
Now, the fruit was right in front of him.
Without hesitation, he confirmed it—this was the mythical Devil Fruit that had tormented them, the one they had turned the entire island upside down searching for!
"That's it! That's the one! We found it!"
The God of Birka let out a crazed howl, nearly breaking down on the spot. It felt as if an enormous weight had finally lifted from his chest.
As he shouted, the other guards stood frozen for a moment before erupting into cheers and roars of excitement.
They all knew this was a Devil Fruit—occasionally, one would appear on Skypiea or Birka—but none of them knew which one it was. Unlike the Blue Sea, they didn't have access to Devil Fruit encyclopedias.
Curious, a few of the guards picked up the blueprints lying next to the fruit.
Flipping through them, they found a detailed description of the fruit's abilities.
And then, they understood.
This was no ordinary Devil Fruit. This was one of the strongest in existence.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
A Logia-type Devil Fruit that granted its user absolute control over lightning.
"A Devil Fruit that commands thunder and lightning…!" one soldier gasped in disbelief.
"This power is godlike!" another muttered in awe.
"No wonder that man is looking for it… This fruit is beyond dangerous!"
For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the lab.
The guards stared at the fruit in the glass case, their expressions shifting.
They understood the terrifying potential of this power.
And for the first time, greed flickered in their eyes.
The idea struck them—what if they ate the fruit themselves?
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was said to make its user immune to physical attacks. If one of them ate it, could they stand against Caesar?
Could they even… defeat him?
Temptation crept into their hearts. Some even had the urge to lunge forward and take a bite.
But then, reality set in.
Even if someone ate the fruit now, they wouldn't instantly master its power. Devil Fruits required training, experience, and time to awaken their full potential.
If they defied Caesar, they wouldn't get that time.
The moment they consumed the fruit, he would slaughter them on the spot and take it back.
The guards exchanged glances.
No one dared to take the risk.
The God of Birka noticed their hesitation and spoke first.
"Erase that thought from your minds." His voice was cold and final.
He unsheathed his Iron Cloud Sword and slammed it into the ground.
"No one touches this fruit. We deliver it to Caesar as agreed—nothing more. If anyone disobeys… they die."
His gaze swept across the room, making his stance crystal clear.
Strength and ambition meant nothing if you weren't alive to use them. Unlike the fools dreaming of rebellion, the God of Birka knew better.
Without this fruit, he was still the ruler of Birka.
That mattered more than anything else.
The guards silently nodded, suppressing their desires.
Under tight supervision, they carefully retrieved the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the blueprints before exiting the lab.
---
Meanwhile, outside the ruins…
Gnali and Lily had sensed the sudden shift in emotions from the guards inside.
They didn't know what had happened, but their instincts told them the search was over.
Moments later, the God of Birka emerged, flanked by his guards, holding the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the blueprints in his hands.
Seeing this, Gnali and Lily exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up with excitement.
They had finally found it.
The sudden surge of emotion from earlier now made sense—it was the moment they had confirmed the fruit's existence.
Gnali carefully took the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, his fingers tracing its surface.
Even without eating it, he could feel the raw, overwhelming energy within.
"This fruit… It radiates power." He smirked.
Lily grinned, practically bouncing on her feet. "Finally! I was starting to think we'd never find it!"
They had spent days scouring Birka for this one fruit. If they had failed, they might have given up entirely.
The guards, still wary, cautiously handed over the blueprints as well.
The God of Birka spoke carefully, not wanting to provoke these dangerous outsiders. "These were found beside the fruit. They seem to be schematics of some kind, but we didn't touch them."
Gnali gave the documents a brief glance. They were filled with intricate diagrams and annotations—far too complex for him to decipher at a glance.
He shrugged and handed them off, focusing back on the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Lily admired it, feeling its weight in her hands. "Just touching it, I can feel the power inside…"
Gnali chuckled. "With this, we're unstoppable."
He turned to the ship, raising the fruit high.
"We found it! The Rumble-Rumble Fruit is ours!"
The rest of the Caesar Pirates erupted in celebration.
Eli, inspecting the fruit, grinned. "It was in the ruins all along… If we hadn't thought of that, we never would've found it."
Weina smirked. "Whoever figured that out deserves a reward."
Their search had been long and exhausting, but in the end, it was all worth it.
Caesar, watching from the ship, felt a rush of excitement.
If there was no better alternative… then perhaps he would claim the Rumble-Rumble Fruit himself.
For now, though, the fruit was finally in their possession.
Their next move?
Would decide the fate of the skies.
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