The Devil Fruits were neatly arranged in the royal treasury, each one accompanied by an introduction detailing its abilities. From these descriptions, it was clear that some of these fruits were remarkable, while others were underwhelming.
For instance, the Superhuman-type "Light Fruit" allowed the user to manipulate weight, making objects lighter or heavier. In theory, it was versatile, capable of disrupting enemy attacks by reducing their impact force. However, its initial strength was questionable—it required extensive mastery to be truly devastating.
There were also Zoan-type Fruits, such as the Tiger-Tiger Fruit and the Water-Snake Fruit.
Rin barely spared them a glance.
If it wasn't a Mythical Zoan, he wasn't interested. Regular Zoan Fruits only enhanced physical abilities, and without a truly legendary transformation, they weren't worth considering.
His focus shifted toward the Logia-type Devil Fruits.
Among them were three:
Moku-Moku no Mi (Wood-Wood Fruit)
Tsuchi-Tsuchi no Mi (Earth-Earth Fruit)
Mizu-Mizu no Mi (Water-Water Fruit)
Upon seeing these names, Rin's interest waned.
The Wood-Wood Fruit? It would be utterly crushed by Akainu's Magma-Magma Fruit. Wood burns—simple as that.
The Earth-Earth Fruit? Compared to the Devil Fruits of the three Marine Admirals, it was underwhelming. Logia powers like magma, ice, and light were far superior in destructive capability.
As for the Water-Water Fruit—Rin dismissed it outright.
Why? Because Aokiji's Ice-Ice Fruit was a far superior version. Ice could manipulate water by freezing it, but if someone ate the Water-Water Fruit, they'd still be vulnerable to drowning—the fundamental curse of all Devil Fruit users.
After briefly examining these, Rin turned his attention to the Paramecia-type Devil Fruits.
The first one that caught his eye—
[Paramecia: Gravity-Gravity Fruit]
"Holy crap…" Rin's eyes widened.
He was well aware of gravity's power. The mere existence of Admiral Fujitora, one of the strongest figures in the Marines, was proof of its potential.
A gravity-based ability was nothing short of terrifying. If Devil Fruits had evolutionary tiers, the Gravity-Gravity Fruit was undoubtedly an advanced version of standard weight-based abilities.
"If I eat this Devil Fruit," Rin thought, "I could become absurdly powerful."
His mind raced. In the original timeline, Fujitora could manipulate gravitational forces at will, summoning meteorites from space and even altering planetary force fields. If Rin obtained this fruit and mastered it, he could surpass even Fujitora's level of control.
But something held him back.
Suppressing his excitement, Rin continued scanning the treasury.
Then, he saw it—
[Paramecia: Cosmic-Cosmic Fruit]
"An unrecorded Devil Fruit. Its abilities are unknown."
One simple sentence. But it shook Rin to his core.
"Cosmic?"
The name alone was unbelievable.
The cosmos held stars, planets, black holes, meteors—a level of power beyond human comprehension.
His pulse quickened.
There were only two Devil Fruits that truly captivated him now—
The Gravity-Gravity Fruit and the Cosmic-Cosmic Fruit.
The Gravity Fruit was a proven powerhouse. He knew exactly what it could do. But the Cosmic-Cosmic Fruit? Its potential was completely unknown.
For a long moment, Rin hesitated.
Then, his resolve solidified.
He reached out, grabbed the Cosmic-Cosmic Fruit, and turned to King Kaidoly.
"This is the one I'm taking."
Kaidoly raised an eyebrow. "This one?"
The king stepped closer, examining the Devil Fruit carefully. When he realized which one Rin had chosen, his expression became puzzled.
"Mr. Rin," Kaidoly said, "this fruit's ability is unconfirmed. We have no records of its effects. Are you sure you don't want a stronger, more well-documented option? The Gravity-Gravity Fruit is an incredible power. Or perhaps one of the Logia-types would be safer?"
His concern was genuine.
As the ruler of this kingdom, Kaidoly wanted Rin to protect Artoria on the journey ahead. If Rin wielded a more predictable ability, he would stand a better chance in battle.
But Rin shook his head. His voice was resolute.
"No. This is the one."
Kaidoly sighed. After a moment, he relented.
"Very well," he said. "If that is your decision."
With that, they left the treasury together.
---
After securing the Devil Fruit, Rin made his way to Artoria's location.
By now, Casa and Artoria had already met each other. They stood together, talking in hushed voices. From their expressions, they seemed to have learned who the other was.
Rin approached with a grin.
"Artoria. Casa." He greeted them casually.
Both turned toward him.
"Captain."
"Mr. Captain."
Their voices were steady.
Artoria spoke first. "Mr. Captain, the ship you requested is ready."
Rin's eyes lit up. "Seriously?!"
Artoria nodded. "It's docked and prepared for departure."
Excitement surged through Rin. "Take me to see it!"
Artoria smirked. "Come with me."
With that, they set off—toward the beginning of their journey as a crew.
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