Chapter 9: The Legacy of My Parents (Part 2)
And just like that, we "fought" our way out of the drop zone and made it to the far side of the island.
Then we chopped down a large tree, fashioned a simple raft, and left the land of the giants.
That was the start of our journey home.
But we underestimated the World Government's intelligence capabilities. Somehow, they discovered that the three of us had originally gone out to sea together.
What followed was a relentless manhunt.
During this chase, your father met your mother on a beautiful island.
Five months later, she found out she was pregnant with you. That's when we knew—we couldn't keep running.
Before, we were afraid of implicating our home, Ring Tree Island, so we never dared go back and kept moving around.
But now, we had to make a decision.
So we set a course for Ring Tree Island. But the Navy and CP0, the World Government's intelligence agency, mobilized.
Because the Devil Fruit in that box was terrifyingly powerful.
The World Government would never allow it to fall into anyone else's hands.
That day, it rained. We were near the same waters where we had first been separated by a storm.
The World Government deployed some kind of poison gas bombs. Your father took a direct hit to protect us. Your mother, trying to save him, was poisoned as well.
Just as despair was setting in, a storm of the same scale as the one from ten years prior suddenly struck again.
The four of us—your father, mother, Uncle Kate, and I—were swept into the sky. But this time, we held hands tightly and refused to let go.
Luck was on our side this time.
The storm carried us all the way back to Ring Tree Island. Unfortunately, we crash-landed on the seafloor surrounding the island.
Exhausted and wounded, we were attacked by Salt-Eating Sharks. Normally, any one of us could've handled it alone.
But we were out of strength.
Still, we gritted our teeth and swam toward the island.
I lost my right arm protecting your mother, but compared to your father's life, my arm meant little.
After a brutal struggle, we finally made it back.
The people of the island didn't blame us for stealing the fish scale fruits years ago.
Instead, they welcomed us—and your mother—with kindness.
She gave birth to you after holding on for four more months… and passed away.
Your father followed her the very next morning.
After that, Uncle Kate became captain of the hunting team, training the next generation.
As for me, I met Cole's mother—your Aunt Lilian—not long after returning. We got together soon after.
And then came Cole.
As for the Devil Fruit in that box—I've been guarding it all these years."
…
Uncle Witt looked at Luo Han. "That's the story of your mother and father."
Uh… wasn't that mostly your own story? Luo Han thought, looking at Uncle Witt with slight annoyance.
Sigh… Luo Han turned his gaze to the stars, his emotions tangled.
So this is what love passed through blood looks like. Even if I can't repay you as a son should, I'll carry your love with me as I explore this world.
Uncle Witt continued, "I'm sure you're curious what kind of Devil Fruit was in the box?"
Cole looked at his dad, eyes full of curiosity.
Luo Han, too, pretended to be curious.
"The Devil Fruits are mysterious treasures of the sea," Uncle Witt explained. "Each fruit contains a unique power. When someone eats one, they gain that ability.
But a person can only eat one Devil Fruit. Eating a second one will cause the body to explode."
"Then… what kind of ability does that fruit have, Dad?" Cole asked eagerly.
"There were actually two Devil Fruits in the box," Uncle Witt said. "One was a Zoan-type, and the other was a Paramecia.
We never found out exactly what abilities they held—but we know they're extremely powerful."
"I see..." Luo Han paused. "Uncle Witt, why didn't you eat them yourselves? Maybe if you had, you all could've made it back safely."
Uncle Witt's face grew stern. He looked at Luo Han and Cole seriously.
"Luo Han, Cole—you both need to remember this.
Eating a Devil Fruit gives you great power, but it also curses you.
A Devil Fruit user loses the ability to swim. If they fall into seawater, they become completely powerless—helpless.
That's why we didn't dare eat those fruits. If we'd been caught during the chase, we wouldn't have even had the option of diving into the sea to escape.
Like that storm—if we'd eaten Devil Fruits, we'd have sunk to the bottom of the ocean. You two would never have been born.
So, in the future, be careful not to fall into the sea."
"Got it, Uncle Witt," Luo Han nodded solemnly.
Cole, on the other hand, looked confused.
Wait, why do I have to be careful? I haven't eaten any fruit...
At that moment, Uncle Witt glanced at Cole and reached inside his wide robe.
He pulled out two fruits.
No—they weren't both fish scale fruits. One was a fish scale fruit, the other… was a Devil Fruit!
Luo Han and Cole were immediately drawn to it.
The Devil Fruit was banana-shaped, its surface covered in swirling patterns resembling giant open mouths, layered atop one another.
That must be the second Devil Fruit from the box…
"Now you know, Luo Han," said Uncle Witt. "What you ate before wasn't a fish scale fruit. It was a Devil Fruit.
You might be wondering why we're only giving you the other one now.
Well, we've always planned to reserve these fruits for those who are truly suited to them.
We want those who eat them to protect our home.
That's why we gave the Paramecia-type fruit to you, Luo Han—because you're smart and better suited to developing a Paramecia ability.
And now, we're giving the Zoan-type to Cole.
After eating the fish scale fruit, his physical potential has been the strongest we've seen in twenty years.
With this, Cole will become even stronger."
Cole was stunned.
Wait, it's for me?
Well… if Brother Han ate one, then I'll eat one too!
The chubby Cole's mind was buzzing with excitement.
"Come on, Cole, eat it. You like eating, don't you?" Uncle Witt teased, holding out the Devil Fruit.
"Give it to me! Give it to me!"
Cole grabbed the fruit and took a big bite.
Luo Han watched as Cole's face turned green… then white… then black. It was hilarious.
"Ugh! What is this?! It's so gross! Dad, you tricked me! Waaah… waaaah!"
Chubby Cole burst into tears.
Understandable. Luo Han had nearly cried the first time too.
Then, Uncle Witt took out the fish scale fruit he had been holding all along and handed it to Luo Han.
"This is your real fish scale fruit. Last time, Uncle Kate swapped it out as a joke."
Uncle Witt sighed, a little helpless.
Luo Han accepted it joyfully. With this, he could finally raise his body's base stats to that of a true fighter.
Of course, it couldn't compare to Cole. That guy was eating more than ever—and growing bigger by the day.
Especially after eating the fish scale fruit—he seemed to have grown a full size in just two days.
At that moment, a fierce beastly aura began to emanate from chubby Cole.
(END CHAPTER)
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