Chapter 11: The Rainbowfish
Luo Han didn't say much. After promising Brother Ryan not to overtrain again, he and Cole headed home.
On the way back, Cole kept glancing at Luo Han. After hesitating a few times, he finally seemed to gather his courage and looked up.
"Han-ge! How about this—from now on, I'll share half my meat with you," Cole said.
"That way, you won't get skinny again like this!"
Uh… but I don't want to be like you, Luo Han thought, eyeing Cole's now even rounder figure.
He shook his head inwardly.
"I'm fine, Cole," Luo Han said. "It won't happen again.
Besides, I can't eat half the amount of meat you do."
"Oh, okay… hehe!" Cole smiled in relief.
Good, that means I still get to eat my fill, he thought.
Two figures, one small, one large, supported each other as they walked along the path—slowly fading into the distance.
Back home, Luo Han felt nervous. He didn't want Granny Mo to see him like this.
She would definitely be upset.
Luckily, Granny Mo had gone out earlier to grind fish cake flour.
Luo Han hurried to prepare lunch. When boiling the fish, he cooked a bit more than usual.
By the time Granny Mo returned at noon, Luo Han had already eaten and looked back to normal.
He had to admit—the people in the One Piece world had impressive bodies.
Getting thin or gaining weight was surprisingly simple. It all came down to whether you ate enough.
After lunch, and with Granny Mo's usual reminders, Luo Han and Cole followed Uncle Witt from home down to the first-level plaza.
It took them half an hour, descending the winding stone steps, to reach the bottom.
It was Luo Han's first time visiting the first level, and he was full of curiosity.
The divine tree plaza on the first level sat right on the edge of the lake. Massive roots extended outward, with ladders made of vines hanging down.
Probably used for getting in and out of the water.
Looking into the depths of the lake, Luo Han saw glowing rainbow lights.
In the crystal-clear water, the shimmering hues looked like rainbow-colored diamonds covering the lakebed.
It was dreamlike—totally different from the Fish Scale Fruit Festival.
Before, he had only viewed the lake from high above and never noticed what lay beneath. Who would've thought Ring Tree Island held such wonders?
Luo Han wasn't sure what those glowing things were, but when he used his Observation Haki, he sensed they were living creatures—moving.
…
Once they reached the plaza, Uncle Witt told Luo Han and Cole to wait there.
Then he and a group of older islanders dove into the lake.
That's when Luo Han noticed something: most of the people here were rarely seen around the island.
And many of them were injured.
Even Uncle Ette, who had lost a leg during the salt harvest, was here.
Looks like this was where injured islanders worked, Luo Han thought.
Beside him, Cole lay sprawled across the plaza. From Luo Han's height, he couldn't even see Cole's chest—just a giant mound.
So round…
Time passed…
Eventually, the group returned. Each person who had gone into the water was carrying one or two special-looking fish—about a meter long, resembling eels.
What made them special was their glowing, iridescent scales—shimmering with rainbow colors.
These were the creatures Luo Han had sensed earlier. So they were the source of the glowing light on the lakebed!
Slap! Uncle Witt laid several of the rainbow-scaled fish on a long table in the plaza. Nearby were some knives.
Clearly, it was time to prepare the fish.
"Luo Han, Cole—come here," Uncle Witt called.
The two of them approached, unsure what was happening.
"Starting today, you'll be eating this kind of fish until the Fish Scale Fruit's transformation process is complete.
These fish are rare, and we prioritize them for those who've recently eaten the Fish Scale Fruit."
As he cleaned the fish, Uncle Witt explained:
"Rainbowfish live off the moss that grows on the divine tree's roots.
The divine tree contains mysterious energy, which is absorbed by the moss.
When Rainbowfish eat this moss, they concentrate that energy in their bodies.
That's why their flesh glows with rainbow-colored light.
Rainbowfish and the Fish Scale Fruit have always been the island's two great treasures.
In the past, it was thanks to these that our people managed to survive here and grow stronger.
Eventually, our ancestors developed the martial art you practice each morning.
When paired with the energy of Rainbowfish, it drastically boosts the effects of the Fish Scale Fruit, unlocking your body's full potential.
That's how we were finally able to settle here and grow in number.
Without the support of Rainbowfish energy, the Fish Scale Fruit's effect is limited.
Now you understand why these fish are so precious?"
"Yes!" Luo Han and Cole replied together. Cole had already sat up—when there's food involved, he never misses out.
"Dad, I saw a ton of them in the lake. Why not catch more for everyone to eat?" Cole asked, puzzled.
Uncle Witt explained,
"Moss on the divine tree is made of old bark that's supposed to fall off naturally—but it doesn't because it's submerged.
Due to the divine tree's energy, the bark turns into moss that clings to the tree and steals its nutrients, affecting growth.
Rainbowfish help by eating that harmful moss.
But if they finish the moss, they'll start gnawing on the tree's bark instead.
That's why we injured folks dive down every day, herding the fish to parts of the tree that still have moss.
We prevent them from damaging the tree after cleaning one area.
Thanks to the divine tree's energy, Rainbowfish grow slowly—but there are many of them.
We're able to harvest enough each day to meet your needs.
Because both of you are Devil Fruit users, you're given a daily serving of Rainbowfish to aid your transformation."
So that's how it worked… Truly incredible.
The divine tree really lived up to its name.
From the Fish Scale Fruit's enhancement, to the Rainbowfish's energy, to the desalination process—it all formed a perfect, self-sustaining ecosystem.
It felt like the Rainbowfish and the islanders were the divine tree's personal cleaners.
One tree was supporting an entire society.
Thinking about all this, Luo Han's desire to explore the outside world grew even stronger.
The legendary Fish-Man Island beneath the sea…
Sky Islands floating in the clouds…
Islands where lightning rains from the sky…
He couldn't wait to grow up!
"Alright, eat up," Uncle Witt said, handing the prepared Rainbowfish to Luo Han and Cole.
"Raw? We're eating it raw?" Luo Han asked, snapping out of his daydream.
Cole was already drooling.
Ever since eating the Devil Fruit, his craving for meat—especially raw meat—had intensified.
"Raw is best for absorbing its energy. That's how we all eat it," Uncle Witt replied as he continued slicing up more Rainbowfish.
(END CHAPTER)
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