Sabaody Archipelago, Island 57 coastline.
Aeridar strolled along the shore, the breeze lifting the hem of his coat.
Anchored out on the sea was a massive black warship, over 120 meters long, with a wolf-shaped prow glinting under the sun.
Around it floated seven or eight pirate vessels of various makes, most bearing aggressive designs and bristling with cannons. A shimmering film coated their hulls, thin as soap, delicate as glass, ready to rupture with the slightest touch.
Despite their differences, one emblem flew proudly atop every mainmast: the flag of the Chris Pirates.
On the beach, hundreds of pirates were hauling supplies—fresh water, food, and more—onto the ships in waves.
Today marked the Chris Pirates' departure from the Sabaody Archipelago. The affiliated crews had either already left or were still waiting for their ships to be coated and were temporarily stuck behind.
"Captain, all supplies are loaded. Ready to shove off?" came a voice.
The speaker was a brawny, brown-haired man—captain of a once-independent pirate crew from a kingdom somewhere in the Grand Line.
Though his own bounty was only 45 million, his crew of seven all boasted bounties over ten million, making them decently formidable. To join the Chris Pirates, he'd disbanded his crew and brought all seven aboard as part of Chris's fleet.
"I got it," Aeridar nodded. "Tell everyone, prepare to set sail."
He turned and strode back toward the Chris, his flagship.
Moments later, the bubble coatings on nearly a dozen pirate ships began to inflate, swelling into vast translucent domes that enveloped each ship entirely. Their sails caught the wind. One by one, they began to descend, sinking slowly beneath the waves.
From atop a large tree onshore, three shadowy figures watched, clad in black cloaks and eagle-faced masks.
"Codename: Golden Ring. Code: 5719. Message: The target has departed."
The man's voice was low as he spoke into a Den Den Mushi.
Below the Sea, aboard the Chris.
The ship descended steadily into the deep.
On deck, the crew moved in a flurry of activity. Dimitri stood at the bow, guiding the helmsman.
From the crow's nest, Backan and a small group scanned the sea in all four directions. Oliver and the newly inducted Otto patrolled the corridors. Even Millie and Mina were helping Gorbo in the kitchen.
Tap-tap-tap-tap... creak...
Arlan pushed open the captain's door with urgency, Den Den Mushi in hand.
"Captain," he reported, "all ships confirm safe descent. We're at one thousand meters."
Aeridar sat on a leather sofa, his face grim.
"Order them to close ranks around the Chris. Tell all lookouts to stay sharp, and every navigator to track current shifts. The seafloor isn't like land. One wrong current, or if we run into a Sea King, and it could all be over. I want updates the moment anything looks off."
"Yes, sir," Arlan saluted with a solemn nod before exiting.
Left alone, Aeridar massaged the bridge of his nose, frustration tugging at his features.
As a Devil Fruit user, the sea was his natural enemy, and here, beneath its crushing weight, it felt as though his life no longer belonged to him.
He couldn't stand the unease. He wasn't like Luffy—carefree, thick-skinned, and utterly fearless. That just wasn't who he was.
After sitting in silence a while longer, Aeridar stood and walked to a nearby bookshelf.
From the top shelf, he pulled down a massive tome, fifty by thirty centimeters, at least ten centimeters thick. Its crimson leather cover was embossed with golden arabesque spirals, ornate and glinting. On the front, three bold black words stood out:
Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
That's right, the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.
A compendium cataloguing the myriad strange and terrifying powers of Devil Fruits.
This particular edition had come from the Black Spot Pirates, an affiliated crew whose captain had gifted it to Aeridar. He claimed it was loot from a noble's vessel, intended as a tribute for some king.
The captain had paid dearly for it: hunted by that kingdom, and with a 78 million bounty placed on his head by the Marines.
But for Aeridar, the book was invaluable.
With it, he could identify any Devil Fruit they found—its type, powers, and hidden dangers. He'd accepted the Black Spot Pirates' allegiance without hesitation, even allowing them to sail under his flag.
Sitting back on the couch with the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia in hand, Aeridar crossed one leg over the other and began flipping through its pages.
Time ticked by. Millie and Mina had already changed out his tea twice.
By now, Aeridar had made it more than halfway through the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. The tome was divided into three main volumes: Logia, Paramecia, and Zoan.
Among them, Paramecia and Zoan were each further split into three subcategories.
Paramecia was broken down into:
Zoan was divided into:
As expected, the book recorded a staggering number of Devil Fruits, many of which had never been heard of, or were terrifying in their capabilities. Aeridar's brows furrowed deeper with every page.
One example: the Logia-type Air-Air Fruit, which grants control over the air itself, capable of generating hurricanes or creating vacuum zones.
Or the Paramecia-type Dream-Dream Fruit, which lets the user enter others' dreams. Not only could they kill within dreams, but they could even bring objects imagined in those dreams into the real world.
Then there was the Paramecia-type Mirage-Mirage Fruit, capable of casting illusions and manipulating perception. It could even brainwash others, turning enemies into fanatical subordinates.
And the Paramecia-type Crush-Crush Fruit, granting the user power to pulverize objects at will. A single punch could shatter an entire island.
He hadn't even gotten through the Zoan section yet, but already the Ancient Species like the Saber-Toothed Tiger Fruit and the Pterosaur Fruit had appeared.
And under Mythical Species, there were entries like the Titan Fruit, Behemoth Fruit, and Hydra Fruit.
So many powerful and outlandish abilities, just reading about them was overwhelming.
Aeridar found himself breaking into a cold sweat.
Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the ship, followed by a violent lurch.
The fine porcelain teacup on the table shattered against the floor, spilling piping-hot tea across the wooden planks.
"A Sea King?!" Aeridar's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly snapped the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia shut and tossed it onto the couch, striding quickly out of the captain's quarters.
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