Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As Bai Ye stood in his inner scene, observing Wapol's body, he was deep in thought, stroking his chin contemplatively. He could clearly see the law waves emanating from Wapol, and these waves seemed to have a life of their own, as if they were conscious of their surroundings in this new world.
Bai Ye felt an undercurrent of restlessness within these law waves. He remembered a key detail from the later parts of the original story, where it was suggested that Devil Fruits have the ability to choose their hosts. This idea wasn't foreign to Bai Ye. In the era of ancient Qi practitioners, even inanimate magical weapons were believed to possess the capacity to select their wielders. Given that devil fruits were considered a unique and significant aspect of this world, it didn't surprise Bai Ye that they might exhibit similar sentient-like qualities. He thought about how a particular fruit had successfully evaded the World Government for centuries.
What captivated Bai Ye the most at this moment was the peculiar behavior of the law waves in front of him. They seemed to be splitting or dividing. The originally unified wave was now exhibiting a sense of disorder, with sections of it acting independently of each other.
Bai Ye pondered this phenomenon. "Could this be," he thought, "the origin of what are known as the upper and lower fruits?" He speculated that if a law wave couldn't find a new host immediately, it might fragment. This fragmentation could lead to a partial loss of power and the creation of a new type of devil fruit – a 'lower fruit,' which would stem from the original 'upper fruit.' He wondered if, eventually, the original devil fruit might be re-projected and manifested again by the world.
Within a short span of time, Bai Ye began to form another theory. He considered whether the power of the lower fruit, especially one derived from the Munch-Munch Fruit, could evolve. Perhaps, rather than just devouring everything, this lower fruit might gain strength through the act of consumption. Bai Ye's theories were opening up new possibilities and understandings of the mysterious and complex nature of devil fruits.
Bai Ye, engrossed in his observation, realized the importance of not just understanding but actually acquiring the power of the devil fruit. He decided to take a more hands-on approach. With just a thought, he summoned an apple from the outside room into the inner scene. The moment the apple materialized, something extraordinary happened. The law wave of the Munch-Munch Fruit, as if drawn by an invisible force, surged into the apple, transforming the once ordinary fruit into a devil fruit.
Had Bai Ye been in possession of a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, he would have easily identified the newly transformed fruit as the Munch-Munch Fruit. As he observed the fruit's transformation, a feeling of accomplishment and pride washed over him. He had possibly stumbled upon a method to ensure a 100% success rate in acquiring devil fruit powers, a technique that might even surpass the one used by Blackbeard.
However, Bai Ye was not without his concerns. One significant issue that he acknowledged, somewhat regretfully, was his current inability to negate the curse associated with these devil fruits. While the Law of Devouring, recorded in the inner scene, was undoubtedly the source of this newly acquired power, Bai Ye did not yet have the means to eradicate the curse at its very root. Attempting to interfere with the curse could potentially disrupt the delicate balance of the law wave. This was a risk Bai Ye was not willing to take, leaving him with a feeling of frustration amidst his breakthrough.
This limitation meant that, for now, Bai Ye could harness the power of devil fruits but could not remove the inherent drawbacks that came with them. This realization was a bittersweet moment for Bai Ye as he pondered over the possibilities and the limitations of his discovery.
The Munch-Munch Fruit, which Bai Ye had just successfully acquired, offered an extraordinary ability - the power to consume anything and assimilate it into the body or use it for synthesis. Wapol, the original user of this fruit, had demonstrated its capabilities by even consuming parts of himself to alter his physical form. To Bai Ye, this ability represented something much more profound than a simple skill; it seemed to him like a fundamental law, a principle of the universe. The fruit instantly provided its user with the incredible power to devour anything and make use of it, bypassing normal digestion. Bai Ye couldn't help but think that this ability might be closely related to the very essence of the Dao, the fundamental principle that underlies everything in the universe.
However, as Bai Ye examined the Law of Devouring inscribed in his inner scene, he noticed something unexpected. "It doesn't seem as potent as I expected," he mused. This observation wasn't born out of arrogance but was a careful assessment of the law's manifestation in his own inner world. He had expected the Inner World, which now bore the Law of Devouring, to exhibit the same formidable ability as the Munch-Munch Fruit displayed in the One Piece world. Yet, to his discerning eyes, it seemed to lack the same overwhelming power.
Bai Ye pondered if this difference could be attributed to the disparity between the levels of the worlds. His inner scene, developed through Daoist practices and the techniques of ancient Qi practitioners, was intrinsically linked to the world of immortal cultivation, which was different from the One Piece universe. This connection might be why Bai Ye could neutralize the law wave of the fruit with relative ease.
Despite a tinge of disappointment, Bai Ye remained excited by his breakthrough. His primary goal had been to extract and harness the power of a devil fruit from its user and to test the implications of this ability. This achievement was a significant step forward in his plans.
Moreover, Bai Ye had made additional, unexpected gains. One such discovery was that his inner scene could record and harness laws like the Law of Devouring. This revelation sparked a bold and ambitious idea in Bai Ye's mind: what if he could use his own inner scene to consume the world of Taomen Jilu? This possibility opened up a whole new realm of potential for his explorations and experiments.
Bai Ye, although he only had access rights to the world of [Taomen Jilu], understood that possessing a fully developed and advanced inner world as a Qi practitioner could significantly boost his power. This understanding was one of his key reasons for targeting Wapol. By assimilating the Munch-Munch Fruit's power using the Law of Devouring, Bai Ye foresaw the potential for a transformative leap in his own strength through the capabilities of his inner scene world, possibly reaching a state of invincibility.
However, the Law of Devouring he had acquired was not as powerful as he had hoped. This realization meant that Bai Ye needed to be patient and wait for the law to strengthen over time.
Following these reflections, Bai Ye decided to show a gesture of gratitude towards Wapol for his unintentional contribution. In the inner scene, he used a flame to cremate Wapol's body, ensuring that no remains were left behind. As he did so, Bai Ye silently expressed his thanks before leaving the inner world.
Regarding the newly acquired Munch-Munch Fruit, Bai Ye chose not to reveal it immediately. The explanation behind its acquisition was complex, and he was still deliberating over whom to bestow this powerful fruit upon. His plan was to prioritize his allies when distributing such valuable treasures. Given the fruit's unique abilities of devouring and synthesis, Bai Ye thought the Straw Hat crew, particularly the eccentric man known for wearing only underwear and frequently exclaiming "Super", would be the most suitable recipient.
Bai Ye was intrigued and excited at the prospect of seeing how this individual would utilize the Munch-Munch Fruit's powers. He anticipated how the addition of these new abilities might enhance the crew's dynamics and capabilities, eagerly looking forward to the potential developments that could arise from this decision.