Author: Xiao Yifeng
Translator: PapaSmurf0700
As the Straw Hat Pirates' ship, easily recognized by its unique flag featuring a skull donning a straw hat, sailed across the first half of the Grand Line, a sense of boredom had settled among some of its crew members. Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper all leaned listlessly against the railing on the ship's second deck, their energy seemingly sapped by the monotony of the sea voyage.
Since their departure from Alabasta, the crew had experienced a series of minor but interesting adventures. One such incident involved sailing into a dense fog, where they unexpectedly rescued a young apprentice chef. Sanji, empathizing with the boy's struggles, shared his own culinary journey, inspiring the young chef to create an impressive curry dish. However, this foggy venture also led them into an unexpected predicament - they found themselves encircled by naval warships lost in the same fog. Under Nami's shrewd direction and with Bai Ye's unique abilities, the crew skillfully maneuvered the Golden Merry out of the tight spot, much to Bai Ye's realization that his mystical Qimen techniques had grown significantly more powerful.
The journey also brought them to several fascinating islands. One island, in particular, was home to a variety of extraordinary animals, including a monkey whose resemblance to Luffy provided much amusement to the crew. This period of exploration and discovery helped the crew move past their initial disappointment of Vivi's decision not to join them.
Meanwhile, Robin, the newest member, was gradually finding her place within the Straw Hat crew. Having lived the precarious life of an undercover agent for over a decade, she appreciated the newfound sense of relaxation and freedom she experienced among the Straw Hats. For her, each day was a reason to cherish and a step away from her past – a significant change that brought a quiet contentment to her life.
During their recent adventures, an intriguing collaboration unfolded between Bai Ye and Chopper involving the Rumble Ball. Chopper had independently developed this unique drug, capable of altering the deformation wavelength of his Devil Fruit, effectively manipulating the laws of nature. Bai Ye was thoroughly impressed by Chopper's creation, considering the complexity and power it represented.
Recognizing the potential of merging his alchemical knowledge with Chopper's Rumble Ball, Bai Ye proposed developing an advanced version of this drug. The Rumble Ball, despite its effectiveness, came with significant limitations and side effects. Its power only lasted for three minutes, and consuming multiple Rumble Balls in quick succession led to uncontrollable transformations and, eventually, a state of blind rage.
Chopper's later experiences showed that he could eventually transform without the need for a Rumble Ball, except for his most powerful state. This progress led Bai Ye to theorize that under certain conditions, a person could gain mastery over their Devil Fruit's wavelength.
Bai Ye's ambition was to create a "Deluxe Edition" of the Rumble Ball. While reducing side effects and boosting powers was intriguing, Bai Ye's primary interest lay in a more challenging and exciting prospect - creating a Rumble Ball variant that could affect Luffy's formidable Devil Fruit.
The idea of amplifying Luffy's already strong abilities with a tailored Rumble Ball was not just a test of Bai Ye's alchemical skills but also a venture into uncharted territory in the world of Devil Fruits. The potential of such a creation could redefine the limits of their powers.
In the midst of their journey, the Straw Hat Pirates, already a crew with several Devil Fruit users, were expecting more unique abilities to join their ranks. Luffy, Chopper, and Robin were already showcasing their extraordinary powers. Bai Ye anticipated the arrival of Brook and had already earmarked a special Devil Fruit for Franky. He was also keenly interested in two additional fruits they would likely encounter soon and was contemplating the ideal members to wield these powers. One of these fruits, in particular, sparked significant excitement in Bai Ye.
Lost in these thoughts, Bai Ye was abruptly jolted from his reverie by a thunderous explosion that rocked the Golden Merry. He nearly lost his balance and tumbled off the deck. Before he could even regain his footing, Nami's voice, sharp with annoyance, broke through the commotion, scolding Luffy, "Luffy!! Didn't I tell you not to mess around with Bai Ye's talismans? You could blow up the whole ship! Listen to me, you IDIOT!" Her words were punctuated by a firm thump on Luffy's head, a 'love fist' as they had come to call it.
Luffy, rubbing his head, sheepishly apologized, "I'm so sorry."
Nami sighed deeply, her frustration evident. "If it weren't for Bai Ye strengthening the Merry and Usopp's regular upkeep, you would've destroyed our ship by now," she lamented, her concern for their vessel evident in her tone.
Just then, Bai Ye approached the duo, offering Luffy a piece of advice with a light-hearted tone, "Next time you want to use a talisman for frying fish, just make sure to throw it a bit farther away from the ship, okay?" Luffy's eyes sparkled with mischievous glee at the suggestion, a clear indication that he was already plotting his next culinary escapade.
Nami, overhearing Bai Ye's suggestion, could only look on in silent exasperation, her expression conveying a mix of disbelief and resignation. In her mind, she couldn't help but think, "He's just spoiling him."
Robin, with her usual inquisitive nature, approached the group, her interest piqued. "I've seen Bai Ye's talismans in action before, but the blast Luffy created just now seemed exceptionally powerful," she noted, her eyes reflecting her curiosity as she looked down at Luffy. "May I take a look, Luffy?"
Bai Ye was about to interject, but Luffy, ever the enthusiastic showman, leaped up, brimming with pride. "Oh, that? That's a trick Usopp showed me," Luffy declared, his voice filled with a mix of excitement and pride. He produced two talismans from his pocket—one imbued with the essence of fire, the other crackling with the energy of thunder.
"Check this out," Luffy beamed, holding the talismans up for everyone to see. "If you use these two together, you can fry even more fish!" With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the talismans further away from the Merry.
An explosive boom resonated through the air, the sky lighting up with a blend of fiery red and electric blue. Bai Ye, watching the spectacle, thought he glimpsed a mushroom cloud forming amidst the chaos.
Luffy, turning back to face the crew, wore a grin of satisfaction, clearly pleased with his display. "See? Bai Ye's talismans are super powerful! Haha!"
However, Luffy's moment of triumph was short-lived as he realized that Bai Ye and the others were not looking at him, but rather something behind him in the sky. Confused, Luffy swiveled around, his eyes widening in shock at the sight of a massive, unidentified object plummeting towards them.
In a split second, Luffy's instincts kicked in. He transformed into a balloon, stretching and inflating to cushion the impact of the falling object. With a loud thud, the object landed safely on Luffy's ballooned form.