Translator: PapaSmurf0700
After acquiring the Munch-Munch Fruit and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Bai Ye integrated the incomplete Law of Devouring and Law of Thunder into his inner world. This advancement not only deepened his understanding of the devil fruit's core but also led to several new discoveries.
Bai Ye shared these insights with Chopper, aiming to expand the scope of the Rumble Ball's effects beyond Chopper himself to potentially benefit other devil fruit users. Their vision was ambitious, and on paper, their plan seemed both sound and foolproof.
However, reality proved to be less accommodating. As Bai Ye and Chopper moved from the drawing board to actual experiments, they faced a myriad of challenges. They struggled with too few samples and insufficient data, which significantly hampered their progress.
Their research hit multiple roadblocks, and at one point, they nearly caused an explosion that could have destroyed the Golden Merry. This close call was a harsh lesson, but it sparked a vital shift in their approach.
Realizing the need to recalibrate their goals, Bai Ye and Chopper decided to narrow their focus. Understanding that developing a universal Rumble Ball for all devil fruits was too ambitious, they opted to target a more achievable objective: creating a Rumble Ball specifically for zoan type devil fruit users.
With this revised goal, their experimental process began to flow much more smoothly. The focused approach allowed them to make significant progress, sidestepping the overwhelming complications they had faced earlier.
Indeed, Chopper himself had consumed a zoan type devil fruit, and the original Rumble Ball was designed to alter the wavelength of that specific type of fruit. Given this foundation, it seemed feasible to develop a new Rumble Ball that could produce similar effects for other types of devil fruits, based on the data Bai Ye provided.
However, Bai Ye was facing some challenges. The laws he had deciphered were derived from paramecia and logia type devil fruits; curiously, he had not yet unraveled any laws from zoan type fruits. This gap in their knowledge led them on a somewhat circuitous route in their research.
Despite these hurdles and numerous setbacks, there was a silver lining—the fundamental nature of devil fruits shared a common origin. After many trials and errors, Bai Ye and Chopper were finally nearing the last phase of their experiment: selecting a suitable test subject.
At this point, Chopper was puzzled. He was the only zoan devil fruit user among the Straw Hat Pirates, which limited their options for testing. Sensing Chopper's confusion, Bai Ye handed him some experimental samples to reassure him.
These samples were derived from Luffy, who, as it turned out, had consumed a zoan type devil fruit, contrary to the common belief that he had a paramecia type. This revelation was pivotal, not only for their experiments but also because Luffy, their ever-optimistic and somewhat oblivious captain, held immense potential. This made the development of the Rumble Ball for zoan type fruits even more critical in Bai Ye's eyes, eager to tap into the vast capabilities of his captain.
In the original story, Luffy only began to awaken his fruit's true power after a brutal beating by Kaido, when he was near death. It was then that he first learned the true name of his fruit. Armed with knowledge of this backstory, Bai Ye hopes to alter the course of events.
He has pinned his hopes on the Rumble Ball that he and Chopper are developing together. Based on their current progress, there's a good chance they could have a Rumble Ball - Luffy Special Edition ready before they head into war. While Bai Ye isn't certain that this will directly trigger Luffy's awakening, he believes it will significantly advance Luffy's journey towards that crucial milestone.
Realistically, Bai Ye needn't be so worried about speeding up Luffy's awakening; after all, the crew has yet to even enter the second part of the Grand Line - New World. Given the current capabilities of the Straw Hat Pirates, they are more than capable of holding their own, unless the navy decides to pursue them aggressively. But Bai Ye has his reasons and plans that guide his actions.
As previously noted, Bai Ye joined Luffy and his crew not only because he liked them, but also driven by a greater ambition: to change the entire world. Even though the world of the comics, as portrayed by Oda, is seen through the lively and optimistic eyes of the Straw Hats, it does not hide the many wrongs and injustices that pervade it. This world is fundamentally flawed, marred by those in power who, drunk on their own authority, have established a regime of absolute rule.
In examining the major factions within this world—namely the Navy, the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, and the Pirates—the connections and dynamics become apparent. The first two maintain a complex relationship, uniting against common enemies represented by the latter two, thereby crafting a precarious balance. Under this arrangement, the Navy ostensibly enforces justice in limited areas, while the World Government exploits the entire sea with the Navy's support. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Army has yet to launch a full-scale war, and the pirates continue their disruptive activities like a pervasive cancer.
For the common folk born into this world, living to old age is often a distant dream rather than an expectation. Bai Ye, recognizing the deep-seated issues, is determined to instigate change, but he knows he can't do it alone. This realization led him to Luffy—a unique figure capable of disrupting the fragile status quo.
Luffy, having consumed the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, is precisely the kind of transformative figure needed. Connected to significant elements like Joy Boy, the colossal elephant lord Zunesha, the kingdom of Zou, and the mysterious Poneglyphs, Luffy is central to pivotal changes that could reshape the world. Whether by fate or coincidence, his presence attracts not only Bai Ye but will likely draw other individuals and forces who will choose to rally behind him in the future, including some who would never have previously considered such an alliance.
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A few days later, as Bai Ye stepped out of his room, he was greeted by Luffy's loud voice calling from the bow of the ship. "Hey, Bai Ye! Look!!" Bai Ye looked up to see Luffy excitedly pointing ahead. "It's a frog!" he shouted. "A giant frog! And it's freestyle swimming in the sea!"
Bai Ye was initially taken aback, then a realization dawned on him. He almost said, "Isn't that freestyle frog actually a Yokozuna?" But before he could get the words out, Luffy was already barking orders, "Merry, turn the rudder quickly! Usopp and Chopper, adjust the sail direction. Bai Ye, use the wind to blow the Golden Merry over; we must catch up with that frog!!"
In Luffy's eyes, a spark of hope was already shining brightly.
Soon after, Nami stepped out of her room, noticing the ship veering off course. She saw Usopp and Chopper wrestling with the sails, Merry at the helm, and Luffy and Bai Ye eagerly pointing forward at the bow. "Hey, Luffy, what happened? Why are we changing direction...?" Nami began.
Luffy turned to Nami with a look of earnest determination. "Nami, listen to me!" he said seriously. "I saw a big freestyle frog! I must catch up with it! Then bake it and eat it!!"
Bai Ye stood silently, a speechless observer to the unfolding chaos.
Usopp, Chopper, and Merry could be heard grumbling in disbelief, "So it's going to be roasted and eaten!!"