As Ace stood on the coast, the salty breeze whipping through his hair, a voice echoed in his mind, clear and resolute: "You call the wills of the Fish-Fish Fruit—Mythical Beast—Blue Dragon Form, the Bird-Bird Fruit—Mythical Beast—Suzaku Form, and the Cat-Cat Fruit—Mythical Beast—White Tiger Form. The Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form is drawn to you."
Ace's gaze shifted to the Devil Fruit in his hand, its surface marked with the intricate patterns of a tortoise shell, emanating an otherworldly aura. A slight smile played at the corners of his mouth. He had anticipated this moment, the culmination of his efforts and the synergy between these formidable Devil Fruits.
Thanks to his heightened Observation Haki—enhanced by the abilities he had absorbed from Charlotte Linlin and Kaido—Ace could now see far into the future. The power of the Time-Time Fruit, amplified by his unique field of understanding, further expanded his foresight. This allowed him to not only glimpse distant possibilities but also to influence the course of events.
Ace understood the nature of Mythical Beast Devil Fruits better than most. These fruits were not merely sources of immense power; they contained wills of their own, each one embodying the essence of the mythical creatures they represented. Among them, the most powerful was undoubtedly the Human-Human Fruit—Mythical Beast—Nika Form, currently wielded by his younger brother, Monkey D. Luffy. But beneath that legendary fruit were four other top-tier Mythical Beast Devil Fruits, each one a force to be reckoned with in its own right.
The Fish-Fish Fruit—Mythical Beast—Blue Dragon Form, the Bird-Bird Fruit—Mythical Beast—Suzaku Form, the Cat-Cat Fruit—Mythical Beast—White Tiger Form, and the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form were all part of this elite group. Each fruit was linked by an intrinsic connection, their wills intertwined in ways that only someone with Ace's understanding could grasp.
When Ace had guided Gion to obtain the Cat-Cat Fruit—Mythical Beast—White Tiger Form, it was the Suzaku Will, residing within the Bird-Bird Fruit—Mythical Beast—Suzaku Form that Laki had consumed, that had played a crucial role. The synergy between these Mythical Beast fruits was undeniable, and Ace had used this knowledge to his advantage.
Now, with Kaido's Fish-Fish Fruit—Mythical Beast—Blue Dragon Form in his possession, Ace held three of the four top-tier Mythical Beast Devil Fruits. Utilizing his field of understanding, Ace summoned the Wills of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Suzaku, calling them forth from within these legendary fruits. The resonance between these wills was powerful, a harmonic convergence that reached out and drew in the Black Tortoise Will, housed within the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form.
As Ace held the Turtle-Turtle Fruit aloft, he could feel the connection solidifying, the wills of the four great beasts aligning under his command. This was no mere coincidence but the result of Ace's deep understanding and mastery of these forces. He was orchestrating something grand, something that would reshape the balance of power in the world.
The fruit pulsed in his hand, responding to the convergence of wills. Ace knew that with this fruit, Zephyr would be restored to his former glory, his strength and potential reignited. But more than that, Ace was now on the verge of unlocking a new level of power, one that would make the Entei Pirates an unstoppable force.
The sea around them seemed to sense the gravity of the moment, the waves growing calmer, almost reverent, as Ace prepared to hand over the fruit. The future was bright, and with the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form, Ace was ready to lead his crew into the next chapter of their journey—a chapter that would be written in legend.
Ace held the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form in his hand, feeling the power of the fruit naturally resonate within him. As its abilities emerged in his mind, a newfound understanding illuminated his gaze.
I see, he thought, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place. It was no wonder that the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia only offered a single, enigmatic sentence about this fruit: that it could restore its user to their peak. The full scope of its power was far more profound.
The first benefit of consuming the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form was the transformation of the user's body into the Black Tortoise Body, a form as formidable as the Azure Dragon, Suzaku, and White Tiger Bodies. In terms of defense, the Black Tortoise Body stood at the pinnacle of all Mythical Beast Devil Fruits, surpassing even the Azure Dragon Body's near-indestructibility. The Black Tortoise was an embodiment of fortitude, a shield against the world's harshest assaults.
But the fruit's true power lay beyond its physical prowess. Like other Mythical Beast Devil Fruits, the Turtle-Turtle Fruit bestowed a unique ability upon awakening. Just as the Fish-Fish Fruit—Mythical Beast—Blue Dragon Form allowed its user to control natural elements, and the Human-Human Fruit—Mythical Beast—Nika Form granted its wielder the creative, reality-bending powers of Nika, the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form unlocked the ability to traverse between the realms of the living and the dead.
This fruit allowed its user to create Dark Water—a substance unlike any found in nature. Unlike regular water, which was loathed by the sea and therefore unusable by Devil Fruit users, Dark Water was drawn from the underworld itself, a manifestation of Hades' realm. Heavy beyond measure, this water could crush anything beneath its weight. And cold—so cold that it surpassed even the ice produced by Brook's Yomi Yomi no Mi, freezing its targets at the cellular level, turning them into statues of ice and death.
The fruit's power extended even further. By accessing the netherworld, the user could not only gain immense strength but also reverse the effects of aging, restoring their youth and vigor. Though it didn't extend the user's natural lifespan, it prolonged their prime, much like the legendary Saiyan race from Dragon Ball. A user could remain in their physical prime until the very end of their life, only aging in the final moments before death claimed them.
As Ace contemplated this power, he recognized its significance. The Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form was truly a top-tier Mythical Beast Devil Fruit, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Fish-Fish, Bird-Bird, and Cat-Cat Forms. Its ability to manipulate the boundary between life and death, to wield Dark Water as a weapon of destruction, and to preserve youth made it a force to be reckoned with.
Ace smiled, the corners of his mouth curling upward. This fruit is truly worthy of its reputation, he thought, his mind already racing with the possibilities. With this power in his hands, and with Zephyr as its destined wielder, the Entei Pirates would become even more unstoppable. The Black Tortoise would be their shield, their guardian against any who dared to oppose them.
"Eat it, Zephyr."
Ace's voice was calm yet commanding as he handed the Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form to Zephyr. A slight smile played on his lips, but the weight of this moment was not lost on anyone present.
Zephyr, the once formidable Marine admiral, stood before Ace, feeling the gravity of the situation. His usually composed demeanor wavered, his breath coming heavier as he gazed at the top-tier Mythical Beast Devil Fruit. For a man who had always taught restraint in relying on Devil Fruits, this was a moment of profound contradiction. Zephyr had always believed in the supremacy of physical prowess and Haki, warning his students—especially those like Kizaru, whom he considered too dependent on their Devil Fruit abilities—against leaning too heavily on such powers.
Yet, Zephyr could not deny the truth he knew deep down: a powerful Devil Fruit could elevate its user to unimaginable heights. This was no ordinary fruit. The Turtle-Turtle Fruit—Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form was one of the most potent in existence. Fully mastering and awakening this fruit's abilities could restore his prime and grant him the strength he once wielded as an admiral. The power to prolong his youth, to fight once more at his peak—these were opportunities he never imagined would come to him again.
Memories of his past, of his prime when he stood as an Admiral with nothing but his physical abilities and Armament Haki, flashed through his mind. But those days had faded. Age had diminished his strength, and his body, once a temple of power, had become frail, afflicted with ailments that required constant care. The thought of regaining that strength, of restoring his broken body for the sake of his dream, was too tempting to resist.
With a resolute expression, Zephyr reached out, took the Devil Fruit from Ace's hand, and without further hesitation, he bit into it.
"Crack!"
The moment the fruit's flesh touched his tongue, a rush of energy surged through him.
"Swish! Buzz!"
Zephyr's body was enveloped in a brilliant white light as he began to transform. The light expanded rapidly, and within moments, the form of a colossal creature emerged. It was a black giant tortoise, immense and imposing, with a long, terrifying snake-like tail—a creature that seemed to be the ruler of the underworld itself. This was Xuanwu, the mythical beast capable of traversing between life and death.
The transformation was brief, and soon the light faded, revealing a restored Zephyr—no, Z—standing in human form. But this was not the old, weary man who had stood before them moments ago. Z now looked as he had in his prime: youthful purple hair, skin that gleamed with vitality, and muscles that rippled with power. He was the very image of the man who had once been an Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, a force to be reckoned with.
Kuzan and Gion, standing nearby, could hardly believe their eyes. They stared at Z in stunned silence, their pupils dilated in disbelief. The old teacher they had known, the man who had grown weaker with age, was gone. In his place stood a warrior reborn, a legend returned to his prime.
"Zephyr? Don't call me by that name anymore," Z declared, his voice strong and filled with renewed vigor. "I am now the captain of the 7th Division of the Entei Pirates, Z!"
As Z's laughter echoed across the coast, it was filled with a sense of triumph and liberation. Kuzan and Gion exchanged glances, their faces breaking into smiles. They had witnessed a miracle—one that would forever alter the balance of power on the seas.
In the distance, Ain watched the scene unfold, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. She brought her hands to her mouth, trying to stifle the sobs that threatened to escape. This was a moment she had dreamed of, a moment she had hoped for more than anything: to see her beloved teacher restored to his former glory.
The Entei Pirates had gained a powerful new ally, and with Z among their ranks, their strength was now unmatched. The seas would tremble before them.
Ace observed Zephyr, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The transformation before him was remarkable. Zephyr, who had once relied solely on Armament Haki and physical prowess to achieve the rank of Admiral, had now consumed one of the rarest and most powerful Devil Fruits—the Turtle-Turtle Fruit, Mythical Beast—Black Tortoise Form.
With this newfound power, Zephyr's combat potential had skyrocketed. While his ceiling might be limited by the absence of Conqueror's Haki, preventing him from reaching the heights of someone like Kaido, his potential to rival or even surpass the strength of Kuzan was undeniable. The formidable Black Tortoise Body endowed him with unparalleled defensive capabilities, positioning him at the pinnacle of all Devil Fruit users in terms of resilience. In a direct confrontation with one of the Four Emperors, Zephyr could now hold his own, potentially even stalling them in battle—a crucial asset for the Entei Pirates.
But Ace's appreciation for Zephyr extended beyond his newfound combat prowess. Zephyr was a masterful teacher, responsible for training nearly all the formidable fighters within the Naval Headquarters. His expertise in nurturing talent was unrivaled, and with Ace's field of understanding amplifying this ability, Zephyr's capacity to produce elite warriors would reach new heights.
This was precisely what Ace needed. His growing territories, particularly Amazon Lily and Wano, were in desperate need of a skilled instructor to train their forces. Zephyr could fill this critical role, addressing the Entei Pirates' most significant weakness—their lack of a robust and reliable auxiliary force. As the final confrontation with the World Government loomed on the horizon, this deficiency had to be rectified.
Ace knew that in the coming war, his own power—including his Conqueror's Haki and the overwhelming might of the Mera-Mera Fruit—would need to be conserved for the most formidable adversaries: the Five Elders, the Knights of God, and the enigmatic Imu. The World Government, with its 800-year reign, was not an opponent to be underestimated. Ace couldn't afford to squander his strength on the lower-tier combatants. Instead, a large, well-trained fighting force was necessary to counter the World Government's vast armies and the might of the Naval Headquarters.
"The decisive battle is approaching," Ace mused, a confident curve forming on his lips.
His eyes glinted with a scarlet light, a manifestation of his Ultimate Observation Haki, enhanced by the power of the Time Fruit. In his mind, the future unfolded, showing him paths and possibilities. Ace had already pinpointed the perfect moment for this decisive clash—it would be when his younger brother, Monkey D. Luffy, arrived in Wano after setting out to sea.
As the seasons passed, summer giving way to autumn, more than a year had gone by. The pieces were moving into place, and Ace knew the time for the final confrontation was drawing near. The Entei Pirates were preparing, and with Zephyr's resurgence, their strength had grown even more formidable. The world was about to witness a battle like no other, and Ace was ready to lead the charge.
East Blue, Windmill Village
A cheerful atmosphere hung over Windmill Village as a young boy, grinning ear to ear beneath his iconic straw hat, prepared to set sail. The boat beneath him was simple, a far cry from the grand vessels of the high seas, but the determination in his eyes was unmistakable. Monkey D. Luffy, the village's beloved rascal, waved enthusiastically at the gathering of villagers, his smile wide and full of excitement.
"Everyone, I'm going to sea!" Luffy shouted, his voice carrying across the water.
The villagers, who had watched Luffy grow up, chuckled at the sight. They had seen this day coming ever since Luffy first declared his dream of becoming a pirate.
"Luffy! Become a big pirate!" one of the villagers called out with a laugh.
"We already have a super big pirate from Windmill Village. You have to become as great as your brother Ace so we can brag even more!" another chimed in, grinning.
The village chief, his expression stern, couldn't help but interject, though his words were half-hearted. "Shut up! It's bad enough we've got one big troublemaker out there, now you want another? How am I supposed to live in peace as the village chief?"
But the villagers knew better. Despite his gruff demeanor, they had all seen the old man's eyes light up with pride whenever Ace was mentioned. His stern facade cracked as he watched Luffy prepare to set out, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
When Ace had left the village and made a name for himself, the village chief had been secretly delighted, even if he wouldn't admit it. Now, watching Luffy follow in his brother's footsteps, there was a mix of concern and pride in his heart.
"Hehe! Of course! I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King!" Luffy declared, his grin widening at the thought.
The villagers beamed back at him. "Hey, Luffy, if you see Ace out there, don't forget to tell him we miss him too!" one of them shouted.
Luffy gave a confident nod, pressing down on his straw hat. "Oh, don't worry, I will!" he promised.
With that, Luffy grabbed the oars and began to row, the little boat gliding towards the vast sea that stretched out before him.
As he moved away from the shore, Luffy's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Finally, I'm heading out to sea, Ace! Wait for me!" he thought aloud, his voice filled with excitement. "I've gotten a lot stronger!"
His mind raced with plans and dreams. "First, I need to gather my companions. I want ten people, and I also need a pirate flag!" he mused, his heart full of resolve.
With a brilliant smile on his face, Luffy gazed at the horizon, where the endless possibilities of adventure awaited.
Monkey D. Luffy, future Pirate King, had set sail.