Kai pulled out the freshly baked Thunder-Thunder Fruit and carefully examined it in his hand.
Nearby, everyone watched in shock as they had witnessed the entire transformation process of the fruit.
Robin, eyeing the fruit's shape and the unique lightning patterns, couldn't help but ask, her forehead beaded with sweat, "Could this be...?"
"Yes, it's the Thunder-Thunder Fruit!" Kai said with a faint smile.
"What!!!"
The group's expressions turned to sheer amazement at the revelation.
Sanji, bewildered, asked, "Isn't this supposed to be the power of a god? How did it end up as this pineapple?"
Kai explained, "When a Devil Fruit user dies, their power transfers to the nearest fruit, transforming it into a Devil Fruit."
"But before today, these were just my theories. I wasn't sure if it would work, so I wanted to test it!" Kai continued lightly.
Although Kai was only about 70% certain the method would succeed, he had reason to believe it would. In the original timeline, Caesar Clown had once experimented with slime, and when the slime perished, an apple nearby turned into a Devil Fruit.
If the apples had just happened to be there, it could have been a coincidence. However, Caesar's men had pushed the apples over intentionally, suggesting that Caesar knew about this principle in advance.
Since Kai had intended to defeat Enel anyway, using him for experimentation was a calculated risk. Even if it didn't work, it wouldn't affect him significantly.
Kai glanced at everyone and then at Zoro, who was still asleep on the ground. He couldn't resist giving him a kick.
"Hiss!"
The kick hit Zoro's wound, causing him to wake up in pain and immediately jump to his feet. "Which idiot kicked me? Are you looking for a fight?"
"I kicked you. What's the problem?" Kai said, unfazed.
"You jerk! Just because you're stronger doesn't mean you can push me around! I'll make you pay for this!" Zoro raged, though his sword remained sheathed.
The air grew tense for a moment. Zoro turned to Nami and the others. "Aren't you going to stop me?"
Everyone shook their heads, and Sanji added with a grin, "Go ahead, I'm curious to see how you'll get beat!"
"You curly-haired fool, you're asking for it!"
Zoro unsheathed his swords and slashed at Sanji, slicing through the smoke from Sanji's cigarette. Sanji, pale with fright, seethed with anger.
"You green algae head, are you asking for trouble?"
"Bang!"
"Clang!"
The two engaged in a heated fight. It was supposed to be a showdown between Kai and Zoro, but now it was a clash between Zoro and Sanji. It seemed Zoro had picked the easier target!
"Hey, everyone!"
The shout from the distance caught their attention as Chopper and Usopp ran up, waving.
Kai smiled at their arrival. "Perfect timing! Now everyone's here!"
As they approached, Chopper and Usopp noticed the Thunder-Thunder Fruit in Kai's hand and asked curiously, "Kai, what's that?"
Kai didn't answer immediately. Instead, he addressed Zoro and Sanji, still at odds. "Hey, you two, stop fighting. We have something important to discuss!"
Zoro, seeing Kai's serious expression, said, "Fine, I'll let you off this time, Kai."
Sanji, still fuming, snapped, "You're giving me face now?"
Kai sighed, recognizing the inescapable task of dealing with their bickering. With a decisive step, he intervened, separating the two and calling everyone over.
Kai displayed the Thunder-Thunder Fruit in front of everyone and asked, "Does anyone here who hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit have any thoughts about this?"
"Huh? You mean this is for us?" Nami asked, intrigued.
"Why not? I've already eaten a Devil Fruit. I can't eat another," Kai said with a hint of irritation.
While Kai could eat another Devil Fruit, he didn't need to. With the Monkey King Fruit already in his possession, he was immensely powerful, and adding the Thunder-Thunder Fruit would be redundant.
He intended to give it to someone else on the ship, knowing it would greatly enhance their strength, considering the Thunder-Thunder Fruit's formidable Logia powers.
"So, what do you think?" Kai pressed.
After a moment of silence, Zoro spoke first. "My goal is to become the world's greatest swordsman. I have no interest in Devil Fruits."
"I'm not interested either," Sanji said coolly, his thoughts drifting. As a Vinsmoke, he feared the fruit might interfere with his bloodline and cause unwanted changes. He preferred to remain as he was, with his human emotions distinct from his cold-blooded family.
Usopp added, "I don't want to eat it either. I want to be a brave warrior of the sea, not a landlubber. I'm here for the adventures!"
Kai turned to Nami. "What about you?"
Nami hesitated, gazing at the Thunder-Thunder Fruit with mixed emotions. She was aware of her own lack of strength compared to the others and had struggled with Haki training. Here was a chance to gain immense power, and she knew the strength of a Logia like Thunder-Thunder.
After some thought, Nami's eyes hardened with determination. She looked at Kai and said, "I'll eat it!"
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Power Stones would be appreciated if you liked the story.