Sabaody Archipelago
"How did Kuke figure out that the Navy set this trap? I didn't pick up on anything like that," Rayleigh mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he observed the situation.
"I don't know either," Shakky admitted, shaking her head. "Even after combing through various pieces of intelligence, I couldn't connect anything back to the Navy or the World Government. How did Kuke manage to figure it out?"
"Regardless, there's no harm in being cautious. If Kuke has caught on, he won't be foolish enough to walk into a trap," Rayleigh said with a nod of approval. "He and Gion, while powerful, are still no match for someone like Akainu. They're strong, but not invincible yet. They still need time to grow. There's no way they'll rush into a confrontation."
Aboard the Radiant Eclipse
"Kuke, what's on your mind?" Gion asked as she approached him, noticing the deep concentration on his face.
"Gion, would you like to become a Devil Fruit user?" Kuke asked, his eyes locking with hers.
Gion blinked in surprise. "A Devil Fruit? What kind of fruit?"
"The Mythical Zoan-type: Bird-Bird Fruit, Model Phoenix."
Gion's breath caught in her throat. She had heard of that fruit. The legendary power to become a phoenix and harness its regenerative abilities—it was the stuff of myths.
"Kuke, have you already found the fruit?" she asked, her heart pounding with excitement. But then she shook her head, clutching his arm. "You should take it. You're the captain, and you'd make better use of it."
"We don't have it yet, but there's a chance to get it," Kuke replied, noticing the flicker of desire in her eyes. She wanted it, but she was willing to give it up for him.
Kuke smiled inwardly. He had no personal interest in Devil Fruits. It wasn't just about making himself stronger. If Gion consumed the fruit, her power would grow—and with his system, that would indirectly boost his strength as well.
It was a perfect win-win situation.
However, there was no point getting her hopes too high just yet. If things didn't pan out, he didn't want to leave her disappointed.
"Gion, do we have the Eternal Pose for Fikaromus Island?" Kuke asked, shifting the conversation.
"Yes, we do." Gion nodded, pulling out the Eternal Pose. There was a spark of determination in her eyes now. She was fully invested in helping Kuke acquire this powerful Devil Fruit.
Kuke studied the map. "It'll take about a week to reach Fikaromus Island," Gion said, her brow furrowing in concern. "What if someone else gets to the fruit before we do?"
"That won't happen," Kuke reassured her. "As long as I haven't shown up, that Devil Fruit isn't going anywhere. No one else will be able to claim it."
Gion looked at him, puzzled. "Why's that?"
"Because it's a gift," Kuke smirked. "A gift from the Navy and the World Government. They're not going to unwrap it until the guest of honor—me—arrives."
Realization dawned on Gion's face. "So it's a trap..."
Her first instinct was to tell him it was too dangerous and that they should avoid the island entirely. But one look at Kuke's resolute expression stopped her. She knew he wasn't going to back down. Instead, she quietly made a promise to herself—she would do whatever it took to help him claim that fruit.
"In a week, my achievement points will definitely surpass 100,000," Kuke said, clenching his fist. He turned the ship toward Fikaromus Island. "Let's go."
During the journey, Kuke gathered everyone and laid out his plan. "When we get to Fikaromus Island, Gion and I will go ashore. The rest of you stay on the ship. As long as you remain on the Radiant Eclipse, you'll be completely safe."
Hancock, Sandersonia, and Marigold exchanged glances, clearly skeptical. "Completely safe?" Hancock asked, eyeing the ship. Though it was built from rare and sturdy materials, invincibility seemed like a stretch.
Even Gion frowned. As a powerful warrior herself, she knew how much damage she could inflict if she really tried. Could the ship truly be invincible?
Kuke smiled confidently. "This ship will soon gain an hour of invincible defense every day, during which time it will be impervious to any attack."
The crew stared at him in disbelief. Such a power was unheard of.
Kuke wasn't about to hide the truth from them. They deserved to know what kind of ship they were sailing on—and he could sense their growing anxiety. Hancock and Gion had been training relentlessly, pushing themselves harder and harder. The pressure of facing the World Government was weighing on all of them.
"Is that really true?" Gion asked, wide-eyed.
"I wouldn't joke about something like this," Kuke said, his gaze steady. "For one hour each day, this ship will be untouchable."
Gion blinked in surprise, glancing around the deck. She'd never heard of such an ability. The more she learned about Kuke, the more she realized just how much she didn't know. What other secrets was he hiding?
As the Radiant Eclipse sped across the sea, Kuke began to finalize his strategy. The ship's invincibility only worked while they were aboard. If they left the ship, they'd be vulnerable.
"We're not at Akainu's level yet, so we need to prioritize securing the fruit and getting out as quickly as possible," Kuke thought. "Once we've got it, we retreat. One hour is more than enough time to evade any pursuit."
The biggest challenge would be snatching the fruit amidst all the chaos.
"One thing's for sure," Kuke muttered to himself, "I won't be pulling a Luffy and charging in headfirst. No running into attacks."
He knew that with his current strength, he could hold his own against an Admiral for a while—if he played smart.
Days passed as the Radiant Eclipse drew closer to Fikaromus Island.
The island, however, was already consumed by chaos. Pirates from all over had descended upon it, fighting tooth and nail for the coveted Devil Fruit. Blood spilled on the shores as the fruit changed hands repeatedly, no one able to hold onto it for long before being overwhelmed.
But everything changed when a certain figure arrived...