"I'll gladly accept your gift."
In the floating city of Atlantis within the Totto Land Kingdom, El smiled as he took the box containing the Ancient Zoan: Therizinosaurus Fruit from Afar, his newfound cousin. He handed it to Sally with a nod.
Receiving such a rare Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit as a first-time gift was proof of Afar's sincerity.
"As long as you're happy with it," Afar said. His face, usually cold and stern, allowed a faint smile to appear.
"However, as a fellow Lunarian, and more so as close family..." El's gaze softened as he spoke. "It's only right that I give you a gift in return."
He glanced at Sally, signaling her to act.
Knowing Afar's thoughts as clearly as his own, El had no hesitation. A trusted Lunarian ally, one willing to pledge loyalty and even present such a valuable offering, deserved recognition.
"Please wait a moment, El-sama," Sally said with a cheerful smile, leaving the room with the box in hand.
"Wait, this really isn't necessary..." Afar looked startled, immediately attempting to decline. "I didn't give you a gift expecting anything in return. Accepting something like this makes me feel a little awkward."
"No, please don't refuse," El's tone was calm yet firm. "This isn't just for you—it's for the future of the Lunarian race and the Totto Land Kingdom as well."
Afar blinked, clearly taken aback by El's response. Meanwhile, the others—Linlin, Gerd, and Lillian—chuckled knowingly, their expressions kind.
It was obvious to them what El intended to do.
Given the vast resources of the Fallen Angel Pirates, Devil Fruits were not in short supply. Even a Buccaneer like Cyril Oka had been granted a rare Mythical Zoan fruit, so it was natural for El to offer something equally significant to a fellow Lunarian.
Before long, Sally returned, carrying a brilliant orange-red fruit shaped like a dragon fruit. Its skin glimmered like flames.
"You're not a Devil Fruit user yet, are you?" El handed the fruit to Afar with a gentle smile. "This is the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit. I hope you'll eat it—it will greatly enhance your strength."
The Flame-Flame Fruit had been obtained after defeating and extracting the power from a prisoner in Level Six of Impel Down.
For a Lunarian who already wielded control over fire, this fruit would be a game-changer—an enhancement to their natural abilities, allowing even greater mastery of flame and temperature.
Combined with the Lunarian's unparalleled durability, the power of Logia elementalization would make Afar nearly invincible.
"No, I'm not a Devil Fruit user..." Afar hesitated as he stared at the Flame-Flame Fruit. "But a Logia fruit like this... isn't it too valuable?"
Afar understood the rarity and power of Logia Devil Fruits. It wasn't that he opposed becoming a user, but accepting something so valuable when he'd just arrived in Totto Land and hadn't proven his worth felt wrong.
"The Fallen Angel Pirates still lack sufficient top-tier combat power," El said bluntly, cutting through Afar's hesitation. He tossed the fruit into Afar's hands and continued, "Taking on the World Government, which has ruled these seas for centuries with immense resources, isn't something a few individuals can achieve."
"Not every Lunarian descendant has remarkable potential, but you, Afar, absolutely have the makings of a great warrior."
"As I said, this isn't just for you—it's for the future of the Lunarian race and the Totto Land Kingdom. Together, we will rise."
Afar stood there, holding the fruit, his emotions a mix of awe and determination.
Taking out the precious Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit wasn't just a gesture of goodwill toward his Lunarian kin—it was a calculated decision based on Afar's exceptional potential.
If the Fallen Angel Pirates lacked sufficient strength, they wouldn't be able to intimidate the World Government effectively or prevent rash actions. Relying on external allies wasn't always an option; cultivating their own talent was far more reliable.
Afar, though young, already possessed power surpassing that of Tsuru, who wielded the Mythical Zoan: Ōkuchi no Makami form. With the Flame-Flame Fruit, his strength would undoubtedly ascend to a higher level. If he trained diligently, his future achievements could be limitless.
"I see..." Hearing El's reasoning, Afar's hesitance faded, replaced by a solemn determination.
Looking at this absurdly young yet incomparably strong cousin, his gaze became resolute. "If that's how you feel, I'll set aside my pride and accept this fruit."
Without hesitation, he took the fruit—tiny compared to his massive five-meter frame—and swallowed it in a single gulp.
"Ma-ma-ma-ma! Looks like the Fallen Angel Pirates are gaining another powerful cadre!" Linlin cheered excitedly.
"It feels like my own abilities are completely countered now..." Tsuru commented with a sigh.
Her Mythical Zoan granted her powerful freezing abilities capable of subduing even formidable foes.
But Afar, a Lunarian naturally immune to fire, had now gained the enhanced fire manipulation of the Flame-Flame Fruit. With this power layered with Haki, his flames would likely surpass anything she could counter, reaching staggering temperatures.
Still, she recognized the unique advantages of Mythical Zoan fruits, particularly the enhancements to physical strength, reflexes, and other attributes. In the end, Logia and Zoan abilities had their own strengths and weaknesses.
"Hmm, so this is the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit?" Afar instinctively raised his right hand, which burst into flames. His palm burned with roaring fire.
"Incredible..." The heat rolling off him was palpable, suffocating.
Even powerful members like Nef, Barry, Jien, Utan, and Lillian felt their skin prickle from the overwhelming heat, despite standing at a distance.
With a sudden flap of his black wings, Afar leapt skyward, leaving the floating island behind.
Hovering over the ocean, he clenched his fiery fist.
"Fire Fist!"
The flames on his hand swelled, forming a massive fiery fist that glowed like molten rock. The punch erupted forward, engulfing the sky in an intense red hue as it collided with the sea.
"Boom!"
The ocean exploded.
Gigantic waves surged, steam billowed, and a massive portion of the sea evaporated instantly.
The water turned boiling hot, bubbling violently. Fish, shrimp, and sea beasts floated lifelessly to the surface, cooked alive by the scalding temperature.
"To wield it so skillfully so quickly?"
"As expected of a Lunarian—born experts in wielding fire!"
"Even the sea is boiling... The temperature is truly terrifying."
"Not even Prometheus's flames could compare to this..."
"It's like the Flame-Flame Fruit was tailor-made for the Lunarian race."
Watching this incredible display, Linlin, Mos, Gerd, and the others couldn't hide their astonishment.
Even from a great distance, they could feel the waves of heat rolling toward them, a testament to the sheer intensity of Afar's flames.
They'd witnessed more impressive feats in the past—El himself could create even grander displays of power—but Afar's initial demonstration with his new ability was undeniably exceptional.
What made it even more startling was that Afar's back flames hadn't even been extinguished during the attack, indicating that he hadn't used his full strength.
This was only the beginning. With time to fully train and develop his Devil Fruit abilities, Afar's power would surely become even more fearsome.
~~~
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