Arima and the others followed Acier through the second stomach of the Bonbori, arriving at their final destination, Alchemi Island.
This island was located inside the last of the creature's massive stomachs.
Since the third stomach lay in the deepest part of Bonbori's body, the place was dimly lit, with little sign of life.
They entered through the palace's main gate, passed down a long, shadowed corridor, and finally reached a cliff.
Below it churned a searing, magma-like liquid of unknown nature. To claim the pure gold, they would have to cross this cliff and reach the other side.
On the far side stood two stone pillars, from which a metal suspension bridge hung.
Near the cliff on their side was a stone tablet carved with an unfamiliar script. To Arima and the others, the characters looked like meaningless scribbles.
They stared curiously at the bizarre symbols, intrigued by the strangeness of the writing.
Acier explained, "This is the language of Alchemi. The tablet reads: Eagle Bridge, only those with exceptional focus and unwavering courage can claim the shining gold.
Strike the sacred eagle, and the bridge shall descend. I designed these trials myself to prevent thieves from stealing the pure gold."
Tsunade looked toward the sculpture of a stone eagle perched atop the distant pillars and said, "So, as long as we hit that eagle, the suspension bridge will fall."
The distance between the cliffs was nearly a thousand meters.
Standard long-range weapons could just barely reach, but the greatest challenge was the unpredictable gusts of air that surged upward from the abyss, making precise aim extremely difficult.
For ordinary people, it would be almost impossible, but Arima and his companions were no ordinary people.
Arima was about to use his Magnet Release to strike the target when Kushina suddenly volunteered. "Arima, let me try!"
She gathered chakra into her back, and in an instant, five golden chains shot forth, soaring across the gap.
They struck the stone eagle squarely, triggering the mechanism. The suspension bridge dropped immediately, slowly extending toward their side.
Watching her, Arima nodded in satisfaction. "Kushina, you've truly mastered Adamantine Sealing Chains. Well done."
Her heart warmed at his praise, sweet as if she had just tasted honey.
Acier was stunned. "What a formidable girl. Two hundred years ago, when pirates invaded Alchemi, only a handful of Devil Fruit users could break this mechanism."
The group continued forward, swiftly clearing several smaller obstacles until they arrived at a massive gate.
Beneath the gate was the head of a gigantic crocodile forged from dense alloy, its jaws wide open.
The lock mechanism was hidden deep within its throat. On a stone pedestal in front of the crocodile's mouth lay a metallic key, clearly meant for the stone lock.
Once again, words were etched into the stone wall nearby.
Acier translated, "This is the final trial. It says: The one who claims the shining gold is worthy of trust. With brave companions by your side, open the stone lock together, the treasure lies ahead."
He continued, "The lock has eighteen keyholes. Insert the key into the wrong one, and a deadly mechanism will activate.
A surge of electricity will strike whoever tries to open the door, while the crocodile's jaws will slowly close until they shut completely."
Nawaki stepped forward. "Brother in law, let me help this time."
Arima nodded, then motioned for the others to step back and give Nawaki space.
Forming rapid hand seals, Nawaki unleashed a torrent of high-pressure water from his mouth. The blade-like stream sliced through the stone gate, shattering it into rubble.
Tsunade applauded, delighted at how skillfully her brother wielded the S-rank Jutsu.
Arima praised him as well. "Nawaki, this technique of yours truly carries a spark of our Granduncle's mastery. Excellent."
Nawaki grinned with satisfaction. The technique was, after all, the S-rank forbidden jutsu he used most often.
Acier gaped. "Unbelievable! Such power… If I had this ability back then, designing this gate would've been so much easier.
This alloy was the densest I could create, resistant to nearly all attacks from Devil Fruit users. Yet you cut it apart as if it were paper."
Arima asked, "Devil Fruit users? Are there many of them?"
Acier shook his head. "Devil Fruits are rare across the seas.
Most are in the hands of the World Government. Many Marine officers are users, yes, but Devil Fruit powers come with a fatal weakness."
"What weakness?" Arima pressed.
Acier mimed swimming. "They cannot swim. Once submerged in seawater, their bodies weaken, their limbs go limp. Some say that anyone who eats a Devil Fruit is forever hated by the sea."
Hearing this, Arima hesitated. He didn't like the thought of binding himself to such a crippling flaw.
Kushina's face fell in disappointment. "So Devil Fruit users can only fight on land…"
But Acier shook his head. "Not necessarily. Devil Fruits are strange. Many users find ways to bypass seawater's effects.
I've heard of powers that let one fly, or even freeze the ocean itself! And the sea holds more than just Devil Fruits.
Haki is another power. I don't know much, only that it's the most common and effective counter to Devil Fruit abilities."
Nawaki asked, puzzled, "So that water jet I used earlier wouldn't work on them?"
"Some are Logia users," Acier explained. "They can transform into water, clouds, even earth. Physical attacks pass straight through."
Arima chuckled. "So there are advantages too. Aside from Logia, what other kinds of Devil Fruits exist?"
Acier raised three fingers. "Three types: Paramecia, Logia, and Zoan. That's all I know, only the broad categories."
Kushina tilted her head. "What are Zoans?"
"I saw one once," Acier replied. "They let the user transform into an animal, greatly increasing their strength, speed, and durability."
The group was astonished. The thought of humans turning into animals by eating a fruit was surreal.
Then Natsuka, quiet until now, suddenly spoke. "Then I'd want to turn into a bird! That way I could perch on brother's shoulder."
Kushina chimed in, "I'd want to become a fish! Then I could swim freely in the sea."
Acier shook his head regretfully. "I've heard of someone becoming a dragon, but never a fish. Besides, fishmen and merfolk already surpass humans in the water."
"Fishmen? Merfolk? What do they look like?" Kushina asked curiously.
Acier pressed his legs together and wobbled his upper body like a fish tail, his blubbery frame jiggling comically. Everyone burst into laughter.
When the mirth subsided, he explained, "In the past, their status was low. They were hunted, abused, slaughtered.
Not until my era, two hundred years ago, did Fishman Island ally with the World Government.
Only then did they slowly emerge into the public eye. Merfolk have human bodies with fish tails, while fishmen usually have legs. Both can walk on land."
Kushina turned to Arima, eyes shining with hope. "Arima, will we visit Fishman Island one day?"
Arima smiled. "Of course we will."
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