The crew's stay on Zou stretched into several days.
Kanata had decided to linger, allowing Zen ample time to reconnect with his homeland and share stories with those he hadn't seen in decades. The Minks proved to be exceptionally hospitable, warmly welcoming the crew members as they rotated between guarding the ships and exploring the elephant's back.
Kanata took the opportunity to have the crew practice Sky Walk. If they could master the ability to kick the air and move through the sky, their mobility would increase tenfold. However, for many, the theory was easier than the execution. Most of her crew had the physical raw talent to match the World Government's Cipher Pol agents; they just needed time to bridge the gap between strength and technique.
Simultaneously, Kanata began the serious work of training Kaye to control her new power.
"Zoan types have three basic forms: Human, Beast, and Hybrid. Samuel, show her."
"You got it!" Samuel shouted.
He shifted forms, drawing cheers from the gathering Minks. Visitors from the blue sea were rare, and a Devil Fruit user was a spectacle they weren't about to miss. As Samuel posed for the crowd, Kaye closed her eyes, focusing her will.
"Oh, she's changing... Is that a snake?" the Minks whispered.
Scales as hard as gemstones rippled across Kaye's arms and legs. A powerful, serpentine tail sprouted from the base of her spine. Most notably, her physical stature grew by two sizes. Her hair coiled together into several distinct strands, each ending in a sentient snake head. They hissed and swayed, though Kaye clearly struggled to coordinate their movements.
"Is this... my power?"
"I expected the Snake-Snake Fruit to give you a snake-like lower half," Kanata observed, "but your tail is more like a lizard's."
It was long and thick with muscle. Kaye experimented, discovering she could lift her entire body off the ground using only the strength of her tail. Sharp claws tipped her fingers, and her raw physical power had clearly surged.
"Now, try the Full Beast form."
"Right."
Kaye's body expanded further, reaching several meters in length. Given her young age, Kanata realized that once Kaye reached adulthood, this form would likely rival a Giant in size. Her lower half became entirely serpentine, and the number of snake heads emerging from her hair multiplied.
As with all Devil Fruits, the power scaled with the user. The stronger Kaye became, the more "tools" she would have at her disposal. But the most striking feature was the pair of magnificent golden wings that unfurled from her back.
"To think someone from the outside could take such a form..." a Mink murmured.
"She looks like the Gorgon from the old legends," another added.
Kanata ignored the murmurs, meticulously noting the girl's new attributes. The scales looked impenetrable to standard weaponry, and even the "flesh" underneath was reinforced. It was a transformation worthy of the Mythical Zoanclassification.
"Um... please stop staring, it's embarrassing," Kaye mumbled.
"Ah, sorry," Kanata said, pulling herself out of her analytical trance.
Kaye slithered around, testing her balance. Whenever she wobbled, the snakes in her hair automatically struck out to catch nearby trees or the ground, steadying her. It seemed the "hair" had a protective instinct of its own.
Kaye turned toward a wooden target and commanded the snakes to strike. Suddenly, a beam of light erupted from one of the snake heads, incinerating the target instantly.
"What?" Kaye blinked.
"Huh?" Kanata tilted her head.
"A BEAM?!" the crew shouted.
The power wasn't immense yet, but Kaye looked just as shocked as her audience. Between the petrifying gaze and the elemental projections, the fruit was a Swiss Army knife of destruction. It was easy to see why such a power would be coveted; the sheer versatility of a Mythical Zoan far outweighed the standard weaknesses of a Devil Fruit.
"Samuel," Kanata said, looking at her other Zoan user. "Yours is... significantly less flashy."
"Don't remind me," Samuel groaned, hanging his head. "I thought the point of a Zoan was just physical enhancement. What is this 'feature' nonsense?"
Samuel's basic Zoan lacked the magical properties of the Gorgon model. He was just a very strong, very hungry carnivore.
"We'll need a lot more training," Kanata told Kaye. "This isn't the kind of power you can just 'test out' on a ship. We'll practice every time we hit land until you can control the heads and the beams perfectly."
***
"It's almost time for the Eruption Rain," Kanata noted. "Let's head back."
"Right. Are you heading back to the fortress, then?" a Mink asked.
"Yes. We appreciate the lodging. If there's anything we can do to help out in return, let us know."
"Nonsense! We don't put guests to work. Seeing that transformation was payment enough for us!"
Twice a day, the giant elephant bathed itself, drawing massive amounts of seawater up into its trunk and spraying it over its back. This "Eruption Rain" flooded the land. The Minks filtered the salt to create drinking water and gathered the fish that were washed up in the deluge.
As they walked back to the fortress, the cityscape of Kurau City showed its genius. Every building was designed to withstand and adapt to the rising water levels. It was a culture born of total harmony with the titan they lived upon.
"Welcome back, Captain," Zen called out as they entered the fortress. He had been busy sharing stories with the locals.
Several of the crew's more scholarly members were nearby, frantically scribbling notes as Zen spoke.
"Are they bothering you?" Kanata asked.
"Not at all. They're very curious about the outside world," Zen laughed. "So, when do we set sail?"
"Whenever you're ready, Zen. This is your home; don't leave until you've said everything you need to say."
"I appreciate that... but I shouldn't stay too long. We have to reach Wano Country. I want to see Kozuki Sukiyaki again; I owe him a debt I can never repay. I'll be ready in a few days."
The crew's scholars looked disappointed that the trip was ending so soon, but Zen was adamant. He had spent half his life as an adventurer, and while he loved Zou, his heart was now set on the journey ahead.
To send them off, the Minks threw a massive festival on their final night. Kanata made it clear that while they had made many friends, she wouldn't be recruiting any Minks for the crew. Her path was too bloody for those who had a peaceful home to return to.
The stay ended, and the descent from the elephant's back began—a harrowing experience for the scholars that Kanata found quite amusing.
***
Wano Country was a hermit nation.
Reaching it was nearly impossible because it was completely cut off from the rest of the world. They didn't have a Vivre Card for anyone inside, so they didn't even have a direction to sail.
"How are we supposed to find it, then?" George asked.
"We'll find an Eternal Pose," Zen explained. "The island's location isn't a secret; the problem is the approach. The country is guarded by legendary samurai and surrounded by natural barriers—whirlpools, storms, and jagged cliffs. Most ships are wrecked before they even see the coast."
"I'll handle the navigation once we get close," Kanata said. "But first, we need the needle."
To find the Eternal Pose, they steered toward Dressrosa, known as the Kingdom of Love, Passion, and Flower Blossoms.
It was a beautiful, peaceful land ruled by King Riku Dold III. The air was thick with the scent of flowers and the sounds of music and dancing. Kanata docked her three ships in a secluded rocky cove and prepared to head into town for supplies.
She took Dragon with her this time.
"It's a lively place," Dragon noted as they walked through the streets.
"The king here is well-loved," Kanata said, scanning the crowds. "He prioritizes diplomacy and his people's happiness over military expansion. It's a gentle country."
"I wish every nation was like this," Dragon said quietly, pulling his hood lower. He had been seeing more of the world lately, and the contrast between the cruelty of the World Nobles and the kindness of a king like Riku was starting to weigh on him.
"Don't overthink it yet," Kanata told him. "Just observe. Learn what makes a country work and what makes it fail."
"I will."
"Now, since we aren't being shot at for once, I think I'll try some of the local—"
Snap!
Kanata's right arm blurred. With a sharp crack, she swatted something out of the air. A window in a nearby shop shattered from the impact.
"Eek!" a tiny voice squeaked.
"What was that?!" Dragon asked, his hand flying to his sword. "Did you just hit something?"
"Reflexes," Kanata said, her eyes narrowing. "Something was trying to grab my pouch. Or maybe just trip me."
Her Observation Haki made sneak attacks impossible, but the speed of whatever she'd hit was impressive. She decided to ignore it for now; no one would be foolish enough to try a second time. Instead, she followed the enticing scent of local spices, intending to bring some back for the ship's cooks.
After purchasing an Eternal Pose for Wano and a mountain of supplies, they returned to the ships.
"How's the restocking going?" Kanata asked George.
"Water and food are loaded. But... we have a problem."
"Captain!" one of the sailors cried, running up to them. "Our weapons are gone! All of them!"
"Stolen?" Kanata asked, her voice dropping an octave.
The sailors explained that while they were waiting at a café for their crates to be packed, their blades and pistols had vanished into thin air. When they asked the locals, the people just laughed.
"That's just the fairies," they had said. "Give up. You'll never get them back."
"Kanata," Dragon whispered. "That thing you swatted earlier... maybe that was a 'fairy' too."
"I see."
If a "fairy" was fast enough to evade the average person's sight, it made them perfect thieves. If this was an organized effort to collect weapons, it meant there was a group living on the island that the king either couldn't or wouldn't control.
"It's a hassle," Kanata sighed. "I could get better blades in Wano, but the crew is attached to their gear. I guess we're going on a treasure hunt."
She wasn't about to let a bunch of "fairies" rob her crew.
***
Green Bit. A desolate island connected to the north of Dressrosa by a long iron bridge.
Kanata stood at the entrance to the bridge, looking at the "No Entry" signs. The locals told them that the waters were infested with Fighting Fish—monsters capable of capsizing even large galleons. The bridge itself was in disrepair because the fish would leap up and smash the supports.
"This is as far as we go by foot?" George asked.
"Not quite."
Kanata stepped onto the surface of the water. With a surge of her power, she froze the sea in a solid, miles-long path leading straight to Green Bit.
"That should keep the fish occupied," she said.
"Boring," Junxi muttered. "I wanted to see what a 'Fighting Fish' tasted like."
They crossed the ice and entered the dense, oversized jungle of Green Bit. Huge plants towered over them like skyscrapers. Kanata extended her Haki; she felt several presences—some animal, some... different.
"Stop!" a voice chirped from the foliage.
"Are you good humans? Or bad humans?"
Kanata felt herself being surrounded. Junxi looked at her, his hand on his spear, but Kanata gestured for him to wait.
"We're good humans," she replied.
"Then give us your weapons!"
"I'm afraid I can't do that. In fact, we're here to take back the ones you already stole."
"Then we have no choice!" the voice squeaked. "We'll have to strip you bare!"
The shadows moved. They were incredibly fast, but against a crew that had been sparring with Minks for a week, they weren't fast enough. Within minutes, the jungle grew silent again.
Junxi hoisted a tiny, unconscious figure up by its belt. "So... what are these things supposed to be?"
"Dwarves," Kanata said. "The Tontatta Tribe."
She observed the tiny person. They had furry tails and pointed hats. Despite their size, their physical strength was monstrous—easily ten times that of a human. They likely lived underground to avoid the beasts of the island.
"They're small and twitchy," Feiyun complained. "Hard to hit."
"You're a Giant, Feiyun. To you, they're basically ants."
They moved toward the center of the island, eventually finding a hidden entrance to an underground kingdom. A group of Tontatta warriors emerged, their faces twisted in tiny masks of fury.
"You bad humans! You hurt our friends!"
"We just want our gear back," Kanata said calmly. "Give it to us, and we leave."
"Never! Die!"
As the tiny warriors lunged, Kanata let out a controlled burst of Conqueror's Haki.
The majority of the Tontatta force collapsed instantly, foaming at the mouth. Only the strongest remained standing, and they were quickly swatted aside by the blunt end of Junxi's spear.
"Well," Junxi said, "that was efficient."
"It's better than leveling the island," Kanata replied.
They entered the Tontatta kingdom, quickly locating the pile of stolen weapons. The crew cheered as they reclaimed their beloved blades.
"Captain, should we take their gold while we're at it?" one sailor asked.
"No," Kanata said firmly. "We're not looters. We came for our property, and we're leaving with it."
She found the Tontattas' culture of theft annoying, but they were essentially civilians.
"The Kingdom of Love and Passion," Kanata muttered as they walked back across her ice bridge. "It seems they forgot to mention the Kingdom of Thieving Fairies."
She had the Eternal Pose. She had the supplies. It was time to leave the "fairies" behind and head for the land of the Samurai.
***
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