"Look!"
Hibari held up a strange-looking fruit with both hands and presented it to Hawke.
"I was planning to bring some fruit back to make a fruit mix for you to try."
"And then, in the middle of the pile, I found this."
"I recognized it immediately! This is a Devil Fruit!"
Hibari's voice carried a tone of excitement and pride, her bright eyes sparkling as if saying, "Come on, praise me already!"
"..."
Hawke's gaze was instantly drawn to the fruit.
He took it from Hibari, feeling its unexpected weight and strange texture under his fingers.
It was a fruit of bright, vivid yellow, with spiral patterns carved across the peel, almost like the marks of lightning strikes.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
These lightning-shaped patterns...
And just now, he had ended Enel's life.
There was no doubt about it.
This was one of the most powerful Logia-type Devil Fruits.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit!
Devil Fruit powers never duplicate.
Only when the current user dies...does the fruit reappear somewhere else on the seas.
Some rumors even said that when a Devil Fruit user dies, if there happens to be a regular fruit nearby, the Devil Fruit's power has a high chance of instantly transferring into it, achieving a sort of rebirth.
Looking at the current situation… that rumor was likely true.
Enel had just died, and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had already "respawned" among this pile of Sky Island fruits.
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit, huh…"
Hawke weighed the fruit in his hand, falling into deep thought.
The power of this fruit was undeniable.
It granted its user the speed of lightning and the ability to unleash devastating wide-range attacks — a force countless people dreamed of having.
But it wasn't suitable for him.
From the very beginning, the path he chose had been crystal clear.
Defeat everything with his fists.
Abandon all unnecessary tricks and techniques.
Rely on the purest, most absolute strength...to crush every obstacle standing in his way.
If he were to choose a Devil Fruit to assist him, there was only one candidate.
The Tremor-Tremor Fruit possessed by Whitebeard!
That was the Devil Fruit that truly matched his path.
In the future, with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit combined with Conqueror's Haki infusion… Every one of his punches would be a natural disaster.
Compared to that, while the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was powerful, its core advantage leaned more toward speed — which did not align with his pursuit of overwhelming, destructive force.
Since he wouldn't use it...this fruit would need a new owner.
Three faces flashed through Hawke's mind.
Loyal adjutant Dane, the green-haired Zoro, and the curly-browed Sanji.
Dane was undoubtedly talented, but compared to the other two monsters, his ceiling was far lower.
Giving him the Rumble-Rumble Fruit would be a waste — it wouldn't unlock the fruit's full potential.
That left two candidates.
Zoro and Sanji.
No matter which of them received this fruit, it would be a perfect match.
A top-tier swordsman wielding the power of lightning...or a speed-based kicking master clad in a lightning-clad armor, moving as fast as a thunderbolt…
Just imagining it would be enough to make any enemy's scalp tingle.
"But…"
Hawke's eyes flickered.
Now was not the right time.
He had just secured their loyalty and built his authority by rewarding them with promotions and material benefits from Marine Headquarters.
If he handed over the Rumble-Rumble Fruit now, they'd certainly be grateful.
But waiting for their next major achievement… and presenting it as a reward then...would have a much greater impact.
More importantly…
One top-tier fruit wasn't enough to go around.
Zoro and Sanji were like two roosters constantly itching for a fight, always competing, always trying to one-up each other.
That rivalry was the very thing pushing them forward at breakneck speed.
Hawke had no intention of disrupting this positive, competitive balance.
This Rumble-Rumble Fruit was like a massive weight on a scale — putting it on either side would immediately cause imbalance.
That imbalance could very well ruin their healthy rivalry.
And that wasn't something Hawke wanted to see.
So… no rush.
He'd find another good Devil Fruit later, and when the time came, give them both one.
With that decision made, Hawke tucked the Rumble-Rumble Fruit into his coat and looked down at Hibari, who was still staring up at him with hopeful, sparkling eyes.
He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"Hibari."
"You're amazing."
"You're my lucky star. As long as you're around, good things always happen."
"Ehehe~"
Hibari squinted her eyes happily, little crescent moons forming at the corners.
As long as she could help, she was satisfied.
Humming, she skipped away — she still had fruit she hadn't packed yet.
"..."
Before long, everyone had chosen their preferred "specialty products."
The little hill of "shells" was also carried aboard the massive battleship by Marine soldiers.
"Vrrrmmmm——"
With the engine's thunderous roar, the giant warship slowly departed from the Sky Port, carving a long white trail across the sea of clouds.
Hawke stood at the bow, waving toward the shore.
On the dock, crowds of people gathered.
Gan Fall and the Shandian Chief stood side by side at the front, with all the residents of Angel Island and the Shandia Tribe behind them.
They watched the departing steel giant...watched the figure standing at its bow…and their reverence and gratitude could no longer be contained.
"Safe travels!"
"Please come back! Sky Island will always welcome you!"
"Long live the Marines!"
Shouts erupted like tidal waves, merging into a roaring storm that surged into the clouds.
"Vrrrrrmmm——"
The warship's speed increased, shrinking into a black speck on the horizon before finally vanishing at the edge of the cloud sea.
It carried not only a shipload of gold, but also the hopes and blessings of the Sky Islanders, plunging rapidly toward the Blue Sea below.
"Whoooosh—!"
Howling winds roared past their ears.
The friction between the descending ship and the air produced an ear-piercing shriek.
Compared to the tension and unease of their ascent…everyone on deck now wore expressions of calm determination.
Their gazes followed the man standing at the ship's bow, full of unwavering trust.
As long as this man was here, there was nothing to fear.
The endless stretch of blue below drew closer and closer, and the warship's speed reached its peak.
Then, just before the ship slammed into the ocean—
Hawke moved.
With a single leap, he launched off the deck, dropping toward the sea even faster than the massive warship itself.
Like a black meteor tearing through the skies.
Midair, Hawke adjusted his stance, his right fist cloaked in violently condensing Armament Haki.
Then he smashed it downward toward the vast blue sea!
"BOOOOM——!!!"
For an instant, time froze.
Then, seawater exploded outward, forming a massive white shockwave that rippled wildly in all directions.
A towering wall of water surged upward, catching the descending warship.
The colossal vessel floated atop the rising wave, as if gently cradled by a giant hand.
It hovered for a moment, then slowly descended and landed smoothly upon the ocean's surface.
"Splaaash—!"
The displaced seawater poured back into place.
A lone figure descended lightly onto the deck, not a single drop of water on him.
"..."
At that moment, Hibari came running over, holding a Den Den Mushi in her hands.
"It's Fleet Admiral Sengoku on the line!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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