"Do you all know what Devil Fruit Kaido ate?" Karl asked.
"I know!" Ann shot her hand up. "The Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon form!"
Karl nodded toward the pink fruit in his hand. "This is a copy of Kaido's fruit—Vegapunk's work. He thought it was a failure, so it got shelved here on Punk Hazard."
He turned the fruit so they could all see the color swirl. "But it's actually a success—the coloration is different. If Kaido's is an Azure Dragon, this one would be a Red Dragon."
"How wild… Devil Fruits can really be manufactured," Ellie murmured. "Karl, now I kind of want to try!"
"Ellie, behave. You're our doctor, not a mad scientist."
"Why? I think I could reproduce one."
"You're sure?" Karl raised a brow. Kaiser had spent ages cranking out duds; skepticism was fair.
Ellie's gaze didn't waver. "Sure. I might burn through a few Fruits figuring it out."
"Alright," Karl decided. "When we're back home, you can start. For now, we'll stock up on some ordinary Devil Fruits first."
He glanced around at the sulfur-scarred landscape. "Let's go. This place ruins the appetite."
"Mama, Blooded Swordmaster Karl has appeared—he entered the New World today."
Over a month earlier, when the new wanted posters hit, Big Mom had already set her sights on inviting Karl's crew to a tea party—her way of recruiting. "Inviting," of course, meant compulsory attendance. She'd even prepared the family's favorite trick: a political marriage.
"Mamamama~ Then have Katakuri fetch him. Invite him to my tea party."
"Yes, Mama."
Karl—blissfully unaware—wouldn't have cared anyway. He was confident he could take that old matriarch head-on now.
"Captain, where to next?" Bunsen asked.
"Hm… We're well-stocked. Let's go treasure-hunting on uninhabited islands."
"Yes please!" Karine jumped in first. "The Calm Belt's full of untouched islands—and rare ingredients!"
"And maybe Devil Fruits," Ann added. "My brother found his on a Calm Belt island!"
"Set course for the Calm Belt then," Karl said, decision made.
Two days later, they'd only found one small island—and supplies were thinning.
"Captain, pantry's light," Karine reported. "We're fine on meat, but spices and staples are nearly out. We need a proper restock."
"Alright. We'll hit a larger town, resupply, and take a few days off."
Two more days, and the Tiger God slid into Dressrosa—the kingdom of love and passion.
"These people are bold," Karine said, staring as couples made out in the middle of the street.
"Boring," Enel sniffed.
They took rooms at an inn.
Doflamingo had only recently seized control of Dressrosa; the Donquixote Family was busy stabilizing rule.
"Doffy—word from below," Diamante reported. "That Blooded Swordmaster's here, in Dressrosa. Orders?"
Doflamingo's grin flattened. He'd just taken the throne; the last thing he wanted was chaos. "Pretend you didn't see him. Lay low. Do not provoke him. That monster can match a Marine Admiral."
He knew better than most what it meant to kill a Celestial Dragon and stroll away. The pressure behind that feat was something he could measure far too clearly.
"Got it," Diamante said. He remembered the days when a single Vice Admiral Tsuru had chased them ragged—so how much worse was an Admiral? If Karl could fight one even… yeah—best not.
Out at sea, not far from Dressrosa, Katakuri cut across the waves toward the port—Big Mom's invitation in hand. A prickle of unease tugged at him. This might not go smoothly.
Still, Mama was one of the emperors of the New World. Who refused an emperor?
"Captain, why are there so many toys here? And they're living like people?" Karine asked, wide-eyed at the chatting dolls passing in the street.
"Because those toys are people," Karl said. "Touched by the Hobby-Hobby Fruit. Once changed, everything about you—records, memories—vanishes from the world. Even your loved ones forget you."
"Just by touch?" Aderian asked, stunned. "Isn't that… unbeatable?"
Karl shook his head. "No. Haki is the bedrock of strength. Properly wielded, it can resist rule-type Fruits like that."
Everyone exhaled, reassured.
"Ellie, let's go poke around the shops," Karl said. "The rest of you—free time."
"Bad uncle! Not taking us?" Ann huffed. "Hmph! Karine, come with me!"
"Sure. You guys coming?" Karine asked the others.
"I'll pass," Bunsen said. "Training."
"This god's apples ran out," Enel announced, already turning to leave in a crackle of static. "I'm buying more."
"I'll tag along with you two," Aderian told Ann and Karine. He trusted Karine's self-defense—but Ann still needed watching.
Karl and Ellie ducked into a cozy restaurant. "This place looks good," Ellie said.
"Works for me."
Meanwhile, Enel reached the port markets, delighted to find mountains of fresh fruit. His mantra snagged on a strong presence stepping ashore, and his interest flared. He flashed away in a bolt of lightning.
Katakuri felt him arrive. Two masters of Observation Haki locked on.
"I'm here to deliver an invitation to your captain," Katakuri said evenly. "Where is he?"
"You want the captain?" Enel smiled thinly. "Fight this god first."
"Then so be it." A Sweet Commander didn't duck challenges.
They vanished from the quay. A moment later, thunder rolled along a deserted stretch of coast, and Haki poured over the rocks in waves.
"Hm? Who's Enel fighting?" Karl paused mid-bite. "Doflamingo's not stupid enough to provoke us…"
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