The fact that Ace ate a Devil Fruit, specifically the Logia Type - Mera Mera no Mi, was naturally discovered by the people arranged nearby to protect Rouge and her son, and then reported to Athena. Athena naturally also told Nox.
"I didn't expect history to be so similar. Although the general trend is different, the minor trends are still like this."
After hearing Athena's words, Nox couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Because he had confirmed before that when Hancock snuck out, she also accidentally ate a Devil Fruit along the way, which was the Paramecia Type - Love-Love Fruit.
Nox had originally thought that he would wait until Ace grew up before taking him to the Limitless Sword School to build his foundation, and then choose a powerful Devil Fruit for him to eat.
Unexpectedly, Ace directly and accidentally ate the Mera Mera no Mi, this Mera Mera no Mi that was previously mocked by netizens as something even a dog wouldn't eat.
The Mera Mera no Mi itself isn't weak; it's just that Ace in the original work didn't know how to develop the Mera Mera no Mi. The most important thing about the Mera Mera no Mi isn't how much flame is created, but the temperature of the flame!
"I'll give that kid Ace some pointers later. Don't let him really go astray in the future!"
Nox said, rubbing his forehead.
Ace's achievements in the original work could be said to be neither high nor low, but that was due to his own problems.
Because he relied too much on the power of the Devil Fruit and neglected to strengthen his Haki and physique, but the power of the Devil Fruit was not developed to its limit, making him easily countered.
Ace at his peak was only at the level of Shichibukai Jinbe, and that was Jinbe's combat strength on land, not Jinbe's combat strength in water.
"No, could this be fate?"
"Or is this the choice of the will within the Devil Fruit?"
Suddenly, Nox remembered that Devil Fruits likely possess a strange, ownerless will.
The most obvious is the "Paramecia Type - Gum-Gum Fruit," which is actually a monstrous Devil Fruit, the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type - Nika Form.
Every time the World Government wanted to retrieve this Devil Fruit, they were unable to succeed.
It's as if the Gum-Gum Fruit itself possesses a will and is stacked with a luck buff, allowing it to cleverly avoid the World Government's retrieval every time at crucial moments.
Now, the Paramecia Type - Love-Love Fruit and the Logia Type - Mera Mera no Mi that he knows of were both eaten by people in the original work due to "accidents."
This made him have to suspect that there truly seems to be a hidden will existing in this World.
But this will is not strong; at least Nox himself has the ability to change this will.
"Zoan Types seem to all possess the will of the Devil Fruit. Once Awakening occurs, that will appears. I wonder what kind of will will appear after my Vampire Devil Fruit Awakening."
Nox thought with great interest.
He is now very much looking forward to what the will within the Vampire Devil Fruit will be like.
"As for that hidden fate, let me try it out. The time until Luffy eats the Devil Fruit isn't far off now."
Nox thought, stroking his chin.
When the time comes, he must go and try to see if he can snatch that Devil Fruit.
Limitless Pirates Training Ground:
Weevil and Fujitora were engaged in a fierce battle.
However, Fujitora was able to defeat Weevil back then, and now he is also suppressing Weevil in the fight.
Although Weevil has been getting stronger through continuous battles and his combat instincts are getting sharper these days, compared to Fujitora, Weevil's intelligence is an absolute gap, to the extent that Weevil can never compare to Fujitora, who is getting stronger after constantly getting used to his body.
"Ahhhh, damn guy, I'm going to kill you!!"
"Hahahaha, if you can do it, come on, you brainless fellow!"
"Wuhu, Mama, wuhu, I want to find Mama, it hurts too much!"...
After more than half a day, Weevil was once again defeated by Fujitora. However, this time Fujitora didn't hold back and directly beat Weevil until he was on the verge of death and fainted.
"Hmph, what an idiot. With such excellent innate physical talent, he's actually so weak!"
Fujitora snorted coldly, dragged Weevil up directly, and took him away.
Lesley's Laboratory:
"Captain, I've brought this guy over."
Fujitora threw the fainted Weevil onto the ground.
"Benjamin, I'll ask again, have you really thought it through?"
Nox looked at Benjamin in front of him seriously and asked.
Several months passed, and he had completely separated Weevil and Stussy.
After several months of observation, although Weevil's strength had been growing, compared to his own talent, this growth was simply at a snail's pace.
A very important reason for this was Weevil's intelligence problem, which prevented him from fully unleashing his potential.
If this continued, it would be difficult for him to reach the standard of top-tier combat power. Therefore, Nox no longer planned to train Weevil and intended to have another person's will inhabit Weevil's body, just like with Fujitora.
This is what ultimately led to the scene before him.
"Thank you, Captain, for giving me this opportunity. I have completely thought it through. Compared to powerful strength, changing bodies is absolutely no problem!"
After Benjamin personally witnessed Fujitora's achievements, he agreed without any hesitation.
The pursuit of power is everyone's instinct. His own talent was poor, so giving up his body for power or something similar was completely acceptable to him.
"Alright then, lie down in the nutrient tank."
Nox nodded.
Immediately, Benjamin lay down directly in the nutrient tank. Then, Fujitora also threw Weevil into another nutrient tank.
Lesley operated the nutrient tank machines to sedate both of them separately.
"Mind Swap!"
After everything was ready, Athena activated her ability and easily swapped the wills of the two sleeping minds.
The swapping process was very smooth, without any accidents. Benjamin successfully obtained Weevil's body.
"Benjamin, next you will train with Fujitora and strive to get familiar with your body as soon as possible. From now on, you will inherit Weevil's name; the name Benjamin is no longer needed!"
"Also, this Devil Fruit will be for you to eat. I believe this is a very suitable Devil Fruit for you, the Paramecia Type - Pressure-Pressure Fruit!"
Nox looked at Benjamin in front of him, no, it should be Weevil, with great satisfaction.
"Captain, I will definitely not let you down!"
Weevil said seriously and immediately ate the Paramecia Type - Pressure-Pressure Fruit.
This Pressure-Pressure Fruit is a very good Paramecia Type Devil Fruit collected by the Law Net. If developed well, it is in no way inferior to the Gravity-Gravity Fruit; it is also a top-tier Paramecia Type Devil Fruit.