Only Neptune and Jinbe were present.
The two of them simultaneously felt an overwhelming power erupt within their bodies. An immense force surged through their meridians and energy channels, awakening a physical strength they had never experienced before.
Unimaginable power coursed through their veins.
Especially for Jinbe—already a powerful warrior whose strength bordered on admiral-level—consuming the legendary physical arts crystal had caused his power to skyrocket. He had now stepped into the realm of true admiral-tier strength.
The incredible surge made him want to throw his head back and roar, but with Kairos Flint standing there, he suppressed the urge and swallowed the feeling of euphoria.
Neptune's transformation was no less shocking. His entire body expanded in size, emanating a palpable aura of might.
Originally, Neptune's strength was just barely enough for survival in the New World. But now, with the effects of the crystal, he felt his power increase tenfold. His muscles bulged with life, his heart thundered with vitality—it was exhilarating beyond words.
"Lord Kairos, we will give everything we have to find more Devil Fruits for you!" Neptune pledged, full of newfound reverence.
Kairos nodded calmly. "Good. You're dismissed."
He waved his hand, and the two of them respectfully departed.
Now empowered and deeply motivated, neither Neptune nor Jinbe lingered. They were eager to secure more crystals, not just for their own growth but for the future of their people.
Though Fish-Man Island now lived in peace under the protection of Kairos, that peace was still borrowed strength. It wasn't their own.
But now, with Jinbe possessing admiral-level might, he could stand as a true protector of his clan. Still, he understood something crucial: admiral-tier strength was far from the peak.
There were many others in the world with comparable power.
Unless one reached the level of the emperors—the Yonko—the balance could shift at any moment.
This was the strength Jinbe now longed for.
Only at that level could he guarantee lasting safety for his people and silence the greed of those who sought to harm the Fish-Men.
Once they had gone, Kairos returned alone to his cabin.
From his spatial inventory, he retrieved the rare animal-type Devil Fruit—the Turtle Fruit—and began the synthesis process.
Almost instantly, the fruit transformed into a crystal radiating with power.
Without hesitation, Kairos swallowed the crystal. It melted in his mouth, and he immediately felt the energy surge through his being.
This was no ordinary power.
It was the legendary Turtle Devil Fruit, and as it fused with him, a boundless force of life energy began flooding his entire body.
He could feel the flow surging through every meridian, every fiber of his being. His spirit soared with vitality.
He felt… reborn.
At that very moment—whoosh—a luminous stone slab materialized from within him and floated before his eyes.
"The Slate of Life," Kairos whispered in awe.
The slab emitted a silvery-white glow, radiating an incredible vitality. Just its presence was enough to spark life around it.
Before Kairos could even control the energy, the few small flower pots Nami had kept in the room exploded into wild growth. Tiny plants transformed into a jungle within seconds. Vines stretched across the walls, flowers bloomed with overwhelming fragrance, and the growing flora burst open the door.
"W-What just happened?!"
"Captain!"
"Lord Kairos!"
Nami, Vivi, Robin, and the others rushed over in alarm, cutting through the dense vines with their blades. But just as they began, the explosion of growth suddenly stopped.
Inside, Kairos's voice rang out calmly, "It's alright. Just an experiment. Return to your tasks."
Hearing his words, the group finally exhaled in relief. One by one, they backed away from the Mythic Sky, leaving Kairos alone once more.
Inside, he smiled in quiet satisfaction at the jungle he had unintentionally created.
This Slate of Life was astonishing.
And he wasn't done yet.
From his inventory, he pulled out another legendary animal-type Devil Fruit—the Falcon Fruit. But this time, he knew not to fuse it within the ship.
If the turtle fruit caused this much growth, who knew what the falcon fruit would do?
He stepped outside, flew toward the nearby island, and landed beside a small crystal-clear lake.
"What's Kairos up to now?" Nami looked toward the island, puzzled.
"Wasn't that a beast-type Devil Fruit?" she murmured. "Why did flowers go berserk? Did someone mess up and give him a plant-type by mistake?"
Robin laughed softly. Using her powers, she summoned dozens of arms and cleared the flower-overrun room, throwing the plants into the sea.
Perona gasped, watching the colorful flowers float away. "Robin, how could you?! Those flowers were adorable!"
She flapped her ghostly wings and darted off to collect any blooms that hadn't yet sunk beneath the waves.
Everyone: "…"
…
At the center of the island, Kairos hovered above the lake.
He once again summoned the Slate of Life.
Immediately, its vibrant aura surged, and the environment responded. Trees burst upward, dry shrubs came to life, and with a radiant glow, the entire area transformed.
Within moments, everything within a kilometer bloomed—flowers, herbs, vines. Life overflowed, as though the island itself was rejoicing.
The withered trees grew to towering heights. Some trees stretched hundreds of meters tall, their trunks so wide it would take multiple people to encircle them. Fruits burst forth from branches that had once been bare.
It was breathtaking.
Then, with reverence, Kairos pulled out the legendary Falcon Fruit.
He gently tossed it toward the Slate of Life.
Clink!
The moment the Falcon Fruit touched the slab, it fused instantly.
A wave of power erupted from the slab—more intense than anything before.
The light intensified. The Slate of Life shifted color, its brilliance growing more and more dazzling.
Something extraordinary was awakening.