Sean and his crew gazed at the Devil Fruit before them, eyes gleaming with excitement. This was a DevilFruit, after all—something many people might never see in their lifetime. Each fruit could sell for at least 100 million Berries, so the question of who should eat it wasn't an easy one. They didn't have a Devil Fruit encyclopedia and had no clue what ability it granted. If it turned out to be a useless one, it'd be a massive loss.
As the captain, Sean sensed the awkwardness and cleared his throat to break the silence.
"There's only five of us in this crew. But I'm a swordsman, and to go further down this path, I can't have any powers besides my blade. Plus, I already wield one of the 21 Supreme Grade Swords—Bloodchaser. I don't need the fruit. So… the rest of you decide."
Dory nodded and added,
"I'm mainly a sniper. For someone like me, a Devil Fruit won't add much to my combat power. I wouldn't make good use of it. And besides, Vexi and Takli are weaker in combat than I am, so they should have it."
Sean and Dory had both spoken. Though Dory's comment had a slight jab to it, Vexi and Takli exchanged a glance, then smiled and slid the fruit in front of Rom.
Rom panicked.
"Wait—why are you giving it to me? I'm just the cook! I'm not that strong. Even if I eat it, it's not like I'll be that useful in a fight!"
Vexi smiled kindly at him.
"That's exactly why we're giving it to you. Takli and I are from the Long-Leg and Long-Arm tribes—we have natural racial advantages. We'll eventually follow the captain to the ends of the Grand Line. But if you stay weak, you might not survive that long. And who knows? This Devil Fruit might give you something powerful. Worst-case scenario, if it's a useless ability, that's on us, not you."
Takli slapped Rom on the back with a grin.
"Exactly! Don't be such a baby. You're a grown man—take it and eat it already. I'm tired of protecting you all the time."
Sean and Dory didn't say anything else, but their supportive smiles said everything.
Rom, deeply moved by the concern of his crewmates—even if their words were a little harsh—understood this was just their way of showing care. His eyes welled up with tears.
"Alright… I'll eat it."
With the crew encouraging him, Rom picked up the purple-patterned Devil Fruit and took a big bite. Instantly, a wave of nausea hit him. He fought the urge to throw up, teary-eyed, and forced it down. Suddenly, a stream of information entered his mind.
The others rushed over.
"How is it?!"
Rom winced.
"It tastes terrible…"
His expression looked like he was suffering from constipation. Sean and the others burst into laughter—after all, it was well known across the seas that Devil Fruits tasted like absolute garbage. Rom had taken a huge bite, and his usual honest face was now scrunched into a miserable scowl.
Takli, holding back his laughter, punched Rom lightly in the chest.
"We didn't ask how it tasted. We asked what kind of power you got! Show us!"
Rom, returning to his usual dopey grin, nodded.
"Oh, right. Step back, I'll show you."
Once everyone backed off, Rom activated the fruit's power. His body began to grow, fur sprouting all over, his neck extending, horns forming on his head—suddenly, a giant giraffe stood before them.
"This is my ability: Zoan-type, Cow-Cow Fruit, Giraffe Form,"
Rom's voice was rough and deep, but his expression was still the same goofy smile—just a bit awkward on a giraffe's face.
Sean examined him curiously.
"A Zoan-type? Not bad. Alright, Rom, change back."
Rom obediently returned to his human form, grinning.
"What's up, Captain?"
"Let's find a quiet spot on the island."
The group headed off into the mountains of Whiskey Peak, eventually finding a flat clearing far from town. It was late, and the locals were surely asleep, so there was no risk of being overheard.
Takli, growing impatient, asked,
"Captain, why are we here?"
Vexi, Dory, and Rom looked at Sean, equally puzzled.
Sean smirked.
"I want Takli and Vexi to spar with Rom—to test how much stronger he's gotten from eating the Devil Fruit."
Rom jumped.
"What?! You want me to fight them?! Are you serious?!"
"Of course. Just a spar, to evaluate your power for future battles. Besides, Zoan users are known for being tough and durable. What are you afraid of? Vexi, Takli—go!"
With a nod and mischievous smiles, Vexi and Takli advanced. They were just as curious about how strong a Devil Fruit could make someone.
Rom sighed.
"Fine, let's do this."
He wasn't afraid of a fight. He'd fought before. And now, after eating the fruit, he felt several times stronger and faster. Feeling the power surging through him, he stood tall, facing Vexi and Takli.
The two didn't underestimate him. They'd fought ability users in South Blue before—they knew Devil Fruits weren't to be taken lightly.
Vexi struck first.
"Coming in—watch it!"
Her long legs whipped up a gust of wind as she kicked toward Rom. But Rom didn't even transform—he simply raised his arm to block.
"Arrogant!" Vexi growled.
As a Long-Leg Tribe member, her kicks were strong enough to force Dory back. For Rom to block it barehanded felt like an insult. She increased her power and struck again.
Their limbs collided with a loud WHAM, sending wind gusts everywhere and shaking the nearby trees.
"Impossible!" Vexi gasped as Rom blocked her kick with ease.
She withdrew and took a more serious stance.
"This isn't good," muttered Takli, starting to worry. "Could Rom beat both of us…?"
Vexi charged again, refusing to believe a single fruit could make Rom this strong. Besides, she hadn't gone all-out yet.
What no one knew was that giraffes are both heavy and strong. A full-grown giraffe could kill a lion with a single kick. Rom's strength had increased dramatically—followed by speed. Giraffes' long legs let them flee predators at surprising speeds.
Rom knew Vexi strength well. That first kick had numbed his arm a bit—he couldn't take her lightly. As she attacked again with a spinning flying kick—
"Wind Dance!"
—Rom transformed mid-air, his spotted yellow fur and stubby horns appearing. He raised a hoof and shouted,
"Prajna Seal!"
BOOM!
The clash sent both of them flying, creating a crater in the ground and tearing up nearby trees. The impact was intense.
From a distance, Sean frowned. Vexi wasn't even using full power, but Rom had the energy to spare. That's the strength and endurance of Zoan users.
"Takli, don't just stand there—get in!"
"Uh… Captain, I think Vexi doing fine on her own…"
Sean gave him a look.
"Look carefully. Vexi already getting winded. Zoan users excel at endurance. If you don't help, she might lose."
Takli glanced again and saw it was true.
"Oh… alright then!"
He charged in. With Takli entering the fight, Vexi burden eased. She didn't complain—she knew she'd lose if she kept pushing solo.
"Blade Kick!" — BAM!
"Frenzy Fist!" — BOOM!
"Buddha Seal!" — CRASH!
As the battle intensified, the ground was torn apart with each move. Craters of all sizes formed, and nearby weeds were completely cleared (Humor: "Feel like a little weed now, don't ya?").
The tide shifted when Rom shouted and began hybridtransformation—a semi-beast form. Under pressure, he went all-out. Muscles bulged, his long neck thickened, limbs gained power, nostrils flared with hot breath. Takli and Vexi both froze in awe.
"I'm coming!"
Rom blitzed forward. His movements blurred.
"So fast!"
His half-beast speed and strength had grown exponentially—Takli and Vexi were now being overwhelmed.
Knowing they couldn't drag this out, the two exchanged a glance and widened the distance. They began charging their strongest moves.
Rom understood immediately. He too readied his ultimate attack.
The area grew eerily still. The pressure from all three grew, causing nearby wildlife to scatter in fear. Then—
"Wind God Kick!"
"Heavy Blast Fist!"
"Tathāgata Seal!"
BOOOOOM!
The clash generated a powerful shockwave, covering everything in dust and silence.
When the smoke cleared, a massive crater—dozens of meters wide and several meters deep—had formed before Sean and Dory's eyes. They gasped.
All three fighters lay inside, battered but smiling. A full-power battle between equals was the fastest path to strength, and Sean believed this fight had helped them all grow.
But he sighed and turned to Dory.
"Looks like we'll be needing your help again."
Dory sighed, half laughing, half annoyed.
"Why do I always have to clean up your messes?"
He grumbled as he climbed into the pit and dragged-out Takli and Rom, carrying them back to the ship—leaving Sean and Vexi behind, alone.
Trying to dispel the awkward silence, Sean coughed—then suddenly swept Vexi into a princess carry. Her face turned beet red as he carried her back to the ship in silence. It felt oddly natural, peaceful.
A short walk turned into a long journey, dragging out the tension. As they arrived, the crew stared at them in amusement. Sean quickly set her down and ran off.
Vexi, now the target of everyone's teasing, turned redder than ever…
And so, the night passed… "quietly."