One Piece - Heaven Defying Comprehension!

"You used the Realm of Comprehension to amplify Marshall D. Teach's desire, and the Dark-Dark Fruit responded to that call."

"However, the Dark-Dark Fruit sensed the hidden presence of 'Nika' within Marshall D. Teach."

These two lines appeared in Ace's mind, making him burst into laughter. He found the situation highly amusing.

Teach was indeed the most fitting vessel for the Dark-Dark Fruit in this era. His lineage, ambition, strength, and the unshakable determination that had kept him undercover aboard Whitebeard's ship for over twenty years were exactly what the Dark-Dark Fruit sought.

As Ace had predicted, once he used the Realm of Comprehension to magnify Teach's desire, the Dark-Dark Fruit was indeed drawn toward Teach from the depths of the sea. Yet, what Ace found even more intriguing was that the Dark-Dark Fruit recognized the power of 'Nika' and chose to conceal itself.

The Realm of Comprehension was a manifestation of Ace's extraordinary insight, combined with the power of 'Nika,' derived from the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which resided within his brother, Luffy. This power granted the user an imagination-based ability that shaped reality itself—a more advanced version of Nika's power.

The Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, was often dubbed the "most absurd" ability, with its rubbery body being merely a symbol. Its true power allowed the user to manifest anything they could imagine—control lightning, create light, bring objects into existence out of thin air, and achieve virtually any miracle. With enough imagination, Nika could theoretically wield or manipulate any Devil Fruit ability to aid in battle.

Because of this, Ace could utilize the Realm of Comprehension, a fusion of 'Nika's' power and his own formidable insight, tapping into devil factors and even borrowing from various Devil Fruit abilities, including the Paw-Paw Fruit.

But now, the Dark-Dark Fruit, sensing the power of 'Nika' within the Realm of Comprehension, had deliberately hidden itself. This confirmed Ace's theory.

The Dark-Dark Fruit, known as the most malevolent power in history, capable of stripping away other Devil Fruit abilities and allowing its user to hunt them down, was the natural antithesis to the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which bestowed its user with omnipotent imagination.

It was no wonder that in the original timeline, Luffy and Blackbeard clashed like natural-born enemies on Gaya Island—each attracted to entirely opposite forces and harboring an innate disdain for one another. Their fates were intertwined as carriers of the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, respectively, destined for a battle of opposites in this era.

Now, with these two fundamentally opposing forces existing on the same sea, a confrontation was inevitable. One day, they would fight to the death.

For now, the Dark-Dark Fruit refused to show itself in the presence of 'Nika.' Faced with Ace's mastery of this power, the supposedly most vicious Devil Fruit chose to hide.

What intrigued Ace the most, however, was that the Dark-Dark Fruit had detected the faint fluctuations of Nika's power within Teach.

Would the Dark-Dark Fruit still choose Teach as its host in this era? Ace's lips curled into a wry smile as he observed Teach's bewildered expression.

"Why... nothing happened?"

Teach stared blankly as the mysterious light surrounding him slowly faded away, swallowing hard. If the man standing before him wasn't the Ace, the undisputed overlord of the seas, Teach might have thought someone was playing a cruel joke on him.

But because it was Ace, Teach felt a growing sense of dread in his heart, as if something ominous had just occurred, something beyond his control.

"What's going on, Ace?" Shanks asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. Ace never acted without purpose.

Ace had proven his strength, wisdom, and skill during this conflict, cementing his title as the world's strongest man.

Yet despite Ace's involvement, Teach hadn't attracted any Devil Fruit. That left Shanks puzzled.

"What happened, boy? Teach, is he unable to attract a Devil Fruit?" Whitebeard asked in a deep, steady voice, his sharp gaze fixed on Teach.

The fact that nothing had happened made Whitebeard uneasy. He trusted Ace's strength and abilities. Ace had already proven his prowess during the Flame Emperor incident. What worried Whitebeard was whether something had gone wrong with Teach, preventing him from attracting a Devil Fruit, even with Ace's help.

"No, the attraction was successful. It drew out one of the two most powerful Devil Fruits on the seas," Ace replied, his smile growing more pronounced as he turned to look at Teach.

"!!!"

Teach's pupils dilated in shock, and his body began to tremble violently.

"One of the two strongest Devil Fruits?" Whitebeard and Shanks echoed, their eyes narrowing in astonishment.

Even Kaido, who had been lounging in the distance, drinking and watching the spectacle unfold, had grown serious.

The first person in history to wield a Devil Fruit had spoken of it in such a way. That Devil Fruit's power had to be truly terrifying. Top-tier Devil Fruits could elevate their users to an Admiral level just by virtue of their abilities alone. Though rare, such formidable Devil Fruits did indeed exist.

To be classified as the "strongest" Devil Fruit, its powers must surpass even those who have extraordinary abilities in their era.

Shanks' pupils narrowed as a suspicion began to form in his mind.

If asked to name the strongest Devil Fruit now, Shanks might have once believed it to be Ace's Flame-Flame Fruit, which had evolved towards the power of the sun. The idea of a Devil Fruit being able to elevate a user to a level surpassing even the Four Emperors had never before been seen on the seas.

Even Luffy's Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, with all its mythical power, couldn't achieve such a feat alone. But more than the Flame-Flame Fruit being inherently powerful, it was Ace himself who had unlocked its full potential.

The Flame-Flame Fruit's natural abilities, while stronger than those of the Sand-Sand Fruit, were still weaker than the Thunder-Thunder Fruit, a top-tier Logia type. Its true power was in Ace's hands, not the fruit's innate strength.

Ace had claimed there were two Devil Fruits stronger than all others. One of them must be the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which Luffy had eaten.

Could the other one be...

Shanks' pupils contracted further as realization struck.

"The most unique Logia-type fruit— the Dark-Dark Fruit," Ace said, looking at Teach with a knowing smile.

These words sent a shiver down Teach's spine, making him tremble.

"As I thought! It's the most malevolent power in history— the Dark-Dark Fruit!" Shanks said, his sharp eyes locking on Teach, who was drenched in sweat.

"The Dark-Dark Fruit? Are you serious, Shanks?" Kaido asked as he approached, his tone suddenly deep and serious.

He eyed Teach, who was now quaking under the pressure.

How could a person as insignificant as Teach attract the Dark-Dark Fruit?

"Then why didn't the Dark-Dark Fruit appear? Why?!" Teach cried out, losing control. He was trembling, staring at Ace in desperation.

For over twenty years, the Dark-Dark Fruit had been his obsession. Why didn't it show itself?

"Because it was scared off by my power, which stands in direct opposition to it— the power of 'Nika,'" Ace replied with a slight smile, watching Teach's unraveling with calm amusement.

"!!!"

Shanks, Whitebeard, and Kaido's pupils contracted to their limits at the same time.

"Nika?!!!"