One Piece: The Archangel's Guide

Chapter 21: Two Devil Fruits

Under the shining sun, the surface of the sea sparkled.

Azure, humanoid figures climbed out of the sea, taking stiff steps as they continuously walked toward the floating ship fragments.

On the deck, the members of the Red Hair Pirates stared with wide eyes at the figures, which had no gender characteristics or facial features. "What the hell are those things?!"

Shanks narrowed his eyes. He searched his memory and finally recalled something similar. "Are they like Homies?"

The Roger Pirates had once made a rubbing of the Poneglyph in Big Mom's territory, and Shanks had, of course, seen Homies there. So, he quickly connected Louis's Devil Fruit creations with Big Mom's Homies.

Shanks looked at the humanoid constructs walking away across the sea's surface, a meaningful look in his eyes. "Just like Big Mom, he can manipulate seawater with his ability..."

On the other side, now that he had helped, Louis felt at ease leaning back against the railing, leisurely watching everyone else work. Beside him, Yelena also realized she should probably be doing something and went forward to help. But her offer was quickly and firmly rejected by Hongo, and she returned to sit dejectedly next to Louis.

Soon, the banquet setup on the ship was complete. Howling Gab, with his dark red hair, and Snake, with sunglasses on his face, dived into the sea. They were going to find some lucky spectators on the seabed and warmly invite them to be special guests at the banquet.

Quickly, the humanoid constructs made of seawater gathered, bringing a portion of the ship's fragments near Louis. With their mission complete, their life force was reclaimed by Louis, and they once again dissolved back into the sea.

"Louis? What are your ability's creations called?" Just then, Shanks, finished with his task, walked over.

"They don't have a name," Louis said, shaking his head. Until he had his own ship or territory, Louis didn't plan on creating any long-lasting constructs. Therefore, he couldn't be bothered to give them a unified name.

Shanks was taken aback, then smiled. "You haven't even named them?"

"That's a bit like someone I met in Loguetown..." As he spoke, a hint of memory flashed in his eyes. A man with eyes like a hawk appeared in his mind.

Louis heard this and became thoughtful. Loguetown... doesn't name his moves. Is he talking about Mihawk? Based on Shanks's words, the only person who seemed to fit the description was Dracule Mihawk.

Soon, Louis pushed the thoughts aside. He ignited the flames on his back and manipulated a serpent of fire to extend down his arm, forming a miniature, orange sun in his palm. The sun radiated intense heat, causing the surrounding temperature to rise rapidly. A heatwave distorted the air. The high temperature continuously baked the damp ship fragments in front of him, quickly evaporating the seawater from them.

On the deck, the crew watched the miniature sun floating in Louis's palm, the corners of their mouths twitching. They could sense that the heat contained within this sun was terrifying. If it were to explode, it would be enough to vaporize an entire warship. Yet, Louis was using such a dangerous sun to dry firewood.

For a moment, they sighed inwardly. They already knew Louis was audacious from the fact that he set out to sea at ten years old. But seeing this, they felt that their assessment of him had actually been a bit conservative.

Louis sensed the strange gazes and felt a bit confused. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. You carry on," the crew all waved their hands and said in unison, their expressions and tone bizarrely uniform.

"The mental state of this crew really is a bit off..." Louis turned his head and continued with his task.

Soon, after feeling that the wood was sufficiently dry, Louis extinguished the miniature sun with a flick of his hand. Next, the crew quickly finished setting up the tools and fuel needed for the banquet. Everything was ready; all that was missing were the special guests.

SPLASH!

With two successive splashes, Gab and Snake emerged from the sea, each with a special guest they had found. They were... two small, unconscious sea beasts.

THUMP! THUMP!

The two men leaped out of the sea and landed on the deck.

"What the hell, why is it so hot?"

"Did you guys start eating without us?"

The moment they returned to the Red Force, they were hit by a wave of intense heat, and the remaining seawater on their bodies evaporated even faster.

The crew didn't answer them immediately, instead instinctively turning their gazes toward Louis.

"..."

Gab and Snake saw this and roughly understood the situation. But they didn't dwell on it, instead shouting loudly for Shanks. "Boss, we found some good stuff!"

Gab grinned, revealing a mouth full of sharp, serrated teeth, and tossed two small wooden chests in his hands.

"Good stuff?" Shanks, who was communicating with someone via a Den Den Mushi, was taken aback. He hung up and walked toward them.

On the other side, Uta, who was playing with Yelena, looked at the two chests in Gab's hands and fell into a memory. Soon, she snapped out of it, squeezed through the crowd to the front, and looked at the chests curiously. "Shanks, can we find a kid in here this time too?"

"..." Shanks heard this and smiled helplessly. "How can there be so many kids in treasure chests?"

Yasopp teased, "Besides, Gab pulled these two chests from the sea. Even if there was a child, it would have to be a little mermaid, right?"

Uta seemed to ponder this. Finally, she shook her head. "No, I'd rather not. We can't have a second child on this ship!"

"Mermaids are not allowed either!" Uta's tone was firm, her face resolute, looking as if she would throw any child they found onto the other ship.

The crew burst out laughing.

"Don't worry, Uta."

"No one can take our love away from you!"

"That's right, that's right!"

Uta's ears turned red, and the corners of her mouth turned up unconsciously. To hide her feelings, she urged her father on. "Shanks, hurry up and open them!"

Shanks didn't delay. With one slash, he cut the steel lock. Then, under the expectant gazes of the crew, he opened the wooden chest.

Presented before them was a strange fruit. It was entirely pink, with patterns like a biological brain, and its stem was shaped like a musical note.

"A Devil Fruit?" The crew was stunned.

"It's actually a Devil Fruit..."

"Boss, what about the other one? Open it and see!"

Shanks reached out and lifted the lid of the other wooden chest.

"???"

"It's really another Devil Fruit?"

"But... why are there two different fruits connected to this stem?"

Outside the crowd, Louis, who had been admiring the magnificent sea, froze. "A Twin Devil Fruit?"