A fish weighing nearly a thousand pounds was hardly a burden for Ban at all.
Still maintaining both Armament and Observation Haki simultaneously, he walked through the gates of Isshin Dojo—only to bump straight into Dragon and his group, who were just preparing to leave, accompanied by Koushirou seeing them off.
Seeing Ban like this, Dragon, Ivankov, and Koushirou were all stunned.
Their eyes fixed intently on him, scanning his wet hair and soaked clothes, before finally settling on the enormous fish resting heavily on his shoulder.
“Ban, did you buy this from the village market?
I didn’t expect such fresh catches to be available so early in the morning,” Koushirou asked hesitantly, breaking the silence.
“Oh, well…
I received a great favor from this gentleman yesterday,” Ban replied cheerfully, nodding toward Dragon.
“So I thought I’d go down to the sea early and catch a fish myself to prepare a feast as a thank you.
But…
are you all leaving already?”
He caught it himself?
In the sea?
Koushirou and Dragon exchanged a look, both clearly puzzled and confused.
“You…
you went into the sea?!” Ivankov asked, sounding utterly bewildered.
As a fellow Devil Fruit user himself, he knew perfectly well the weakness: the moment a user touched seawater, their entire body became weak and drained of energy.
No matter how physically strong or tough you were, resisting that effect was almost impossible.
Yet, last night, both Dragon and Koushirou had confirmed that Ban was definitely a Devil Fruit user.
So…
what exactly was going on here?!
Dragon was equally confused.
Last night, when he had helped Ban awaken his Armament Haki, he clearly felt that Ban had instinctively tried to transform his body into his element, but failed—or rather, had stopped himself from doing so.
Back then, he had been almost certain that Ban was a Logia user.
But now, seeing him return from catching a fish in the sea without showing any signs of weakness at all…
all three of them were left completely baffled.
“WHOAAAA!
WHAT A HUGE FISH!”
Zoro’s loud voice rang out from outside the dojo.
He had just finished his morning training and was walking back when he spotted Ban carrying the massive catch, unable to hold back his amazement.
It was this shout that finally snapped the three men out of their shock.
Ban’s situation completely defied everything they knew and believed to be true.
“Well then, thank you very much, Ban my boy.
To be honest, I am quite hungry myself,” Dragon said with a smile, waving his hand to signal his men to stand down.
The others exchanged confused glances but quietly stepped aside, wondering what their leader was planning.
Soon after, Koushirou personally set to work cutting and preparing the fish, while Zoro, Kuina, and Ban helped out beside him.
In no time, the enormous fish was transformed into a spectacular feast, filling the dining hall with delicious aromas.
“So…
are you actually not a Devil Fruit user?”
While Zoro was busy stuffing his face and the others were quietly enjoying the meal, Ivankov finally couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer and asked the question directly.
“Devil Fruits?
Where did you hear that I’m supposed to be one?”
His question instantly brought everyone else’s eating to a halt—though Zoro continued eating as if nothing happened, completely unaffected.
“Devil Fruits?
Are those the legendary hidden treasures of the sea?” Kuina asked curiously, surprising everyone by knowing the term.
“That’s right,” Ban replied to her.
“Treasures of the sea.
Even the cheapest and lowest-ranking ones—the Zoan types—are worth more than 100,000,000 Berries.”
Kuina’s eyes widened in shock.
Dragon kept watching Ban closely.
Hearing his denial, he recalled the strange events of the previous night, and his brows furrowed in deep thought.
Is he perhaps a member of a special race instead?
A special race born with the ability to control fire?
As the leader of the Revolutionary Army, Dragon was well aware that many unique races existed in the world, possessing incredible natural abilities.
If such a race existed—one born with the power of flames…
then perhaps the Lunarians?
Those people who were known as the God’s Kin from eight hundred years ago…?
Dragon began to speculate, putting together the clues in his mind.
If he really was from that God’s Kin clan, then the subtle look and attitude Ban had toward others actually began to make sense.
However, that race had supposedly vanished a very long time ago, and the World Government had been hunting down any remaining members relentlessly.
Yet Ban showed none of the distinctive traits described in legends.
White hair, wings growing from the back, flames burning continuously behind them…
He had none of those features at all.
Apart from Zoro, who was still shoveling food into his mouth non-stop, the other four people all stared fixedly at Ban.
“I am not a Devil Fruit user,” Ban stated clearly.
Then, he raised his right hand—whoosh!—and in an instant, his entire arm transformed into blazing fire, looking just like a burning torch held in the air.
You say you aren’t…
not a Devil Fruit user?!
Everyone froze completely, their eyes widening so much they felt like they were about to pop right out of their heads.
“It seems you hold quite a few secrets, young man,” Dragon nodded slowly.
However, he didn’t press the matter any further, lowering his head and deciding to stop asking questions.
“How is this even possible?!
If you aren’t a user, how can you create and control fire?!” Ivankov felt like his brain was struggling to process everything he was seeing and hearing.
“Does one have to be a Devil Fruit user to create fire?” Ban asked calmly.
“If you travel more through the New World in the future, you might encounter many people who possess the ability to use fire, even though they have never eaten a Devil Fruit.”
“The New World?!” Ivankov exclaimed, eyes bulging.
Of course he knew about the New World—the second half of the Grand Line, known as a paradise for the most fearsome and powerful pirates in the world.
“SO COOL!” Zoro suddenly shouted with admiration.
Kuina’s eyes, meanwhile, were shining brightly with amazement and fascination.
“Speaking of which, the abilities of Zoan-type fruits can greatly enhance one’s physical constitution and strength,” Ban said, turning his gaze toward Koushirou.
Koushirou was still deeply shocked and confused by the sight of Ban controlling fire.
Hearing Ban’s words, he instinctively glanced at his daughter, Kuina.
Just as he expected, Kuina looked as though she wanted to ask something, but hesitated and held back.
“That is indeed true.
However, genuine Devil Fruits are extremely rare and difficult to find,” Koushirou said after a moment of silence, agreeing with what Ban had said.
“If I come across any information or leads, I will keep an eye out for you,” Dragon suddenly spoke up, clearly understanding the situation and Kuina’s desires.
Dragon, Ivankov, and Koushirou were all completely puzzled by the secrets surrounding Ban, but none of them intended to probe too deeply or forcefully uncover the truth.
…
Later, the ship slowly pulled away from the dock.
Ivankov stood at the railing, looking back at the group standing on the shore.
His gaze lingered especially long on Ban, watching him until his figure gradually blurred and became indistinct in the distance.
Only then did he turn his head toward Dragon.
“Leader…
what do you make of that young man, Ban?”
“I am just as confused as you are,” Dragon replied, shaking his head slowly.
“His abilities are exactly like those of a Logia user, and yet…
seawater clearly has absolutely no effect on him at all.”
It didn’t make sense.
If someone’s physical body was powerful enough to resist the weakening effect of seawater completely—that was simply impossible.
If Ban really possessed that level of monstrous strength, Dragon would definitely have sensed it immediately.
When he had helped Ban awaken his Armament Haki last night, he had carefully tested and felt Ban’s physical capabilities.
His body was indeed incredibly strong—far stronger than anyone his age had any right to be—stronger even than Dragon himself had been at that age.
But definitely not strong enough to completely ignore the effects of the sea.
And the fact that he had maintained his Armament Haki continuously all this time…
This kid…
was just plain unnatural.
Dragon turned away from the shoreline and walked back into the cabin of the ship.
“I really can’t see through him at all…”
Back in Shimotsuki Village.
On the way back to the dojo, Ban walked slightly ahead, head lowered in thought, recalling the words Dragon had quietly spoken to him just before leaving.
Vice Admiral Garp has recently returned to the East Blue.
Rumor has it, the reason he came back is that a certain bounty hunter operating here has been showing abilities seemingly related to fire.
Ban frowned slightly.
Is he here for me?
“Monday to Friday – Update 3 Chapters a Day”
“Saturday and Sunday – Off”