His eyes gleamed like those of a gourmet staring at the finest delicacy imaginable, filled with naked desire.
“All right, don’t just stand there.” Rocks turned toward his still-stunned crew.
“Ryne.” “Get your biggest serving platter ready.” “Silver.” “Go pick that fruit.” “And be careful.” “Don’t damage it.” “Understood.” Silver answered with a nod.
His figure blurred as he lightly bounded up the steep cliff face, his toes touching the rock only a few times.
Like an agile ape, he reached the ancient tree’s branches within moments.
Carefully avoiding the glowing, tear-like sap dripping from the canopy, he made his way toward the Soul Echo Fruit hanging at the very top.
Meanwhile, Gatz and Dorum flanked the CP leader whom Rocks had casually thrown onto the ground.
The man’s face was utterly drained of color.
That brief exchange had shattered not only the King of Lamentation…
…but also every ounce of pride and fighting spirit he possessed as one of the World Government’s elite agents.
Only now did he truly understand what kind of monster he had challenged.
“Captain.” “What should we do with this guy?” Gatz asked, resting his massive anchor on one shoulder.
“Tie him up.” “Just don’t let him die.” Rocks waved dismissively.
His entire attention remained fixed on the fruit that was almost within his grasp.
“He’s not even worthy of being an appetizer.” “Don’t let him ruin our meal.” High within the enormous canopy, Silver swiftly approached the fruit.
The closer he came…
The more clearly he could feel its mysterious pulse.
It breathed like a living creature.
Each heartbeat subtly tugged at the surrounding light and darkness.
Silver didn’t reach out with his bare hand.
Instead, he gently lifted the fruit’s stem with the sheath of his spear, neatly severing it.
The Soul Echo Fruit detached from the branch— yet it didn’t fall.
It simply floated quietly in midair, bathed in a gentle glow.
Using a clean silk cloth, Silver carefully wrapped the fruit before leaping back down.
He landed gracefully before Rocks.
“Captain.” Rocks accepted the wrapped fruit.
It felt pleasantly warm.
Even through the cloth, he could sense the steady rhythm of its living pulse.
Grinning broadly, he handed it to Ryne.
“Head Chef.” “It’s your show now.” “How do we prepare a legendary ingredient like this so its flavor reaches its peak?” Everyone’s eyes turned toward Ryne.
Taking the fruit into his hands, his expression became more focused than ever before.
He didn’t prepare it immediately.
Instead…
He slowly closed his eyes.
His Observation Haki spread outward, gently touching the fruit’s unique spiritual wavelength.
Instantly— Countless shattered emotions flooded his consciousness.
Sorrow.
Regret.
Despair.
Fragments of countless lingering thoughts poured into his mind.
They were the accumulated resentment of the island over untold centuries.
The very source of the King of Lamentation’s power.
The nourishment that had allowed this fruit to grow.
“I see…” Ryne slowly opened his eyes.
Understanding flashed across them.
“This fruit can’t be cut.” “It can’t be cooked.” “It is a pure aggregation of spiritual energy.” “Any physical preparation would destroy its true nature.” “Then how do we eat it?” “Swallow it whole?” Gatz stretched his neck curiously.
“No.” Ryne shook his head before looking toward Rocks.
“I need a catalyst.” “A will powerful enough to neutralize the chaotic resentment accumulated inside.” “Only then can the fruit’s purest Soul Echo power emerge.” The moment he heard that, Rocks burst into laughter.
“Hahahaha!” “Interesting!” “So you want to season it…” “…with my will?” “You could put it that way.” Ryne nodded calmly.
“Place your hand on the fruit.” “Pour your will into it.” “Don’t resist the backlash.” “Allow the two wills to clash…” “…and merge.” The request sounded unbelievable.
Dangerous, even.
Confronting a fruit containing the hatred of an entire island could easily result in catastrophic mental damage.
But this was Rocks.
Fear simply didn’t exist in his vocabulary.
“Hahahaha!” “Fine!” “Let’s see whether this island’s sorrow is tougher…” “…or my fists!” Without hesitation, Rocks placed his massive hand upon the Soul Echo Fruit.
Closing his eyes…
He unleashed his overwhelming will into it like a flood bursting through a broken dam.
Hummm— The Soul Echo Fruit trembled violently.
Its glow flickered erratically.
Visible black mist poured from within the fruit.
Countless miserable screams echoed through the valley.
This was the island’s resentment making one final desperate resistance.
Yet…
The instant that sorrow touched Rocks’ overwhelmingly arrogant will…
It melted away like snow beneath the blazing sun.
The valley erupted with violent winds.
Ghostly cries filled the air.
Every member of the crew felt the terrifying spiritual storm and instinctively retreated.
Only Ryne remained exactly where he stood, silently observing.
The process lasted nearly ten minutes.
When the final trace of black mist had been completely crushed and purified by Rocks’ will…
The Soul Echo Fruit stopped pulsing.
Its radiance became purer and gentler than ever before.
Like a star frozen in solid form.
Rocks finally removed his hand.
Letting out a long breath, he wore an expression of slight fatigue— yet his eyes burned brighter than ever.
“That was satisfying.” “It felt like fighting an invisible opponent.” Ryne accepted the completed fruit.
It was no longer merely condensed spiritual energy.
It had become something existing somewhere between matter and spirit.
He retrieved a small silver spoon from his pack.
Carefully…
He scooped away a tiny portion of the fruit’s surface.
The portion transformed into a sphere of pure light floating above the spoon.
“It’s ready.” Ryne presented the first spoonful to Rocks.
“Captain.” “Please.” Rocks accepted it.
With a single motion, he swallowed the glowing sphere.
It melted instantly.
There was no taste.
No texture.
Yet…
The next moment— His pupils contracted violently.
He felt his soul leave his body.
Rising toward the heavens.
He heard the wind.
The whispers of clouds.
The roaring sea.
He heard the heartbeat of a distant Sea King.
He heard molten magma flowing deep beneath the earth.
The Voice of All Things.
It was an indescribable sensation.
A feeling of limitless awareness.
“Is…” “…this the voice of the world?” Rocks whispered.
His face held a mixture of astonishment and pure exhilaration unlike anything before.
Without pausing, Ryne prepared another spoonful.
Then another.
He served Gatz, Silver, and Dorum in turn.
The moment Gatz swallowed his— he froze.
He heard every muscle fiber in his own body cheering.
He heard the metal inside his anchor humming softly.
Far away, he sensed a wild boar digging through the earth.
He could even hear its thoughts.
“Hungry…” “Hungry…” “Need acorns…” “Holy…” “This thing is incredible!” Gatz clutched his head.
Everything he believed about the world had just been overturned.
Silver’s experience was completely different.
The entire world suddenly became crystal clear.
He was no longer merely seeing with his eyes.
Or hearing with his ears.
He could perceive the movement of the air itself.
Understand the path taken by light.
Even his spear seemed to whisper something to him.
He instinctively knew the direction in which its tip most wished to strike.
It was insight that transcended the five senses.
A direct perception of essence itself.
Dorum, meanwhile, wore an expression of complete ecstasy.
Eyes closed…
He listened quietly.
He heard the ancient tree weeping over a thousand years of solitude.
He heard the stones beneath his feet groaning beneath the weight of endless time.
He even heard the battered ship they had sailed here.
“It hurts…” “My keel is breaking…” “That fat guy stepped on me again…” “My old friend…” “Don’t worry.” “I’ll build you a stronger body soon.” Dorum actually comforted empty air with heartfelt concern.
Finally…
Ryne prepared one spoonful for himself.
The instant the glowing light slid down his throat— His system interface exploded with notifications.
[Ding!
The host has consumed the Legendary Ingredient: Soul Echo Fruit.] [Spiritual Power has increased dramatically!] [Observation Haki has undergone a qualitative evolution!] [New Advanced Ability Unlocked: Hearing the Voice of All Things (Ingredients Edition)!] [Hearing the Voice of All Things (Ingredients Edition)] The host can clearly hear the voices of any ingredient, learning its optimal cooking method, perfect pairings, and hidden flavors.
Ryne slowly opened his eyes.
The world had completely changed.
He could hear every nearby plant breathing.
He could feel the emotions contained within every stone.
It was as though he had become one with the world itself.
For a chef…
This was nothing less than the realm of the gods.
Looking down at the Soul Echo Fruit— more than half of it still remained.
Then he looked toward his crew, who were still adapting to their newfound abilities.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
This hunt…
…had yielded far more than anyone could have imagined.
The overwhelming experience brought by the Soul Echo Fruit lingered for a long time before the Rocks Pirates gradually returned to their senses.
Every one of them felt reborn.
Their perception of the world had fundamentally changed.
Gatz excitedly swung his giant anchor.
He could clearly sense the flow of force within the weapon itself.
Every swing became smoother.
More natural.
Far more powerful.
Silver merely stood in silence.
Yet his presence had become even more restrained…
…and infinitely more dangerous.
Like a peerless spear hidden inside its sheath, waiting for a single fatal strike.
Dorum wandered circles around the ancient tree, constantly muttering to himself as though conversing with an old friend.
His eyes shone with the fanaticism of a master shipwright who had just discovered the greatest timber in history.
Rocks stood atop the valley’s edge with his arms crossed.
Looking down upon the mist-covered island below…
He could hear subtle information carried by the wind.
The rhythm of waves striking reefs.
Even several powerful lifeforms far away across the sea.
The feeling of controlling everything only widened the grin across his face.
“A chef who can hear the voice of the world…” “A crew that can communicate with their weapons…” “…and with their companions.” He spoke quietly to himself.
The flames of ambition burned brightly within his eyes.
“Ryne.” “The surprises you’ve brought me…” “…are worth more than every treasure in this entire sea.” His gaze shifted toward the CP leader.
The man lay tightly bound in a corner.
Some awareness had returned after his earlier despair…
But only fear remained in his eyes.
He had personally watched these people divide and consume the legendary fruit.
Every single one of them had undergone an impossible transformation.
He knew…
There was absolutely no chance he would leave this island alive.
Rocks slowly walked over.
Looking down at him as though examining an insect beneath his foot.
“Government lapdog.” “Tell me.” “Where did your intelligence come from?” “How did the World Government learn that the Soul Echo Fruit was here?” Rocks’ voice remained calm.
Yet the invisible pressure behind every word made it difficult for the CP leader to breathe.
The agent clenched his teeth.
The stubborn resolve of a trained operative flashed through his eyes.
“I won’t tell you anything!” “For justice!”