There were even vast numbers of Devil Fruits. For this reason, Brandon White had gone so far as to ask Whitebeard for a complete Devil Fruit encyclopedia and uploaded it to the One Piece forums.
Every Devil Fruit cataloged in that guide existed here.
"By the way, what exactly are you planning to do with all this?"
Firewing stood beside Brandon, her eyes filled with curiosity.
After all, Brandon's power was already unrivaled on Earth. By his own words, none of these items could make him stronger. They were his own creations, and their limits rose and fell with him.
If they couldn't enhance his strength, then what was the point of materializing them?
He wasn't just planning to keep them as collectibles, was he?
"For now, they don't serve much purpose."
Brandon spoke casually as he picked up a Devil Fruit shaped like a banana.
"When the time is right, I'll send some of them out across the world."
Though these objects couldn't strengthen him, they held immense value for every other gifted being on Earth. The stronger they became, the more his own power would grow in turn.
It wasn't just the Devil Fruits—Armor Hero morphers, Kamen Rider belts, Ultraman transformation devices, even magic cards and ninjutsu scrolls.
Who obtained them, who was chosen by the light—that he would leave to fate.
"???"
Firewing stared at Brandon, then at the items before them.
Sending these treasures out into the world… did that mean he was simply giving them away?
The Devil Fruits alone were astonishing enough. Or no—scratch that. Those couldn't just be dismissed!
Especially the Logia-type Devil Fruits. With their element-based intangibility, ordinary weapons became useless against them.
And if this all came down to luck—what if the recipient wasn't a good person?
Most concerning of all were the Ultraman transformation devices. If someone with dangerous ambition obtained one, they currently had no way to restrain them.
"The power of the Armors and Ultramen isn't something you need to worry about. Not just anyone can claim them."
"As for the Devil Fruits, even if I set rules so that those with evil hearts cannot obtain them, what about people who eat a fruit, then let ambition grow only after gaining such power? What about mutated creatures?"
"The truth is simple—what matters has never been power. It's what people choose to do with it."
Brandon's voice was calm. The total number of Devil Fruits was minuscule compared to Earth's enormous population of humans and mutated beings.
And really—were Devil Fruits stronger than innate abilities?
Of course not.
The potential of awakened abilities was far greater than any Devil Fruit.
If governments could still maintain order during universal ability awakening, then why would Devil Fruits upset that balance?
All the more when Armor Heroes, Ultramen, and Kamen Riders only chose those of righteous spirit.
And Devil Fruits still carried their weakness to seawater.
If even with that flaw Earth couldn't handle them, then humanity was too disappointing to begin with.
"Pick one. Think of it as thanks for all the work you've done for me."
Brandon gestured lazily at the array before them.
It was thanks to Firewing's support that he'd been able to manifest so many items in such a short span.
Her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she pointed eagerly to the Flame Dragon Morpher, the Fire Armor transformation device.
"I'll allow it—if it acknowledges you."
Brandon shrugged indifferently.
"Roar!"
The moment Firewing's hand touched the device, the Flame Dragon Morpher let out a thunderous roar. A violent surge of repelling force blasted her arm away.
"So… I wasn't chosen?"
Firewing pointed at herself, hesitant.
"No need to doubt it. It didn't recognize you."
Brandon nodded.
"Why not?"
"Who can say? Perhaps the justice you hold doesn't align with its own."
Justice was too broad, too many-layered. Maybe Firewing's vision of justice simply didn't resonate with the Flame Dragon's.
Or perhaps the device had already chosen its destined wielder elsewhere on Earth.
"That's really a shame."
She shook her head regretfully. She had thought she and Flame Dragon were a perfect match.
Reluctantly, she moved to the other side and picked up a Devil Fruit—its skin marked with blazing runes.
The Mera Mera no Mi—the Flame-Flame Fruit once eaten by Ace and Sabo.
"You're choosing that one? It does suit you."
Firewing was a fire-attribute summoner, after all. The Flame-Flame Fruit aligned well with her nature.
True, in canon the Magma-Magma Fruit was considered its superior. But in truth, that superiority wasn't a matter of sheer heat.
Fire was unquestionably hotter than magma at its upper limits. But magma wasn't combustible rock—it was already molten under immense subterranean heat and pressure. Fire could not ignite it. Instead, magma devoured fire, absorbing its heat to burn hotter and overwhelm flames.
The Flame-Flame Fruit embodied the purest essence of fire itself.
Brandon extended a finger into the air, channeling golden energy into the fruit.
"I've imbued it with immunity to seawater. A little gift to help you out."
"The sea weakness of Devil Fruits is too crippling."
"Thanks."
Delighted, Firewing stored the fruit away in her spatial ring.
Then she hesitated, asking carefully:
"So… what about the taste?"
"Worse than you think."
Brandon nodded gravely.
"…"
After Firewing left, Brandon stretched and tickled the two Pikachu who were snoring in Doraemon's arms, before heading off to prepare their meal.
Doraemon and he had meals handled by a professional chef team. For the Pikachu, however, he relied more on Pokéblocks.
At first, he bought them from Meowth. Later, when his own Berries matured under spiritual nourishment, he crafted them himself.
The results were richer in taste and energy, better supporting the Pikachu's growth.
But suddenly, his steps halted. He looked toward the window, a sharp gleam in his eyes.
"The second Spiritual Tide… has it begun?"
Boom.
Boom.
Boom.
Explosions thundered through the void.
From the emptiness, torrents of multicolored energy—like liquid light—spilled forth, spiraling into Earth.
The Second Spiritual Tide had arrived.
Spiritual energy, so dense it liquefied, poured into the planet in unfathomable waves.
And from Earth as the center, those energies spread outward, seeping into the Moon, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter… every celestial body shuddered in its wake.
(End of Chapter)