Silver didn't touch it directly with his hand. Instead, he used his spear's sheath to gently flick the stem connecting the fruit to the branch. The Soul-Echo Fruit detached, but instead of falling, it floated silently in mid-air, emitting a soft halo. Silver carefully wrapped it in a clean silk cloth before leaping down and landing steadily in front of Rocks.
"Captain."
Rocks took the cloth-wrapped fruit. It was warm to the touch, and even through the cloth, he could feel its strange, life-like pulse. He grinned and handed the fruit to Ren. "Head Chef, it's your turn to perform. How do we prepare this legendary flavor to bring out its full potential?"
Everyone's eyes focused on Ren.
Ren took the fruit, his expression more focused than ever before. He didn't rush to prepare it. Instead, he closed his eyes. His Observation Haki extended, gently touching the fruit's unique soul-like vibration. In an instant, countless fragmented, sorrowful, and regretful thoughts flooded Ren's mind. It was the accumulated resentment of the island over countless years, the source of the King of Laments's power, and the nourishment for this fruit's growth.
"I see," Ren opened his eyes, a flash of understanding in them. "This fruit cannot be cut with a knife or cooked with fire. It is a pure aggregation of spiritual energy. Any physical processing will destroy its essence."
"Then how do you eat it? Swallow it whole?" Gatz asked, craning his neck curiously.
"No," Ren shook his head and looked at Rocks. "I need a catalyst. A will strong enough to neutralize the complex resentment accumulated in the fruit and draw out the purest power of the soul's echo."
Hearing this, Rocks immediately understood Ren's meaning and laughed heartily. "Interesting! Are you saying you want to use my will as a seasoning?"
"You could put it that way," Ren nodded calmly. "Place your hand on the fruit and pour your will into it. Don't resist the fruit's backlash. Let the two wills collide and merge."
The request sounded absurd, even dangerous. To have one's will clash with a fruit containing the resentment of an entire island could lead to mental damage if one was not careful. But this was Rocks. The word "fear" did not exist in his vocabulary.
"Hahahaha! Fine! Let's see which is tougher, this island's sorrow or my fist!" Rocks stretched out his hand without hesitation, his large palm covering the Soul-Echo Fruit. He closed his eyes, and a domineering, world-scorning will surged into the fruit like a bursting dam!
VWOOM—
The Soul-Echo Fruit trembled violently, its light flickering. A visible black mist seeped out of the fruit with a piercing wail. It was the island's millennia of resentment making its last stand. However, when this sorrowful mist came into contact with Rocks's arrogant will, it was like snow meeting the blazing sun, rapidly melting and being purified.
A fierce wind swept through the valley, filled with wails and howls. The rest of the crew felt the terrifying spiritual storm and retreated, all except Ren, who stood his ground, quietly observing. The process lasted for about ten minutes.
When the last wisp of black mist was completely crushed and purified by Rocks's will, the Soul-Echo Fruit stopped pulsing. The halo on its surface became unprecedentedly pure and soft, like a solidified star.
Rocks removed his hand and let out a long breath. His face showed a hint of fatigue, but his eyes were more excited than ever. "Exhilarating! It was like fighting an invisible opponent!"
Ren took the "cooked" fruit. It was no longer a pure energy form but had condensed into a wondrous existence somewhere between tangible and intangible. He took out a small silver spoon from his bag and gently scooped a small piece from the fruit's surface. The scooped part turned into a ball of pure light, floating on the spoon.
"It's ready," Ren said, handing the first spoonful to Rocks. "Captain, please enjoy."
Rocks took the spoon and swallowed the ball of light in one go. It melted in his mouth, having no taste or texture. But in the next second, Rocks's pupils contracted sharply. He felt as if his soul had been pulled from his body and had flown to the highest heavens. He heard the sound of the wind, the whispers of the clouds, the roar of the sea. He could even hear the heartbeat of a distant Sea King and the angry rumble of magma flowing deep within the earth.
The Voice of All Things!
It was an unprecedented, omniscient feeling! "Is this... the voice of the world?" Rocks murmured, his face a mask of utter shock and ecstasy.
Ren didn't stop. He served a spoonful to Gatz, Silver, and Dolum in turn.
After Gatz swallowed his, he was completely stunned. He could hear the cheering of his own muscle fibers, the low hum of the metal within his anchor. He could even sense a wild boar digging for food in the distance and clearly hear its thoughts: "Hungry... hungry... want acorns..."
"Holy smokes... this stuff is insane!" Gatz clutched his head, feeling his entire worldview being overturned.
Silver's experience was completely different. His world became incredibly clear in an instant. He no longer just saw with his eyes and heard with his ears. He could feel the flow of the air, understand the trajectory of light. The spear in his hand seemed to be speaking to him; he could even feel the direction its tip most desired to strike. It was a perception that transcended the five senses, a direct insight into the essence of things.
The shipwright Dolum, however, wore a look of utter intoxication. He closed his eyes, listening intently. He could hear the ancient tree weeping, telling its thousand-year tale of loneliness. He could hear the rocks beneath his feet groaning, complaining about the erosion of time. He could even hear the faint whimpers coming from their battered old ship. "Ouch... my keel is about to break... that fat guy is stepping on me again..."
"Don't worry, old friend! I'll give you a sturdy new body soon!" Dolum comforted the empty air with a pained expression.
Finally, Ren served himself a spoonful. As the light entered his throat, his system interface was instantly flooded with a massive amount of information.
[Ding! Host has consumed the legendary ingredient, the Soul-Echo Fruit. Mental strength has been greatly enhanced!]
[Ding! Host's Observation Haki has undergone a qualitative change, unlocking the advanced ability—The Voice of All Things (Ingredient-Limited Edition)!]
[The Voice of All Things (Ingredient-Limited Edition): Host can clearly hear the "voice" of any ingredient, understanding its optimal cooking method, most compatible pairings, and hidden potential flavors.]
Ren opened his eyes. The entire world had changed in his perception. He could hear the breath of every plant around him, feel the emotion of every stone. It was a feeling of being one with the world. For a chef, this was undoubtedly the realm of the gods.
Ren looked at the Soul-Echo Fruit, still more than half-full, then at his crewmates who were still adapting to their new abilities. A smile touched his lips. This hunt's harvest had far exceeded his wildest imagination.
-------
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