Time passed swiftly.
March 3rd, Year 1520 of the Sea Circle Calendar.
In a remote stretch of the New World's mid-to-late seas, a plundering pirate crew known for looting and treasure-hunting sailed along as usual through the perilous waters.
"Captain! Captain!! On the sea!! Something's floating—it looks like a Devil Fruit!!"
A bald lookout, gripping a telescope atop the watchtower, shouted down excitedly to his captain.
Long ago, they had once stumbled upon a Devil Fruit after raiding another crew. Not knowing what kind of ability it held, they sold it on the black market for a staggering 300 million berries.
So finding a Devil Fruit drifting in the sea was no different from picking up a fortune falling from the heavens.
"It's where?! Quick, haul it up!!"
Captain Doramento Tashu of the Tashu Pirates leapt from his sun chair, thrilled, and rushed to the bow to see for himself. His captain's hat hung loosely, a burning fuse trailing from it that constantly gave off black smoke. Around his thick waist, six pistols were strapped tightly.
At his order, several eager crewmen leapt into the sea, each scrambling to secure the precious fruit for their captain.
When the drenched sailors clambered back aboard, Tashu laid eyes on it—a pale-purple Devil Fruit, shaped like a pineapple with swirling snail-shell patterns covering its skin.
"Could it be… a Logia-type?!"
Tashu muttered under his breath, excitement flooding his face. The black smoke around his body thickened in response.
But as his men stared longingly at the fruit, Tashu's expression turned cold. He had already eaten a Devil Fruit—he could not eat another. Yet there was no chance he would allow any of his underlings to eat this one, especially if it was a powerful Logia.
If one of them grew too strong, it wouldn't be long before they turned on him to seize command.
He'd sooner sell it for a fortune than hand it over.
"This fruit's power is unknown. We'll sell it on the black market for a high price."
Tashu snatched the fruit into his smoky grasp, glaring icily at his subordinates.
Their greedy excitement died instantly under his oppressive stare. After all, this was the same Captain Tashu who had eaten the Paramecia-class Smoke-Smoke Fruit and had personally gunned down over thirty of his own crewmates.
No one dared press their luck.
At his command, the Tashu Pirates steered toward the next island, planning to offload their latest spoils at an underground market and indulge themselves with the profits. They had plundered another island not long ago, and with this Devil Fruit added, they expected to live like kings in the pleasure districts and underground casinos for months.
But elsewhere, aboard the Moby Dick of the Whitebeard Pirates, word of that very plunder had already spread. A small, remote island under Whitebeard's protection had been attacked. The village elder hadn't even managed to shout that they were under Whitebeard's flag before he was gunned down by the enemy captain.
When the news reached them, the Whitebeard Pirates erupted in fury. The Moby Dick, already patrolling nearby waters, immediately changed course to hunt down the offenders.
No one insulted Whitebeard's honor and lived.
Meanwhile, the Tashu Pirates feasted and drank, completely unaware that they had provoked one of the Four Emperors—the most powerful force on the seas.
By late afternoon, around three or four o'clock, the massive white whale ship finally caught up to the raiders.
The sight of the Moby Dick turned Tashu's face pale.
At first, he thought it a coincidence—they could simply retreat. But when the giant vessel locked onto them, refusing to break pursuit, his entire crew sank into despair.
"Why… why are the Whitebeard Pirates after us?!"
Tashu screamed, trembling. Had they somehow angered one of the Yonko?
A desperate thought flickered—perhaps Whitebeard meant to recruit them?
But that faint hope shattered when the Moby Dick's cannons roared, raining destruction across the waves.
The second division commander, Portgas D. Ace, along with the fourth division commander, Thatch, were the first to leap into battle. Only recently, the two had subdued the Decalban Brothers together. Now, they led the charge once again, eager to crush these fools who dared defile Whitebeard's territory.
The other commanders smirked knowingly. This was a perfect stage for Ace, the fiery new second division commander, and Thatch, the boisterous cook, to put on a show.
"Wait! It's a misunderstanding!! We surrender! We'll join you!!"
Tashu shrieked in panic. Facing Whitebeard's name, he dared not resist.
"You dared plunder Whitebeard's domain. You'll pay with your lives!"
Ace roared, his fists erupting into fire.
"Fire Fist!!"
A colossal blaze engulfed his punch as he hurled it toward the Tashu Pirates' vessel.
"No!! We didn't raid your lands!!"
Tashu howled, terror-stricken, but his words were drowned by fire.
"Black Smoke Fist!!"
In desperation, he unleashed his Devil Fruit powers, his body exploding with dense smoke. His fist of darkness collided head-on with Ace's burning strike.
Boom!!
Flame and smoke detonated in a shockwave, flinging weaker pirates into the sea.
"Well, well… another Devil Fruit user."
Ace grinned, fire blazing in his eyes as his excitement soared.
At the same time, Thatch leapt high, stepping through the air with ease, blade gleaming. He carved through Tashu's crewmen one by one, showing no mercy.
Even as a cook, Thatch was a division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates—his combat prowess was unquestionable.
"Ace, leave the small fry to me. That one's yours."
Thatch called out with a laugh, cutting down another pirate while his younger brother-in-arms battled the captain.
Ace only grinned wider. "Fine by me!"
While Ace and Tashu clashed in fire and smoke, Thatch cleared the deck, then casually rummaged through the captain's quarters.
There, he discovered a locked chest. With one swing of his blade, the lock snapped open.
Inside lay a Devil Fruit.
Thatch's eyes lit up instantly, a wide grin spreading across his face.
At last, something worth bragging about to his brothers.
...
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