The True Ability of the Fruit?

"You're learning well today." They had been doing lessons for a month.

It was dusk, and the setting sun cast a lingering, brilliant glow across the sky.

Woli used a branch to trace patterns in the sand, teaching Swain how to read.

This was far too simple for Swain. He had initially thought it would be difficult, but it was a walk in the park.

"Old Man Woli, how come we haven't seen any fleets pass by in a month?"

After initially struggling with how to address him, Swain had suddenly remembered that Ace called Garp the old man, so he figured he could call the middle-aged man in front of him the old man as well, maintaining a sense of closeness.

Woli fell silent for a moment, his gaze fixed ahead, and Swain looked that way too.

A vast, boundless blue ocean stretched out before them, meeting the sky at the horizon—a gorgeous and breathtaking sight.

"Magnificent, isn't it?"

"Yeah!"

"This area for a hundred miles around is called the Dead Silence Sea."

"The Dead Silence Sea?" It was Swain's turn to feel puzzled, especially since this sea area hadn't appeared in the One Piece he had read!

"The geographical location here is uniquely favored. The Sea Kings in the depths of the ocean are dozens of times more numerous than anywhere else."

"Passing ships can't possibly set foot here at all, unless they're powerful fleets like those of the Emperors of the Sea."

Hearing this, Swain suddenly understood. In truth, the One Piece he had seen in his past life only showed a small aspect of the world; after all, the world was so vast that there were bound to be some strange places.

And this "Dead Silence Sea" was simply a part that had not been shown.

"Then why are we fine?"

After waiting a moment without hearing an answer, Swain looked at Woli with doubt.

Woli didn't answer, simply turning around and walking away.

"Because they once made a pact with a certain race... not to kill each other!"

The seashore still rolled with waves, as if beating against a vow guarded for many long years.

Early the next morning.

"What kind of ability is the fruit you ate?"

"I don't know either."

"It shouldn't really be a Devil Fruit, should it?"

"Otherwise, why haven't I felt any special abilities at all up until now?"

During nearly a month of "tutoring," Woli had not only taught him to read but also explained many of the world's rules and common sense. Although Swain had long known of the existence of Devil Fruits, hearing Woli's different perspective gave him much food for thought.

"How can that be? This is a fruit that even the Celestial Dragons take very seriously. Could it be to pull the wool over people's eyes? Was the real fruit swapped out?"

"Yet that doesn't seem to make sense either. If it were swapped out, why would they dispatch CP0 to transport it?"

"Come here."

Swain stood before Woli. After a month of getting along, the two of them understood each other well, so naturally there was no guard between them.

With a whoosh, Woli threw Swain far away.

"Ahhh! Old Man, what are you doing?"

With a splash, Swain fell into the sea.

"Swim up yourself!" Woli shouted loudly.

Yet the moment Swain fell into the sea, all the strength in his body was inexplicably drained away, leaving him limp and powerless.

Swain's consciousness was gradually blurring: I really did become a landlubber.

Seeing Swain, whom he had thrown into the sea, sink without even a single bubble rising, Woli realized the situation.

In about the time it took to turn around, he had already reached Swain's landing spot, and saw Swain in the water slowly sinking like a jellyfish.

What was even more dangerous was that a huge, dark shadow lay directly beneath Swain.

"A Sea King!"

"Why would one come out at a time like this?" Woli frowned beneath the water.

He scooped Swain into his arms. That Sea King had a pair of sharp horns, a nimble mouth with rows of fangs like sharp swords, and a body fully ten meters long. It exuded an oppressive aura and rapidly closed in on Swain's side. Woli wasn't in a hurry, a playful look in his eyes.

Squinting slightly, a crimson membrane of light spread outward from his surroundings, carrying flickering lightning as it simultaneously surged toward that Sea King.

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss. The Sea King didn't dare to charge forward anymore, slamming on the brakes in a panic.

It knew that provoking someone whose body wasn't as massive as its own might truly turn it into roasted fish, for it had seen too many ignorant companions who, upon encountering a human with such an aura, still dared to offend them—their fish bones couldn't even be found afterward.

This was a true powerhouse!

Seeing that the Sea King no longer charged forward, Woli glanced at it, instantly startling it into freezing in place, not daring to move rashly.

Woli paid it no mind, having stayed underwater a bit too long.

"Cough, cough, cough!" Swain pressed his hands against the ground, his face pale as he choked quite badly on the water.

"O... Old man, you are really... really unreliable!" Swain stuttered, his voice trembling.

Woli also felt quite embarrassed, so he patted Swain's back and explained, "I just wanted to test whether you are a Devil Fruit ability user."

"Now it seems you are! But what is your ability?"

"I don't know this either."

Woli looked at Swain lying on the ground, deep in thought, trying to figure out what his ability would be.

"Hmm?" Woli let out a sound of puzzlement.

"How come there is so much water around you?"

Swain also looked around, and sure enough, there was a lot of water! Moreover, the climate on this island was mild, and the two of them were not wearing many clothes, just simple coverings, so they shouldn't have brought out this much moisture.

That being said, Swain's ability was somewhat intriguing.

"Raise your hand toward the seashore."

Woli instructed Swain.

He hurriedly followed the order, because he was also curious about what his ability would be. After all, coming to this world, he surely couldn't end up with a useless ability like the Fence Fruit, right?

Besides, some powerful Devil Fruits really could improve one's combat strength, and sometimes even change the battle situation.

Just like Beasts Kaido and Whitebeard, who were among the Four Emperors.

Their Devil Fruit abilities both possessed the power to change the tide of battle.

Actually, before he fell into the sea, he really hoped that what he ate wasn't a Devil Fruit.

But it was useless to say anything now!

He raised his hand toward the seashore.

However... nothing happened!

Wasn't this the Fruit ability? Woli had some doubts in his heart.

"Focus your attention and try again!"

His tone became heavier this time, obviously worried that Swain would get distracted.

Swain followed the instructions and did it again.

Sure enough, there was a change this time!

After seeing the scene before him, Woli's expression also became grave.

As it turned out, sea walls tens of meters high had actually surged up on the coast in front of them, and strong winds were blowing all around at the same time.

"It's that ability!" Woli said.

"Which ability?" Although Swain already had a bit of certainty in his heart.

"The Sea Fruit! An ability favored by the ocean."

"The top-tier ability among Logia!"

"It has been lost to legend for hundreds of years. The World Government has always wanted to reclaim it, but this Fruit seems to have a life of its own, disappearing time and time again."

Hearing this, Swain also opened his mouth wide in extreme shock.

The Sea Fruit! As the name implies, with this Fruit, one would be an invincible existence in this vast sea!

You say your fleet is powerful? Then I will whip up a hundred-meter Sea Waves, how will you deal with that? You say your ability is powerful? Then I will use an ability like Seastone, how will you deal with that?

In short, even a fool who possessed the user of this Fruit.

Could also become one of the kings of this great ocean!