Chapter 273: Koala: I Would Rather Die Than Eat a Devil Fruit!

"Koala, this is for you," Luffy announced, holding out a peculiar-looking devil fruit in his hand.

The girls around him paused, their expressions a mix of curiosity and surprise. Devil fruits weren't exactly a rarity anymore, not with Vegapunk's advancements and Luffy's tendency to stumble upon the strangest treasures. However, their interest was piqued—what kind of power did this one hold, and where had it come from?

Koala's gaze fixated on the fruit. Her throat bobbed as she subconsciously swallowed, her hand hesitating as it reached for it. But, with a sudden jolt of resolve, she pulled back and crossed her arms firmly.

"No," she declared with conviction. "I practice Fishman Karate. My strength is in underwater combat. If I eat a devil fruit, I'll lose at least 40% of my abilities!"

Turning her back to Luffy, she covered her eyes with her hands as though shielding herself from temptation. "Take it away! Don't even think about tempting me with that thing—I won't eat it, no matter what!"

Luffy chuckled, twirling the fruit between his fingers. It was the artificial Blue Dragon Fruit, a feat Vegapunk had spent decades perfecting.

"Oh?" Luffy teased, his tone playful. "You've decided already? Without even asking what its power is? What if it's exactly what you've been dreaming of? Want to reconsider?"

"No, no, no!" Koala's voice grew louder with each word. "Even the strongest devil fruits are useless in water! I want to be like Grandpa Garp—a pure physical fighter. So, no matter what you say, I won't eat it!"

Her declaration was fierce, and for a moment, even Luffy seemed impressed by her determination. But his mischievous grin suggested he wasn't done yet.

"This isn't just any devil fruit," he began, letting the words hang in the air. "It's the same Fish-Fish Fruit Kaido had. A Mythical Zoan."

Koala froze. Her pink ears twitched, and she glanced over her shoulder, just enough to catch a glimpse of the fruit.

Luffy smirked, tossing the fruit lightly in his hand. "That's right. This is the Blue Dragon Fruit. Vegapunk spent twenty years replicating it, and it's as powerful as Kaido's original. Are you sure you don't want it?"

Koala's eyes widened. Her heart raced as she stared at the fruit, her inner struggle evident. The allure of such immense power was hard to ignore.

Feigning indifference, Luffy turned away. "Well, if you're not interested, I'll give it to Yamato for safekeeping. Or maybe Sister Gion would like to try it?"

The other girls, who had been quietly processing the situation, snapped back to reality. Nami, her practical mind always sharp, couldn't contain her shock.

"This… this has to be a joke," she stammered. "Aren't devil fruits the embodiment of devils? Miraculous treasures of the sea? You're telling me something so rare and mystical can be man-made?"

The revelation shattered the girls' understanding of the world. Devil fruits had always been regarded as unique, their powers cycling only after the previous user's death. But now, Vegapunk's work had thrown that belief into chaos.

Olivia, the ship's scientist, felt particularly shaken. Memories of her research into the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Whitebeard's devastating power, resurfaced. Despite the combined efforts of countless Marine scientists, they'd barely scratched the surface of replicating such abilities.

"If Vegapunk can do this on his own… what's the point of ordinary scientists like us even existing?" Olivia muttered, her spirit visibly deflated. She slumped to the floor, drawing circles with her finger in a rare show of self-pity.

Kujaku, never one to miss a chance for mischief, crouched beside her and added cheekily, "Well, you're not really a scientist anymore. You're more like a fashion designer and… uh, let's not forget your 'specialty' in toys."

Olivia glared daggers at Kujaku, though her reply was laced with sarcasm. "Thank you, Kujaku. Your words have truly lifted my spirits."

"You're welcome," Kujaku replied with a grin, earning an exasperated sigh from the scientist.

Meanwhile, Luffy turned his attention back to Gion. "So, what about you? You've never eaten a devil fruit. Want to give this one a shot?"

Gion rested her chin in her hand, her eyes gleaming with playful curiosity. She glanced at Koala, who was nervously watching the exchange. A wicked smile spread across Gion's face as she reached out to take the fruit.

"Oh, I've never been a fan of devil fruits," she said airily. "I'm a swordsman, after all. I prefer honing my skills the old-fashioned way."

Koala exhaled in relief, but the reprieve was short-lived.

"Still," Gion continued, her tone turning sly, "this isn't just any fruit. It's Kaido's power. Even I might not be able to resist that kind of temptation."

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