Chapter 19: The Devil Fruits and the New Crew

Chapter 19: The Devil Fruits and the New Crew

As the Freedom Rider sailed smoothly through the open sea, the crew spent most of their time training and preparing for the challenges ahead. Lucky had become increasingly observant of each crew member's potential, sensing the need to strengthen them all. They had already dealt with many dangers, but the path ahead would only get harder.

One evening, while the sun set and painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, Lucky gathered the crew in the main room of the ship. The rest of the crew had just finished their training session, sweat glistening on their brows, and they all knew something important was coming.

"Gather round, everyone," Lucky called out, his voice firm but calm. "I have something important to discuss."

The crew took their seats, a mix of curiosity and excitement in the air. Luffy, always eager, leaned forward with a grin. Coby, Zane, and Nami, who had been spending a lot of time together, exchanged looks of anticipation.

"Lucky, what's going on?" Luffy asked eagerly.

Lucky stood tall, his expression serious but understanding of the gravity of the moment. "As you all know, Nami has agreed to join the crew. After hearing her story, I decided to give her an opportunity—a chance to grow stronger. And for that, she'll need a Devil Fruit."

There were a few surprised glances exchanged, but no one objected. Nami had proven herself capable, and everyone could sense she had the potential to become something great.

Nami glanced at Lucky, unsure of how to feel about being given such an important gift. "A Devil Fruit?" she asked, her voice a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "But... I don't even know how to use it."

"That's where we come in," Lucky said with a smile. "We'll train you, just like we've trained the rest of the crew. But first, it's time for you to choose your Devil Fruit."

Lucky pulled out three Devil Fruits from a bag, placing them carefully in front of the crew. Each fruit was unique in appearance, glowing with power.

"The first one," Lucky began, pointing to a fruit that looked like a swirl of wind inside it, "is the Kaze Kaze no Mi—the Wind-Wind Fruit. It gives the user the ability to control and manipulate wind. I think this suits you, Nami. You've always had a keen sense for navigation and the weather. With this fruit, you'll be able to control the winds to your advantage, whether it's for sailing or battle."

Nami stared at the fruit, feeling a strange sense of connection to it. The wind was her domain, the very thing she had always depended on to navigate the seas. With this power, she could not only become stronger but also help guide the crew in new ways.

"I'll take it," she said decisively, her hand reaching for the fruit.

Lucky nodded, pleased. "Good choice. But remember, the power comes with a price. The fruit will make you weaker to water. So be careful when you're near it."

Nami nodded, understanding. She took a deep breath and bit into the fruit, feeling an unusual sensation course through her body. As she swallowed, she could already feel the power awakening within her. The winds around the ship seemed to respond to her, whispering in her ear.

"Welcome to the crew, Nami," Lucky said with a nod.

Next, Lucky turned to Zane and Coby. "Now, we have two other fruits left. Zane, Coby, you both have shown incredible potential. And I believe these fruits will help unlock that potential."

Zane, who had been silently observing, stood up. His arms were crossed, and a fire burned in his eyes. "I'm ready for whatever comes my way."

Lucky gestured toward the remaining two fruits. One of them looked like a giant gorilla-shaped fruit, with a massive, powerful presence. "Zane, this one is for you. The Gorilla Gorilla no Mi—the King Kong Fruit. It will give you the ability to turn into a giant gorilla, boosting your strength and durability. You'll be able to fight like no one else."

Zane's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Perfect." He wasted no time in grabbing the fruit and biting into it. As soon as the fruit touched his tongue, he felt a surge of power, his body already beginning to change. He grew in size, muscles bulging and his entire presence becoming more imposing. He flexed his new form, testing the limits of his strength. "This is amazing!" Zane shouted, his voice deep and full of power.

Lucky smiled. "Just remember, with great power comes responsibility. You'll need to focus that power."

Finally, Lucky turned to Coby, who stood slightly apart from the others, clearly nervous. "And Coby," Lucky said, "you've trained harder than anyone else. Your determination and focus have earned you this fruit."

The fruit in question was small and blue, resembling a swirl of water. "This is the Mizu Mizu no Mi—the Water-Water Fruit. It grants you the ability to control and manipulate water. You'll be able to summon water, turn it into different forms, and use it to your advantage in battle. But like all Devil Fruits, it has its drawbacks. You'll be weaker to drowning and unable to swim, but that's where training comes in."

Coby hesitated for a moment, then took the fruit in his hands. "I won't let you down," he said with determination. He bit into the fruit, and immediately, he felt his body change. Water began to swirl around him, responding to his thoughts. He flexed his hands, and water shot out like a jet from his fingertips. Coby was amazed by how quickly he could control it.

"With this," Coby said, smiling, "I'm going to get stronger."

Lucky watched as the three new Devil Fruit users trained their abilities. "Good," he said, "now we're ready for the challenges ahead. We'll continue training together, each of us pushing our limits until we reach the power of Rear Admirals or higher. Let's make sure no one can stand in our way."

The crew's resolve strengthened as the wind began to pick up, the sails of the Freedom Rider flapping in response to Nami's newly awakened power. The adventure ahead was going to be tougher than ever, but with each new power and ally, the crew was one step closer to greatness.