Chapter 18 : One Piece (8)

The Op-Op Fruit. One of those “plot convenience” Devil Fruits, infamous for their broken abilities and disregard for balance and consistency.

‘Why is this here?’ I never imagined I’d find the Op-Op Fruit in the possession of some random, no-name pirate.

This fruit, worth a staggering 5 billion berries—the equivalent of capturing an Emperor or a Yonko and handing them over to the World Government—granted its user abilities that bordered on outright cheating. It was easily one of the top five most overpowered Devil Fruits in all of One Piece.

And I had just obtained it from a nobody.

No wonder I was stunned.

‘Well, finding this fruit pretty much decides our next crewmate.’

I had no intention of eating the Op-Op Fruit myself. I didn’t need it. While its powers were undeniably broken, I already possessed several equally overpowered abilities. The Op-Op Fruit was redundant for me. It would be better utilized by a skilled crewmate.

‘And I already know who that crewmate will be.’

Trafalgar Law. The surgeon of death who wielded this fruit and earned a 3 billion berry bounty in the original storyline. I decided to recruit Law, gaining both a skilled fighter and a brilliant doctor.

And I had to act fast.

“Yamato, get ready! We’re heading to Flevance in the North Blue!”

“Flevance?”

“Yeah! To meet our new nakama!”

I steered the Maxim towards Flevance, Yamato by my side.

The White City of Flevance. A city painted white by the Amber Lead mined from its land. The World Government, profiting from this valuable resource, concealed the fact that Amber Lead was toxic. Unaware of the danger, the people of Flevance continued mining, accumulating the poison in their bodies. The toxicity didn’t manifest immediately; it required a certain level of accumulation before symptoms appeared. Then, disaster struck. The Amber Lead Disease, turning its victims white and inflicting excruciating pain before killing them with 100% certainty, ravaged the city.

What followed was a tragedy. The royal family escaped under the World Government’s protection. Neighboring countries closed their borders, fearing contagion. Desperate citizens tried to escape, but their attempts were met with brutal massacres. Soldiers from neighboring countries slaughtered and burned the dying people of Flevance, turning the White City red with blood and fire. Only one child survived this horrific massacre: Trafalgar Law, the future wielder of the Op-Op Fruit.

I intended to change this tragic fate.

‘I can cure the Amber Lead Disease.’ My Low-Grade Radiant Magic had evolved, granting me access to new spells, including healing magic capable of curing diseases.

Or so I thought.

Until I saw Flevance with my own eyes.

“Sh-Shine…”

“This is… worse than I expected.”

After obtaining the Op-Op Fruit, I immediately set course for Flevance in the North Blue. This tragedy occurred around 20 years before the start of the original storyline. Using the Maxim, we arrived in a matter of days.

The sight that greeted us was horrifying. Burning bodies. Blood-soaked earth. The White City was painted crimson.

“Yamato, hold on tight. I’m going to fly fast.”

“Okay.”

I held Yamato close, activating my detection magic and Kanshinki at full power, and soared into the air, searching for one person.

Law. The boy who would be consumed by grief and despair after losing his family.

‘Am I too late?’ The current state of Flevance suggested the tragedy was nearing its climax. I desperately searched for Law, hoping to find him before it was too late.

“Found him.”

I spotted Law weeping in front of a burning hospital, consumed by grief and despair.

“Lami…” He had just witnessed the death of his parents. Lami, his younger sister, was his only remaining family, and he believed she was trapped inside the inferno.

I landed near Law with Yamato. She was silent, her face pale, clearly shocked by the carnage. But she didn’t hesitate. She approached Law and gently embraced him.

“!” Law looked up at Yamato in surprise, then leaned into her embrace, the warmth and comfort seemingly breaking the dam of his grief. His sobs intensified.

I turned my attention to the hospital, focusing all my senses, searching for any sign of life, any trace of Law’s sister, Lami.

Cough.

“…!” A faint cough. Barely audible, but I heard it. Without hesitation, I plunged into the flames.

“Shine!” Yamato cried out in alarm, holding Law tightly.

“No! Don’t!” Law’s eyes widened in horror. He thought I was rushing towards a senseless death.

But I was unaffected by the flames. My Adaptation had already nullified the heat, and ordinary fire couldn’t harm me. I pushed through the inferno, my wings shielding me from the worst of it, and entered a hospital room. I opened a closet.

“Cough! Cough!”

Inside, huddled amongst the clothes, was a small, frail girl, her skin and hair as white as snow. She coughed weakly, blood staining her lips from the smoke inhalation. Lami.

Hum. I immediately enveloped her in protective and healing magic. A barrier to shield her from the smoke, a detoxification spell to purge the Amber Lead from her system, and powerful healing magic to mend her dying body.

Lami’s pained expression softened, her breathing becoming more regular, her color returning. I scooped her into my arms and jumped through the window.

Crash!

The shattered glass rained down as I landed outside, Lami safe in my arms.

“Shine!”

“Lami!”

Yamato and Law cried out in relief, their voices filled with a mixture of joy and concern. Yamato rushed towards me, her worry replaced by relief upon seeing me unharmed. Law, his eyes wide with disbelief, stared at his sister, whom he had believed dead.

“Lami!” He rushed towards me, tears streaming down his face.

I gently placed Lami in his arms.

“Lami! Lami!” He clutched her tightly, his voice choked with emotion, repeatedly calling her name as if to reassure himself she was truly alive.

“Shine, you’re so kind,” Yamato said, approaching me with a warm smile.

“Kind?” I tilted my head, puzzled. I didn’t consider myself a good person.

“You saved me, Shine. And now you saved her.” Yamato looked at me with unwavering conviction. “You’re the kindest person in the world.” To her, I was a savior. I had freed her from Kaido’s grasp, allowing her to finally experience freedom. And now, I had saved Law’s sister, becoming a savior to him as well.

“But I…” I started to protest, my conscience pricking me.

“Lalala, I can’t hear you!” Yamato covered her ears, effectively silencing my objections.

And so, two children survived the tragedy of Flevance. Trafalgar D. Water Law, and his sister, Trafalgar D. Lami.

“This is good.” I thought, recalling the original storyline where Law survived alone, consumed by despair. Now, he was shedding tears of relief and joy, reunited with his sister.

‘But wait… I hadn’t quite noticed till now, why is she a girl?’ This One Piece world, like the Jujutsu Kaisen world before it, seemed to be experiencing some… gender-bending anomalies. Perhaps my Leisure Life Trait was malfunctioning.