Barrett's Arrival – A Nation in Search of a Devil Fruit
As Lily spoke, she manifested a massive cloud beneath their feet.
The crew stepped onto the cloud, using it as a platform to soar through the sky in pursuit of Caesar.
Meanwhile, the entire nation had been thrown into chaos as word spread of a mysterious Devil Fruit. Soldiers and civilians alike scoured every corner, eager to locate the prized ability.
Back on the Rex, Caesar returned with Barrett in tow.
Lily and her group soon rejoined them on the ship. A moment of quiet curiosity settled over the crew as they observed the young newcomer.
"This kid has an aura of fearlessness," Yakexi murmured, nudging Gnaly with his elbow.
Gnaly crossed his arms, sizing up Barrett's rebellious expression. "Yeah. He looks tough."
Wei Na studied him carefully. "If Caesar brought him aboard, then he must have some kind of special talent."
Although still just a child in their eyes, Barrett's wild, untamed nature made it clear—this was no ordinary boy.
Barrett, for his part, scrutinized the crew. When his gaze landed on Gnaly, an instinctive feeling told him that this man was formidable. The realization sent a thrill of excitement through him.
"These people are strong!"
Barrett's pulse quickened.
At that moment, Caesar stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Barrett's shoulder. "Let me introduce him properly," he announced. "This kid's name is Douglas Barrett."
He swept his gaze across the crew. "From now on, Barrett will serve as a trainee on the Caesar Pirates."
Gasps of surprise rippled through the group.
"And more than that," Caesar continued, "he'll be my disciple. I will personally train him in combat."
Barrett stood still, absorbing the weight of those words. He had known of pirates but knew nothing about this particular crew. Yet the looks on their faces told him that Caesar's approval carried great significance.
The crew exchanged glances. They hadn't expected Caesar to take in such a young boy.
"Hmm. If Caesar picked him, he must have insane potential," Yakexi mused.
Brad grinned. "Barrett, right? Make sure you learn well. All of us trained under Caesar, and his combat skills are top-tier."
"In this world," he added, lowering his voice, "there are barely a handful of people who can match Caesar in raw physical combat."
Barrett had yet to witness Caesar's full strength, but recalling the way he had sliced through an entire island, he had no doubts. His anticipation grew.
Lily, watching the boy's intense expression, decided to offer him some advice. "Since we're all crewmates now, we need to get along," she said.
She noticed something unusual about him—his intensity, his edge. What she didn't know was Barrett's tragic past: abandoned at birth, raised as a child soldier, and conditioned to fight to the death.
Gnaly then turned to Caesar. "Why did you take him as your disciple?"
Though he had no objections, he was curious. Caesar rarely made such decisions lightly.
Caesar smirked at the expectant faces around him. "Don't underestimate this kid. He's got real talent. Given time, he'll grow into one of our strongest fighters."
That statement stunned the crew.
Brad, in particular, was taken aback. He recalled when Caesar first recruited Gnaly, who was still inexperienced at the time. Though Brad had doubted Caesar's judgment then, Gnaly had indeed proven himself.
And now, Caesar was making the same kind of bet on Barrett.
Could this boy's potential be on par with—or even greater than—Gnaly's?
Gnaly's lips curled into a grin. "Interesting. I hope he grows up fast so we can spar."
No one questioned Caesar's insight. After all, he had recognized their own worth before anyone else had.
But what they didn't realize was that Caesar had seen both Gnaly and Barrett's futures in an alternate timeline.
---
Welcoming Barrett to the Crew
After the formal introductions, the crew took turns greeting Barrett.
"I'm Yakexi, the cook. If you ever want something special, just ask."
Gnaly smirked. "I'm the vice-captain, Gnaly."
Barrett's eyes gleamed. "The vice-captain? Then you must be strong too!"
"I'm Eli, the shipwright."
"I'm Brook, your senior crewmate."
Barrett flinched at the sight of him. "A talking skeleton?!"
Brook laughed heartily. "Yohoho! Indeed!"
"I'm Lily, the navigator."
"I'm Wei Na, the ship's doctor."
"I'm Regina, the other ship doctor."
Lastly, Arnold, the helmsman, nodded in greeting.
Barrett took it all in. Though still slightly out of place, he sensed the warmth of this crew—something he had never experienced before.
Yakexi clapped his hands together. "Time for a feast to welcome our new member!"
With his knife gleaming, he disappeared into the kitchen.
Meanwhile, the others took Barrett on a tour of the Rex, showing him the ship's key areas before stopping at the dormitory.
"Pick a room," Lily said. "You get your own."
Barrett's eyes widened in disbelief. "I… get a whole room?"
He had expected a cramped bunk or even a storage space. Instead, the room was spacious, with a private bathroom.
Lily smiled. "Yes. Choose whichever you like."
Still stunned, Barrett nodded. After some thought, he picked a room across from Eli's.
Just then, Yakexi's voice rang out. "Dinner's ready!"
The moment Barrett saw the table piled high with food, he swallowed hard. He had never seen such a feast.
The meal was filled with laughter and conversation, and for the first time, the distance between him and the crew began to fade.
As Barrett devoured his food, he couldn't help but compare it to the rations he had been given in the military.
"This is real food."
Yakexi grinned at the boy's enthusiasm. "Good, huh?"
Barrett nodded fervently.
After the feast, Brook and Wei Na broke into song, marking the beginning of a lively celebration. As he watched his crewmates sing and dance, Barrett felt something stir deep within him.
For the first time, he smiled—genuinely, from the heart.
Later, after a hot bath, Barrett returned to his room and lay in bed. His body relaxed, and for the first time in his life, he felt safe.
"So this is what it feels like to have a home…"
That night, he slept peacefully.
---
Barrett's Exceptional Talent – The Hunt for the Fusion Fruit
While Barrett found his place aboard the Rex, events on the island took a drastic turn.
News of Caesar's devastating sword strike had thrown the warring nations into a frenzy.
Douglas Gray, having witnessed the destruction firsthand, rushed to inform the king. Upon hearing the report, the ruler paled in fear and immediately halted the war. The enemy nation was likewise notified, leading to an unprecedented ceasefire.
Both sides convened for an emergency meeting.
During the discussions, Douglas Gray presented the clay replica of a mysterious Devil Fruit, one that Caesar had ordered them to find.
"The captain of the Caesar Pirates wants this fruit," he stated solemnly. "He didn't specify a deadline, but after seeing what he did to that island, we'd better find it quickly."
The memory of Caesar's overwhelming power sent a shudder through the leaders.
Without hesitation, both nations issued a nationwide search.
Wanted posters depicting the Devil Fruit model were distributed, and entire armies mobilized.
A desperate hunt for the legendary Fusion Fruit had begun.
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