Atop the towering Giant Jack, the massive seven-story pagoda now stood proudly against the blue sky, its cloud-based architecture gleaming under the sunlight. The construction was finally complete. The hard work was over—for now.
To celebrate, a communal feast had been arranged. Tables made of thick white cloud had been formed across the floating platform. Sanji moved swiftly between groups, dishing out freshly prepared meals to everyone—Orcas, Shandians, and even the locals like Pagaya and Conis.
The once-divided peoples now shared food and laughter. The air was warm, the clouds soft beneath their feet. But amid the happy chatter and clinking of plates, one person stood out—Zino.
He wasn't eating the feast.
Instead, he sat cross-legged on the edge of the platform, holding a Milky Dial in his hand, sucking clouds into his mouth as if he were eating cotton candy.
"What... is he doing?" Lakuari asked, puzzled as he paused mid-bite.
"Just ignore him," Sanji said dryly, not even glancing in Zino's direction. "You do not want to understand his habits. Trust me."
Several Shandians also turned to look at Zino. Their expressions were a mix of confusion and disbelief. Everyone else was feasting on delicious food—meats, fruits, rice, soup—yet this so-called "leader" was chewing on clouds.
"Does he have a problem with his taste buds?" one of them whispered.
Zino, meanwhile, was unbothered. Focused.
He was using this rare moment of calm to finish something he had been working toward: leveling up his Cloud Element. Every puff he consumed increased the element's mastery within him.
As everyone neared the end of their meal, a silent notification flashed before his eyes:
[Your Cloud Element has reached Level 20. A new elemental slot has been unlocked.]
A grin crept across Zino's face. He had done it.
Finally stopping his cloud feast, he turned his head toward Sanji. "Yo, Sanji—gimme food. Real food this time."
"As expected," Sanji muttered, already approaching with a full plate.
Zino took the plate, then started devouring the food with the hunger of a man who hadn't eaten in days. The sounds of loud chewing and exaggerated gulps filled the air, earning even more strange glances.
"Geez, eat like a human," Usopp muttered.
Mid-chew, Zino turned to the Shandian Chief, who had been observing quietly from the side. "So, Chief," Zino said, voice muffled with food, "you and old man Gan Fall—settled things about this Vearth yet?"
The question came suddenly, catching the Chief off guard. He blinked, then slowly sighed. "Yes… We had a long conversation. In the end, we agreed to share the Vearth. We all benefit from it, and continuing to fight only leads to more loss."
Zino nodded approvingly. "That's good. I trust both sides will keep their word."
As he swallowed the last bite from his plate, he reached into his system storage, retrieving a peculiar item: a strange fruit covered in swirling patterns.
The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Hrist.
He held it up casually, letting the sunlight glint off its surface. Everyone nearby turned toward him, curiosity stirring again.
"As a token of trust—and for your magnanimity in letting go of the grudge," Zino said calmly, "I want to offer you this Devil Fruit."
All conversations halted. Every eye turned toward the fruit on his palm.
He stepped forward and presented the item—a strange, patterned fruit that seemed to pulse faintly with dormant power—to the Shandian Chief. The older man received it carefully, observing it with a thoughtful gaze.
"A Devil Fruit?" the Chief asked.
"Correct," Zino nodded. "This one is called the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Hrist. It grants the power of Hrist, the Valkyrie of Quake. The user gains the strength and combat abilities of a warrior of legend—and more importantly, the power to cause tremors, to shake the land beneath their feet."
The words hit like thunder.
A collective silence fell. Then, murmurs spread.
Tremors? Quakes?
Even the earthbound warriors of the Blue Sea feared that power. The ability to create quakes could change the course of a battle—or a war. Among the Shandian gathered, flickers of desire sparked in many eyes. Some leaned forward unconsciously, coveting the fruit already.
Zino noticed.
"I see some of you are tempted," he said, voice sharp. "But before you let greed take over, let me clarify—this fruit only responds to female users. It is not compatible with men."
"Ehh?!" came the loud groans of disappointed warriors, especially among the younger Shandian males.
Zino smirked at their reactions, clearly enjoying the surprise. Then, turning back to the Chief, he added, "That's why I want you to choose. Who among your people is worthy of this gift?"
"Now?" the Chief blinked, clearly caught off guard by the sudden responsibility.
"Yes," Zino said firmly. "Bringing this fruit back to your people without a chosen user will cause more harm than good. Greed, betrayal—it will stir unrest. You know this."
The Chief fell silent. He did know. If he returned with a fruit like this, there would be those—even among the Shandian—who would kill for it. His hand tightened around the fruit. He scanned the gathering. By his side stood Raki, a brave fighter, and Aisa, the young girl with mantra. They were his kin, his people. And yet—
His eyes drifted further. Off to the side, Conis laughed quietly while speaking with Nami. She helped without complaint during the construction, painted with care, and had welcomed even the Shandian with kindness.
The Chief made up his mind.
"I will give this fruit to that young lady," he said, pointing.
A ripple of shock spread.
"Her?!" one of the Shandians exclaimed.
Even Gan Fall looked stunned. Zino blinked in disbelief. Conis, who had been mid-conversation, turned around as if someone had just slapped her with a cloud.
"M-me?" she stuttered.
"Why?" Zino asked, genuinely curious.
The Chief smiled gently. "That young lady… she has no malice in her heart. She treated all of us as equals, even though we once fought on opposite sides. She's caring, calm, and wise. The Valkyrie's power should go to someone who protects, not destroys."
Zino looked at the Chief, surprised and impressed. In a world where power was hoarded, to give it away—especially to someone from the very people who once took your land—was the mark of a true leader.
"You are a great man," Zino said sincerely.
The Chief nodded but said nothing more. He approached Conis slowly and held the fruit out.
Conis stood frozen, staring at the strange, swirling fruit now cradled in her hands.
"For peace," the Shandian Chief said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity.
Seeing this, Zino gently tapped the cloud floor with his foot. A small pedestal rose before Conis. "Go ahead," Zino said, gesturing encouragingly. "It's yours now."
At the same time, Sanji approached, placing a silver plate on it, along with a knife and fork.
Everyone turned to watch. Expectation hung in the air. Dozens of eyes focused on her—Shandians, Skypieans, the Orcas—waiting to witness a transformation.
Conis hesitated. Her hands trembled slightly as she looked at the fruit. The pressure was overwhelming. She bit her lip, then took a deep breath and shook her head.
"I… I'm sorry," she said quietly. "But I can't accept this."
A collective silence dropped like a stone.
"…Wait, what?" someone muttered.
"You're refusing?" another Shandian frowned.
"Why would you say no? The Chief already offered it to you."
"Yeah, hurry up and eat it already! We want to see what the ability does."
"If you don't want it, I'll eat it!"
"Wait, it only works on women, remember?"
"I don't care! I'll still try it!"
The crowd began murmuring and debating, a low hum of tension building as people argued. Some were genuinely confused, others visibly frustrated.
Conis held the fruit carefully, then bowed slightly and said, "I'm honored, but… Sir Zino found this fruit. It's not mine to accept. It belongs to him and his crew. I have no right to take it."
Before anyone could protest further, she quickly stepped toward the nearest Orca—and handed it to Nami.
"H-Hey, wait! Why are you giving this to me—huh?!"
Just as Nami touched it, the fruit suddenly pulsed in her hand. It thumped again—once, then twice—matching the beat of her heart.
Nami's eyes widened. "This fruit… it's moving?"
Zino's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Interesting. Looks like the fruit has found its chosen vessel."
All eyes turned once again, this time to Nami. She stared down at the fruit, her fingers trembling as the pulses grew stronger.
"Is this… real?" she asked, glancing at Zino.
"It seems so," he nodded. "You didn't seek the fruit—but it sought you. That's what we call fate."
The murmurs of the crowd died down into silence again as they watched.
Nami looked at the fruit, curiosity overtaking her initial hesitation. "You picked me, huh?"
The fruit answered with another strong, rhythmic thump in her palm.
"Alright then," she said with a small smile. "Let's see what you've got."
She placed it on the plate, took the knife, and carefully sliced off a piece. Then, stabbing it with the fork, she raised it to her lips, and took a bite.
The moment she chewed, her face scrunched up. "Yuck! This is disgusting!" she exclaimed, forcing herself to swallow.
At first, nothing seemed to happen.
From the outside, Nami looked just the same—no bursts of light, no sudden transformations. The crowd leaned in, holding their breath as they watched her, waiting for a sign.
"…Did it not work?" someone muttered.
"I thought Zoan-types were supposed to cause physical changes?"
"Maybe it's a dud?"
"Hey—look at her back!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
From Nami's back, something incredible unfolded. A pair of radiant, white wings bloomed into existence. They shimmered like gossamer, yet looked strong and divine. The wings emerged as if passing through her clothes without tearing them, an ethereal phenomenon unique to all devil fruit users.
Flap!
With a soft gust of wind, the wings flapped once—and Nami lifted into the air, hovering gently in front of everyone. Her orange hair fluttered in the breeze as she turned midair with surprising control.
"She's… flying?!"
"The fruit really worked!"
"She looks like a Valkyrie…"
The Shandian were in awe. Even the Orcas found themselves speechless. Nami herself blinked in amazement as she twisted slightly, observing the wings with wonder.
"They're beautiful," she murmured, a smile forming on her lips.
Zino crossed his arms. "Can you feel the quake ability?"
Nami nodded slowly. "I think so."
Without warning, she pulled back her fist and took a stance midair. Then—she punched forward.
CRACK!
The very space in front of her fist seemed to fracture like glass. A deep tremor followed, shaking the cloud island with a low rumble. Though the impact wasn't powerful, it was enough to make everyone stagger slightly.
"Ah! The cloud's shaking!"
"Hold on!"
Several Shandians struggled to keep their footing, clutching the edges of the platform.
"That's a real quake," the Chief said with narrowed eyes, clearly impressed. "She just cracked the sky with a simple punch."
"She's turning dangerous…" Usopp muttered, eyes wide and sweat trailing down his face. "Remind me never to provoke her again."
"Maybe you should provoke her," Gin said with a smirk. "Might knock some of the cowardice out of you."
"Nope! I like living!" Usopp quickly retorted, shaking his head.
Meanwhile, Zino's eyes narrowed on the fractured space that had started to mend itself. The cracks shimmered briefly before vanishing, like a healed wound in the air.
A thought tickled his mind.
Space… he mused. That's an element too, isn't it? Could I swallow that?
A wide grin tugged at the corners of his lips, full of mischief and possibility. But for now, he kept the idea to himself.
There would be time.