One Piece: Three Devil Fruits, Beginning with Darkness

**Chapter 25 - A Display of Strengthh**

The moment Zephyr finished speaking, the cadets instinctively took a step back, gathering behind Kuma.

Kuma, standing tall at the center of the field, pressed his massive hands together. A faint glow flickered between his palms as he slowly pulled them apart, revealing a transparent, paw-shaped mass of Strengthhf

The strange, almost weightless shape floated forward, drifting into an open space on the training grounds.

Curious whispers filled the air as the students stared at it.

Jiger, watching from behind, met Kuma's gaze and gave him an encouraging nod.

Kuma, reassured by his older brother figure, turned his focus back to the floating energy. His deep voice carried across the field as he softly announced the name of his attack.

"Bear Paw Impact."

Boom!

The moment he spoke, the transparent paw exploded in a brilliant flash of white light. A deafening shockwave tore through the air, sweeping across the training ground with raw, unrelenting force.

The impact was so powerful that it flattened the earth beneath it, kicking up a storm of dust and debris.

When the chaos settled, the aftermath was undeniable.

The once grassy field had been stripped bare. Not a single weed or blade of grass remained. The ground, which had once been uneven and marked by footprints, was now eerily smooth—completely wiped clean by the sheer force of the blast.

A stunned silence hung over the training grounds.

The students behind Kuma stood frozen, their expressions ranging from shock to outright disbelief. Even Zephyr, a veteran of countless battles, had crossed his arms and was staring at the scene with a rare look of astonishment.

Paramecia-type Devil Fruits were known for their unpredictability—some offered bizarre, unconventional powers, while others had devastating combat potential.

But this…

This was something else entirely.

Zephyr had already expected the Paw-Paw Fruit to be formidable. After all, it was a Devil Fruit chosen by the Celestial Dragons, meaning it had to hold significant value. However, even with those expectations in mind, he hadn't anticipated this level of raw destructive capability.

In terms of sheer power, it was clear—the Paw-Paw Fruit stood among the highest tier of Paramecia-type Devil Fruits.

A glint of interest flashed through Zephyr's eyes as he looked up at Kuma's towering figure.

"This kid… he's a treasure," he thought to himself.

At the back of the crowd, Borsalino's reaction was predictably exaggerated. His mouth dropped into an exaggerated "O" shape as he whistled in amusement.

"How terrifying," he drawled, stretching his words lazily. "Is there really a Paramecia-type fruit this ridiculous?"

Nearby, Akainu's usually stern face was even more serious than usual. He had been watching quietly, arms crossed, but now his gaze flickered toward Jiger.

Kuma had just revealed an overwhelming ability—one that could potentially reshape a battlefield with a single move.

But what about Jiger?

Kuma had addressed him as "Big Brother". If Kuma possessed such strength, what could his older brother do?

Across the field, the female cadets were still reeling from the display. Some of them, who had originally found Kuma's ability "cute," were now too stunned to say anything.

Only Ginny remained energetic. She clapped her hands excitedly, her eyes shining with admiration.

"That's awesome!" she cheered loudly.

The sound of her voice snapped Zephyr out of his thoughts. He let out a breath, then stepped forward, patting Kuma on the waist—a gesture of acknowledgment given their height difference.

"Very good," Zephyr said firmly. "Your ability development has already reached an impressive stage. If you continue training hard, I expect great things from you."

Kuma, still feeling a little shy from all the attention, scratched his head before giving a deep bow in gratitude. Then, without another word, he returned to his place in the group, all while enduring the lingering, awe-filled stares of his fellow cadets.

The moment he stepped back, Ginny eagerly stepped forward, volunteering to go next.

As she did, all eyes—especially those of the male cadets—were immediately drawn to her.

With her bright personality, slim figure, and youthful charm, she was already one of the more noticeable recruits. But now, standing under the midday sun, her lively energy and confident stride made her all the more eye-catching.

Zephyr, watching her approach, felt the corner of his serious mouth twitch upward into a slight smile.

After a moment, he reached into his belt and pulled out a standard-issue Marine flintlock pistol, extending it toward her.

"Ginny, I've read your profile. It says you specialize in marksmanship," he said. "Show us what you can do."

But Ginny didn't take the pistol.

Instead, under Zephyr's confused gaze, she turned around in one swift motion, reaching into her Marine vest.

A second later, she spun back around, revealing a sleek, golden pistol gleaming in the sunlight.

"I'm sorry, Teacher Zephyr," she said with a playful smile, tilting her head. "But I still prefer the gun that Brother Jiger gave me."

Zephyr glanced between the shining gold pistol in her hand and the plain Marine-issued weapon on his own.

For a brief moment, he coughed awkwardly, feeling slightly embarrassed at the comparison. Still, he kept his composure and gave a firm nod.

"That gun is too flashy," he pointed out. "On the battlefield, it could easily expose your position."

Ginny, unfazed, turned her head slightly, her gaze drifting toward Jiger in the crowd.

With a confident wave of her hand, she responded, "Teacher Zephyr is right… but I believe Brother Jiger will protect me!"

The moment those words left her mouth, an eruption of cheers and groans echoed across the training ground.

Some cadets clapped and laughed. Others—mostly the male recruits—gritted their teeth in silent heartbreak.

Jiger, standing off to the side, let out a small sigh and spread his hands in a helpless gesture. To the other cadets, it looked as if he was trying to appear indifferent—when in reality, they were all convinced he was simply showing off.

Zephyr, choosing not to comment further, gave Ginny a final nod before motioning for her to begin her demonstration.

She took a deep breath, but her heart was still racing.

Only now did it fully sink in—what she had just said in front of everyone.

She wasn't sure what had come over her. It wasn't like she had planned to blurt out something that sounded like a public confession. But the moment the words left her lips, there had been no taking them back.

Yet, Ginny was not the type to regret her actions. She had spoken her mind, and that was that.

Burying any lingering embarrassment, she focused on the task at hand.

Her fingers curled around the golden pistol, steady and firm. With practiced ease, she adjusted her stance, raised the weapon, and squeezed the trigger in a swift, controlled rhythm.

A series of sharp gunshots rang through the training grounds.

The recoil barely affected her as she fired, each shot delivered with pinpoint precision.

In the distance, the wooden targets trembled slightly from the impact. The entire sequence lasted no more than a few seconds, yet by the time the final bullet was fired, the results were undeniable.

Zephyr's sharp eyesight immediately caught the outcome. Even from afar, he could see it—bullseyes on every single target. Perfect hits.

Murmurs of approval rippled through the crowd before giving way to scattered applause, which quickly grew into a full-blown round of cheers.

Zephyr, usually reserved with praise, gave a slow nod of approval.

Ginny, glowing with pride, turned toward Jiger, her eyes brimming with expectation.

Her gaze locked onto him, searching for his reaction.

When she saw that Jiger was clapping along with the others, a bright, satisfied smile spread across her face. Puffing up her chest with pride, she holstered her pistol and strutted back into the ranks, head held high.

This moment meant more to her than simple target practice.

Ginny had chosen the path of marksmanship because of Jiger's guidance. Guns were not as common in the world of pirates as swords, but they were by no means weak. Legendary marksmen like Benn Beckman and Yasopp had already proven that true mastery of firearms could rival even the deadliest swordsmen.

For women, especially, this path offered unique advantages.

In the pirate world, raw physical strength often determined one's place in combat. There were, of course, monstrous exceptions like Big Mom, but for most women, surpassing male fighters in sheer brute force was an uphill battle.

If a woman wished to stand at the top, she needed more than just physical skill.

Devil Fruits were one option.

But for those without them, marksmanship was the next best path to greatness.

Jiger was pleased with Ginny's performance.

Her progress was undeniable, and he was already considering ways to help her grow even stronger.

"A Devil Fruit…" he mused.

If he could find the right one for her, it could push her abilities to new heights—especially one that could complement her sharpshooting skills.

While he was lost in thought, a familiar, lazy voice interrupted his musings.

Borsalino, with his usual playful demeanor, sidled up to him and whispered,

"It's your turn, Jiger. Time to show us what you're capable of!"

Jiger blinked.

Only then did he realize that the entire training ground had gone silent again.

When he lifted his head, dozens of eyes were already locked onto him.

There was no avoiding it.

With a calm nod, he stepped forward, striding toward Zephyr with measured steps.

The moment he stopped before the instructor, Zephyr gave him a simple signal.

Jiger responded with a slight smile and introduced himself to the assembled cadets.

"Hello everyone, my name is Jiger. I am fifteen years old and a user of the Logia Dark-Dark Fruit."

A sudden, heavy silence fell over the training grounds.

It was as if the very air had thickened, pressing down on the assembled recruits.

Jiger hadn't even demonstrated his abilities yet, but the mere mention of "Logia Dark-Dark Fruit" was enough to freeze everyone in place.

Many of them had already witnessed firsthand the overwhelming power of Logia users like Kizaru and Akainu.

Now, standing before them, was yet another Logia user—one who wielded the power of darkness itself.

For all his easygoing smiles and composed demeanor, Jiger could no longer be seen as just another cadet.

To them, he had just joined the ranks of monsters.

Borsalino, standing toward the back, narrowed his eyes.

Something about Jiger had unsettled him from the very beginning. Now he understood why.

"No wonder I had a weird feeling when I first saw him…" Borsalino thought to himself. "Darkness… the exact opposite of light, huh?"

The silence stretched on.

Jiger glanced around at the unmoving crowd and turned toward Zephyr.

"Teacher Zephyr, should I still demonstrate my ability?"

Zephyr did not answer immediately.

Instead, he let his gaze drift to the back of the formation—where Borsalino stood.

Borsalino, catching the look, stiffened slightly.

A bad feeling crept over him.

Sure enough, before he could react, Zephyr's firm voice rang out.

"Borsalino, you are the light, and Jiger is the darkness. It's only fitting that you be the one to help him showcase the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit."

Borsalino flinched.

His lips twitched as he let out a slow, exaggerated sigh.

"Oh no… old man, why are you looking at me? This isn't good…" he muttered under his breath.

Despite his complaints, he knew there was no getting out of it now.

The training ground, already charged with tension, was about to witness a clash of opposites—light against darkness.

And every single cadet present knew that this was going to be a battle worth remembering.

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