One Piece: Three Devil Fruits, Beginning with Darkness

Through the Hail of Bullets, a storm of gunfire rained down as Jiger and his companions charged into the city. Bullets whizzed past them, ricocheting off stone walls and shattering wooden beams. The cries of the wounded and the desperate echoed all around, but the four pressed forward with gritted teeth, weaving through the chaos.

Kuma, due to his towering size, was an easy target. A sharp cry of pain tore from his throat as a bullet grazed his shoulder, tearing through his flesh. But he clenched his jaw and pushed on, refusing to slow down. Compared to what lay ahead, this wound was nothing.

At last, they crossed the threshold into the city, their breath ragged but their mission was still burning in their minds. They had no time to waste.

The moment they entered the ruined streets, they split up to search. Crumbling buildings, abandoned shops, and remnants of a once-thriving civilization stretched before them. Somewhere within these ruins lay the Devil Fruit, and Jiger was determined to find it before anyone else.

Kuma, despite his injury, took the lead in checking a particularly lavish-looking building, its golden embellishments still glinting under the morning sun. He reached for the door—

*Bang!*

A dark blur shot out from the shadows. Before Kuma could react, a crushing force slammed into his stomach. His massive body lifted off the ground, propelled backward like a ragdoll.

With an earth-shaking crash, he smashed through a nearby wall, sending debris flying in all directions.

Jiger, Ivan, and Ginny snapped their heads toward the sound of destruction. Alarmed, they sprinted toward the collapsed structure, their hearts pounding.

Ginny's eyes widened in horror as she saw Kuma lying amidst the rubble, his body trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling onto her cheeks as she rushed forward.

"Bear! *Bear!* Say something!" she sobbed, gripping his massive hand.

Ivan knelt beside them, his voice filled with worry. "Bear! Are you okay?! Can you hear me?!"

A weak cough broke through the dust and debris. Kuma groaned, forcing his eyes open. His breathing was ragged, but he was still conscious. That alone was a miracle.

Jiger knelt beside him. "Damn it... Hang in there, big guy."

Bear let out another rough cough, wincing as he tried to sit up. His voice came out strained but determined. "That guy… he's *strong*, Brother Jiger... You have to take Ginny and Ivan and run. I'll hold him back!"

Jiger's fists clenched at his sides.

'This wasn't good.'

Then, from the wreckage of the building Kuma had nearly entered, a figure emerged.

A man clad in a jet-black suit and sunglasses stepped forward, his hands lazily stuffed in his pockets. He moved with an effortless confidence, like someone completely unfazed by the chaos around him. His lips curled into a faint smirk as he stared down at them.

"So, you're still conscious?" he mused, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "I didn't think you'd still be talking after a kick like that."

His gaze flicked toward Kuma with mild interest.

"You must be the brat from the Bakkaniya tribe. Pretty impressive endurance."

His tone was casual, almost indifferent, as if he were discussing the weather rather than acknowledging the strength of a young warrior he had just sent flying.

As he took another slow step forward, he tilted his head slightly, observing them like a cat playing with a mouse.

"I've been watching you four since you entered the city," he continued. "Everyone else is either running for their lives or too scared to move, yet here you are, poking around like you're looking for something."

His smile widened slightly. "Now, that's *very* suspicious."

Jiger's mind raced. This man was different from the mindless guards and hired thugs the Celestial Dragons employed. He was *dangerous.* He wasn't just following orders—he was thinking.

If he suspected too much, they were dead.

Before Jiger could respond, Ivan stepped forward, spreading his arms out in a protective stance. His expression was fierce, filled with determination.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on them!" Ivan shouted.

The man in the suit barely reacted. He simply raised one hand, fingers twitching slightly.

Ivan's breath caught in his throat. A primal fear surged through him as he instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact.

But the strike never came.

Jiger's voice cut through the tension like a knife.

"You're *not* allowed to kill us, are you?"

The man's hand stopped mid-air.

Jiger narrowed his eyes, pressing forward with his gamble.

"The only ones allowed to kill us are the Celestial Dragons themselves. That's the *rule,* isn't it?" His voice remained steady, but inside, his heart was hammering. "If you kill us, you're breaking *their* game. Do you really want to go against them?"

A flicker of annoyance crossed the man's face.

The brat was right.

Despite being nothing more than disposable entertainment to the Celestial Dragons, the *game* had strict rules. Every life was a point. And those points were *not* his to take.

Jiger had just put him in check.

The suit-wearing man exhaled sharply through his nose, clearly irritated. He spat on the ground, then shoved his hands back into his pockets.

"Cheeky little brat," he muttered.

His eyes flicked toward Kuma once more before settling on the lavish house Kuma had almost entered.

*So that's what they were after,* he realized. *The house behind me.*

His gaze darkened slightly. *That* house was off-limits for a reason. If these little pests got inside and took *something*… his head would be on the line.

After a brief silence, he let out a low chuckle.

"Fine," he said at last. "You four little brats aren't worth the trouble. You won't survive much longer anyway."

He lazily jerked his head to the side. "Get lost. And don't come snooping around here again."

Jiger didn't hesitate.

"Let's go," he ordered sharply, grabbing Kuma's arm. Ivan and Ginny quickly moved to help, supporting their injured friend as they turned away.

Jiger and his group didn't waste a second. Without looking back, they helped Kuma to his feet and quickly made their way down a deserted alley, their footsteps echoing against the stone pavement. The weight of their near-death encounter still clung to them like a shadow, but Jiger's mind was already racing ahead.

Ivan, keeping his voice low, leaned toward Jiger. "Jig… that house..."

Jiger already knew what he was implying. His heart pounded in his chest, but his voice was firm.

"There must be a Devil Fruit inside."

Even as he spoke, he struggled to suppress the excitement surging through him. His hands twitched at his sides. He couldn't afford to lose control now—not when they were so close to something *big*.

The suit-wearing man's reaction had made it obvious. That house was important. The way he'd blocked their approach, the way his attitude had shifted from casual confidence to rigid authority—it all pointed to something valuable being hidden inside.

And what could be more valuable in a place like this than a Devil Fruit?

Ginny, however, wasn't as thrilled. Her brows knit together in concern. "But even if there *is* a Devil Fruit in there… how do we get in? That guy's still guarding the place, and Kuma is badly hurt this time."

Kuma tried to respond, but the moment he opened his mouth, a violent fit of coughing wracked his body. His large frame shook as he struggled to breathe, his wounds straining with every movement.

Ivan clenched his jaw, supporting Kuma's weight. His voice was filled with frustration. "That bastard… he did this to Bear. He *enjoyed* doing this to Bear!"

Hearing Kuma's struggle made Jiger's stomach twist. His fingers curled into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms.

A cold, sharp edge entered his voice. "I'll make that guy pay. I *promise*."

But before anyone could respond—

**BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!**

A sudden series of deafening explosions tore through the city. Flames erupted in the distance, thick black smoke billowing into the sky like an ominous storm cloud.

Then, a voice—loud, commanding, filled with unshakable confidence—roared across the town like rolling thunder.

*"Tianlong bastards! Are you ready for my wrath?!"*

The words sent a shockwave through the streets.

Jiger's eyes widened. Then, a slow smirk crept onto his lips.

There was only *one* person in the world who dared to curse the Celestial Dragons so openly.

Rocks.

Far from the battlefield, within the grand palace at the center of the city, a chilling presence stirred.

Saint Saturn, one of the Five Elder Stars, had been observing the events from within the palace halls. At the sound of the explosion and that unmistakable voice, his expression darkened.

He wasted no time. In the blink of an eye, his form flickered and vanished.

A moment later, he reappeared outside the palace gates, his eyes scanning the horizon. The moment his gaze landed on the approaching storm of chaos, he pulled out a Den Den Mushi and spoke in a voice heavy with authority.

"Saint Garling, lead the Knights of God back to defend the Royal City immediately. The Rocks Pirates have arrived."

The response came swiftly, the voice on the other end calm but resolute.

"Understood. Leave it to us."

As if answering the call of war, the sound of distant warships echoed through the bay. The **Navy** had arrived.

From the deck of the lead ship, a towering man with a square jaw and a military cap jumped onto the shore, his coat billowing behind him. **Navy Marshal Sora.**

At his side, cracking his knuckles with a wild grin, was none other than **Monkey D. Garp**.

Behind them, a unit of high-ranking officers followed, their expressions set with grim determination.

But they were already a step behind.

---

In the heart of the burning city, a group of monstrous figures strode forward.

Leading them was **Rocks D. Xebec**, a towering, broad-shouldered man radiating an overwhelming presence. His hair was wild, his eyes filled with raw, untamed ambition.

He exuded pure chaos, a force of nature that refused to be contained.

Beside him, his infamous crew stood ready—each of them a legend in their own right.

**Whitebeard. Big Mom. Kaido. Shiki. Captain John.**

Names that would one day shake the world, but here, under Rocks' command, they were *pirates*—monsters hungry for destruction.

Rocks lifted his gaze to the Royal City in the distance. His lips curled into a smirk as his eyes locked onto the palace.

And Saint Saturn, standing at the palace gates, met his gaze.

For a brief second, there was silence.

Then—

**BOOM!**

Rocks didn't waste time with words. He simply swung his fist through the air.

A shockwave erupted from his knuckles, tearing through the city like a hurricane of raw power. Red and black lightning crackled around the devastating force, the very air splitting apart as it barreled toward the palace.

Buildings crumbled in its wake. Soldiers, civilians, even pirates caught in its path were obliterated in an instant.

Saint Saturn eyes widened. He *knew* he couldn't take that head-on. His strength was formidable, but compared to **Rocks**, he was still a step behind.

But he had no choice.

Behind him, the weak, trembling figures of Celestial Dragons cowered within the palace walls. If he dodged, they would *die*.

With a growl, Saint Saturn body underwent a sudden transformation.

**RIP!**

His lower robes shredded as **eight pitch-black spider legs** sprouted from his back. A pair of **twisted, black horns** burst from his skull, his muscles swelling unnaturally.

Raising his **ornate crutch**, now crackling with power, he met Rocks' attack head-on.

The impact shattered the ground beneath him. **The palace quaked.**

He *held* for a moment—until his feet began sliding backward. His arms trembled, cracks forming beneath him as he struggled to withstand the force of Rocks' monstrous power.

Then—

**SLASH!**

A gleaming sword flashed through the smoke, cutting through Rocks' shockwave and splitting the force in two.

Saint Saturn gasped as the pressure on him suddenly vanished. A new figure stepped beside him.

Saint Garling, leader of the **Knights of God.**

Rocks watched with mild amusement as the attack was negated.

He smirked. "Oh? You've got some fight in you after all."

But there was no rush.

Today, the Celestial Dragons would fall.

From a dark alley not far from the battlefield, Jiger and his group watched in stunned silence.

The sheer *destruction*—the effortless devastation Rocks had unleashed with *one punch*—was beyond anything they had ever seen.

Kuma and Ginny were frozen in place, their eyes wide with disbelief. Ivan swallowed hard, his voice trembling.

"S-So… *that's* the legendary Captain Rocks? He… he's a monster!"

Ginny nodded numbly, still unable to form words. Even Bear, whose sheer size and resilience made him the toughest among them, was visibly shaken.

But Jiger…

Jiger didn't respond.

Something was *wrong.*

His breath came faster. His body felt hot—his blood was **boiling**. A strange energy stirred inside him, rising like an uncontrollable storm.

It was as if something deep within him had awakened, something primal, something waiting for the right trigger.

Jiger clenched his fists, trying to suppress the sensation, but it only grew stronger. His chest tightened, heat rising to his head. His vision blurred at the edges, the world around him sharpening in strange, unnatural clarity.

What was happening to him?

He had worked to control himself, to keep his emotions in check, to prevent… *whatever this was*. But now, standing in the presence of *true* monsters, witnessing the raw chaos of the strongest warriors in the world—

Something inside him was breaking free.

Was he getting sick again?

Or was this something else entirely?