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"Stronger than the Ice-Ice Fruit? Claiming your artificial fruit made from the Snow-Snow Fruit is more powerful than the real Ice-Ice Fruit? That's absurd," Doflamingo scoffed internally. He couldn't help but think that Chiba was exaggerating his capabilities. "I'm sure I'll pass," he declared.
Chiba merely shook his head, a smile playing on his lips, as he looked at the Snow-Snow Fruit in his hand. "Queen, queen, you're the most powerful and perfect fruit I've made so far. It's a pity these ordinary folks can't see your greatness."
His words were genuine. This was the first Devil Fruit he had successfully created, the only one from his experiments that hadn't fallen short. The fruit was crafted from the pure bloodline factor extracted before and after Monet used the Snow-Snow Fruit. Monet could only provide so much of the pure factor; collecting more would severely weaken or even kill her. Thus, this Snow-Snow Fruit in the Ice Queen form was unique.
Chiba addressed the gathered crowd, "Who wants to try this Devil Fruit I crafted? Rest assured, there won't be any problems."
"I will," Koby and Bellumebo volunteered immediately, but Chiba stopped them, "You two are men. This fruit can only be consumed by women."
Both of them stepped back, inwardly relieved. They had only volunteered to give Chiba an out, as they remained skeptical about consuming two fruits, even if one was artificial.
Doflamingo, hearing Chiba's stipulation, smirked. "So Koby and Bellumebo aren't allowed to eat it? Seems there's a catch."
Vergo, standing beside him, asked, "Dover, what if no one eats his fruit? How can we continue to work with him?"
Doflamingo replied, "If he wants more Devil Fruit data, he'll find a way to make it work. But now I'm questioning whether the Lava-Lava Fruit he created is genuine."
"What do you mean?"
"I suspect after Chiba killed Akainu, he acquired the Lava-Lava Fruit through unconventional means and staged its discovery for us to see, tricking us into collaboration."
"Seems my hunch is likely correct. This talk about a Snow-Snow Fruit in the Ice Queen form being more powerful than the Ice-Ice Fruit, claiming it's the most perfect fruit he's made and can't be replicated, is just a ploy."
Doflamingo scrutinized Chiba, waiting for the next move.
"Who else is willing to try this fruit?" Chiba asked the women of Daughter Island. They hesitated, doubting after Chiba excluded Koby and Bellumebo, and no one stepped forward.
"Chiba, I..." Hina started, but before she could finish, Margaret stepped forward, taking the Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form. "Master Chiba, I'm willing to be your test subject."
Margaret, with short blond hair and a swimsuit skirt hugging her figure, stood confidently. Her beige skin glowed under the sun, exuding a captivating allure.
Chiba smiled, patting her shoulder. "You'll be pleased with your decision soon. Go ahead."
"Alright," Margaret said, swallowing the fruit in one gulp as everyone watched intently.
Margaret's skin flushed red, and she let out a sharp scream as her body convulsed.
"So there is a problem," Doflamingo thought, feeling vindicated.
He had suspected that Chiba, no matter how talented, couldn't create a Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form surpassing the Ice-Ice Fruit so quickly. This seemed to confirm his doubts about Chiba's reputation.
Doflamingo's subordinates felt relieved they hadn't volunteered, avoiding the convulsions and pain Margaret was experiencing.
"Margaret!" Hancock rushed over, demanding, "Chiba, what's happening?"
"Her body's undergoing a bloodline factor transformation."
"Bloodline factor? What's that?"
"Think of it as the fruit unleashing its power. It's not like a real Devil Fruit, so there's pain, but she'll be fine," Chiba reassured calmly. As he predicted, Margaret's convulsions subsided after a short while.
Two women assisted Margaret, noting her sweat-soaked body and unusually smooth, white hands. Despite being sun-kissed and calloused from archery, Margaret's skin felt like polished jade.
Her face was equally transformed, smooth and radiant, far more beautiful than before.
"She's so cold," they noted, pulling back as the air around Margaret chilled, turning their breaths into visible puffs.
Margaret screamed again as wings of snow formed behind her, flapping as dark clouds gathered overhead, casting the area into shadow.
Margaret's wings propelled her awkwardly into the air, snowflakes cascading around her.
Daughter Island, typically hot, cooled rapidly as the temperature plummeted, leaving everyone shivering as thick snow fell.
The snow accumulated quickly, covering the ground, forming streams that flowed into the sea before freezing over, leaving everyone cold.
Margaret struggled to control the Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form's immense power. Snow blanketed the world, freezing the coastline under its weight.
Monet, witnessing the transformation, was in disbelief. "This... this is like my Snow-Snow Fruit's powers, but the range and cold are even greater, and the wind pressure far surpasses mine. Is this truly an artificial Snow-Snow Fruit?"
Doflamingo, too, was shocked by the icy spectacle. Even he felt the chill and had to use Armament Haki to maintain warmth.
"Is this the Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form Chiba made?" Doflamingo was astounded. The entire Daughter Island was enveloped in white, with the snowstorm extending to nearby islands and coastlines.
The sea froze rapidly, the temperature continued to drop, and Margaret had just consumed the Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form.
Doflamingo watched as Margaret, after several attempts, managed to control her blizzard wings, hovering in the air.
She radiated a faint white glow, appearing almost divine. Her wings stirred a blizzard, preventing anyone from approaching.
Doflamingo regretted deeply, "It's powerful, truly powerful. What a waste, why didn't I buy this artificial Devil Fruit? If Monet had this, she'd be my strongest ally. What a shame."
His female subordinates shared his regret.
"Such a powerful fruit, why did I hesitate? This Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form could have been mine! Why did I step back?"
"My Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form, it was meant to be mine, and Master Dover urged me to try it. Why didn't I? My Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form, oh why?"
Even the women of Daughter Island felt remorse.
Chiba had offered them the chance, but they hesitated. With more trust in Chiba and courage, they could have claimed the Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form.
Margaret, initially strong, now possessed power second only to Empress Hancock on Daughter Island.
Chiba's bond with Margaret was strong; she was the first he met on Daughter Island. Over the months, Chiba noticed a budding affection between Margaret and Koby, and Hancock trained Margaret as a confidante. Chiba even taught her the divine power awakening method.
With support from elixirs, Margaret's cultivation advanced rapidly, her true energy growing visibly each day.
Now, with Chiba's Snow-Snow Fruit in the Ice Queen form, her combined power reached terrifying heights.
Hancock felt relieved knowing Daughter Island had a new protector, easing her burdens.
She smiled, calling to Margaret, "Margaret, reign in your powers."
"Yes, Empress," Margaret replied, descending unsteadily, retracting the Snow-Snow Fruit's power.
Under her control, the energy receded, pooling in her abdomen and strengthening under the warmth of her true energy.
As the power withdrew, Margaret returned to her original form, her skin regaining its healthy wheat color.
With Margaret's power gone, the clouds dispersed, sunlight warmed the island, melting snow into streams that flowed to the sea.
Margaret was amazed at her impact. Her power had transformed Daughter Island's climate, a testament to its terrifying potential.
"Margaret, thank Chiba," Hancock prompted.
Awakened from her reverie, Margaret approached Chiba, expressing gratitude, "Thank you, Master Chiba. If you ever need it, I'm willing to give you everything."
Chiba laughed, "Your bravery earned you this fruit. Use it well and uphold my reputation."
Margaret solemnly promised, "I'll use this power wisely and honor your name, Master Chiba."
Chiba nodded, turning to Doflamingo, "Mr. Dover, do you believe me now?"
Doflamingo, his face twitching, quickly smiled, "I always believed in you, Chiba-kun. Your talent surpasses my understanding. If you create another Snow-Snow Fruit Ice Queen form, I'll pay 1.5 billion Berries, maybe more. It's our first partnership, and it's perfect."
Chiba shook his head, sensing Doflamingo's tension. "1.5 billion Berries is fair, but that's just the price for the two-winged Ice Queen form. If it reaches the four-winged form, its value could be 15 billion."
"In its ultimate form, it's priceless."
Margaret's current aptitude made achieving the ultimate form unlikely.
However, reaching the four-winged form would elevate her to Admiral-level strength.
Her Haki could improve, nearing Admiral peak or even Four Emperors level.
"No, Mr. Dover, you've misunderstood. As I said, I can only make this kind of Devil Fruit once. Even if I made another, it wouldn't match this one's power or Monet's Snow-Snow Fruit. This fruit is unique," Chiba explained.
Doflamingo, anxious, protested, "Mr. Chiba, don't joke. If you made one, surely another is possible."
Chiba shook his head, "The materials are depleted, and creating this one drained me. I need a year to recover."
"Even producing a simple artificial fruit requires many resources and energy, taking a month to recuperate."
Chiba exaggerated the difficulty to raise the perceived value of his Devil Fruits.
In truth, his losses were minimal, and his energy recovered quickly.
Doflamingo regretted deeply, realizing he had passed up an invaluable opportunity. The fruit was priceless, and it had been within his grasp.
"Ah... the regret, the heartache, it's unbearable!"
[•———•——•———•]
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.
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