บท 76: Butterfly Effect
The Butterfly Effect—a principle of chaos theory—shows how small, seemingly insignificant actions can lead to massive, unpredictable consequences. Like a butterfly flapping its wings, these tiny changes ripple outward, growing in impact until they cause events far beyond what anyone could have imagined. The most unsettling part of the theory is its unpredictability; no one can foresee the true effects of those initial ripples. Zephyr thought that he could control it. But mother nature is more powerful than anyone can ever imagine. And every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
On the day Zephyr recruited Crocodile and Buggy, the wings of chaos flapped. The first ripple came in the form of a bargain. Buggy, always chasing wealth and power, agreed to Zephyr's offer. But it wasn't just a Warlord title that lured him in—it was the role he would play in secret. Buggy, now a spy within the Navy, had been promised riches and status far beyond anything he had dreamed of. He saw the deal as a ticket to fortune, never grasping the ripples he had set in motion.
Crocodile, by contrast, was easier to recruit. Frustrated by stagnation, he longed for the grand stage again. Zephyr offered him that chance, and Crocodile stepped into the spotlight as the Sin of Greed, the first public figure of the Seven Sins.
The world's reaction was immediate. The next day, newspapers blared the headline: "The Birth of The Seven Sins." The article revealed that Crocodile had joined the Sword King's new organization, leaving the world to speculate about the other six members. If one was a former Warlord, who were the others? How strong were they? The unknown fed fear, and that fear spread like wildfire.
At Marineford, the new Fleet Admiral read the article in grim silence. The scar on his chest throbbed—a constant reminder of his humiliating defeat weeks prior. But he wasn't the same man. His arrogance had been tempered, replaced with determination and restraint. He ordered immediate action: Vice Admiral Doberman and his battalion were to track down Crocodile and capture him.
But in the vast web of interconnected actions, this decision sparked another ripple.
Doberman's forces had been tracking a ship—a smuggling vessel suspected of carrying dangerous cargo. The pursuit was abandoned to focus on Crocodile, and the ship sailed on unimpeded. Its cargo remained hidden from prying eyes: ten devil fruits split between two destinations.
Five paramecia fruits were bound for Joker, intended for Caesar's experiments to create artificial devil fruits. Joker was tired of making the same SMILE fruit over and over again. Seeing the new wave Whitebeard has made, he has gotten an idea of expanding his business portfolio. A paramecia variant of artificial devil fruit. It was a bit ambitious, but it will bemore than worth it if Ceaser succeeded.
But the other five headed to Hachinosu, the Pirate Paradise. Among them was a fruit lost to history for over two centuries—a mythical zoan of unimaginable power. Modeled after a being that is said to be the guard of the Underworld.
It was a fruit that should never have been found, a power that was better left buried. A fruit that was supposed to be sunk deep inside sea that day.
But the ripples had already spread. The battalion had turned away. The ship moved forward, untouched.
The Butterfly Effect was in motion. A small choice had been made. But that wasn't the end.
Saint Saturn was especially pissed due to the involvement of Zephyr in the events at Sabaody. He wanted to use Akane to make the perfect cyborg, one even better than Bartholomew Kuma. Akane's natural regeneration was something he has never seen before. And the best thing about it was that it was purely natural. As a scientist, Saint Saturn knew very well that anything artificial came with undesired consequences. He wanted to use Akane for experimentation regarding the new Seraphims that Vegapunk were making.
But that plan was now useless. So, he instructed a unit of CP-0 to retrieve whatever was left of the hideout. Sword King and that oni might've destroyed the main part of the lab. But there was another hidden layer to it. The research data about the Lunarian and Giant was stored there. There were also a few new experimental weapons there.
This layer of the hideout was almost like a panic room. It's supposed to be used only in the most extreme situations. Zephyr and Akane's attack was so sudden that the scientists and military personnel didn't have time to even reach this room. As the agents entered the room, they were greeted with different files, weapons and supplies.
In the midst of those supplies they found a unique looking fruit. It was a crystal-like fruit with a frosted, angular surface that shimmers in pearlescent silver and faint blue. Swirling ripple patterns carve into its skin, hinting at its tremor powers. A dark, twisted stem with two curled leaves crowns the fruit, while faint cracks along its edges embody its destructive energy.
The agents did not need any devil fruit guide book to decipher what this fruit was. This devil fruit was something that is said to have the ability to destroy the entire world. And they knew very well that it was most definitely true. They have felt the tremors even from on top of the Red Line. Greed filled their hearts but they restrained themselves. They are the loyal servants of the Celestial Dragons. And they will not betray those they consider to be their god.
The fruit was delivered to Saint Saturn. He decided its fate would not be left to whim but to competition. A tournament was planned, where agents and Navy soldiers loyal to the World Government would fight for the right to wield this world-shaking power. A power that belonged to the strongest man in the previous era.
Two simple changes, two small moves. The butterfly has spread its wings and the storm was coming.
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Zephyr was in a good mood after recruiting two other exceptional individuals in his organization. But his mood turned sour to see that the whole Sabaody into a state of unrest. His intuition told him that a very troublemaker oni was responsible for this mess.
His suspicions turned out to be true as he entered the bar. Akane was packing up everything she had quickly. Seeing Zephyr she rushed towards him,
"Zephyr, we need to get out. Now!"
"What the hell did you do, Akane?" Zephyr groaned. "I specifically told you to stay out of trouble."
"Well," Akane began sheepishly, "I kind of stole a devil fruit."
Zephyr's irritation faded, replaced by curiosity. "Was it worth it?"
Akane grinned, holding up her hands. Blood poured unnaturally from her palms, darkening to match the shade of her crimson hair. The blood solidified, taking the shape of twin axes that gleamed with an eerie red glow.
"More than you can imagine," she replied with a wicked smile.
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