"Hey... wanna join my pirate crew?" Benimaru asked with a grin, looking directly at the confused Viktor, who had just come to terms with his Devil Fruit abilities.
Viktor's face twisted with uncertainty at first, but slowly, it shifted into something serious. He met Benimaru's gaze head-on, his earlier goofy demeanor replaced by a quiet resolve.
"I appreciate the offer," Viktor said, his voice steady, "but I plan on adventuring the seas with my siblings. So I'm going to have to decline."
His conviction caught Benimaru by surprise. The same boy who had slumped in defeat minutes ago now spoke with strength and purpose.
Benimaru smirked, impressed. "Yeah, I figured. I'm asking them too—I just started with you since we were already talking. I plan to recruit all three of you. You're the only ones who didn't panic earlier and even returned, thinking your people were in danger. That says a lot.
"I don't care how strong someone is—strength can be built. What matters is loyalty, and you three have that," Benimaru said, his expression just as serious as Viktor's.
Camille and Jayce's eyes widened in shock. They had always talked about sailing the seas, letting fate guide them. But never had they imagined being invited to join a pirate crew—especially by someone their age, who treated it like destiny rather than fantasy.
Maybe they expected Viktor to be offered something after gaining a Devil Fruit ability. But to be asked themselves? That was something else entirely.
"I'll give you until I find the treasure," Benimaru continued. "After that, I'll build my boat. Let me know your decision by then—so I know if I'm building one big enough for four people… or just for me."
With that, Benimaru turned and walked away, leaving the three siblings in silence to ponder the future—and their place in it.
----------
A day had passed since Benimaru first arrived on the island. Now, he made his way to the library where the fabled journal was said to be kept. His plan was simple: read through the entire log of the tribe's explorer before setting out to retrieve the legendary weapon.
To his surprise, the journal wasn't a single book—it was a compilation of three volumes, each filled not only with detailed entries but also with intricate sketches and drawings of the creatures the explorer had encountered. There were maps, trails, and notes describing terrain, animal behavior, and even hand-drawn diagrams of the forest paths.
Two hours later, Benimaru had already finished reading everything. With the explorer's knowledge etched into his memory, he was ready to embark on his treasure hunt.
As he stepped out of the library, he found Viktor, Camille, and Jayce waiting just outside, clearly anticipating his exit. Their presence sparked curiosity—and a bit of excitement—in Benimaru. He had a feeling they'd come to give him an answer.
"We want to go with you on your treasure hunt," Camille said bluntly.
The trio was eager, but not without ulterior motives. They wanted to see just how strong Benimaru really was. For them, strength was a prerequisite to loyalty. If they were to follow someone, that person needed to prove they were stronger than all three combined—especially now that Viktor had a Devil Fruit power.
"It's fine. You can come with me," Benimaru replied without hesitation. He welcomed the company, even if only temporarily. Deep down, he enjoyed having companions by his side, even for something as straightforward as a treasure hunt.
The group of four set off, with Benimaru confidently leading the way. He had memorized every detail from the journal—the paths, landmarks, and danger zones.
Eventually, they reached a section of the island that had been closed off by the tribe for generations. Stepping beyond it was said to bring certain death. No one who crossed the boundary had ever returned. While Benimaru remained calm, the other three were brimming with excitement. For them, this was their first real adventure. They had lived on this island their entire lives, but never dared to go past the blockade. This was uncharted territory, and they were finally crossing into it.
Not long after, they were attacked.
A massive boar burst from the foliage, charging at them with terrifying speed. Its size and aggression reminded Benimaru of Warcury, the giant beast he once faced. Without hesitation, Benimaru defeated the beast with a single strike.
The three siblings were left speechless. The boar was no ordinary creature—it was a Behemoth, a monstrous beast of legend feared by the entire island. Its appearance alone would've sent warriors running. Yet Benimaru had downed it effortlessly.
They watched in awe as Benimaru calmly skinned the beast, then invited them to sit down and eat before continuing their journey.
As the meat cooked over the fire, it gave them a chance to talk—to truly introduce themselves to one another.
Camille explained that their parents had died when they were very young. She had been six, while Jayce and Viktor were only five. A wild beast had wandered into their part of the forest and killed their parents. The tribe had taken them in and raised them like their own.
While they ate, Viktor turned to Benimaru with a serious question.
"Do you know how to use a Devil Fruit—or at least how to train with one?" he asked.
Despite only having his powers for a day, Viktor was already hungry to grow stronger. He wanted to make the most out of his new ability.
Benimaru looked at him, nodding slowly.
"Every Devil Fruit is different. How you train it depends on the ability—and more importantly, on the user," he began. "But the one thing that's always true is this: train your body. Devil Fruits give you power, but your body is still the foundation. A strong ability is useless if your body can't keep up with it."
Viktor listened intently, his eyes sharp with determination. He absorbed every word, already beginning to see the path ahead of him, not just as someone who possessed power, but as someone who had to earn it.