Chapter 89: Cole's New Ability
On the sixth day, after devouring his thirtieth large Sea King, Cole finally began a long-awaited physical evolution.
Everyone sat far away on elevated rocks, watching him from a distance. Cole's transformation had already lasted half a day—much longer than his previous one aboard the ship.
They continued to wait. Only after the sun completely dipped into the sea did Cole's evolution come to an end.
The moment it finished, Luo Han rushed to his side. "How do you feel, Cole?"
"Pretty great! Look, Han bro," Cole smiled, then spread his arms. A translucent, fluid-like layer began flowing over his body, shimmering like water.
"What is that?" Luo Han was stunned. It looked similar to his own Mind Force Armament Mode, but this had a flowing, watery texture—as if space itself was shifting with it.
He had a few guesses, but couldn't be sure. It was too astonishing. He looked at Cole with a serious expression.
Cole grinned, waved his hand, and the space around his arm rippled like water.
"This time, it's not just a physical upgrade—I gained a new ability. It feels like space itself turned into an ocean, and I can swim through it. Like this!"
He took a step forward—and vanished.
"Uh… is that like Tucker's void-traveling ability?" Luo Han looked around. Cole had completely disappeared. Even his spiritual sense couldn't detect him.
"Where did he go?" Luo Han muttered, scanning the area.
Whitebeard and the others arrived, equally confused.
"He just vanished… is it some kind of special ability?" someone asked.
Luo Han didn't elaborate. He quietly observed his surroundings, starting to feel a little anxious the longer Cole remained gone.
Then suddenly—Luo Han sensed him. Cole reappeared at the same spot, not instantaneously, but as if passing through a watery veil—slower than teleportation, but distinct in sensation.
Cole beamed with excitement, clearly eager to share his joy.
"Han bro, I—"
Luo Han frowned and quickly sealed his mouth with telekinesis.
"No need to talk here. Let's eat first. We'll test it properly tonight."
Luo Han didn't want others to learn about Cole's new ability. After seeing the true nature of many of these pirates, he had grown cautious.
"Okay, Han bro!" Cole returned to normal, suppressing the spatial effects. Although confused, he obeyed Luo Han without question—his father's advice still fresh in his mind: listen to Han bro.
Whitebeard noticed the subtle exchange and chuckled. Understanding Luo Han's caution, he turned to the crew and shouted, "Get ready for a banquet! Tomorrow we go after the Roger Pirates again, you bastards!"
The crew scattered in all directions. Soon, only Whitebeard and Sister Shao remained.
After a moment, Sister Shao chuckled softly and walked off. Whitebeard followed her, and the two walked side by side back toward the ship, stopping atop the island's highest rock.
On the way, Whitebeard laughed, "That kid Luo Han still minds the fact we didn't step in last time."
"He's still cute," Sister Shao said softly. "Coming from a sheltered island, he's yet to experience the cruelty of the New World." She turned and glanced back at Luo Han.
…
After everyone left, Luo Han pulled Cole aside. The two of them flew up into the sky—8,000 meters high.
The island below was barely a dark smudge. The moon was absent, but a sea of stars stretched above them.
Luo Han stared at Cole, silently amazed by his luck. You really mastered such a ridiculous ability…
"What is it, Han bro? Are we testing my power now?" Cole asked, puzzled by Luo Han's intense gaze.
"No need. Just explain what it feels like," Luo Han replied, shaking his head. He had a pretty good idea already.
Cole thought for a moment. "My new ability… it's like space turned into an ocean, and I can swim through it. When I dive in, it's like entering another world—it feels great. When I want to come out, it's like surfacing from underwater."
Hearing that, Luo Han finally relaxed. His eyes sparkled. So it is a spatial-type ability—and a powerful one at that. Excellent for survival.
"Can you take others with you into that space?" Luo Han asked hopefully. That would be even better.
"I'm not sure… want me to try?" Cole offered.
"I think it's worth a shot," Luo Han said, flying up to perch on Cole's shoulder.
Cole activated the ability. Around him, the air seemed to liquefy. To Cole, it felt like water; to Luo Han, it looked like shimmering spatial ripples. Cole dove in, disappearing from sight.
Luo Han blinked. He was still standing alone. The world around him hadn't changed.
"…Guess it only works for him."
He sighed. I got greedy. Still… this isn't bad. If no one else can enter that space, then Cole's survival chances shoot way up. If things go wrong, he can just slip away into his own space and vanish.
"But… why isn't he coming back yet?"
A moment passed. Then the air shimmered like a water ripple, and Cole emerged.
Luo Han stared at him, clearly unimpressed.
"Sorry, Han bro. It's just so nice in there," Cole said sheepishly, scratching his head.
To him, that space felt like swimming in the sea or flying in the sky—free, weightless, and peaceful. Time seemed to lose all meaning.
Luo Han sighed. Just don't zone out in the middle of a real fight, alright?
He shook off the thought and looked up at the starlit sky, suddenly feeling much lighter.
"Finally… we're no longer weaklings who get pushed around!" Luo Han shouted into the sky, venting the pressure he had bottled up.
Heh! Cole grinned beside him, happy and relieved. Ever since Luo Han got hurt during their last battle with the Roger Pirates—because of him—he'd wanted to grow stronger.
And now, he had. They spent some more time familiarizing themselves with their new powers before flying back down.
By then, the food was almost ready. The crew had gathered on a raised rock platform where the head chef and Tucker had laid everything out.
"Well, kid, did you figure out the ability?" Whitebeard asked with a teasing grin. "I thought you weren't even going to eat with us anymore."
Heh… Luo Han laughed awkwardly. He did feel like he'd been a bit paranoid. But Cole's ability, if not properly understood, would be extremely difficult to counter. He didn't regret being careful.
"Alright, enough teasing," Sister Shao said gently. "Devil Fruit abilities shouldn't be shared too freely anyway."
Luo Han smiled gratefully at her.
(END CHAPTER)
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