"Kaya, quickly—try to recall the medical books you've read!"
Ace urged, watching as Kaya stood motionless, her eyes wide as a strange aura rippled around her.
The Domain of Comprehension, born from Ace's imagination as the Sun God Nika and his unparalleled comprehension, required the receiver's thoughts to awaken its full potential.
"O-Okay!"
Snapping out of it, Kaya immediately began to recall everything she had ever read in her medical textbooks.
To her astonishment, the once-difficult texts—those dense with obscure terminology and hard-to-grasp procedures—suddenly felt as easy as the childhood games she used to play.
It was as if countless bits of medical knowledge, some she had never even read before, were being etched directly into her mind.
"Huff..."
A soft, invisible wave spread outward from her.
At that moment, Ace's Observation Haki detected something drifting in on the ocean current—a white fruit, etched with intricate patterns. His eyes gleamed.
[A Paramecia-type Heal-Heal Fruit has been drawn here by Kaya's unparalleled comprehension!]
The words floated across Ace's mind like prophecy.
"It really worked?" Ace's eyes sparkled.
He'd brought Kaya to the sea precisely because he remembered how his own Flame-Flame Fruit had been drawn to him, pulled by the force of his unparalleled comprehension. He wanted to see if Kaya could do the same.
And now—here it was.
A Paramecia-type Heal-Heal Fruit. Maybe not as priceless as the Op-Op Fruit, but undeniably the best Devil Fruit for Kaya right now.
"A D-Devil Fruit?!"
Nami's eyes nearly popped out of her head as Ace retrieved the white fruit.
This was one of the sea's most mysterious treasures—worth no less than a hundred million berries. With a single one, she could buy back Cocoyashi Village from Arlong himself...
But after a long moment of inner struggle, Nami simply watched in silence as Ace gently held out the fruit to Kaya.
"Eat it, Kaya. This Devil Fruit is meant for you.
It's the Paramecia-type Heal-Heal Fruit. Once you eat it, your frail condition—it'll be gone."
Ace's smile was warm, steady.
"A... A Devil Fruit?! One of the sea's legendary treasures, worth at least a hundred million?!"
Even Merry gasped at Ace's words.
"You're thinking of the most useless Devil Fruits," Ace replied casually. "This one's worth at least a billion. Anyone who eats it can recover from any illness."
His unparalleled comprehension had already deciphered the nature of the fruit: the person who consumed it wouldn't just be able to heal others—they would, in theory, be capable of curing every illness known to mankind.
Even the eater's own body would be restored, much like how Trafalgar Law had healed his Amber Lead Syndrome after eating the Op-Op Fruit.
Even if this Devil Fruit wasn't meant for battle, its value was astronomical—enough to make people fight to the death over it.
Nami's eyes widened even further.
A b-billion?! That number echoed in her mind like a thunderclap.
She had to take several deep breaths before she could tear herself away from that mind-numbing thought.
But then, looking at the pale, gentle Kaya... this fruit really was important to her.
Nami thought it over for a long time. Then she smiled, free and easy.
Nami's heart was still kind, deep down.
"This... this is too precious," Kaya murmured, stunned.
Even the entire inheritance that Kuro had coveted from her family didn't come close to this fruit's value.
"This was always meant for you," Ace said with a smile. "Just like you were always meant to be my ship's doctor."
"Mm!"
Eyes shimmering with emotion, Kaya took the Heal-Heal Fruit and, at Ace's gentle encouragement, bit into it.
"Mmgh!"
She quickly covered her mouth, her delicate face paling.
"Milady!" Merry cried, anxious.
"I-I'm fine. It's just the taste..." Kaya raised her hand to stop him. Then her eyes widened in awe, staring at her hands as they began to glow with a warm, golden light.
"So this is... the Heal-Heal Fruit?" she whispered.
Bathed in that gentle light, her body rapidly recovered. In mere moments, she had reached the level of a healthy, average person.
And under the continued effect of the Domain of Comprehension, her condition kept improving.
"M-My body...!"
Kaya jumped up and down, waved her arms—feeling light and free in a way she had never known.
It was the first time in her life that she'd ever felt like this.
"It's perfect for you, isn't it?" Ace grinned. "Now you can join us on the seas, sailing freely."
"...!"
Kaya threw herself into Ace's arms, overwhelmed with emotion. His expression softened even more.
"Thank you... thank you, Ace..." she murmured.
"Milady!"
Merry, eyes misty, pulled out a handkerchief and wiped at his tears.
"Welcome aboard—my destined ship's doctor."
Ace gently brushed his hand through Kaya's golden hair, his voice warm.
"Mm!"
Kaya looked up, her radiant smile blooming like sunshine.
---
TL/N:
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