Chapter 42: Connection Between Needle and Thread

Needle-Needle Fruit.

As the name suggests, it creates needles and allows anything to be stitched together temporarily.

Thread-Thread Fruit.

As the name implies, it generates threads and can produce and manipulate any kind of thread.

Normally, sewing involves both a needle and thread.

You can’t sew with just a needle, nor with just thread.

‘…So, what kind of result would it produce if both Fruits could be used at the same time?’

It would lead to exactly what those guys earlier demonstrated.

Individually, they might seem insignificant, but together, the power was enough to rival a tsunami from the Tremor-Tremor Fruit that could destroy an entire island.

But what caught my attention went beyond just that.

Sewing is the process of cutting and processing fabric, then combining two pieces into one—a form of synthesis.

“It should be possible.”

The synthesis… of Devil Fruits!!!

My eyes gleamed as I stimulated the power of the Needle-Needle Fruit within me.

Thanks to my Observation Haki and my enhanced perception of the world, my sensory abilities had reached a dramatic peak.

I had even become capable of sensing the full nature of my Devil Fruit’s power.

Which meant I could now analyze the Needle-Needle Fruit within me in a more intricate way, and I could perceive the dormant power of its awakening.

And once perception was complete, awakening was a matter of an instant.

Needle-Needle Fruit.
Awakened—

Thwoooom!!!

A sharp force exploded from my palm, piercing the sky.

Through the burst cloud, I could feel it—

I had awakened the true power of the Needle-Needle Fruit.

The power to pierce through anything.

Originally, the Fruit’s power could only pierce things with a solid form—at the very least, something like a liquid.

But now, I had gained the ability to pierce through air, and even intangible forces like Haki.

If I pushed further, I might even be able to touch the realm of concepts themselves…
But that was for later.

For now, what mattered was the ability to pierce through the immaterial.

Naturally, that included the powers of the Devil Fruits I had within me.

After becoming aware of the powers of both the Needle-Needle Fruit and the Thread-Thread Fruit…

I pierced through them—and connected them.

“!!!”

In that moment, I entered a special domain of awareness.

Needle and thread intertwined naturally, and a new power was born—

The ability to synthesize two into one.

The moment I opened my eyes, I felt it.

Needle and thread had merged, transforming into the realm of the Synthesis-Synthesis Fruit.

But that was only a temporary connection formed through the Needle-Needle Fruit.

To make it permanent, I immediately used the needle to pierce and the thread to tie—

Sewing the Needle-Needle Fruit and the Thread-Thread Fruit into one.

As if the two had always been one.

A seamless stitch.

“…Fufufufufufu…!!!!”

And thus, the two Fruits became one—

I had obtained the power of the Synthesis-Synthesis Fruit…!!!

Of course, the original powers of the Needle-Needle and Thread-Thread Fruits remained intact.

‘…This is the ultimate achievement…!!!!’

To think the first people I encountered had such extraordinary Fruits—

I couldn’t help but feel grateful for my outrageous luck.

***

Next, I examined the Mirror-Mirror Fruit.

From what I knew, its power was to use mirrors to perfectly copy the opponent.

Once awakened, it could even replicate someone stronger than the user.

But without awakening, it could only copy within the limits of the user’s own capabilities.

The original owner of this Fruit must not have had the capacity to copy me—
That’s likely why it failed.

‘Anyway, the important part is that this Fruit lets you copy just by seeing through a mirror.
Whereas my Copy-Copy Fruit lets me replicate someone’s appearance by touching them.’

Both Fruits were so similar, they could be considered siblings.

So, what if I merged them into one?

Without hesitation, I used the power of Synthesis to combine the two Fruits.

“…Haaaah…”

And just like that, I obtained a power that could copy anything just by looking.

Talents.
Appearances.
Techniques.

I suppose I should call this power the Copy-Copy Fruit.

I chuckled, satisfied with the new ability.

From now on, even if I collect more Devil Fruits, managing them would be much easier through synthesis.

“First things first… I need to gather materials for future synthesis.
That means… it’s time to hunt down some Devil Fruits.”

Let’s start with the ones coming toward me.

Descending from the sky, I landed on my ship without hesitation.

I stepped on the pedal and moved forward.

I began to sense them—

One by one, their presence appeared through my Observation Haki.

Useless trash who had no value to the world.

If eliminating them benefits me,

Wouldn’t that be a rather satisfying death for them?

With that merciless thought,

I drew my sword.

Now that I had obtained the power of the Synthesis-Synthesis Fruit,
My hunger to gain even more Devil Fruit powers was insatiable.

From here on out—no mercy.

***

“…Four hundred eighty-two pirate entities have disappeared…”

“Hmm… It’s a good thing, but… the balance will become unstable.”

“What shall we do about that child, Commander?”

“She’s a pirate, yes, but she’s also under the Warlords’ system, and she’s worked with the Navy…
There’s no need to put a bounty on her just yet.”

“That may be true, but if she’s the one I think she is,
She might want a bounty.”

Sengoku thought back to the small girl who once boarded Zephyr’s ship.

A young girl who embodied the aura of a Conqueror’s King.

Not even her beauty or youth could erase the presence she exuded.

A straightforward, unyielding kind of person.

He had once liked her so much, he invited her to join the Navy—

But in return, she said something that shook him.

‘Are you truly satisfied with a job where you serve the trash known as Celestial Dragons?’

She had spoken those words with conviction.

And she declared that if she ever stood at the top of the world,
She would purge all such filth herself.

As a Navy officer, Sengoku couldn’t agree with her openly,
But inwardly, he could only support her.

Still, if she did target the Celestial Dragons…

As Admiral Sengoku, he’d have no choice but to confront her.

‘So, Hancock…
If you’re going to do something like that—
You’d better be strong enough to survive both me and Zephyr!’

With that in mind,

He suggested to Commander Kong that they contact the Warlords about the girl.

“Let’s consult the Pirate Empress.

Since she’s the next Pirate Empress in line,
The fact that she left on her own like this must have some purpose.

If I had to guess,
It’s probably to raise the honour of her title.”

“Hmph! So if it’s about honour,
Putting a bounty on her might actually help?
We should definitely ask.”

Muttering to himself, Commander Kong sent a letter to Amazon Lily.

And as a result,
A new bounty was issued:

Boa Hancock

Bounty: 120,000,000 Berries.