One Piece: Three Devil Fruits, Beginning with Darkness

**Chapter 11: Memory Recovery, Physical Changes**

The lawless land of the **Kingdom of Solbel** lay beneath a dusky sky, its air thick with the scent of neglect and age. In front of a slightly dilapidated church, a sudden burst of energy fractured the stillness.

Four figures materialized in the worn streets, their bodies flickering briefly before solidifying. The sensation of teleportation was always jarring, and Ivan felt it more than ever this time. He stumbled slightly, shaking his head to clear the dizziness that lingered.

"What happened…? My head is spinning," he muttered before glancing around. "Where are we?"

Kuma, however, did not share Ivan's confusion. As his gaze lifted toward the old church, his expression shifted—his usually composed face darkened with sorrow. The sight of the place brought back memories he had tried to bury. His voice, when he finally spoke, was heavy.

"This is my homeland," he said quietly. "The **Kingdom of Solbel**."

Beside him, Ginny curiously examined their surroundings, taking in the worn cobblestone streets and the looming silhouette of the church. Despite its disrepair, the building still retained a sacred aura, as if clinging to the remnants of its past.

"So we escaped?" she asked, her eyes lingering on the old structure. "There's a church here!"

Kuma nodded, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes… This church belonged to my father. He was a **pastor**."

At his words, both Ivan and Ginny fell silent. They knew what this place meant to him. He had spoken before about his past, about the pain he endured. Seeing him here, standing before the very place that held those memories, they could only imagine the emotions stirring within him.

Before anyone could say more, a sudden, strained groan broke the moment.

*"Hnnngh..."*

The three turned sharply to Jiger, who had remained quiet until now.

Jiger clutched his forehead with one hand, his brows drawn together in agony. Sweat beaded along his temples, his breathing uneven. His entire body tensed, as if struggling against something unseen.

Ivan's heart leaped with concern.

"Brother Jiger! What's wrong?!"

Without hesitation, the three rushed to his side. Ivan crouched down, guiding Jiger's arm over his shoulder to support him. Ginny placed a hand against his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his breaths. Kuma, seeing Jiger's state, extended his padded hands, instinctively preparing to use his Meat-Meat Fruit abilities.

Jiger immediately recognized what Kuma's intended to do.

Kuma's power allowed him to "repel" things from the body, including pain. But Jiger was quick to react—he raised a trembling hand, signaling him to stop.

The bear's face twisted in confusion. His gift, his ability—it could help. Why wouldn't Jiger accept it?

"You're still unfamiliar with how to control your **Meat-Meat Fruit** properly," Jiger said, exhaling slowly, his voice weak but firm. "Using it recklessly could be dangerous. And even if you remove my pain, there's no one else here to take it."

Kuma frowned. "No, I can—"

He patted his chest as if to reassure Jiger. He was ready—willing—to bear the burden himself.

However, Jiger remained silent, his refusal firm. He didn't want Kuma to continue speaking—he didn't want to hear whatever was about to be said. His mind was already in turmoil, his thoughts tangled in confusion. He wasn't even sure if he was in pain.

Images and emotions surged within him, flashing like the chaotic reflections of a shattered mirror. He tried to focus, to make sense of them, but they slipped away the moment he reached for them.

It had all begun with a single word—one that Garin had spoken before leaving.

*"Figarland."*

The moment that name reached his ears, memories that had long been buried clawed their way to the surface.

Jiger saw himself lying on a cold, metallic test table. Above him, the blinding light of an examination lamp illuminated his restrained body. A man loomed over him, his opulent garments adorned with the unmistakable insignia of the Celestial Dragons. His gaze was filled with something worse than cruelty—pure, unfiltered greed.

An overwhelming surge of emotions crashed into Jiger. Fear, rage, disgust. It felt like his mind was splitting apart.

*"Crack!"*

Electricity erupted from his body, arcs of silver lightning crackling across his arms before violently lashing outward.

Ivan, caught in the sudden burst of power, barely had time to react before the energy surged through him. His body spasmed as the electricity coursed through his nerves, leaving his flesh singed and his muscles locked in agony. The sharp, acrid scent of burning cloth and skin filled the air.

Kuma's eyes widened in alarm. He had seen Jiger lose control before, but never like this. Without hesitation, he grabbed Ginny, yanking her away from the blast radius. His other arm reached for Ivan's limp form, dragging him back as the smaller man let out a strangled gasp.

Without wasting another second, Kuma activated his Devil Fruit powers. In an instant, the space around them compressed, and with a swift push, he teleported both himself and his unconscious companions several meters away, barely evading the chaotic storm of energy.

Jiger's body trembled. His breathing was erratic.

Then, he lifted his head.

His once-dark pupils were now a deep, glowing crimson.

Beneath him, an abyssal blackness began to unfurl like a liquid shadow, tendrils of darkness slithering outward. The air grew heavy, thick with an unnatural presence.

His expression was empty, void of humanity. When he spoke, his voice was cold, distant—like something from the depths of the underworld.

'We must kill him. Revenge!'

The darkness beneath him surged, rippling outward like a living entity. It reached Kuma's feet, shifting into the shape of an enormous, gaping maw. Jagged, shadowy fangs gleamed as the mouth stretched wide, ready to devour everything in its path.

Kuma's muscles tensed. He prepared to use his abilities once more, but the moment the darkness neared, something strange happened—his power faltered.

It was like his connection to his own Devil Fruit had been severed, the energy within him grinding to a sluggish crawl. A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. If Jiger's attack continued, he wouldn't be able to escape in time.

But just as the abyss was about to swallow them whole, Jiger's body swayed.

His legs buckled, and in an instant, he collapsed.

The swirling mass of darkness halted, frozen in place. A moment later, as if it had never existed, it retreated—seeping back into Jiger's unconscious form like ink being absorbed into paper.

For a long moment, the only sound was the distant crackle of dissipating electricity.

Kuma exhaled sharply, finally allowing himself to breathe. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow, his usually calm expression laced with unease.

If Jiger hadn't lost consciousness just then, they would have all been consumed.

Kuma cautiously approached the motionless figure on the ground. Jiger was completely out cold, his breathing steady but shallow.

With a quiet sigh, Kuma knelt down and lifted Jiger into his arms. Ginny, still shaken, moved to Ivan's side, hesitating only briefly before helping him to his feet. The two of them carried their unconscious companions toward the old church, disappearing into the dim glow of candlelight.

---

**Nightfall.**

Jiger's senses drifted in and out, his mind floating between wakefulness and the remnants of fractured dreams.

Slowly, he opened his eyes.

Soft fabric pressed against his skin. A warm, heavy blanket covered his body. He was lying on a bed—larger than he expected, though still unfamiliar.

The room was dim, the only source of light coming from a flickering candle on a wooden nightstand. The scent of aged wood and faint traces of herbs lingered in the air.

He sat up, blinking away the fog in his mind.

And then, a voice echoed within him.

'You are me, and I am you. Avenge me!'

Jiger didn't flinch. He barely reacted, knowing this was the former owner's will, and so is his own.

Instead, he exhaled softly, as if accepting something inevitable.

"I understand. We are one person. I will take revenge."

As the words left his lips, something inside him shifted.

It was subtle, but undeniable—a weight that had lingered for as long as he could remember suddenly vanished. It was as if a part of him had been unshackled, freed from invisible chains.

His mind felt clearer than it ever had before. His senses sharpened, expanding beyond the room. He could feel the faint vibrations of movement, hear the soft breathing of the others elsewhere in the church. The scent of Kuma's cooking drifted from the kitchen—fish, freshly boiled, seasoned lightly.

And then, something odd caught his attention.

A strange, wrapped figure lay beside him.

"...Where did the mummy come from?"

The bundle shifted. With an exaggerated shake of its head, it let out a muffled sound.

"It's me, Jiger. I'm Ivan—the Ivan who was almost electrocuted by you. Hee... ha..."

Jiger blinked.

The realization dawned on him, and he let out a quiet groan, rubbing his forehead.

"Ah, this..."

He turned toward Ivan, quickly moving to help him sit up. The thick bandages covered most of his body, making him look utterly ridiculous. Jiger frowned in guilt.

"Sorry, Ivan. My mind was a mess back then. I wasn't thinking clearly."

Ivan let out a wheezing laugh, his bandages rustling as he shifted.

"No worries. I escaped from the Valley of the Gods, remember? A little shock like this won't kill me. Hee, hee, ha!"

Despite his words, Jiger still felt the weight of responsibility pressing on him. Without a second thought, he hopped off the bed, crouched down, and effortlessly lifted Ivan onto his back.

For a moment, Ivan was too stunned to speak.

He *knew* Jiger's physical condition. While he was strong, he had never been particularly formidable in terms of raw strength. And yet, here he was—carrying Ivan with absolute ease, as if he weighed nothing at all.

Jiger noticed the reaction but said nothing. Instead, he adjusted his grip and strode toward the main hall.

In the living room, Kuma emerged from the kitchen, an apron still tied around his waist, carrying a steaming bowl of fish soup. Ginny sat at the dining table, a knife in one hand and a fork in the other, lost in thought.

When she saw Jiger carrying Ivan, her eyes widened. Kuma, too, nearly dropped the soup bowl in shock.

Before it could hit the floor, Jiger extended his hand.

A soft hum resonated in the air, and the bowl *floated* into his grasp.

He glanced at Kuma with a small grin.

"Your cooking is excellent. This fish soup smells delicious."