Seeing Elior's arrival, Doflamingo was in awe. As Elior's subordinate, he naturally had to be respectful.

Even Doflamingo's men bowed their heads with respect, though deep down, they were shocked. None of them had ever imagined that Doflamingo—normally arrogant and untamed—would act so deferentially.

As expected of Elior.

At this moment, all eyes were on Elior. Behind him stood three women. One wore a mask, but the other two revealed their beauty openly. And if the masked woman was hiding her face, she could only be just as stunning.

Elior's overwhelming aura alone was enough to make them tremble.

"King."

Doflamingo bowed respectfully.

"The Devil Fruit?"

Elior didn't waste words.

One of Doflamingo's men quickly stepped forward, carrying a box. Doflamingo took it himself and then presented it to Elior.

"This is the Flame-Flame Fruit"

Elior opened the box, and inside lay a Devil Fruit covered in swirling flame-like patterns—exactly as depicted in the original story.

"You're certain this is the Flame-Flame Fruit?"

"Absolutely, King. You can rest easy."

Doflamingo gave a chuckle.

"Good. No problem then… By the way, Doflamingo, have you ever heard of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia?"

"I've heard of it, but it's practically a legend. As far as I know, only two copies exist. One is with the World Government, and the other once belonged to Whitebeard. Where it is now, I can't say—perhaps the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates hold it."

"Very well. Continue searching for Devil Fruits and the Poneglyphs I desire."

"Everything shall be done according to the King's will. Once I have news, I will report it immediately."

Elior nodded. Seeing Doflamingo bow and scrape like this, he had to admit once more—the Absolute Command was terrifyingly effective.

"Doflamingo, if that's all, you're dismissed."

"As you command."

With Elior's order, Doflamingo retreated, taking his men with him.

But his subordinates could hardly believe their eyes.

The prideful Heavenly Yaksha, bending like this? And the respect in his tone wasn't forced—it was genuine. That alone left them shaken.

"Elior… why does Doflamingo respect you so much?"

Gion looked baffled. She had spent years under Tsuru, chasing Doflamingo across the seas. She knew just how arrogant he was—yet here he was, obedient as a dog before Elior.

"Take a guess."

Elior smiled, raising the devil fruit.

"You're acting strange again…"

Gion frowned, though in her heart she secretly wished Elior would always show this playful, mischievous side—rather than the distant, domineering aura he sometimes carried.

"Is this the Flame-Flame Fruit?"

Gion's eyes locked onto it. Elior had said before that this was meant for her.

It was the first gift Elior had ever given her.

"That's right. It's yours."

Before the three women's curious gazes, Elior pressed his left hand on the flame fruit and covered it with his right. A white light spread across the fruit, scanning its surface completely.

This was his unique power—the ability to erase the side effects of Devil Fruits.

"Done. The curse of the sea has been eliminated."

He handed the fruit to Gion.

"You mean… even if Sister Gion eats this, she won't be weakened by seawater or seastone?"

The women gasped. If such a thing were true, it would overturn centuries of history.

If the world discovered this secret, wouldn't it shake to its very core?

"The weakness of Devil Fruits has existed since the beginning of time."

"Keep it secret. If the Gorosei find out, they'll cut me open on a lab table to dissect me."

Elior smirked.

"No way."

"Then… I'll eat it."

Though she'd heard that Devil Fruits tasted vile, Gion couldn't refuse Elior's gift.

She bit down. At once, her face turned pale.

"Ugh, it tastes terrible!"

But thinking of what it meant, she forced herself to swallow the whole fruit in one go.

"That bad?"

Reiju and Bonney made faces just watching her expression.

BOOM!

In the next instant, flames erupted from Gion's body.

She and the others were startled.

"Wait—are her clothes going to burn off?"

Reiju and Bonney instinctively jumped back.

Bonney shook her head. "No, the powers of a Devil Fruit user assimilate with their clothes. They won't burn."

"I… I can feel the power rushing out of me!"

Astonishment filled Gion's face as she ignored the foul taste lingering in her mouth. Flames wrapped around her body, warping the air and driving the temperature sky-high.

"It will be even more perfect once you combine this with your swordsmanship, Gion."

Elior guided her calmly.

Generally, when someone already strong ate a Devil Fruit, their mastery of it would leap ahead.

Blackbeard, after seizing the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, became a force of nature. Sabo, inheriting Ace's powers, quickly reached terrifying levels.

Now, as Gion devoured the flames, Elior felt that her fire was even fiercer than the ones Ace had unleashed at Marineford.

After all, Gion was no ordinary woman—she was a warrior at admiral level, the world's strongest female swordsman.

Power like hers, fused with the Flame-Flame Fruit, would only result in devastation.

"Combine the power of flame with your blade."

Gion nodded, understanding instantly.

"Today and tomorrow, we'll remain here. Use the time to familiarize yourself with your abilities."

The island was uninhabited—perfect for her training.

"I'll master it as quickly as I can!"

Her eyes burned with determination.

Very soon, she began to unleash her new strength.

Flames wove into her sword swings, vast slashes igniting the sea itself. Walls of fire rose, terrifying every Sea King nearby.

By nightfall, the waters boiled. Entire pods of Sea Kings fled the area, driven away by her might.

Reiju, roasting meat nearby, trembled at the sight. "She's terrifying…"

She had always known Gion was powerful. But this—this was something else entirely.

Elior, watching from the shore, smiled in satisfaction.

Gion had barely scratched the surface, yet her mastery already surpassed Ace's.

Reiju could never have drawn such power from the fruit. Though she was strong in her own right, immune to poison and a deadly warrior, she was not on Gion's level.

And then Reiju revealed another piece of news—her father, Judge, owned a copy of the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia.

Elior was pleasantly surprised. He had thought finding the book would be difficult. But if Judge had one… then with just a word, it could be his.