As everything was in order, the Strawhat Crew was now preparing to leave Arabasta. With no more business in the kingdom and Robin now joining them as a new companion, they were more eager than ever to continue their journey, especially with another crewmate whose dream could help bring Luffy closer to becoming the Pirate King.
"Yosh, let's go!" Luffy shouted enthusiastically, already standing at the bow, ready to set sail. But Nami stood at the rail, her gaze fixed on the distant shoreline. Her face carried a faint sadness, as if she were still thinking about Vivi's decision not to join them on their adventures. Sanji noticed first, followed by Zoro, Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper, who all looked at her with concern. Douglas, however, simply studied her with suspicion. Before the others could speak to comfort her, he bluntly said:
"You'd better give up on the one billion berries she promised. Arabasta needs that money for repairs."
Nami turned to him, her lips trembling. "But… we worked so hard for that," she said, her voice heavy with disappointment. The others froze, stunned, not by her sadness, but by the realization that her mood was about money. They had completely misread the situation.
"Well, we've got this, so no worries," Douglas replied casually, then summoned a pile of glittering jewelry and bags of berries, the loot he had taken from Crocodile's vault in Rainbase.
As gems and gold spilled onto the deck, Nami's somber expression instantly vanished. Her eyes sparkled, and she leapt forward, hugging Douglas tightly before bouncing in place like a child at a festival. The others blinked in surprise at her sudden shift in mood before joining in the celebration. Luffy immediately tried to grab fistfuls of treasure to buy food, only for Nami to smack him on the head.
"Enough of that. You're not in charge of the money. Douglas, can you store it again so no one can steal it on our ship?" she ordered.
Douglas nodded and activated his Dark-Dark Fruit powers, making the treasure vanish into swirling shadows. The crew, already familiar with his Assembly Fruit, stared in surprise.
"Oi, Douglas? What ability is that?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. He had assumed the sand-sailer Douglas created before was his Devil Fruit power, but this looked completely different.
"Oh, this is the Dark-Dark Fruit," Douglas explained. "Since you have trusted me with your secrets, it is only fair I tell you mine. It is a Logia Devil Fruit that controls darkness. It makes me a living black hole, so dense I can crush anything I pull in. But its greatest ability is that it can cancel the powers of any Devil Fruit user I touch."
He proved it by gripping Luffy's arm. "Try using your powers now."
Luffy grinned and tried to stretch, only to realize nothing happened. His jaw dropped in shock. "Whoa! So cool!" he said, unaware that in another reality, this very power had played a role in his brother's death.
Douglas continued, "And of course, there is the ability you have seen me use most." He activated his Assembly Fruit, rearranging part of the deck into a perfectly crafted chair. The crew exchanged confused glances, as two Devil Fruit abilities should have been impossible.
"I have a theory," Douglas said. "Normally, eating two Devil Fruits will kill you. But I think the Dark-Dark Fruit works as a base, nullifying the second fruit's ability inside my body long enough for me to survive. That is why I can use both."
The crew accepted his reasoning, though Douglas's next words made them shiver. "There is a price, though. The Dark-Dark Fruit's gravity pulls in everything. It is a true black hole. Even though it is Logia, I cannot turn my body intangible like other users. And any pain I take is amplified tenfold. Every punch I throw, I feel it ten times worse."
Everyone winced at the thought, seeing it less as a blessing and more as a curse.
"You okay?" Luffy asked immediately, his brows furrowed with concern. The sincerity in his voice hit Douglas harder than he expected, solidifying his loyalty to the Strawhat captain. The others followed with equally worried looks, especially Chopper, who had grown up with Douglas.
Douglas smiled faintly. "Do not worry. Pain is something I have embraced. It has made me stronger and taught me to fight through it. A real warrior should be able to do that."
Luffy and Zoro nodded in agreement. Usopp muttered in admiration, while Nami's smile faltered, guilt creeping into her expression as she remembered all the times she had smacked Douglas without a second thought.
After the explanations and a round of curious questions, the Strawhats were finally satisfied with Douglas's answers. But Robin, the newest member of the crew, kept her eyes on him with a puzzled expression. There was something she could not quite understand. Once the ship began to sail away from Arabasta, she quietly walked over to him.
"Why did you tell them all of that while I was listening? Aren't you worried I might use that weakness against you? Not long ago, I was still your enemy," Robin asked calmly, her tone unreadable.
Douglas met her gaze and paused for a moment before answering. "Trust is something that has to be given first. I don't care if you don't trust us yet because of your circumstances. I know that after a few months with this crew, you'll change your mind."
Robin's brows knitted slightly. His confidence didn't make sense to her, but she chose not to press further.
The Going Merry picked up speed as the wind filled its sails. The shores of Arabasta grew smaller behind them, and on the beach, the Kungfu Dugongs waved enthusiastically, bidding them farewell. With the kingdom behind them, the crew set their sights on the horizon, ready to close this chapter and sail toward their next adventure.