Maybe it was the "Special Rice Ball" that sealed the deal... (or not)...
Without much effort, Trace successfully persuaded Ulti to use the [Bamboo Muzzle]—a relic containing the sweet saliva of a demonized girl—in a test to heal the massive tear in her mouth.
Initially, Ulti had planned to try it on Page One first, just to be safe.
She figured: if that weird "medicine" inside really worked, she'd drench the rest of it over her little brother's head without hesitation!
But the moment she learned what the "medicine" actually was…
That thought died instantly!
Effectiveness aside, logic aside—
"Pouring a demon girl's saliva over my brother's cracked-open skull"? What kind of nightmarish ritual was that?
Trace, unaware of the mental rollercoaster the horned girl was on, approached the iron bars with the [Bamboo Muzzle] and motioned for Ulti to come closer.
To his surprise, she closed her eyes and puckered her lips—as if preparing for some sacred offering ceremony.
"Don't pucker up! Just... stay normal!"
Trace barked, annoyed. He uncapped the bamboo tube and dipped his index finger inside, scooping up a bit of the "medicine."
Then, as he remembered the girl it came from, some part of his brain short-circuited. Reflexively, he pinched his fingers together... rubbed them slightly... and drew out a thread of saliva between them.
A thread of saliva...
"Ahem!"
With a full-body shudder, Trace snapped out of it and acted like nothing happened. He gently dabbed the "medicine" onto the ragged scars around Ulti's mouth.
Instant inner peace.
He worked meticulously, applying the bamboo muzzle's contents with great care to avoid causing her pain.
At some point, Ulti opened her eyes and silently stared at the young man before her—carefully treating her wounds.
A horned demon girl, still in her youth, felt—for the first time—a warmth that far exceeded what she'd ever received from her own father.
"All done. Though there's not much visible effect yet... dead horse, live medicine—er, I mean, it might just work."
Trace withdrew his finger with satisfaction. Most of the [Bamboo Muzzle]'s contents were now used up.
He looked up to tell Ulti to move, only to find her eyes glassy and unfocused.
"Hey! Little Miss Split-Lips! You standing there asleep?"
He flicked her forehead with a snap of his finger.
"Snap out of it! The healing's done. Feel anything?"
Like a startled kitten, Ulti clutched her forehead and jumped back.
"Wh-what?"
"I said—any odd feelings around your mouth?" Trace pointed at his own lips. "Like itching, burning, tingling… y'know, that 'growing skin' kind of thing?"
"No, I—wait, what?"
She started to shake her head, but then her fingers slid down from her forehead—and touched something dry and cracked. Her expression froze.
"…It's actually working?" Trace blinked in disbelief.
Was this demon girl saliva really that effective?
Did he just waste a divine healing artifact on a cracked mouth?
Ulti suddenly went wild, clawing at the dead skin around her lips like a madwoman, ignoring the pain.
Large flakes of dry, grey skin fell like snow—revealing smooth, pink skin beneath.
Feeling the long-lost sensation of normal lips again, Ulti's eyes turned red as tears welled up. They poured down her cheeks uncontrollably.
She hadn't cried since the day after her father threw her into the lab.
And yet here she was—crying like a child.
"Right! Page One!!"
Still sniffling, Ulti grabbed the bars and looked at Trace with a mix of desperation and hope.
"Page One's wounds are worse than mine! Can you—can you give me the rest?!"
Trace handed her the entire [Bamboo Muzzle].
Ulti clutched it like treasure. She turned around and poured every last drop onto Page One's exposed green skull.
Nezuko Kamado—forever a goddess.
Soon after, a thin membrane began forming over Page One's exposed cranium. He still looked terrifying, but at least not like a walking horror prop anymore.
Watching the two siblings sob and embrace, Trace felt a strange peace. The bloodlust and tension he'd carried over the past few days began to dissipate.
"This is all my food. You two need to make it last."
He emptied the last of his rations and water, leaving them for Ulti and Page One.
"If I get the chance, I'll come back to check on you."
The cave fell silent.
Tears still on their faces, Ulti turned to him. Page One also lifted his gaze. Both looked at Trace with reluctant, clinging eyes.
"You're leaving?"
"Yeah."
Trace nodded gently.
"With food and water now, you're safer staying put. And someone's bound to come for you soon—whether it's the Marines or Kaido."
He didn't plan to take them with him.
Surviving was hard enough on his own. Two kids in tow? He'd be dragging all three of them to their graves.
Besides, Trace had his secrets. He wasn't built for team-ups.
"I'm Ulti. My brother is Page One," she said, voice softer. "What's your name?"
"Tracefelte—tch."
He clicked his tongue. Why lie to a couple of kids?
"Screw it. Tracefelte's my codename. Real name's Trace."
"Trace… Trace…"
Ulti repeated it, as if carving the name into her heart. Page One did the same.
As Trace turned to leave, Ulti suddenly shouted behind him.
"Trace! There are two Devil Fruits our father left behind in the cave! You can take one!"
Trace whipped around, eyes flaring like torches in the dark.
…
With Ulti's guidance, he dug out two wooden chests from deep in the cave.
Inside were two vibrantly colored fruits, each etched with the signature swirling patterns of Devil Fruits.
Trace had his suspicions—and Ulti confirmed them.
Zoan-Type, Mythical Species—Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Pachycephalosaurus Form!
Zoan-Type, Mythical Species—Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Spinosaurus Form!
Problem was...
None of them had read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. They knew the powers, sure—but had no clue which fruit was which.
"Which one are you taking, Trace?"
Ulti and Page One watched curiously.
They weren't even worried he might just snatch both.
"I dunno… guess I'll pick at random."
His [Fishing] skill wasn't some appraisal ability. He couldn't tell fruits apart by looks.
He did a quick "eeny-meeny" selection and picked the one on the left.
"First time fishing a Devil Fruit... Didn't expect it to come so soon."
He acted like he stored it in his pouch—but the moment it vanished into the bag, he activated [Fishing].
One Devil Fruit. No restrictions. That meant one EX-rank trait!
He could barely contain his excitement.
Fingers as rod, thought as line.
"Lady Luck's smiling! Let's fish this baby out!"
[Fishing Result: Talent Trait Obtained]
[EX-Rank Talent: Primal Body (Blank • Ancient Species • Blank)]
[Trait Origin: Zoan – Mythical Species – Pachycephalosaurus Form]
[Trait Description: A body that represents the peak of natural biology.]
Effects:
[1. Until reaching A-rank stats, Strength, Agility, and Endurance gain immense growth bonuses.]
[2. Drastically improved resistances, reducing incoming damage, and enhancing vitality, stamina, and recovery rate.]
[3. Gains the special trait [Iron Head]: A rule-defying forehead harder than anything in the universe. Cannot be damaged or destroyed by any force.]
[Trait Evaluation: "A monstrous gift only true beasts possess."]
"Insane..."
Trace muttered in awe after reading the new trait.
"You talking about me, brat? Worohohoho—!"
A booming, guttural laugh echoed through the cave.
A towering, broad-shouldered figure stepped into view.
With massive demon-like horns, wild black whiskers trailing from his upper lip like dragon tendrils, a scarred and bare torso, a tattoo of fiery-orange dragon scales on his left arm, and a giant kanabo club slung over his right shoulder—
Kaido of the Beasts, Supreme Commander of the Beast Pirates—
The Strongest Creature Alive—had arrived!