Blood-Replenishing Pages, the Buster Call Arrives

"You're awake?"

When Roman opened his eyes, he was surrounded by...

"What kind of looks are those?"

Roman looked at the Straw Hat crew members... with eager eyes? He frowned in confusion, then realized the abnormality in his own body.

"These are Seastone handcuffs?"

No wonder I felt this terrifying weakness! It was like the emptiness I felt after being starved for over ten days and then forced into group sex; I didn't even want to move a finger.

"What's going on? You didn't do this to these handcuffs, did you?"

Faced with Roman's question, the Straw Hat crew all wore strange expressions, as if they wanted to laugh but were also keeping a serious face tightly shut.

"So, Roman, you're awake now?"

??

When did I lose my senses?

Roman had barely managed to stand up, looked at the Seastone handcuffs on his wrists and nodded seriously.

"Nice one,"

"Its suppressive effect on ability users is far stronger than the bracers inlaid with Seastone particles; it can be used as training for the second stage..."

"Phew~~"

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief; this way of thinking... it really was Roman!

Click,

As Nami unlocked the handcuffs with the key, a variety of detailed sensations returned to Roman's senses, including not only power, Devil Fruit ability, and Haki, but also:

"Why does my whole body ache as if I've been run over by a dinosaur several times?"

Roman frowned as he loosened his wrist, then raised his hand and touched it.

"My face... this radius is 1.5 times larger than normal?"

After scanning the surrounding Straw Hat crew, everyone else seemed to be avoiding eye contact, but Luffy still maintained his carefree and cheerful demeanor.

"Do you know what happened to me, Luffy?"

"I know, they beat you up—"

Waaaaah~~

He was instantly grabbed and dragged away by a group of people. Nami stepped forward and patted Roman on the shoulder in a generous manner.

"A real man shouldn't worry about those details."

"By the way, how far back do you remember?"

Nami waved the instruction manual in her hand, "You must have drunk that 'Cell Will Awakening Potion' before, right? How are you feeling now? Do you have any strong desires?"

"What desire?"

Roman glanced at Nami suspiciously, feeling that everyone in the Straw Hat crew had suddenly become strange. However—

"Thinking about it carefully, my memory stops at the moment I drank the potion and was overwhelmed by the Cellular Will. So, the claim that this stuff carries some risk isn't entirely unfounded..."

???

No, no, no, it's only a small risk for you. But for us, it's a huge risk! We almost got wiped out!

Everyone was speechless with disbelief. How could someone dare to drink something of such dubious origin? Did they think they were Luffy?

Or perhaps it's a case of high skill leading to daring?

"Hmm, very good!"

After closing his eyes and sensing it for a moment, Roman opened them with a joyful expression, leaving the other members of the Straw Hat crew with complicated expressions.

Did I hit him too hard and knock him senseless? X7

"Life--"

However, Roman had no idea that such 'dark' thoughts had crossed the minds of others. He covered his face with his hands and then wiped them downwards.

"Return!"

Brush,

Like a miracle, or perhaps a magic trick, Roman's entire face began to move on its own, rapidly reducing swelling, smoothing out the swelling, and restoring his usual handsome face. —Of course, his expression remained serious... or rather, deeply troubled.

"Life Return is really useful."

Roman sighed, and the others around him nodded in agreement.

They don't know if it's good or not, but at least Roman finally looks like a 'person' now.

As for what happened before? Let's not talk about it...

Feeling 'great', Roman stretched his body, glanced at the three men with splints on their legs, bandages wrapped around their chests, and using slingshots as crutches, and frowned in displeasure.

"What's wrong with you guys? You're behaving like this even when fighting CP9?"

That shouldn't be the case. Could it be that the training intensity is insufficient?

Who do you think is to blame?!

Although Sanji, Zoro, Usopp really wanted to complain, they thought about how so many people had beaten Roman so badly, and decided against it... Anyway, Roman was already beaten to a pulp by them...

"It seems we'll have to double the training from now on."

Even CP9, whose intelligence they themselves had leaked, were severely wounded; their training must be insufficient. We must increase our efforts! But before that—

Splash splash~~

Several pieces of emerald green paper flew out and stuck to Sanji's right leg, Zoro's chest, and Usopp's... Sniper King's lower back. In an instant, the three of them changed their expressions and trembled all over.

Then, just like a shill hired by a quack doctor, he suddenly removed the splints, tore off the bandages, threw them away, and... switched the giant slingshot to another hand, and began to jump around and perform a "medical miracle"!

"I... I'm all better?"

"The wounds are all gone—"

"That's amazing..."

!!

Anyone who didn't know better would think the Straw Hat crew were selling fake medicine and performing shamanistic rituals.

"Hmph hmph hmph,"

Seeing everyone's surprise, Roman raised his chin. Even someone as composed as him couldn't help but feel a touch of joy!

"Why do you think I care so much about the 'Life Return' skill? It's because when combined with my Devil Fruit ability, it can create a synergy greater than the sum of its parts!"

By rapidly consuming large quantities of food using the 'Baku Baku Pages', and then using the transfer and carrying capabilities of its own fruit to create special paper containing life force... it can replenish health in battle and mana in peacetime, with endless uses.

To be honest, the food-type fruits in the Big Mom's house could also achieve... or even surpass the effect of Roman's 'health potion'. However, the scheming and fighting family environment in her house forced a bunch of support characters to be trained into damage dealers!

Besides, without the ability to quickly devour food by 'Baku Baku Pages,' they'd be expending their own energy! Asking the Big Mom's children to 'sacrifice themselves for others'... that's simply unrealistic.

"How?"

Although he didn't know why he woke up with over a dozen of these pre-conceived items on his body, he didn't care about such details. —Roman simply stuck one on everyone present; if they were sick, it would treat them; if not, it would strengthen their bodies!

"This ocean is teeming with Sea King with incredible life force, which means I can keep producing these 'blood vials,' and our team's endurance will be off the charts! As long as we don't get instantly killed, dragging the boss down is a piece of cake..."

Are you scared of fighting on drugs? I'm asking you, are you scared?

"Anyway, it's just a really magical paper~~"

Faced with Luffy's summary, Roman was momentarily speechless, unsure how to continue. Fortunately:

"Sorry to bother everyone, but..."

"Now that everyone is alright, we should start thinking about what to do next."

Robin, having regained her composure and intelligence, stepped forward.

"That scoundrel Spandam has launched Buster Call, and the Navy will be here soon to destroy this place. So..."

"You're not going anywhere!!"

Speak of the devil, and he appears! Spandam's signature shrill voice suddenly rang out, broadcasting throughout the entire island! Although it only took the Straw Hat crew a dozen minutes to defeat 'Roman', it was enough for Spandam to regroup.

"All troops, concentrate at the Justice Tower!"

The two giant warriors who defected on the main island have already been captured by the agents of Enies Lobby; after all, the tens of thousands of troops stationed there are truly 'elite'. Although the Straw Hat crew were unstoppable, it was only because the Straw Hat crew' strength far surpassed that of ordinary people, and also because they were caught off guard.

After realizing what was happening, the remaining agents and soldiers gathered at the courthouse from all over the main island, then lowered the drawbridge and rushed toward the ruins of the Justice Tower.

"Conservatively speaking, there are still six thousand left..."

"Six thousand!"

Sniper King was so frightened that he almost fell over, but Roman patted him on the shoulder lightly.

"You should think of it this way: we've already taken out over three thousand, that's a third. If we keep pushing, we'll get half, then two-thirds..."

It'll be over in a flash!

However, at this moment—

Boom boom boom~~~

With a deafening, thunderous roar, the 'Gate of Justice,' hundreds of meters high and resembling a mountain peak, slowly opened behind Enies Lobby. A row of elite warships from the Marine Headquarters, carrying five Vice Admiral, filed out.

Buster Call!

Arrival.

Truly, we are caught between a rock and a hard place...

"Luffy, what do we do now?"

Faced with Roman's question, Luffy, who had regained his strength, stretched his arms a few times.

"Hehehe, let's charge!"

"Steal the enemy's transport ship and escape before the Buster Call arrives."

Since the captain has given the order, then of course it is—

"Charge!"