Eternal Land: Upgraded Legion

"What's going on?!"

"This is... the Awakening of Devil Fruit ability?"

"Be careful not to get caught up in their abilities—"

To be fair, Doflamingo is still very strong. Just the fact that Devil Fruit Awakening and created a battlefield entirely of his own power makes him fearless against any sheer numbers. Unfortunately, he was defeated by Luffy's powerful solo Luffy, but once his Devil Fruit ability Awakening...

He was a prominent figure throughout the entire ocean!

So far, the Straw Hat crew has only encountered a few clearly Awakening Devil Fruit users: Golden Lion, Doflamingo, the Gild Tesoro, Katakuri. The remaining three of the veteran Four Emperors, and the Three Admirals, are undoubtedly also powerful Devil Fruit Awakening users. As for the animals in Impel Down, we won't even mention them. Therefore:

"Ha ha ha, so what if your Devil Fruit Awakening?"

"With my invincible combination of three abilities, only defeat is possible—"

Faced with Roman's sudden awakening of his Devil Fruit Awakening and the creation of a Pure White World, Blackbeard continued his unrestrained laughter, reassuring the Blackbeard Pirates' officers and captains who were watching the battlefield. However:

What the hell? He actually broke through during the battle?

However, this young strategist was already exhausted and probably didn't have much energy left to fight.

However, Blackbeard was completely wrong about this!

Even if a typical Devil Fruit user Awakening their powers after being severely injured, they are only struggling to survive. But Roman is different:

"Come,"

As the white dove flicked its wing toward Nami, more than a dozen emerald green papers flew over.

These are Vivre Card created by various Sea King along the Straw Hat crew's journey. They've used quite a few in previous battles, resulting in Roman and Luffy having extremely high 'resistance,' meaning they should have been ineffective for a while. But now:

"After the Devil Fruit ability Awakening, it can even control the cell's resistance. Although doing so is a bit harmful to the body, it is enough to sustain a battle."

"Roman?"

As the white paper formed Roman's body amidst the fluttering clouds, he waved his hand, causing Luffy, who was being carried away by the paper Luffy backward. Before Luffy could say anything, Roman preemptively spoke:

"I'll deal with Teach. Luffy, you recover your Haki first. Sanji— "

"Knew,"

Sanji, arriving with his Geppo Luffy packed up and carried away Luffy, who didn't want to leave but was already exhausted.

"Sanji, put me down! I can still..."

"I've prepared a revitalizing meal for you. Eat it before you start fighting."

"Hey, do you have any meat?"

Sanji's cooking, while not as immediately effective as Roman's Vivre Card, also doesn't create resistance like Roman's. Besides, replenishing health through food is Luffy's forte, so he'll likely be fully healed and ready to fight again soon! Until then:

"Let me 'play' with you, Blackbeard."

"Hmph, with these soft, flimsy papers?"

"Don't underestimate my paper," Roman chuckled smugly, "I'll show you my legion!"

?!

"The Eternal Land!"

As Roman pressed his hands down, a whooshing sound filled the air as white rapidly spread in all directions. The ruins of the entire battlefield were transformed into sheets of white paper, as if formatted, and then the white paper began to flutter, combine, and take shape:

As one by one, pure white figures rose to their feet, a massive legion appeared on the battlefield, its swords and spears gleaming, its banners billowing, its troops in perfect formation, protecting Roman within its ranks.

"The enemy is the invincible Blackbeard, an impeccable opponent. Warriors, show this true pirate our might!"

Unfortunately, Roman's 'warriors' were just low-level Paper Puppet, and of course they wouldn't coordinate to launch a 'Oh oh oh oh oh!' charge.

As for his opponent, Teach, he certainly couldn't be expected to suddenly retort, "Bring it on, Lord of the Pirates. Now I'll show you what true pirate power is..."

Boom!

The moment the army moved, it was like a tidal wave crashing down!

Rows and columns of swordsmen charging into battle, swords and shields in hand; archers poised to fire, bows and crossbows in hand; heavily armored soldiers, clad in iron armor and wielding long spears, advancing in formation; knights in pure white armor, spears at their sides, galloping on horseback... Although similar to the previous 'Paper Dance Guard Legion,' the numbers were worlds apart:

Thousands upon thousands! Boundless and domineering, occupying almost half of the Whole Cake Chateau!

Battle flags fluttered, iron hooves thundered, swords clashed, and battle cries resounded. The massive army converged like a collapsing mountain or a bursting Yellow River, forming an unstoppable torrent of steel that surged toward Teach! Its ferocious aura of destruction and its domineering nature of conquering the Four Seas were overwhelming and unstoppable.

"Hmph, it's just a paper doll."

"Archers - Fire!"

While they were indeed paper dolls, at Roman's command, countless arrows instantly blotted out the sky! With Roman's current strength, any arrow could pierce steel; this dense rain of arrows would easily annihilate a fleet. However:

Blackbeard was like a black reef that even the fiercest storm couldn't shake. The dark clouds rising from his body were like a seal, allowing him to remain unscathed despite the overwhelming metallic storm! Wherever the crossbow bolts struck his body, a small black ripple would burst out, then swallow the arrows whole!

"Cavalry - Charge!"

Immediately afterwards, thousands of troops surged forward, heavy cavalry like tanks capable of crushing everything, charging forward recklessly, transforming into a steel torrent capable of engulfing and annihilating everything! They surrounded Teach in the middle, swords, spears, and halberds raining down, the entire boundless legion seemingly transformed into a heartless, endlessly grinding and crushing giant millstone.

"A bunch of trash, just a waste of time!!"

As Teach's fist, radiating Tremor-Tremor light, shattered countless spears, exploded swords and axes, tore knights and their mounts apart, and sent them flying. Shields and armor were destroyed, transforming into a distorted mass that soared into the air.

Lia's Dark-Dark Fruit ability followed closely behind, and the black light that swept across the army like a whirlwind immediately carved out a large gap in Roman's formation. But this gap was quickly filled by countless troops.

There were no screams, no wails, no roars or curses, only the thunderous sound of horses' hooves clashing with the clang of swords and halberds. There was no flying blood or flesh, for this was a legion devoid of flesh and blood! A killing legion in utter silence!

All weapons, armor, and knights, once destroyed or killed, would turn into tattered, soft pieces of paper scattered everywhere. Yet, before they were destroyed or killed, their combat power and attack strength were completely comparable to the most elite armored legions.

Something's not right!

Although Teach seemed invincible, capable of clearing large swathes of Roman's army with a single punch or kick, he had destroyed thousands upon thousands of Paper Person in just a short time! Yet, the surrounding Paper Person army showed no signs of diminishing or tiring; they seemed to possess an infinite number and boundless energy.

"Even if it's Devil Fruit ability Awakening, it shouldn't be..."

Teach crouched down slightly, then suddenly leaped up, his massive body like a cannonball, soaring hundreds of meters into the air.

"How is this possible...?!"

As Teach's eyes swept across the area from the sky, his expression instantly darkened. He was horrified to discover that the army surrounding him was relentless, showing no sign of decreasing in number!

"Brother, look at those torn papers."

Lia, perched on his left shoulder, frowned and pointed to the paper they had destroyed. The remnants of the destroyed paper puppets, transformed into fragments, drifted backward under some force, constantly reassembling and transforming into individual combat units.

Moreover, these combat units are clearly more powerful than before, and they exude a certain Haki and a black-and-white light! That familiar aura:

"You're stealing my power?!"

Back in his ranks, Teach was furious. His opponent had actually used the puppets he attacked to absorb his Haki and Devil Fruit ability during the battle. Although it was only a tiny amount each time, it added up...

"How can something involving pirates be called stealing?"

Roman, protected in the middle by the army, answered leisurely.

"I'm robbing you right in front of your face!"

Are you angry or not?!

This is the enhanced paper recording ability after the Roman Devil Fruit Awakening. Although it can only store the Armed Haki and Devil Fruit ability it touches for a short time, it is enough for a high-intensity battle.

"Now is the time for the real show to begin: Enhanced Legion, charge!"

As Roman waved his hand, giant wolves as big as rhinoceroses, sturdy ancient stone beetles, colossal golems as tall as fortresses, crimson sharp-beaked birds baring their fangs and claws and pouncing, and all sorts of increasingly inhuman monsters and soldiers mingled together, all seemingly with only one purpose: to overwhelm Teach, killing one after another without regard for their own lives!

"If Sister Annie were here... I should have taken that blow."

Lia, perched on her left shoulder, frowned in self-reproach. These puppets capable of cyclical strengthening were indeed troublesome, but if Annie, who controlled 'Soul-Soul Fruit ability,' were here, they would have been burned to ashes in a few fires! Although her 'Dark-Dark Fruit ability' could absorb the puppet, the opponent's attacks were relentless, giving Lia no chance to activate her 'Dark Hole'...

Boom!

With a single punch, Teach shattered a tall, azure-blue golem bird into pieces, casually comforting his third sister.

"Don't say discouraging things,"

"Annie's injuries will heal quickly, and until then we'll let this guy gloat for a while longer."

However, the more Teach fought, the more the puppets he faced upgraded! His domineering Haki and abilities were constantly absorbed by the torn paper, transferred to the rear, and reassembled into an even more powerful army:

"Let's see how long you can hold out: Hero Legion, attack!"

With Roman's cyclical combinations, the main event arrived: one after another, enormous monsters joined the battle. Some had dog heads and human bodies, wielding scepters that swept through the sand; others resembled giant, haphazardly assembled scythe-like spiders, their movements shadowy and stealthy; and still others were strange birds whose wings vibrated with icy crystals, emanating a chilling aura...

Most importantly, these advanced puppet minions could also emit streaks of black light as they wielded their weapons! They were also surrounded by an invisible layer of domineering Haki. Even if Teach could still kill them one by one with a punch, the days of sweeping away entire areas were gone forever!

It's clear that they're constantly growing stronger and are even gradually becoming a match for Blackbeard, and if this continues...

"Tasty!!"

"Eat more if you like it!"

On the other side, Sanji, who was cooking on the battlefield, was using his non-combat skill— the New Human Fist Art Secret Technique '99 Vitality Formula' —to make restorative food and pour it into Luffy's mouth! Although the battle was chaotic, surprisingly, both sides were stalling for time, waiting for their own fighting strength to come online. And then:

The final battle!