The Will of the Sea, the Empress Trembles

"Drip... drip..."

Cold rainwater slowly fell from Rochi's paper-pale jawline onto the shattered planks.

Having just dismissed the several-hundred-meter-tall Perfect Susanoo, the mad crimson glow in Rochi's eyes finally began to fade uncontrollably, like a dying torch.

Although the Rain-Rain Fruit's incredible divine authority had forcibly reshaped his heart and filled the fatal void.

In less than half an hour, he had crossed several thresholds to wring out power.

He had even pushed the still-unfamiliar Water Authority to its limit to unleash the world-ending Myriad Dragons Roaring to Heaven.

All of it had thoroughly drained every shred of mental strength and cellular potential from Rochi's eighteen-year-old body!

"Urgh..."

Rochi bit through his tongue, trying to use the intense pain to hold on to his fading consciousness.

But within his mismatched red and blue eyes, his vision had already begun to spin and collapse violently.

After that overwhelming fighting spirit capable of destroying heaven and earth receded, what followed was an extreme weakness that felt as though his soul were being torn apart.

"Those bastards from the World Government... this blood debt isn't settled yet..."

The instant his words fell.

Rochi's tall, straight body finally exhausted its last bit of support. Like a dead leaf stripped of its roots, he fell straight from the edge of the water platform suspended high in the air.

Splash—!!!

Completely defenseless, Rochi crashed heavily into the icy, bone-piercing depths of the Grand Line's raging sea!

If it had been an ordinary Devil Fruit user, no matter how strong they were, once they fell unconscious into the sea, death would have been inevitable. They could only become food for fish and turtles.

However.

The moment Rochi lost consciousness!

The Water Heart in his left chest, as clear and brilliant as a sapphire, suddenly erupted with a