The Perfect Dark-Dark Fruit Power

!

Holy shit!

The Dark-Dark Fruit power had come looking for him?

That was possible?

Roya froze when he heard the system's notification.

But a concern immediately struck him, and he hurriedly asked the system, "If I've gained the Dark-Dark Fruit power, doesn't that make me a Devil Fruit User? Won't I lose the ability to swim?"

In the world of One Piece, everyone who ate a Devil Fruit was cursed and forsaken by the sea, never able to swim in it again.

The thought gave Roya a headache, so he had to make sure.

[Host, you have obtained only the corresponding power. You did not eat a Devil Fruit, so you need not worry about the 'curse of the sea.']

"The power comes with that perk? That's great!" Roya was thrilled.

Then—

While Roya was still riding that excitement, the system's voice rang out again.

[Ding! The host's astonishing Swordsmanship in the recent battle has successfully spurred on the Navy Six Powers!]

[The Navy Six Powers have resolved to catch up and train even harder!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! The Navy Six Powers' automatic training speed has increased tenfold!]

[The Navy Six Powers' current automatic training speed is twentyfold!]

This was fantastic!

Even the Navy Six Powers had increased their automatic training speed again.

At this rate, he was sure his Navy Six Powers, already at the Advanced level, would soon reach the Top level. After that came the maximum level, and maxing out an ability would earn him a mysterious reward from the system.

He still didn't know what that reward was, but surely it wouldn't disappoint.

Now he had the Dark-Dark Fruit power too, and that was an enormous advantage. After all, it could completely counter Devil Fruit Users.

Just then, Blackbeard Teach's men began making their way toward Roya.

"No!"

"We have to save the captain!"

They had only just recovered from the shock of Conqueror's Haki. Its effects still lingered in their bodies, making it hard for them to move.

Even so, Burgess, Van Augur, Lafitte, and Doc Q charged toward him without regard for their own safety, desperate to rescue Blackbeard Teach from Roya.

Roya had no intention of letting them succeed. Blackbeard Teach had taken some effort to deal with, but these men would be easy.

In a few swift moves, Roya subdued them all. He had the Marines put them in Seastone cuffs and take them aboard the Marine warship, ready to bring them back to Marine Headquarters.

During the Marine warship's return voyage,

the Marines accompanying Roya reported to Fleet Admiral Sengoku at Marine Headquarters that Roya had defeated every member of the Blackbeard Pirates on Banaro Island.

Marine Headquarters.

Inside the main conference room,

Fleet Admiral Sengoku was holding a high-level Marine meeting. The Three Admirals and all the Vice Admirals were gathered there.

"All right, I understand. I'll arrange for people to meet you at the port. And keep this quiet for now—don't let the news media report it!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku set down his Den Den Mushi.

At first, Fleet Admiral Sengoku looked stunned. Before long, though, his surprise gave way to helpless frustration.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what happened?" Admiral Akainu asked, noticing the change in his expression.

"Well, Sakazuki, it seems we'll need to make a few changes to today's agenda," Sengoku said with a nod.

The Marine officers attending the meeting said nothing. Every eye turned to Sengoku.

"You're all aware that Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, captured Fire Fist Ace some time ago, aren't you?"

"At Blackbeard's request, I sent a newly appointed Rear Admiral, Roya, to take custody of Fire Fist Ace and escort him to Impel Down."

"But I just received a report from the Marines who went with Rear Admiral Roya. There's been a change of plans."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku pressed a hand to his forehead as he spoke.

"What? Did Blackbeard attack our Marines? I told you we shouldn't agree to these pirates' demands. Killing every last one of them—that's our justice!" Admiral Akainu declared.

"No!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku shook his head. "Sakazuki, don't jump to conclusions. What actually happened is that Rear Admiral Roya defeated the entire Blackbeard Pirates crew. They're now being escorted back to Marine Headquarters along with Fire Fist Ace!"

"What!?"

"A newly promoted Rear Admiral defeated the Blackbeard Pirates? The same crew that beat Fire Fist Ace, Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?"

The news from Sengoku stunned every Marine officer in the conference room.

Many of them might not have known Blackbeard's true strength.

But they knew how strong Fire Fist Ace was. He had once been invited to become a Shichibukai, and they knew exactly how powerful a pirate had to be to receive such an invitation. Setting the Admirals aside, most of the Vice Admirals present likely couldn't have beaten him.

Blackbeard Teach, who had captured Fire Fist Ace, had to be even stronger.

None of them had imagined that Roya, a newly promoted Rear Admiral, could defeat Blackbeard Teach, the newest Shichibukai. It was almost impossible to believe.

"Ooh, is Rear Admiral Roya really that strong? How scary!" Admiral Kizaru said with a grin.

Everyone else remained silent, still reeling.

Sengoku raised a hand and said gravely, "These are extraordinary times. We need the Shichibukai's fighting strength! For now, news of Blackbeard Teach's defeat must be sealed. It must not spread!"

"And we'll need to reconsider the situation in the New World..."

The first half of the Grand Line.

After several days at sea,

the Marine warship under Roya's command returned to the port at Marine Headquarters.

Roya did not disembark. He had several Marines escort the Blackbeard Pirates ashore, while his own orders were to continue taking Ace to Impel Down, the Undersea Prison.

Roya didn't mind. Staying at Marine Headquarters would have been boring anyway, and he wanted to see what the world's largest Undersea Prison was like.

Unexpectedly, Hancock, the "Empress," did not disembark either. She stayed with Roya.

The Marines aboard the ship couldn't help speculating.

But Hancock kept her face cold, giving nothing away.

Before long,

Roya's warship set sail once more. Its next destination: Impel Down!