Perfected Dark-Dark Fruit Power

!

Fuck!

The Dark-Dark Fruit power had come seeking him out?

There was such a god-tier move?

Hearing the system prompt, Roya was completely dumbfounded.

But Roya immediately had doubts and hurriedly asked the system, "System, if I obtain the Dark-Dark Fruit power, doesn't that mean I'll become a Devil Fruit user and turn into a 'landlubber'?"

In the world of One Piece, without exception, everyone who ate a Devil Fruit was cursed and forsaken by the sea, never able to swim again.

The thought gave Roya quite a headache, so he had to get clarification.

[Host, what you have obtained is merely the corresponding power, not the direct consumption of a Devil Fruit. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the Devil Fruit's 'curse of the sea.']

"So Fruit powers coming to me have this benefit too? That's really great!" Roya said excitedly.

Right after that.

Still buzzing with excitement, Roya heard the system's voice again.

[Ding! The host's astonishing Swordsmanship in the recent battle has successfully stimulated the Marine Six Powers!]

[The Marine Six Powers have decided to chase after the host with all their might and cultivate even more diligently!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host. The Marine Six Powers' automatic cultivation speed has increased tenfold!]

[The Marine Six Powers' current automatic cultivation speed is twentyfold!]

This was fantastic!

He had not expected the Marine Six Powers' automatic cultivation speed to increase once more.

At his current pace, he believed the Marine Six Powers, already cultivated to the advanced level, would soon reach the top level. After that came max level, and when an ability reached max level, he would also receive a mysterious reward from the system.

Though he did not yet know what that mysterious reward was, it could not possibly be bad.

Now that he also possessed the Dark-Dark Fruit power, it was like having divine assistance. After all, the Dark-Dark Fruit power could completely suppress Devil Fruit users.

At this moment, Blackbeard Teach's subordinates began walking toward Roya.

"No!"

"We have to save the captain!"

They had only just recovered from the shock of Conqueror's Haki, but its effects still lingered in their bodies, making movement extremely difficult.

Even so, Burgess, Van Augur, Lafitte, and Doc Q still charged forward without regard for their lives, trying to rescue Blackbeard Teach from Roya.

Roya would not let them have their way. Dealing with Blackbeard Teach took some effort, but handling these guys was as easy as taking candy from a baby.

In no time at all, Roya easily subdued them. He then had the Marines place Seastone cuffs on all of them and bring them aboard the Marine warship, preparing to return them all to Marine Headquarters.

On the way back aboard the Marine warship.

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

Marine Headquarters.

Inside the main conference room.

Since the Navy's highest-level meeting was underway, in addition to Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the three Admirals and all Vice Admirals were gathered there.

"Good, I understand. I'll immediately arrange for people to receive you at the harbor. Also, suppress this matter. Do not let the news media report it yet!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku said as he put down the Den Den Mushi in his hand.

At first, Fleet Admiral Sengoku looked stunned after putting down the Den Den Mushi. Before long, however, his expression changed from surprise to helpless frustration.

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

"Yes, Sakazuki. It seems today's meeting agenda will need some slight adjustments," Sengoku said with a nod.

None of the Marine officers attending the meeting spoke. They all turned to look at Sengoku.

"Some time ago, Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach captured Fire Fist Ace. I believe everyone present is well aware of that."

"Following Blackbeard's demands, I dispatched a newly appointed Marine Rear Admiral, Roya, to take custody of Fire Fist Ace and escort him to Impel Down."

"However, the Marines who accompanied Rear Admiral Roya have just sent word that there have been some developments."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku said this while rubbing his forehead.

"What? Did Blackbeard attack our Marines? I said we should never have agreed to these pirates' demands. Killing every last one of those pirates would be justice!" Admiral Akainu said.

"No!"

Fleet Admiral Sengoku shook his head. "Sakazuki, don't jump to conclusions so quickly. The actual situation is this: our Rear Admiral Roya defeated every member of the Blackbeard Pirates and is now escorting them, along with Fire Fist Ace, back to Marine Headquarters!"

"What!?"

"A newly promoted Rear Admiral defeated the Blackbeard Pirates, who defeated Fire Fist Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?"

Every Marine officer in the conference hall was shocked upon hearing Sengoku's announcement.

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

But they knew Fire Fist Ace's strength very well. Fire Fist Ace had once been invited to become one of the Shichibukai. Naturally, they understood how strong a pirate had to be to receive such an invitation. Excluding the Admirals, it could be said that the vast majority of Vice Admirals present were no match for Fire Fist Ace.

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

So none of them had expected Roya, a newly promoted Rear Admiral, to defeat Blackbeard Teach, a newly appointed Shichibukai. It was simply unbelievable.

"Ohoho, that Rear Admiral Roya is really that strong? How terrifying," Admiral Kizaru said with a grin.

Aside from him, everyone else remained silent in their shock.

Sengoku waved his hand again and said gravely, "These are extraordinary times. We must make good use of the Shichibukai's strength! Therefore, news of Blackbeard Teach's defeat must remain sealed for now. It absolutely cannot be spread!"

"Furthermore, the situation in the New World seas must be discussed again..."

The first half of the Grand Line.

After several days adrift at sea.

The Marine warship led by Roya had returned to the harbor of Marine Headquarters.

However, Roya did not disembark. He merely had several Marines escort the Blackbeard Pirates ashore, while his own orders were to continue escorting Ace to the underwater prison, Impel Down.

Roya did not mind. Staying at Marine Headquarters was boring anyway, and it would be good to see what Impel Down, said to be the largest underwater prison in the world, was like.

Unexpectedly, the "Pirate Empress" Hancock did not disembark and continued following Roya.

This inevitably stirred speculation among the Marines aboard the ship.

Unfortunately, Hancock kept a cold expression, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.

Before long.

The warship carrying Roya set sail once again. Its next destination: Impel Down!