A 17-Year-Old Monster, the Five Elders Were Shocked

Absorbing Nature Power, simply put, meant being able to absorb the abilities of a Logia Devil Fruit.

The key point was that absorption was different from eating one. He couldn't become an element like a Logia user, but he could use the corresponding Logia Devil Fruit's abilities!

For example, if he absorbed the Flame-Flame Fruit, then aside from being unable to become fire, he could make any of his attacks carry a fiery effect. The result would be almost the same as eating the Flame-Flame Fruit!

Of course, absorbing it wouldn't leave him with the side effect of fearing seawater.

More importantly, he could absorb all kinds of Nature Power!

Whether it was fire, lightning, magma, ice, or the abilities of other Logia Devil Fruits, he could absorb them all!

"Make all my attacks carry a fiery effect? What am I waiting for?"

Rono's eyes lit up, and he immediately began absorbing it.

Soon, the Flame-Flame Fruit in his hand disappeared. Right after, Rono felt a scorching energy surge into his body, as if it were about to explode!

Whoosh!

He extended his right hand. With just a flicker of thought, a ball of scorching flame appeared in his palm, as if it could burn everything to ashes!

On top of Haki, he could also add fiery attacks. His destructive power had increased by more than a little!

The key was that he could achieve destructive power similar to a user's without becoming a Devil Fruit user. This ability was simply too powerful!

When he encountered someone whose Haki was on par with his own, fire would become the deciding factor!

Rono even felt that if he fought Roger again now, he might win.

"I'm looking forward to it more and more..."

Rono was getting excited. Celestial Dragons, just wait to die!

At the same time, news reached Mary Geoise in the Holy Land right away.

In the opulent Hall of Power, a symbol of the highest authority, five old men wore grim expressions.

These five didn't look like the Five Elders from the original story. They were all unfamiliar faces.

But they clearly had the imposing presence of men in high positions. Without a doubt, they were the current Five Elders!

The World's Highest Authority in name!

"Damn CP0! They're a bunch of useless fools!"

"They haven't even entered the Grand Line, and something's already happened in the weakest sea, East Blue!"

"Which CP0 squad was responsible for transporting the Heavenly Tribute? Lock them all up in Impel Down and await judgment!"

An old man said angrily, so furious that his nose nearly twisted out of shape!

The Heavenly Tribute from all of East Blue had been stolen. Didn't that mean the Celestial Dragons' budget would be cut by a huge amount?

Wouldn't those lazy, gluttonous Celestial Dragons come to the Conference Hall and make a racket?

At the thought of it, the old man felt as if his head were about to explode.

"Hmph, there's no point. I've already sent someone to contact them. The CP0 team responsible for the transport hasn't sent any news at all. I'm afraid they've all been killed!"

An old man said gravely.

"Damn it! I also heard that the Flame-Flame Fruit was found in East Blue this time!"

"If we could obtain the Flame-Flame Fruit, the World Government would gain another strong fighter!"

Another old man clenched both fists and smashed a table made of precious wood to pieces!

The Logia Flame-Flame Fruit had fallen into the hands of pirates.

The balance of power had shifted. One could foresee that another powerful pirate would appear on the seas in the future, causing chaos everywhere.

"And those Slaves. Without them, those Celestial Dragons will surely be even more dissatisfied."

"Damn it!" One of the old men couldn't help cursing, showing just how agitated he was.

"The most important thing now is to find out who did this!"

"Was it the Rocks Pirates, or another long-established Pirate Crew? This definitely counts as a major incident!"

The last old man said, his face flushed. It would be disastrous if the Flame-Flame Fruit had fallen into the hands of the Rocks Pirates.

As the most powerful Pirate Crew on the seas, the Rocks Pirates had already grown strong enough to give the World Government and the Navy a serious headache.

If they gained a powerful fighter with the destructive power of the Flame-Flame Fruit, the Rocks Pirates would be even more troublesome!

"Report! We've obtained a detailed account of the Heavenly Tribute incident!"

Before long, the CP0 agent responsible for gathering intelligence arrived.

"Was the culprit this time a member of the Rocks Pirates?" The Five Elders immediately asked about the matter they cared about most.

"No... not at all," CP0 replied. Hearing this, the Five Elders' tense hearts immediately relaxed.

As long as it wasn't the Rocks Pirates, that was good.

"No... however, the culprit this time may be even more terrifying than the Rocks Pirates."

But in the next moment, CP0's words made the Five Elders' hearts tense up again.

"More terrifying than the Rocks Pirates? How is that possible?" The Five Elders scoffed.

If the era in the original story belonged to the Four Emperors, Marine Headquarters, and Shichibukai—the Three Great Powers-then the current era belonged to just one great power: the Rocks Pirates!

There were no Four Emperors or Five Emperors. The Rocks Pirates were the rulers of the New World, the only King on the seas!

Even the Navy had little chance of winning if it went head-to-head with the Rocks Pirates!

How could there be a culprit more terrifying than the Rocks Pirates?

"The culprit this time is named Rono. He's around seventeen years old. He nearly wiped out the CP0 squad responsible for the transport all by himself."

Before CP0 could finish, the Five Elders interrupted him!

"What? You're saying the culprit this time is a seventeen-year-old brat?!"

The Five Elders were shocked and cut CP0 off directly.

"Yes. What's more, according to the surviving Marines, this brat named Rono killed CP0's members with near-instant-kill strength!"

"An instant kill? How could a seventeen-year-old brat do that?" The Five Elders exclaimed in shock.

The CP0 squad leader responsible for the transport this time was at least at Vice Admiral level. A seventeen-year-old brat had instantly killed a Vice Admiral?

That was absurd!

"That's right. According to the Marines, Rono already possesses Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki!"

"CP0 was no match for him. The entire battle ended in less than five minutes."

CP0 sounded astonished as he said this.

"What did you say?! He awakened all Three Types of Haki at seventeen!"

The five old men widened their eyes again, their faces full of disbelief!

He'd awakened all Three Types of Haki. Just where had this monster come from?!

"Y-yes, and according to our estimates, all three types of his Haki are at least high-level. That's why he was able to instantly kill the CP0 squad leader."

Even CP0 found it hard to believe after saying it.

At these words, the entire Hall of Power fell silent. It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

"Five Elders?" CP0 said softly.

The Five Elders were completely stunned by then, unable to say a word!