Special Observation Haki: Future Sight

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have acquired Top-Tier Conqueror's Haki. Current progress: 5%!]

The long-awaited system notification appeared the instant Rocks unleashed his Conqueror's Haki!

His Top-Tier Conqueror's Haki had suddenly made a substantial leap!

Rocks's Conqueror's Haki must be at God Level! Rono guessed, startled.

After three months of fighting Whitebeard, his Top-Tier Conqueror's Haki had gained only 1.5%. Yet one brief release from Rocks had raised it by 3%!

Rocks truly deserved his title of Overlord of the Sea!

Unfortunately, Rono hadn't seen him once in those three months. Otherwise, he would have challenged him.

"Nineteen Celestial Dragons! How could so many of them be in the same place?" Silver Axe exclaimed.

Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, John, Ochoku, and Rono were stunned too.

It was exceedingly rare for nineteen Celestial Dragons to appear together. Even the Rocks Pirates had never encountered anything like it!

"Heh. As everyone knows, the Celestial Dragons are descended from the twenty kings who founded the World Government eight hundred years ago."

"After the World Government was established, the kings' descendants moved to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. From then on, the Celestial Dragons were called gods."

"Apart from the Nefertari royal family of Alabasta, who refused to move there, only nineteen Celestial Dragon families live in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise today."

Rocks explained, his eyes burning.

"So those nineteen Celestial Dragons might each come from a different family?" Rono guessed, rubbing his chin.

The number nineteen was too much of a coincidence. It was the only explanation.

"That's only my guess. But according to my intelligence, those nineteen Celestial Dragons gathered in the Golden City for a secret discussion," Rocks continued.

"A secret discussion? About what?" Everyone was curious.

What could require representatives from all nineteen families?

Rono frowned. He felt as if he had an inkling, but then shook his head.

I don't need to worry about that right now.

One word: Kill!

Killing every last one of those monsters was his first priority.

"I don't know exactly what they're discussing. But... won't we find out when we attack?"

An utterly wicked smile spread across Rocks's face as his aura continued to swell.

"Good! When do we go?"

Rono sprang from his chair, eager to leave at once.

He didn't care why those Celestial Dragons had gathered. If so many dared to appear together, he would kill them all!

What they were discussing meant nothing to him.

Everyone knew Rono's past, so his reaction came as no surprise.

"Rono, don't be rash. We still need to be careful."

"Nineteen Celestial Dragons have left the Holy Land at once. Nothing like this has ever happened. The Marines and the World Government are bound to take it seriously. They won't let us attack so easily."

Golden Lion had always been cautious, and he gave the warning accordingly.

The others nodded in agreement.

Nineteen Celestial Dragons were no small matter. The Marines would probably deploy every force they could to protect them.

"Shiki's right. According to our intelligence network, the Marines will deploy at least four Admiral Level fighters: Kong, Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr!"

"On top of that, there's Tsuru, that scheming woman."

Rocks's tone grew noticeably heavier when he mentioned Tsuru.

In terms of strength, the Rocks Pirates and Marine Headquarters were roughly matched. But Tsuru was too cunning; every plan she devised struck at exactly the right weakness.

That was how the Marines had managed to keep the Rocks Pirates in check.

"Four Admiral Level fighters?"

Golden Lion, Ochoku, Silver Axe, and the others froze at the lineup.

The Marines were going all out. After all, they still needed forces to defend Marine Headquarters and couldn't send everyone.

This was nearly all the fighting strength they could spare.

"Besides them, the Marines have some powerful newcomers this time. As far as I know, three of them have Logia Devil Fruits."

"The Glint-Glint Fruit, the Magma-Magma Fruit, and the Ice-Ice Fruit. All top-tier Logia Devil Fruits."

"Don't let your Haki make you careless. Understood?" Rocks warned, sweeping his gaze around the room.

Rono's eyelid twitched.

Oh? Judging by their Devil Fruit Abilities, that sounds like Chicken, Dog, and Monkey—the future Three Admirals.

They shouldn't have joined the Marines yet, according to the timeline.

Looks like my arrival has shifted the original timeline slightly!

"We've got Rono now, too. It's time the Marines suffered for once!" Charlotte Linlin said bitterly. She was still furious that Marine schemes had ruined her previous operations.

"Exactly. That's why I summoned you all."

"It's time the Marines paid back everything they owe us."

Rocks looked certain of victory.

"That concludes the meeting. Gather your crews and prepare. We leave first thing tomorrow morning."

With a wave of Rocks's hand, the seven Division Commanders left the meeting room to gather their crews.

"Rono, be careful this time."

After they left the office, Whitebeard suddenly patted Rono on the shoulder.

"I know. Don't worry."

Rono nodded. He knew what Whitebeard meant.

His strength had undoubtedly reached Admiral Level, but he still lacked Combat Experience. That remained only at the advanced level.

He had spent three months sparring with Whitebeard, but his experience in life-or-death combat had barely improved.

Sparring was one thing. He could never fight Whitebeard to the death.

But with the Marines so thoroughly prepared, the coming battle was bound to be brutal!

When powerful fighters were closely matched, experience decided the winner.

After parting from Whitebeard, Rono went straight back to his bedroom.

He first used Observation Haki to check whether anyone was nearby.

Once he was certain he was alone, Rono opened his System Space and took out several Devil Fruits he had obtained while hijacking the Heavenly Tribute.

He had saved these fruits for a crucial moment.

That moment had clearly arrived.

Since he lacked Combat Experience, he would make up for it with Observation Haki!

Raising his Observation Haki as far as possible would do the most to offset that weakness.

[Ding! Devil Fruits detected nearby. Would the host like to absorb them?]

The system prompt appeared. Rono immediately confirmed the absorption and directed all the energy into his Observation Haki.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have absorbed a Devil Fruit's energy. Your Observation Haki is growing rapidly. Current progress: 87.5%!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have absorbed a Devil Fruit's energy. Your Observation Haki is growing rapidly. Current progress: 91.5%!]

[Ding! Congratulations, host...]

Rono absorbed all five Devil Fruits in one go, bringing his Observation Haki to the top tier!

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Your Observation Haki has advanced. Current level: Top Tier!]

[Ding! Your Observation Haki has reached the top tier. You have learned a special form of Observation Haki: Future Sight!]