Passive Self-Sacrifice Is Already Maxed Out

"Tekkai?"

Watching Wilton, who had been sent flying and was spitting blood, Dragon followed closely, spinning his body for a second kick. Every blow was blocked by Wilton. Even with Tekkai and Armament Haki, Wilton's hands became red and swollen, trembling uncontrollably after one wave of attacks.

His bones felt like they were cracking.

Cough, cough, cough—

Climbing up from the ruins, Wilton spat blood from his mouth, his lips twisted. He was already seriously injured, and it was thanks to Tekkai and Armament Haki that he hadn't collapsed already.

His passive skill, Self-Sacrifice, was maxed out.

The more severely he was injured, the higher his attack power became.

He would only grow stronger as the fight continued.

The title of "highest attack power in the canyon" wasn't just for show.

"As a Marine Rear Admiral, you're the first person I've ever seen to cultivate Tekkai to this extent."

In a flash.

Dragon appeared before him, his words filled with admiration for Wilton. It wasn't that he was bragging about his strength; any other Rear Admiral, or even an ordinary Vice Admiral, would have collapsed after the first round of Conqueror's Haki.

Yet this guy not only endured the Conqueror's Haki but also exchanged several blows with him, showing no signs of weakening. Instead, he seemed to be growing stronger.

"Explosive Double Axes."

Looking at Dragon, Wilton roared and slammed his fists down heavily. However, Dragon blocked it with just one arm, giving Wilton no chance to dodge. He then slammed his left fist heavily into Wilton's chest.

Pfft—

Sweet blood spurted from Wilton's nose and mouth. He hunched over, and a massive shockwave erupted from his back, tearing through the ground and extending for hundreds of meters.

In his five years since debuting.

This was the first time he had felt so powerless.

He was no match for Dragon at all, completely suppressed throughout the fight.

Is this the peak strength of the seas?

"Rear Admiral Wilton!"

"White Fist."

Smoker, who had been observing, rushed over, white smoke billowing around him. It eventually condensed on his right hand and he struck fiercely at Dragon. At this moment, Dragon took a step back, looking at Wilton kneeling on the ground, clutching his stomach. He then vanished in a flash.

Not good.

Smoker's scalp tingled. He looked up and saw Dragon reappear instantly, his fist landing squarely and powerfully on him. As quickly as he appeared, he was gone, vanishing at the end of the street after just one exchange.

"This is the most ferocious man in the world."

On the warship.

Arlong, Buggy, Bartholomew, and Alvida all swallowed hard. In their eyes, that big guy was already very strong, but now, in front of the most ferocious man, he was nowhere near enough.

It was just like when they were facing Wilton back then.

Crushed from head to toe.

"I'm sorry, I'm taking him with me."

Dragon, with his back to Wilton, strode towards the warship.

"I haven't fallen yet."

After only a few steps.

A pained voice came from behind. Dragon turned to see Wilton shakily standing up, a green light suddenly flashing on his body.

Then his aura began to recover slightly.

"Devil Fruit User?"

Dragon frowned slightly.

He had initially thought the opponent was just a skilled martial artist, but he hadn't expected him to be a Devil Fruit User as well. Was it an ability to heal injuries? It seemed to be a Paramecia.

"Hoo."

Taking a deep breath.

Wilton had just used Recovery, restoring about 5% of his life force. This life force included stamina, injuries, and all other negative effects.

This meant Wilton could still barely continue fighting, and he was still heavily injured. His attack power was even stronger than usual, but it didn't make much difference against Dragon.

The gap between them was still too vast.

The ground beneath his feet exploded as he leaped, Wilton charging forward fearlessly again, his fists smashing towards Dragon with thunderous force. A fierce storm swept out, Dragon's black hair fluttering, the ground beneath his feet cracking in circles.

At this moment, Dragon was imposing.

He blocked Wilton's attack with just one arm. No matter how much Wilton increased his strength, it was useless.

Wilton's movements were fast, his whole body spinning rapidly in the air. The AOE slash wave pushed forward, but Dragon blocked it with his other hand, then kicked towards Wilton.

The air exploded.

Wilton quickly dodged and leaped ten meters away. Before he could react, Dragon instantly appeared behind him. Wilton then spat blood, his body turning into a streak of light that tore through a large area of the ruined buildings and debris. He finally collapsed in the rubble not far from the port.

Defeated once again.

He was utterly incapable of fighting back.

"It's over."

Dragon didn't believe Wilton could get up again. Looking at Buggy, Tashigi, and the other Marines on the warship, and then at the still-lying Smoker, they knew.

He couldn't even get up after one exchange.

And he was a Logia-type Devil Fruit user.

"A true man never fears or gives up."

As Dragon took two steps, Wilton's pained voice came from behind him again. Under everyone's gaze, Wilton leaned on a nearby stone, standing up covered in blood.

His body emitted a dazzling green light that spread out to a radius of ten meters.

Then, his condition rapidly improved.

Heal.

This skill restored 15% of his and nearby allies' HP and movement speed. Unlike Recovery, which only restored his own HP, Heal could restore himself and nearby allies.

The original range was one meter, but over the past five years, Wilton had trained it to ten meters.

Furthermore, both Recovery and Heal had cooldowns, usable only once a day.

"That guy is also a Devil Fruit user."

The first thought among the crowd was that he was a Devil Fruit user. Otherwise, what was that green light on Wilton's body?

His injuries and condition were rapidly improving.

It must be a recovery-type Devil Fruit.

"No, that guy can't be a user."

Bartholomew remembered clearly. After he was defeated and fell into the sea, it was that big guy who swam him out. Although his consciousness was a bit unclear at the time, he was sure it was Wilton.

"He's clearly a user."

Buggy, Luffy, Alvida, and Nami all retorted. Did they think they were blind?

How could a person emit green light? And even if he did, what was with the clearly felt recovery of his injuries?

Besides the great sea treasure, the Devil Fruit, what else could do that?

"I was thrown into the sea by him, and he saved me."

Bartholomew stated firmly, but he was also confused. If that guy wasn't a user, how could the scene before them be explained? If he was a user, why could he swim?

For a moment.

Everyone fell into thought.

Boom, boom, boom.

Explosions echoed through the ruins as Wilton and Dragon clashed again. Even with Tekkai and Armament Haki, Wilton was being pushed back step by step.

But the fiercer he fought, the stronger his attacks became.

He coughed up blood repeatedly.

He retreated constantly.

Wilton was like a sandbag, being beaten back and forth by Dragon, completely unable to fight back because Dragon's attack speed was too fast.

Even so, he didn't take a single step back.

As they fought, both Dragon and Luffy and the others on the warship looked on with silence and admiration. The Marines, their faces flushed, clenched their fists tightly.

Undoubtedly.

In the eyes of some, Wilton was foolish, but in the eyes of others, he was noble and great. If there were any true men in the world, it had to be Wilton.