When his name was called first, Kyros took a deep breath and stood up from his seat.
This former arena hero of Dressrosa, now a swordsman of the Roy Pirates,
He walked steadily to the long table.
His gaze swept over the dazzling array of Devil Fruit on the table.
The leopard form combines speed and sharp claws with the giraffe form's unique physical abilities.
The strategic value of the Door-Door Fruit, the versatility of the Arms-Arms Fruit, and the creative possibilities of the Combine-Combine Fruit.
The practicality of the Clone-Clone Fruit, and the targeted nature of the Rust-Rust Fruit.
The Brush-Brush Fruit...
Each one seems to hold the key to a path to immense power.
Kyros's gaze lingered for a considerable time on several Zoan Devil Fruit, especially two Ancient Zoan.
The terrifying power and defense of his Model: Cave Bear can undoubtedly make up for his shortcomings as a non-ability user when facing certain special enemies, pushing his swordsmanship to a more violent level.
The agility and wild instincts of the Model: Dire Wolf can be combined with his solid swordsmanship to form a unique fighting style.
The Mythical Zoan Onyudo Fruit exudes a mysterious and powerful aura; the unknown often signifies greater possibilities.
Kyros's fingers unconsciously traced the patterns on the hilt of his sword.
With my eyes closed, I picture myself honing my swordsmanship day after day, sweating and toiling away.
It is the belief that in battle, one becomes one with the sword and cuts through everything.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes, a resolute look flashing in them, but more so a clear-headedness.
Kyros turned to Roy and bowed slightly.
Captain Roy, thank you for giving me the opportunity to choose.
but...
After careful consideration, I decided not to choose any fruit for the time being.
A few low gasps of surprise rippled through the conference room.
Giving up readily available Devil Fruit powers is rare in this era.
Kyros explained,
My path is the way of the sword.
The sword in my hand and the sword intent in my heart are the source of my power.
I yearn to hone my swordsmanship to its ultimate level through pure practice, cutting through all illusions and obstacles.
While the power of Devil Fruit is undeniably strong, the 'external forces' they bring might interfere with my pure pursuit of my own swordsmanship.
At least for now, I want to focus all my energy on improving my swordsmanship.
He paused, his tone becoming even more resolute.
"If in the future, when my swordsmanship encounters an insurmountable bottleneck, or when I face a desperate situation that I must rely on my Devil Fruit ability to cope with, perhaps I will change my mind."
But at least for now, there's no fruit here that excites me or makes me feel like I can't live without it.
My sword is the 'fruit' I have chosen.
Roy listened quietly, his face showing no displeasure, but rather a hint of appreciation.
He knew Kyros's character well; he was a man with an unwavering will and a clear understanding of his own path.
Forcing him to accept forces that do not suit his will is not good.
"Very good, Kyros."
Roy nodded.
"I respect your choice. The ultimate swordsmanship can also cleave this ocean."
I look forward to you unleashing your own earth-shattering sword strike in the future.
"Yes, Captain!"
After Kyros bowed, he returned to his seat, his back ramrod straight, his eyes clear and resolute.
His choice also prompted a slight nod from others who adhered to their own paths (such as Hawk Eyes, who, although a Great Swordsman, shared a similar philosophy of pure swordsmanship).
"Next, Scarlet," Roy called out.
Scarlet, the princess of Dressrosa and now one of the key figures in the internal affairs and cultural development of Hachinosu, rose gracefully.
Unlike combatants, she doesn't have a direct thirst for power, but she knows that in this world, having the ability to protect oneself and even help others is equally important.
Her gaze swept quickly across the array, finally settling on a few functional fruits.
The Clone-Clone Fruit, the Brush-Brush Fruit, the Door-Door Fruit... her gaze lingered longest on the " Clone-Clone Fruit ".
Considering his current situation of assisting Stella with the complex affairs of Hachinosu,
Every day involves coordinating various parties, processing documents, conveying instructions, and inspecting construction sites...
The ability of the Clone-Clone Fruit to create physical clones is practically tailor-made for her current role.
Having multiple "selves" means that work efficiency can be increased exponentially.
It also allows for a better balance between different aspects of work.
Scarlet walked up to Roy and said softly,
"Captain, I... I tend to choose the ' Clone-Clone Fruit '."
This will greatly help me handle my current daily tasks and serve you and Hachinosu more efficiently.
Roy smiled; this was exactly what he wanted to see.
"A wise choice, Scarlet."
The Clone-Clone Fruit may not be the strongest in terms of direct combat power.
However, its value for management, coordination, intelligence processing, and even tactical support is immeasurable.
A highly capable and absolutely loyal manager is worth more than a thousand troops.
This fruit is perfect for you.
From now on, the daily operation of Hachinosu can rely more on you and your 'avatars'.
I can also focus more on external affairs and my own self-cultivation.
With the captain's approval and advice, Scarlet blushed with delight and nodded solemnly.
I will definitely make good use of this ability.
Roy gestured for her to take the Clone-Clone Fruit with its strangely branched spiral pattern on the surface.
Scarlet carefully picked it up, feeling the strange rhythm contained within the fruit.
"Next, Ginny." Roy looked at the girl, a former Revolutionary Army who was lively yet resilient.
Ginny skipped forward, her eyes filled with curiosity and confusion.
She was by Xiong's side, mainly responsible for some auxiliary and communication work. Her combat talent was not outstanding, but she was quick-witted.
Her gaze swept back and forth between the Hollow-Hollow Fruit, the Brush-Brush Fruit, the Sound Wave Fruit, and the Blood-Blood Fruit.
The Hollow-Hollow Fruit's ability to penetrate and inflict negative emotions, the Brush-Brush Fruit's creativity, the Sound Wave Fruit's diverse attacks, the Blood-Blood Fruit's unpredictable nature...
Each has its own appeal, and each also has its own aspects that make her slightly intimidated (for example, the Blood-Blood Fruit's ability to manipulate blood sounds a bit scary).
She bit her lip, looked at Roy, and her eyes pleaded for help.
"Captain, I... I'm having trouble deciding. Could you give me some advice?"
" Ginny, you are quick-witted, good at communication and observation."
The Hollow-Hollow Fruit's abilities lean towards control and support, including the ability to penetrate physical barriers and create Negative Hollow.
It is highly effective in reconnaissance, infiltration, and disrupting enemy morale, and can also protect oneself to a certain extent.
Brush-Brush Fruit requires even greater imagination and creativity to realize their strategic value.
The Sound Wave Fruit leans more towards direct attacks and control. The Blood-Blood Fruit...
It may place higher demands on the user's willpower and mental fortitude.
Roy paused, looking into Ginny's eyes.
Which direction do you feel you are more inclined towards?
Is it more inclined towards support, reconnaissance, and control, or more towards direct offense and defense?