The Ark Maxim slowly landed at the main port of Hachinosu.
The golden ship had just come to a stop when a large crowd had already gathered on the dock.
Bullet strode forward and punched Roy in the shoulder.
"Hahaha! Roy! I heard you fought with that Doflamingo kid?"
Roy dodged his fist and laughed.
"The news spread pretty fast."
"That's right! The news has spread throughout the entire New World!"
"Emperor Roy of Heaven's Path easily crushes Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"
"That kid's Awakening Devil Fruit ability couldn't even withstand a single blow from you!"
Roy waved his hand.
Don't listen to those exaggerated claims.
" Doflamingo has indeed improved a lot, Devil Fruit Awakening is quite threatening."
"It's just... bad luck that you met me."
Bullet raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? For you to call him 'threatening,' that kid seems to have some skills."
Let me try it next time!
Hawk Eyes, holding Black Blade Yoru, stood quietly to the side, nodding slightly.
Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, exhaled a smoke ring.
"I heard you've reached a cooperation agreement with Doflamingo?"
Roy nodded.
"Um."
"In the future, our Seastone and weapons can be sold all over the world through his channels."
"He'll also help us collect Devil Fruit."
A glint of light flashed in Crocodile's eyes.
"That guy's underground networks are indeed spread all over the world; if we could make use of them..."
"Good."
Roy looked at everyone,
"The specific details of the collaboration were discussed between Tesoro and Doflamingo."
"Let him tell you later."
Tesoro grinned.
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
Stella and Scarlet also came forward to greet them.
Stella, holding a thick stack of documents, smiled.
"Captain, welcome back."
There are some documents that need your review over the past few days.
Roy nodded.
"Thank you for your hard work, Stella."
Send it to my office later.
Scarlet walked over to Kyros, took the sleeping Rebecca from his arms, her eyes full of tenderness.
The group chatted and laughed as they walked towards the main island palace.
Sunlight streamed down, a gentle sea breeze caressed the scene, and everything seemed so harmonious and beautiful.
Night fell.
Roy sat alone by the office window, staring blankly at the night outside.
On the desk, most of the documents Stella had sent had been reviewed, with a small stack still waiting to be processed.
But at that moment, he had no interest in looking at it.
Doflamingo's words kept echoing in my mind.
Awakening...
It requires an opportunity, it requires accumulation, it requires a breakthrough at a critical juncture...
He has developed his Telekinesis Fruit their fullest potential.
Telekinesis: Barrier, Telekinesis: Crushing Pressure, Telekinesis: Deflection, Telekinesis: Reversal, Telekinesis: Acceleration, Telekinesis: Attack...
He tried almost every imaginable use.
But Awakening...
That hurdle, I could never get over.
Roy raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly curled.
An invisible Telekinesis gathered in his palm, forming a small vortex.
The vortex swirled, emitting a faint glow, beautiful and mysterious.
But Roy knew this was just a routine application of Telekinesis.
We are still far from Awakening.
He clenched his fist tightly, and the vortex of Telekinesis instantly dissipated.
" Awakening..."
Roy murmured, a hint of anxiety flashing in his eyes.
In the days that followed, Roy was like a different person.
Early morning gravity training, morning sword sparring with Hawk Eyes, afternoon hand-to-hand combat with Bullet, evening instruction for other members' training.
In the evenings, they either review documents, drink and chat with colleagues, or go to bed early.
But now--
His sleep schedule was completely messed up.
Every day before dawn, they would go into the gravity test field and stay there for the entire day.
80 times gravity, 90 times gravity, 100 times gravity...
He constantly pushed his limits, frantically channeling his Telekinesis under immense pressure.
Telekinesis: Barrier, Telekinesis: Crushing Pressure, Telekinesis: Deflection...
Again and again, over and over again.
Until they were completely exhausted and collapsed in the gravitational field.
After a short rest, I got up and continued.
Sometimes, he would even go without food or water, staying in the gravitational field for two or three days at a time.
Bullet challenged him to a duel, but he refused.
Hawk Eyes challenged him to a sparring session, but he refused.
The Red Count wanted to talk to him, but he still refused.
He was as if possessed, immersing himself in that tiny gravitational field, torturing himself day after day.
Day 7.
Outside the gravity test field, several people gathered together, their faces filled with worry.
Bullet crossed his arms and frowned.
"What's wrong with Roy?"
"He used to get itchy if he didn't fight every day, but now he won't even leave the house."
Hawk Eyes was taciturn, but a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.
Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, exhaled a smoke ring.
"I heard it happened after we returned from Dressrosa."
"What did that kid Doflamingo say to him?"
Tesoro scratched his head.
"I was talking business with Doflamingo all day and didn't pay attention to what the boss was talking about with him."
"However, the boss did ask Doflamingo about Devil Fruit Awakening that day."
Bullet was taken aback.
" Devil Fruit Awakening?"
Tesoro nodded.
"Hmm. Doflamingo's String-String Fruit Devil Fruit Awakening. Boss might... want to Awakening too."
Everyone fell silent.
Devil Fruit Awakening is the ultimate manifestation of a fruit's power, and not everyone can achieve it.
Roy's Telekinesis Fruit is strong enough to overwhelm Doflamingo's Awakening power.
But he still seemed unsatisfied.
"This can't go on."
The Red Count spoke slowly.
" Captain Roy is currently in a state of near-madness."
"I need to go talk to him."
Bullet frowned.
" Old Man Red, he won't even let you in the door, how can you talk to him?"
The Red Count's lips curled into a faint smile.
"If he won't let me in, does that mean I can't go in?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished from the spot in a flash.
The next moment, he appeared at the entrance of the gravity trial arena.
I pushed open the heavy metal door and stepped inside.
Inside the gravity test arena, a wave of heat hits you.
Under 100 times the force of gravity, the air seemed to freeze.
Red Count frowned slightly, unleashing his full Observation Haki to offset some of the pressure from gravity, and steadily walked deeper into the area.
Deep inside, a figure was sitting cross-legged on the ground.
Roy was soaked in sweat, his clothes clung to his body, and his hair was disheveled.
He raised his right hand, a ball of mental Telekinesis gathering in his palm.
The Telekinesis constantly changed form—sometimes it transformed into a vortex, sometimes into a sharp blade, sometimes into a barrier, sometimes into a heavy hammer...
But each time, it suddenly collapses when it reaches a certain critical point.
"Failed again..."
Roy murmured, a hint of weariness flashing in his eyes.
Just as he was about to activate his Telekinesis again, he suddenly sensed something and abruptly turned his head.
The Red Count stood quietly not far away.
" Mr. Red?"
Roy frowned slightly.
How did you get in?
The Red Count did not answer, but simply walked over to him and sat down beside him.
" Captain Roy, you've changed a lot these past few days."
Roy was silent for two seconds, then said calmly,
"I just... want to break through."
"I still can't find the way to Awakening the Telekinesis Fruit."
" Doflamingo told me that Awakening requires a breakthrough at a life-or-death moment."
"So I think that by constantly pushing my abilities to their limits, I might be able to find that opportunity."
Red Count looked at him, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
" Captain Roy, how old are you this year?"