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Momonga crashed through countless Enies Lobby buildings, finally slamming into the remains of a ruined structure, buried under a cascade of debris.
"VICE ADMIRAL MOMONGA!" The surrounding Marine elites cried out in alarm.
These were the absolute elite of Marine HQ, all of Captain rank or higher. Straw Hat's earlier blast of Conqueror's Haki had prevented lower-ranked soldiers from even stepping onto this battlefield.
Momonga was a core member of the 'Dove' faction—His strength among Vice Admirals was top-tier, very close to Admiral Candidate level...
Yet, he was sent flying by Straw Hat???
....
"Cough! What was that?" Momonga, his face grim, unleashed several sword slashes, clearing the rubble burying him.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his 'Justice' coat was torn. He no longer looked as composed as when first facing Luffy.
'Armament Haki and his Devil Fruit ability combined?'
No, that wasn't it!
If it were just standard Armament Haki combined with a Devil Fruit, his earlier Gear Third would have been at its limit. Straw Hat had somehow elevated his power—both his Devil Fruit ability AND his Armament Haki—to another level!
What kind of Devil Fruit was this?!
Could it actually amplify even Armament Haki??
But Momonga had no time to ponder the question—
Gear Fourth was a form Luffy unlocked prematurely thanks to Rowen's help by digesting vast amounts of "Desire for Liberation."
Being newly unlocked, Luffy's biggest issue was lack of control; the stamina and Haki consumption was immense, forcing Luffy to end the fight quickly!
BOING!
Luffy, using the elastic recoil of his rubber body for propulsion, moved with incredible speed through the air, reappearing above Momonga.
"Gomu Gomu no...!" High above, Luffy's legs began to contract rapidly—The Armament Haki now integrated into his Nika rubber—ready to be released with multiplied force!
"Rhino Schneider——!!!" Luffy roared, launching his legs downwards towards Momonga at speeds barely visible to the naked eye.
"Armament Haki——! Tekkai——! Go——!" Caught off guard and still recovering from the previous Gear Fourth blow, Momonga desperately used Armament Haki and his strongest Tekkai to block the attack head-on!
BANG!
SPURT!
His strongest Tekkai instantly shattered. Momonga sprayed out another mouthful of blood, his eyes filled with horror.
SO STRONG!
Straw Hat in this form—was actually stronger than him!
This strength had reached Admiral Candidate, Yonko Commander level! This was the strength of a true powerhouse, regardless of location.
Such power—wasn't what a pirate with a 300 million Beri bounty should possess.
The brilliance of Sky Sovereign Rowen had overshadowed the rest of the Straw Hat crew, making them seem like they existed solely under his protection.
Even for Straw Hat Luffy, the captain—he hadn't garnered much attention from the Navy before now.
Their focus had been entirely on Rowen...
But at this moment, Momonga realized they had drastically underestimated Luffy's terrifying potential!
'This Gomu-Gomu Fruit... there's something very wrong with it!'
Momonga, a seasoned warrior who had clashed with countless Devil fruit users, though he hadn't eaten a fruit himself, possessed deep knowledge about them.
Devil Fruit abilities were essentially fixed; whoever ate a fruit gained the corresponding power.
Before awakening, one could continuously strengthen their Devil Fruit abilities simply by enhancing their physique until reaching a plateau. Further enhancement required Awakening, at which point the fruit unleashed its full potential.
But Straw Hat's Gomu-Gomu Fruit... what was going on?? Gear Second, Gear Third—continuously elevating the fruit's power by 'gears'. And now Gear Fourth—even elevated his Armament Haki by a tier!
Momonga was certain: Straw Hat's fruit hadn't Awakened! Yet it could still shift gears like this?
This ability wasn't wasn't characteristic of a Paramecia Devil Fruit! It resembled the multiple transformation points of a Zoan—and not just normal transformation points!
Such ability was similar to that of a Mythical Zoan...
Mythical Zoans, besides having multiple transformations, also granted the user a unique special ability.
Kaido, for instance, having eaten the top-tier Mythical Zoan, Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon—gained not just the power of the Azure Dragon, but also control over natural elements.
This ability to 'upshift' all aspects of his power, even his Haki—it was too much like a Mythical Zoan ability—
Didn't Straw Hat eat the Paramecia Gomu-Gomu Fruit?? Straw Hat Luffy's fruit... definitely had a secret. A HUGE secret!
Momonga's pupils constricted sharply. A terrifying suspicion formed in his mind—
Why did Sky Sovereign Rowen choose this insignificant, unknown Straw Hat crew??
And before this current battle, the entire Straw Hat crew seemed to exist solely under Rowen's protection.
Even if Straw Hat and Pirate Hunter possessed Conqueror's Haki—before someone like Sky Sovereign Rowen, it was hardly NOTEWORTHY.
And back in the East Blue, when Rowen joined Straw Hat's crew, Luffy and Zoro were completely unremarkable, having shown none of the frightening potential they now possessed.
With Rowen's ability to steal all of another's powers—there was no logical reason for him to join such an insignificant crew.
UNLESS—this crew possessed a power that even Rowen wanted...
Devil Fruit? Momonga's pupils constricted further.
Sky Sovereign Rowen's every move since his debut had revolved around powerful Devil Fruits.
From stealing Smoker's Smoke-Smoke Fruit in Loguetown.
The Flare-Flare Fruit, Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Human-Human Fruit, Door-Door Fruit—all these fruits, possessing either incredible power or powerful support abilities, were acquired by Rowen.
It was precisely because of this combination of abilities that Rowen was so terrifying, causing the Marines such devastating losses.
If not for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Rowen wouldn't be able to operate so freely; they could have mobilized multiple Admiral-level fighters to capture or eliminate him.
And without the Door-Door Fruit, under Akainu's Magma-Magma Fruit and the Buster Call's firepower, the Navy should have held the overwhelming advantage according to their war plan...
Who, on these seas, had greater mastery over Devil Fruits than Sky Sovereign Rowen??
Even Whitebeard, possessor of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit or Kaido with the top-tier Azure Dragon Fruit—couldn't compare to Rowen in terms of Devil Fruit mastery.
This man was the Undisputed Strongest in the world when it came to Devil Fruits! No one had ever wielded Devil Fruits to such a terrifying extent. The number of abilities he could possess seemed limitless!
And his Awakened fruits—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Human-Human Fruit, and now, the Door-Door Fruit.
He had even Awakened the Door-Door Fruit instantly after stealing it from someone who clearly hadn't Awakened it.
And he could somehow use the Flare-Flare Fruit's power without stealing it from Ace... Even Marine HQ acknowledged him as The Strongest Devil Fruit User in History!
Could it be—
Rowen chose this pirate crew—because of the Devil Fruit within Straw Hat Luffy??
Momonga felt a chill run down his spine.
If so... A Devil Fruit targeted by Sky Sovereign Rowen would surely be no ordinary Paramecia!
And Straw Hat's currently displayed abilities seemed to confirm it—
Special Paramecia? Or... A Mythical Zoan??
Momonga's mind raced, frantically searching his knowledge of Devil Fruits for a match to Straw Hat's abilities.
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"Gomu Gomu no... Kong Organ Gun——!!!"
Luffy, giving Momonga no more time, prepared to end the battle. Both his fists, under Nika's rubber elasticity, retracted completely into his body, then prepared to unleash a barrage to finish Momonga!
"Armament Haki——! Tekkai——!" A Haki-infused flying slash from Onigumo forced Luffy to break off his attack and defend—
"MOMONGA! BE CAREFUL!" Yamakaji yelled, having just provided support with that slash.
"Sorry! There's something wrong with Straw Hat's Devil Fruit! It's not a normal Paramecia fruit!" Momonga coughed up more blood, recovering from the force of Luffy's blow.
"WHAT??" Yamakaji, currently fending off Sanji and the others, his brow furrowed sharply.
"VICE ADMIRAL MOMONGA! WE'LL HELP YOU!" Several Rear Admirals rushed to his aid, turning to face Luffy.
Rear Admirals all had mastered Armament Haki. Only their incomplete mastery of Observation Haki prevented promotion to Vice Admiral.
"Let's take down Straw Hat together! His Devil Fruit absolutely cannot be allowed to fall into Sky Sovereign Rowen's hands!" Momonga roared.
Though he didn't understand what it was, or why Rowen hadn't stolen it himself yet but was seemingly letting Straw Hat develop it further—the mere possibility was too terrifying!
Sky Sovereign Rowen was already frighteningly powerful. The loss of two Vice Admirals and half the Buster Call fleet in less than ten minutes was a bloody lesson!
If Rowen acquired even more powerful Devil Fruit abilities, he would truly become unstoppable!
Compared to that threat, a Vice Admiral's pride meant nothing!
Taking down Straw Hat with the help of these Rear Admirals was now paramount!
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"BASTARD! Diable Jambe——! Premier Hachis——!"
Sanji snarled, eyes bloodshot, launching a relentless barrage of kicks towards Yamakaji.
They had the largest number of fighters focused on Yamakaji here, and he still managed to launch a support attack for Momonga! If not for that intervention, Luffy might have already taken down that Vice Admiral!
Sanji burned with fury.
Not having Conqueror's Haki, already frustrated him greatly! He was trying to compete with Zoro for the No. 1 spot!
He couldn't let something like this happen!
Consumed by his rage and frustration, Sanji fought recklessly, completely ignoring the risk of injury, attacking Yamakaji relentlessly.
"Hm?" Yamakaji's expression instantly changed.
Even though he had aided Momonga, he himself was also under immense pressure—pressure that wasn't coming from Black Leg Sanji before him, but from Cat Burglar Nami waiting for an opportunity to strike from the side!
This girl held a terrifyingly powerful hidden weapon...
Yamakaji knew that power all too well!
It was Rowen's Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability. Channeled by Rowen into Nami's upgraded 'Sorcery Clima-Tact' using a special method. Though weaker than Rowen's own Rumble-Rumble power, even he, a Vice Admiral, would suffer significant injuries if hit.
It was because of this threat that he was pinned down by Black Leg Sanji and the others.
Black Leg Sanji's combat power was only Rear Admiral level, not true Vice Admiral. But now, facing his attacks, Yamakaji's brow furrowed deeper and deeper.
'What is going on? Black Leg's attacks—they're getting stronger... His speed too—increasing! He's growing stronger MID-BATTLE? At such a terrifying rate?'
What a joke!
Could rage really enhance strength and speed that dramatically?
Then why bother with training at all? Everyone should just get angry all the time! There was some unknown power within Black Leg! And this power... was awakening!
It wasn't a Devil Fruit, nor was it Haki.
It was something different, something unique!
The longer he fought, the more Yamakaji felt his heart pound with unease. Strength, speed, even resilience—Black Leg's improvements were happening in all areas!
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"Your subordinates are having trouble, aren't they, Akainu?" Rowen commented with a smile, watching the battlefield.
Sanji, fueled by his anger and frustration, his Modified Exoskeleton abilities were awakening. The equipping progress bar steadily increased.
Zoro's Asura Aura had also grown to the point where he could use Nine-Sword Style. Its equipping process was nearing completion.
Rowen looked at the progress bars and smiled.
His most important three combatants were now stepping onto center stage.
"And Momonga actually saw through Luffy's Devil Fruit's uniqueness? He has a keen eye..."
"Hmph. Once I take YOU down, the Straw Hat crew is nothing," Akainu retorted, his face grim.
His fists transformed into swirling magma.
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