The dark-red Armament coating split open.
For an instant, bare skin showed through.
The sword aura was merciless.
A thin cut opened across the back of Romu's right fist. Scarlet droplets sprayed outward with the raging wind—
one bead landing squarely on his lips.
He licked it.
Iron.
Sharp and metallic across his tongue.
Hummm—
With a low vibration, the torn Ryūō coating flowed back together, sealing itself.
From start to finish—
Romu didn't even blink.
With his regeneration, that kind of wound barely registered.
His fists never slowed.
Punch after punch drove forward, hammering into the storm of blades—
until a spiraling inward current began to form at the center of the clash.
"Break!"
Romu roared.
The black-red light around his right fist flared violently.
Using his own body as an axis—
he unleashed his strongest blow yet.
SHRRK!
His short-sleeved shirt shredded instantly.
The rock beneath his feet fractured again.
The spiraling air current compressed inward—
deeper and deeper—
until spiderweb cracks appeared in the air itself.
That punch—
looked like it cracked space.
A terrifying suction force erupted.
Every remaining golden slash was dragged into the spiral and devoured whole.
Silence fell.
The wind died.
Romu exhaled slowly—
and stood tall.
The crowd erupts
"…Is that what real monsters fight like?"
"Rocks commander-level power is insane!"
"Captain Shiki's swordsmanship is unbeatable!"
"Romu's just as crazy! No tricks—he punched the blades apart!"
"Damn! That's a real man! Romu's my idol!"
"Romu! Romu!"
The pirates who had been shielding themselves crawled back out, eyes blazing.
They cheered Shiki's overwhelming sword aura—
and praised Romu's brutal, straight-ahead style.
No one looked away.
Some cupped their hands and screamed encouragement at both fighters.
Nearby, Wang Zhi and the others had lost their earlier casual expressions.
Shock replaced them.
Wang Zhi stroked his wind-tossed beard.
"That kid… is no joke."
He could survive Senkiri Valley too—
but punching it apart like that?
That was monstrous.
John tightened his grip on his weapon.
"He's earned his arrogance."
Then his gaze shifted upward to Shiki.
"But this match still goes to Shiki."
"It's time he gets serious."
"The Float-Float Fruit isn't just for flying."
Wang Zhi and Silver Axe nodded.
Romu was terrifying—
but Shiki winning still felt inevitable.
Newgate's booming laugh cut in.
"Gurararara!"
"Did you idiots forget something?"
"Romu's a Devil Fruit user too."
The three commanders blinked.
Right.
They'd been so focused on Ryūō that they'd forgotten his fruit entirely.
"Are you saying… Silver Axe's joke might come true? Shiki actually loses to a rookie?"
They looked back at Romu with new eyes.
Newgate's gaze burned bright.
Conqueror's… Observation… Ryūō… Devil Fruit…
What else are you hiding, Romu?
Battlefield center
The island was scarred with craters.
Broken trees littered the ground.
A once-beautiful landscape reduced to chaos.
Romu and Shiki stood opposite each other.
Silence stretched.
Finally—
Shiki spoke.
"Kid… you've exceeded my expectations."
The wild edge in his eyes softened—just a little—into admiration.
That strange penetrating force…
the monstrous physique…
and punching apart Senkiri Valley…
Killing talent like this would be wasteful.
If he worked for me…
Shiki licked his lips.
The recruitment urge flared again.
He raised his arm high.
"Romu!"
"I acknowledge you!"
"Join my division!"
"I'll make you vice-captain!"
"Be my right hand—"
"and we'll conquer the world!"
Confidence.
Dominance.
Smoke curled from his cigar as he stood like a warlord.
Behind him, Wang Zhi and the others froze.
Vice-captain?!
Their brains short-circuited.
Then they exploded.
"Right hand my ass! Romu joins Silver Axe!"
"He's clearly joining my division!"
"You forgetting me, John?!"
Shiki spat his cigar to the ground.
Killing intent flashed.
"Other matters I'd let slide," Wang Zhi said coolly. "Not this."
Silver Axe and John nodded.
A prodigy like this was once-in-a-generation.
With Romu at their side, their divisions would skyrocket.
Around them, the watching pirates were completely lost.
"Weren't they just fighting?"
"How did this turn into vice-captain offers?"
All four commanders recruiting one man—
who would believe that?
The tension warped into something surreal.
Then—
Romu spoke.
"You done?"
"My turn."
His voice wasn't loud—
but it cut through everything.
Every head snapped toward him.
Expressions changed instantly.
One thing was certain:
Romu had just challenged Shiki again.
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