There are no weaklings among the Logia types.
The Mera Mera no Mi, the Flame-Flame Fruit, might not be the strongest of them, but its power was still terrifying.
With a single Fire Fist, the warship where Perod stood was obliterated. The few surviving sailors were charred black before they hit the sea—Colonel Robinson among them.
"If the Logia fruits didn't tend to fall off in power later on, I'd probably consider taking one myself…"
Watching that single blast wipe out an entire ship, Brian's expression flickered. He hadn't yet decided which type of Devil Fruit he would one day eat.
The Logia types were monsters in group combat, capable of sweeping entire battlefields with ease, and in duels, their intangibility gave them incredible survivability and versatility.
The Zoan types gave overwhelming strength, stamina, and regeneration—perfect for close combat and blending with swordsmanship or martial arts.
And the Paramecia types… those were wildcards. Their powers defied logic, but the stronger one's imagination, the stronger the fruit's potential—especially when awakened, they could become outright broken.
Every type had its advantages, and that made Brian's choice all the more difficult.
"Tch. If only choosing a Devil Fruit was like picking a woman—you could try the feel first, and if you didn't like it, swap for another."
He sighed and shook his head, clearly troubled.
Meanwhile, amidst the shattered remains of the ship, Perod was gasping for breath, drenched in sweat.
He'd survived only because of sheer reflex—he had jumped the instant he felt the air distort, dodging the direct blast.
"So this… this is the power of a Logia-type Devil Fruit…"
As a noble, Perod wasn't ignorant of Devil Fruits. He knew well that eating one meant being cursed by the sea—unable to swim forever.
And as a swordsman who dreamed of traveling across the world to find stronger opponents, he had long decided never to eat one.
Astona sneered at him, eyes full of scorn.
"Scared, boy? This is the power of the Flame-Flame Fruit. You can't win."
"Hmph. Troublesome indeed," Perod muttered.
He had never fought a Devil Fruit user before. Seeing the Fire Fist's destructive might firsthand left him rattled, and for the first time, he truly feared for his life.
He even considered retreat—but the memory of his bold promise to Ann held him back.
He couldn't run now, not after swearing to slay Astona with his own hands.
At that moment, the Seventh Branch's fleet arrived, bringing with it Governor Karl, Ann, and the others.
Karl stood at the bow of his flagship, scanning the chaotic battlefield. He was looking for Brian—but after sweeping the area, his expression darkened.
"That bastard—where is he now?!"
Karl ground his teeth. To drag Brian here, he'd been forced to make outrageous promises—five warships and two fortress cannons as a reward.
Only then had Brian "generously" agreed to move out.
"Uncle, that bastard can't be relied on! Stop hoping he'll save us!"
Ann's tone was sharp with fury. To her, Brian was nothing more than a vulture—circling the dying to pick their bones. If Karl kept indulging him, the Governor's Office would be bled dry.
"You're right," Karl muttered bitterly. "I should've listened to Fire Mountain. He warned me not to put any faith in Brian—or try to buy him."
But now it was too late for regrets.
"Well, well, Karl the fool has come crawling again."
Astona's mocking voice echoed over the waves. He spread his arms wide, grinning.
"And you brought a pretty little toy along this time, too. Is she a gift for me?"
Karl's blood boiled.
"Grab the woman," Astona ordered with a lewd smile. "I've never had a Navy officer before—she'll make a fine prize."
"Aye, boss!"
Astona's men jumped into their speedboats, racing toward Karl and Ann's flagship.
"Open fire! Kill those bastards!"
At Karl's order, volleys of gunfire erupted. Bullets rained down like steel hail, but the pirates were quick—shields raised, darting left and right, they weaved through the barrage with practiced ease.
The boats drew closer and closer. The sailors on deck readied their cutlasses and bayonets, preparing for brutal close-quarters combat.
But before the pirates could board, the ship suddenly lurched violently beneath their feet.
"The hull's been breached!"
"Water's flooding in!"
"Damn it—it's the Sea Serpent Pirates!"
"They're under the water! Everyone, be careful!"
Panic spread fast. On the open sea, a hull breach was a death sentence—even elite Headquarters soldiers would struggle to stay calm in such chaos.
"George! Take Ann and get out of here!" Karl shouted.
"Uncle, I'm not leaving!"
"Go! That's an order!"
Karl's tone left no room for argument. He knew—if Ann stayed, he'd be distracted protecting her, and that would doom them both.
"Miss Ann, we must go—now!"
George had barely taken a step when a shadow fell over him.
He looked up—just in time to see a pillar of fire engulf his body.
FWOOSH!
"No!" Ann screamed.
"Relax, sweetheart," Astona drawled, landing gracefully on the deck. "You'll stay right here—with me. I'll make sure you enjoy yourself."
"You bastard! Stay away from Miss Ann!"
Perod, who had been preparing to retreat, turned back at once. The sight of Ann in danger reignited his courage. He gathered his strength, sword flashing with pale-blue light.
"Gale Flow—Lightning Flash!"
Whoosh!
His whole body blurred, wrapped in sword energy as he shot forward like a streak of blue lightning, his blade thrusting straight for Astona's throat and heart.
"It's over!"
The sword-light speared through Astona's chest—yet he didn't even flinch. The blade passed through him as if through smoke.
"What—how?!"
Perod's eyes widened in disbelief. Then agony struck his chest. He looked down to see a pillar of fire the width of a log piercing straight through his heart.
"Foolish little noble," Astona said coldly. "Did you really think you could stand against me? Even if all of you came at once—you'd still die."
He never finished the sentence.
Behind him—footsteps.
"Trying to sneak up on me? How naïve."
Astona spun, flames already gathering in his hand—
But there was no one there.
Impossible—I heard footsteps!
Before he could react further, a shadow blurred above him—
WHAM!
A crushing kick slammed into his chest, sending him flying backward, crashing through the deck and into the ship's cabin below.
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