There has always been a saying on the sea:
The strength of a Devil Fruit user doesn't depend on the user themselves, but on their creativity and imagination.
That saying... is quite wrong.
Strictly speaking, the ability of the Devil Fruit itself determines the user's "starting point."
For instance, imagine identical twins. One eats the Rubber-Rubber Fruit, and the other eats the Magma-Magma Fruit.
In a short period, the one who ate the Magma-Magma Fruit will inevitably be stronger than the one who ate the Rubber-Rubber Fruit.
This is a certain outcome.
But the starting point isn't the main thing; the strength of an ability can also change through the user's effort and training.
Users with a lower starting point will ultimately need to put in a thousand or even a hundred thousand times more effort than ordinary people. Only then can they stand firm on this sea.
But... is there a possibility?
What if someone with an extremely high starting point also puts in a thousand or even a hundred thousand times more effort than ordinary people?
—If such a person truly existed, what would that scenario look like?
...
The answer is, of course, simple.
Just look at the "peak" of every era. You'll find many such people.
...
In fact, the so-called "peak" encompasses many types of individuals.
Not just those with high starting points and considerable effort, but also those who are naturally strong, those who compensate for their starting point with effort... and so on.
In short, to the entire era, they are a group of quite interesting people.
Ryan Rowan is, of course, one of them.
And his views on his own strength are, naturally, quite interesting.
...
One day, when Nefertari curiously asked Rowan where his "strength" came from, Rowan's answer was this theory:
"Perhaps, it's because of the Devil Fruit?"
...Huh?
Nefertari blinked, then found it somewhat amusing.
History is not short of people who ate the Sand-Sand Fruit, but only Ryan Rowan has developed it to this extent.
And this person claims his achievements come from the Devil Fruit?
Such a theory is a bit ridiculous.
But Rowan then shook his head, indicating he wasn't finished speaking.
"Our 'attitude' towards Devil Fruits is somewhat different."
"How so?"
Nefertari became interested.
Rowan countered, "If you ate the Sand-Sand Fruit, how would you use it?"
"I wouldn't..."
"The optimal solution—tell me your optimal solution," Rowan emphasized.
Nefertari thought for a moment and replied, "I would try to control your sand soldiers, but I wouldn't have your level of precise control. I might focus on developing large-scale destructive attacks..."
"Hahahaha!"
Before Nefertari could finish, Rowan's laughter interrupted him.
"That's right, exactly!"
Rowan clapped and laughed, "Your understanding of the words 'Devil Fruit' is essentially 'power'."
He stirred the sand particles swirling around him.
"Your development of Devil Fruit abilities is more like an exploration of how to use 'power'."
"But I'm different..."
As Rowan spoke, he suddenly drew a scepter from the side and swung it around the room.
Nefertari was naturally displeased when he saw this, but not because Rowan might accidentally injure him, as that was impossible.
The real reason for his displeasure was that Rowan's actions were messing up the arrangement of his room!
It would be troublesome to tidy up!
On the other hand, Rowan was full of enthusiasm, continuously performing various moves as if enemies were attacking him from all sides.
Finally, the "enemy" in the farthest corner, wielding a dagger, lunged at Rowan.
Rowan's spear-like scepter was too late to parry, but he suddenly swung his left fist and smashed that "enemy" into pieces with one punch!
Clatter...
The sound of Rowan clenching his left fist reached Nefertari's ears.
"See, it's like this!"
Rowan said excitedly with a laugh, "You view Devil Fruits as 'power' to swing a spear or a fist, but actually, the spear in my hand is the so-called 'Devil Fruit'!"
Hearing this, Nefertari was stunned.
He pondered the deeper meaning behind Rowan's words.
But facing his old friend, Rowan clearly didn't want to make him think too hard, as he already did enough thinking in his daily life.
"For me, a Devil Fruit is a 'weapon'!"
Rowan laughed heartily, "A 'weapon' is something you use when it's suitable and put away when it's not. 'Power' is the basis for using any 'weapon'."
Swish... swish...
Two enemies made of sand appeared in front of and behind Rowan.
Rowan first thrust his spear to pierce the one in front of him, then twisted his body and punched the enemy behind him on the head.
The two enemies instantly dissolved into piles of sand.
"I can form sand into soldiers to fight enemies, or I can make sand transform into weapons to kill them..."
"I can use 'weapons' to defeat enemies, or I can use my own power to wield other weapons, or even combine two weapons and use my own power to fight together!"
" 'I'—am the power that controls the 'weapon' that is the Devil Fruit!"
Rowan's voice echoed in the room and in Nefertari's ears.
Nefertari pondered for a moment and couldn't help but smile.
Yes, this was the [Golden Dawn] Ryan Rowan.
Even a Devil Fruit couldn't change his intensely arrogant personality.
But... what he said actually made some sense?
Nefertari wasn't a Devil Fruit user, so he couldn't fully understand the mindset of one.
What is a Devil Fruit to a user who has eaten it?
...
Time returns to the present.
Rowan is still practicing his theory to this day.
For him, a Devil Fruit is a "weapon" that can maximize his own power.
The Devil Fruit is one "weapon," intellect is another "weapon," and the immense combat experience is also a "weapon"!
—All can be used against the enemy!
Countless tiny sand grains gathered in Rowan's pupils, forming two small "sand tables."
Even to the Golden Lion's eyes, only this much was visible.
In reality, the intricacy of these two small sand tables was even finer than what the Golden Lion could imagine in his mind.
It was Rowan's ultimate prediction of all "possibilities";
It was also Rowan's ultimate calculation of how he should act!
"Hiss... Whoosh..."
Rowan took a breath.
His consumption of air, far exceeding that of ordinary people, barely supported the terrifying amount of mental calculation he was performing.
This unusual state stunned the Golden Lion.
"What is this?"
He murmured.
Rowan thought for a moment and took a completely "perfect" step.
He opened his mouth and replied:
"This is—'Me'."
You can read 50+ more chapter on patreon com/JYouyi