70 Chapter 70
I could have consumed the fruit anywhere safe, away from the sea. But I knew in my heart that I was not meant to become a landlubber forever, eventually I would overcome my weaknesses, and I was willing to go to any length to achieve it, My instinct believed in that possibility wholeheartedly . Defying death twice already, I sought to challenge fate once again. If my intuition proved wrong, I would be buried beneath the sea in the future for my recklessness, like many others who might have tried to challenge the weakness that came with the devil fruit, and so be it. Without hesitation, I finally decided to consume the rumble-rumble fruit in hand. Even if the fruit was the creation of the devil himself, I would make this power my own, answering only to my will and not fearing the sea.
As the taste of the fruit flooded my senses, I felt its power merging with my being. It seemed to respond to the sea water, as if every devil fruit had a will of its own. My Voice of All Things made me understand the fruit's struggle, challenging the dominance of the sea itself. With one last thought, I took the last bite of the Devil Fruit right in the heart of the small island, right in the middle of the turbulent ocean.
As I sank deeper into the feeling of the new found state with each bite, a profound transformation began to unfold. With the legendary Rumble Rumble Fruit fully consumed, I felt its power coursing through me like lightning itself. As I took the final bite, a surge of energy rippled outward, igniting a spectacle that would forever alter the fabric of the sea.
At that precise moment, the skies above cracked open with a deafening roar. Bolts of lightning streaked across the darkened heavens, illuminating the horizon with an otherworldly brilliance. The clouds swirled and churned, swirling into a tempestuous vortex fueled by my newfound power.
Beneath the waves, the ocean stirred with a ferocity unseen before. Tidal waves rose and crashed with thunderous might, carving a path through the depths with unstoppable force. The sea itself seemed to tremble in awe of the electrifying display unfolding within its depths.
As the lightning fruit merged with my being, I felt a surge of raw energy coursing through every fiber of my being. It was as if the very essence of the storm had taken root within me, granting me command over the forces of nature themselves.
Above the surface, Issho and the few civilians who still remained conscious watched in wonder as the sea roiled and churned with untold power. The air crackled with electricity, sending shivers down their spines as they bore witness to the birth of a new legend.
With a final burst of lightning, the transformation was complete. The sea no longer held the calmness it once held; even though I was on the shore, the momentum that I was creating completely left the surrounding waters in chaos. Everything within me had a transformation, my observation haki just skyrocketed and reached an unprecedented level, As for my physique, it was being tempered with every breath I took, and the lighting energy coursing through me was tempering my physique continuously, I even felt that the weakness of the sea was reduced somewhat, but I didn't have a true comparison about how much restraint the sea would have on each individual devil fruit user.
Although I did not know how exactly this worked, maybe it was because of my dual souls or maybe because I was not a being from this world, but I did not care anymore. I was brought to this world, maybe as a mistake or with a purpose; however, I had resolved myself to make this life my own.
I emerged from the other island, which was already sinking, unable to handle the sheer raw power of lightning and haki that I had emitted, a figure wreathed in crackling energy, a living embodiment of the storm itself. The sea bowed before me, its waves parting in reverence for the power I now wielded.
In that moment, I knew that I had become something more than mortal. I had become a force of nature, a harbinger of the tempest to come. And as I gazed upon the world with eyes alight with newfound purpose, I knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
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Deep within the heart of Pangea Castle lay a place so forbidden that even the five elders required express permission to enter. Here, amidst the labyrinthine corridors, lay a beautiful garden where the enigmatic ruler of the world, Imu, resided. It was Imu's personal sanctuary, a tranquil oasis hidden from the prying eyes of the world.
Within the garden, Imu stood as if frozen in time, surrounded by a myriad of colorful butterflies. The delicate creatures flitted around Imu's outstretched palm, dancing to an unseen melody. Suddenly, Imu's eyes snapped open, a flicker of something akin to excitement igniting within them. It had been centuries since Imu felt such a rush—the thrill of a challenge stirring within his immortal soul.
In a swift motion, Imu clenched his fist, and the butterflies fell lifeless to the ground. Thoughts raced through Imu's mind as he contemplated the significance of the disturbance in the sea. This was no ordinary occurrence; someone had shattered the chains of fate, defying the impossible. Imu's pressure was completely released, which immediately descended the entire Holy Land into chaos.
"Joyboy, have you finally revealed yourself?" Imu murmured, his voice tinged with anticipation. But then a realization dawned on him. "No, this isn't Joyboy. This is someone different, someone who even wills to defy the curse of the sea." A manic laughter bubbled forth from Imu's lips, a sound that echoed through the silent garden, and waves after waves of Conqueror's haki burst forth, sending ripples throughout the holy land.
Imu's thoughts momentarily strayed towards the teen who still defiantly held onto his life, waiting for his brother to come to his rescue, Even Imu himself was amused by the resilience of the Donquixote family child. Despite seeing the heart of his brother, the kid held on defiantly against all odds for more than three months now. It was just a fleeting thought. Imu then thought of the disturbance in the sea.
"This world is truly fascinating," Imu exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with newfound vigor. "I never imagined I would encounter another being capable of stirring my soul as Joyboy once did. Finally, after all this time, it seems I can feel alive once more!"
In response to Imu's outburst, the Knights of the Gods swiftly mobilized, securing the entirety of the forbidden area. Imu's existence was a closely guarded secret, hidden even from the World Nobles themselves. However, the sudden loss of composure from the supreme existence had reverberated throughout Mary Geoise, rendering all but the strongest individuals unconscious due to the sheer overwhelming power of the haki.
The Elders, alarmed by the unprecedented turn of events, hastened towards the core of Pangea Castle. It had been centuries since Imu had displayed such extreme reactions, the last time being during the fabled clash during the time of Joyboy. As they approached, a sense of dread gripped them, for they knew that whatever had transpired within the depths of the castle was beyond their comprehension.
As the five elders reached the central area, the resounding laughter of Imu persisted, echoing through the silent corridors of Pangea Castle. The Knights of the Gods (God's Kinights) had effectively sealed off the entire vicinity, ensuring that only those privy to Imu sama's existence and of admiral-level strength or higher remained conscious amidst the overwhelming pressure emitted by the supreme ruler.
"Imu-sama," the five elders intoned in unison, their voices reverent and laden with apprehension. Yet, none among them dared to intrude upon the sanctity of the garden where Imu resided. Instead, they knelt outside its boundaries, patiently awaiting the moment when the ruler would deign to address them.
Minutes stretched into an agonizing eternity as the elders waited in mounting unease under the sheer might of the one true ruler of this. Imu's laughter continued unabated, a chilling reminder of the unparalleled power that lay within the confines of the castle. Despite the urgency of the situation, no one dared disturb the ruler's reverie.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Imu's laughter subsided, and the oppressive atmosphere began to ease. With a sense of trepidation, the elders watched as Imu emerged from the garden, every step exuding an aura of absolute authority and supremacy.
With graceful movements, Imu made their way to the vacant throne, a symbol of dominion over the world itself. As Imu seated themselves upon the throne, a palpable silence descended upon the chamber, the air thick with anticipation. All eyes were fixed on the supreme ruler, awaiting their command.
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I stood there, reborn in the baptism of lightning, feeling the surge of unlimited potential coursing through every fiber of my being. Previously, I had been considered a genius, but now, under the influence of this unparalleled power, I transcended mere genius. My Observation Haki reached new heights, delving into realms previously uncharted. Even my swordsmanship experienced a breakthrough, with each strike infused with the crackling energy of the storm.
As I stepped back onto the shore, the sky above darkened with the dance of countless lightning bolts, their thunderous roars echoing like the primal cries of ancient beasts. Issho, standing nearby, strained to withstand the overwhelming pressure emanating from my transformed presence. Though formidable in his own right, he had yet to reach the pinnacle of admiral-level strength.
Nevertheless, I saw potential in him; his current strength was akin to that of a pseudo-admiral, like Katakuri at his peak in the canon. Despite our differing ideologies, I resolved to nurture Issho's strength if he chose to follow me and my family, preparing him to face even the mightiest of adversaries, perhaps even the Yonko themselves.
My physical form had undergone a radical metamorphosis, and I felt that I now possessed a physique that rivaled even that of the legendary Kaido with his mythical dragon fruit. Maybe in the future I will completely surpass everyone due to the continued tempering of my body. With every passing moment, my body continued to temper itself, growing stronger with each surge of lightning coursing through my veins.
As I retrieved the crucifix from around my neck, its blade fashioned from seastone, I felt a sense of invincibility wash over me. Although I felt weakness rush out as I plunged the blade into my palm, I held on, not wanting to give up. Even the dreaded weakness of seastone seemed inconsequential in the face of my newfound power.
For Issho, my transformation elicited a mixture of disbelief and astonishment. Initially, he assumed madness had seized me, unaware of my intention to consume a devil fruit in the heart of the tiny little land mass within the sea itself. As a fellow Devil Fruit user, he understood all too well the vulnerability that came with being a landlubber.
Yet, here before him stood someone who was trying to defy fate itself, Ross, even with a little sea stone blade through his palm, was trying to invoke his fruit powers, and despite the strain on his body, it was as if the kid was trying to defy the very weakness that plagued all Devil Fruit users. Though his curiosity tempted him to pry into my secrets and what exactly I was trying to accomplish with the sea stone, Issho recognized the immense power I wielded, sensing that, if provoked, I could effortlessly extinguish his life, despite being half his age.
"Ross, how? How is this possible?" Issho's disbelief was palpable; his voice tinged with astonishment. He struggled to comprehend the miracle unfolding before him, wondering if he had erred in blinding himself to the world's wonders. Perhaps fate itself had conspired to conceal this momentous event from all but him, shielding him from the overwhelming pressure of Ross's Conqueror's Haki. Normally, any devil fruit user would completely become powerless in the presence of sea stone, but Ross was fighting back, and even though his face was pale, Issho could say for sure that this was unprecedented.
