90 Chapter 90: Stone Fruit

"··· I've lost,"

With the Sandai Kitetsu pressed against her neck, Linglong readily admitted defeat.

Although she was still in a decent state, if Rosinante hadn't held back just now, her head would have already been rolling.

"Such incredible agility,"

Linglong stepped back and sincerely saluted Rosinante with her hands cupped together, filled with genuine admiration.

"It's a pity that your 'swordsmanship' is a bit rough, otherwise I should have been defeated even earlier."

"I appreciate your concession,"

Rosinante replied calmly, his mouth still gripping the Sandai Kitetsu.

If the girl in front of her knew that Rosinante had only picked up a weapon a year ago and had gone from that point to now, she wouldn't have said "your swordsmanship is a bit rough."

"Who's next?"

As Linglong returned to the spectator seats, Rosinante, who had regained some sensation in his arms, removed the Sandai Kitetsu from her mouth and raised his head calmly to ask.

···

Even the daughter of the Eight-Treasure Water Army's leader has been taken down. This brat from the Don Quixote family has become quite a freak, hasn't she?

The speed just now, not only the girls in the arena, even the people in the spectator seats didn't react in time. She's practically a monster!

However,

Although Rosinante had won, it was apparent to anyone with discerning eyes that he was severely injured.

"I'll take care of it..."

A pirate captain leapt down, smirking as he drew her cutlass, preparing to take advantage of the situation.

"Kneel!"

Just at that moment, an angry voice echoed from the spectator seats, and a tsunami-like killing intent crushed down on the pirate captain.

This killing intent was filled with ferocity, destruction, and an overwhelming superiority. It pierced through the pirate captain, leaving her full of holes as if from a thousand arrows. At the same time, it surged like a tidal wave, threatening to drown her consciousness in an instant.

Clang,

In the end, the cutlass fell from the captain's hand, and the pirate who was planning to take advantage of the situation knelt on the ground.

Her eyes rolled back, foam spewed from her mouth—clearly, she had been knocked unconscious by the overwhelming Conqueror's Haki!

Rosinante looked unexpectedly toward the spectator seats. he hadn't felt the Conqueror's Haki's impact, indicating that Doflamingo had already mastered the skill of 'Haoshoku Haki concentration'.

"Who wants to fight? I'll accompany you!"

With a foot on the railing of the spectator seats, Doflamingo exuded his Conqueror's Haki and scanned the surroundings, causing most of the guests to instinctively avert their gaze.

That guy who was trying to take advantage just now was, after all, a 'master' with a bounty of 25 million. He was actually knocked out cold by this kid's roar... no, it was the Conqueror's Haki directly.

Another monster!

"The Don Quixote brothers, good."

On the podium, Vice Admiral Smoker watched the scene with a serious expression and nodded in satisfaction.

These two youths alone are superior to over ten thousand elite soldiers!

The odds of the restoration of the kingdom just increased a bit more.

"The final victor—"

Taking a step forward, the young prince Vince Smoker extended his hand, pointing towards Rosinante in the arena.

"Don Quixote Rosinante !"

————

"Gently, gently!"

"Hehehe, letting you act tough~~"

"Wuhahaha, not many chances to bully a 'champion'."

In the arena, Rosinante was being playfully jostled by Trafalgar Law and Jewelry Bonney, turning his eyes like crazy. Despite her imposing presence earlier, cleanly defeating the Eight-Treasure Water Army's leader's daughter, she was already riddled with injuries.

After blocking the 'Eight Charge Fist · War Palm,' the numbness in her arms had only started to recede; immediately afterward, a searing pain began to roam all over, penetrating deep into her bones.

The 'Supersonic Steps' that erupted lastly came at a high price: large portions of her leg muscles were torn, moving felt as if she were walking on hot coals and blades.

This was also why Trafalgar Law and Jewelry Bonney were having so much fun. One on the left and one on the right, they supported Rosinante, escorting her back to the spectator seats.

"Wait a second, that one~~"

As a group of people goofed around, the white-coated man beside Vice Admiral Smoker walked over. He looked calm but was rubbing his hands together in a restless manner, the excitement in his eyes impossible to conceal.

"You need treatment? Our Vinsmoke family's biotechnology..."

"Thanks, but no need."

Rosinante shook his head as he took the tangible 'Water of Life' from Law and drank from it.

"My injuries aren't severe, so there's no need to trouble you."

"Is that so? What a pity... cough, cough,"

Coughing once, the white-coated man left disappointedly. He would love to give someone like Rosinante a thorough examination immediately to uncover his powerful secret.

"Mr. Rosinante " just as the white-coated man left, Vince Smoker, dressed in an engagement suit resembling a military uniform, his golden hair falling behind his head like a lion's mane, tall and handsome, approached. In his hand was a grayish-white mango with crosshatched patterns.

"This is your prize. Strong individuals should receive everything."

After handing over the 'Stone Stone Fruit' to Rosinante, Vince Smoker extended an invitation.

"I'll be hosting a small banquet later. Can the two of you from the Don Quixote family grace us with your presence?"

Although an invitation, the tall, handsome young prince (long-haired version of Sanji) used a declarative tone, causing Doflamingo to raise an eyebrow.

"Sure,"

After sending off Vince Smoker, Rosinante turned his head to the displeased Doflamingo.

"Endure it for now. We don't have the power to go against the Vinsmoke family right now."

"No need to worry, I understand."

Although he said that, as their influence continued to grow and their subordinates increased, Doflamingo slowly regained some of his pride as a Celestial Dragon. Whether that was a good or bad thing, Rosinante couldn't tell.

"Then, the next question is—"

With victory secured, of course, it was time to enjoy the fruit.

Rosinante placed the newly obtained 'Stone Stone Fruit' in the midst of the group.

"Who will eat this Devil Fruit?"

Among the Don Quixote family, Rosinante, Doflamingo, Trebol, Jora, and Pica were all Devil Fruit users. It was impossible for anyone to eat a second Devil Fruit without dying on the spot.

That left only Diamante, Vergo, and Baby 5.

"I'll pass,"

Vergo was the first to shake his head.

"I want to train and awaken 'Busoshoku Haki.' After eating the 'Stone Stone Fruit,' I might subconsciously use the Devil Fruit power for defense in battle."

He finished speaking, his cheeks confidently holding up the spoon.

"How can mere rocks compare to muscles honed through training?"

···

"Alright,"

Haki was a kind of power that originated in one's 'mind.'

Fearless willpower could create miracles, and in this world, it wasn't a joke but a reality.

But once that willpower was lost, strength would plummet: the future Magical Duck and Old Sand were examples of that.

"Diamante, how about you?"

In Rosinante's view, swordsmen should focus on intertwining their Haki, creating black blades, to become top-notch swordsmasters in the world. But if Diamante wanted to eat a Devil Fruit, he wouldn't stop her.

"Rosinante, do you think I should eat it?"

Unexpectedly, after thinking for a few seconds, Diamante threw the question back at Rosinante.

"You're a swordsman, so if you're considering a Devil Fruit..."

"Fruit that enhances sword skills or grants weapon powers would be good. 'Stone Stone Fruit' isn't bad either, but..."

"While Devil Fruits are important, Haki determines a person's upper limit."

Many strong individuals had mastered their Devil Fruit powers, but without sufficient Haki, they were glass cannons. Once someone seized an opportunity, it was easy to take them down in one fell swoop.

Especially for a swordsman like Diamante—if he didn't believe his 'sword' could cut through everything, how could he reach the pinnacle?

"So, my advice is to diligently practice Haki."

Even Rosinante herself was the same. Even if she had eaten a relatively minor-effect Devil Fruit like the 'Fruit of Silence,' she wouldn't relax her training in Haki.

Currently on the Grand Line, with the iron fists of the middle-aged Cap, how many ability users had he toppled?

And Roger, also a powerless individual, must have realized he was terminally ill and was preparing to set sail for the final island, Laugh Tale, about to be crowned as the 'Pirate King.'

So, mastering Haki was the way to become a top-tier powerhouse.

"Since Rosinante put it that way."

With her left hand holding the extra-long Western sword, Diamante gestured with her right hand.

"Then I'll practice Haki. I won't consider eating a Devil Fruit until I've mastered Haki!"

"Alright,"

Rosinante nodded.

"That's a good plan too. If everyone on the ship were Devil Fruit users and we encountered situations like diving deep into the sea, wouldn't we all be waiting for death together?"

Since Vergo and Diamante both declined, the 'Stone Stone Fruit' ultimately belonged to Baby 5.

Facing the Devil Fruit that Rosinante handed over, the burly and towering Baby 5 silently picked up the 1 billion Beri worth of power source between her thumb and forefinger.

"By the way, the taste of Devil Fruits is awful. You only need to take one bite—"

Toss,

Standing over three meters tall, as massive as a castle wall, Baby 5's two fingers picked up the fruit like a lychee and tossed the 1 billion Beri worth 'Stone Stone Fruit' into her mouth, then turned to Rosinante.

*Gulon,*

"What did you just say?"

···

"No, it's nothing."

For Baby 5, even chewing the Devil Fruit was unnecessary. She swallowed it skin and all in one go. This action left Rosinante, Doflamingo, Jora, and others around her with complex expressions.

Back then, they had all tasted the horrifying taste...

Just the thought of it made several of them feel queasy.

————

"What a shame,"

"Eaten... That was worth 1 billion Beri—"

Seeing Baby 5 directly swallow the 'Stone Stone Fruit' in one bite, many guests from the Don Quixote family hidden in the surroundings let out sighs of regret.

If they hadn't eaten the Devil Fruit immediately, they could have bought, stolen, fought for, or deceived their way to obtaining it. But now that it had been eaten, even if the consumer died, the reborn Devil Fruit would randomly appear in any corner of the world. Acquiring the 'Stone Stone' ability was no longer possible.

————

PS: After the death of a Devil Fruit consumer, the fruit will randomly appear in another part of the world.

There's a theory among fans: after the death of a Devil Fruit consumer, the pattern of the Devil Fruit will reappear on nearby fruits.

Many people believe this because during Punk Hazard (the ice-fire island), when Caesar made the massively poisonous Smiley explode, the pattern of the Devil Fruit appeared on the nearby fruits.

But those should have been 'artificial Devil Fruits,' and Smiley exploded due to the conflicting effects of two Devil Fruits.

—It was after eating the apple with the pattern that Smiley exploded.

If the fruit appeared nearby upon the death of a user, it would be far-fetched that no one discovered it over the past 800 years.

There's also the concept of Paramecia and Zoan fruits, originally under the command of the Blackbeard Pirates but later eaten by Shiryu and Bartolomeo.

It's well known that Wano Country had closed its borders, so how did these two types of fruits get out? Could it be that Wano Country didn't have these two kinds of fruits?

If they only transferred nearby, there would be no need for the Revolutionary Army members to be held captive. Killing to obtain a fruit—how long would it be before all ability users belonged to the World Government? How could pirates and the navy resist?

And recently, the Five Elders admitted in person that the 'Nikyu Nikyu no Mi' could automatically evade the World Government's search.

So, the premise in this story is that after a Devil Fruit user dies, the fruit will randomly be reborn in another part of the world.

As for Blackbeard's case, it can only be explained that the Yami Yami no Mi can strip away the 'Devil Fruit' of a recently deceased user.

————

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(End of this chapter)