New World, somewhere in the sea, on the colossal golden ship, Gran Tesoro.
The Gran Tesoro was now a landscape of collapsed buildings, cracks, fissures, and craters. The once luxurious ship was now a desolate, war-torn wasteland.
The wounded and dead numbered no less than two thousand; bodies and wailing injured could be seen everywhere on the streets and among the rubble.
The battlefield in the High-Roller Zone was completely unrecognizable. There wasn't a single intact high-rise building, and the ground was no longer flat. It was crisscrossed with deep fissures, and several massive sections of the earth had been torn and jutted up.
A long, deep sword slash extended from the High-Roller Zone to the Common Zone for over a thousand meters, almost cleaving the ship down to its lower levels.
The Golden Emperor Hotel stood like a crumbling tower, and inside one of its few surviving luxury suites, Doflamingo, Aeridar, and a host of other powerhouses had gathered. Even Oz Widwen, a World Government agent, was present.
This group of heavy hitters looked a mess. Aeridar, Tesoro, and Oz Widwen were the most severely injured, their bodies swathed in white bandages. Doflamingo, Jack, Oven, Oliver, and Smythe Betilla all had varying degrees of injuries. Only Ben Beckman, Yasopp, and Perospero were left unscathed.
"It's incredible. That level of power... he truly is a monster among monsters." Tesoro's face was pale, a hint of lingering fear visible in his eyes.
"A legend is a legend for a reason. Otherwise, he wouldn't be a single man who can rival a Yonko, Fuffuffuffuffu~" Doflamingo chuckled, his signature pink feather coat draped over his shoulders, his chest bare and wrapped in bandages.
"We underestimated the power of someone at that level. We wouldn't be in this state otherwise," Aeridar said, leaning back on the sofa, his face etched with exhaustion.
"Hmph."
Jack remained silent, his expression grim.
"He isn't even a swordsman, yet his swordsmanship is so formidable. Today was a very educational experience," Oliver said, stroking Mikazuki Munechika and Nagamitsu, which rested on his lap. He felt his bond with the new swords had deepened.
"Power... power..."
Betilla gnawed on her bottom lip, almost as if she were in a trance. Though her injuries weren't severe, the battle had inflicted a significant psychological blow.
"Kukuku~ Legends of the old era... I didn't expect Redfield-san to be this strong besides that old man Whitebeard. He truly lives up to the name Redfield. Even Mama's power probably doesn't exceed this." Perospero was laughing, but he was also shaken by the overwhelming power of Redfield. He hadn't been injured, but the man was just too strong. He could clearly feel that the Redfield's strength was in no way inferior to that of his mother, Charlotte Linlin.
"Being called a 'legend' has a reason. Though Redfield has been relatively low-key these past few years, he must have his own reasons for trying to seize the Vigor-Vigor Fruit this time." Ben Beckman frowned. "When he first arrived, he said that while the Vigor-Vigor Fruit wasn't what he was hoping for, it was a very good substitute."
"Ben Beckman, you mean..." Oz Widwen's face shifted as if he'd understood the implication.
"Exactly!"
Ben Beckman nodded and continued, "Redfield isn't a Devil Fruit user. He's a powerhouse known for his martial arts and Haki. But he's getting on in years, he's even a bit older than Whitebeard..."
"And he feels his power is on a downward trend with his age, so he hopes to find a Devil Fruit that can restore his youth, allowing him to maintain his peak strength." Before Ben Beckman could finish, Doflamingo picked up where he left off.
"And the Vigor-Vigor Fruit just happens to have that ability. It's also a coincidence that Redfield was here on vacation, and even more of a coincidence that he had an accomplice at the auction house," Aeridar said with a wry smile, his eyes narrowed.
As he spoke, Aeridar glanced toward the door. Everyone else followed his gaze. Standing by the doorway was a lifelike golden statue. The figure was none other than Braveco Gilly from the Crimson Family.
"Thank goodness! Thank goodness!"
Oz Widwen muttered to himself, his face filled with relief.
If Redfield had managed to snatch and eat the Vigor-Vigor Fruit, a man who could maintain his full power would inevitably disrupt the balance of the seas and threaten the World Government's authority.
This was something the World Government would never allow. Fortunately, despite his strength, Redfield was defeated by their combined forces. It was a shame they couldn't capture him and he managed to escape.
Tesoro had initially detected the golden dust inside Redfield's body, a power he could have used to his advantage. However, Doflamingo had subtly hinted for him to hold back.
Doflamingo knew that a martial arts master of Redfield's caliber could control every part of his body. If Tesoro's little trick was discovered early on, Redfield could expel the golden dust with a bit of time and effort.
So, the hidden card was saved for the very end as a last resort. Just when Doflamingo thought he had the kill shot, Redfield did the unthinkable. He violently expanded his pores and used his own surging blood to flush out the golden dust—a self-harming method to break free from the restriction. He then dodged Doflamingo's killing blow.
Due to severe blood loss and serious injuries, Redfield's strength was greatly diminished. Under the fierce, combined assault of everyone present, he ultimately leaped into the sea and fled.
As for Braveco Gilly of the Crimson Family, Tesoro turned him into a golden statue during the pursuit.
Ben Beckman's brow was furrowed in careful analysis. "Redfield is a martial arts expert, and the Devil Fruit that would suit him best should be a powerful Zoan-type. But a fruit with the ability to restore youth…"
"The Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire, a Mythical Zoan-type!"
Aeridar blurted out the long name, interrupting Ben Beckman. "This fruit has the ability to turn its user back to their youthful self and even restore their abilities to what they were when they were young through drinking blood. It's an incredibly powerful fruit and is likely the best option for Redfield."
"That's it!"
The revelation dawned on everyone at once.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a violent explosion shook the entire room. Even the massive Golden Emperor Hotel trembled slightly.
"Nani?! What's happening now?!" Tesoro jumped to his feet in shock.
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