Momousagi was already on Tsuru's Marine warship, but she couldn't enter or exit the Holy Land without a summons, so she could only wait on the warship.
Momousagi had actually given up hope for the position of Admiral, but things often turn out unexpectedly.
The less hope you have for some things, the more hopeful they become. The more hope you have for some things, the more hopeless they become.
The summons only required a phone call, and Momousagi quickly arrived at the Gorosei's meeting room.
"Vice Admiral Momousagi..."
"After collective discussion by us, the Gorosei, you are hereby officially appointed as the new Admiral of Marineford. Here are three Devil Fruits suitable for you; choose one."
Seeing Momousagi arrive, the Old Man with Swallowtail Mustache went straight to the point.
Momousagi looked at everyone present with a shocked expression, her gaze sweeping around, noticing both appreciative and questioning looks.
"Thank you, Gorosei, for your high regard..."
"But I don't think my abilities are up to the task of an Admiral."
Although Momousagi was deeply shaken, she was still clear about her own abilities and didn't get carried away by the sudden good fortune.
"Momousagi..."
"We have already considered your abilities. This is everyone's decision, you just need to accept it."
Seeing his Disciple's lack of confidence, the bald elder of the Gorosei directly reminded Momousagi that she had no choice, while also making her understand the importance of the Admiral position to her.
Momousagi, seeing that her master had spoken, turned her gaze to Tsuru, who merely smiled slightly and nodded, indicating support and encouragement.
Momousagi returned a smile and, this time, confidently walked towards the three Devil Fruits.
The first of the three Devil Fruits placed on the table was the Paramecia type "Myriad Swords Fruit," shaped like a miniature sharp sword.
After consumption, the Ability User's body can transform into a sword, or they can use their ability to summon a myriad of swords to attack enemies out of thin air. Its weakness is being completely countered by the Magnet-Magnet Fruit.
Considering Momousagi's achievements in swordsmanship, the Gorosei chose this fruit (the author created these three fruits, and thinking up these fruit abilities is indeed brain-racking).
The second fruit was the Zoan type Mythical Beast "Nether Sparrow Fruit." After consumption, the Ability User gains the ability to transform into a "Nether Sparrow" and control the power of departed Souls.
The "Nether Sparrow" ability is extremely powerful; it can use the Souls of the deceased to form powerful Soul monsters to attack enemies. Soul monsters are immune to any damage, but those attacked by them will feel a chill throughout their bodies that harms their Soul.
This chill comes from the depths of the Soul; if an opponent's Soul strength is weak, their Soul will be directly frozen to death.
If the Ability User transforms into a Nether Sparrow, they will have a temporary immortal body, but the stamina consumption is enormous, and another weakness is that it is controlled by the location.
If there are no deaths producing departed Souls in the battle location, the offensive power of the Nether Sparrow Fruit is directly weakened.
This was a fruit provided by the Gorosei, considering Momousagi's life-saving and group combat abilities, and the choice was still in Momousagi's hands.
The third fruit was the Logia type "Hurricane Fruit." After consumption, the Ability User's body can transform into wind, becoming the Dominator of wind, and is omnipresent after Fusion with the wind.
After mastering the power of wind, the Ability User can swap positions with any appearing wind, appearing at any location within their ability's range to achieve surprise attacks.
The Hurricane Fruit can increase the Ability User's speed and also enhance their survival rate, making it a truly perfect ability without flaws.
These three Devil Fruits were all hand-picked by the Gorosei for Momousagi, with the sole purpose of giving her the true strength of an Admiral, sufficient to deter minor threats.
As the Old Man with Swallowtail Mustache introduced the fruits, Momousagi gained a clear understanding of all three. Momousagi's gaze ultimately settled on the Hurricane Fruit, her intention self-evident.
The Old Man with Swallowtail Mustache of the Gorosei, seeing Momousagi's clear choice, retrieved the other two fruits, and Momousagi immediately consumed the Hurricane Fruit in front of them.
As she consumed the fruit, Momousagi gradually felt the rhythm of the surrounding wind, as if it was intimately greeting her.
Momousagi casually raised her hand, and a miniature hurricane appeared in her palm, spinning rapidly. Although small, everyone around could feel its suction.
"Admiral Momousagi..."
"Congratulations..."
"Next, you need to thoroughly familiarize yourself with your ability and develop your own techniques. We will issue a worldwide announcement."
The Old Man with Swallowtail Mustache was the first to congratulate Momousagi, hoping she would quickly improve her strength.
Momousagi acquiring the Hurricane Fruit could be called adding wings to a tiger. With this, her original 5000 Douriki value would likely double as she familiarized herself with the Hurricane Fruit.
"Momousagi..."
"I want to ask you something..."
Sengoku didn't offer any congratulations; he just wanted to confirm something.
"My battle with Kozuki Oden revealed that he possessed Kizaru's Devil Fruit ability. Does the Akatsuki Organization have the ability to plunder the Devil Fruits of the deceased?"
"Ah..."
"Indeed..."
"But I'm not sure how it's done; I was unconscious at the time."
To avoid Sengoku's probing, Momousagi did not hide anything and spoke truthfully.
The Gorosei were not surprised by Momousagi's confirmation. After all, in multiple previous battles, the Akatsuki Organization leader had displayed the abilities of the Door-Door Fruit and the Suna Suna no Mi, and the Gorosei were aware of the original owners of these Devil Fruit abilities.
"There's one more thing..."
"With Kizaru's ability, it would be very easy for him to escape. How was he killed?"
Sengoku immediately hit on the crucial question, which was also the answer the Gorosei wanted. The Gorosei also couldn't understand how Kizaru could have been killed.
"One of the Akatsuki Organization leader's Puppets seemed to have a sealing light barrier that could Seal an Ability User's abilities. After Kizaru was enveloped by that barrier, he seemed unable to use his abilities and was eventually overwhelmed by the encirclement, collapsing from exhaustion."
Momousagi answered Sengoku's questions truthfully, as she was now an Admiral and could no longer be as casual as she was as a Vice Admiral.
Sengoku was very satisfied with Momousagi's answer. This was very important intelligence, and it would help them understand this situation in future confrontations with the Akatsuki Organization leader, preventing a repeat of past mistakes.
"Gorosei..."
"This ability of the enemy is precisely why Kizaru couldn't escape. I think it's necessary to inform all Marine Ability Users about this situation to avoid a repeat. What do you think?"
Sengoku truly lived up to his title as the "Tactician." Every question he asked pinpointed the key aspects of Pain's ability. This would make it difficult for Pain to rely on the Sealing Technique Absorption Seal to ambush Marine Ability Users in the future.
"Sengoku's consideration is very correct. Inform Akainu to relay it as you said. Also... have Akainu come to the Holy Land in three days; we have something to instruct him on."
"If there's nothing else, you may all disperse."
The Old Man with Swallowtail Mustache had always been the representative of the Gorosei. Usually, he would issue commands based on their collective discussion, though occasionally other elders would also issue commands.
"Gorosei..."
"Greetings, Imu-sama..."
This is the Empty Throne in Holy Land Mary Geoise, and the person seated on the Throne is Imu-sama, as addressed by the Gorosei.
All the Gorosei were now kneeling in a neat row, not daring to look up at the person on the Throne.
The Gorosei were considered by the world to be at the pinnacle of power, yet Imu-sama, seated on the Throne, was an existence that made the Gorosei not even dare to breathe too loudly.
From this, it can be inferred that Imu-sama's identity is very likely one of the 20 kings from many years ago.
Imu-sama may have undergone an eternal life surgery or consumed an eternal life Devil Fruit to survive until now.
Due to their special identity, no one knows of Imu-sama's existence except for the Gorosei.
Imu-sama's eyes closely resemble Pain's "Rinnegan" and also bear some resemblance to Hawkeye's eyes, leading one to speculate that Hawkeye might be his descendant.
Looking at the Empty Throne where Imu-sama sits, there are many weapons plunged into the front. If counted carefully, there are 19, and the Throne itself seems like the last one.
The World Government was established by the original 20 kings, but the king of the Alabasta kingdom did not come to Holy Land Mary Geoise.
The other 19 kings settled here and were called Celestial Dragons, and their descendants consequently enjoyed wealth, status, and superiority.
These weapons are undoubtedly those held by those kings of yesteryear, and the Throne, resembling a giant sword, is rumored to be one of the Ancient Weapons... To be continued...
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