How would Vinsmoke Judge describe the situation before him right now?
He couldn't.
Because it was truly a scene he never could have imagined, not even in his dreams.
Who would have thought that the "messenger" who broke through most of Germa 66's defenses with wooden weapons, was just one of Ryan Rowan's "moves"?
Behind the mask on his face, Judge's pupils contracted. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
How is this possible?
As if sensing the surprise in Judge's eyes, the messenger patiently explained:
"Actually, the principle is very simple."
"Do you know Brother Donquixote Doflamingo, the 'Heavenly Yaksha,' and Gecko Moria, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
Judge nodded instinctively.
Not only did he know them.
Leaving aside Moria, that good-for-nothing who became decadent in the Devil's Triangle after being defeated by Kaido, the "Beast,"
Just talking about Brother Donquixote Doflamingo, the "Heavenly Yaksha."
As both hailed from the North Blue, Judge and Brother Doflamingo knew each other to some extent.
Judge had even considered a proposal for Germa 66 to temporarily cooperate with the Donquixote Family.
It was a shame that Doflamingo was too insane. His ambition was no less than Judge's, who hoped for Germa Kingdom to reign over the North Blue again. Judge felt that cooperating with such a man was too dangerous, so he chose to put it aside for the time being.
Anyway, there wasn't much benefit for Germa Kingdom in cooperating, so there was no need to take that risk.
It wouldn't be too late to cooperate when the Donquixote Family actually had some value.
After all, "Germa 66" always had enough leverage to participate in any cooperation, anytime, anywhere.
But Judge never expected that the Donquixote Family, along with Brother Doflamingo himself, would be destroyed in this small country, the Kingdom of Aden!
Why would the "messenger" created by Rowan suddenly bring up this name now?
The messenger gestured.
"Brother Donquixote Doflamingo has a move called 'Shadows-Shadows Thread' – that is, a clone made of silk threads, a type of ability from the String-String Fruit."
"Moria is similar. His Flash-Flash Fruit allows him to have a technique called 'Shadow Warrior,' which can create a shadow clone."
"My move is similar to theirs..."
The messenger slowly explained, but a deep... sense of conflict surged within Judge's heart.
He couldn't put his finger on it, but it was a very complex and unpleasant feeling.
After all, everyone knew that there was a fundamental difference between the "messenger" before him and Doflamingo's silk clone or Moria's Shadow Warrior!
Those two simply used their Devil Fruit abilities to condense two "clones" with certain characteristics.
The distance between the clone and the original body could not be too far, and it was impossible to detach from the original body's control.
But the "messenger" before him was different.
Because according to the intelligence, the "Golden Dawn" Ryan Rowan would never address Judge as "Your Excellency," nor would he offer a "salute" to Germa 66!
At the same time, Ryan Rowan himself was not present. He wasn't even in the North Blue!
And looking at this so-called clone, the "messenger."
Not only did it possess strong self-awareness, but its words and actions bore no resemblance to Ryan Rowan!
It was clearly a living "person." How could it be a clone created by a Devil Fruit ability?
How did Ryan Rowan manage this?!
Judge's inner scientist made him ask unconsciously.
"This... How is this possible?"
Using Devil Fruit abilities to "forge" an independent individual with self-awareness out of nothing – how is this possible!
Devil Fruits that can control "souls" do indeed exist.
For example, Charlotte Linlin, "Big Mom."
There are even Devil Fruits that can rewrite "reality."
After the destruction of the Donquixote Family, secret intelligence about the family flowed into the black market.
Among them, the ability of Sugar, the user of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, was particularly noteworthy.
Those turned into toys by Sugar's Devil Fruit ability would completely lose their "existence" on a physical level.
Such an ability was already terrifying enough.
But Ryan Rowan's situation was different.
He ate the Sand-Sand Fruit – the specific abilities of this fruit had already made a name for itself on the seas once, thanks to Crocodile, the "Sand Crocodile."
It was an extremely "standard" Logia-type Devil Fruit.
Its power was immense, but the abilities and principles of its techniques were simple and direct.
Let alone not being related to the so-called "soul," it was difficult to even develop its multifunctional uses like the String-String Fruit.
It was already incredible that Ryan Rowan could use his powerful intellect to assemble an army of sand. It was completely impossible for him to create a "life" out of thin air!
As if sensing Judge's astonishment, or perhaps intending to explain from the start.
The messenger showed a calm smile and slowly explained:
"My body is filled with two powers."
"Sand forms my body."
"Conqueror's Haki forms my consciousness."
"Ryan Rowan fused the sandstorm and Conqueror's Haki to create me."
This explanation was indeed something Judge had never expected, but Judge felt that the messenger was not lying.
There was no need for him to lie.
...
Conqueror's Haki.
– This was indeed a point Judge had never considered.
On Ryan Rowan, the ability of Conqueror's Haki seemed to have been reinterpreted in a completely new way.
Before this, the man who changed people's perception of Conqueror's Haki was named Shanks, the "Red-Haired."
But Shanks had at most proven that when Conqueror's Haki reached a certain level of power, it would cause immense physical damage on a physical level.
And today, Ryan Rowan had proven another aspect of Conqueror's Haki –
Conqueror's Haki has the theoretical ability to separate one's own Conqueror's Haki and create a new life...
...
Huh?
As Judge thought of this, his previously calm face was filled with fury.
Because even he himself couldn't believe his own deduction!
It was too absurd, so absurd that no one would believe it!
After a brief moment of surprise, Judge settled on an idea –
This "messenger" before him must be putting on a show!
The so-called sand should just be a master, wearing a sand shell created by Rowan, to hide his true identity!
Let's see if I can reveal your true form!
With this thought, Judge swung the heavy spear in his hand and swept it horizontally towards the messenger's neck.
This time, the messenger did not dodge, nor did he show any intention of blocking.
He let the black spear pass through his head, scattering it into countless grains of sand.
But the messenger's headless body still stood before Judge.
Then, the sand gathered and reshaped the messenger's head.
He slowly smiled:
"As I said before, there are only two powers within me: sand and Conqueror's Haki."
"Therefore, until the moment the Conqueror's Haki dissipates, I will always exist."
"Undying, indestructible."
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