After carefully sensing the changes within the Kamui Dimension, Ryūjin Uchiha was astonished to discover that his overall strength had increased by nearly ten times.
It was an unexpected and welcome surprise.
After all, the seven Chakra attributes he had previously enhanced had only increased by five to eight times. Not a single one had ever reached a full tenfold amplification.
Even his strongest attribute, Yin Release Chakra, had only increased by around 8.5 times, not even reaching nine.
It seemed that after the seven enhanced attributes fused together, they produced an effect where the whole became greater than the sum of its parts.
Ryūjin was extremely satisfied with the result.
According to what Ōtsutsuki Kaguya had told him, among the Ōtsutsuki Clan, aside from the Clan Leader and the Four Great Elders, thirty-eight individuals had consumed Chakra Fruits.
Before arriving in the Pirate World to seek a path toward greater strength, Ryūjin's power would likely have ranked around tenth among them.
Now, with his strength having increased tenfold, there was virtually no doubt that he stood above all thirty-eight of them.
The only uncertainty was whether his current self could contend against the Ōtsutsuki Clan Leader and the Four Great Elders.
Regardless, when facing the threat of the Ōtsutsuki Clan now, Ryūjin's confidence had risen dramatically.
In an excellent mood, he carefully sensed the Chakra fluctuations of his Wood Clone. Then, with a thought, he activated his Dōjutsu and left the Kamui Dimension.
"Ryūjin, you're back!"
Nami immediately greeted him with a sweet smile.
Robin, however, continued staring at him thoughtfully.
She couldn't explain it, but something about Ryūjin felt different.
Yet the more she observed him, the less she could identify what had changed. Everything seemed exactly the same, but at the same time, completely different.
"What's wrong, Robin? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ryūjin chuckled as he glanced at her.
Although he asked, he already had a rough idea of what she was sensing.
"It's nothing. Maybe I'm imagining things."
Robin shrugged and chose not to voice her doubts.
Ryūjin didn't pursue the matter.
"Nami, how much longer until we reach Cake Island?"
Nami took out a map and examined it briefly before replying.
"Ryūjin, if nothing unexpected happens, we should arrive in about twenty days."
Ryūjin nodded, feeling somewhat irritated.
Another twenty days on a ship.
That was one of the biggest drawbacks of the Pirate World.
Pirates spent years drifting across the sea, and he genuinely couldn't understand how they tolerated such a monotonous lifestyle.
However, seven days later, that boredom was abruptly interrupted.
Their ship was suddenly surrounded by three warships.
"I really can't believe there are still Marines who don't know their place and dare block our ship."
Nami looked at the three warships with open disdain.
From the Fleet Admiral to the Admirals, the Marines had already been thoroughly crushed by Ryūjin. Even the Fleet Admiral had nearly died at his hands.
Had they learned nothing?
Even more ridiculous, only three warships had come.
There weren't even enough people aboard to fill the gaps between Ryūjin's teeth.
Could it be that the Marines weren't here to fight him?
Were they here to negotiate peace?
That seemed unlikely.
The Marines had never bowed their heads to anyone.
Yet after thinking about it, Nami felt they might have no other choice.
After all, they no longer possessed the power necessary to stop Ryūjin's advance.
And if Ryūjin truly crushed them at Marineford in a month's time, how could the Marines continue ruling the seas?
"Ryūjin, what should we do?"
Nami turned to him for instructions.
"Head straight for them."
Ryūjin answered without hesitation.
No one aboard found the order surprising.
Crocodile, Nami, and the others calmly adjusted the ship's course and sailed directly toward the opposing fleet.
"Fire!"
When the distance between both sides was still several hundred meters, a sharp command echoed from one of the enemy warships.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Countless cannonballs filled the sky as they hurtled toward Ryūjin's ship.
"Uh..."
Nami blinked in surprise.
She had genuinely considered the possibility that the Marines had come to negotiate.
Instead, they opened with a barrage of artillery.
Had they gone completely insane?
With such pitiful strength, they still dared challenge Ryūjin?
"Will the Marines never learn?"
A cold sneer appeared in Ryūjin's eyes.
At his current level, they were using cannonballs?
Who exactly were they trying to insult?
Shua!
At that moment, a figure suddenly launched from one of the warships.
The man became a black blur as he shot into the air.
Then, like a dragonfly skimming across water, he stepped directly on the incoming cannonballs and rushed toward Ryūjin.
Crocodile's expression immediately turned serious.
To perform such a feat using only physical ability, the opponent's strength had to be extraordinary.
Nami and Robin widened their eyes in shock.
Walking on cannonballs?
The entrance was even more dramatic than Kizaru's previous stunt of riding one.
"So even the Gorosei enjoy showing off."
Ryūjin curled his lip.
Others might not recognize the newcomer.
Ryūjin did.
The Saint Nusjuro member who wielded the Shodai Kitetsu.
"What? The Gorosei?!"
Crocodile, Nami, and Robin were all visibly shaken.
The Gorosei had personally come to deal with Ryūjin.
These were the figures standing at the very summit of the world.
The true rulers of the World Government.
"Shinra Tensei."
Ryūjin's eyes instantly transformed into the Rinnegan.
A tremendous repulsive force erupted outward.
The incoming cannonballs trembled violently before exploding simultaneously.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A massive sea of flames exploded across the sky, covering the horizon.
Shua!
A figure burst through the fire.
Like a giant bird descending from above, Saint Nusjuro emerged from the inferno.
Holding the Shodai Kitetsu, he descended directly above Ryūjin.
Then he swung downward with overwhelming force.
The Shodai Kitetsu, previously broken by Ryūjin, had somehow been restored and now appeared completely intact.
"Chidori Current."
At Ryūjin's command, a field of lightning instantly expanded around him and engulfed the elder.
"Slash!"
Saint Nusjuro's expression remained cold.
Without panic, he adjusted the angle of his blade and swung once.
A chilling sword wave erupted.
To everyone's shock, Ryūjin's Chidori Current was split apart.
"This is the Gorosei? They're unbelievably strong!"
Nami and Robin were stunned.
Even Crocodile's pupils contracted sharply.
This was the first time they had seen someone cut through Ryūjin's Chidori Current directly.
It was almost impossible to believe.
Lightning itself had been sliced apart.
Ryūjin was mildly surprised as well.
It seemed the Gorosei truly possessed the qualifications to rule the world.
Based on that strike alone, the elder had already surpassed Fleet Admiral Kong.
After cutting through the lightning field, Saint Nusjuro flipped lightly and landed on the deck without making a sound.
Holding the Shodai Kitetsu, he fixed Ryūjin with a piercing stare.
"Demon Eye Ryūjin, today is the day you die."
"Just you?"
Ryūjin sneered.
His figure blurred.
In an instant, he appeared beside Saint Nusjuro and threw a heavy punch.
What?!
The elder's expression changed dramatically.
Even with his strength, he could barely react to Ryūjin's speed.
One moment Ryūjin was standing there.
The next, he was already in front of him.
The elder desperately attempted to evade.
He managed only half a movement.
Ryūjin's fist struck him directly.
That alone was impressive.
The current Ryūjin had already completed the Super Six Paths Project and become vastly stronger than before.
Against anyone else, they likely wouldn't even realize what happened before being obliterated.
Boom!
Saint Nusjuro's body shook violently.
Like a cannonball, he was blasted across the sea.
He crashed into the water, sending a massive wave more than ten meters high into the air.
Splash!
A moment later, another huge wave erupted.
The elder shot back into the sky.
Black and red energy now surrounded his entire body, creating a sinister and terrifying appearance.
Hovering above the sea, he looked down at Ryūjin.
Yet the shock on his face could not be concealed.
Demon Eye Ryūjin is actually this powerful!
He had always known Ryūjin was strong.
But he had never imagined he would be this strong.
One punch had nearly overwhelmed him.
Shua!
The elder gritted his teeth.
The black and red aura around him surged violently.
The same energy spread across the Shodai Kitetsu.
Then he slashed downward.
An incomparably powerful sword wave tore through the air.
It seemed capable of splitting space itself as it raced toward Ryūjin.
This attack was countless times stronger than the strike that had cut through the Chidori Current.
Behind Ryūjin, Nami and Robin involuntarily gasped.
Every hair on their bodies stood on end.
It was the instinctive reaction of living beings facing overwhelming power.
"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion."
Ryūjin's eyes shifted into the Tenseigan.
A golden sword instantly appeared in his hand.
He swung.
A dazzling white slash erupted.
It was incomparably stronger than the elder's attack.
Like crushing dry weeds and rotten wood, it obliterated the incoming sword wave and continued forward without losing momentum.
Then it struck Saint Nusjuro directly.
Saint Nusjuro was blasted backward.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
He slammed heavily into the opposing warship, causing the vessel to shake violently.
Everyone rushed over.
The sight that greeted them froze them in place.
Saint Nusjuro lay motionless in a pool of blood.
His eyes were closed.
A horrifying wound stretched across his chest.
The cut was deep enough to expose bone and nearly split his body in two.
Even a god would struggle to survive such an injury.
For several moments, complete silence dominated the warship.
Every Marine stood frozen.
Had a Gorosei just been killed?
Then panic erupted.
"How is this possible?!"
Despair spread rapidly through the fleet.
Shua!
A figure suddenly appeared.
A middle-aged man wearing a hat, with a scar running across his cheek, landed on the warship.
The Marines instantly fell silent.
Because he was another member of the Gorosei.
Shua!
Another figure followed immediately after.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter.
The third Gorosei member.
To ensure Demon Eye Ryūjin's execution, the World Government had dispatched three members of the Gorosei.
That alone showed how seriously they regarded him.
"Too terrifying. Demon Eye Ryūjin is far more frightening than we anticipated."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn's voice broke the silence.
Both elders exchanged glances.
Within each other's eyes, they saw unmistakable traces of fear.
===
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