30 Years in Whitebeard’s Crew, I Became Invincible

As expected, the best way to deal with this thing was Haki, specifically, Conqueror's Haki at the highest level.

Just as Kizaru was walking toward the lab, he suddenly sensed something and dashed forward like a flash of light.

"Impossible… That kind of Haki shouldn't exist on Egghead. Vegapunk might be in danger."

Kizaru accelerated instantly, turning into light and arriving at the lab's entrance in the blink of an eye.

The laboratory door was tightly shut, but the Haki was undoubtedly emanating from inside; he couldn't have misjudged it.

At that moment, Kizaru's face darkened, his mind conjuring countless ways Vegapunk might have died. He also wondered who the owner of this overwhelming Haki could be.

"He got here pretty quickly," Roy said inside the lab, using his Haki to trap the resentment entity.

The moment it came into contact with Conqueror's Haki, the creature frantically tried to escape. But against this overwhelming pressure, not even the black flames helped; it was continuously compressed.

"Borsalino is at the door," Shaka informed Vegapunk.

Seeing Vegapunk still focused on the entity, Shaka sighed. "Don't destroy the door, I'll open it."

Outside, Kizaru was startled for a moment, then the door opened. He saw Shaka waving at him, Vegapunk calmly watching the black flame-like mass in front of him, and briefly raised a hand in greeting.

But when Kizaru saw Roy, his expression froze. Then his guard went up immediately.

Just as he suspected, this Haki, he'd only seen it from Shanks and Roy. The man who had vanished for a year was back.

"What are you doing?" Kizaru asked sternly, frowning but not acting rashly.

"Exterminating this thing," Shaka replied.

"So it really was you who released it on purpose. What is it exactly?" Kizaru pressed.

"We're still not sure. This is the final verification stage," Shaka responded.

"Its weakness is Haki?" Kizaru looked at Roy, surprised to see Conqueror's Haki steadily eating away at the creature.

"To be precise, only Conqueror's Haki works," Shaka corrected.

"I see…" Kizaru nodded.

Moments later, the black mass shrank down to the size of a fist, a small black flame, and was finally extinguished by Roy's Conqueror's Haki.

The four of them turned to look at the apples. If the entity had truly become a Devil Fruit, it would appear among them.

Sure enough, within ten seconds, one apple started to react. It swelled, twisted, and finally transformed into a black fruit resembling a hand grenade.

"It worked. A stabilized fruit," Roy said, picking it up.

"No… something's different," he added.

"What's different?" Shaka asked.

"The color's off," both Roy and Vegapunk said at the same time.

Shaka looked more closely, his brain analyzing the data. Comparing it to the original appearance, he noted the color had lightened.

"It looks a little… purple?"

"Exactly. It's shifting from black to purple. If we keep reviving it and killing it repeatedly, could we make it controllable?" Roy wondered.

"Theoretically, yes, as long as we can consistently suppress it," Vegapock agreed.

"Then it's settled. I'll take these apples and continue testing on a deserted island," Roy declared.

As Roy stashed the fruit away, a beam of light extended in front of him, and a sword of light blocked his path.

Roy looked up. "What are you doing?"

Roy glanced up. "What's this about?"

"Leave the fruit behind."

"Why?"

"You think you can just walk out of here with it?"

"Uh… buddy, this fruit is mine."

"Yours?" Kizaru blinked.

"Yeah. My fruit."

"Even if it's yours, you're not taking it. Not after the destruction you've caused here. You owe a price."

"You're overestimating yourself if you think you can stop me," Roy scoffed.

"Let's test that."

Kizaru had made up his mind: he'd rather destroy the fruit than let Roy take it. He couldn't explain why, but something about the fruit deeply unsettled him; it had to be destroyed.

In a flash, Kizaru thrust his light-sword at Roy, only for Roy to catch the blade between his teeth.

Kizaru made the first move, a thrust of his light sword.

But just as the blade reached Roy's mouth.

CRACK!

Roy bit the light sword in half. His Conqueror's Haki exploded, blasting straight through Kizaru's body. A pulse of Haki shattered lab equipment all around them.

"Air Burst!"

Even though Roy hadn't fought in a year, his combat skills had improved significantly. Conqueror's Haki locked onto Kizaru, making his usual Logia intangibility useless.

Roy's punch landed squarely on Kizaru's gut.

BOOM!

The lab's main door shattered. Kizaru was sent flying from the building.

The lab's doors shattered as Kizaru was sent flying through the wall.

"You really had to pick a fight. I don't hold back," Roy said, retracting his fist.

Both Vegapock and Shaka were stunned. A Marine Admiral had just been punched through a wall like a ragdoll.

"I'm leaving. Next time, don't test me," Roy said, pulling out a Den Den Mushi.

"Come pick me up."

"On it, Big Bro," replied a deep, rumbling voice from the other end.

Pew

A laser shot through the air, Kizaru wasn't done. Likely mindful of Vegapock and Shaka's presence, he refrained from using his full power, opting for a concentrated heat beam instead.

The laser's intensity was akin to sunlight focused through a magnifying glass, instantly melting anything it touched. Roy dodged rapidly, sprinting upward.

Kizaru's earlier flight had already drawn attention. Now, as he launched attacks, the entire base was in chaos.

Everyone had already been stunned by Kizaru being blasted away, so when he suddenly attacked again, they were caught off guard.

"The admiral is fighting someone?!" the marines looked up, confused.

"Who is it?"

"Is there another enemy?!"

"Did that thing escape again?!"

"Impossible, right?!"

"Look! There's someone up there!"

Someone had emerged from the lab, but due to the distance, few could see clearly. Vice Admiral Doll, using Observation Haki, saw more clearly.

"Is that… could everything earlier have been caused by him?!" she gasped.

"It's one of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard Pirates' Vice Captain, Roy!"

"WHAT?!"

"A Yonko?! Why is he here?!"

"That monster earlier must've been his doing, protect Dr. Vegapunk immediately!"

Lilith and Atlas panicked and rushed to support the lab.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, the wind howled and clouds surged. Thunder echoed through the sky, and Egghead was blanketed in dark clouds.

"CRACK!"

A bolt of lightning struck toward Kizaru, forcing him to cease his laser assault.

"That's…" Kizaru's eyes narrowed as he looked up.

A massive dragon's head emerged from the storm clouds.

"Is that… Kaido?!"

"No, Kaido isn't that color."

"And it's not Calamity Loxus from the Beasts Pirates either."

"How terrifying… the Whitebeard Pirates," Kizaru muttered, seeing the arrival of Atmos. This had to be one of their crew.

Roy leapt into the sky. The dragon swooped down and caught him mid-air, letting him land steadily on its head.

.....

If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.

[email protected]/DaoistJinzu