Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

"What's happening?!" 

"Is this... Devil Fruit Awakening?" 

"Be careful! Don't get caught in his ability—!" 

To be fair, Doflamingo was already incredibly strong. Just the fact that he could transform the battlefield into an extension of his powers through Devil Fruit Awakening made him nearly impossible to overwhelm with sheer numbers. 

Unfortunately for him, he ran into Luffy, who had overwhelming single-combat power and ended up getting beaten down. But in the world of the Grand Line, anyone who awakened their Devil Fruit was a force to be reckoned with! 

So far, the Straw Hat Crew had only encountered a few confirmed Awakened users—Golden Lion, Doflamingo, Gild Tesoro, and Katakuri. As for the remaining three of the old Four Emperors and the three Marine Admirals, it was almost certain that they had mastered Awakening as well. The Awakened Zoan users from Impel Down didn't even need to be mentioned. 

Which was why— 

"Zehahaha! So what if you've awakened your fruit?" 

"Against my unbeatable combination of three Devil Fruits, your fate is already sealed—" 

Even as Roman suddenly grasped his Devil Fruit Awakening and transformed the battlefield into a pure white world, Blackbeard Teach laughed wildly, unfazed. His confidence reassured the surrounding captains and officers of the Blackbeard Pirates. 

But deep inside— 

What the hell? He just broke through mid-fight?! 

Still, that strategist brat was already worn out. He shouldn't have much fight left in him. 

But Blackbeard was completely wrong about that! 

For most people, Awakening in the middle of battle while already injured would be nothing more than a desperate, last-minute struggle. 

But Roman was different. 

"Come." 

With a casual flick of his wing, the white dove gestured toward Nami. 

Immediately, over a dozen sheets of vibrant green paper flew into his hands. 

These were all life-energy papers created from the sea kings the Straw Hat Crew had encountered on their journey. They had already used quite a few during the fight, and by now, Roman and Luffy had built up a resistance to their effects. Normally, they wouldn't work anymore. 

But now— 

"With my Awakening, I can even control my body's resistance to them." 

"This might wear me out a little… but it'll be enough to keep fighting!" 

"Roman?" 

As sheets of white paper swirled through the air, forming Roman's body, he waved his hand, sending Luffy floating backward, wrapped in paper. Seeing that Luffy still wanted to argue, Roman spoke first. 

"I'll handle Teach. You focus on getting your Haki back. Sanji—" 

"Got it." 

Sanji, stepping through the air with Moonwalk, swiftly scooped up the exhausted Luffy, throwing him over his shoulder. 

"Sanji, put me down! I can still—" 

"I've got a feast ready to get your strength back. Eat first, then fight." 

"Oh? Is there meat?" 

Sanji's cooking might not be as instantly effective as Roman's life-giving paper, but it also didn't build resistance like Roman's ability did. And besides, recovering with food was Luffy's specialty. He'd be back to full strength in no time! 

Until then— 

"I'll play with you for a bit, Blackbeard Teach." 

"Hah! Just with those flimsy pieces of paper?" 

"Don't underestimate my paper," Roman smirked. "Let me show you my army!" 

?! 

"Eternal Domain!" 

As Roman pressed his hands downward, a rustling sound spread in all directions. The battlefield's ruins turned into blank sheets of paper, as if everything had been wiped clean. Then, the papers began to rise, flutter, and take shape—one by one, pale figures stood up, forming a massive army. 

Swords and shields gleamed, banners filled the sky, and an entire regiment assembled in perfect formation, surrounding Roman protectively. 

"Our enemy is the infamous Blackbeard. A worthy opponent. Warriors—show this so-called pirate our power!" 

Unfortunately, Roman's "warriors" were just paper puppets, so they didn't respond with a battle cry. 

And of course, Teach wasn't the type to dramatically reply, "Come at me, mighty warlord! I shall show you what it means to be a true pirate!" 

Boom! 

The army surged forward like a tidal wave! 

Row after row of swordsmen, shields raised, charging into battle. Archers, bows drawn, arrows ready. Heavily armored soldiers, spears at the ready, marching forward. Knights, clad in white armor, lances in hand, galloping ahead— 

It was similar to Roman's "Paper Dance: Royal Guard," but on a whole different scale. 

Thousands upon thousands! 

The sheer size of the army took over half of Whole Cake Island. 

Banners rippled, hooves thundered, steel clashed, and war cries echoed. The enormous force crashed forward like an unstoppable avalanche, an iron flood rushing toward Teach! 

Overwhelming, destructive, unstoppable! 

"Hmph, just a bunch of paper dolls." 

"Archers—fire!" 

Sure, they were paper dolls, but at Roman's command, a storm of arrows filled the sky! 

With his current strength, each arrow could pierce through steel. A barrage like this could wipe out an entire fleet. But— 

Blackbeard Teach stood there like an immovable black fortress, surrounded by swirling darkness. The moment the arrows touched his shadowy aura, tiny ripples spread across it before the arrows were completely swallowed up! 

"Cavalry—charge!" 

A thousand knights surged forward like a stampede of tanks, crashing into Teach from all sides. 

Spears, swords, axes, halberds—every weapon struck at once, turning the battlefield into a relentless, grinding war machine! 

"A bunch of trash. Just a waste of time!!" 

Teach's fist, glowing with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, smashed forward— 

Spears snapped, axes shattered, knights and horses were torn apart, shields and armor exploded into fragments, the remains twisting through the air! 

Then came the darkness. The all-consuming power of the Dark-Dark Fruit swept across the battlefield, tearing through Roman's ranks like a black tidal wave. 

But before the dust settled— 

The gaps in the formation were instantly filled with fresh warriors! 

No screams, no cries of pain, no shouts of rage. 

Only the sound of hooves, blades, and relentless battle. 

No blood splattered, because there was no blood in this army! 

It was a silent, emotionless killing force. 

Each warrior, each knight, each soldier—if destroyed, simply crumbled into scattered sheets of paper. Yet before being destroyed, they fought with the full might of real elite troops. 

"Something's not right." 

Teach looked unstoppable, his attacks clearing massive swaths of the battlefield. But within moments, thousands of paper soldiers had fallen at his hands— 

And yet, the army didn't seem any smaller or weaker. 

It was as if their numbers and energy were endless! 

"Even if his Devil Fruit has awakened, this doesn't make sense…" 

Teach crouched slightly—then suddenly launched himself into the air, soaring hundreds of meters up like a cannonball. 

"No way…" 

From above, Teach scanned the battlefield, his expression darkening. 

Because the army surrounding him… was just as large as before. 

"Brother, look at those torn-up pieces of paper." 

Lafitte, perched on his shoulder, furrowed his brow, pointing at the battlefield. 

The destroyed paper scraps were floating back, drawn by some invisible force. They were reforming— 

Becoming new warriors. 

And these new warriors… 

They were stronger than before. 

Their weapons and armor now carried traces of Haki and a black-and-white glow. 

That energy— 

"You're stealing my power?!" 

Teach, landing back in the battlefield, was furious. 

His attacks were being absorbed by the paper puppets! 

It was only a tiny bit each time, but over time… 

"In the world of pirates," Roman smirked, "it's not called stealing." 

Roman, standing in the center of the army protecting him, responded casually. 

"I'm robbing you right in front of your face!" 

How does that make you feel?! 

This was Roman's ability after his Devil Fruit awakened—an upgraded paper-recording power. Although it could only store Armament Haki and Devil Fruit abilities for a short time, that was more than enough for a high-intensity battle. 

"Now the real show begins: Enhanced Legion, attack!" 

With a wave of Roman's hand, massive wolf-like beasts, ancient stone-armored bugs, towering golems, crimson sharp-beaked birds, and countless other strange creatures and soldiers charged forward. Their only goal was to drown Teach in sheer numbers, throwing themselves into battle without hesitation or fear of death! 

"If only Anne was here... That attack earlier should've been mine to take." 

Perched on Teach's left shoulder, Ria frowned in frustration. These endlessly strengthening puppets were a real headache, but if Anne, who wielded the Soul-Soul Fruit, were here, she could have just burned them all away! While Ria's Darkness ability could absorb the puppets, their relentless attacks gave her no chance to open a Dark Vortex… 

Boom! 

She shattered a massive blue golem bird with a single punch. Teach glanced at his younger sister and reassured her casually. 

"Don't talk like that." 

"Anne will recover soon enough. Until then, let this guy enjoy himself a little longer." 

But the longer Teach fought, the stronger these puppets became! His Haki and abilities were continuously absorbed by the torn paper fragments, transferred to the backlines, and recombined into an even more powerful army. 

 "Let's see how long you can last—Heroic Legion, charge!" 

The real battle had begun. Under Roman's cycle of creation and fusion, enormous monsters entered the fray. Some had dog-like heads and human bodies, wielding staffs that summoned swirling sandstorms. Others were massive scythe-limbed spiders lurking in the shadows. Some were frost-covered birds with wings of ice, sending out blasts of chilling wind… 

Most terrifying of all, these advanced puppets weren't just swinging their weapons—they were unleashing razor-sharp black energy slashes! A layer of invisible Haki coated their bodies, making them much harder to destroy. Teach could still take them down with a punch, but the days of effortlessly clearing the battlefield with a single sweep were over. These puppets were evolving, reaching a level where they could challenge Teach head-on. 

If this kept up… 

———— 

"Tastes great!" 

"Then eat up!" 

 On the other side of the battlefield, Sanji—who was more focused on cooking than fighting—was stuffing Luffy's mouth with food made from his secret technique, *New Human Combat Style: 99 Vitality Recipes*! 

Despite the chaotic battlefield, neither side was in a rush. Both were stalling for time, waiting for their key fighters to regain their strength. 

Only then would the *real* final battle begin. 

(End of Chapter)