Three Days Later

  At dawn, as the first light of the rising sun cast its glow over the edge of Route H3, Portex Isnd came into view. Two medical personnel, apanied by testing equipment and Admiral Steel Bone Kong, had already arrived in advance.

  A massive pterosaur soared through the air, its wide wings slig through the sky. On its back stood a figure in a bck suit with a long cloak, his hair a striking shade of silver. This was her than Saint Marcus Mars, the "Warriod of Enviro." With a powerful fp, the pterosaur transformed bato its humanoid form, revealing a CP0 officer.

  “Mars-sama!” The two medical personnel dropped to their knees, stunned and quick to show their respect. Even Admiral Steel Bone Kong, taken aback, stepped forward, bowing with respect.

  “Lord, why have you e personally?” he asked. “There’s o trouble yourself over a minor remnant of the Lunarians. We’re more than capable of handling this.”

  Saint Mars waved his hand dismissively, his tone calm. “I’m not vinced you alone restrain him. Besides, the lohis tihe more it damages the Wover’s authority.”

  Saint Mars reized the need for decisive a. Although Saint Denis, a Holy Knight and a Thunderbird Mythical Zoan user, was the most promising talent of the Marcus family, he was likely no match for someone as dangerous as Fallen Angel El.

  “That Lunarian kid is indeed incredibly dangerous,” Mars added. “Especially since he’s part giant… His lifespan will probably extend far beyond that of an ordinary human. If we don’t end him now, he could bee an eveer threat.”

  Estimates from CP reports suggested that Charlotte Linlin was also a natural-born monster. If El and his Fallen Angel Pirates were left unchecked for a few more years, they might grow beyond the Navy’s trol. With El's giaage, he was likely to live well over 150 years, which would extend his peak strength over a long period, posing a sistent threat to the Wover.

  “You’re absolutely right, Mars-sama,” Steel Bone Kong responded, g his fist. “We must end him in this battle.”

  Having cshed with El twice before, Kong was well aware of the Lunarian’s monstrous strength. Over the past eight years, Kong’s abilities had grown beyond what they were when he mastered the Supreme queror’s Haki. Even so, he had struggled to overpower El in hand-to-hand bat, despite El not fully tapping into his transformation abilities. The fact that El, at only seventeen years old, could match such strength was nothing short of astonishing.

  “Whishhh…” Suddenly, the sound of enormous wings beating filled the air as a huge Pegornis bird flew toward them, carrying a young man eared to be in his early twehis was a new recruit to the Fallen Angel Pirates, retly rescued from a human traffig au.

  “Griffin Moss?” Steel Bone Kong narrowed his eyes at the newer and the young man, whose nervousness was evident. “So, it’s just you two, with no sign of El himself? Where’s the Celestial Dragon?”

  “o rush.” Despite fag the Admiral, Moss showed no fear, his voice steady. “First, we o verify the authenticity of the Devil Fruits yht.”

  “Hmph! That Lunarian kid is excessively cautious,” Saint Mars muttered, a hint of irritation and pt in his tone. heless, he gestured to the CP0 officer to proceed.

  “These are the fruits you demanded…” The CP0 officer opened a briefcase, revealing an array of strange-looking fruits, eae beled. Among them, clearly marked, were a Logia and a Mythical Zoan.

  Moss, who had studied the Devil Fruit encyclopedia and memorized several rare Logia and Mythical Zoan forms, took a deep breath. The bels on the fruits matched the descriptions perfectly, affirming their authenticity.

  “This one is still uncssified, as per our st transa,” Moss noted after a quispe. Taking no ces, he then pulled a different Devil Fruit from his own bag, turning to Saint Mars and the others.

  “Throw me that yellow one so I verify it’s the real deal.”

  The CP0 agent’s face darke Moss’s request, but Mars raised his hand, waving off his objes. “A lot of tricks… but very well.”

  In a moment, the exge was made. Moss tossed the unusual fruit to the young man beside him, saying, “Rufe, see if it’s real. Let’s test your luck.”

  (his character is named 鲁夫, which trao Luffy. For this purpose, he's named Rufe instead of Luffy.)

  El had seen potential in him and was willing to give him a ce to gain power.

  “Uood, Moss-sama,” Rufe responded, grasping the fruit. He khis was his opportunity to grow stronger. Without hesitatioook a big bite. His face twisted in disgust at the awful taste, but he forced himself to finish it.

  From his pocket, Moss produced a small piece of Seastone, ed in cloth, and ha to Rufe.

  “A Seastone?” Steel Bone Kong ented with a frown. “They’re certainly being thh.”

  “Moss-sama, I suddenly feel weak…” Rufe said, clutg the Seastone. A smile pyed aoss’s lips—this was indeed a real Devil Fruit, though they weren’t yet sure owers it would grant.

  “Did you think the Wover would stoop to fraud?” scoffed the CP0 agent.

  “Enough talk…” Mars, who had grown impatient, interrupted. “If you’ve firmed the goods, shouldn’t Fallen Angel El be bringing over Saint Rhodys now?”

  “Of course.” Moss chuckled, reag for a transponder snail to tact El.

  Suddenly, with the Seastone pocketed, Rufe seemed to move on instinct, reag up to his fad pulling—stretg his cheek out like rubber, revealing his teeth and gums beh.

  “Snap!”