Little did anyone know that Rowen didn't underestimate Doflamingo in the slightest. He believed in giving his all, just like a lion going all out to catch a rabbit.
He would never underestimate his opponent like some second-rate villain. That's why he activated the Thunder God Seal, his second most powerful ability after the "Violent Ape of Hell." It was a testament to Rowen's seriousness and the extent of his capabilities.
His goal was to push Doflamingo into a corner, compelling him to unleash his ultimate trump card.
All for the sake of gathering some useful material for the future.
Rowen sought to gather references for his own Fruit Awakening development. Having already mastered the "Violent Ape of Hell" and the "Thunder God Seal," Rowen had once again reached his limit. If he desired to go further, "Awakening" was the best and only path left for him.
However, Devil Fruit Awakening remained a mysterious and enigmatic concept. Even the three Admirals who had awakened their abilities couldn't fully comprehend it. It appeared that reaching a certain level of mastery naturally led to the Devil Fruit Awakening.
But that provided no useful reference for Rowen.
Even Zephyr couldn't offer effective advice on Devil Fruit Awakening, as the same fruit could manifest entirely different characteristics in different individuals. "Experience" held no significance when it came to Devil Fruit Awakening.
To pave his own path of Awakening, Rowen required extensive observation and accumulation to validate his theories.
The simplest and only method was to observe others using their Awakening powers and discern the intricacies within.
As members of the same faction, the three Admirals could be called upon to demonstrate their Awakening abilities.
The countless battles with the Impel Down also offered a wealth of reference material.
Thus, Zoan and Logia materials posed no problem. The only certainty Rowen had regarding Paramecia Awakening was Doflamingo.
He wasn't even sure about Kuma.
Now that Doflamingo had willingly approached him, Rowen wouldn't let go until he pushed him to the brink, forcing him to unleash the full power of his Awakening.
…
Doflamingo, in his Awakening state, transcended a mere point where he only doubled his strength!
The immense white wave, akin to a celestial curtain, enveloped Port Fang entirely! Doflamingo, cornered and driven to his limits, broke through at that very moment. He sensed that this was the pinnacle of his power. Faced with such might, he had the confidence to annihilate everything in his path!
"Perish!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The entire port, entangled by the white strings, flipped upside down. The ground shattered, and crumbling structures and aircraft transformed into an endless cascade of white threads, hurtling directly toward Rowen.
Under the influence of the mysterious energy interference from Devil Fruit Awakening, a vast breach emerged within the space covered by Rowen's Thunder God Seal. Standing within the Devil Fruit Awakening Range, Rowen couldn't even perceive the electric currents in the air!
Only the immense electricity within himself remained under his control.
"Hmm… So, this is the power of Paramecia Devil Fruit Awakening? It's certainly more complex than I have imagined."
Faced with the boundless white wave, Rowen displayed no fear. Fearlessly, he held his Thunder Cloud Sword in his hand and unleashed a Thunder Pillar straight into the massive white surge.
Bang!
The Thunder Pillar collided with the colossal wave, resulting in a deafening explosion that reverberated throughout the island. Dante, who hadn't managed to retreat in time, was thrown to the ground, clutching his wounds, his mouth twitching. "Oye, Oye! What happened to not destroying the base?!"
Although a bay separated them, the distant port suddenly cracked under the weight of such an unreasonable and terrifying attack. The Island Cloud and soil crumbled, and the entire fortress quaked!
All the structures and the ground in Port Fang swiftly succumbed to an invisible energy. Solid rocks and steel morphed into intricately woven white strings, undulating like relentless waves, and were unstoppable!
And at the epicenter of the battlefield, Port Fang vanished entirely in the clash of these two formidable forces!
"The port… the port is gone!"
"What kind of power is this? Is it another Devil Fruit?!"
"Run! Take shelter behind the fortress!"
Marine soldiers were consumed by sheer horror and fled frantically. They could never have fathomed that a Paramecia Devil Fruit could reach such staggering levels of devastation!
The scope and grandeur of this attack were comparable to that of Logia Fruit abilities!
Even in the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, this display of power surpassed all of their imagination and defied all comprehension!
"Devil Fruit… Awakening!"
Dante's forehead glistened with cold sweat as he tightened his grip on his sword's hilt.
Unlike the regular soldiers, he instinctively recognized what was unfolding before him. After all, the Quinn Family boasted a long-standing lineage and they were well-versed in the knowledge of Devil Fruits.
Devil Fruit Awakening represented the pinnacle of a Devil Fruit User's abilities. Paramecia Devil Fruit Awakening could exert influence beyond the user's own body. Zoan Devil Fruit Awakening greatly enhanced recovery capabilities and combat prowess. Logia Devil Fruit Awakening could permanently alter the climate itself!
However, while there were countless Devil Fruit users in the seas, only a select few could unlock the true potential of their Devil Fruits through Awakening.
Only the true powerhouses who had pushed their Devil Fruit abilities to the absolute limit could achieve a transformative leap, giving rise to such miraculous phenomena!
And Doflamingo was a testament to that power. He had transcended the limitations of merely releasing thin strings from his body. Instead, he assimilated everything in his vicinity, defying the laws of physics, transforming soil and metal into densely woven white waves.
Simultaneously, this extraordinary power suppressed all energy within its range, rendering Rowen unable to manipulate magnetic fields and generate electric currents for his attacks. He could only discharge lightning bolts from his position to disperse the waves.
Bang!
Bang!
Thunder Pillars clashed with the massive white waves, locking them in a fierce standoff. Even without employing the ultimate move of his Thunder God Seal, Rowen remained unfazed.
He steadfastly dispersed the assaulting waves using the potent electrical currents surging within his formidable physique, compelling Doflamingo to launch relentless attacks time and again.
Nevertheless, Doflamingo dared not underestimate his opponent. Seizing a momentary opening, he pressed his hand against the ground and pulled upward.
In an instant, thousands of intricate threads rapidly extended from the white waves, weaving together in a breathtaking display. The first half of the threads exuded an ominous blackness, while the latter half emanated purity and elegance, creating a mesmerizing contrast.
An overwhelming aura of imminent death radiated from this arrangement of threads.
"Hmm? Has the suppression effect of the dispersed white threads on the electric currents weakened as well?"
Facing the impending lethal strike, Rowen maintained a calm demeanor, even displaying a hint of intrigue as he observed the beautiful threads.
"As expected… While the Awakening state possesses tremendous power and the ability to disrupt the environment, the actual attack still necessitates active exertion of force from the user's body. The more dispersed the attack, the weaker its impact. Otherwise, directly assimilating the opponent would spell the end of everything."
It was an Awakening showdown, an encounter of powers.
…
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