Of course, this was exactly the effect Roger wanted.
This way, he could face Water Behind alone.
"Tsk, causing such a commotion as soon as you show up, who are you?" Roger walked slowly towards him. With less than a hundred meters between them, it took a little time to get close, even slowly.
Of course, he couldn't say he already knew from An that he was Water Behind, so he asked first.
Water Behind responded succinctly, "Water Behind, both a Saint and a member of God's Right Seat."
"I don't understand any of that," Roger shrugged and casually asked, "What is a Saint? What is God's Right Seat?"
"One who eradicates demons and..." Water Behind looked Roger up and down, seemingly bored, and after a pause, continued, "One who eradicates devil-men."
Devil-men...
Years had passed since the appearance of demons, and Roger naturally understood what a devil-man was.
Devil-men, as the name suggests, were both demons and humans, yet neither at the same time. They were humans who had gained the power of demons, signed contracts with them, or even became part of the vessel for demonic power.
Roger sighed, "I don't want to admit I'm a devil-man."
Roger had consumed demon cells but managed to suppress the demonic transformation with his incredible willpower, ultimately controlling that power with his own will.
"But since you say so, does that mean you're here to kill me?"
Water Behind shook his head, "I am here for one purpose only, to eliminate the root cause of global unrest."
"Upon awakening, I have been observing the world's recent history, and in almost every significant event, you were involved."
"God Valley, the Kraken, Jalthzberg Kingdom, Edd War, Wano Country. Although these events were not caused by you, your involvement is undeniable."
Roger couldn't help but retort, "Is being involved a crime? I can't just watch them destroy the world."
"This suggests that your body harbors a certain substance. Perhaps from the very beginning, the events didn't occur, then you got involved. Rather, it was your presence that attracted these events, and then you got involved."
Water Behind didn't seem like someone who talked a lot, but now he patiently explained to Roger, perhaps considering whether his guess was correct.
Or maybe...
Was he observing Roger?
Because the reason was too absurd?
It seemed like he was drawn into one incident after another, but from his mouth, it sounded like he was the cause of these events.
Roger chuckled wryly and said, "Alright, if that's the case..."
He unleashed his demonic transformation, entering his strongest state. Facing the mysterious Water Behind, Roger dared not be careless, immediately unleashing his full power.
After merging with Ace, Roger looked at the ever-waiting Water Behind and said, "Let's see if my body has the substance you mentioned!"
In an instant, their bodies vanished.
It was a true disappearance; their movements were so fast that only they could see each other. Roger noticed that when Water Behind moved, it seemed like orcas were leaping from the sea behind him, and a massive metal rod emerged.
It was over five meters long, shaped like a spear but without a sharp tip, more like a blunt metal club meant to crush enemies with its weight.
As Roger moved, Water Behind's muscles explosively swelled. He wielded the giant club and swung it at Roger. Roger used Ace, fused with him, to counter with a slash.
In their first collision, they were testing each other's strength.
Boom!
There was no reason to retreat, and in an instant, they collided.
Roger unleashed powerful Haki, but Water Behind's club was also coated with a special energy. The collision force shattered the ice around them with a loud crack!
Sea water surged beneath the shattered ice, like two water dragons shooting upwards.
In that instant, Roger's pupils contracted as he was sent flying by an immense force. In terms of pure strength...
Had he lost?
But Water Behind didn't rely solely on strength; he also had speed. As Roger was sent flying, Water Behind rapidly advanced, his movement resembling...
Sliding?
Yes, it was like skating. Water Behind swiftly moved across the ice.
Just by pursuing, he created heat barriers, his supersonic speed generating such heat that it melted the ice behind him.
Roger forcibly twisted his body, for Water Behind had already appeared behind him, swinging the giant club once more.
"What do earth, fire, water, and wind represent?!" Roger shouted, twisting his body at the last moment, coating his sword with Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, creating black lightning.
Divine Avoidance!
As Roger slashed, he also questioned Water Behind, who responded as he swung the club.
"They are the embodiment of the world's essence, the original four demons."
Another massive clash, the ice cracking beneath them, but neither fell into the sea.
Water Behind created such a vast frozen area to provide a perfect battlefield.
No...
It was purely to create a battlefield for Roger.
Roger had consumed the Fusion-Fusion Fruit, making him a fusion human with the power of a Devil Fruit. The sea inherently rejected Devil Fruit users.
Even though he wasn't as susceptible to seawater as typical Devil Fruit users, thanks to the demon cells allowing him to swim, it weakened him significantly.
In such a scenario, fighting Water Behind at sea meant he could not win. Though Roger needed to understand Water Behind's strength fully, he knew this.
Seeing Water Behind actively freeze the sea relaxed him enough to converse and fight.
Water Behind's attacks carried killing intent, but not overwhelmingly so. Perhaps, as Roger guessed, he hadn't fully confirmed who the "root cause of global unrest" was.