Max pondered over the unusual discovery with Yue's input.
"Yue, do you think my conjecture is right?" he asked.
[Yes, Host. Devil fruits are often found in areas dense with specific energies. It's plausible that this fruit responded to the suffering here.]
Max nodded thoughtfully, only to be pulled back by Gwen's question. "Who are these kids? Are they... different races?" she asked, her expression turning to fury as Max explained their horrific treatment.
"Where's that bastard, Caesar?" Gwen asked, her voice seething.
"Already dead," Max replied, which earned a satisfied nod from her. Bullet and the others studied the children, looking uneasy.
"What do we do with them? We can't exactly bring them along," Bullet pointed out.
Max agreed, saying, "I plan to release them safely. They've endured enough. If the Marines get their hands on them, they'll only exploit them more."
Leo looked around. "And where will they go?"
"I'll leave them in Alabasta. Vivi will surely help," Max said, smiling at the thought of their friend's kindness.
Gwen nodded, though she added, "Though she's out adventuring with Luffy and the Straw Hats, isn't she?"
Max nodded. "We can find a way to get word to her if needed. Those kids deserve a chance."
With a plan in place, Max led the group and the children back to the ship, ready to head to Alabasta where, hopefully, the kids could find a new beginning.
But only after he get the Ransom he needs.
After a week, Leon pointed toward the horizon.
"Oy! It looks like the Marines are coming with a Buster Call," he announced, catching the attention of everyone lounging around.
The others quickly stood up, looking ahead. "Haha, good! I wanted a fight anyway," Bullet said, grinning. Max nodded in agreement, now feeling the power of his Black Star Dragon fruit coursing through him. After practicing alongside Bullet and the others, he had successfully advanced his fruit to transformation level, giving him control over its abilities.
Gwen had also been training under Leon, learning the swordsmanship of One Piece—a style known to produce some of the world's most powerful swordsmen. She had even begun mastering basic Haki in all three types, and to everyone's surprise, had awakened Conqueror's Haki.
Seeing Gwen's progress, Max checked the others through his system screen and found that they too had learned Haki. Only Peter and Lumia had awakened Conqueror's Haki, which seemed fitting; Peter and Gwen were main characters in their own right, while Lumia had her own system, which likely contributed to her rapid development.
The Marines arrived, surrounding Punk Hazard with their cannons aimed at the island, prepared to exchange Kizaru for a Devil Fruit.
"I hope they brought a mythical Zoan," Max thought, as he had demanded either a mythical Zoan or a rare Logia fruit.
From two of the ships, Akainu and Aokiji stepped out, their gazes immediately locking onto Max and then moving to the young men behind him, clearly wondering who they were.
Max nodded to Bullet, who, now rejuvenated as a vampire, had bound Kizaru in black, pulsating chains made from Max's magic. Bullet shoved Kizaru forward. "Hand over the Devil Fruit, and he's free to go," Bullet stated confidently.
Akoiji said calmly. "Do you think we came here to trade him for a Devil Fruit?" he retorted. "We're here to take Kizaru back."
"And what's the point of rescuing a man who was bested by mere pirates?" Akainu countered, Max's his eyes narrowing as Akainu turned, motioning his hand for the Marines to prepare for attack.
Kizaru sighed, watching the heated exchange. "This bastard… Akainu must think he can overpower them with sheer force, while he thinks I can run away using my devil fruit" he thought, knowing Akainu likely underestimated the capabilities of Max's chains, which prevented him from using his Devil Fruit.
Bullet shrugged and returned to his group, unfazed. "Typical Marines," he muttered. Meanwhile, Aokiji glanced to the side, a resigned expression on his face. "Why did I even come with him…" he mumbled before leaping back to the ship with an exasperated sigh.
"Prepare the cannons!" Akainu roared as the Marine ships opened fire, unleashing a storm of cannonballs onto Punk Hazard.
"Take to the air!" Max ordered, and Leo nodded, levitating the ship up with the ability granted by his Devil Fruit, dodging the barrage and slashing the incoming cannonballs with his blade, scattering them before they could land on the island. The others followed suit, leaping to higher ground or deflecting cannon fire.
Max has decided to take the whole Island as not only it has good environment but it also has got many facilities thanks to Caesar and former researchers, as for the chemicals outbreak on it, they were are cleaned away by Max magic, so now it's a perfect fortress for them as well as a good place to live.
Why Live on ship when you got Shiki now Leo who can take whole Island and travel with it.
Max watched with a grin before beginning his transformation. His form grew, taking on the terrifying visage of the Black Star Dragon, standing fifteen meters tall with scales as black as midnight. His eyes glowed a piercing yellow, and two immense wings as dark as the abyss unfolded from his back, radiating an eerie, shadowy aura. Silvery sparks danced across his form as tendrils of black lightning crackled around him, giving him a fearsome, almost celestial presence.
His Black Serpentine head adorned with Starry Night forged Crown giving him the look of majesty.
Akainu's eyes widened at the transformation. "A Mythical Zoan devil fruit user…" he muttered, as the Marines watched in dread, realizing they might have underestimated the true power of this "Night Monarch" and his crew.
"So, this is he what meant by Night Lord" Akiji said ashe saw the Dragon form of his,
"So what, in front of my magma he is nothing" Akainu snorted in contempt as he looked at the massive dragon.
***
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