On the streets.
Raging flames swept in all directions, setting countless buildings ablaze. Fierce pirates screamed as they burned, scattering chaotically through the inferno.
Boom!!!
Another burst of fire exploded, shattering the glass of a building and quickly igniting the entire structure. Crimson flames rippled outward once again.
Amidst the flames, Roya walked calmly, letting the inferno pass over him as if it were a gentle breeze—without so much as a single hair being affected.
These were flames that obeyed him.
"Minor thugs can be annoying. Killing you won't even give me any enhancement energy…"
Roya swung his sword again. A crimson flame, like a blade of fire, shot forward, spreading nearly twenty meters and sweeping over a group of fleeing pirates.
Most of these pirates were ordinary men wielding firearms. A few were slightly stronger, but none could reach Roya—they were instantly engulfed and incinerated by the flames.
Wherever Roya walked, there was no blood—only corpses.
If he unleashed Ryūjin Jakka, even the corpses would vanish, leaving only ash, just as the Liberation Words described: All Things in the Universe, turn to ashes.
Pushing forward relentlessly, unstoppable, Roya crossed several streets until, not far ahead, he finally reached the last street leading directly to the central hotel.
He paused slightly upon reaching this street.
Glancing back at the still-spreading flames, Roya lightly waved his sword, Engetsu, and tapped its tip on the ground, producing a crisp chime.
Hum!!
The flames wrapped around the blade instantly extinguished at his motion.
At the same time, the fires raging across the streets he had passed through collapsed suddenly, disappearing quickly, leaving only damaged buildings and scorched earth.
"Hopefully I didn't affect anyone else… or Instructor Zephyr might blame me," Roya said lightly, turning his gaze forward and continuing on.
A few steps later, he stopped.
Ahead of Roya appeared a figure—a young man with golden curly hair. He was exactly the same as the wanted poster Zephyr had given him: Captain Rhodes of the Black Horn Pirates, with a bounty of 63 million Beli. His identity was self-evident.
"So my actions have caused the biggest commotion, attracting the biggest wave, huh?"
Faced with this pirate, Roya's expression was no longer calm. Instead, a predatory glint appeared in his eyes, as though he were a hunter observing prey.
"You… aren't a Logia user," Rhodes said lightly, seeming knowledgeable, stepping in front of Roya. "A Logia Devil Fruit ability far surpasses your level. If I'm not mistaken, this should be some kind of special sword technique."
"Correct. Then… consider this single strike a reward."
Roya waved Engetsu casually as he spoke to Rhodes.
Boom!!
A fire curtain several meters wide erupted, shooting straight forward. Within the flames, a silvery sword aura shimmered.
Seeing this, Rhodes' expression changed. He leapt with precision, narrowly avoiding the flames and the sword energy, and continued charging toward Roya.
The flames and sword energy swept down the street, dissipating in the distance, though some embers lingered, igniting scattered debris along the street.
Even though he avoided the flames, the intense heat brushed Rhodes' golden curls, distorting them slightly in an instant.
"You bastard! Who do you think you are to act so recklessly on my turf?!"
With his hair singed, Rhodes' expression darkened. A cold murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
The next moment, he drew his weapons: two finely crafted daggers, one in each hand, and charged directly at Roya.
Shh!!
Roya casually swung his sword, sending another blade of fire and sword energy streaking forward. Rhodes twisted midair with exceptional agility to dodge and continued his advance.
"An assassin type, huh?"
Roya had not bothered studying Rhodes' data. It was six months old—anything could have changed. To fight based on outdated info might have been a grave mistake. Besides, he disliked overly tactical battles.
Cling!!
Rhodes' daggers sliced through the air toward Roya's heart—but midway, Roya intercepted them with a single sword strike.
The daggers were no ordinary weapons, and Rhodes' skill was not weak. Upon collision, the daggers showed only a faint, almost imperceptible mark.
"Hmph!"
"My attacks aren't so easy to dodge!"
Seeing his attacks blocked, a cold glint flashed in Rhodes' eyes. Suddenly, he accelerated to twice his previous speed and appeared behind Roya in an instant.
His dagger aimed directly for the back of Roya's heart.
"Soru."
Roya's expression remained unchanged. The ground beneath him shattered as he became a blur, instantly evading Rhodes' strike.
Shock crossed Rhodes' face—Roya's speed using Soru was even faster than his own!
"Damn! What the hell is up with these Marines?!"
Shocked, Rhodes finally shed his disdain, a grave seriousness entering his gaze.
He had intended to rely on speed to dodge Roya's flames and slashes, killing him outright. Unexpectedly, Roya's speed rivaled and even exceeded his own.
"Speed isn't my weak point."
The recently mastered Soru technique came into play immediately, lifting Roya's spirits slightly. A hint of mockery appeared on his face.
Without any other special abilities, Rhodes' strength seemed, at most, comparable to a Marine Headquarters Captain.
Whoosh!!
In the next instant, Roya's body streaked forward as a blur. Even before he arrived, a sharp edge seemed to reach Rhodes, as if to split him in two.
"No!"
Rhodes panicked, but being a speed-type fighter, he managed to react just in time, dodging while parrying Roya's sword with his daggers.
Cling!!
This time was different from before. After a crisp metallic clash, Rhodes' dagger was cut with a visible notch. Roya's strength made his hand numb from the impact.
"Damn! Not only is his ability tricky, his strength and speed are all formidable! Where did such a troublesome Marine come from?!"