Pirates: Your emperor has returned!

Upon hearing this, logistics foreman Tila Gotan couldn't help but retort, "Sir, these dishes are all Alabasta specialties..."

As soon as his wife spoke, Ikaram sensed something was wrong.

The wife, who spent most of her time in the kitchen, had no idea what a grave sin it was to contradict a Celestial Dragon!

As expected, Goodjoia Saint's face instantly darkened.

He waved his hand, and the Celestial Dragon guard beside him immediately handed him a musket.

The gun was pointed at Tila Gottan.

"It is an honor for your country, Alabasta, that I have graced you with my presence!"

Goodjoia was so angry that his face turned purple.

"Is this how you Alabasta treat your distinguished guests?!"

"How dare you contradict me, contradict your distinguished guests!"

He opened his mouth wide and roared, "Death penalty! Death penalty! Death penalty!"

boom!

Under Icarus's panicked gaze, Goodjoia Saint pulled the trigger.

Lead bullets were fired from the muzzle of the gun.

Although Icarum was the captain of the Kingdom Guard, he was just an ordinary person and could not stop a gunshot at such close range.

But he still instinctively stepped in front of his wife.

He hugged his wife and closed his eyes tightly!

……

After a few breaths, the expected excruciating pain did not come.

Icarum opened his eyes, only to find his wife staring wide-eyed at something behind him.

Icarum also turned to look.

There stood a tall man dressed in golden armor with purple ribbons and an eagle-shaped helmet.

He pinched the small but deadly lead bullet between his left thumb and forefinger.

With a "click".

The lead bullet was crushed to pieces by the man.

Rowan looked up, his eyes beneath his helmet fixed on the obese Celestial Dragon.

He shook his head.

“You are a guest, but you are not a distinguished person.”

[8. Chapter Eight: You Dare to Rebel Against Me!]

Albana, Royal Palace, restaurant.

A tall man suddenly appeared, holding a scepter in one hand and pinching the lead bullet between two fingers of his other hand.

A gentle pinch.

Click!

The lead bullet immediately shattered into several small pieces, then turned into countless powders that drifted into the air.

This scene stunned everyone.

But the most shocking one had to be Crocodile, who secretly hid in the shadows, not wanting to be exposed to the Celestial Dragons.

As the current user of the Sand-Sand Fruit, he knew very well what the other party had just done.

That was one of the abilities Crocodile himself developed—Erosion.

In an instant, he can absorb the moisture from any living creature or object he touches and gradually spread it to the surrounding area, turning even rocks into powder and turning everything around into a cracked wasteland!

This should have been Crocodile's unique ability.

During the previous battle, Crocodile had observed Rowan and discovered that Rowan's approach to developing the Sand-Sand Fruit's power was completely different from his own.

Rowan has never shown any moves similar to "Erosion".

But now, he has actually turned the lead bullet powder in his hand into sand!

Was it something you already knew? Or... did you just learn it?

Rowan's subsequent mutterings gave Crocodile the answer—

"Ah, it's a novel move, but it's not very interesting."

I just learned it!

Crocodile instantly confirmed his thoughts.

That's why he was even more shocked.

To be able to master a completely new move in such a short time!

To what extent did this man develop the Sand-Sand Fruit eight hundred years ago?

……

Forget it.

Crocodile was never someone whose mindset was easily influenced by others.

Now there's something even more interesting to him!

On the way here, Crocodile learned about Ryan Rowan's life.

Therefore, the scene before him seemed all the more interesting to Crocodile.

One is a Celestial Dragon, a world noble and a descendant of the twenty kings who once established the World Government.

The other is Ryan Rowan, the emperor who almost participated in establishing the World Government eight hundred years ago.

If these two sides were to fight, it would be quite a spectacle!

not to mention……

Crocodile, hidden in the shadows, turned his gaze toward the Celestial Dragons' backs.

There stood several men in suits, unarmed, their attire quite different from that of ordinary guards.

Those people were probably combatants in the guards who were proficient in the Six Styles of the Navy, right?

They are absolutely loyal to the Celestial Dragons, and they will never sit idly by and wait to die when faced with a suddenly appearing unknown expert!

The next second—

Swish!

The two combatants in suits disappeared from the spot.

The so-called "Naval Six Styles" are six techniques developed by elite naval personnel to push the limits of human capabilities.

At this moment, the fighters were using one of the Six Styles, "Shave"!

In a single instant, he stomped the ground dozens of times, using the reaction force to achieve ultra-high-speed movement, making him seem to disappear into thin air in the eyes of the enemy.

moment.

Two figures flew up behind Rowan.

As the Celestial Dragons' guards, their primary mission is to eliminate any unstable factors that may threaten their masters!

One man aimed at Rowan's neck, while the other aimed at his waist.

These are all fatal weaknesses!

Immediately, he turned around and kicked out.

That is also one of the six techniques, which uses a super-fast kick to create a powerful gust of wind, resulting in a terrifying force almost like a slash!

Six Styles, Storm Kick!

Swish!

Two wind blades struck Rowan simultaneously, one from the left and one from the right.

The latter's body was cut into three pieces in an instant, but the expected bloody scene did not occur.

At the cut, golden sand was slowly churning.

A Logia-type Devil Fruit user?!

The two combatants exchanged a glance and immediately made a plan.

They extended their index fingers, which were then coated with jet-black Armament Haki.

He gathered all his strength into his fist, hardened his fingers, and thrust them out in a flash!

Its power surpasses that of a bullet, strong enough to pierce the human body; it is one of the Six Styles.

Finger gun!

As expected of a Celestial Dragon's personal bodyguard, he executed three moves and six techniques in quick succession, his movements fluid and without the slightest hesitation!

Armament Haki allows ordinary people to touch the physical form of Logia-type Devil Fruit users.

The finger gun, imbued with Armament Haki, is more than capable of killing its opponent!

boom!

Two black fingers stabbed at Rowan's back.

At this moment, Rowan's elementalized body finally returned to its original state.

He suddenly gripped the scepter in his hand, then swung it sharply backward, and hissed:

"You rude scoundrel!"

Swish!

Rowan's actions were so swift that they far exceeded everyone's expectations.

Before those two fingers even touched Rowan's body, he had already turned around.