One Piece: sign-in to Ryujin Jakka

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the room in a warm, comforting glow.

Stella gazed at the several Devil Fruits Roman had laid on the table, her eyes gradually welling up with tears.

A flood of emotions surged through her. She couldn't describe what she was feeling

She had once been a slave. She once thought her life would be spent entirely in darkness. But fate brought her to Roman.

The man who had pulled her out of that endless abyss.

Looking at Roman in front of her, Stella didn't hesitate. She dropped to her knees before him.

"Thank you, Master. My life belongs to you. No matter what happens in the future, I will never betray you!"

Roman quickly stepped forward and helped her up.

"I told you before, didn't I? We're companions, not master and servant. Understand?"

Stella nodded firmly, but deep in her heart, Roman would always be the one person she would follow forever. Roman understood her heart, so he didn't press the point further.

Instead, he gestured toward the table and said, "Alright then, Stella, go ahead and choose the fruit that calls to you."

Hearing Roman's words, Stella turned her gaze toward the five Devil Fruits resting on the table. These had been carefully selected by Roman using the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia—no matter which one she picked based on her instincts, it would be powerful.

After examining them one by one, she reached out and picked the fruit on the far right.

"You're sure?"

Stella nodded. "Yes, Master. I'm sure."

"Alright then. Just take a small bite. That's enough for the fruit's powers to activate."

"Yes."

Stella obediently picked up the fruit and bit into it lightly—she had heard about how terrible they tasted.

Even with such a small bite, her expression instantly twisted.

"So gross!"

Ain, watching nearby, couldn't help but laugh.

It reminded her of the time she ate her own Devil Fruit. Back then, she didn't know you only needed one bite, so she ate the whole thing. The taste... was something she never wanted to remember again.

"Do you feel anything different in your body?" Roman asked.

Stella closed her eyes and concentrated.

Dark energy began to seep from her body, filling the room. Her transformation began. Her body changed, and mysterious black patterns spread across her skin. Her slender arms became razor-sharp blades. Even her legs transformed into deadly edges. All four limbs were now adorned with beautiful yet dangerous, eerie markings.

She exuded the aura of a demonic warrior, as if she'd risen straight from the abyss, synonymous with a legendary Rakshasa. Her hair turned a rich, bloody red, and her pupils shifted into a new, more menacing color.

Ain was stunned by the transformation.

It was a far cry from her own experience—after eating her fruit, she had to experiment for ages just to figure out how to use it. Stella, however, had transformed instantly.

Unbelievable.

Roman, by contrast, only nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. Try walking a few steps. Let's see if there are any problems."

Stella took a few cautious steps. Each step with her blade-like feet left shallow scars on the ground. Her entire body had become a weapon—a lethal, razor-sharp weapon!

"Walking feels okay... Just a little strange," she said.

Roman nodded thoughtfully.

"That's normal. You just need time to get used to it."

Stella turned to look into a nearby mirror.

Seeing her new form, her brow furrowed slightly.

Just then, Roman stepped behind her and gently pulled her into his embrace. He ran his fingers through her hair and whispered, "Stella, you look amazing like this. There's a kind of mysterious beauty aura about you."

"Mysterious... beauty?"

She repeated the words without thinking.

Looking at her reflection earlier had made her feel uneasy. Her limbs were all blades—like a cursed rose, dangerous and steeped in darkness. For a moment, she even regretted picking that fruit.

But Roman's words pulled her back from the edge of that doubt. This was a gift from him. How could she possibly hate it? A warm smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Master, I won't let you down. I'll live up to this Devil Fruit's power. I'll work hard and become even stronger!"

Roman smiled even wider.

He had sensed Stella beginning to form a mental block—but she'd shaken it off.

Ain then turned to Roman and asked, "Lord Roman, do you know what this Devil Fruit is? It looks so powerful!"

Roman replied, "It's a Zoan-type, Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Model – Rakshasa (Rasetsu)."

"A Mythical Zoan... like Fleet Admiral Sengoku's?"

Roman nodded.

Ain froze.

As someone who grew up in the Marines, she knew all too well how powerful Sengoku's Devil Fruit was.

Back when he was an Admiral, Sengoku had rampaged through the battlefield using that fruit!

Of course, what made Sengoku truly dangerous was his intellect.

Ain looked at Stella and sincerely wished her well.

"Stella, judging from your form alone, your offensive power might even surpass Fleet Admiral Sengoku's. Do your best!"

Stella glanced at Roman, a confident smile blooming across her face.

She crossed her blade-like arms over her chest and said with overwhelming presence—

"Yes!"