The Strongest Lunarian in One Piece

"Captain Rocks, after a thorough examination…

Both the individuals who failed and those who succeeded in consuming the artificial Devil Fruits are displaying completely normal vital signs!

It's not like those special drugs that enhance potential but shorten one's lifespan!"

Time passed quickly, and within ten days—roughly two weeks…

On Pirate Island, Hachinosu, inside the massive skull-shaped building, the scientists of the Rocks Pirates reported their findings to Rocks.

These days, Rocks had been closely monitoring the condition of those who had eaten the artificial Devil Fruits. He was wary of any hidden side effects the Fallen Angel Pirates might not have disclosed, fearing this tempting offer could be a trap. Because of this, he deliberately gathered the scientists and doctors of the Rocks Pirates to repeatedly and thoroughly examine the pirates who had consumed the artificial fruits.

"Is that so?" Rocks, seated in the main chair, tapped his fingers in thought.

Eventually, he could no longer resist the chance to strengthen the Rocks Pirates.

"Shiki, Newgate... what do you think?" he asked, looking at Golden Lion and Whitebeard, the two highest-ranking officers.

Strictly speaking, even though he was the captain of the Rocks Pirates, his relationship with Golden Lion and Whitebeard was more like an alliance than a strict superior-subordinate dynamic. Both men harbored their own ambitions for being part of the Rocks Pirates, and neither was entirely obedient to Rocks. Over time, as Golden Lion and Whitebeard grew stronger, their conflicts with each other intensified, much to Rocks's frustration. He couldn't afford to eliminate these two powerhouses—that would be like cutting off his own arms—yet he also couldn't fully control them.

Because of this, Rocks envied and resented Fallen Angel El. Look at the Fallen Angel Pirates: those powerful, unruly individuals were fiercely loyal and entirely subservient to El. In contrast, Rocks's crew was filled with ambitious sorts who constantly schemed to overthrow him. They were never truly on the same page.

"I'm not interested in these things. Decide as you see fit," Whitebeard said indifferently, arms crossed. "But make sure my share of the treasure isn't short."

He knew that both Shiki and Rocks were already tempted and had no intention of talking them out of it. Whitebeard's only reason for staying with the Rocks Pirates was to provide a home for the crew members entrusted to him by his late captain and to gather treasure to send back to his homeland, Sphinx Island—nothing more.

"Ka ka ka, fortune favors the bold! I say we start by ordering five hundred artificial Devil Fruits to test them out!" Golden Lion said, biting his cigar, his gaze intense.

"Hohohoho, I was thinking the same thing. Better to proceed with caution!" Rocks grinned. "If there are no problems, we'll keep buying and build a massive army of Devil Fruit users!"

"I've already negotiated the price with the Hell Trading Company—bargained it down to five million Beli per fruit!"

"Five million per fruit? With only a ten percent success rate, that's essentially fifty million Beli for each successful user!" Whitebeard's eyebrows twitched, and he grimaced. "At that price, it's as expensive as real Devil Fruits!"

Over the years, due to the World Government and the Hell Trading Company purchasing Devil Fruits at exorbitant prices, the market value of genuine Devil Fruits had skyrocketed. Unidentified Devil Fruits now sold for anywhere between fifty and a hundred million Beli. Even weaker ones, like the Mouse-Mouse Fruit, could cost tens of millions. The Fallen Angel Pirates were experts at turning a profit—it was daylight robbery.

"Hohohoho, it can't be helped," Rocks said with a shrug. "Real Devil Fruits are rare and hard to come by, while these artificial ones can be manufactured in large quantities… Especially now that the World Government and the Fallen Angel Pirates have basically monopolized the black market for Devil Fruits."

Golden Lion cut straight to the point. "The real question is, how many can they produce? If we buy in bulk, how many can they actually sell us? If we can't form a large army of Devil Fruit users, the deal is meaningless—just an expensive novelty."

"No need to worry," Rocks replied with a confident smile. "They claim they can produce one to two thousand a month. Considering other buyers, they'll sell us a thousand per month. As long as the fruits are reliable and the supply is steady, we can raise an army of at least a thousand Devil Fruit users within a year."

A small number of such users might not be noteworthy, but an army of a thousand or more could change the balance of power.

"Ka ka ka, how devious—they're stringing us along on purpose!" Golden Lion growled, exhaling a puff of smoke. "Damn that Fallen Angel El for being so cautious… If only we knew where their research base was!"

"If we could just seize their entire island, along with the scientists, and force them to work for us, we'd gain both their advanced forging techniques and unlimited artificial Devil Fruits!"

"Shiki, I'd advise you to think twice before doing anything so reckless," Whitebeard interjected, raising a brow. "Hohohoho, if you try that, Fallen Angel El himself will come after you. A research base of that scale must have a few Life Cards hidden away. The moment you attack, you'll be tracked and finished."

Over the years, Fallen Angel El had rarely acted personally, yet no one questioned his title of "World's Strongest Creature." Five years earlier, Wang Zhi, John, and Silver Axe teamed up with two Marine Admirals, plus Black Arm Zephyr—who had recently risen to prominence and obtained the powers of the Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit—and all of them were effortlessly crushed by El. He even sank the G-5 fortress into the sea. Rumor had it the monster barely tried and didn't bother using his hybrid form.

Such overwhelming power was frightening indeed, especially since El, a natural-born Lunarian monster, hadn't yet reached thirty. He should still be in his prime, the phase where strength grows exponentially. Who knew how powerful he was now?

As for Edward Newgate, he didn't fear any Marine Admiral one-on-one. Yet even he wouldn't claim he could emerge unscathed from a fight against two Admirals at once. And Golden Lion—someone Newgate didn't fully trust—certainly couldn't hope to do better. Frankly, even Rocks, whose strength surpassed both Newgate's and Golden Lion's, probably had little confidence in beating El by himself. If he tried, he would likely barely escape in one piece—even that was uncertain.

"Ka ka ka, you've got a point." Golden Lion laughed loudly, showing no intention of arguing with Whitebeard's blunt assessment. "But Newgate, could you cut me a little slack when you talk?"

"Still, that monster's strength is undeniably outrageous," Rocks muttered, recalling the exaggerated might and near-invulnerability El had shown on Cake Island. "He's got a steel-like body, immense strength, and innate damage nullification. If I fought him, I might stall him, but killing him? Unless the three of us team up, it's impossible."

This was precisely why Rocks had hesitated for years to break ties with the Fallen Angel Pirates and start a full-scale war. While their influence was intimidating in itself, the real barrier was Fallen Angel El—the living embodiment of a Lunarian powerhouse. Even Rocks's Dark-Dark Fruit, capable of nullifying Devil Fruit abilities, wouldn't erase El's natural Lunarian traits of controlling flames and possessing incredible toughness. Add to that El's naturally steel-like body, and it was easy to see why Rocks had little confidence in a one-on-one victory against such a monster.

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