"This one."
Redyat let out a soft chuckle.
The Devil Fruit he had chosen was the Paramecia Temperature-Temperature Fruit, an extraordinarily powerful ability, especially in the hands of someone who specialized in martial arts.
Soon afterward, countless people noticed that the Battle Pyramid's prize pool had been updated.
On the enormous display screens throughout the Battle Pyramid, five new Devil Fruits appeared.
At the very top sat a crimson Devil Fruit.
Its placement alone emphasized its importance, and beneath it was a detailed description of its ability.
Paramecia: Temperature-Temperature Fruit
Ability: The user can freely control their own body temperature, from one degree to ten thousand degrees.
When enraged, their body temperature naturally rises, granting complete immunity to all forms of cold. It can even be considered the natural nemesis of Ice-type Devil Fruits.
Likewise, the user is completely unaffected by extreme heat. They can stand inside magma without injury, melt virtually any object through overwhelming temperatures, and even bathe in molten lava.
Exchange Cost: 1,500 Points.
Its exchange price exceeded the previous three Devil Fruits by two hundred points.
That alone revealed the Nightfall Pirates' evaluation.
In their eyes, the Temperature-Temperature Fruit was even more valuable than the three precious Devil Fruits that had just been awarded.
Truthfully, Redyat never intended for anyone to obtain it too easily.
After learning its abilities himself, even he had been forced to admit how terrifying it was.
Especially in the hands of a true martial arts master.
With temperatures reaching unimaginable extremes, even a single breath could generate violent whirlwinds.
In the hands of a genuine powerhouse, a casual wave of the arm might even create something akin to a blazing solar storm.
Of course, only someone strong enough could unleash that level of destructive power.
Fortunately, anyone capable of earning 1,500 Battle Pyramid points was destined to be among the strongest fighters of their generation.
Redyat had extremely high expectations for this Devil Fruit.
Likewise, he had equally high expectations for the person who would eventually obtain it.
Perhaps...
This Temperature-Temperature Fruit could produce another true overlord of the New World.
After all, when overwhelming talent was combined with a truly top-tier Devil Fruit, becoming an overlord was no longer just wishful thinking.
The moment its description became public, the entire world finally understood just how monstrous this Devil Fruit truly was.
A maximum temperature of ten thousand degrees.
That figure alone was enough to leave countless people speechless.
The world was instantly stirred into excitement.
Within the Battle Pyramid, a new frenzy of battles was about to begin.
News agencies across the world rushed to report the announcement.
"The Supreme Paramecia! A Stepping Stone to Becoming an Overlord!"
"Nightfall Pirates Reveal a Top-Tier Devil Fruit Worth Fifteen Hundred Points!"
"The Temperature-Temperature Fruit: The Natural Nemesis of the Navy's Two Admirals!"
Some newspapers became even bolder.
By emphasizing the Fruit's immunity to both extreme cold and magma, they openly implied that it directly countered the powers of the Navy Admirals.
By now, the World Government and the Marines had lost much of their influence over global public opinion.
Their authority had largely shrunk to the first half of the Grand Line.
Meanwhile, most major news organizations had already relocated their headquarters to the Four Seas, or had always been based there in the first place.
Without the World Government breathing down their necks, they had become far more daring in their reporting.
Strong individuals around the world immediately recognized that the description was no exaggeration.
In a sense, the Temperature-Temperature Fruit truly countered both the Ice-Ice Fruit and the Mag-Mag Fruit.
At the very least, both abilities would be significantly weakened against its user.
Their greatest advantage, complete mastery over temperature, would become nearly meaningless.
The Ice-Ice Fruit would likely suffer the most, perhaps even becoming incapable of displaying its full power.
The Mag-Mag Fruit still possessed tremendous explosive force and overwhelming destructive potential, but even magma itself would no longer threaten the Temperature-Temperature Fruit's user.
Of course, everything still depended on the strength of the person wielding the ability.
Even the greatest Devil Fruit could only display its true brilliance in the hands of a true powerhouse.
Fortunately, everyone understood one thing.
Anyone capable of earning fifteen hundred points within the Battle Pyramid was already destined to become one of those powerhouses.
That realization only intensified the competition.
There was only one Temperature-Temperature Fruit.
There would only be one winner.
Already, those occupying the highest floors of the Battle Pyramid were regarded as formidable figures throughout the New World.
Even participants whose bounties had once been below one hundred million Berries could no longer be judged by those outdated numbers.
Those were merely their old bounties.
No one knew how much their strength had evolved after years of relentless combat inside the Battle Pyramid.
Once they stepped back onto the seas, their power would rise explosively in a very short period.
Many of the New World's newest famous figures had already emerged from the Battle Pyramid.
"Hey, Kuzan."
A teasing voice interrupted the peaceful atmosphere aboard a Marine patrol warship sailing through the Grand Line.
"Your Devil Fruit is about to get countered, and you're still sleeping? Aren't you worried at all?"
Vice Admiral Gion looked helplessly at Kuzan, who was stretched lazily across a reclining chair, enjoying the sunlight as though none of it concerned him.
"This isn't like the Mag-Mag Fruit or Galdino's Wax-Wax Fruit."
"Ten thousand degrees Celsius."
"If someone really masters that Fruit, your Ice-Ice Fruit could become completely useless."
Watching Kuzan remain perfectly calm, Gion couldn't help feeling like a worried court official fretting while the man himself remained unconcerned.
Over the past few years, Gion had accumulated enough military achievements to be promoted after a Vice Admiral's seat became vacant.
She now served directly under Kuzan, patrolling the Grand Line and suppressing pirate activity.
"What exactly is there to worry about?"
Kuzan didn't even bother opening his eyes.
"It's only a Devil Fruit."
"And who knows how many years it'll take before someone actually earns it?"
He found Gion's concern somewhat amusing.
The formidable opponent he imagined still didn't even exist.
There wasn't even a shadow of such a person yet.
There was no point worrying about an enemy that had yet to appear.
After a brief pause, Kuzan finally sat up.
"Speaking of which..."
"What about your former subordinate?"
"You're still in contact with him, right?"
"How's he been doing lately?"
A trace of curiosity appeared in his eyes.
"That guy?"
Gion sighed, looking both envious and slightly wary.
"He's living an unbelievably comfortable life."
"He has everything he could possibly want in the Sabaody Archipelago."
"Honestly... it's terrifying how completely he's managed to take control of the place."
"Yeah..."
Kuzan nodded.
"His ability really is frightening."
"And he's incredibly clever."
He had naturally heard about Novoa's recent activities.
Just like the justice he claimed to follow, Novoa acted entirely according to his own wishes.
In many ways, he hardly resembled a Marine at all.
Novoa had graduated from the Marine Elite Training Camp after only two years.
Unlike the other trainees, he had already possessed exceptional strength before entering.
He had mastered the Six Powers and awakened Observation Haki beforehand.
Not long after entering the training camp, he also awakened Armament Haki.
Because his foundation far surpassed that of the other recruits, Zephyr designed a completely different training regimen specifically for him.
Under Zephyr's harsh but meticulous guidance, Novoa's tremendous potential rapidly transformed into genuine strength.
He now held the rank of Marine Rear Admiral.
Compared to when he first entered the Marines as a Lieutenant Commander, he had already risen two full ranks.
He now stood only two promotions away from becoming a Marine Vice Admiral.
His advancement could only be described as astonishing.
However, it was not entirely unprecedented.
The Marines could classify promotions like his under the category of special recruitment.
In recent years, numerous powerful individuals had joined the Marines and immediately received high-ranking positions.
It was one of Headquarters' methods of replenishing its dwindling combat strength and quickly rebuilding its military power.
Marine academies were also expanding rapidly, striving to train more elite officers capable of confronting the increasingly powerful pirate forces.
The title of Emperor had actually originated from a strategy quietly promoted by the Marines and the World Government.
Their goal had been simple.
Encourage the pirate overlords of the New World to fight among themselves.
To a certain extent, the strategy had succeeded.
But only to a certain extent.
Although three veteran Sea Overlords had fallen, pirate power as a whole had actually grown stronger.
New Emperors had risen.
New overlords had emerged.
The balance of power had become even more dangerous.
After graduating, Novoa quickly became one of the Marines' rising monsters.
As a Marine Rear Admiral, he was appointed commander of the Marine base stationed in the Sabaody Archipelago, overseeing the entire island chain.
Interestingly, immediately after graduation, Novoa had been granted considerable operational freedom.
For a period of time, he even accompanied Vice Admiral Prodigal, the officer who had originally discovered and recruited him.
During one particular operation, however, Novoa disappeared for several days.
Not long after his return, Marine Headquarters received shocking intelligence.
An entire noble family in a kingdom of the North Blue had been exterminated overnight.
Everyone knew exactly who had done it.
Fortunately, that kingdom was no longer affiliated with the World Government.
From the Marines' perspective, Novoa had merely settled a personal vendetta.
Even so, many officers within Headquarters openly criticized his actions.
According to intelligence reports, Novoa also used both his authority and his strength to protect merchant groups operating along the Grand Line.
He helped them expand their businesses and, in return, collected generous protection fees.
He openly assisted numerous organizations and local powers as well.
Out of gratitude, many of them willingly provided him with large amounts of what they called "military funding."
As a result, Novoa accumulated tremendous wealth in a remarkably short period.
Since every transaction appeared entirely legitimate, Marine Headquarters had no legal grounds to punish him.
At the same time, they came to understand him far more clearly.
His so-called "justice of doing as he pleases" was unlike any philosophy found elsewhere within the Marines.
He behaved less like a soldier and more like a politician wearing a Marine uniform, expertly exploiting rules whenever they served his interests.
To curb his growing influence, and perhaps temper his personality, Headquarters eventually transferred him to the Sabaody Archipelago.
The decision accomplished almost nothing.
Novoa simply became more discreet.
Although the transfer reduced some of his previous profits, it also gave him an even larger stage upon which to operate.
His handsome appearance, combined with his status as one of the Marines' brightest rising stars, proved to be an enormous advantage.
His refined manners, noble etiquette, and easygoing humor quickly won the admiration of many aristocratic young ladies.
Not long afterward, details of Novoa's past actions inevitably became public.
No one knew exactly who leaked the information.
Surprisingly, the North Blue kingdom involved refused to condemn him.
Instead, they publicly praised his actions and formally granted him the noble title of Baron.
From that day onward, Novoa officially became a noble himself.
After all, who would offend one of the Marines' most promising young stars for the sake of a noble family that had already been wiped out?
Although Novoa was only nineteen years old, he had already become one of the strongest figures in the first half of the Grand Line.
Some writers even adapted his life into novels.
A ruined family.
A miraculous encounter.
Rapid growth.
Ultimate revenge.
It was the perfect heroic tale.
For a time, Novoa's fame exploded across the seas.
He also consciously embraced that image, carefully crafting his own public persona.
Ironically, while his methods displeased many officers within Marine Headquarters, they earned considerable favor from the World Government.
His noble title and aristocratic bearing made him far more appealing to them than the average Marine officer.
Not long after his arrival in the Sabaody Archipelago, officials from the World Government personally reached out to establish contact.
Compared with ordinary Marines, Novoa was someone they found far easier to work with.
Within only a few months, he had used both strength and political skill to bring the Sabaody Archipelago into remarkable order.
Rather than exterminating every pirate, he coordinated the interests of nearly every major faction operating there.
Naturally, overwhelming strength remained the foundation of that stability.
Several arrogant pirate crews were personally crushed by Novoa, making it abundantly clear that an exceptionally powerful Marine now guarded the Archipelago.
New arrivals quickly learned not to cause unnecessary trouble.
Although he could never control every interest within Sabaody, the islands themselves had become far more orderly than ever before, a dramatic contrast to the chaos that had reigned prior to his appointment.