"Your Highness, please have some tea."
In the training ground, just as Black retracted the wings on his back, Hancock handed him a cup of hot tea, gazing at him with eyes full of adoration.
Black smiled and ruffled her hair, and Hancock's eyes narrowed, looking utterly content.
This was the result of Black's efforts over these four years.
Besides these individuals, two years ago, after Rob Lucci's ruthless "hostage elimination" incident, Black developed a strong interest in CP members.
"You can kill hundreds of people at thirteen? Are your CP reserve talents that high?"
Acting in typical Celestial Dragon fashion, he went directly to the CP training base, claiming that he wanted to personally select and train a few prodigies.
CP, being the organization with the closest contact with the Celestial Dragons, knew very well that once these nobles had an idea, it was best not to question it.
Without hesitation, they brought all the reserve agents from the training camp before Black and allowed him to choose freely.
Thus, Black easily brought Kalifa and Alpha back to his manor.
Two years ago, Kalifa was only ten, and Alpha only eight. Neither had undergone long-term training, and they had not even completed the most basic indoctrination.
But that was precisely what Black wanted.
If they had already been fully conditioned, he would have to worry about their loyalty leaning toward the World Government in the future.
It would be absurd to unknowingly raise two spies at his side.
He also conveniently took a Devil Fruit from CP's storage the Paramecia-type Door-Door Fruit.
This was clearly a rare space-type ability, yet it had not been given much importance by the World Government. It was simply stored as a reward for agents who rendered meritorious service.
But that wasn't surprising.
Even the Mero Mero no Mi, a power with near rule-based effects, had ended up in the hands of someone like Grothius.
Black gave the Door-Door Fruit to Stella.
Stella, who neither excelled in nor enjoyed combat, could develop in a support role. At the very least, she would no longer need to carry her small satchel everywhere.
In addition, Black's unreliable system had still provided considerable help over these four years.
During one draw, he finally obtained the long-desired Patrick Redfield (elderly).
He also acquired the coveted Zoan-type Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Model: Vampire.
After repeated testing, confirming that ability cards could even assist in awakening, Black decisively consumed the Vampire Fruit.
With the support of the ability card, the fruit entered its awakened state.
It had to be said Devil Fruit awakening brought an enormous enhancement.
Beyond the standard boosts of awakened Zoans enhanced regeneration and physical stats its abilities underwent qualitative changes.
Sonic-based attacks and drastically increased flight speed were expected.
What surprised Black was that his sonic waves could not only inflict mental damage but also induce hallucinations and even interfere with Observation Haki.
Originally, the Vampire Fruit required continuous absorption of blood, lifespan, and stamina to maintain peak condition.
But after awakening, its dependence on external sources was greatly reduced.
With minimal absorption, he could maintain peak performance for extended periods achieving a form of pseudo-immortality.
Furthermore, within the blood mist domain generated by awakening, he could directly drain the life force of all living beings within range, aging them rapidly without physical contact.
Given the complexity of this Mythical Zoan, there were likely still many abilities left to develop.
Naturally, over four years, the system did not yield only one high-level reward.
Black's growth extended far beyond this.
With the enhancement of his Armament Haki, it had fully merged with his body.
Through experiments on Koala, Black discovered that even without consciously activating it, his body could still damage Logia users.
For him, Armament Haki had effectively become a passive ability.
His Observation Haki had also advanced significantly.
In addition to future sight and long-range perception, it now allowed him to enter a state akin to "time dilation."
In this state, his perception of time slowed dramatically similar to abilities seen in figures like Kizaru's extreme speed or even beyond.
This granted him a decisive advantage in combat, enabling near-perfect evasion and counterattacks.
His Conqueror's Haki also improved.
However, due to the rarity of Conqueror's users, opportunities to gain related abilities were limited.
Over four years, Black only mastered the known advanced applications
Emission shockwaves, suppression of Observation Haki, and interference with Devil Fruit abilities.
Beyond that, he had yet to unlock any new variations.
By his estimation, his Conqueror's Haki intensity had already surpassed that of Joy Boy, though he might still lack refinement.
Joy Boy, as Imu's ancient enemy, must have possessed a method to directly threaten Imu.
If that method stemmed from Conqueror's Haki, then Black still had a higher level to reach.
But he was in no hurry.
If he had not mastered it, it simply meant his accumulation was not yet sufficient.
He would continue to build it up.
In terms of swordsmanship, after stacking multiple Great Swordsman-level abilities, Black's strength had reached an unprecedented height.
Now, only one step remained refining his blade into a permanent Black Blade.
Once achieved, he would stand at the absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship.
At this point, Black's combat power had completely surpassed the traditional Admiral and Yonko tiers.
According to an old saying, even a Yonko could not withstand the combined assault of two Admirals.
Black estimated that he now could.
But when it came to Imu, he remained cautious.
No matter how much he improved, without firsthand knowledge of Imu's true strength, he would not act recklessly.
Unless the system conveniently provided a way to test it first.
During these years, the system also produced adult versions of Kizaru and Aokiji.
Aokiji was cooperative and dropped another Ice-Ice Fruit ability card, allowing Mandy's fruit to reach awakening.
Kizaru, however, was far less cooperative, only dropping his Armament Haki.
Among his abilities, that was arguably his weakest aspect.
Still, it was Admiral-level Haki.
Black reluctantly absorbed it himself; Koala's awakening would have to wait.
He silently added another grievance to Kizaru.
Aside from these, Black accumulated several lower-tier ability cards:
Swordsman-level Swordsmanship ×7
Zoan-type Ox-Ox Fruit, Bison Model
Zoan-type Ancient Zoan, Lizard-Lizard Fruit, Titan Monitor Model
Zoan-type Ancient Zoan, Bird-Bird Fruit, Moa Model
Zoan-type Ancient Zoan, Bug-Bug Fruit, Meganeura Model
Paramecia-type Chain-Chain Fruit
Paramecia-type Phase-Phase Fruit
Most high-level abilities had already been used.
Even standard Zoans had been tested extensively due to their availability in the outside world.
Thus, what remained now were mostly niche or less practical abilities.
Some, like the Chain-Chain Fruit, were even problematic requiring chains to burst from the user's body, injuring themselves before harming others.
After finishing the tea Hancock had brought him in one gulp, Black stretched lazily and looked toward Pangaea Castle.
"It's time..."
"...to let the cannon fodder test Imu's true power."