"Gulala… interesting boy," Edward Newgate said with a curious smile, his golden crescent-shaped beard twitching. "When you dodged that slash just now, it looked like you had the ability to transform into an element. Are you a Logia-type Devil Fruit user?"
"Yes," Yuno replied frankly, with no need to hide anything. "The Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit: Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire Form."
"We in the Rocks Pirates don't even have a single Logia-type user!" Stussy exclaimed.
"Gulala," Edward chuckled, "I hope this kid is really strong—otherwise, it'd be a waste of such a rare Devil Fruit."
Stussy and Edward spoke in unison.
Everyone was slightly surprised. After all, Logia-type Devil Fruits were not only extremely rare but also granted immunity to physical attacks. Only Armament Haki could counter them.
No matter how powerful a Devil Fruit ability was, one's strength still had to be recognized by Rocks himself before they could join the crew.
Rocks, standing at the front, listened quietly, an inexplicable glint flickering in his eyes.
Rocks and the other senior officers remained still—too disdainful to bother fighting Yuno themselves.
The central area of Beehive Island was typically reserved for officers. Captains and regular crew members were only permitted to enter when summoned or during special events.
A large crowd of pirates had gathered here after hearing news of the new trainees outside—and had just witnessed Yuno dodge Golden Lion's attack.
This left many ordinary crew members, especially those of average strength, feeling intimidated. They knew that if they'd been in Yuno's place, they wouldn't have stood a chance.
"Hmph! A bunch of trash!"
"Let me see where you get the courage to set foot on Beehive Island!"
A captain-level pirate glared fiercely at the trembling crewmen cowering behind him.
"Are you flying up here just to die?" Yuno asked, looking down at the scrawny pirate below.
"You're not the only one who can fly!"
"Remember my name—Freeman! I ate the Zoan-type Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Vulture!"
Freeman's body swelled. A pair of dark brown wings burst through his shirt from his shoulder blades and unfurled. His human form vanished, replaced by a three-meter-tall vulture capable of human speech.
As his wings spread wide, the ground beneath his feet cracked, and he shot straight toward Yuno in the sky.
Empowered by the beast form's enhanced physical strength and rapid regeneration, Freeman grew overconfident. How much stamina could a mere boy possibly have? he thought. I'll either kill him outright or wear him down!
"What a magnificent human-shaped bird! The Zoan division really has it all!" Yuno mused, a spark of fighting spirit igniting in his chest—though the vulture's appearance did little to impress him.
Finally, he thought, someone who looks halfway decent has shown up.
Yuno raised his hands, and endless green flames erupted forth, surging violently around him.
The temperature spiked instantly, the very air growing scorching hot. Two spiraling streams of flame whirled around his body like a blazing vortex.
In moments, the heat reached terrifying levels. Invisible moisture in the air began evaporating with a sharp hiss.
As Freeman closed in, the water in his own body started boiling away. His feathers curled and warped under the intense heat.
Freeman's confidence wavered. I really underestimated him… Just how hot is this green fire?!
But it was too late to turn back now. He coated his dark, hooked beak in Armament Haki, turning it glossy and black.
"Hmph! Boy, watch me shatter your Elemental Transformation with my Armament Haki!"
"Fire Ring: Fire Pillar!"
Yuno acted decisively as the avian foe charged. He wouldn't let that Haki-laced strike touch him—not even for a second.
The flames swirling around Yuno quickly merged and expanded, forming a wide green column of fire that shot downward.
The inferno continued to surge, and the column—now ten meters wide—left Freeman no chance to dodge.
That was precisely Yuno's intention: to kill him instantly and demonstrate his overwhelming strength.
My main ability now is the Blue Lotus Earth Core Fire. I'm not yet proficient in physical combat or raw power, so for now, I'll stick to being a long-range mage!
"Freeman, be careful!"
Ganzui—a tall, heavily armored cadre—couldn't help but shout.
Freeman was the weakest among the captains under his command, and Ganzui knew his capabilities all too well.
If that attack landed, it would be a fatal blow.
In an instant, Freeman found himself with no foothold in midair—his flight ability in vulture form was only average.
Boom! Rumble!
He had just adjusted his angle when the blazing column struck him head-on.
The impact blasted him violently downward. The ground exploded beneath him, and a deep crater formed in an instant.
Cracks radiated outward in all directions with sharp crackling sounds, while waves of flame rolled out with the shockwave, hurling gravel and sand into the air.
The watching pirates scattered in every direction to avoid contact with the eerie green fire.
They watched in horror as Freeman was reduced to ashes in less than a second—mere contact with the flame was enough.
Even those who fled were struck full in the face by the searing heat wave, their skin burning as if set ablaze.
"It's truly worthy of being a Logia ability! This temperature is far beyond that of ordinary flames!"
Edward Newgate watched in awe.
Several cadres nodded in agreement.
"But this Freeman… too weak. Killed in a single move?!"
Golden Lion Shiki suddenly spoke up. "What's the point of even mentioning him?"
Ganzui, standing nearby, wore a grim expression. Everyone knew Freeman had been the captain of his team.
But then a thought occurred to him: if Yuno gained recognition, he could recruit him to fill Freeman's vacant position.
Hmph! Just don't get ungrateful when the time comes, kid.
"Phew… I accidentally used too much force. Not even a body left."
"Don't worry—it won't happen next time."
Yuno descended to the ground, glanced at the deep crater before him, smiled, and waved his hand—but inwardly thought, Damn, he was actually strong!
Ever since integrating the essence of the strange fire, everything had changed. The temperature and destructive power now rivaled Akainu's Magma-Magma Fruit!
It wouldn't be long before the so-called "magma restraining fire" became the other way around!
The system is awesome!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sudden sound of slicing wind cut through Yuno's thoughts.
Three captain-level pirates had launched a surprise attack.