Chapter 201: Vector-Vector Fruit, Conqueror's Infusion!
"Hey... that guy seems completely enraged by the Chief!"
The detention unit soldiers, having already left the battlefield sea area, looked back at that sea area from afar.
Now, they couldn't help but click their tongues.
The reason was simple—because now, on the battlefield behind them.
That sea area was 'Rioting'.
"I'll destroy you! Insect!"
"How dare you... play with me like this!"
On the North Blue Cross Star.
The pitch-black armor of Saint Thatcherz M. Pierre seemed faintly cracking at this moment.
Through the cracks, more hollows appeared on the armor.
Then...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
From those hollows, white bullets shot out continuously at speeds completely uncapturable by the naked eye.
Most surprisingly, accompanying Pierre's countless attacks.
The surrounding entire sea seemed to come alive at this moment.
Howling sea wind rolled frantically; rolling waves surged endlessly.
Like awakened beasts, they rushed toward Roy on the sea!
In just an instant—the wind reached almost gale force, and the tsunami rolled back by the sea reached a height exceeding 100 meters.
"What exactly is that guy's ability... terrifying destructive power!"
This was the source of the detention unit Marines' shock now.
They considered themselves veterans following Roy for a long time, having seen many battles between powerhouses, even facing Shiki on Merveille before.
But even with Shiki's attacks, they could at least tell he seemed to 'Float' things.
But this Celestial Dragon's ability, they couldn't understand at all.
"Why doesn't the Chief fight back?"
"Idiot, didn't you see just now? This guy can reflect attacks!"
"Then how to fight?"
"Should we go help?"
Marines discussed.
"Alright, shut up."
Then, they heard Pharrel's voice.
Pharrel and Hans were also looking at the distant battle from afar.
But compared to the Marines, their expressions were relatively calm.
"Chief's mission for us is to help the Pirate Guerilla control order on the island and report the battle situation."
"Others aren't our concern!"
Speaking here, Pharrel scanned the Marines before him. "Or—do you think the Chief will lose?"
Hearing this.
The detention unit Marines froze first.
Then they shook their heads in unison. "How could the Chief lose?"
As members of the detention unit, their confidence in Roy had long reached a near-blind level.
They watched Roy walk step by step until now—from fighting Warlords initially, to the joint military exercise, then the decisive battle with Shiki, cultivated all the way.
Roy Amos won't lose—this was almost their most basic cognition.
As for why Roy seemed at a disadvantage now?
They didn't know.
But they firmly believed—there must be a reason.
And it was true...
"This guy's ability... indeed strange."
Now, while dodging and resisting Pierre's attacks.
Roy was thinking internally.
From the first moment seeing the other party, he knew the fruit ability.
[Devil Fruit User 'Saint Thatcherz M. Pierre' Discovered]
[Confirmed Devil Fruit: 'Paramecia · Vector-Vector Fruit' (Beku Beku no Mi), analyzing...]
[Fruit Ability: Manipulate all things with 'Direction' touched by both hands.]
[Effects by Level]
[LV3: Gain full fruit ability. Manipulate vector properties of objects touched by both hands. Freely change, weaken, or enhance their speed, direction, and kinetic energy. Thereby can 'Reflect' and 'Enhance' attacks. Ineffective on living beings other than oneself. Requires 1.9 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
['Vector Control' duration on touched objects is only 3 minutes; need to touch again after 3 minutes to continue control.]
[LV4: Deep-Dive Development. Expand manipulatable object range. Can manipulate vector properties of non-solid things including 'Light', 'Fire', 'Energy'. Requires 3.8 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[LV5: Fruit Awakening · Universal Vector. Ability usage no longer needs reaction time. Can passively reflect all 'Attacks' approaching oneself, enhance all attacks issued by oneself. Ability usage no longer needs touch by both hands; can complete 'Vector Control' by touching with any part of the body. Requires 10.1 Billion Berries for Unlock.]
[Stronger vector enhancement consumes more stamina.]
Like his colleagues, this God's Knight from the Thatcherz family consumed a top-tier Devil Fruit too.
So-called Vector, meaning all energy with the concept of direction—this was an extremely broad ability.
Seawater flow, wind blowing, even energy transmitted by fists and attacks, theoretically could all be manipulated by him and given a 'Reflection' effect.
And all attacks he issued could be enhanced, gaining huge power increase.
As Pierre said, this was indeed an almost invincible ability in some sense.
But its flaw was obvious too.
Even after Awakening, activating this fruit ability had a hard condition—that was 'Touch'.
Must contact with body parts to gain vector control over objects.
Then here lay the problem.
Roy was sure his previous attacks never touched the other party's body from start to finish—but even so, his attacks were still reflected.
"Fruit Encyclopedia won't be wrong."
"Then the problem can only be this guy."
Roy knew this situation well.
This was why he didn't attack actively, choosing to dodge and observe.
And now, he was basically certain.
"Those bullets he shot, and the ring of red smoke around him... are part of his body."
"So when touching those bullets and the red smoke on him, my ability is controlled."
"The principle of him controlling the sea and strong wind is the same—where his bullets shoot and where his smoke drifts is the range his 'Body' touches."
This was the only explanation.
But the problem was—how did the other party do it?
Roy had a guess.
But he needed confirmation.
"Just right... try that move."
Muttering, Roy smashed the huge wave rushing at him casually, then...
[Brain-Brain Fruit LV4 · Brain Control · Perception Enhancement]
[Rumble-Rumble Fruit LV5 · Mantra (Kenbunshoku Haki)]
[Fruit Combination · Five Senses Enhancement]
In this instant, his perception ability soared again.
His brain began processing all details frantically, allowing him to perceive even the fall of every spray of surrounding waves clearly.
Cognition brought by smell became clearer too.
With this, he finally 'Saw Clearly' the things shooting at him constantly from the surrounding sea.
Those were sections of white bones.
Besides that, the smell mixed in the sea breeze told him what the red smoke surrounding Pierre's body was.
That was the smell of blood.
Correct, as Roy guessed.
The bullets shot by the other party weren't bullets, but 'Bone'.
The smoke surrounding the other party wasn't smoke, but 'Blood'.
Those were parts of his body.
As for how he did it...
"That armor on him... is an ancient technology creation?"
Roy scanned Pierre's black armor.
When fighting Enel on Sabaody Archipelago before, he saw special armor and weapons on Enel—according to Enel, those were gifts from Saturn, crystals of ancient technology.
Clearly...
As a formal God's Knight, Pierre had similar technological products.
His armor could extract his bones as attack bullets—where bullets passed, everything naturally fell under his control.
That armor could also evaporate his blood as his barrier—where mist spread, all attacks would be reflected.
Besides that, another key point forming this 'Cycle'.
"This guy is a God's Knight... even if bones are dismantled, they heal immediately; even if blood is drained, it replenishes."
Roy realized the characteristic of God's Knights recovering instantly after injury was the key link forming this ability.
This armor almost erased the flaws of Pierre's ability completely and maximized its advantages.
"This is the foundation of ruling the world for 800 years."
Roy couldn't help sighing and being wary internally.
In individual strength, God's Knights might not compare to gifted Emperors.
But massive resources mastered by the World Government and the contract with Lord Imu were enough to bridge this gap.
From Shamrock's sword that ate a Mythical Zoan fruit in the original story, to special equipment on Enel and Pierre, all showed the terror of this foundation.
"If someday I can arrange similar equipment for The Zodiac too..."
Roy thought.
Just then...
"Daring to be distracted during battle, truly reckless!"
Pierre's growl came.
Next moment...
VMMM!
Bone bullets flew to Roy.
Simultaneously, Roy reacted instantly.
In his hand, black-red Conqueror's lightning appeared again.
But...
VMMM!
Moments later, that Conqueror's lightning dissipated again.
Roy frowned, dodging this strike sideways.
"Still wrong... infusing like this is wrong too—much harder than imagined."
After dodging, he looked down at his fist again.
Yes.
From the start of the battle, he was attempting—attempting to master 'Conqueror's Infusion'.
That was a combat skill only true hegemons with extremely high Conqueror's intensity could master.
After realizing the World Government's foundation.
His desire for Conqueror's Infusion became stronger.
Because he knew well.
Conqueror's Infusion was the only known way to break God's Knights' 'Immortal Body'.
"Once mastering 'Infusion' thoroughly, my strength will improve significantly again."
Thinking of this, Roy looked at Pierre again.
"This guy is a good whetstone, practice with him more..."
He decided internally.
But just then...
"!!!"
Roy's expression changed abruptly.
He turned his head sharply, looking at Mont Blanc Island not far behind.
His maintained Mantra and perception enhancement clearly sensed.
On Mont Blanc Island, the aura of the two clashing figures began to change.
"Actually..."
Seeing Roy turning his head suddenly, Pierre's anger reached the peak.
"You dare—ignore me?"
He had enough!
In fact, he realized from just now—this lower-world species before him seemed to intentionally use him to practice 'Conqueror's Infusion'.
This reminded him of a colleague.
"Pierre, you are weak."
That was the man named Saint Figarland Shamrock.
The existence he hated and feared most.
"To be honest—if not for a batch of knights falling at God Valley back then, plus my unworthy brother leaving the Holy Land, you wouldn't be qualified to enter Shangri-La and become a 'God's Knight'."
Back then, Pierre naturally disagreed, even challenging Shamrock.
But the result was... if not for the 'Deep Sea Mark' he possessed as a God's Knight, he wouldn't last a move against Shamrock.
"You lack the talent of a strong man, fighting you is boring."
Back then, Shamrock showed no joy after winning.
Just like Roy now—clearly fighting, but completely absent-minded.
So...
"Shamrock is one thing, how dare you ignore me too—you lower-world species!"
He roared, then the armor on his body cracked completely at this moment.
Click! Click!
The body under the armor was finally revealed.
Just as Roy guessed—under the armor, Pierre's body was riddled with holes.
Inside that armor, countless blades cooperated, cutting his body constantly.
His bones were cut piece by piece, thrown into armor gaps, then transformed into bullets after some change.
His blood was drained, then evaporated by the armor into crimson mist.
His whole body, except the area where the special mark on his left arm was located, was being cut almost everywhere.
Inside the armor, some invisible energy was gathering.
Of course, due to God's Knight's specialty—his body was repaired quickly while being cut.
But now...
VMMM!
With armor cracking, the mechanism operation speed inside became more exaggerated.
Intense force tore his body, finally...
Snap!
His entire spine was torn off.
"Ow!"
Intense pain made Pierre roar like a beast—although his spine regrew moments later.
At the same time...
VMMM!
His intense pain seemed to turn into some materialized energy at this moment, pouring into the armor.
So...
Click!
His huge spine was sent into the largest hollow on the armor as a 'Bullet'.
Invisible energy gathered on the 'Bullet' at this moment.
[Vector Manipulation · God-Killing Spear · Spear of Pain]
Words fell; the 'Spear' transformed from the spine shot toward Roy abruptly!
The moment it left the chamber, the surrounding air seemed to emit an overwhelmed sound.
BOOM!
Where it passed, everything around was pulled by the 'Vector' it carried—escort ships around the sea were swept up directly.
Wind direction, current, heat... all vectors existing around were driven by this strike, turning into the tail flame of this strike, shooting toward Roy.
And the speed far exceeded any previous strike!
Watching this, Pierre showed a hideous smile.
Yes—precisely because of the humiliation of losing to Shamrock back then, Pierre chose to ask the Five Elders to forge this armor for him.
Wearing the armor, he felt the 'Pain' of bone and blood being stripped every moment; he couldn't even sleep.
But through the power of ancient technology, that pain turned into his power, proving to that bastard Shamrock...
He was a true powerhouse qualified to be a God's Knight!
"Die! Insect!"
He roared.
But the next moment, his hideous smile froze on his face.
Because he saw...
Facing his strongest strike, Roy didn't choose to dodge like before.
He just raised his hand slowly toward the flying spear.
Clap!
BOOM!
Terrifying shockwave created a huge trench in the entire sea instantly—that deep trench extended far away.
But as the direct recipient of that shockwave.
Under Pierre's incredulous gaze, Roy grabbed that white spear.
In this instant, Pierre could clearly see.
His strongest strike stabbed a few inches before Roy's palm, unable to approach further.
Because...
Zzt! Zzt! Zzt!
Now on Roy's hand, something wrapped around it.
That black-red lightning and powerful oppression weren't unfamiliar to Pierre.
But unlike before—
This time, the black-red lightning didn't shatter and disintegrate.
On the contrary.
It almost condensed into substance, wrapping steadily around Roy's arm like an armguard condensed from lightning.
Then...
Click!
Roy squeezed gently.
Bang!
The white bone spear shattered inch by inch instantly.
Seeing this, Pierre widened his eyes.
"Conqueror's Infusion!?"
☆☆☆
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