"If he didn't do it to eat a second Devil Fruit, then how did he manage to seize it with a hundred-percent success rate without the Dark-Dark Fruit?"
Blackbeard Teach's mind was thrown into a stormy upheaval. Unfortunately, this chain of questions was destined to go unanswered.
…
At this moment, Tenma—the very center of the storm—had already left the noise far behind.
After obtaining the famous blade "Shidarezura," he didn't linger. Instead, he took control of the entire pirate ship and, following the charts, headed straight for Wano Country in the New World.
Although the Float-Float Fruit allowed him to ignore most of the dangers of the sea,
The New World's bizarre and unpredictable weather was still a hidden threat he didn't dare underestimate.
After all, even someone as powerful as Golden Lion had fallen twice because of the weather.
Tenma had only inherited the ability template—but he had no intention of repeating that mistake. He held the word "weather" in deep respect.
Fortunately, luck was on his side. None of the apocalyptic extreme climates appeared along the way.
To be safe, the flying pirate ship was also equipped with a professional navigator.
That's right—these crew members were the ones he had conveniently rescued from the Sabaody auction house.
Since this was going to be a long-distance flight, quality of life had to be guaranteed.
From the slaves' backstage holding area, Tenma selected several people with actual skills and brought them along into the sky—together with Gion.
This small group had no combatants at all. They existed purely to serve daily life: a cook, a navigator, and a musician.
Five people in total—three women and two men.
The female members were Lira Blackveil, his personal attendant; Emelie Chord, a prodigy-level musician; and Kaya, a cheerful young chef.
As for the men, aside from Tenma himself, there were only Jorob the navigator and Meyer, who handled lookout duty.
In truth, there were more people he initially considered taking.
But after awakening Observation Haki that could sense human intent, anyone who appeared grateful on the surface but harbored filthy schemes underneath was tossed off the ship like garbage.
The five who remained all had difficult pasts.
Among them were a princess of a fallen kingdom, a world-famous songstress, and even a bestselling author.
Each had once held a glamorous identity, only to end up reduced to merchandise in the hands of traffickers—barcoded and shoved into display cages.
These five had survived Tenma's ruthless Observation Haki screening. He was certain they were genuinely grateful and willing to serve him.
Of course, part of it was also because they had recognized Tenma's terrifying strength and his power of flight, desperately clinging to this lifeline for survival.
That was only natural for people who had just crawled out of hell. Tenma didn't mind at all.
At this very moment, thousands of meters above the sea,
a fully refurbished and modified pirate ship floated steadily beneath a deep-blue sky.
On the spacious deck, Tenma lay comfortably on a lounge chair, basking in the sun.
Beside him, Lira Blackveil and Emelie Chord knelt on either side, gently fanning him with feather fans to dispel the heat left from training.
"So that's the so-called 'strategist,' huh. Sengoku really played a beautiful game of praise-by-destruction."
Hearing Tenma's muttering, the two women instinctively glanced at the newspaper in his hand.
Just a glimpse of the eye-catching headline made their beautiful eyes widen, and their movements immediately grew even gentler and more respectful.
Tenma shook the paper, looking at the article that praised him to the skies, a playful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
On the surface, the report was boosting his fame. In reality, it was roasting him over an open fire.
By emphasizing the Float-Float Fruit's power and the title "Sky Admiral," it announced to the entire world that Tenma possessed a threat level comparable to Golden Lion.
At the same time, it subtly implied that he had killed Golden Lion to seize the ability.
There was no hard evidence—but such suggestive wording was more than enough to send the greedy wolves of the sea charging toward him.
Kill someone to seize their treasure?
On a sea crawling with Devil Fruit users, that information was basically a nuclear bomb.
Sengoku's move was clear: kill with borrowed knives, letting countless pirates and underground forces swarm him like flies.
If Tenma intended to steadily build power on the seas, this would indeed be a serious headache.
Unfortunately for Sengoku, he hadn't calculated one thing—
Tenma's next destination was the isolationist Wano Country.
As long as that plan succeeded, this so-called trouble wouldn't even amount to a ripple.
Canon Blackbeard had been far more high-profile—live-streaming his dual-Devil-Fruit show at Marineford. And what happened?
There were ten times more jealous eyes than now, yet he still sat firmly on the throne of a Yonko.
In this world, as long as your fists were hard enough and your power big enough, all trouble turned into a joke.
Besides, from another angle, this suited Tenma just fine.
His strength was at a bottleneck—he needed some suicidal idiots to serve as sparring partners.
If things truly went south, with the combined boost of the Float-Float Fruit and the Moa Moa no Mi, plus Observation Haki that read human intent—
how big was this world, really? Who could stop him?
Having figured that out, Tenma casually tossed the newspaper aside.
"Lord Tenma, your iced fruit juice is ready."
A sweet call came from the galley. Emelie Chord, who had been softly humming a tune, immediately rose obediently and presented a glass of frost-mist–covered juice.
Anything that made it to Sabaody's Number One Auction House was top-tier in both looks and figure.
Now that he had strength and territory, Tenma naturally wouldn't mistreat himself.
As a man on the free seas, if you didn't know how to enjoy life, what was the difference between you and a salted fish?
Looking at the breathtakingly beautiful musician before him, Tenma took the straw into his mouth. The icy liquid slid down his throat, instantly dispelling all heat.
That inside-out sense of refreshment put him in an excellent mood.
He reached out and lightly lifted Emelie Chord's delicate chin, shamelessly admiring the view.
Only when her face flushed red, shy enough to drip water, did Tenma burst into laughter.
Stretching out an arm, he pulled her slender waist into his embrace.
"Keep singing. A voice this beautiful needs to be heard up close."
…
One week later, early morning.
Guided by his well-established internal clock, Tenma slowly opened his eyes on the spacious bed in the captain's cabin.
That week had added a few rather pleasant habits to his life.
He reached out skillfully, gently untangling the snow-white arms wrapped around him, carefully dressed, and stepped out of the room.
This emperor-like indulgence gave Tenma a deep understanding of the saying "gentle hometown is the hero's grave."
In this world, everything was a byproduct of strength and power.
No wonder so many people smashed their heads bloody fighting over it.
Even with Tenma's firm will, he had to admit the immense allure of this lifestyle.
People were greedy. He was no exception.
And precisely because of that greed—because he wanted more—he had endured four years of hellish tempering.
Money, status, beauty—without strength, they were all empty talk.
Especially in this slaughterhouse called the New World.
Sabaody was just dessert.
Wano Country was the real main course.
—Huff!
Pushing open the cabin door on the second floor, the high-altitude chill rushed toward him.
Tenma took a deep breath, feeling refreshed, the fatigue from last night's indulgence swept away.
He stretched his body.
—Crackle!
A series of sounds like beans popping came from within, every muscle cheering.
Walking to the railing, Tenma gazed into the distance.
Though the endless blue sea still stretched before him, several nautical miles away a massive mountain-like shadow had begun to appear on the horizon.
That unique sense of oppression signaled entry into a special sea region.
"Lord Tenma, at our current speed, we're almost there."
Jorob hurried down from the lookout, reporting respectfully.
"Oh? Faster than I expected." Tenma nodded slightly.
Jorob quickly followed up with flattery. "All thanks to your divine power, my lord. At normal sailing speed, this would've been unimaginable."
Flying straight through the air was indeed far faster than sea routes.
In just seven days—and without deliberate acceleration—they had crossed from Sabaody to the latter half of the New World.
A miracle.
After checking the wind direction, Tenma gave a calm order. "Since we're close, go wake Meyer."
This was his final mercy.
After reaching their destination, he would leave the ship to them and return their freedom.
As for the women still sleeping inside, he had given them a choice. Anyone who wanted to leave wouldn't be forced to stay.
The result was obvious.
The three women were smart—clinging tightly to Tenma's thick thigh.
The two men, perhaps burdened by other ties, or perhaps knowing they'd be worthless on land, chose to leave.
Hearing that the New World was full of danger, they didn't dare enter isolationist Wano. Tenma didn't bother with them, anchoring the ship in the outer sea and letting them fend for themselves.
The ship was stolen anyway—no loss in giving it away.
Besides, Wano was currently occupied by that madman Kaido of the Beasts.
Tenma planned to infiltrate quietly. Flying in with just a few people was far less conspicuous than sailing a huge ship.
He had no intention of drawing Kaido's attention before his plan began.
As the ship slowly descended onto the outer sea near Wano,
Tenma activated his power, slicing off a massive sea rock as a stepping platform and carrying Lira Blackveil and the other two women back into the sky.
Minutes later, standing above the clouds, the view below became crystal clear.
It was a terrifying sea.
Wano's natural defenses truly lived up to their reputation—raging waves, massive whirlpools like monstrous maws devouring everything around them.
Near the towering stone pillars, shattered shipwrecks littered the waters, a horrifying sight.
Anyone unfamiliar with the currents who barged in would only meet destruction.
For ordinary people, this was a dead end.
For Tenma, holder of the Float-Float Fruit, it was like walking on flat ground.
"So… so amazing! Only Lord Tenma could ignore such a hellish sea!"
Emelie Chord clutched his arm, face pale, burying herself in his warm chest, her eyes filled with worship.
Seeing this, Lira Blackveil and Kaya clicked their tongues, cursing scheming woman under their breath.
After a week together—and confirming Tenma was fairly gentle with those close to him—the three women had been secretly competing nonstop for favor.
Naturally, Tenma, as the beneficiary, was more than happy to watch.
He knew all three had endured slavery. Beneath the rivalry, there was a shared understanding—it was just feminine amusement.
A few minutes later, as they passed through the clouds—
"Rumble—!!!"
A deafening roar shook heaven and earth.
Ahead, a colossal waterfall hundreds of meters tall stretched across the horizon, like a silver galaxy pouring down.
Tenma's gaze sharpened. Through the mist, he could already see the outline of the massive island above.
His first strategic objective after setting sail—
Wano Country had finally arrived.
…
Wano Country was divided into six regions: the Flower Capital, Kuri, Hakumai, Udon, Ringo, and Kibi.
At the pinnacle of them all stood the Flower Capital.
The political and cultural center of Wano, and its most extravagant money pit.
Walking through the Flower Capital felt like stepping back into ancient times.
Traditional buildings lined the streets, crowds bustled, goods dazzled the eyes—a flourishing scene of song and dance.
If not for that eyesore—
"This lunatic's back again…"
"Bad luck. The idiot lord is here right on schedule this week too."
The cheerful atmosphere instantly turned awkward. Unhidden disdain echoed from the streets.
Before Shogun Orochi's residence, a man completely naked save for a loincloth danced like a clown.
That was once Wano's hope—
Kozuki Oden.
"What a disgrace, Lord Oden."
People covered their noses and walked away. Adults tightly shielded their children's eyes, whispering warnings.
"See that? Never become such a useless man… absolutely shameful!"
At that moment, inside a luxurious mansion in the Flower Capital,
Tenma leaned lazily against a second-floor balcony railing, sake cup in hand, looking down at Oden's performance.
This was already the second time he'd seen this farce.
The first had been the day he arrived in Wano.
As the saying went, money made the world turn.
Using the Moa Moa no Mi's amplification ability, Tenma easily multiplied his wealth and transformed into a big-spending merchant of the Flower Capital.
Within days of moving into this mansion, he witnessed this so-called hero—praised by Whitebeard and once coveted by Roger to the point of kneeling.
Watching the man below grin amid ridicule, Tenma sipped his sake, eyes cold and amused.
Lira Blackveil glanced at the spectacle through the window and curled her lip in disdain, unable to believe such a fool had once been heir to the throne.
While refilling Tenma's tea, she rolled her eyes at the so-called "dancing shogun."
The three women Tenma brought had no idea of his real plan.
After a week of hearing local gossip, they naturally held Oden in utter contempt.
Emelie Chord whispered gossip about how the shogunate should've been his, but he chose to play the fool out of fear of Orochi and Kaido.
Kaya chimed in, saying he used to be a fierce man—how did he end up so spineless, utterly incomparable to Lord Tenma?
The three launched into a chorus of mockery.
Tenma took a sip of tea, eyes deep, silently stamping Oden with one word:
Idiot.
In his view, Oden's greatest stupidity wasn't the naked dancing—it was his infantile political naivety.
Believing in a lie about five years of shipbuilding and peaceful departure, abandoning resistance for "hostages"—
that was throwing his brain straight into the sewer.
Trying to preserve a nation through self-humiliation in the face of absolute violence?
That was a negative-score sense of the bigger picture.
Sacrificing a country's morale for a handful of hostages directly doomed Wano to twenty years of hell.
Knowing Orochi was a malignant tumor, a true ruler would've cut him out—even at the cost of some blood.
With Whitebeard and Roger as backing, even begging for help would've been better than letting the country rot.
In short, the man dancing below was a selfish, brainless giant baby.
Wano's tragedy—he bore major responsibility.
Tenma shook his head. Kozuki Oden was nothing more than a clown wrapped in a hero's skin.
Aside from brute strength, there wasn't a single redeeming trait.
Still, thanks to his stupidity, this rotten situation existed at all—otherwise, Tenma wouldn't have had such an easy time inserting himself into this three-way deadlock.
Turning to Emelie Chord, who handled information gathering, Tenma asked about recent movements on Orochi's side.
Emelie Chord thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She recalled a rumor from the pleasure quarters—Orochi was preparing to move against an old man named Hyogoro.
Tenma's gaze sharpened instantly. He tapped the table lightly, confirming it was Hyogoro of the Flower, the underworld boss.
After Emelie Chord confirmed, Tenma nodded in satisfaction and promised her a generous reward afterward.
Emelie Chord beamed, casting a smug glance at the other two women, who ground their teeth in irritation.
Tenma ignored their rivalry. His focus was entirely on the fuse about to be lit.
Hyogoro's arrest might seem minor—but it was a bomb.
Five years of endurance had numbed everyone. This would finally snap the last thread.
Sure enough, that night, Tenma sensed Orochi's Oniwabanshu and Kaido's forces wiping out Hyogoro's base.
Soon after, Orochi's lavish carriage rolled openly toward Kuri.
The ridiculous five-year pact was about to expire.
Orochi was clearly forcing a showdown, confident now that Kaido had fully grown into power.
Everything followed the script.
News of Hyogoro and his wife's death spread nationwide.
Five years of humiliation revealed as a lie—Kozuki Oden finally snapped, launching a doomed campaign against Kaido.
Too late. Far too arrogant.
The Beasts Pirates were no longer what they once were.
With traitors feeding intel, the assault was destined to fail.
The final battle would erupt in Udon.
And at this very moment,
Tenma had already used the Float-Float Fruit to silently descend upon Kaido's base—
Onigashima.
With the main forces gone, the island was emptier than a ghost town.
Floating like a phantom into the heart of the Skull Dome, his Observation Haki instantly locked onto two unusual life signatures.
Below, a chubby kid complained loudly about why their dad hadn't taken them to fight.
A horned little girl sighed helplessly, explaining Kaido thought they were too weak.
They were—
the future "Drought" Jack, and Kaido's dutiful daughter, Yamato.