Human Enhancement Attributes:
Name: Crocodile (Rosen)
Ability: Sand-Sand Fruit user (Unawakened), Intermediate (Proficiency: 800/1000)
Combat Skills: Intermediate (Proficiency: 730/1000)
Haki:
- Conqueror's Haki (Beginner, Proficiency: 180/300)
- Armament Haki (Proficiency: 120/100)
- Observation Haki (Proficiency: 60/100)
Swordsmanship: Beginner (Proficiency: 200/300)
Enhancement Count: 4
Effects: Defense x4, Speed x2, Vitality x2, Experience Pack x1
Next Enhancement Condition: Defeat a strong opponent with a bounty of over 400 million berries. (Strength x2)
Random Reset Task: Defeat a strong opponent with a bounty of over 400 million berries. (Defense x4)
Additional Devil Fruit Capacity Task: Progress 1/5. (Pig-Pig Fruit).
Suggestion: After completing the task, ensure body defense is at least x8 before activation. Option to transfer available.
Inside the safe house, Rosen carefully reviewed his recent growth. Defeating the Mist Red Beast had allowed him to complete a random reset task, but to his surprise, the new reset task also offered a defense reward. However, this time, the rewards were doubled in all aspects.
From the task description, defeating an enemy with a bounty exceeding 400 million berries would yield unprecedented rewards—both strength and defense. However, after receiving the previous Defense x2 reward, Rosen didn't feel a significant improvement. He realized that the Defense x2 was based on his initial state during the first enhancement. In other words, the current Defense x4 refers to four times his defense strength during the Alabasta arc, not a doubling of his enhanced state. Simply put, Rosen currently has x4 defense. Once he completes the next enhancement, his total defense will be x8, not x16.
"So, the initial enhancement state serves as the baseline for subsequent calculations. No wonder the power increase didn't feel particularly significant. Moreover, as proficiency increases, progress becomes harder. After several battles, combined with the opportunities from Golden Sand Copper and repeated tempering of Haki, my defense has finally reached this level," Rosen said calmly, clenching his fist and feeling the significantly stronger power and defense.
Although his Devil Fruit and combat skill proficiencies had increased by 70-80 points, this was the result of numerous battles since the Wine Capital. Rosen was eager to attain Admiral-level strength, especially after tonight's events. He realized that the seas were truly filled with hidden talents.
Objectively speaking, his progress was already substantial. If Rosen had previously been unsure whether he could face a Vice Admiral-level opponent head-on, he was now confident he could hold his own. Winning might still be out of reach, but he had surpassed the top-tier Vice Admirals by a significant margin.
The improvement in Haki was particularly notable. His swordsmanship had likely improved due to frequent use of his signature move, the Yellow Sand Breath Slash. His Conqueror's Haki had progressed from awakening to the beginner stage, which was entirely within Rosen's expectations. After all, in just a few battles, he had already started coating his weapons with Haki.
"Next, it's time to hunt. If I can defeat that demon Charles, will I attain Admiral-level strength?" Rosen wasn't sure, but it was worth a try. However, Charles was clearly far stronger than an average Vice Admiral-level opponent, nearing Admiral-level strength. In terms of Devil Fruit destructive power alone, Charles rivaled any Admiral Rosen could recall.
This wasn't a matter of a 400 million berry bounty anymore—it was in the range of billions. Rosen felt he wasn't ready to take on such a challenge yet.
But even if Charles was too tough, there were plenty of other powerful monsters on the island. If they were slightly stronger than the Mist Red Beast, their bounties would easily exceed 400 million. This island truly was a treasure trove for Rosen—not only were there plenty of "monsters" to defeat, but there was also Golden Sand Copper, a unique metallic sand that enhanced his Devil Fruit abilities. The only downside was that he still hadn't found Law.
"But I need to develop stronger techniques. Relying solely on the Yellow Sand Breath Slash isn't enough," Rosen thought, not letting his recent power boost make him overconfident. The island wasn't just home to Charles; there was also the Queen and numerous Marine elites.
Developing new techniques, however, wasn't easy.
Knock, knock…
"You all have so much free time?" Rosen said indifferently as he saw the group entering after knocking—Hodman, Alice, Lisa, and the ever-present Natalie.
"Preparations for evacuation have begun. The monsters in the city have been cleared, and the defensive lines have been reestablished. Thank you for your invaluable assistance," Hodman said, bowing slightly.
"We each got what we needed," Rosen replied dismissively. Their relationship remained purely transactional.
"Rest assured, tomorrow we will mobilize all available forces. If the person you're looking for is still on Lantis Island, we will find them," Hodman stated confidently, as most people in the city knew Law. Even if they didn't, Rosen had a bounty poster, and a simple sketch would suffice. Finding Law wouldn't be difficult as long as he was still on the island.
"Good," Rosen nodded. Gratitude was meaningless; practical actions like this were what mattered.
"Also, I heard from Lisa that Golden Sand Copper is useful to you. This is all the reserves we have in the city. We'll give it to you. As for the payment for food supplies, we can use other metals instead. Is that acceptable?" Hodman placed a cloth bag on the table.
This was originally part of the agreed-upon payment after the transaction, but Hodman had decided to gift it upfront, along with additional compensation.
Rosen didn't refuse. Golden Sand Copper was exactly what he wanted. This unique metallic sand greatly enhanced his combat abilities. Although he had already fully utilized the existing Golden Sand Copper, he wouldn't turn down more—the more, the better.
"Tomorrow's expedition to the Demon Land will proceed as planned. However, as you are our savior, I advise against rashly entering the Demon Land," Hodman sighed.
"What exactly is the Demon Land?" Rosen asked. Before tonight's battle, he might have understood their concerns, but after demonstrating his strength, he expected them to have more confidence in him. Yet, Hodman still advised against it, suggesting the Demon Land posed significant risks.
But Rosen wasn't convinced. Even Charles, the strongest monster, couldn't easily kill him. How dangerous could a place be?
"The Demon Land is an area that mutated after the Great Change in Landis. Surviving there largely depends on luck. Apart from the local flora and fauna, the Demon Land is plagued by a natural disaster called Instantaneous Storms. No matter how strong someone is, encountering an Instantaneous Storm means certain death. Five years ago, Landis Island was divided between two major factions. During a conflict, the leader of the opposing faction was struck by an Instantaneous Storm and turned to ash," Hodman explained.
Rosen fell silent. Just like that? The fact that the opposing leader could rival the Queen indicated considerable strength. Yet, even such a powerhouse had perished in an Instantaneous Storm?
What kind of natural disaster was this terrifying? Even an island perpetually covered in thunderstorms wouldn't be this dangerous.
"You should stay here. I'll keep an eye on you," Alice said coldly, though Rosen sensed no hostility in her tone this time.
"You're going to monitor me?" Rosen paused, processing her words.
"No, I just want to see how your genetic lineage is."
"What do you mean?!" Rosen was baffled. What was this cold woman up to? He had a bad feeling about this.
"Nothing. I just have a request. Since you're so strong, would you consider having a child with me? We could raise the child to become a super warrior from a young age. What's with that look?! Don't worry, the Queen would be willing to transplant and enhance the child's genetic factors. Starting early, we might be able to cultivate a warrior as strong as the Queen," Alice said, her cold eyes filled with excitement.
"Are you out of your damn mind?!"
(End of Chapter)