Ryuen moved at high speed.
After a rapid flight, the two quickly arrived at a barren, uninhabited island.
As soon as Ryuen set Kuina down, she couldn't wait any longer. She opened the small box and took out the bright red apple inside.
She was about to take a big bite, but at the last moment, she remembered how awful Devil Fruits tasted.
"Ryuen..."
Kuina was just about to ask Ryuen something, but when she turned around, she saw him holding a Den Den Mushi, pointing it right at her...
"*Cough cough...*"
"Uh, well, Kuina, the others wanted to see how you look after eating the Devil Fruit. You don't mind, right?"
"Hehehe~~~"
*Boom!*
"Ahhh!!!"
Kuina sent Ryuen flying with a kick, his body tracing an arc through the air before crashing onto the other side of the deserted island!
However, the live broadcast Den Den Mushi had fallen to the ground right where he had been.
Inside a villa on Sabaody Archipelago.
"Puhaha~~~"
"Look, look! Ryuen really got beaten up!"
"Ahahaha~~~"
"I'm dying of laughter! That was a great kick from Kuina—just like something I'd do!"
"Well, you were the one who made him stream this~~~"
"But Ryuen actually dared to go straight at Kuina. Who else would she hit if not him?"
"True~~~"
"Hahahaha, this is hilarious~~~"
The rest of the crew burst into uncontrollable laughter, completely unrestrained at Ryuen's misfortune.
Nearby, Sugar was so shocked that she even forgot about the blueberries in her hand. Their captain had gotten beaten up again!
"So pitiful… Maybe I should stop tattling on him from now on…" Sugar muttered, feeling a little guilty.
Back on the deserted island.
Kuina noticed the fallen Den Den Mushi but wasn't in the mood to argue with the others. They were just waiting to see her make a fool of herself while eating the Devil Fruit, weren't they?
Well, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction!
People said Devil Fruits were the worst-tasting things in the world, but to someone who aimed to be the strongest, a little bitterness was nothing!
On the other end of the broadcast, the crew held their breath.
Sure, they wanted to see Kuina struggle with the taste, but more than that, they were curious—what would happen once she ate the artificial Azure Dragon Fruit?
"Crunch~~~"
Kuina took a determined bite, bracing herself. But something felt… off.
Why was it so bland? Wasn't it supposed to taste horrible? Could it be fake?
A flood of doubts filled Kuina's mind.
Despite her suspicions, Kuina remained expressionless as she ate the entire artificial apple without hesitation.
After finishing it, she even licked her lips.
Everyone on the other end of the broadcast was stunned. They stared at the screen in disbelief.
"So… so strong…" Daisy murmured, dazed.
"She really is incredible… Kuina, you truly deserve to be the strongest woman in the world…" Nami whispered.
"Wait… could it be that Vegapunk's version is different from the ones Caesar made…?" Sugar was in shock.
"Look! Look at her! She's changing!" Anya shouted, her hands trembling as she pointed at the screen.
"It's real!" Sugar's eyes widened to their limit as she stared at Kuina on the screen.
Back on the deserted island.
As soon as Kuina finished eating the apple, she felt the Devil Fruit's power surge within her!
Eager to test it out, she transformed into her hybrid form on the spot. She couldn't wait to try out her new strength!
At that moment, Ryuen returned.
He was shocked to see Kuina had transformed into a pink-scaled dragon girl, already holding her sword, Wado Ichimonji!
"As expected, this artificial Azure Dragon Fruit was meant for a woman…" Ryuen grinned in satisfaction.
"Clang!!!"
Suddenly, Kuina casually swung her sword, releasing a blinding white slash that cut across the ocean!
The slash was incredibly fast. As it passed over the sea, the water remained eerily still.
But deep inside, Ryuen was utterly shaken.
He knew that beneath the seemingly calm ocean surface, immense power was hidden.
Sure enough, in the next moment, something shocking happened—
"Rumble~~~"
Suddenly, the sea level started rising on one side while dropping on the other, as if an invisible force had torn it apart.
This slash had actually split the ocean in two!
As the water shifted, two small Sea Kings were sliced into four pieces and floated up from the depths.
Ryuen's eyes widened as he stared at the scene, completely stunned.
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi live broadcast, the rest of the Dream Crew were just as shocked!
Kuina's strength after eating the Devil Fruit was beyond their imagination.
Her swordsmanship had reached an incredible level—she could split the sea with ease and even trigger natural forces.
Her power left them in awe.
Under Ryuen's astonished gaze, Kuina sheathed her sword with a clean and precise motion, without the slightest hesitation.
But just then, her body began expanding at an alarming speed.
In just one or two seconds, Kuina had completely transformed. She became massive and imposing, radiating an overwhelming presence.
At the same time, through the live broadcast, the rest of the Dream Crew were left speechless by Kuina's transformation.
Their mouths hung open, unable to say a word.
Kuina's transformation didn't stop. She kept growing until, finally, she turned into a massive pink dragon!
Beneath her feet, white flames formed a cloud, as if a burning mist was carrying her. With just a few sways of her body, she instantly soared into the sky!
"Hey!"
"Ryuen, move aside!" Kuina's booming voice came from above.
"Huh?"
"What did you sa—"
"Dragon Breath!!"
Before Ryuen could finish his sentence, Kuina unleashed a blast of dragon breath toward the ocean!
"BOOM!!!"
A fiery red column of flames tore through the sea, creating a massive hole in the water!
The sheer force of the attack sent towering waves crashing toward the uninhabited island!
"Holy crap!"
"So this is what you meant by 'move aside'~~~~~~" Ryuen cursed as he immediately transformed into his full beast form and took to the sky!
And just before the live broadcast Den Den Mushi got submerged—
The rest of the Dream Crew saw a dragon and a phoenix appear in the sky!
---
You can read 10 Chapters ahead on my
pat reon.com/GMadman