"Draw abilities," Mio said in a deep voice.
As his words fell, a prompt appeared in his mind.
"Drawing abilities…"
"Drawing started~ Drawing successful. Congratulations on obtaining the ability [Dragon Power] and one-tenth of the all-around attributes of the creature you cultivated this time!"
Mio's pupils shrank slightly. When he saw the energy he had drawn, he could feel the improvement in his own body. Because the creature Mashi possessed a dragon's body—even though she had just been born—Mio received a notable increase in all his attributes.
The boost was quite substantial.
And as for the Dragon Power…
He had to admit—although he was slightly disappointed he didn't pull the Thunder Fruit ability, this reward was still plenty satisfying.
After all, Dragon Power was no joke.
To put it simply, Dragon Power was essentially dragon-slaying magic. Not only did it come with devastating offensive power, but it also granted the ability to devour flames to recover strength. It was like getting a two-for-one deal.
Definitely a solid benefit.
With Mashi in one hand, Mio clenched his other fist. A red glow flickered in his eyes as a fiery magic circle shimmered briefly in front of his knuckles.
However, as Mio's thoughts shifted, the magic circle quickly faded. He chuckled to himself and muttered, "This power feels good. I should try it out when we reach Impel Down."
Shaking his head, Mio stopped thinking about it. He gently placed Mashi on the bed inside the ship's quarters and returned to the deck. After asking Erica to keep an eye on Mashi, he called for Warwick to spar and help him get used to his new and improved stats.
As for fully testing Dragon Power… that would come later.
Half an hour later, Mio and Warwick concluded their fierce battle.
At the same time—
"Master, look. The Celestial Dragon," said Lilith suddenly.
"Hm?" Mio turned his head slightly, and in the distance, a massive and luxurious ship appeared on the horizon.
The sight made Mio pause for a moment, then he laughed softly.
"Looks like Aokiji is coming soon. Everyone, get ready."
"No, he's already here," Lilith replied calmly.
Even as the words left her mouth, Mio saw it too—Aokiji had arrived from the opposite direction of the Celestial Dragon's ship. He was riding his signature bicycle across a rapidly expanding path of frozen sea, the ice spreading with remarkable speed toward all directions, including toward Mio's ship, the Black Glory.
Aokiji looked calm as ever, but his eyes sharpened as he glanced at the clearly enhanced warship.
"This time, I won't let you escape," Aokiji declared.
The temperature dropped further as the frozen path surged ahead even faster.
Watching the sea turn white beneath her ship, Mio grinned. "Looks like the perfect chance to test out my dragon-slaying magic."
Without another word, Mio vanished from the spot and reappeared mid-air in front of the advancing ice. He pressed his hands together, and a fiery red magic circle etched with dragon patterns materialized. A wave of heat burst forth from his body.
"This move should be called… Roar of the Fire Dragon!"
As he spoke, the heat inside him surged. Then—Mio released a massive torrent of fire from his mouth, blasting it forward.
The flames clashed with the freezing sea, halting its advance. Steam hissed as heat and cold collided in a violent display.
In the distance, Aokiji's eyes narrowed in surprise.
"Fruit ability? No… that's not right," he muttered. "This guy's Devil Fruit was some kind of spatial ability. I've seen it before."
But now, Mio was breathing fire like a dragon…
"Could it be… a Mythical Zoan?" Aokiji murmured, then quickly dismissed the thought. "No, doesn't make sense. He has no traits like Lilith, no wings, no horns… nothing."
He kept watching closely.
"What kind of power is this?"
Despite his confusion, Aokiji shook his head. "No matter what it is, this time, I will capture him."
Back on the ice, Mio didn't return to the ship. He landed confidently, standing tall across the frozen sea, and faced Aokiji with a grin.
"Vice Admiral Aokiji, long time no see," Mio greeted casually.
"This will be the last time," Aokiji replied, stepping off his bicycle. "Maybe I'll pay you a visit in Impel Down."
"Shame you didn't bring any other Marines with you this time," Mio replied with a smirk, then raised a hand.
The Black Glory immediately began pulling away from the scene, sailing swiftly into the distance without stopping.
Aokiji's expression hardened, and icy cold erupted from him again as he refroze the sea, sending ice racing toward the ship.
But Mio opened his mouth and released another fiery blast, melting the ice before it could reach the ship.
"You letting your crew escape?" Aokiji asked coolly. "You think you'll be able to make it back to them?"
"Nope," Mio replied bluntly.
He reached for the Raikiri at his waist, unsheathed the sword, and with a casual flick, tossed it toward the retreating ship.
The blade spun gracefully through the air and landed cleanly on the Black Glory's deck—Erica caught it effortlessly.
Then Mio sat cross-legged on the frozen sea, smiling calmly.
"I already know I can't run this time," he said. "So why not let myself get captured? Maybe my crew will break me out of Impel Down later."
"They'll be captured too," Aokiji warned. "None of them have that kind of power. You're not the Golden Lion."
Suddenly—
Crack!
Ice engulfed Mio in an instant, freezing his body from head to toe, leaving only his head unfrozen.
Throughout it all, Mio didn't resist. His stillness made Aokiji even more suspicious, though he couldn't understand what the boy was planning.
But then—
"Damn it! Who the hell do you think you are? Do you know who I am?! Let me go! Are you insane?!"
An obnoxious voice roared from the deck of the Black Glory.
Aokiji froze in place.
That voice… sounded way too familiar.
He looked up with a sinking feeling and saw Warwick standing at the bow of the ship. In one hand, Warwick held a fat man dressed in white robes and a distinctive bubble-like mask—the unmistakable uniform of a World Noble.
The man struggled wildly in Warwick's grip, flailing his limbs and shouting arrogantly.
And Aokiji's expression darkened instantly.
"…Celestial Dragon?!"