20. Development: 20%. The backlash of Flare-Flare Fruit.

│3rd Person POV│

[Grand Line, New World, Moby Dick, on the way to G5 Marine Base…]

At this moment, Ron was feeling extremely excited and happy.

Feeling the result brought by training himself to the brink of exhaustion multiple times a day, he was satisfied.

All the time his dark thoughts kept telling him to rest, that taking a break for a day wouldn't hurt, which he ignored and persisted in his training and it was worth it.

He could feel a significant improvement in his speed, defense, and physical strength.

'Copy Copy: Status Panel!'

Ron called out in his mind and instantly, a panel materialized in front of him.

[[ Ron ]]

[[ Age: 14 ]]

[[ Strength: Lieutenant Commander ]]

[[ Devil Fruit: Paramecia-type; Copy-Copy Fruit ]]

[[ Development Progress: 20% ]]

[[ Copied abilities: Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit; Bird-Bird Fruit; Model: Phoenix (20%) ]]

[[ Number of copies available: 0 ]]

"Okay, okay~! My strength has increased to Lieutenant Commander-level, but I feel like I could take on ten of the previous me, who have recovered from the Partridge Island battle!

"The Development of my Devil Fruit has also reached the 20% mark. Just 10% more and I will have the opportunity of copying another Devil Fruit's power."

For a moment, Ron's happiness increased even more.

This was the benefit of eating a top-tier Devil Fruit.

As he was quite weak before eating the Copy-Copy Fruit, his strength was increasing at a rapid pace right now. It would slow down eventually.

However, even if it slowed down in the later stage, as long as the Devil fruit power he copied was strong enough, he didn't need to worry about being hitting the upper limit of his potential.

Thinking of this, Ron couldn't help but laugh in joy, "Hahaha~!"

"Ron, what has gotten you so happy?"

At this time, a surprised voice came from behind.

Looking toward the source of the sound, Ace was seen rubbing his head and walking towards Ron with a face that looked like he was not completely awake yet.

"Ace!"

Ron's eyes suddenly lit up when he saw the person coming.

It appeared that the idea he had on the way to Partridge Island could be realized now.

With the increase in his Devil Fruit's development, his Blue Flames had also been enhanced to a certain extent.

His mastery of the Blue Flames increased significantly compared to the past. However, its maximum temperature was still fixed at around 200℃.

Thinking of this, Ron stopped laughing and said while shrugging, "My strength has reached the Lieutenant Commander-level. I am happy because of this."

"What? So fast!"

Hearing this, Ace was stunned.

He had first seen Ron when he had arrived on the base camp to copy Commander Marco's Devil Fruit. At that time, Ron's strength was only at the Ensign level.

After that, he copied the Mythical Zoan-type, Bird-Bird Fruit; Model: Phoenix's powers, and after going through the incident on Partridge Island, his strength reached the rank of Lieutenant.

How long has it been since then?

It was simply unheard of for a person to go from being pathetically weaker than their peers to the level of Lieutenant Commander in just four weeks or so.

Although his current strength was not that high, especially in the New World, he was now capable of defeating the elite crew members of subordinate pirate groups like the Whirlpool Spider Pirates.

"You are such a monster." Ace said subconsciously.

Ace was always confident in his own strength and was even satisfied with the somewhat slow improvement he was experiencing now.

However, seeing Ron working so hard stimulated his original drive of relentlessly chasing after strength.

"I am not." Ron waived his hand dismissively. He was very aware of his condition and he was also aware of true monsters like Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard, etc.

So, he didn't take Ace's words to heart.

Instead, Ace was the one with monstrous potential being the son of the former Pirate King.

Because he had slacked off after joining the Whitebeard Pirates, whether it was the development of his fruit's abilities or Haki or the training of physical skills, they have not improved much.

Before, he was comparable to some of the weaker Vice Admiral-level Marines, and it was still the same now, even after two months of joining.

Thinking of this, Ron said: "I am just using the power of the Phoenix Fruit to speed up my practice in the early stage. On the contrary, Ace, you should work harder."

"After all, Pops has great expectations for you."

Hearing this, Ace nodded.

'I have really become relaxed in my training recently. Even after getting the wake-up call from the battle of Partridge Island, I didn't put my best effort into mastering the enhanced version of Marine Six Styles.

'It seems that after I joined the Whitebeard Pirates, I lost the will to pursue stronger with relentless vigor.'

Ace thought to himself while feeling ashamed.

Not wanting to disappoint the expectations of his loved ones, Ace made up his mind and said, "Indeed, it's time for me to stop slacking. Ron, I'm going to train too."

With that, Ace was about to leave.

"Wait a minute!"

Seeing him leaving, Ron became slightly anxious and quickly stopped him: "Ace, I need your help with something."

"Oh? What's the matter?" Ace inquired with a slightly confused undertone.

After all, he had a clear view of Ron's training during this period. Whether it was Flesh Step or Sea Moonwalk, he didn't see any fault in his training.

"I want to raise the temperature of Blue Flames."

Before saying anything further, Ron summoned the Blue Flames of the Phoenix Fruit with a wave of his hand.

With just a twitch of his fingers, the Blue Flames began to shift into various forms under his control.

Then, Ron said: "As you can see, my control over Blue Flames has improved, but its temperature is too weak.

"A temperature of just 200℃ is too weak in my opinion. I want to try to see if I can absorb the condensed flames of your Flare-Flare Fruit, so as to increase the temperature of the Blue Flames!"

"Oh!?" Ace was intrigued by the idea and he agreed, "That's okay!"

Using the power of Flare-Flare Fruit to raise the temperature of Blue Flames was something that not even Marco had ever done or thought about.

If it could really succeed, the increase in Blue Flames' temperature would improve Ron's strength to a certain extent.

Thinking of this, Ace quickly asked, "Then, how could we do this?"

"Simple!"

Seeing that Ace didn't decline, Ron smiled with relief before he stretched out his hand and said, "Slowly inject the power of your Flare-Flare Fruit into it. I will try to see if I can absorb your power."

"Alright!"

Ace nodded and without any further words, he stretched out his hand and condensed a ball of flame, which was pushed into the Blue Flames in Ron's hand by him.

Sizzling——

Sizzling——

In an instant, the red and blue flames began to merge.

As the two flames entangled each other, a clearly distinct violent aura began to permeate the surrounding air.

"Not good!"

Suddenly, Ron's expression changed drastically.

He felt the Blue Flames in his hand become so violent that he couldn't maintain his control over it.

In an instant, Ron decided to throw it into the sea and raised his hands. However, he was too late.

The azure blue flame was suddenly engulfed by the red flame, and then passed directly into Ron's body along the palm of his hand.

Arghhh——

Ron screamed, feeling the flames of the Flare-Flare Fruit burning him.

As severe pain began to assault his whole body, his face twisted with agony.

"Oh no!"

Seeing this situation, Ace's expression also changed.

He hurried to disperse the power of Flare-Flare Fruit and looked at Ron worriedly, "Ron, quickly mobilize your Blue Flames to cover yourself completely.

"Covering the body with Blue Flames should be able to slow down the invasion of the Flare-Flare Fruit's power."

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