Awakening! Journey to the Other Side of the Dream!

"..."

Makima disappeared.

Roar!

The moment she vanished, Barrett, like a feral beast released from all shackles, charged ferociously at Roger.

Roger never imagined that Makima had been so cautious and had released Barrett in advance.

Barrett's strength was immense.

Roger blocked Barrett's punch with his blade. His fist was black, pure black, seemingly emitting a dark aura due to the overwhelming Haki.

The tremendous power unleashed at that moment was unexpected even for Roger.

"Power-Power Fruit?!"

In an instant, Roger was sent flying by the punch. The stone beneath him shattered, and Roger's feet skimmed across the ocean, leaving a long trail.

From Barrett's initial punch, Roger had already analyzed his abilities.

Haki, Aatrox's dark transformation, and...

The Paramecia-type Power-Power Fruit!

As its name suggests, the Power-Power Fruit grants its users pure, unadulterated strength, enhancing their physical power without flashy abilities.

With the combination of the Power-Power Fruit, Barrett's body was modified by the Darkin and his supreme Haki, and the power he unleashed was astonishing, even pushing back Roger.

Roger's heart sank. At this moment, he understood Makima's intention.

Even if he could defeat Barrett, it wouldn't be easy and would undoubtedly worsen his dire health.

"Damn... I was hoping to use my life to test if I could kill Makima."

Roger's face turned grim, realizing he had failed.

However...

At least he had learned about Makima's identity and her plans. Makima believed he was dying, but she didn't know he had linked his mind with An.

Everything he learned now, An would also know!

In the Navy Headquarters office, An sat uneasily. The pressure on her right leg made it shake involuntarily, and she twirled a pen with her right hand, sweat dripping from her forehead.

Too shocking, too shocking!

Even though she and Roger had speculated about Makima's identity as a Demon Lord, they never imagined her goal was such. And now...

There was no stopping her!

Makima's plans were already in motion. Revealing these truths would no longer destabilize her foundation.

Because the Five Elders had no reason to believe her, An couldn't expose her identity as Roger's split self. She had no grounds to inform the Five Elders of everything.

The scariest part was that Makima was the Control Devil, controlling everything!

The Five Elders' trust in the Black Order increased, and their attitude towards Makima improved. Was this natural trust?

The more she thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

She couldn't inform the Five Elders, or she would be exposed.

The most important thing was that after Roger's death, no one would be left capable of defeating Makima.

No, even Roger might not be able to defeat Makima!

Exposing this prematurely would only alert her. She...

She needed to ensure she could kill Makima. Only then could she reveal Makima's true nature to the world?

At the very least, she needed to find someone to kill Makima after Roger.

She unconsciously drummed her fingers on the desk, focusing on the battle in the East Blue through her connection with Roger.

"...No!"

Suddenly stood up and left the office.

She needed to request to go to the East Blue!

The battle between Roger and Barrett would soon be discovered. She needed to get to Loguetown quickly and relocate Roger's wife, Portgas D. Rouge.

She had promised Roger she would take care of his wife and son.

...

Boom!

The sea boiled, the ocean raged, thunder roared hundreds of miles, waves rose a hundred meters high, and water columns shot into the sky, connecting with the dark clouds above.

Thunderstorms poured down; the sea was a cacophony of crashes and light.

It was as if the world's end had come as if it were being destroyed!

Two figures darted across this chaotic world, causing extreme destruction by moving across the sea. When they clashed, the explosions shook the world.

Roar!

This was a battle between a king and a demon. It was like giant monsters roaring in rage. Barrett, like a madman, screamed and punched. Roger fought back with all his might, feeling a thrill he had never experienced.

Roger never fought with his purest heart in his previous battles with Aatrox and Kozuki Oden. But now, he unleashed all his power because he knew this was his last dance.

So, let the world remember him!

"Divine Fall!"

Roger roared, unleashing a massive slash. The immense power intertwined, forming a brilliant spectacle.

The attack engulfed Barrett and crashed into the ocean, creating a massive water column. His body sank deeper into the sea.

Roger didn't let his guard down, slashing downward again, having already seen the future. The sea formed a whirlpool, and Barrett leaped out from the center, covered in blood. But to the crazed Barrett, the blood and wounds meant nothing.

He had only one goal: destruction!

With blood, drown the world!

"Awakening! Such power, you have reached this level!"

Roger laughed, his blade clashing with Barrett's fist, creating waves of Haki.

Roger praised without restraint, "To become a mere killing machine is a waste. Wake up! There are many strong people and beautiful things in this world worth fighting and exploring. It's a pity for someone like you to remain in madness!"

Barrett, with his insane will, suppressed the Power-Power Fruit, awakening its power.

Paramecia-type Devil Fruits affect the surrounding environment upon awakening, but the Power-Power Fruit is unique. It was more like a Zoan-type.

So Barrett's changes granted him even more strength, allowing him to fight Roger.

This was why Makima was confident Barrett would wear Roger down. To defeat such a Barrett, Roger had to use his utmost strength!

Roar!!

But Barrett, in his madness, couldn't hear Roger's words.

He punched again, only to be suppressed by Roger's greater strength.

Roger might not surpass Barrett in raw power, but Roger was leagues ahead in Haki!

Only with Haki can one become king!

"Unfortunately, I cannot die yet. If I can't kill Makima, I must do something else."

Roger took a deep breath, clashing with Barrett for several more rounds before stopping suddenly.

"Sorry, I hope we can fight again in the future."

Roger gripped his sword with both hands, channeling his mighty Conqueror's Haki into the blade.

Black lightning enveloped the sword as Roger's eyes widened, shouting, "Awakening isn't your exclusive skill!"

Paramecia-type Fusion-Fusion Fruit - Awakening!

With Roger's words, the ocean raged, and all the inanimate objects around him merged with him.

Are you merging with the sea?

Any other Devil Fruit user would be deemed crazy, but it wasn't impossible for Roger. His body was modified by Demon Cells, and the power of the Four Souls Jewel meant he didn't fear seawater.

The ocean merged into Roger's body, combining with Ace in his hands.

Roger's awakened Fusion-Fusion Fruit was far more potent than the one shown by Barrett in the movies. Barrett could only absorb metal, as absorbing too much would weaken the iron's hardness.

But Roger was different. He accepted everything. Heaven and earth, all his power!

With the right timing, the world assisted him!

In an instant, Roger's sword condensed billions of tons of seawater. In theory, Roger should be as large as billions of cubic meters, but he compressed it with his power and infused it with his Haki.

Black water enveloped Roger as he swung his massive sword as if wielding a mountain!

Barrett was crushed, unable to withstand Roger's immense power. His arms braced against Roger's 'water sword' but couldn't stop his fall.

Like a mountain, Roger descended with Barrett, crashing into the ocean and sinking to the seabed!

The massive power tore the sea apart, creating enormous waves like a worldwide tsunami.

Roger and Barrett descended to the ocean's depths, reaching the seabed. With a loud crash, Roger pinned Barrett to the bottom.

He then abandoned his fused water and Ace.

No, not abandoning, but ceasing his fusion with them.

Billions of tons of water condensed into the sword, with Ace piercing Barrett's right shoulder, pinning him to the seabed.

Combined with the deep sea's pressure, Barrett couldn't escape.

In the deep sea, a black field appeared, with a sword piercing a man's shoulder and embedded in the seabed.

Barrett struggled angrily but couldn't break free.

Roger's eyes were filled with regret, but as he said, he couldn't die yet. He couldn't die!

He had other tasks. If he couldn't kill Makima, then at least...

At least...

Open the world's future!

So he swam upward, breaking the surface after an unknown time.

"Sorry, Barrett. If you survive with the Darkin's body, someone will release you. I saw that future."

Roger said softly.

His Observation of Haki had reached an unparalleled level. In history, few reached his level, and none surpassed him!

In that moment, he saw decades into the future!

He saw a magnificent era!

"Too bad I wasn't born in that era, hahaha!!!"

Roger laughed heartily, his laughter echoing. No one could tell he was a dying man.

But he was indeed dying. He felt his illness devouring his body as he fought Barrett, reducing his months of life to possibly a month.

But so what?

His life had been exciting enough!

Thus, he laughed out loud and sang heartily. His laughter brought light to the gloomy world.

The torrential rain...

Stopped.

Using the sky as his blanket and the sea as his bed, Roger fell asleep on the ocean's surface.

He was exhausted.

When Ann finally reached the area, she navigated her ship for a long time, following the traces of the ocean currents and her connection with Roger, until she found him still sleeping on the sea.

Hands in her pockets, standing at the bow of the ship, Ann couldn't help but smile.

"Truly impressive."

Even though she was one with Roger, seeing the apocalyptic scene firsthand left her in awe.

So strong. This guy is solid. This man could split the world in two. Is this the Pirate King who has reached the final step?

Roger had achieved his dream, but what about her? Would she also reach the end of her path?

What would that day look like?

"Awake from your dream, Pirate King?"

She looked at Roger lying on the sea, his eyes now open.

"How could I wake up?"

Roger's eyes seemed to gaze at the heavens.

"I'm going to... the other side of the dream."