Marine Fando, attending the grand event

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The Phantom-Phantom Fruit appeared as mysterious as its name implied.

After examining the fruit for a moment, Roja wasted no time and took a bite. Surprisingly, unlike most Devil Fruits infamous for their horrid taste, this one had no flavor at all.

Seconds passed—one, two, three—soon a full minute. Yet, Roja felt no changes within his body.

Did it fail?

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a figure materialized in front of him.

The figure bore an uncanny resemblance to Roja himself, right down to the cloak he wore. Seeing this, Roja realized the Phantom-Phantom Fruit had taken effect.

He studied the phantom carefully, reaching out to touch it. To his amazement, it felt solid, almost tangible. It even possessed a small measure of strength, which Roja surmised would grow as the fruit's powers developed.

To test its durability, Roja covered his arm in Armament Haki and struck the phantom without hesitation. The phantom withstood the blow, confirming its resilience.

"Not bad. As long as the damage isn't fatal, the phantom won't dissipate," Roja murmured. A thought crossed his mind, and he said aloud, "Let's see what happens if I push it further."

At his command, dozens of phantoms appeared across the warship. Each one took the form of iconic figures from the seas—Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, Red-Haired Shanks, and others. Their likenesses were vivid, even down to their imposing auras.

If any marine or pirate stumbled upon the scene, they would undoubtedly panic, believing some sinister alliance had been forged among the Yonko.

However, Roja frowned. The more phantoms he summoned, the more diluted their strength became. These illusions, while intimidating, were weak and ephemeral.

With a wave of his hand, the phantoms vanished instantly.

Roja spent hours experimenting with the fruit's capabilities. He discovered that while it didn't directly enhance his combat prowess, its versatility made it a powerful support ability. Whether for misdirection, overwhelming opponents with sheer numbers, or creating perfect diversions, the fruit's potential was staggering.

As Roja reflected, he recalled an old saying: "There are no useless Devil Fruits, only users who fail to master them."

A smirk crept across his lips. He was confident that with time and effort, he could unlock even greater power from the fruit. And so, he devoted the following days to honing his new abilities, even coming up with names for his techniques.

His training was interrupted by the sound of a ringing Den Den Mushi.

"Buru-buru, buru-buru…"

Following the sound to the cockpit, Roja picked up the receiver.

"Attention all units! The Marineford Promotion Conference is now underway. Ensure the event proceeds without incident. Report any sightings of suspicious pirate activity or unauthorized vessels immediately, no matter how minor. I repeat…"

Before the message could finish, Roja hung up. Simultaneously, the familiar electronic voice of his system rang in his mind:

[Ding! Check-in mission unlocked: Navy Headquarters—Marineford. Reward: Mastery of the Navy's Peak Six Powers! Time limit: 7 days.]

Roja quickly calculated the time. With the warship's speed, he would easily reach Marineford within the timeframe. But heading straight into the conference without a plan? That was suicide. The event would undoubtedly be teeming with high-ranking marines. Drawing attention could lead to a direct confrontation, and Roja wasn't foolish enough to take that risk.

He needed a strategy.

For the next few days, Roja avoided Marineford and instead began hunting pirates at sea. Each target he chose carried a bounty of at least 100 million beli. It wasn't long before rumors began spreading across the Grand Line of a mysterious bounty hunter eliminating notorious pirates.

These rumors, of course, were all about Roja.

The Promotion Conference at Marineford was a monumental event, marking a turning point for the Navy.

With Fleet Admiral Kong promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's armed forces, Sengoku had stepped into the role of Fleet Admiral. This left several positions within the Navy vacant, sparking fierce competition among Vice Admirals and other candidates vying for promotion.

The stakes were high, and tension filled the air as countless marines prepared for the event, eager to prove their worth.

Meanwhile, on the open sea, a small wooden boat approached Marineford. Sitting at its helm was Roja, his face illuminated by the bright sun.

Unlike before, Roja had shed his cloak, choosing to sail openly toward the fortress-like headquarters. His expression was calm, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"Ships ahead! Halt immediately!" a voice called out.

A marine patrol warship intercepted Roja's boat.

"State your identity and your reason for approaching Marineford!" barked a marine officer, his uniform marking him as a captain.

Roja met the officer's stern gaze with ease. "I've heard about the Promotion Conference and wanted to participate. I'm curious to see what rank my strength might earn me."

The officer frowned, eyeing Roja skeptically. "The Promotion Conference isn't open to outsiders. Besides, what makes you think you're qualified to participate? At best, you'd serve as cannon fodder!"

Unfazed by the insult, Roja reached for a sack behind him and tossed it onto the deck of the marine ship.

"What if I offered these as my entrance fee?" he asked calmly.

The officer's expression shifted from irritation to confusion as he untied the sack. But his face turned pale when its contents spilled out—severed heads, all too familiar to any seasoned marine.

"That's… Scythe Jack! Bounty: 170 million beli!"

"Fireworks Captain! Bounty: 320 million beli!"

"And… no way! That's Ivory, the Strange-Strength Fruit user! A billion beli bounty!"

The marine captain could hardly believe his eyes. The severed heads belonged to infamous pirates who had terrorized the seas for years.

The captain swallowed hard, his earlier arrogance gone. Cannon fodder? If this man is cannon fodder, then what does that make me?

"Wait here! I'll report this to the commander immediately!" the captain stammered before rushing off.

As the marine disappeared, Roja leaned back in his small boat, the faintest of smirks tugging at his lips.

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