Power

Sebastian waved his hand dismissively, "No, you've got it all wrong. I didn't mean that at all. I just wanted to practice imitating for ten minutes, that's all."

Page was taken aback, "You're not serious about this, are you? Ten minutes is a huge deal!"

Sebastian smiled, "It's just a little misunderstanding. I didn't mean to back out. But remember, if you ever regret this, I'll have to tell Ulti that you betrayed her trust."

Page was startled by Sebastian's words, as the memory of how Ulti had caught him flashed in his mind. He knew that if Ulti found out, he would be in big trouble.

"Absolutely not! I didn't betray my sister," Page insisted.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, "But you promised me that if you ever had second thoughts, I could reveal the truth to Ulti."

Page shook his head vehemently, "No, no, I didn't betray my sister. You're twisting my words!"

Sebastian chuckled, "I'm just helping you, Page. Once I modify your Devil Fruit, you'll become much stronger. It's all for your benefit."

Page muttered, "You tricked me like a child! This isn't helping me at all."

....

On the stage, Queen danced in an amusing manner, entertaining the crowd of pirates who cheered and created a lively atmosphere.

Then, it was time for the pirates to take their turns and demonstrate their strength.

A tall cadre supervised the tests, and official crew members were not allowed to use weapons. They had to attack the tall cadre with their fists and feet. The cadre would then assess their strength, similar to the way Rob Lucci and others tested their power.

The first pirate to step forward was a red-haired, muscular crew member. He gathered all his strength and threw a powerful punch at the cadre.

The impact was powerful, and the pirate eagerly awaited his power assessment.

This opportunity to test one's strength was rare, and it allowed the pirates to gauge where they stood in terms of power.

The cadre, with his hands clasped together, announced the result, "Two thousand six hundred power points."

The red-haired pirate was elated, "In the Four Seas, a Marine soldier with a gun only has about ten power points. I've got over two thousand power points! That's like being as strong as over two hundred Marine soldiers, right?"

Queen, however, didn't mince words and rebuked, "Two thousand power points is nothing to be proud of. Get lost! Why are you even celebrating with just two thousand points?"

The red-haired pirate fell silent and retreated into the crowd, feeling disheartened. In the New World, two thousand power points were far from remarkable. What was considered average in the Four Seas was just a basic level of strength among pirates in the New World.

Sebastian watched the proceedings with interest, contemplating how strength was evaluated in this world. He recalled that Rob Lucci, with his 4,000 power points, was considered the "ultimate killing weapon" in the history of CP9 and the strongest in 800 years.

These thoughts led him to wonder about the concept of a "late-blooming genius" in this world.

One pirate after another stepped up to be tested, but the results were far from Queen's expectations. Nevertheless, these individuals were mere supporting actors today, and the true protagonist was the monster.

Queen occasionally glanced at Sebastian and Page, attempting to gauge their respective strengths. "Page should be a bit taller. Sebastian's training time is still too short. Give him another two or three years, and he should surpass Page," he speculated silently.

"Power: 3,000."

"Power: 2,360."

"Power: 3,105."

"Power: 1,900!"

"Get out! Anyone with less than 2,000 power is disqualified from becoming an official crew member of the Hundred Beasts!" Queen shouted in frustration.

Reactions varied from joy to sorrow. Pirates who had been dismissed as official crew members found themselves on the verge of tears. One pirate's power was 1,998, a mere two points short of the required 2,000.

Next, it was Page's turn. He confidently stepped onto the stage, and the surrounding pirates paid close attention. They all knew that he was Ulti's younger brother.

"I've heard he's a talented individual, raised by Kaido's boss since childhood. His power must be formidable."

"Ulti became a cadre at the age of seventeen. As her younger brother, he can't be much weaker."

Page chuckled upon hearing the pirates' conversations and activated his Devil Fruit ability. His body enlarged, his abdomen turned a light brown, and the rest of his skin darkened, significantly enhancing his skin's defensive capabilities. His head transformed into a dinosaur-like appearance with purple hair, while his mouth brimmed with sharp fangs. His hands and feet transformed into claws, and a tail sprouted from his back.

He let out a mighty roar, creating shockwaves that radiated outward. "You look so ugly with that purple hair on your head," Sebastian couldn't help but comment.

Page was left speechless and shot Sebastian an irate glare. The other pirates were astounded by Sebastian's audacity; who would dare to speak to Page in such a manner?

"I've become stronger! This is the power of my devil fruit!"

"I wouldn't want such an ugly transformation for nothing," Sebastian remarked, slapping his hands in disgust.

"I haven't transformed yet. I'll test my strength later; should I go through with it?" Sebastian pondered, thinking about his true form.