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The embodiment of the Azure Dragon, wielding the mighty Azure Dragon Crescent Blade—Opera!
With the power of Yamata no Orochi Fruit, a snake tail flicking slightly, and holding the fearsome Long Snake Spear—Counter!
A massive green-winged dragon form, like a mythical beast, gripping The gleaming Silver Dragon Spear—Cadenza!
With a lion-headed humanoid body, hefting a Golden Tiger Spear—Cabaletta!
A bird-headed figure with wings for arms, wielding the powerful Mountain Splitting Blade—Gala!
The Five Generals of the Totto Land!
This was the true force Joey had been nurturing.
This was the group destined to be the face of Totto Land in the future. The kind of team that brought Joey immense satisfaction.
"Not bad at all," Joey said with a smile, his expression brimming with pride as he gazed at his five younger brothers.
"You five brats," Joey chuckled, "you've already eaten Devil Fruits that perfectly match your abilities. From here on out, it's up to you to grow stronger!"
"Yes, big brother!"
Each of the five nodded firmly, their determination clear.
Joey's gaze then shifted from them to Custard, who was trying to blend into the background with a guilty smile.
"Oh, no, you don't."
Before Custard could escape, Joey grabbed her by the collar and lifted her. His stern voice boomed, "Custard, listen up! Don't ever try something beyond your capabilities again."
"Your strength isn't enough yet, and attempting dangerous feats like that is reckless. The Mirror-Mirror Fruit is powerful, but it's a double-edged sword. If you lose control, it could backfire on you!"
Custard, faced with her big brother's serious tone, obediently lowered her head and said softly, "I understand, big brother."
"Hmph!" Joey snorted, still a bit annoyed. "You troublemaker. Forget it!"
Shaking his head, Joey looked at his adorable little sister and softened. "The Mirror-Mirror Fruit is indeed powerful, but developing your physical strength is just as important. Remember that, okay?"
"Yes, big brother," Custard replied with a small nod.
Suddenly, Joey's expression changed as a thought struck him. "Wait I have an idea!"
"What's it, big brother?"
His siblings gathered around, their curiosity piqued.
Joey fell silent, lost in thought for a moment, then turned to Opera. "Opera, your strength is the greatest among us. What do Devil Fruits consume when used?"
"Huh?" Opera blinked, caught off guard by the question. He scratched his head before answering, "Big brother, Devil Fruits consume stamina, of course. It's not just Devil Fruits—Haki burns through stamina too."
Joey nodded, deep in thought. "If that's the case, what if we could replace stamina with another type of energy? Wouldn't that make Devil Fruits even more powerful?"
The room fell silent as everyone pondered Joey's words.
Joey smiled faintly. "Let's head to the West Blue first. We can discuss the details later. But this idea is worth exploring."
The ship continued its voyage as Joey retreated to his office, his mind racing.
Leaning back on the sofa, Joey muttered to himself, "Whether it's stamina, internal energy, spiritual energy, or magical power, it's all energy at its core.
Every world has its own system—it just takes the right techniques to harness it. The Body Refinement Technique I'm working on strengthens every part of the body."
Massaging his temples, he sighed. "The real challenge isn't finding resources or talented individuals. It's getting hold of techniques. Even the lowest-level ones are tightly controlled."
Joey's thoughts wandered back to the time he acquired the Body Refinement Technique. "If that clan leader had realized its value back then, there's no way I could've bought it. It was pure luck he underestimated it."
Still, he couldn't help but feel the pressure. Developing the Body Refinement Technique was no easy task.
Reaching the pinnacle—Golden Rank 9—would allow someone to challenge a Platinum Rank 1 opponent, even if victory was unlikely. The sheer physical strength gained was worth the effort.
Late into the night, Joey stepped out of his cabin, hands clasped behind his back, and gazed into the distance. "Looks like finding a suitable training Technique will be tricky."
"But for me, the best choice isn't internal energy, chakra, celestial arts, or magic—all those require talent."
"What I need is Pure Energy. It's the perfect fit, a power that grows through physical training."
The Body Refinement Technique and Pure Energy were a perfect match. Like Pure Energy techniques were prevalent across many worlds and weren't particularly rare. Yet, despite its availability, it remained absurdly expensive.
"Purchasing 10,000 Beasts costs 20 Devil Fruits," Joey murmured to himself. "But acquiring a Pure Energy Technique? That might set me back 30 Devil Fruits…"
He smirked, undeterred. "But it's worth it. With the right upgrades, it could evolve into something incredible—maybe even an Origin Power Technique."
"Now that I think about it, I remember seeing the Saiyan leader buying things before. I need to make him sell the Ki method or something like that from the Dragon Ball universe—it's the best option right now."
"Would he be interested in the Devil Fruits?"
Just as he was lamenting, he paused abruptly, scanning his surroundings with sharp eyes. His lips curled into a smirk.
"CP Organization, huh? I expected you to move faster. Took your sweet time showing up."
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