Chapter 28: Ripples on the Sea, Eyes of Samsara
"But thinking about it... Blackbeard really did model himself after Rocks," Mio murmured to himself, his eyes lingering on the page.
If Rocks was the previous user of the Dark-Dark Fruit, as suggested by the illustrated book, then it all made sense. Rocks' maritime headquarters was Beehive Island. After Blackbeard stole Whitebeard's fruit ability, he too made Beehive Island his base of operations. Rocks' full name was Rocks D. Xebec, and Blackbeard's pirate ship was named Xebec's Saber.
Of course, Mio realized he had digressed.
But the reason Rocks considered the Dark-Dark Fruit the strongest might very well be because it could steal the powers of other Devil Fruit users.
As these thoughts settled in his mind, Mio's ship slowly sailed away from the island, growing smaller behind them.
At the same time, a small white boat approached the island from the opposite direction. A lone figure stood atop it, dressed in a flowing white robe. A sheer veil covered her face, concealing her identity, but Mio could tell from her silhouette that she was a woman.
His gaze drifted toward her.
The woman looked back at him.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Mio froze. Her eyes shimmered with ripples—eyes that resembled the legendary Rinnegan from Naruto. Red pupils, eerily still, devoid of emotion, like stagnant water. Just a single glance sent a tingling sensation down Mio's spine.
"Who... is that?" Mio whispered in his heart, an involuntary shiver crawling down his back.