What was even more astonishing was that the color of the Devil Fruit's exterior had also changed.
The originally pure white fruit gradually turned into a hue resembling yellowish-brown stone, as if undergoing a transformation—becoming even more powerful and mysterious.
This was also the first time Ron had seen the true appearance of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
He had never imagined that this fruit, renowned for its world-shattering power, would look so ordinary.
Yet, it was precisely this unassuming appearance that concealed the power to destroy the world, making Devil Fruits the ultimate treasure sought after by pirates!
"Hahaha, then i won't hold back."
With that, he picked up the first Tremor-Tremor Fruit on the table and stuffed it into his mouth, swallowing it whole without even chewing it.
"...Jozu is too hardcore!"
"Downing it raw—does that help avoid the disgusting taste of Devil Fruits?"
"No idea, but judging by Jozu's excited expression, it seems so."
"Then I'll eat it like that too from now on!"
"Same here."
"..."
The other division commanders and the surrounding pirates were all stunned, watching Jozu intently for any changes in him.
"...Huh, I don't feel any different."
Jozu scratched his head sheepishly with an embarrassed grin.
"Sorry to disappoint, everyone."
"That's normal. Aside from Pops, no one succeeds on the first try. Have another one," Ace stepped forward to console him.
"Alright, this time I'll definitely succeed!"
With that, Jozu picked up the second Tremor-Tremor Fruit and, in front of everyone, chewed it carefully bite by bite before swallowing it all with a completely expressionless face.
Ron: "..."
Ron felt his scalp go numb, even starting to doubt whether this Devil Fruit was fake.
How could someone eat a Devil Fruit without showing even the slightest change in expression?
And even chew it slowly before swallowing it all?!
This was beyond savage.
Not just Ron, but everyone else in the crew was dumbfounded, their jaws nearly hitting the floor at the sight of Jozu's feat.
"I hereby declare Jozu the strongest..."
"Same here."
"Wait, does Jozu even have taste buds? Otherwise, how could he not react at all?!"
Amid the chatter, Jozu grew increasingly anxious, almost on the verge of tears.
He focused intently on every sensation in his body—yet there was still nothing!
"This can't be! How could my luck be this bad?!"
"Not even a hint of a reaction. Could this fruit a failed experiment?"
"I refuse to believe it!"
Before anyone could stop him, he grabbed the last Tremor-Tremor Fruit and shoved it into his mouth, biting down hard twice before swallowing it without even checking if it was properly chewed!
Then, in just a few moments, a look of joy flashed across Jozu's face.
"It worked! I can feel it—it worked!" Jozu slowly extended his right hand.
As he moved, a transparent circular force field gradually condensed in his grasp, emitting a soft yet mysterious glow that seemed to contain boundless energy.
Then, Jozu suddenly clenched his right fist.
Instantly, a series of spine-chilling crack sounds filled the air—sharp and grating, like glass being scraped by a hard object, sending shivers down everyone spine.
As Jozu's grip tightened faster, the crack sounds grew denser and louder, almost merging into a continuous noise.
Simultaneously, countless fine but clearly visible fissures began spreading outward from the center of the transparent force field.
They expanded at an astonishing speed, tearing through the air wherever they reached.
The entire space distorted, giving the impression that it was on the verge of shattering.
"Hehehe!"
A smug grin curled at the corners of Jozu's lips, his eyes gleaming with confidence and provocation.
Without another word, he abruptly swung his right arm, unleashing the immense power gathered in his fist with a single punch.
This strike carried not only tremendous impact but also a force capable of shaking the world.
In an instant, the surrounding space seemed to tremble.
The air resonated with even more violent crack sounds—the noise of the atmosphere itself disintegrating under the unbearable pressure.
At that very moment, a small, previously tranquil mountain in the distance suddenly suffered an unprecedented attack.
The peak shook violently, as if struck by a natural disaster, followed by an ear-splitting explosion—
BOOM!
With a deafening roar, the entire mountain exploded, sending countless rocks flying in all directions.
The spectacle was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Everyone present was stunned by the sight.
Jozu's eyes flickered with surprise and excitement as he witnessed the scene.
He hadn't anticipated that a casual punch could unleash such devastating force.
The air still seemed to thrum with the residual energy of his strike, casting an oppressive weight over everything around him.
"Again!"
Jozu bellowed, his voice brimming with confidence.
His hands clawed at the empty air as if grasping something intangible, causing the atmosphere to warp.
Then, with a fierce downward yank, it was as though he sought to drag the very sky down with him.
As he moved, fissures appeared in the air, rapidly spreading outward before converging on another small mountain in the distance.
At that moment, the mountain seemed to be seized by an invisible giant hand and ruthlessly slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
Another thunderous explosion echoed as the entire peak collapsed in an instant.
Dust billowed, debris scattered and the once lush green mountain was reduced to ruins in the blink of an eye.
Silence fell over the scene.
Everyone stood frozen in shock, the only sound being the occasional sharp intake of breath breaking the stillness.
"This... this is terrifying! A single punch flattened an entire mountain!!"
"The Tremor-Tremor Fruit truly lives up to its reputation as the most destructive Devil Fruit!"
"Of course, don't forget that in his younger days, the old man was known as the man with the power to destroy the world!"
"Old man's ability is undoubtedly the strongest!"
"Gurararara, Jozu, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit also takes quite a toll on the body," Whitebeard said in his deep, powerful voice.
He patted Jozu's shoulder and continued explaining.
"Every time you use the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, while it can cause massive destruction, your body also bears the corresponding recoil."
"This power works both ways—it releases energy outward but also creates an impact on the user themselves."
"My body has become this weak due to accumulated internal injuries over many years."
"Those seemingly insignificant small wounds, accumulating over time, eventually became major issues that couldn't be ignored."
....