One Piece Nine Tails

"You arrived quickly."

Roger chuckled softly and slowly stood up.

But Sengoku couldn't stand up, as he was too weak. Upon entering this tiny island, he realized the so-called demon was Roger. However, Roger was already a target of the World Government, so he couldn't just leave upon seeing him.

Sengoku fought Roger, but despite being more potent than when he had his Devil Fruit powers, he still wasn't a match for Roger.

After defeating Sengoku, Roger didn't kill him. Instead, he fed him a drug that completely sapped his strength.

Roger's Observation Haki now sensed Makima's arrival from a great distance. He believed Makima also knew he was there, and they locked eyes.

In an instant, the world seemed to collapse.

Boom!

Roger released his mighty Conqueror's Haki, fully exerting himself for the first time since his battle with The Backwater.

He was undoubtedly more robust than before.

He observed that Haki had reached a level where he could perceive everything in great detail. After achieving his dream of becoming the Pirate King, his spirit had reached an exceptionally high, and his Conqueror's Haki had grown even more vital.

It was like a person had endured countless hardships to attain enlightenment finally. Now, Roger was at the closest moment to death but also his strongest!

His immense Conqueror's Haki split the sky, making the island tremble. Thunder roared, winds howled, and rain poured down.

Rain, heavy rain!

It was as if Roger's power had altered this sea region's weather, instantly bringing torrential rain.

Splash, splash...

"Gol D. Roger..."

Suddenly, a swarm of insects appeared before him, forming a human silhouette.

In the next moment, Makima emerged from these insects, her expression calm, as if it was no surprise that Roger had lured her out.

The torrential rain fell on her, soaking her pink hair and the bangs on her forehead.

She wore a white shirt, black pants, and a black tie. This was the standard uniform of the Black Order, and it suited her perfectly.

With her hands behind her back, she said calmly, "You didn't hide from the Navy but instead chose to meet me this way. I assume you have something to say?"

She seemed to ignore Roger's mighty Conqueror's Haki. Despite its strength splitting the sky, altering the weather, and causing the world to quake, Makima remained unmoved.

Roger grinned, unfazed that Makima wasn't affected by his power. "Do you think this is the right place to talk?"

Makima smiled calmly, "I am the Marshal of the Black Order. Do you think... I have something to hide?"

Despite her words, Sengoku, behind Roger, instantly passed out.

Roger clicked his tongue. "Even though I restrained Sengoku, you made him faint instantly... As expected of the Marshal of the Black Order, you're strong."

As Roger spoke, he transformed into his demon form, not daring to underestimate Makima.

"Or should I say..."

He activated the Fusion Fruit, merging with Ace, and looked sharply at Makima. "Should I call you Lord?"

Lord? Demon Lord?

Roger's words would shock everyone in this world. He was suggesting that the leader of the largest demon-cleansing organization was a Demon Lord.

Was he joking?

But Roger was more serious than ever. No one had seen a more severe expression on Roger's face.

"…Ha." Makima laughed, not saying a word, seemingly amused by Roger's outlandish claim.

"Why do you think that?" she asked.

"Well, I didn't know at first." Roger casually placed his sword on his shoulder. "During an adventure, I found a magic box containing information about the Demon Lords, with symbols representing 'Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Causality, Apocalypse, Annihilation, and Redemption.'"

"I thought none of these matched you, so I didn't consider you a Demon Lord. Even though you've always hidden your strength, I believed that even at your fullest, you weren't as powerful as a Demon Lord."

Makima asked, "What changed your mind?"

"The rise of Christianity," Roger answered immediately.

"Christianity?" Makima asked indifferently, unfazed by Roger's aggressiveness.

"Yes, in the Holy Scriptures of Christianity, there's a work called the Book of Revelation, which records an interesting story." Roger softly said five words.

"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse."

Makima slowly closed her eyes, leaving her inner thoughts unreadable.

Roger didn't take advantage of the moment to strike; he awaited her response.

Boom...

The thunder grew louder, and the rain poured continuously, as if trying to wash away the place's unending sins.

Makima opened her eyes and asked, "And then?"

"When I saw 'Apocalypse,' I thought of that Demon Lord. The Apocalypse is not a single entity but the 'Four Horsemen,' namely 'Death,' 'War,' 'Famine,' and..."

Roger looked at Makima and said two words.

"Conquest."

Yes, Conquest!

He and An had been fixated on the idea of control, as mentioned by Byakuya Kuchiki. Still, when Roger saw the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he realized that Conquest and control were very similar.

Additionally, this Horseman also had the name Plague. Makima often appeared with rats or insects, aligning with the Plague.

So, from then on, Roger started to believe that Makima was one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

The so-called Demon Lord of the Apocalypse referred to these Four Horsemen!

Yes, who said a Demon Lord had to be a single person?

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse collectively formed one Demon Lord!

In other words, Makima, this control demon, this Conquest/Plague demon, was equivalent to one-fourth of a Demon Lord!