Lunarians

Long, long ago, the Lunarians established a kingdom on the Red Line. It attracted other races, and people called it God's Country.

The Lunarians were also called "gods."

King the Conflagration, a Lead Performer of the Beasts Pirates, was one of the few known survivors of his race.

"Gods?" Seven's expression turned intrigued.

"That's one way to make sure I don't side with the World Government!"

The World Government had been responsible for the destruction of the Lunarians and their kingdom.

To wipe out the race completely, the World Government had even set a special bounty: anyone who reported a Lunarian's whereabouts could claim 100 Million Berries on the spot.

If Seven bought the Lunarian Bloodline, then leaving aside which parts of his body might catch fire, the moment the World Government found out, he'd face a relentless pursuit to the death.

But then again, when he was on fire, his defense increased by 100 percent. When the flames were extinguished, his speed increased by 100 percent. He could also create and control fire.

It was like getting the Flame-Flame Fruit as an extra.

That was far more than a simple one-plus-one.

The Lunarians' innate undying flames were already a terrifying power capable of burning the heavens and earth. Now they'd be stacked with the lightning power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

The power unleashed when the two collided had long surpassed the limits of simply stacking abilities. It was an overloaded reaction capable of blasting a hole through the battlefield.

It was definitely worth having.

Percentage-based attributes might not offer much of an advantage early on, but later, once you'd built up enough base stats, they brought significant improvements.

No, Seven didn't have an early stage at all.

His strength was already infinitely close to an Emperor-tier fighter. He was firmly in the late game.

If he learned Conqueror's Haki Defense and stacked it with Iron Balloon and Armament Haki, then added a 100 percent defense boost, his defense would be downright terrifying.

Twenty years from now, when he met Liu Zoro, he could even say, "Come on, I'll stand here and let you cut me."

With a 100 percent speed boost, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit still couldn't hold a candle to Kizaru's Glint-Glint Fruit, but it would genuinely make him twice as fast.

"50,000 points... Guess it's expensive for a reason."

Seven could accept the price. His biggest problem right now was that he was broke.

Conqueror's Haki Defense cost 100,000 points. Observation Haki Future Sight cost 50,000 points, and the Lunarian Bloodline cost 50,000 points.

He couldn't afford those, and he couldn't even afford Armament Haki Ryuo, which cost 20,000 points.

"I'm broke. Seriously, so broke."

After thinking it over, Seven reluctantly listed the Bear-Bear Fruit Mythical Zoan, Thunder Giant Bear form, on the Trading Platform.

How to put it? The overall strength of the Pirate Crew mattered if you wanted to dominate the seas, but even more important was the strength of Seven, its Captain.

That was the foundation of leadership.

Why had Imu fought six opponents at once during the God Valley battle, acting so damn cocky? Because they were strong!

When it came to improving his own strength, everything else was irrelevant—or at least less important.

[Bear-Bear Fruit Mythical Zoan, Thunder Giant Bear form: 60,000 points. Let the storm gather and carry me to the clouds. Seller's message: Storm, rage!]

Seven had set the price at 60,000 points based on the Trading Platform listing where someone was offering 20,000 points for the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. The goal was to fleece rich guys and only rich guys.

Poor people couldn't afford it either.

He figured only Warhammer Bro, the Dragon Ball user who'd gotten a whole barrel of Senzu Beans, could afford to buy it.

If the Bear-Bear Fruit sold, then after the 10 percent tax, the remaining 54,000 points would be enough to buy the Lunarian Bloodline, with four Senzu Beans left over.

He'd definitely make the leap to Emperor tier.

By then—

Big Eater, Innate Divine Strength, Iron Balloon, and the Lunarian Bloodline would turn Beelzebul Seven into a monstrously overpowered model.

Why not buy Observation Haki Future Sight first? It came down to the same thing: he might be able to train himself to foresee the future, but he couldn't train himself to gain the Lunarian Bloodline.

As for mixing bloodlines... So what if they got mixed?

As a high-level pirate, Seven wasn't even afraid of being broke. Was he going to be afraid of a little bloodline mixing?

If he could, Seven would gladly mix in a few more. Give him a Super Saiyan Bloodline, and he'd sell everything he owned to get it.

Forget Super Saiyans. If another Giant Race or Fish-Man Race Bloodline showed up, Seven would buy them all as long as he could afford them.

Aside from the steep price,

there was just one problem with the Lunarian Bloodline sold in the system shop: a certain part of his body would catch fire.

Seven looked down at his body soaking in the hot bath and didn't dwell on it. Whatever. At worst, he'd have a fire poker.

It could at least be his personal trademark.

Besides, he could put it out, and when the flames were out, his speed increased by 100 percent. That was more useful than any black or white stockings.

Climbing out of the bath, Seven fell straight asleep, boosted by a 50 percent increase in sleep quality and a 50 percent increase in recovery.

West Blue, the ruins of Ohara.

Seven days had passed since the Navy launched the Buster Call on Ohara. The Navy fleet that had carried it out had already departed, led by five Vice Admirals.

Among the rubble and gravel, a strange man with a very pointed head and his tongue hanging out was holding a bouquet of flowers, paying tribute to his friend, Dr. Clover.

"Long time no see, Vegapunk."

At the familiar voice, Vegapunk quickly wiped away his tears and turned around. His gaze met Monkey D. Dragon, who was staring at his head.

"Dragon?"

"Your head's gotten even bigger."

"That doesn't matter." Vegapunk narrowed his eyes.

His head had kept growing because he'd eaten the Brain-Brain Fruit. The fruit had given him an infinite capacity for knowledge, but as he stored more information, his head continued to grow.

"Dragon, what are you doing in Ohara?"

"Me?" Dragon said mockingly. "I heard you'd finally become the World Government's lapdog. I was shocked. You even turned down the Revolutionary Army's invitation."

Vegapunk protested, "What do you know?"

"Even with my intelligence and technology, what could a poor army like yours possibly build? Technology needs funding, too!"

Dragon understood that technology needed funding. He was simply furious that the World Government had launched the Buster Call and destroyed Ohara.

"You're as blunt as ever."

The two sat down in front of the bouquet.

"Dragon, Ohara's will hasn't been completely extinguished. Beelzebul of the Morning Star Pirates rescued a little girl from the Navy's Buster Call bombardment."

"There are plenty of reasonable people in the Navy, too. Don't lose sight of your goal, Dragon."

Dragon's gaze was cold. "Beelzebul and ordinary pirates are different. But this time, I can't stand by and take it. I'm going to build an army that can fight."

Why had the Morning Star Pirates been able to come and go freely under the Navy's Buster Call bombardment?

Because their Captain, Beelzebul, their Vice Captain, Mihawk, and their fighter, Fujitora, were all powerful combatants—warriors who could fight and win.

Those were exactly the kind of warriors the Revolutionary Army lacked.

Vegapunk asked in surprise, "Aren't you the one who hates war most?"

Dragon didn't answer. "Just wait and see, Vegapunk. I'll change the world. I won't let Clover's sacrifice be in vain..."

It was supposed to be a bold, rousing declaration, but for some reason, Dragon felt a pang in his chest.

"What's wrong with me?"

"Why does it feel like I'm about to lose something?"