Sig didn't rashly intervene in the battle between Kaki and Rafid —although Kaki could smell the scent of Zoan users, Bananaman shouldn't be able to hide, but... with more than a dozen pseudo- Zoan users around, Kaki couldn't quite tell if there was another one hiding nearby.
Sig showed no intention of interfering in the fight between the two; instead, he observed it with great interest.
One side is the navy, and the other is an ambitious group that attacks civilians. From Sig's perspective, neither of them are good people—it would be better to die together and then loot their equipment!
Kaki Ancient Zoan Zoan user, Sig suspects that Kaji has "Awakening," with his vitality and physical abilities further enhanced.
Although Zoan are the easiest to Awakening, Ancient Zoan and common species are obviously not the same.
While Gion in his werewolf Logia may not possess the powerful area-of-effect attacks or the ability to alter the landscape that the Logia-type starter families have, nor the long attack range and sharp slashes of Momousagi as a swordsman, his combat strength is remarkably solid due to his combination of physical prowess and Awakening Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit.
It may not look glamorous, but as a codenamed Vice Admiral, his strength is beyond doubt.
His entire body hardened with Armament Haki, as easily as breathing. After hardening, each bristle became like a sharp spike, and his seemingly short limbs could unleash tremendous power with every movement...
In comparison, Rafid's physical skills were clearly inferior to those of his fellow recruits.
However, the abilities of Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit ability are even more bizarre and unpredictable than those of Ancient Zoan. The Vampire Fruit can not only absorb the blood of others to restore physical strength, but also restore a youthful body, and can control the Blood Power and the Shadow Power!
By now, dusk had fallen, and the sunlight's restraint had weakened. Combined with the shadows created by Rafid, the castle and its surroundings were shrouded in darkness and chaos.
Although the marines rushed in, they were Kaki and sent back by the enemy—except for the officers who were holding off the First Embrace Vampire, the others were ordered back to their warships to surround Eternal Night Island from five directions...
Yasopp and Morio were not idle either; they arrived in Twilight Town.
Because of the castle's current strange state, coupled with previous rumors, the townspeople have come to believe that Rafid, whom Varam deserter had mentioned, is the mastermind behind their disappearances!
Yasopp and Morio learned what had happened from the perspective of the townspeople...
Meanwhile, Kaki and Rafid were also engaged in fierce fighting and verbal sparring, which made Sig understand most of the situation.
Rafid was once a naval officer with lofty goals and ideals. Back when he was just a colonel, he vehemently opposed the Seven Warlords of the Sea system at an expanded meeting, and as a result... he's still just a colonel now.
After repeated setbacks in reality, Rafid not only faced ostracism and was relegated to the desolate and inhospitable Eternal Night Island, but his own spirit also gradually deteriorated.
Therefore, after obtaining the Vampire Fruit, Rafid no longer thought about demonstrating greater strength and potential or returning to the Navy's core. Instead, he quietly planned to use this place, suitable for hiding himself and accumulating Vampire power, to one day build his own fleet, become Great Pirate, and eventually Shichibukai...
However, even on the Eternal Night Island, there are seven dawns every three months. The downside of Vampire is that after each day, they must "drink blood" to calm their boiling blood.
At first, he chose to attack pirates, but later he gradually degenerated and also attacked ordinary townspeople, and even other marines...
Sig could sense that Rafid was experiencing a major problem, possibly stemming from a crisis of his own beliefs, or perhaps from the act of "vampire" causing his human emotions to gradually spiral out of control.
The unique environment of Eternal Night Island made it easier for him to control the power of Vampire. Normally, it would take seven years to complete the thirteenth First Embrace, but on Eternal Night Island, the time was halved.
Basically every three months, after Rafid drinks blood, he can use the First Embrace ability.
In this way, he converted six of his marines' subordinates, as well as seven passing pirate Captain whom he had defeated!
As the number of "Vampire" increases, the number of people needing to drink blood also increases daily after dawn.
In the past year, more than ten people have gone missing, sometimes even after dawn!
It has been exactly three years and three months since the last time, and thirteen First Embrace been completed!
Just as the legends say, this time he felt he could no longer continue with the First Embrace. If Kaki hadn't come, he might have already begun preparing to leave Eternal Night Island.
"Mom, when is Dad coming back? It's been half a year already..."
"I will... I will come back."
"But they said... Daddy was eaten by a monster, that's fake, right?"
"Of course it's fake! Your dad... is very powerful!"
Yasopp:...
While staying overnight at a fire-warming spot in town, Yasopp overheard the conversation between the mother and daughter, and felt increasingly uneasy.
"Come here! Lili, Uncle will show you the monkey!" Yasopp then pulled Ooo over and started performing monkey tricks for Lili.
The woman of the house looked over gratefully, realizing that this unfamiliar traveler was helping her distract her daughter.
The little girl's attention was quickly diverted, but the sky was gradually darkening. Her Mom looked at the castle in the distance, shrouded in black mist, and showed a frightened expression. She then immediately drew the curtains.
It's common knowledge on Eternal Night Island that one shouldn't go out when it truly gets dark after Accumulating Emperor Cloud leaves.
Meanwhile, the castle's roof had been torn off, and the fourth and fifth floors were now ruins due to the aftermath of the battle Kaki and Rafid.
It was clear that Rafid was in a much worse state; even the power of the Vampire Fruit only allowed him to hold on against Kaki.
It's not that the Vampire Fruit is weak, but Kaki's strength should not be underestimated. After Awakening, he is definitely the strongest and most reckless Ancient Zoan.
Moreover, although Rafid has been developing his Devil Fruit ability for the past three years, he has not had many evenly matched battles because he needs to hide his identity. In contrast, Kaki's combat experience has obviously not lagged behind.
More importantly, there was still the afterglow of dusk, and Rafid had to devote some energy to creating shadows to counteract the effects of the setting sun!
But then Rafid laughed, "Hahaha, what a pity, it's my turn now! Kaki!"
As Rafid spoke, he lost control of the surrounding shadows, and at the same time, Kaki saw the sunset's final "leap" across the sea.
As the last rays of the setting sun disappeared, it was already dark. Because of the clouds, even the Moon could not be seen tonight; only the bioluminescence of the Night Mushroom on the island remained.
The two were immediately outmaneuvered, and Rafid began to exert pressure Kaki.
But Sig could sense that Kaki was also waiting for something...