Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit

It took a few more days.

Houka and the others finally found Sleepy Town, an abandoned settlement shrouded in gray mist.

"I didn't expect it to be an ancient town!"

After landing on the island, Rocks spotted ancient writing among the town ruins, and a sharp glint flashed through his eyes.

A Devil Fruit hidden within ancient ruins could not possibly be an ordinary one, could it?

Unfortunately, Houka had refused to reveal the fruit's true name.

As if he were worried Rocks would steal it.

As long as it was not the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika or the Dark-Dark Fruit, Rocks would not even bother eating it.

That little brat Houka was judging a gentleman by his own petty standards!

"The ruins are so huge. Where are we supposed to look?"

Babel looked at the dim surroundings. Why did this place feel like the Florian Triangle?

"The main castle!"

Seven Soul Fires floated around Houka's shoulders. Meanwhile, the Moonlight Gu had reverted to the crescent-moon mark on his body, while the Gravity Gu had become the tiger-shaped mark on his upper arm.

He intended to use the Soul Fires' sensitivity toward Devil Fruits and ability users to search for the Vampire Fruit.

"Newgate, stay away from me for now."

"After all, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit ability in your body is also very tempting to my Soul Fires!"

Houka's Soul Fires instinctively craved nearby Devil Fruit users. Even Houka himself could not control that instinct.

"I hope you fill up your Soul Fires soon. I don't want you eyeing me every day. It feels damn unpleasant."

Newgate raised an eyebrow and simply chose to remain on the ship and stand watch.

"Hehe, don't worry. We're good brothers. How could I make a move on you?"

Houka spread his hands with a grin, then swiftly flew toward the center of Sleepy Town. The seven Soul Fires sensed the faint Demonic Wish Power and laws around him.

Rocks became somewhat interested in the ancient writing on the island and asked Sambel to help make rubbings of it.

He planned to take them back to God Valley for research.

Babel, meanwhile, was responsible for protecting Houka in case anything happened to him.

Even with Moonlight Ability and Gravity Ability, Houka still could not be considered an expert!

"First Mate, can I become the strongest fish-man to ever shake the seas?"

Babel also wanted to rise through the ranks and become the most famous great figure on Fish-Man Island.

After seizing enough treasure, he would return to the upper districts of Fish-Man Island, buy a mansion, and settle down.

"Absolutely! You'll become one of the senior officers of the world's number one pirate crew."

Hovering in the air, Houka sent the seven Soul Fires out to their furthest possible range as they searched for the Vampire Fruit.

"I'm definitely going to become a major figure on Fish-Man Island, second only to the royal family!"

Like commoners of every other race, Babel regarded the royal family as an insurmountable class.

"Why second only to the royal family?"

"If you don't even dare surpass the royal family, how will you dare take on the Celestial Dragons?"

Houka smiled faintly. This big fish-man still lacked a little boldness.

"Uh..."

Babel had no answer. If the Rocks Pirates had never appeared, his lifelong dream might have been nothing more than becoming part of Fish-Man Island's upper class, enjoying warm sunlight and plentiful food.

When Houka and the others reached the Gothic Main Castle at the center of town, Houka's Soul Fires quickly began to stir.

It was as though some force were drawing them in.

"We need to decipher the ancient writing to find the Devil Fruit!"

"Does that mean this fruit has been sealed away for more than eight hundred years?"

Rocks frowned. The Devil Fruit Houka sought seemed far beyond his expectations.

What kind of evil ability was worthy of such a seal?

"Can a Devil Fruit last for hundreds of years? Wouldn't it rot?"

Sambel had never seen a Devil Fruit and assumed it was much like ordinary fruit.

Even if it lasted longer than normal fruit, it should not be able to keep for hundreds of years.

And wouldn't bugs eat Devil Fruits?

"Once a fruit becomes a Devil Fruit, it won't rot. But Devil Fruit flesh already tastes rotten and disgusting. They say it tastes as awful as shit."

"Maybe the Devil Fruit ability is what makes the flesh spoil."

Rocks laughed. He had read plenty of records and heard countless ability users describe how awful Devil Fruits tasted.

Houka had used Soul Fire to fuse with Devil Fruit powers and skipped the step of eating the fruit altogether. Lucky bastard.

Houka ignored the others and focused on sensing it.

He drew the Seven-Star Sword and carefully cleaved apart every ancient wall and stone altar that might contain a sealed Devil Fruit.

Houka knew the vampire was hidden somewhere within these castle ruins.

Even if he had to tear down the entire castle, he would find the Vampire Fruit!

"Damn it! I refuse to believe I can't find you just because I can't read ancient writing!"

After searching for most of the day, Houka finally snapped. He activated the Press-Press Fruit ability and lifted the entire castle into the air!

He would dismantle it piece by piece and search with the Soul Fires bit by bit!

"The First Mate's ability is so powerful!"

Sambel watched the castle rise into the air, a trace of envy flashing in his eyes.

But between Devil Fruit powers and becoming a landlubber, he still chose not to eat a fruit.

After all, all of his skills relied on Fish-Man Jujutsu and Fish-Man Karate. If he became a landlubber, he would have to start over from scratch.

Another full day passed.

Houka had nearly demolished half the ancient castle when his Soul Fires finally sent out excited, longing emotions.

One Soul Fire after another surged into a gap.

"Did you find it?"

Rocks perked up. He wanted to know what kind of Devil Fruit ability it was.

As long as it was not the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika or the Dark-Dark Fruit.

If Houka dared deceive him, then he would have to seriously reconsider their partnership.

Before Houka could continue cutting through the wall, a dark-red bat and six white Soul Fires flew back.

"It fused that quickly!"

Houka smiled easily. He had not even seen the Vampire Fruit, yet one of the Soul Fires had already completed its devouring and fusion.

That efficiency was absurdly high.

Houka loved it!

"A bat?"

Rocks quickly noticed the transformed Soul Fire and searched through the Devil Fruit encyclopedia in his mind for a corresponding ability.

Given how much Houka valued it, along with the seal in the ancient ruins—

It definitely was not an ordinary or Ancient Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit ability.

It should be some Mythical Zoan or Paramecia ability.

The Paramecia Shadow-Shadow Fruit also seemed capable of taking the form of bats.

"Got the power. Let's go!"

Houka casually tossed aside the castle ruins and floated away. The Vampire Bat shot into his body, forming a bat-shaped mark on his chest.

The next moment, a pair of demonic bat wings emerged from Houka's back, and even his teeth grew longer.

"What ability is that?"

"Zoan-type Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Vampire Form!"

Amid Rocks and Babel's questions, Houka did not hide the ability.

"So it was this ability?"

Rocks's gaze sharpened. Did that not mean Houka could now retain his youth forever?

No wonder that brat valued this Mythical Zoan ability so highly.

And refused to recruit Shiki, that underworld samurai, first.

So he really had been worried someone would set their sights on this Devil Fruit!