Vampire Blood Servant

It was another restless day aboard the Sword of Xebec.

Silver Axe Xiong and Golden Lion Shiki were brawling as usual, while Whitebeard Newgate sought out Rocks to spar and hone his own strength.

The big girl Charlotte Linlin had been angered by Houka once again, storming off to the kitchen in a huff to find something to eat.

Babel and Sambel were likewise training their Haki and martial arts, unwilling to fall behind.

They were determined to become the strongest warriors of Fish-Man Island.

Inside Houka's exclusive strategy meeting room for the grand staff.

"Streusen, do you desire immortality and eternal youth?"

The Seven-Star Sword floated in the air above Houka's hand, his voice curling around Streusen's ears like a devil's whisper.

At thirty-seven years old, Streusen was the oldest member on the ship.

Oldest in age, shortest in stature, weakest in strength, and sharing the bottom of the hierarchy with Sambel—this was the chef's current plight.

Streusen, who had just entered carrying a tray of pastries, was startled by Houka's wicked, low murmur.

"Immortality? Eternal youth?"

A flash of red light flickered in Streusen's greedy eyes.

"What must I do, Vice-Captain?"

Caught between fear and greed, Streusen sank deeper into Houka's control.

"Then join the Glorious Evolution!"

Houka felt no psychological burden whatsoever regarding a person like Streusen, and the eerie green light of the Seven-Star Sword grew increasingly brilliant.

Houka intended for Streusen to be his first test subject, transforming him into his own Vampire Blood Servant.

The Soul Fire manifested into a vampire bat, which flew onto Streusen's neck and bit down hard.

With eyes glowing crimson, Streusen offered no resistance, allowing the vampire bat to reshape his body.

"Ah!!"

Streusen suddenly collapsed to the floor with a scream. The pastries in his hands fell toward the ground, but under Houka's Gravity Ability, they drifted into the air.

Houka leisurely took the pastries and began to eat, watching Streusen's transformation with great interest.

Turning on one's own crew was an unforgivable taboo in any other pirate crew.

But in the Rocks Pirates, it was a non-issue.

Besides, Houka hadn't actually killed Streusen; he had merely bestowed upon him the power of eternal youth.

As the transformation progressed, Streusen's pupils turned completely red, and a pair of fangs sprouted from his mouth.

"I can feel endless vitality!"

Streusen scrambled up in excitement. He sliced himself with a small knife, and the wound healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It was as if he had consumed a Mythical Zoan fruit, granting him powerful regenerative abilities.

Was Houka's ability truly this exaggerated?

Did that not mean Houka could mass-produce Vampire Blood Servants that were no less capable than Zoan-type users?

"Go and adapt to your abilities, and act as if nothing has happened."

Houka finished the pastries, observed Streusen for a few minutes, and then waved his hand to dismiss the blood servant.

Just like that, this most cunning little man had become his absolute subordinate.

He would be even more obedient than Sambel and the others.

Houka did not intend to betray Rocks, his savior and protector; he simply wanted to resolve potential dangers in advance.

He, too, did not want to see the Rocks Pirates fall apart!

At the very least, before Imu was dealt with, Houka would not leave the Rocks Pirates.

To take on Imu, Houka did indeed need the power of Rocks.

"Very well, Vice-Captain!"

Streusen excitedly felt the power coursing through his body. He tried retracting his vampire fangs, returning to his normal appearance.

Even his pupils reverted to their original color, as if nothing had ever happened.

As Streusen left, Houka stroked his chin; the development of his Vampire fruit ability had taken another significant step forward.

However, the power required to transform a Vampire Blood Servant consumed a massive amount of the Blood Energy Houka had collected.

Therefore, unless necessary, Houka did not wish to create more Vampire Blood Servants.

Unless he were to fully transform into a devil and slaughter wantonly to collect blood.

Houka suddenly realized that he was becoming somewhat like that old monster, Imu.

He possessed multiple fruit abilities and could transform servants; in the future, he might even gain teleportation powers.

Was this not the exact relationship between Imu, the Five Elders, and the Holy Knights?

"Tsk tsk, will I really become the next Imu?"

The boy who slays the dragon eventually becomes the dragon himself?

Houka grumbled inwardly, though he felt neither regret nor guilt; he would continue to walk this path.

Rocks wanted this world, but Houka only wanted immortality and power!

He wanted to break out of this world and explore the vast, unknown universe and uncharted realms!

"It's a pity I haven't awakened Observation Haki yet, so I can't even pull off that flashy, cool move of summoning a meteor from the sky."

Houka continued to develop his Gravity Ability and Vampire Ability.

He also discovered that his Moonlight Ability seemed to have a special effect that enhanced his Vampire Ability.

This made Houka pay even more attention to how he combined his abilities in the future.

Abilities that could mutually benefit and complement each other would allow Houka to unleash greater combat power and find more ways to send his enemies to their deaths.

Before he possessed the same powerful three types of Haki and strength as Rocks, these flashy Devil Fruit abilities were Houka's greatest trump cards.

Fortunately, he had the Vampire Ability to replenish his stamina; otherwise, developing three abilities at once would indeed be a significant burden for the current Houka.

Inside the kitchen of the Sword of Xebec.

"Linlin! Didn't the Vice-Captain tell you to eat less!"

Streusen, who had just returned to the kitchen, discovered Charlotte Linlin gorging herself.

Houka had intentionally set out to change Linlin's habit of binge eating, so Streusen had been systematically reducing her sweet rations.

As a result, the moment he looked away, Charlotte Linlin had cleared out more than half the kitchen.

"Your aura has changed..."

"Also, you can't control me!"

Charlotte Linlin stuffed her mouth with food, noticing the change in Streusen at a glance.

However, she couldn't be bothered to deal with this "traitorous" bastard!

Streusen was now fond of flattering Houka and was no longer the obedient Streusen he once was.

"..."

"The Vice-Captain has strengthened my power!"

"Besides, you want the Vice-Captain to predict news about Mother Carmel for you."

"You should communicate more with the Vice-Captain; he is a good man."

Streusen looked at Charlotte Linlin, who still looked like a giant fatty; it was no wonder Houka didn't want to pay her any mind.

It seemed Linlin really needed to lose weight.

"Hmph, you think I haven't gone to find him! Houka looks down on me!"

Charlotte Linlin wiped her mouth and spoke irritably, looking puffed up with anger.

"That is why you must change yourself!"

Streusen's small eyes darted around as he began to whisper advice to Charlotte Linlin.

He had always thought Charlotte Linlin was a once-in-a-millennium genius.

Yet, there was a group of monsters on the ship no less capable than her.

His vision had been too narrow.

No wonder his original pirate crew had been wiped out; the monsters in this world were truly countless.

Now, they had to cling tightly to the thighs of Rocks and Houka!

Several days later, a massive Flying Warship flew into the waters of Elysium Island...

"Has it finally arrived!"

Ochoku licked his lips, wondering how he could join the Rocks Pirates with dignity while still saving face.

Black Flag Black, the CP0 spy, revealed a look of confidence, as if he had everything under control.

As long as he displayed powerful strength, he was 98% certain he could join the Rocks Pirates!