As countless Blood Shadow Bats returned to him, Houka felt the rich vitality within them.
"Those with Conqueror's Haki have such pure energy!"
Houka excitedly licked his lips, feeling the cells throughout his body leap and cheer.
An endless stream of power surged through him. It was as if his body had broken through its restraints and entered some kind of virtuous cycle.
His physique seemed to no longer need the Vampire Ability's nourishment to use the Press-Press Fruit and Moon-Moon Fruit.
So this is the unnatural physique of this world!
Houka felt that his body had undergone some kind of transformation.
So eating people really could make you stronger!
The stronger they were and the better their aptitude, the more useful they were to him!
"Patriarch Ochoku is dead!!"
A commander of the Ochoku Pirates sensed through Observation Haki that Ochoku's life force had vanished completely and cried out in panic.
As the Blood Shadow Bats around Ochoku dissipated, his pale, shrunken face still wore a twisted expression of terror.
Houka expressionlessly pulled out the Seven-Star Sword and casually kicked Ochoku's dried-up corpse aside, looking every bit the cold-blooded demon.
"Wahahahaha! Houka, you've gotten stronger again!"
Rocks keenly sensed the earth-shaking change in Houka's body. This mysterious little guy was full of strange and unknown qualities.
Still, Rocks was confident he could keep Houka in check and make him a major asset in overthrowing Imu.
"Kyahahahaha! Congratulations, Houka!"
Golden Lion Shiki was the second to offer his congratulations, his desire to claim Houka reaching its peak.
"It's all thanks to his Devil Fruit abilities and that cursed sword!!"
Silver Axe Xiong was once again reminded of how important a powerful Devil Fruit ability was.
Just look at Houka. He didn't even have Three-Color Haki, yet he'd taken down Ochoku with nothing but his Devil Fruit abilities and cursed sword.
Even if the Pirate Patriarch had already been worn down by their successive battles, there was no denying that Houka, with his three Devil Fruit abilities, was a formidable fighter!
Xiong glanced at his famous giant axe, wondering whether he should replace it with a stronger one.
The Seven-Star Sword's bizarre abilities were enough to make anyone envious.
It could control the minds of the weak, and it also strengthened the power and piercing force of its sword energy.
Even an ordinary swordsman could unleash a terrifying slash that stretched across half an island.
In Xiong's eyes, Houka's Seven-Star Sword was even more powerful than Newgate's Supreme Grade Sword, Murakumogiri, or the Xebec's Sword in Rocks's hands.
At that moment, Xiong suddenly realized that along with a powerful Devil Fruit ability, he also needed a powerful weapon.
That bastard Shiki was already looking for famous swords, so Xiong figured he ought to add finding a better weapon to his own list of goals.
"Houka! You're amazing! You really are my friend!"
Charlotte Linlin danced around on Zeus, the thundercloud, shouting excitedly.
"Vice Captain!! You're incredible!!"
Babel and Sambel, the two burly Fish-Men, cheered.
"He's gotten stronger again!"
Newgate sensed Houka's newfound strength. He'd originally been six or seven parts certain of beating him, but now it seemed they were back to an even fifty-fifty.
Beating this man with three Devil Fruit abilities wouldn't be easy.
But Newgate was filled with fighting spirit.
Only someone like Houka could make for a worthy challenge.
Defeating his friend Houka and catching up to Rocks, his captain in name, were Newgate's next goals.
Amid the panicked pirates watching from the sidelines,
Black Flag Black was in a panic. Houka had actually killed Ochoku, completely upending their expectations and plans.
Wasn't the Rocks Pirates expanding their territory and recruiting new members?
Why had they killed Ochoku instead of recruiting him?
That was nothing like Rocks's usual approach to gathering men!
And those Blood Shadow Bats that had attacked him earlier...
A bead of cold sweat appeared on Black Flag Black's forehead.
Should he abandon the mission and flee right away?
Just then,
the officers and pirates of the Ochoku Pirates suddenly began fleeing in a frenzy.
They had no intention of avenging Ochoku, nor did they want to beg to join the Rocks Pirates. They just wanted to escape.
If the battle between Ochoku and the Rocks Pirates' officers hadn't destroyed the Ochoku Pirates' stronghold, they would have looted its treasures and fled, each going their own way.
Now, all they could do was seize the Ochoku Pirates' main ship. The Pirate Patriarch's vessel still held plenty of valuable treasure and supplies.
Amid the chaos, Black Flag Black hesitated, unsure whether Houka had discovered his identity.
But then he remembered this was a covert mission ordered by Saint Saturn.
Even if his chances of dying were eighty percent, he still had to see it through!
Having made up his mind, Black Flag Black suppressed his panic and fear, fully becoming the pirate Black.
Now he was a pirate!
If Houka killed him, he'd still die as a defiant pirate!
Black Flag Black drew his sword and cut down a minor officer of the Ochoku Pirates, slipping into the role of a ruthless pirate.
He'd fought Ochoku, the Pirate Patriarch, earlier. Taking out his anger on the Ochoku Pirates now was perfectly reasonable.
"Kyahahaha! It's all mine! Don't touch it!!"
Golden Lion Shiki immediately joined the pirates fighting over the treasures at the port. Every pirate crew was his prey.
Especially Ochoku's spoils. No one else was allowed to take them!
Silver Axe Xiong, Babel, Sambel, and Streusen all joined the frenzied scramble.
No one was going to profit off the Rocks Pirates.
"Houka! Is there anything wrong with that guy? Can we recruit him?"
As Houka flew back, Rocks pointed at Black Flag Black, who was slaughtering pirates left and right.
With a bounty of 444 million, the pirate was ruthless and efficient in a fight, just the sort of man Rocks liked.
If there was nothing suspicious about him, Rocks would head down and force him aboard.
Newgate also studied Black Flag Black for a moment. His fighting style was indeed cleaner and more decisive than those of the other officers.
He even looked more like a killer who struck to kill with every move than Silver Axe Xiong, the Yakuza Killer!
"He's mastered Rokushiki. What do you think?"
"Don't be fooled by the long sword he's using. I bet the calluses on his sword hand aren't even as thick as mine."
Houka spoke coolly, looking at Black Flag Black as if he were prey.
Having benefited from Ochoku, Houka was now like an insatiable demon, eager to devour this man too.
"Rokushiki? The Rokushiki used by the Navy and Cipher Pol agents?"
Rocks's eyes narrowed. The admiration in his gaze instantly turned into intense killing intent.
The World Government had hunted the Davy Clan for eight hundred years, reducing them to fugitives scurrying from place to place.
Only by hiding their names had one branch managed to survive.
Cipher Pol agents were the most vicious hounds used to hunt the Davy Clan.
Rocks's resentment and hatred for them far surpassed what he felt toward the Navy, who at least still maintained the appearance of justice.
"Is Black Flag Black a Cipher Pol agent working for the World Government?"
Newgate tightened his grip on Murakumogiri and looked down through narrowed eyes, radiating killing intent, as if Guan Yunchang himself had taken possession of him.