Chibaku Tensei!

"Linlin, aren't we your new partners and your new family?"

Houka decisively reinforced their bond, hoping to replace the hypocritical affection of that human trafficker, Mother Carmel.

Only if the feelings and ties between Linlin and Carmel changed would it be possible for her to reverse-assimilate Carmel in the future.

Rather than being influenced and replaced by Mother Carmel.

Of course, Houka admitted that he was no better than Carmel; neither of them were good people.

"That's great, Houka! You've gone from being my good friend to my new family!"

Charlotte Linlin beamed at Houka, her longing for Mother Carmel momentarily replaced by the joy of having a new family.

Newgate stood to the side, listening to how Houka had slowly "conned" Charlotte Linlin.

Still, new partners and a new family—that was truly something to yearn for.

Houka, your mind runs so deep; I hope to become real family with you.

Newgate knew that Houka's feelings weren't entirely pure, but he still held a sliver of expectation.

At the very least, Houka was much better than those bastards Rocks, Shiki, and Xiong.

The three of them quickly slaughtered their way to a bar on Elysium Island.

Newgate led the charge with a punch, a violent shockwave reducing the entire bar to ruins.

Just as the pirates and CP0 agents inside were thrown into a panic, an Anti-Gravity Field blanketed the entire area.

All the debris and people were forcibly lifted into the air, leaving them completely exposed to the trio's sight.

"Wahahaha! Houka and Newgate's teamwork is truly not bad."

On the other side, occupying the Ochoku Pirates' base, Rocks saw the debris and earth blotting out the sky and burst into laughter.

The scene was indeed a bit exaggerated!

"I see them!"

"Heavenly Fire!"

Charlotte Linlin spotted the two CP agents wearing masks and white suits and unleashed a direct flame shockwave.

"Damn it! We've been exposed!"

"The plan has failed! Ochoku is dead! Black is dead!"

The two CP0 agents were in utter chaos; they quickly broke free from Houka's Gravity Ability and frantically fled using Geppo.

But under Charlotte Linlin's lightning-fire attacks and Newgate's shockwaves, they were forced back.

"Ten-Direction Gravity: Planetary Devastation!!"

Houka pressed his palms together, unleashing gravity from every direction, crushing the two CP0 agents, a large group of pirates, and countless debris into a massive stone sphere.

"Jiehahaha! Houka's Gravity Ability is even cooler than my Float-Float Fruit Ability!"

"I'll have a go at it too!"

"Earth Control: Lion's Might!!"

Golden Lion Shiki flew down to the ground and slammed his hands onto it, his Float-Float Fruit Ability surging wildly. Countless mounds of earth rose up, transforming into two giant lions that trampled toward the pirates!

"Monsters! They're all monsters!!"

The pirates on Elysium Island were scared out of their wits by the power Houka and Shiki wielded to control everything.

"So it can also be used as a seal!"

Seeing Houka use gravity to seal and suppress those pirates, Golden Lion Shiki decided to follow his lead, imitating Houka to develop his own techniques.

His earth lions swept across the land, sealing a large group of pirates into the mud and stone, turning them into a giant pillar.

Embedded within it were the screaming pirates.

"Bastards!!"

Silver Axe Xiong watched the giant sphere in the sky and the massive stone pillar, his eyes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.

Houka and Shiki were stealing all the spotlight!

He wanted a powerful Devil Fruit ability more and more!

"Too terrifying! The Great Demon Lord Houka and Golden Lion Shiki are too terrifying!"

"Is this the power of the Rocks Pirates' strongest executives?!"

"Is that a meteorite?!"

Countless pirates were terrified to the point of collapse; even the pirate crews that had already escaped to the sea looked back in shock at the floating meteorite and the towering pillar on the island.

What a staggering sight!

If it weren't for the fact that Rocks only recruited the strong, they would have all wanted to join the Rocks Pirates.

He wondered when the Rocks Pirates would start recruiting affiliate pirate crews.

As long as Rocks gave the word, they would rush over to become his underlings immediately!

At this moment, Houka and his two companions nimbly moved to deal with the two CP0 agents.

With the assistance of Newgate and Linlin, Houka successfully devoured these two formidable CP0 elite agents.

"Truly a power that makes one succumb!"

Feeling the endless surge of power once more, Houka did not spare the Ochoku Pirates or the other affiliate crews of Ochoku, taking the opportunity to accumulate a wave of blood abilities.

He had to prepare sufficient power to create his next blood servant.

In any case, it was better to be prepared!

At this point, Houka was indeed becoming more and more like a vampiric demon.

At the call of Rocks, the Chibaku Tensei meteorite created by Houka was hurled onto the base of the Ochoku Pirates, becoming a new landmark.

It looked somewhat similar to the giant skull castle on Hachinosu.

Combined with the stone pillars left behind by Shiki, a new attraction shaped like the number 10 appeared on Elysium Island.

"Boom! Boom!"

With two slashes of his Cannonball Sword Technique, Rocks blasted a pair of "eyes" into Houka's Chibaku Tensei, and a giant flag of Rocks was planted on the dome.

The entire crew of the Rocks Pirates ascended into these eyes, overlooking the entirety of Elysium Island.

"Wahahahaha! Let this island be our first base of operations!"

"What Pirate Patriarch! They are all trash!"

Rocks spread his arms wide, as if embracing the entire world.

"Jehahahaha! This sphere shape looks ugly! Watch my artistic transformation!"

Golden Lion Shiki activated his Float-Float Fruit ability, once again modifying Houka's Chibaku Tensei, turning it into a skull.

It had to be said that Golden Lion Shiki's Float-Float Fruit ability had more functionality than the Island-Island Fruit ability.

"Hey, Rocks, what's the use of this territory? Let's finish up in the West Blue and head to the North Blue!"

Silver Axe Xiong was currently uninterested in territory; he only wanted to find a powerful Devil Fruit ability as quickly as possible.

"Wahahaha! Only with territory will a steady stream of strong men come to pledge their loyalty!"

"Houka, what do you think?"

Rocks laughed heartily. After taking down the Pirate Patriarch Ochoku today, the Rocks Pirates would surely become famous.

Perhaps the Rocks Pirates could begin their path of hegemony by recruiting affiliate pirate crews.

Of course, not just any stray cat or dog could become an affiliate of the Rocks Pirates!

Only the truly strong could become a part of the Rocks Pirates!

Only the strongest among the strong could join the Rocks Pirates and become true top-tier officers.

"I'm not Yuanfang, so what else could I think? I'm just standing here watching."

"You're the captain; you decide these things yourself!"

Houka spread his hands. He needed to properly digest the gains from this haul: one Pirate Patriarch, three CP0 elites, and the blood of countless elite pirates.

This would be enough to allow Houka to complete a true transformation!

Awakening Haki was just around the corner!

"Then let's take advantage of this fame to stay on Elysium Island for a month to recruit before heading to the West Blue!"

Ambition burned in Rocks' eyes; he wanted to see if any great pirates from the New World would take the initiative to pledge their loyalty.

If no one came, he would just go and conquer them one by one later!