Assessment Ends

Before eating it, Jabra had only barely been able to hold his own against the white wolf... It had been a gamble with his life.

But after eating it... he immediately gained strength comparable to the white wolf's. As time passed, he even gradually gained the upper hand.

One had to know that the white wolf was a Level 4 beast... a beast with around 00 Doriki.

"If he fully masters the Fruit's power..."

Reg's gaze was complicated... Jabra had originally wanted to give him the Fruit to repay the debt of saving his life.

That was also why Reg had been willing to help him... Though he regretted it a little now, he felt even more joy.

This was the power of a Devil Fruit... Simply eating one could grant such immense strength.

It was foreseeable that even if Jabra barely trained in the future... as long as he mastered the Fruit, surpassing 400 Doriki would be effortless. Even 500 or 1,000 wasn't impossible.

And this was only a Zoan. What if it were a Logia...? Reg withdrew his gaze and looked up at the darkening sky: as long as he got the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he would rule the skies! After all, he was a science student!!

Awooo...!

A mournful howl rose, and the white wolf tucked its tail between its legs... fleeing swiftly through the corner of Reg's eye.

Awooo!!

A full moon rose into the sky. Jabra threw back his head and howled joyfully, his voice brimming with delight.

His wounds had already stopped bleeding on their own... this was the powerful vitality brought by a Zoan Fruit.

"After a meal... the wounds will probably heal."

Reg blinked... This healing ability was nearly on par with the Straw Hat Pirates.

Awooo!

Jabra howled again, and confusion appeared in the surrounding wolves' eyes... Their new leader wasn't taking them in?!

Awooo!!

Awooo!

The wolf pack wailed as it fled in the direction the white wolf had gone... They had better go find Boss White.

"You can speak wolf?"

Reg looked at Jabra, who had returned to human form, then pulled out a change of clothes from his backpack and tossed it over.

"No... but wolves are smart. I gave them a little threat."

Jabra shrugged and hurriedly put on the clothes... This was already the second set of Reg's clothes he had worn.

Fortunately, their builds were not too different, so they fit well enough.

"Haha... From now on, you'll have to be my bodyguard. I want to test my limits." Reg laughed happily.

"Awo... cough, cough. Better let me get familiar with the Fruit's abilities first." Jabra quickly corrected himself, having gotten used to howling.

"True... Then I'll practice with you."

"Thank you, Big Brother Reg!"

Thud... Jabra suddenly dropped to his knees in an exceptionally solemn bow.

Reg froze for a second, then recovered from his stunned disbelief. "Alright, alright... Just be friends. If the instructors find out, they'll scold us to death."

"No... Big Brother, please guide me from now on!"

Jabra pressed his forehead tightly to the ground... Reg had not only saved him and helped bandage him, but had even given him such a precious Fruit. A person like this was simply too great, too moving!

"Have it your way. Get up... The wolf pack will definitely come back for their companions' bodies later."

"Yes, Big Brother!"

Jabra sprang to his feet and returned Reg's dagger... He no longer needed weapons.

His wolf claws after transforming were the finest weapons!

"Let's eat first..."

"What does Big Brother want to eat?"

"Wild boar meat..."

Reg drooled... The wild boar meat here was far more delicious than anything from his previous life.

Even with nothing but a little salt, it was juicy and flavorful, tender and springy in every bite, leaving an endless aftertaste.

Colin and Henry watched the two leave, exchanging looks... This development was unexpected, yet perfectly reasonable.

"That kid isn't simple..."

"Tch, that's real friendship."

Colin casually refuted his companion... At this point, the two would basically face no major danger over the next 0-plus days.

As long as they did not go looking for death, passing this wilderness survival test was only a matter of time.

"Look... I'm incredibly interested in that kid now."

"Sure, sure..."

Colin smiled and nodded... Reg had risen from "ghost" to "kid," which showed just how interesting he was.

Rustle, rustle... Soft footsteps sounded as the pre-dawn wind swayed and shouted its slogans, seeing the wandering prodigals off on their return.

Dawn quietly split the horizon... The first ray of morning light pierced through the clouds.

Like sunlight breaking through the night... Two figures, one after the other, stepped out of the darkness and into the light.

Reg, walking in front, was bare-chested, his torso covered in scars. He held his head high and his chest proud... Over the past ten-odd days, he had deliberately courted death several times.

If Jabra had not been there to protect him, some wild beast might have already dragged him away... But there were no "ifs" in this world, only reality.

He had walked out alive, more than twice as strong as he had been ten days ago... Not in terms of Doriki, but in his entire mindset and spirit.

"Good morning, Instructor Colin!"

"Good morning, Instructor Henry!"

The two saluted at the same time, filled with gratitude... Whatever their reasons, it was wonderful that these two had not tried to take that fruit.

"You two did well," Henry praised.

"Let's go... We were only waiting for you two." Colin smiled warmly.

"Okay!"

They answered in unison... Then turned to look at the primeval forest behind them.

Reg's eyes shone brightly... For actual combat, there was no place better than that forest.

Jabra felt the same way... In the forest, he could feel himself improving every moment.

If he had not clearly understood the gap between himself and the instructors, he would have been unable to resist asking them for guidance.

But that was only for now... In a few years, he was confident that he would become strong.

"Let's go."

"Mm, Reg."

After Reg's persuasion, Jabra had finally changed the way he addressed him... Openly forming factions within a World Government agency was not a good sign.

Even though such things were common, they were done in secret, not out in the open.

Years from now...

Reg rubbed his brow as he followed Colin... Since he had taken Jabra in as his little brother, he could not lead him to his death.

After all, Jabra was utterly loyal to him... But Reg would not change his plans because of that.

Especially after seeing Jabra's transformation over the past ten-odd days, Reg became even more determined to obtain the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Forget it... I'll ask him personally when the time comes.

Reg had no intention of using a debt of gratitude to force Jabra to leave with him... That sort of unwillingness would eventually be worn away.

Before leaving, Reg would seriously ask what Jabra himself wanted... After all, leaving without obeying orders would be regarded as betrayal.

The World Government's pursuit was no joke... They probably would not issue a bounty poster, since this was an internal CP matter rather than a Navy matter.

But if he did anything too outrageous in the future, there would still be a wanted poster.