Two months later.
In the first half of the Grand Line, in the waters near the Sabaody Archipelago.
Inside a cabin aboard the Rumba Pirates' ship, Sephiroth, dressed in a white lab coat, stood before a wooden table covered with bottles and jars.
He held two glass test tubes in his hands, one filled with yellow liquid and the other with green liquid.
Carefully, he tilted the test tube containing the green liquid and poured it into the one containing the yellow liquid. The color rapidly changed, turning blood-red.
"Hmm! In theory, there shouldn't be any problems with this ratio..."
As Sephiroth gently shook the test tube, he used his ability to create Black Bats, rapidly forming a Bat Clone and making it transform into its human-beast form.
He casually handed the test tube of red liquid to the Bat Clone and controlled it with his mind, making it drink the contents directly.
Boom!
Then, under Sephiroth's intrigued gaze, the Bat Clone's appearance and physique suddenly swelled by a full size. Its entire body became packed with sharply defined muscles, while blood-red clouds of smoke rapidly rose from its surface, condensing into a crimson ribbon that coiled around its arms.
"Is this the awakened state?
"Both strength and speed have improved tremendously, and my perception and control over blood have also greatly increased...
"It seems the Brook blood I processed with Lineage Factor technology has finally reached the desired state, completely suppressing the will contained within the Vampire Fruit...
"Next, my research direction will be replacing the ingredients without affecting the drug's efficacy!"
Sephiroth looked at the Bat Clone, which had perfectly mimicked his physical state, and a trace of delight appeared on his face.
However...
Before he could rejoice for more than a few seconds, the Bat Clone rapidly