"Luo Wen, what do you need so much fruit for?"
Magellan asked curiously.
"Used to collect Devil Fruit."
Luo Wen said casually.
There's nothing to hide. He's already invincible; there's no need for him to be secretive.
Even releasing such information can deter some people and attract others.
"I see, I understand now."
Magellan nodded knowingly.
After Devil Fruit user dies, their power may attach to nearby fruit.
This is a secret, but it's not a secret to him.
After all, his Venom-Venom Fruit was Impel Down died, Devil Fruit Ability accidentally attached itself to the fruit on his plate.
Such incidents have occurred several times in Impel Down as well.
This is also one of the reasons why the World Government concentrates prisoners in Impel Down instead of executing them.
The primary reason, of course, is to slow down the regeneration of Devil Fruit, so as to prevent turmoil in the world.
As for collecting Devil Fruit, that was just a side effect, since the success rate wasn't high.
Even if all the prisoners are killed, and two or three manage to attach themselves to the prepared fruit, that would still be considered a success.
"Um?"
Luo Wen glanced at Magellan with surprise.
Do you know?
Did you know that Blackbeard can strip other people of their Devil Fruit?
Ignoring what Magellan knew, Luo Wen pointed at the fruit and said to Blackbeard, "Very well, Blackbeard, you can press the '5,000 people draw' button once."
"Yes, Luo Wen."
Under the constraints of the Command Spell, Blackbeard had no choice but to agree.
But in his heart, he was screaming "No!"
He was going to extract every last drop of strength from five thousand people at once.
Every last drop, every single bit, must be squeezed dry.
The whole process was comparable to being skinned alive and having tendons pulled out; the pain was unbearable to even think about.
After he's done, he's just an empty corpse.
He would never have agreed to such a cruel death, even if his will still allowed.
Unfortunately, under Luo Wen's control, he had no choice but to obey.
"Dark Hole!"
Blackbeard planted his hands on the ground.
A torrent of dark power poured onto the ground, spreading continuously outwards.
This attack was far more powerful than the previous siege of Luo Wen.
Because this is activated using all of his physical strength and life force, it can only be used once per life.
His strength and life force were being drained away bit by bit, plunging Blackbeard into endless agony.
The instinct for survival commands the body to stop moving, while the power of the Command Spell forces the body to continue.
Soon, darkness extended to its maximum extent, enveloping five thousand criminals.
The terrifying suction force tore at their bodies, and they, already stunned by Luo Wen, couldn't even put up a fight.
Soon, the bodies of five thousand criminals were torn apart by gravity, and they all died.
After the deaths of a few of the Devil Fruit users, their invisible Devil Fruit powers drifted out, each trying to escape and attach itself to a new fruit.
However, under the pull of the Dark-Dark Fruit, the invisible power of these Devil Fruit was drawn in and forced to merge into the corresponding fruits.
Immediately, twelve fruits underwent changes.
Their peels became wrinkled and developed strange patterns.
The twelve Devil Fruit were successfully extracted.
"The efficiency is quite good."
Luo Wen nodded slightly, quite satisfied.
Although it's impossible to tell what kind of Devil Fruit it is, it's probably quite ordinary. These five thousand people are criminals from the first level of Red Lotus Hell, and they don't possess any special abilities.
But it's alright, the best is yet to come.
"A full twelve Devil Fruit?"
Magellan was somewhat bewildered.
He didn't expect that the first five thousand people would produce twelve Devil Fruit.
After the user of Devil Fruit dies, it is possible for the fruit to attach itself to nearby fruit.
But the probability is too high; it's almost like all Devil Fruit are reborn as fruits.
If the probability is that high, then the World Government wouldn't be willing to support these criminals.
Something's not right!
Let me take another look.
Magellan looked at Blackbeard, his expression turning serious.
"Ugh~"
Meanwhile, Blackbeard, the great hero, was not having an easy time; his once-robust physique had shrunk to a mere stick.
He simultaneously used his ability to peel away the Devil Fruits on five thousand people. Even though only two of them were Devil Fruit users, the power he consumed was still enough for five thousand people.
On his deathbed, he was filled with regret.
If he had another chance, he would stay as far away from Luo Wen as possible.
He never wanted to see Luo Wen's face again, given his terrifying strength and cruel methods.
But this guy is really stupid!
If we keep him, he'll be an endless source of Devil Fruit.
Now, however, he was simply killed, and all he got were two Devil Fruits.
"It's better to die like this. At least that guy won't torture me anymore, and I won't provide him with any more benefits."
Blackbeard thought to himself, trying to comfort himself.
His death caused Luo Wen a huge financial loss and made Luo Wen feel heartbroken.
However...
"Resurrect, my tool."
Luo Wen reached out his hand toward Blackbeard's fading spirit.
Boundless magical power flowed from his palms, pouring fiercely into Blackbeard's spirit body.
The spirit, which was about to dissipate, stabilized and quickly recovered.
"Huh? I'm alive again?"
Blackbeard was somewhat bewildered as he felt the life force gradually filling him.
He had clearly exhausted his life force and was on the verge of death, but he was miraculously resurrected.
He could feel his body brimming with power again, as if the previous exertion had never happened.
Did Luo Wen realize his importance and go to great lengths to revive him?
This time, shouldn't we cherish him?
Blackbeard couldn't help but think the best of things.
"Absorb another five thousand people."
"Luo Wen gave the order calmly."
He didn't hesitate to use Blackbeard, a pure evil, without any remorse.
If it doesn't die, use it to the death; if it dies, revive it and use it again.
Blackbeard's optimism came to an abrupt end, replaced by boundless terror.
No one wants to experience the pain of having their life drained away a second time.
He wanted to refuse, but what came out was, "Yes, Luo Wen!"
Once again, Blackbeard used all his life force to unleash the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, extracting the Devil Fruit User from among the five thousand prisoners.
Two more fruits have turned into Devil Fruit, Blackbeard is once again experiencing a death replay.
Just as he realized he was about to be free, a tremendous power surged into his body, fully reviving him.
"Continue, five thousand men."
Luo Wen said coldly.
"Yes, Luo Wen."
Blackbeard agreed under the power of the Command Spell.
He screamed internally, wanting to reject this recurring torment, but he couldn't.
After twenty times, all 100,000+ criminals were killed by the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit.
The Devil Fruit User among them all contributed their Devil Fruit abilities.
Luo Wen harvested a total of 256 Devil Fruit.
Most of them are common Zoan -type Giraffe-Giraffe Fruit, but there are also some high-quality ones such as the Chop-Chop Fruit, the Copy-Copy Fruit, and the Bomb-Bomb Fruit.
As for the fruits of San Juan Wolf, Katarina Devon, and others, Luo Wen only accepted the fruit of San Juan Wolf and had no intention of transforming it into Heroic Spirit.
This 170-meter giant requires an enormous amount of magic power to transform into a Heroic Spirit, and needs to replenish its magic power frequently.
Transforming his value is far less than what was given; let's store his soul in Hall of Heroes and deal with it when there's a real need.
Catarina Devon, the Evil King, and others are all renowned pirates and considered strong figures on the seas. Directly transforming them into Heroic Spirit and allowing their Devil Fruit Ability to remain within them would be more effective.
Anyway, he now controls Blackbeard and can extract it at any time.
As for Blackbeard, still a spirit, his eyes were vacant, and he had completely lost his self-awareness.
He underwent more than twenty life-limit extractions, experiencing repeated and agonizing deaths.
The pain had already entered Blackbeard's consciousness, repeatedly ravaging it beyond recognition.
From a conscious perspective, he is already dead.
"Perhaps, we can start with autonomous mechs from here."
Luo Wen looked thoughtfully at the Blackbeard had lost his sense of self.
But that's something to consider later; there are other things to do right now.
We need to arrange these fruits properly, and then go to the Marine Headquarters to join in the fun.