Eat, I'll Eat Anything!

Shane swung his dragon tail, instantly whipping it sideways in a backhand strike.

The ferocious speed left Kaido, a fellow Mythical Zoan user, dumbfounded.

He had never expected Shane to master his Devil Fruit so quickly.

"Is the Black Dragon Form really more advanced than the Azure Dragon Form?"

Kaido could not help complaining.

"A Devil Fruit depends entirely on how the individual develops it! Zoans are no different!"

"Don't let someone with an innately exceptional affinity for his Devil Fruit fool you."

"By the same token, if Shane achieves Devil Fruit Awakening, the devil's will he faces will be even fiercer!"

Linlin understood this better than anyone.

Many Devil Fruit Users had no hope of achieving Devil Fruit Awakening in their entire lives.

They not only had to align with the devil's will, but also break through its limits.

Many failed to awaken even after reaching this stage.

They ultimately became walking corpses, like bodies driven by their fruits.

Others successfully awakened, but were no longer themselves, their temperaments unchanged.

Some became more furious, more deranged, while others became prone to mood swings or grew colder.

Some believed powerful Devil Fruits would seek out hosts chosen by fate on their own.

Linlin did not believe such ridiculous rumors.

But even for her, an Iron Balloon,

her personality had been completely different in childhood, at her peak, and in old age!

Whether it was because of the nun, Devil Fruit Awakening, or simply the inevitable course of her life,

no one knew.

Every wave on the sea could change someone's entire life.

Perhaps it would stir up the waves and carry them toward another sea, giving them a chance to survive.

Perhaps it would drag them into a whirlpool, leaving them dead or wounded.

Shane was still some distance from Devil Fruit Awakening, and had not even developed his Black Dragon Form to a high degree.

However,

Linlin and Stussy, both ambitious themselves, had their own plans.

"Linlin! Sooner or later, that brat Shane will become a monster as big as you and Kaido!"

"Haven't you always wanted to build Totto Land, where all races join hands? A magnificently flourishing Sheep's House?"

"Shane would be a good choice!"

That was what Stussy said, but deep down, she could hardly wait to tie Shane up.

Find somewhere to set up a laboratory.

Then use Shane to conduct every experiment involving human bloodlines and Devil Fruits!

"If Zephyr goes all out, can Wang Zhi match him?"

Kaido rode the thundercloud, not counting Shane at all.

As Kaido understood it, they had both only just eaten Mythical Zoan fruits, and he possessed stronger Three Types of Haki.

Shane had only awakened Armament Haki, and his Rokushiki was somewhat inferior too.

Never mind fighting Zephyr; among the Rocks Pirates' crew, he ranked below even Apprentice Crew Member Kaido.

Therefore,

after fighting Zephyr head-on, Kaido had only one thought.

Who in the Rocks Pirates could face him directly?

"Wang Zhi? You think too highly of that guy! It would take at least me stepping in personally!"

Linlin still had a clear sense of where they stood.

The Rocks Pirates' three chief deputies were Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Linlin.

Only below them came Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, and John.

Kaido, Flame Flower, and Stussy certainly ranked even lower.

Of course,

that was Kaido before he ate his Devil Fruit!

Now, a whole new question mark hung over that ranking.

As for Shane,

what a joke!

Being able to use Haki and wielding it with ease were two entirely different things.

Previously, Saint Saturn alone had been able to handle Shane and Kaido even while gravely injured.

Wasn't that because his fruit was more fully developed, and his Haki stronger?

Even an elephant in its twilight years was no match for a wildcat to challenge!

"Potential is enough. Don't waste time! Just take that brat Shane with us!"

Linlin gave the order.

Zeus, the Homie, immediately accelerated.

The scattered clouds left a tail behind them.

Meanwhile, Shane and Zephyr's battle had reached a critical moment.

At the edge of the beach,

Zephyr's entire body was like steel.

By comparison,

Shane's fists were like pieces of wood.

They were certainly much stronger than cotton.

But no matter how sharply wood was whittled, how could it pierce a steel plate?

Zephyr truly deserved to be the man who would become a Marine Headquarters Admiral two years later, when the seas were at their most chaotic!

His strength could not be underestimated!

The pressure he displayed now left even Shane feeling powerless.

Despite the boost from Sulong,

the longer it went on, the more intense the pain became after the drug wore off.

Zephyr, meanwhile, handled everything with ease!

It showed just how terrifying the pressure from a master of Haki and Rokushiki at his peak could be,

without old age or illness weighing him down.

"Fist Cross Blast!"

Zephyr flashed forward in a violent burst, leaving a ring of mist where he had stood.

A single punch slammed heavily into Shane's lower abdomen.

"Iron Body: Armament Heavy Armor!"

I can't dodge it!

He had originally planned to evade with Soru, or at worst use Kami-e to soften his body and avoid the attack.

He had not expected Zephyr's attack to be so fast.

Just as his eyes registered movement and his body tried to react instinctively,

the fist had already driven its full force squarely into his abdomen!

"Cough!"

Before Shane could even grit his teeth, another heavy punch struck him.

Zephyr's power was terrifying.

He was like a pulverizer that kept pounding away!

Each blow to the abdomen sent pain through all his internal organs!

It was a remarkably flawless application of Advanced Armament Haki.

The damage passed through his Dragon Scales and reached his internal organs!

No matter how tough Shane was, he had to take the loss.

"Boy! Are you repenting in pain? You must have killed plenty of innocent people as a pirate!"

Zephyr's right fist followed the moment his left landed.

As his hands alternated and his attack speed increased,

his Haki formed a thin film that struck across the gap.

Bang!

When the blow struck Shane, he felt his entire chest resonate.

It hurts too much!

Once the drug wore off, there was the overload caused by Sulong and the prolonged drain on his stamina.

After repeated serious injuries, even Life Return was useless.

The energy he had previously stored through food was exhausted too.

Shane spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered backward.

He clutched his stomach while keeping his mouth shut to stop white vapor from continually pouring out.

Shane's condition was like Luffy's balloon body in Gear Third; once he deflated, he might well be finished.

"Hey! Did you eat something you shouldn't have?"

"If I'm not mistaken, Stussy must be behind this."

"Her bounty was raised before for experimenting on a Marine lieutenant commander!"

Zephyr stamped hard on the ground.

Once again, he shot into the air like a cannonball.

"Black Arm Combo Attack: Z's Curve!"

This is bad!

Linlin sped up.

Zephyr's move unleashed rapid attacks, his entire body becoming a racing streak of purple lightning.

It traced a Z shape, delivering a relentless barrage!

A rookie like Shane could not possibly withstand it yet!

"Is that your signature move?"

"Looks like you really take me seriously."

"But with your personality and principles of justice, you'd never strike to kill."

"Zephyr! You're too indecisive!"

"You clearly possess overwhelming strength, yet you spare every opponent you defeat."

"There will always be people who escape those cages. Not everyone follows a pirate's code!"

Shane held both arms before him, hardening them with Armament Haki!

His body became like a solid steel plate, impregnable!

His hair grew once more, the white light mingling with purple lightning in a particularly unusual sight.

In his bright eyes lay the strongest defense of Shane's Hybrid Form.

"Dragon Armor! Bolo Breath Storm!"

Boom!

With the defensive form, his entire body entered the final stage before taking dragon form.

The moment his defense broke apart was also the moment to attack!

"Offense is the best defense!"

Shane had always believed this. Defending alone would only leave him on the back foot.

"You brat, you're far too presumptuous!"

"My principles of justice aren't so easily shaken!"

Zephyr met the flaming Bolo Breath with one fist while the other still struck toward Shane.

"Too late!"

Linlin felt some regret, but could only leave Shane to fend for himself.

"See! Wasn't I right? You can't kill me."

As Shane attacked with Bolo Breath, he used the direction of the flames to propel himself.

The black dragon retreated at tremendous speed, flying toward the sea beyond the beach.

Even Zephyr had not quite expected this sight.

Attacking, defending, and fleeing.

He had done all three at once!

What kind of Combination Technique was this?

Fortunately, Zephyr's Observation Haki responded in time.

He charged high into the sky at tremendous speed, pressing his advantage.

"You did well, brat!"

Kaido transformed into an azure dragon and took Shane onto his back.

"Whew..."

Shane had bought himself a moment.

White vapor continued spilling from his mouth.

"Zephyr! Your opponent is me!"

Linlin blocked Zephyr's fist with a slash of her blade.

Tsuru also seized the opportunity to rush over and join the fight!

"Damn it! That brat is too devious."

Zephyr hadn't expected Shane to actually use his head in battle.

The Rocks Pirates were all lunatics. It really wasn't easy for a normal person to emerge among them.

"Don't underestimate the rookie pirates. Rocks trained them."

Tsuru took off her gloves and stared at Stussy, who had just descended from the thundercloud.

"It hurts! It hurts so much!"

"Is there anything to eat? Anything will do!"

"Damn it, I feel like my whole body's on fire!"

Shane's entire body was burning, the pain and damage erupting from within, leaving him no escape!

Smoke rose from his whole body as though it were being scorched.

During this battle, he had gone from only being able to harden the backs of his fists with Armament Haki.

He had broken through to hardening his limbs, head, dragon tail, and abdomen with Armament Haki!

The price Shane paid was the excruciating pain of pushing himself beyond his limits!

"I still have something to eat. Want some?"

Stussy produced a bottle of pills from somewhere!

They all gave off a pitch-black sheen and looked abnormal at a glance.

"Don't die here! You can eat those food Homies too!"

Linlin pointed at the trembling Homies, quite a few of which were cookies and pastries.

Shane gritted his teeth in pain, but his stomach was also growling with hunger.

"I'll eat! I'll eat anything!"

He was about to die. Why be picky about food!