In his excitement, he hadn't noticed the surroundings—he only wanted to rush in and seize the Devil Fruit. Thanks to Creed's reminder, he finally spotted, at the very top of the cavern, a cluster of black shapes. With Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) locked on, he sensed that faint yet vast aura.
"What is this? Bats? Such enormous bats?!"
Redfield was stunned.
The black mass above stirred. A colossal bat, surrounded by a mist of blood-red cloud, dove down, whipping up gusts sharp enough to sting the skin.
The moment the bats moved, a strange ripple spread through the cavern, making ears buzz and heads throb—it even seemed to shake one's thoughts. Both Creed and Redfield felt a wave of confusion.
"An ultrasonic attack?!"
Redfield couldn't help blurting out.
Creed and he both possessed SSS+-grade Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki); their minds were ironclad. Yet even they were affected by this giant bat. Its power was anything but simple.
Just as Creed was about to strike, the Yingying Dragon perched on his shoulder suddenly took flight.
"Ying-ying-ying!"
Its meaning was obvious: let me fight it!
You're already airborne and still asking permission? Seeing how eager Falkor was, Creed nodded his approval. Falkor's strength grew by the day—earlier today he'd flattened six SSS-tier powerhouses with ease—so Creed had nothing to worry about and let him have his fun.
The instant Creed nodded, Falkor shot out like a bolt of lightning.
At the same time, he answered the bat's ultrasonic assault with Ryugin (Dragon Roar)!
"Ang!"
The dragon's roar rolled out, lofty and sovereign!
"Ang!"
The roar surged, supreme and overwhelming!
It not only shattered the ultrasonic wave into tatters, but also shook fragments from the surrounding cave walls—stone sloughed off with a "shuo-shuo" rustle as dust boiled up, forcing Creed and Redfield to dodge aside.
"Your little wyvern is terrifying."
Redfield still felt a lingering chill.
Having already witnessed the Yingying Dragon's might, he judged it even more fearsome than the giant bat.
"It's alright,"
Creed said, a touch pleased.
Falkor now possessed SSS+-grade strength, and judging by his looks, he was still in his juvenile stage—clearly with room to grow.
In the future, reaching SSSS-grade didn't seem like a fantasy at all!
Owning an SSSS-grade companion, Creed suddenly felt invincible.
Down the line, if they needed to fight a Yonko, he and Falkor could go together, and with Redfield restored to his peak… wouldn't they just steamroll through?
Zzzla—crackle!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
"Ho-ho-ho!"
Falkor and the giant bat clashed, a battle fierce enough to collapse the cavern bursting forth—only for Creed and Redfield to fall speechless a minute later:
The fight was already over. Falkor had crushed the giant bat.
They watched Falkor sit astride the bat's head, tugging its two golden ears as if steering it, happily directing it to circle the cavern—pure playtime. Creed and Redfield were both left at a loss for words.
The poor bat's eyes were both swollen shut.
"Those moves… did you teach him?"
Redfield, forgetting the Devil Fruit for the moment, asked Creed in amazement.
Just now, while pummeling the bat, Falkor had used Creed's techniques—things like Banrai (Ten Thousand Thunders), Sho Raigo (Small Thunder Welcome), and the eye-swelling finisher Meiken Kai: Raidragon (Underworld Hound Revision: Thunder Dragon)…
Punches and kicks flew—he was like a nimble little martial imp!
Creed bared his teeth: "Nope. I've never taught him a single move."
Redfield grew even more depressed. "His talent might surpass most humans!"
If Falkor could learn Creed's thunder-control techniques after watching once or twice, and wield them so effortlessly, then "monster-among-monsters" wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Only now did Creed realize Falkor's origins might be even more terrifying than he'd imagined.
"What is this little guy's background? Why was he petrified and sealed in the Sky Island's royal treasury?"
Creed was truly curious. If he had the chance, he would definitely uncover the Yingying Dragon's past.
"Count, hurry and eat that Devil Fruit."
Creed set aside thoughts of Falkor and urged Redfield.
"Oi."
Redfield sprang up, bit into the Devil Fruit, and gained its power.
"Crackle! Kacha!"
With just one bite, countless fine pops sounded through his body as his frame swelled a size. The gauntness vanished—he looked far more robust.
His previously sunken cheeks filled out, making him seem much younger.
"What incredible power."
Redfield stared at his hands in awe, feeling the ferocity surging within.
"This is only the beginning. Let's head out first,"
Creed said. Outside, Kozuki Hansui was still alive; Redfield could use him to regain his youth.
After eating the Koumori Koumori no Mi (Bat Fruit), Redfield also grasped some of its abilities. When Creed brought Kozuki Hansui before him, he already knew what to do next.
After draining Kozuki Hansui's blood, the pallor that had plagued Redfield for so long faded, replaced by a trace of healthy color.
However, he didn't become markedly younger. His hair still showed plenty of white—he seemed only seven or eight years younger. Creed found that odd; it didn't match what he'd heard.
Creed then examined Redfield's condition with the Ope Ope no Mi (Operation Fruit).
"Mm. Your organs are fully restored to health—your vitality is just a bit lacking,"
Creed told him.
"If I had one more expert like him, I could completely regain my youth."
Redfield pointed at the now white-haired, aged Kozuki Hansui.
"Got it."
Creed nodded, understanding what was going on: he had already crippled Kozuki Hansui to a large extent, leaving little strength in the man's body.
"Still, this is pretty good. I've recovered roughly eighty percent of my power—I can help you now, Captain,"
Redfield said contentedly, not daring to hope for more.
"No, that won't do. We may be walking into battle after battle—you need to return to your absolute peak to back me up. We're setting off now, to a place where you'll recover completely,"
Creed said, shaking his head.
"Ahhh!! You're demons!"
"God will punish devils like you!"
Kozuki Hansui woke with a start. Seeing his withered, vigor-less body, he broke down, screaming and cursing.
"Go back and tell the Celestial Dragons this: I, Creed, will visit Mary Geoise again. Next time, they won't be so lucky!"
Creed didn't kill him. He meant for Hansui to crawl back and deliver the message to the Celestial Dragons.
"Lord Imu and the Five Elders will avenge me!"
Kozuki Hansui howled.
"Is that so?"
Creed pressed a hand to his forehead and knocked him out.
Under the gentle moonlight, the small warship sped away from Old Sleep Town.
On deck, Creed looked back at the receding island and noticed the thick, blood-red clouds shrouding its sky had vanished. Silver moonlight now bathed the land like a veil—quietly beautiful.
"So the dark clouds and heavy miasma really were caused by a Devil Fruit ability,"
Creed mused.
"Captain, where are we going next?"
Redfield asked.
"Dressrosa—time to settle some accounts."
(End of Chapter)
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