In that very instant, his figure underwent a rapid transformation.
In the blink of an eye, he had successfully assumed the awe-inspiring form of a Dragon Human!
Along with this transformation, an unparalleled surge of immense power erupted within him like a raging torrent.
At this moment, Vergo was completely unable to mount any effective countermeasures.
With a thunderous "boom," he was sent flying backward as if struck by a devastating blow.
Vergo's velocity as he hurtled through the air was unimaginably fast, like a hypersonic missile cutting through the sky.
Everything in his path—whether towering trees or solid rocks—could not withstand the impact of this terrifying force, shattering and crumbling into debris.
Wherever he passed, it was utter devastation, with nothing able to slow his momentum even slightly.
Thus, Vergo soared uncontrollably until he landed a full five to six hundred meters away from his original position.
There, with tremendous force, he violently crashed into what seemed like an unremarkable small hill.
Amid another earth-shattering roar, the hill could not withstand the immense impact and directly collapsed, one of its sections crumbling entirely.
Countless fragments of stone and dust scattered in all directions, forming a dense cloud of smoke that blotted out the sky.
The unfortunate Vergo was deeply buried beneath this rubble.
In the past, such a fierce strike would have either killed him or left him severely wounded and forced to retreat.
But times had changed!
Now, as an ability User, even when gravely injured, his body could recover at an astonishing speed.
Moreover, his resistance to physical blows had become significantly stronger.
This formidable durability, terrifying endurance, rapid recovery, and tenacious vitality were undoubtedly the most prominent advantages of a Zoan Ability User.
A deafening "BOOM!" echoed incessantly, shaking the very air.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before the mountain that had already been battered beyond recognition began to show unusual movements.
First, massive fragments of the mountain were forcibly pushed aside as if by an invisible colossal force, followed by a figure slowly emerging from the ruins.
Vergo appeared utterly disheveled, his clothes torn to shreds, barely covering his body.
At the point of impact, a glaring mark was clearly visible... From a distance, it stood out like a congenital birthmark.
Moreover, a trace of fresh blood still lingered at the corner of his mouth, evidence that the previous blow had indeed inflicted significant injury.
"Kekekekeke..."
Amidst a sinister, eerie laugh, Lancelot's face twisted into a cruel smile.
Narrowing his eyes slightly, he spoke in a tone dripping with mockery and disdain.
"Well, I've played with you long enough. I've roughly gauged the true power you gained from eating the Fruit. So, let's bring this to an end!"
Before the words fully faded, Lancelot suddenly kicked off with both legs, unleashing a burst of immense power.
In an instant, he transformed into what seemed like a bolt of lightning, or perhaps a cutting-edge sixth-generation fighter jet, shooting forward at an astonishing speed.
The velocity was so extreme it almost gave the illusion of teleportation.
On the other side, Vergo only now snapped to awareness of the impending danger, but it was clearly too late.
Just as he regained his senses, Lancelot was already standing right in front of him.
Without hesitation, Lancelot swung his fist, carrying a momentum like a tidal wave, directly and fiercely toward Vergo's abdomen.
Crucially, his fist was enveloped in Ryuo.
"Damn!"
Feeling the terrifying force of the punch, Vergo's face turned as pale as paper.
At the critical moment, he dared not delay, urgently activating his most proficient defensive skill—"Tekkai, Busoshoku Haki!"
With a roar, Vergo's muscles tensed, and a metallic black sheen spread over his skin, making him appear as indestructible as forged steel.
Yet, even so, facing Lancelot's storm-like assault, Vergo's heart remained unsettled.
After all, Lancelot's speed was simply too fast—so fast that Vergo had no time to mount an effective counter or evade nimbly.
Merely managing a passive defense was already pushing him to his limits.
"CRACK..."
Unfortunately, strong as he was, he was still far from matching Lancelot.
With that single strike, Vergo was bent over double from the impact.
"GUSH..."
His mouth flew open wide, spewing a mouthful of blood.
Then, under Vergo's horrified gaze, Lancelot pinched his own cheek, producing a small ball.
Before Vergo could react, Lancelot shoved it directly into his mouth.
Forcing him to swallow it.
At that, Lancelot retracted his fist, stepped back a few paces and looked at Vergo with a hint of anticipation.
Vergo collapsed to his knees, that punch had truly been heavy.
For a moment, he couldn't move at all.
With great difficulty, Vergo lifted his head to look at Lancelot.
"What did you make me eat?"
He refused to believe that Lancelot would give him something useless.
It couldn't possibly be that Lancelot saw he was hungry and decided to feed him!
Just like the Devil Fruit he had been given before.
He truly couldn't understand what was going through this guy's mind.
But the next second, he felt something was wrong.
Then, he discovered his attitude towards Lancelot had changed, and finally he even felt that Lancelot was his most trusted, most beloved master.
Yes, master.
For a brief moment, his eyes showed doubt and confusion, but in the next instant, his expression completely changed.
The way he looked at Lancelot had completely transformed into the gaze one would give a respected master.
At this moment, his body regained mobility, and he didn't even care about his injuries.
He immediately stood up and approached Lancelot with a fawning expression.
"Master!"
"Kekekeke... it actually worked." Lancelot couldn't help but let out a strange laugh.
However, he glanced back at the distant Yamato, Sasaki, Ulti, and Page One, then straightened his face and ordered.
"Vergo, remember this well—whether people are around or not, you must never reveal that I am your master. In normal interactions, we'll maintain a standard superior-subordinate relationship."
Vergo was momentarily stunned, then immediately straightened his back.
"Yes, master. No... Lord Lancelot."
It had to be said, Vergo truly lived up to being someone who had infiltrated the Marines and risen to Vice Admiral—he adapted to his role incredibly fast!