Ever since falling out with Harald, the Giant King, Rocks had been steeped in gloom.
From Shiki's mouth, Dimon learned the gist: prodded by the World Government, Harald had been promised Elbaf's admission in exchange for Rocks' head. What was there to even say to that? Who'd believe a deal that ridiculous? Then again, from another angle—Harald probably wanted no more ties with an infamous pirate. That "friendship" had always been more Rocks recognizing Harald than the other way around.
Dimon didn't get involved. None of this was his business.
Time slid by. In a blink—two years.
Hive Island, a casino.
A figure sailed out the front door and cratered into the street, vomiting blood.
Passersby stared.
"Isn't that 'Blade Fiend' Manos who just landed here a few days ago?"
"Captain of the Sabre Pirates—210 million bounty, Quick-Slash Fruit user."
"Gone a few days and he's already getting worked?"
Snickers piled on; a crowd formed. Fights were nothing on Hive Island—you saw one every day. But watching a nine-digit bounty get face-planted? That was rarer.
"Ghk—damn it! What grudge do you even have with me!?"
Manos spat blood and glared at the casino doors.
A tall, clean-cut youth stepped out and stopped before him, eyes as calm as still water.
"Do I need a reason to hit you?"
Manos' face twisted—and then twisted again.
Gasps rippled around them.
"It's Lord Dimon!"
"He picked a fight on this island with a Rocks pirate? He's dead."
"Kyaa~~ Lord Dimon, over here! Over here—"
Dimon's gaze slid that way, then froze.
…Not a fangirl. A newkama. Great.
"You're the Rocks Pirates' brewmaster!?" Manos' pupils shrank. "I've been on my best behavior here—I never offended you!"
"You didn't. I just don't like your face."
Dimon lifted his right foot. Armament Haki coated his sole. He stomped.
BOOM—Manos' head sank into the paving stones. Lights out.
Dimon bent down, grabbed the man by the collar, and dragged him away at an unhurried pace.
Onlookers traded looks.
"He stiffed the house? He came out of a casino—maybe he owed!"
"Who knows. He's been doing this half a year now—Lord Dimon keeps flattening the new arrivals."
"Kyaa~ Lord Dimon is so cool!"
"Shut it, newkama. I'll kill you."
Dragging Manos along, Dimon took him to the basement where he'd first summoned the demon.
Like second nature, he drew out an Immortality Syringe and pushed the scarlet liquor into Manos' vein. Then he palmed the man's forehead and whispered:
Devour.
Manos' body warped and powdered away to nothing.
Dimon closed his eyes and quietly digested the fresh strength.
"…The gains are getting smaller."
Over the last two years, he'd kept to a one-per-month pace—more than twenty pirates with bounties over 100 million, each with both Observation and Armament Haki.
Now, his Observation and Armament stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kaido's.
Further boosts from common prey had lost their edge.
As for Conqueror's…
Even on Hive Island, true kings were few. In two years Dimon hadn't chanced upon a single Conqueror. He could devour Kaido, sure—but they were friends now. He wasn't about to do that to a buddy.
He checked his balance.
[Demon Points]: 200
"Back down to two hundred… Devil Fruits aren't exactly easy to find. Time to consider other avenues."
The past two years, several Rocks members had each sourced a fruit to trade for a cup. Thanks to them, Dimon kept his monthly diet going. Now, everyone in that circle had drunk immortal; nobody was out fruit-hunting anymore.
As for the Roger Pirates—they hadn't set foot on Hive Island in two years. Last he'd seen in the papers was last year: they landed Mercury Fairy Island, causing a stir.
"Whatever. I've got forever. A little leisure won't kill me. Let's go have a drink at Shakky's."
Mood reset, Dimon left the basement and headed for Shakky's bar.
The streets of Hive Island were old hat by now—two years living here will do that—and he was honestly a little bored. Rocks would sometimes sail off to plunder. Dimon rarely bothered to join.
"Dimon!" Kaido's voice came from behind.
Dimon turned. "What's up? I was just going for a drink. Coming?"
"I was looking for you—big news. Move! Rocks is mustering the crew for God Valley!"
Dimon blinked. Sea Circle Calendar 1484. So the God Valley Incident was finally here?
"What happened?"
"Don't know. Linlin told me. Just get to the meeting."
Together they headed for the Skull Grand Hotel. In the top-floor banquet hall, the Rocks Pirates had gathered to a one.
Rocks lounged in a soft single-sofa, glug-glug-glug from a bottle.
"Dimon. Kaido. About time," Stussy waved.
Kaido flopped into a seat. "We're all here—spill it."
Every eye swung to the captain.
Rocks grinned. "You'll like this one, Dimon."
He stood, both hands raised.
"Per our intel, the Celestial Dragons are gathering at God Valley to hold their triennial hunting games—and the prizes are six top-class Devil Fruits!"
Dimon's brow lifted.
If memory served, among the six were the Azure Dragon Fruit and the Paw-Paw Fruit. The other four hadn't been publicly decoded before he crossed, but they'd be of similar caliber.
If he devoured one of those, how many Demon Points would it yield?
Didn't have to be devoured either; if one fit him, he wouldn't mind eating it.
Charlotte Linlin suddenly mused:
"I've always wondered. We're immortal now. Normally, if someone eats a second Devil Fruit, they explode and die. But we can't die. If we ate a second fruit… what would happen?"
Lightning struck the room. Everyone turned to Dimon.
Dimon blanked a beat. The classic lamplight-blind moment—he'd never actually considered it.
"Well? Can we?" Linlin's eyes shone. "I've already got the Soul-Soul Fruit. If I can eat a second—!"
"Honestly? I don't know." Dimon spread his hands. "You could try. If you die, don't blame me."
John's smile turned sly. "Then snatch someone, make a test subject try it."
They were all immortal; who wanted to gamble their own life?
Shiki crossed a leg, thinking it through. "Cost's steep. First you make 'em immortal, then feed them two fruits in a row."
One cup of Immortality Brew ≈ one fruit; that's three fruits total for a single experiment.
Rocks barked a laugh and clenched his fist.
"We'll shelve that for later. Brats—set sail! Next stop: God Valley!"
"This time, Dimon—you're coming too, right?"
Dimon knew God Valley was the fuse that blew the Rocks Pirates apart. But with everyone now ageless and deathless, the outcome… might not be the same.
Not long after, at the port—
The Rocks Pirates shipped out to a man, boarding the Xebec's Blade and cutting for God Valley.
"By the way—where is God Valley?" Wang Zhi asked on deck, already tipsy.
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