"What now? March on the Flower Capital and cut down Kozuki Sukiyaki?"
Kaido dropped to a sit, gulping air to steady himself. His hand patted for the gourd at his waist—shattered sometime during the fight. He clicked his tongue, annoyed.
"Ever heard the saying: seizing a country is easy; holding it is hard?"
"Never read a book," Kaido grumbled. "I was raised to be a soldier. Just say the plan."
Dimon smiled. "I'm hopping back to Hachinosu to collect some hands. You watch our… guests."
He snapped his fingers.
A five-pointed magic circle bloomed at his feet.
Kaido's gaze sharpened. "You can do that too? Back on God Valley, the God Knights were porting around with a similar circle."
"Not quite the same, but close. Be right back."
Black mist surged up, swallowed Dimon, and dispersed—leaving the glowing pentagram on the ground.
Kaido studied it a moment and nodded to himself. "So that's how he returned to Hachinosu from God Valley in a blink…"
Two years with Dimon and the man only grew more… unfathomable. Given that 'immortality wine' of his, maybe he really was some ancient monster who'd lived since the Void Century.
Hachinosu — Everlife Bar
Black smoke poured from a sigil on the second-floor floorboards; Dimon stepped out of it, quiet as a shadow. He headed to a cabinet, retrieved the five top-tier Devil Fruits he'd snatched on God Valley, then went downstairs.
Empty. No customers.
Abel popped up the moment he saw Dimon. "Lord Dimon."
"Round up Olssea and the rest. Everyone, here."
Besides Abel, the only half-reliable fighters he had were the remnant Tide Song Kingdom royal guards.
Abel didn't ask why—just moved.
Dimon set the five fruits across the counter. One was unmistakable: the Paw-Paw Fruit (Nikyu Nikyu no Mi). The other four… unknown.
"Shame Rocks got bagged. I wanted his Devil Fruit codex."
He thought for a beat, then picked one up and whispered, "Devour."
[You devoured one Devil Fruit and gained +1000 Demon Points.]
As expected. God Valley prizes weren't normal. One top-tier fruit was ten trash-tier Zoans' worth of fuel.
He didn't hesitate—he devoured three more, leaving only the Paw-Paw Fruit on the wood.
[You devoured one Devil Fruit and gained +1000 Demon Points.]
[You devoured one Devil Fruit and gained +1000 Demon Points.]
[You devoured one Devil Fruit and gained +1000 Demon Points.]
[Demon Points]: 4200
The corner of his mouth curled. All that "hard work"… well, it hadn't even been that hard. He'd walked in and taken them.
"Second skill cost 1000… so Skill Three…"
Money's for spending. Points don't hatch if you sit on them.
Dimon lit it up without blinking.
[Demon Points]: 4200 → 2200
Skills updated:
• Demon Skill I: Brew Everlife Wine
• Demon Skill II: Demonic Form
• Demon Skill III: Parasite Fruit
• Demon Skill IV: Locked
• Demon Skill V: Locked
"Parasite Fruit? What's that…"
He opened the details—and paused.
[Parasite Fruit]
Forge a Devil Fruit. When another eats it, all they see and hear is under the Demon's gaze.
When the eater awakens the fruit, the Demon's seed of will activates and may transform the target into a Demon Thrall.
Demon Thralls obey the Demon.
Cost to forge: any Devil Fruit + 300 Demon Points + a fragment of the Demon's consciousness.
"So by 'Demon', you mean… me."
He looked to the last fruit—the Paw-Paw—thoughtful.
"Let's try it."
He held the fruit, triggered Parasite Fruit.
Something in his soul split—a hair-fine filament sank into the fruit. 300 points burned away as he re-etched its pattern.
The pink pads mottled faintly—inky specks dusted the surface. Blink and you'd miss them.
"That's it?"
He rolled it in his palm, considering the eater. Not himself—no point. The whole hook was to convert someone upon awakening.
"Abel? …Waste. He already follows me."
A face flashed in his mind.
"Kuma and the kids should still be on the island. In the original track, this fruit was his anyway. With a push, he might awaken…"
If he didn't, the parasitic change was permanent. Fruits reincarnate with the mark. If one host fails, the next can still be reeled in.
Dimon spread his Observation over the island—found them in seconds.
Hachinosu — South Shore dump
A mountain of trash. Ginny and the children picked through it for anything edible. A few crusts of bread… that was it.
"I can't stand it—let's just steal something!" Ivankov groaned.
"No!" Ginny shook her head. "This is Pirate Island—if they catch us stealing, we're dead!"
"What about that bar?" Ivankov brightened. "That Dimon guy seemed decent—and he kept his word."
"He's dangerous…" Ginny whispered, uneasy.
A chuckle drifted in. "How am I dangerous, little lady?"
Ginny stiffened and whirled—Dimon stood there. She clapped both hands over her mouth. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to speak ill behind your back!"
"It's fine. Here—use this."
He tossed her a bundle: one million belli. Then he looked to the quiet, big-boned boy.
"And I did snatch your fruit earlier. Returning it now."
The Paw-Paw Fruit arced toward Kuma. He caught it, stunned.
Ivankov's eyes nearly popped. "You're really giving it back? That's the Paw-Paw Fruit, heehah!"
"If you don't want it, I'll give it to someone else."
"Uuu—Lord Dimon, please make me your little brother!" Ivankov collapsed against Dimon's leg, sobbing.
Dimon's eye twitched. "Don't wipe your snot on my pants."
"S-sorry, big bro!"
Ignoring him, Dimon faced Kuma.
"This island eats kids who lack a patron. That fruit will help you live."
He turned and left.
Ivankov beat his chest in melodramatic despair. "He rejected me…"
Ginny stared, dazed. "So… he's a good person?"
She blinked at Kuma. "Kuma, eat it! When you're strong, repay Lord Dimon!"
Life saved, a Devil Fruit gifted—"Lord" rolled off her tongue naturally now.
Kuma nodded once. "Okay."
Wano — Kuri
Black mist rose from the pentagram. Kaido looked over as the smoke parted and a small troupe stood beside Dimon.
"Back already? That trick is damn convenient."
"Just cleared some personal business." Dimon tipped his chin at the sprawled figures nearby. "Abel—tie up the unconscious ones."
Abel moved at once.
Dimon turned the wrapped Paw-Paw Fruit over in his hand, lips quirking.
[Demon Points]: 2200
Parasite Fruit: seed planted.
Target:Bartholomew Kuma — Awakening status: pending.
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