"Captain!"
"Captain, you're back!"
"Captain! We heard Charlotte Linlin took you away…"
The crew surrounded him, speaking over one another in excitement.
Their captain was so handsome he scarcely seemed human. Then again, he truly was not human.
But none of them had imagined he would become the man beside Charlotte Linlin, whose bounty stood at 1.5 billion Berries.
Reno raised a hand with a grin, signaling for silence.
"Boys!"
His voice carried across the deck.
"Our original plan has changed slightly. Our destination is different now."
"We are heading to Hachinosu Island."
"We will see with our own eyes the man who claims he will become King of the World. Rocks D. Xebec."
"Cheer! A greater adventure awaits us!"
The deck erupted in deafening cheers.
Hachinosu Island.
Joining the Rocks Pirates.
It was the dream of countless pirates.
"Hold a feast!"
"Bring out our finest wine!"
Reno waved dramatically.
"Today, we celebrate again!"
Soon, lively music filled the air. The scent of roasted meat and fine liquor drifted across the deck.
Reno sat at the head of the table, an arm draped around a woman on each side. These were beauties he had rescued from a criminal syndicate.
He teased them playfully, drawing bursts of laughter.
He clinked glasses with his crew again and again, thoroughly enjoying the revelry.
By the time the feast reached its midpoint, the atmosphere had risen to a roaring peak.
Just as Reno lifted his glass to toast once more with his crew, a commanding shout erupted from the enormous pink ship not far away, instantly drowning out all music and laughter.
"Reno!"
With a single call, Charlotte Linlin silenced the revelry aboard his ship.
The noise on deck stopped at once. Even the sea breeze seemed to hold its breath.
Every pirate froze in place, cups suspended midair, smiles still lingering on their faces.
They turned in unison toward the massive pink pirate ship.
At the bow stood a towering figure bathed in sunlight. Simply standing there, she radiated a presence that made hearts race and instinctive fear take hold.
Though her appearance differed slightly from her bounty poster, there was no mistaking her.
Charlotte Linlin.
"It's Charlotte Linlin!"
"That aura… it's overwhelming!"
"As expected of a pirate worth 1.5 billion Berries!"
The crew swallowed nervously, sweat forming along their brows.
Reno, however, remained calm. He set down his glass, gently moved aside the dazed women at his side, and smiled.
It seems the transformation was a complete success.
He unfurled the black wings behind his back. Under the watchful eyes of his crew, he soared into the sky like a streak of crimson light and flew toward Linlin's ship.
He landed steadily on the deck, his pupils contracting slightly.
He had anticipated a change in her appearance, but not like this.
She still wore her polka-dot blouse and captain's coat. Yet her entire aura had transformed.
Her once cascading pink hair now gleamed with even greater luster, its tips fading into a faint silver-white shimmer as it danced in the sea breeze.
Hidden within her hair was a pair of golden fox ears, their tips dusted with soft white fur.
Her already striking face now carried an eerie, enchanting charm.
Her amber-brown eyes had narrowed into vertical pupils of molten gold. A subtle red shadow lined their edges, giving her a dangerous allure.
Most astonishing of all were the nine enormous, golden fox tails flowing behind her.
Each tail stretched over ten meters long. Their plush golden fur shimmered brilliantly beneath the sun. As they swayed gently, they left faint trails of golden light in the air.
"My Reno. You're back."
The moment she saw him, Charlotte Linlin smiled, revealing two sharp canine fangs.
In the next instant, one of the massive tails moved without warning.
Reno's vision blurred. His waist was suddenly wrapped in something soft yet irresistibly powerful.
"Ah!"
The tail lifted him effortlessly into the air and brought him before her.
Linlin reached out, gathered him in her arms again, and affectionately rubbed her cheek against his chest.
"My Reno! Your racial gift will shake the entire sea!"
"Of course, my Linlin. How do you feel?" Reno asked with a grin, gently stroking one of her new fox ears.
"How do I feel? I feel like I might explode!"
She cupped his face, her vertical pupils shining brightly.
"I can fly now without relying on Zeus!"
She set him down and immediately demonstrated.
Her feet lifted from the deck as she floated midair. Her nine tails flapped like wings, carrying her in a graceful arc above the ship.
When she landed, a cloud of purple smoke rose around her. As it cleared, she had transformed.
Into Reno.
"With a single touch, I can become anyone. As long as they're weaker than me, I can replicate all of their strength."
She glanced down at herself in Reno's form and clicked her tongue.
"My Reno, your body is still too weak."
With that, she reverted to her Nine-Tailed Fox form.
"And I can feel it clearly. My strength has increased by at least thirty percent."
Thirty percent.
Reno felt a jolt of shock.
Linlin had already been at the level of an Emperor's First Mate. A thirty percent increase might very well place her at true Emperor-level combat power.
A thought surfaced in his mind.
"System. Can I extract the strength Linlin gained?"
Ding.
[Charlotte Linlin has gained enhanced strength after transformation. Host may extract the acquired power.]
[Unlimited extractions allowed. Extraction does not affect the target's own strength.]
[Extract now?]
"Yes. Extract immediately."
Without hesitation, Reno confirmed.
Boom.
The moment he did, an indescribable surge of power flooded into his body.
He felt like an overinflated balloon, raw force pouring into him without pause.
A faint crimson mist appeared across his skin. His succubus wings spread uncontrollably, radiating a dazzling black-red glow.
"Hm?"
Charlotte Linlin noticed the change and frowned slightly.
Reno clenched his teeth, enduring the sensation as though his body were being torn apart, yet he forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
"Because you successfully became a demon, my strength has risen as well."
The violent surge lasted half a minute before gradually subsiding.
Reno breathed heavily, drenched in sweat.
With a thought, his attribute panel appeared before him.
[Strength: Marine Rear Admiral Level (740/1000) +]
[Speed: Marine Rear Admiral Level (822/1000) +]
[Constitution: Marine Rear Admiral Level (946/1000) +]
[Observation Haki: Intermediate (386/1000) +]
[Armament Haki: Intermediate (684/1000) +]
[Conqueror's Haki: Unawakened]
[Charm: 93/100]
[Overall Assessment: Marine Rear Admiral Level]
[Attribute Points: 35]
Marine Rear Admiral level.
Simply by extracting Linlin's enhancement, he had leaped from Brigadier-level strength to Rear Admiral, nearing Vice Admiral territory.
A wave of awe swept through him.
So this is the true terror of Demon Transformation.
As long as he found powerful enough individuals and enough Devil Fruits, his strength could grow without limit.
And on Hachinosu Island, where he was headed, several monstrous figures resided.
Among them was Rocks D. Xebec, a man rumored to stand at the very peak of kings.