*'Even... I could definitely transform into Zunesha, right?'*
Allen couldn't help but think of the colossal entity that wandered the seas with the island of Zou on its back.
*'A single swing of that thing's trunk could swat away a small island. Who needs an Ancient Weapon when you have that?'*
Of course, although the fruit was incredibly powerful, it didn't make one invincible right after eating it. This ability still had a limitation: the biological blueprint.
The principle of the ability was to analyze the Lineage Factor of a creature and fuse it into one's own Lineage Factor. Only then could the body undergo the corresponding transformation.
In other words, he couldn't transform into anything right now; he just had to be a proper human first.
Allen explained this point to everyone, instantly extinguishing their high expectations.
Looking back now, using the [Blueprint of Life] to describe this fruit was indeed quite fitting.
Then, Allen instructed the group, "This island itself is a rich biological repository. Let's stay for two more days before leaving, and collect some animals with outstanding abilities to try out."
"That works. There's no magnetic field interference here, and it's rare that we aren't in a rush. Relaxing here for a couple of days sounds nice," Nami chuckled softly.
Occasionally stopping to enjoy some leisure time amidst their adventures—she really liked this pacing for their voyage.
"Hee hee hee, then let's hold a competition! We'll see who can collect the most animals," Buchi proposed with a grin, holding his stomach with both hands.
Allen also found it interesting and simply smiled. "Then let's get everyone involved. The winning division will be rewarded with 100 million Berries."
Bang!
Hearing this, Nami slammed her hand on the table and immediately stood up, shouting with a look of absolute determination, "It's a deal!"
Allen was speechless. *'Why are you yelling so loudly? You're just going to make your subordinates do all the catching anyway.'*
...
Following that, Allen and his crew stayed on the island for another two days.
During this time, fueled by the 100 million Berries prize, the various divisions enthusiastically turned the forest upside down.
Allen successively analyzed various insects, animals, and even plants.
That's right, plants were naturally living organisms too, and there was no doubt his ability could analyze them as well.
In the process, Allen sequentially fused several of the powers Toruno had previously displayed: the powerful hind legs of a locust, the terrifying muscular burst and steel-like exoskeleton defense of a Hercules beetle, the formidable flight capabilities of a dragonfly, and so on.
Under Heracles's guidance, Allen also fused with some Pop Greens. These numerous abilities just needed time for him to slowly adapt to and master.
He had only just eaten the fruit. Although he quickly grasped the analysis and fusion abilities with the assistance of his Demon Brain, every time his body fused a new ability, he needed to spend some time learning to use it proficiently and integrating it into his own combat system.
After all, with so many new methods suddenly at his disposal, Allen's future combat habits were bound to undergo earth-shattering changes.
Fortunately, he could use his Demon Brain to simulate battles for training, so it wouldn't take long for him to adapt to these abilities.
Furthermore, thanks to Heracles's reminder, Allen learned about another matter.
The risk of Devil Fruit awakening.
Every time he used his ability to analyze and fuse the Lineage Factor of another creature, it was equivalent to altering his own Lineage Factor. This process would undoubtedly accelerate the fruit's awakening.
After eating the fruit, Toruno had fused with thousands of creatures over the course of six years. Ultimately, he uncontrollably triggered his awakening, and after failing, his consciousness was completely swallowed.
Although everyone's willpower was different, Heracles still earnestly warned him never to recklessly fuse with other creatures without absolute certainty.
Allen was dumbfounded when he heard this.
*'Continuously fusing the Lineage Factors of other creatures leads to awakening? There's actually such a good thing! Even the method for awakening was delivered straight to my stomach.'*
Of course, he still kept the risk of awakening in mind, but this risk was controllable.
Toruno fused with a massive number of creatures for academic research, but Allen was doing it for combat.
And it was simply impossible for him to use thousands of random, messy moves in a fight. Therefore, he only needed to carefully select a few powerful abilities when fusing with other creatures in the future.
If he didn't want to awaken, fusing with a few hundred creatures in his lifetime would be more than enough. If he ever wanted to attempt an awakening one day, he could prepare in advance. In short, this wasn't a major problem.
...
Two days passed quickly, and it was finally time for the crew to set sail once again.
The morning sun was bright but not overbearing. Heracles saw Allen and his crew off at the coast.
He waited until the silhouette of their ship gradually disappeared over the horizon. Taking one last look at the burial mound on the cliff edge—marked by a crude wooden cross—he turned and walked back into the forest.
"Today is another day full of motivation! Run, Heracles!"
Entering the forest, Heracles clenched his fists with boiling enthusiasm, letting out a loud shout as he began to sprint wildly.
...
"Loneliness always accompanies a warrior, but a warrior is never defeated by loneliness!"
...
"Today's goal is to run ten laps around the forest! Speed up, speed up!"
...
"Hah—hah—I'm so tired, but a real man must do what he says! Keep running, Heracles!"
...
The Boin Archipelago returned to its former tranquility. The occasional passionate shout echoing out only made the massive forest seem a bit lonely.
Out at sea, Allen and his crew also began their new journey.
On the spacious rear deck of the ship, Allen tirelessly experimented with all sorts of moves.
Sometimes pitch-black needles pierced out from his knuckles, sometimes sharp wolf claws sprouted from his fingers, and sometimes a pair of wings unfurled from his back.
Gusts of forceful wind blasted outward as Allen's figure continuously flickered. Every time he reappeared, his limbs would exhibit varying degrees of localized transformations.
...
An hour later, covered in sweat, Allen stopped. He looked down and retracted the sharp needles growing from his knuckles.
Just by utilizing these various abilities well, the power of the resulting moves was already no less than his martial arts.
Once he became proficient with this new combat system in a while, and completely fused his martial arts with his abilities, he would be able to shake off the title of the weakest Warlord of the Sea.
Allen thought to himself with satisfaction.
That's right. In terms of comprehensive combat power, Allen could be said to be in the lowest tier of the current Warlords of the Sea, on the same level as Gecko Moria.
Of course, it wasn't because he was weak; the current Warlords of the Sea were simply very strong themselves.
There was no need to even mention Hawkeye Mihawk, who sat firmly on the throne of the World's Strongest Swordsman, and Boa Hancock's ability mechanics were nearly unsolvable for him.
Aside from those two, the remaining Warlords were Bartholomew Kuma, Jinbe, Donquixote Doflamingo, and Gecko Moria.
In Allen's estimation, Moria was currently the only one he was confident in facing.
*'Next time I run into Kuma, I can get a couple drops of his blood and fuse the Buccaneer Tribe's Lineage Factor. I'll just leave the bottom spot of the Warlords for Moria to sit in alone.'*
...
...