"Are you serious, Otohime?"
Standing before the cold metal laboratory equipment, Brian looked solemnly at Otohime as he inquired.
He had indeed always harbored the intention to completely subdue Otohime and make her one of his own—only then could he be truly at ease.
Unfortunately, the previous attempt at taming her with the Millet-Millet Fruit had failed. Mermaids weren't animals, so the fruit had no effect.
After that, Brian had no choice but to keep Otohime around for the time being and look for other methods later.
He had also considered transforming Otohime into a Beast Girl, but he temporarily set that idea aside.
Devil Fruit = Can't Swim!!!
This was common knowledge in the world, unchangeable.
If Otohime were to become a Beast Girl, she would inevitably lose her ability to swim.
Mermaids were one of the fastest races in the sea.
Losing the ability to swim would be too cruel for a mermaid; even he felt somewhat reluctant.
Although advanced bubble technology now allowed normal people to survive and even move underwater,
it was still far from ideal, completely different from her original state.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Otohime had taken the initiative to express her desire to become a Beast Girl, which truly took him by surprise.
Lost in thought, Brian recalled Otohime's past experiences and vaguely began to understand.
Between great rises and falls, a person could sometimes be completely transformed!
"Mhm, I'm sure. Otohime wants to become stronger and never be sold off again."
Tears welled up in Otohime's eyes, but she held them back, looking up at Brian with great anticipation.
She genuinely didn't want to experience that powerless state again; it had been too agonizing.
During her short time on Brian's ship, the Beast Girls had left a deep impression on her.
In her perception, each Beast Girl was incredibly powerful, capable of easily crushing a small fry like her with just a flick of their fingers.
Not to mention Brian himself—his aura was as deep and imposing as an abyss or a prison; merely contemplating it made Otohime's body tremble.
This situation, where the group was small in number but every member was exceptionally strong, greatly intrigued Otohime.
Through her interactions with Sheep Girl and Dog Girl, she discovered the existence of the miraculous Beast Girl race.
They didn't need to go through a novice phase; they were born with at least Rear Admiral-level combat power.
In young Otohime's heart, she yearned for strength but was held back by her youth.
Beast Girls perfectly matched her desire for progress, giving her a basis for wanting to become one.
"Once you become a Beast Girl, you will lose your ability to swim and never be able to roam freely in the sea again."
"At the same time, you will never be able to betray me, forever bound by my control. Are you truly certain?"
"It's okay, Otohime is willing."
"Good, I appreciate your decisiveness."
"You possess a natural talent for powerful Observation Haki. I will find a sufficiently strong Devil Fruit to match you."
"Yay, Otohime can become a Beast Girl too."
The adorable Otohime jumped three feet high with joy.
"Mian, Ling, did you hear that? Mr. Brian agreed to let me become a Beast Girl!"
"Once I become a Beast Girl, I'll officially be part of everyone's group!"
Otohime went over to her closest friends, Sheep Girl and Dog Girl, proudly sharing the news.
"Mhm, we're so excited! Otohime is already so capable—she'll definitely be amazing as a Beast Girl too!"
"Ah, that means Otohime can be considered a Beast Girl in training now!"
"Haha, in that case, Otohime, you should join us for training from now on. Let's get started right away!"
"Yay! Otohime will definitely keep up with the training!"
At that moment, Otohime had no idea just how absurdly intense the Beast Girls' training regimen would be.
Later, she would be crying her eyes out.
Watching this scene, Brian smiled faintly.
He began pondering what kind of Devil Fruit would suit Otohime best.
"Those born with Observation Haki are extremely rare. We can't waste Otohime's talent—she deserves nothing less than a Mythical Zoan."
"I recall the encyclopedia mentioned a Mermaid-type Mythical Zoan Fruit that existed once, though it hasn't been seen in many years."
"A Siren would work too, fitting her mermaid identity."
"I should keep an eye out for it. If we actually obtain one, she'll become another powerful subordinate."
Crack~
Crack~
After this brief delay, the first incubation vessel finally showed signs of activity.
The sound of shattering glass drew everyone's attention.
"It's finally happening."
Brian watched the glass container cracking apart, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Amid everyone's eager gazes, the cracking sounds grew louder, and fissures quickly spread across the entire vessel.
The last fragment of the fruit—covered in spiral patterns, dark gold in color, and exuding an ancient, sinister aura—dissolved completely within the green fluid.
Boom~
The reinforced glass, thick as it was, shattered like paper under a brutal force erupting from within.
The explosion echoed throughout the laboratory, smoke billowed out, and green Culture Fluid spilled across the floor.
A dark golden energy surged out like a tide, instantly filling the entire room.
Pat~
Pat~
Hiss~
Hiss~
Soft hissing sounds emerged as a massive shadow became clearly visible through the white smoke.
A primal, ferocious aura—carrying a fishy scent—spread through the air, causing all the Beast Girls except Brian, Griffin, and Feixue to shudder with fear.
Soon, the figure swung its tail and stepped out of the smoke, approaching the group.
"Wow~~"
Regardless of anything else, exclamations of amazement erupted first.
The "hype squad"—represented by Sheep Girl, Dog Girl, Bat Girl, and Otohime—were very enthusiastic.
The first thing that caught their eyes was a massive, slender serpent's tail.
Covered in dark gold, diamond-shaped scales, each one gleamed with a cold, metallic luster as if meticulously crafted.
The entire tail stretched several meters long, coiled powerfully, and was adorned with circular brown patterns.
It tapered naturally at the end, radiating raw strength.
Above the serpent's tail was the torso of a bewitching creature straight out of mythology.
Her upper body took the form of a human woman, with healthy wheat-colored skin and a voluptuous, proud figure exuding wild beauty.
Her face was enchantingly seductive, with a pair of cold, sharp golden vertical pupils that seemed capable of piercing through one's soul.
Her long yellow hair cascaded like a waterfall, with slightly pointed ears and a faintly upturned corner of her mouth, carrying a subtle yet dangerous allure.
Her attire was extremely daring, with only two small garments covering the crucial areas, further accentuating her wild and untamed demeanor.
She gently swayed her serpent tail, her massive body moving with agile "swimming" motions as faint friction sounds echoed against the metal floor.
Approaching Brian, she stood even slightly taller than him.
She lowered her head, her golden vertical pupils fixed on Brian, her voice low and husky with a unique magnetic quality.
"Zoan-Type Snake-Snake Fruit Ancient Species Lamia Beast Girl, answering the summons, Master."
The oppressive aura brought by the Ancient Species' power far surpassed that of the Common Type, even slightly stronger than when Feixue first emerged.