Chapter 40 Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan Type, Vampire Form!
"Those bats?"
Lister raised an eyebrow and entered the cabin. He saw bats hanging upside down. As he stepped in, they parted as if welcoming a king. Lister could sense their awe and submission.
These bats were clearly the same group that had flown out from under the church. Unable to defeat Lister, they had followed the scent, attacking only the crew left behind.
Lister found a mirror, examined himself, and smiled wryly.
His ears had become pointed, his black hair had turned dark red and grown to his waist, scarlet spots appeared in his black eyes, his nose slightly sharpened, lips brightened, and his two upper canines had lengthened into sharp fangs. He looked exceptionally eerie.
With a thought, he reverted to human form, and all altered features disappeared.
"Try the beast form!"
Arriving at the shore, Lister's body swelled. His arms transformed into demonic bat wings. He stood upright at six meters tall, with a wingspan nearing thirty meters—a truly enormous creature.
Looking in the mirror, Lister described his beast form as ferocious and terrifying, capable of stopping a child's nighttime crying.
It had an ugly bat head, scarlet eyes, scimitar-like fangs, strange blood-red patterns on its wings, and foot-long dark red hair resembling burning flames.
Shape change is the most direct manifestation of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit.
But Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits are precious because, beyond transformation, other powers can emerge.
Lister thought:
"The known Devil Fruit abilities are: first, absorbing the blood and lifespan of others to become young again and regain peak strength; second, creating darkness and hiding within it for stealth attacks."
"The real power of a vampire lies in blood control!" Lister pondered, realizing that bloodsucking was a rudimentary application of the fruit's potential.
"Plus, bats can release ultrasonic waves, which combined with Observation Haki, could be deadly."
There are no useless fruits, only users who don't maximize them.
Even Luffy's Gum-Gum Fruit, seemingly weak, could defeat overpowered fruits like Thunder, Slowing, Explosive, or Weapon-type abilities when developed creatively.
Other expertly-developed Devil Fruits include Doflamingo's String-String Fruit, Katakuri's Mochi-Mochi Fruit, and Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit—all possessing extraordinary power.
"There are still four days until the full moon. First, adapt to the sudden increase in strength and speed, then gradually develop the fruit's abilities."
Lister prioritized physical skills and Haki; Devil Fruit mastery came second. Physical skills require time, while fruit abilities demand inspiration and creativity.
Though bats are true flying beasts with wingspans five times their body length, the Grand Line's magnetic fields, celestial phenomena, ocean currents, and chaotic air currents make navigation treacherous.
After becoming unable to swim, Lister knew leaving by ship was safest. Even the most powerful fighter jets need to land for resupply.
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A clear blue sky stretched above a calm sea. A three-masted sailboat drifted lazily.
The ship had recently seen battle; its mast flew a tattered pirate flag, the hull bore cannon and sword damage, and it looked like it could collapse at any moment.
"Great! We've finally escaped!"
The surviving pirates ignored the corpses of their companions. Sitting in pools of blood, their faces reflected relief.
"As expected of the Whitebeard Pirates—they're terrifying!"
"No, what we met was just one of the 34 pirate crews under Whitebeard—the villain Ufian. Even a pirate with an 80-million Berry bounty couldn't become Whitebeard's captain. The New World is on another level entirely."
"Yes, even the captain was defeated. No wonder the first half of the Grand Line is called paradise. Compared to the New World, it's peaceful."
The defeated pirates were the Montblanc Pirates, new to the New World.
Captain Berserker Montburi, a Zoan-type Bear-Bear Fruit user in Black Bear form, had a bounty of 60 million Berries.
Among his subordinates, four exceeded 20 million Berries, and eight exceeded 10 million.
They had dominated the first half of the journey but soon realized the New World was brutal. Less than seven days in, the captain was seriously injured, four of six officers died, and nearly half the crew was lost. Only a storm spared their ship.
The opposing crew was one of the 34 under Whitebeard. Above them were 16 captains, and at the top sat Whitebeard, one of the Three Emperors.
They couldn't even defeat a regular officer under Whitebeard!
"Leave!"
Montburi, half-wrapped in bandages, unkempt, looked dejected—a far cry from his initial high spirits.
"The New World isn't our stage," he said.
They had come seeking the throne of the Four Emperors, with wealth, fame, and honor within reach. A crushing defeat shattered their dream.
Every year, pirates like Montblanc recognize reality, lose fighting spirit, and leave the New World.
"Captain, are we really leaving like this?" A young blue-haired pirate slammed his fist on the table.
Gunsey the Rapier, skilled with a sword and worth 25 million Berries, frowned.
"Should we leave, or die?" Sniper Bin, clutching a flintlock rifle, voiced sorrow. Both were the only remaining officers.
"We still have a chance to find an island, repair the ship, and replenish the crew…" Gunsey said urgently.
Montblanc smiled wryly: "Most nearby islands are under Whitebeard's control. Where will we get supplies?"
The term "Three Emperors" isn't just about strength. Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom each control their domains.
Attacking Whitebeard's crew is like invading foreign territory. Whitebeard would not tolerate it.
Bang!
The wooden door burst open.
"Ship, Captain! We've spotted a strange vessel."
"A strange ship?"
"Yes."
Montburi tensed, grabbed binoculars, and scanned.
"Ten o'clock," a crew member reported.
It was a sailing ship with no flag—unclaimed, unmarked.
"Captain, there's no one on board."
Montburi paused, then checked again.
"A ghost ship? Or…"
"Captain, we can capture it. Even leaving the New World, we need a sturdy vessel," said Sniper Bin.
"Yes, if another storm hits, our ship will sink for sure." Rapier Gunsey agreed.
"Moreover, villain Ufian may not let us go. We must leave this area immediately."
Montburi's eyes glinted. A sailboat without a flag, owned by no one, was practically a gift from heaven.
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