After CP9 left, Rengoku also departed.
On his way back, he found himself lost in thought.
Capturing Nico Robin again… honestly, it would be possible now.
But Kuzan's words kept bothering him.
"Light?"
It couldn't be a literal financial debt. Then what? A debt of human kindness? But would a man like Kuzan ever owe such a debt — and to someone close to Nico Robin?
Tracking the movements of an admiral was almost impossible, especially not from Marine Headquarters but here, in Water Seven, where Robin's capture was soon to take place.
Meanwhile, the power of the Devil Fruit he had eaten earlier stirred violently inside his body.
Since it was a Zoan-type ability, using it in the middle of a city would cause unnecessary panic among civilians.
With that in mind, Rengoku quickly moved out toward the outskirts.
Whether it was because all Devil Fruits were like this, or because he had consumed one of the rare Mythical Zoan, he could feel his entire body burning up like a raging furnace.
Using Soru and Geppo to avoid drawing attention, he slipped quietly toward the coastal edge of Water Seven.
Once he confirmed that no one was around, he finally released the power that had been surging inside him.
Like a werewolf under the moonlight, his hair grew thicker, and a golden mane spread across his neck and back.
Reddish fur, the color of a setting sun, began covering his body, and his original height of 192 cm swelled and stretched until he stood over seven meters tall — a towering lion-man.
Seizing the moment of calm within his body, Rengoku glanced at his reflection in the sea.
"So… this is the power of a Devil Fruit…!"
Seven meters of crimson-furred lion, golden mane bristling from head to back, hands and feet tipped with claws like a true beast.
Surprisingly, his transformation had extended to his clothing as well — nothing was torn apart.
This was the hybrid form — Human-Beast Form.
But what about the full beast form?
Driven by curiosity, Rengoku attempted the transformation.
And then—something astonishing occurred.
His already massive seven-meter frame expanded instantly into a giant twenty-five meters long.
Shoulders alone stood at fourteen meters high, his body stretching twenty-one meters from head to torso, and twenty-five meters if including his tail.
Rengoku had transformed into a colossal lion, rivaling the size of giants.
While there could be variations depending on the eater's body type and race, the Zoan's full form normally reflected the original animal's true appearance.
That meant… if he, not even a giant, became a lion this size… then the legendary Nemean Lion itself must have been this massive.
The ground at the shore cracked and collapsed under the crushing weight of his enormous body. Realizing the damage, Rengoku quickly reverted to his original form.
"Hah… only for a moment, but truly worthy of the name Mythical Zoan… what terrifying power!"
According to legend, the Nemean Lion was described as rivaling the size of Oars, the monster of Thriller Bark — a beast said to have fought against heroes who were themselves giants of Elbaf, standing twenty meters tall.
If that was the case, then the Nemean Lion being of giant size also made perfect sense.
The sheer size was troublesome, but ultimately, his strongest form was the Hybrid Form.
After all, to display his true strength, the half-human, half-beast form was the most formidable.
Even if it was brief, Rengoku felt exhilarated to discover the overwhelming might of this power.
With this strength… I can save even more people!
Meanwhile, far away, a man had been observing the spectacle.
"Ho… what a terrifying power — truly worthy of the name Mythical Zoan! With that, capturing Nico Robin will be no problem at all!"
Spandam muttered with a sly grin.
...
Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew had just arrived at Water Seven, completely unaware of the trials that awaited them in the near future. For now, they were simply enjoying their new adventure in the city built on water.
"Hey, Nami! Can I buy that?"
Luffy's eyes sparkled like a child's as he pointed at random things.
To him, everything in Water Seven was fascinating—whether it was the seahorse-like Yagara Bulls, the chewy delicacy of water-meat, or the city itself, with its waterways flowing everywhere like a giant amusement park.
"Honestly… who does our captain take after to end up like this?"
Nami sighed as she watched her troublesome captain.
"Well, it's Luffy. What can you do?" Usopp shrugged.
For Usopp, the wonders of Water Seven were all well and good, but he couldn't fully enjoy them. Right now, repairing the Going Merry mattered more than anything.
"Luffy, don't forget why we're here! We came to fix the ship! We traded our gold for money—if you lose that bag, we're done for!" Nami scolded, her voice sharp with worry.
But before her words even settled, Luffy waved his arms carelessly and—
Plop.
The money bag slipped from his hands.
"Kyaaaaaa!!! My money!!!" Nami's scream echoed through the streets.
"Hey! Luffy! What the hell are you doing!? Hold it properly!" Usopp barked, already weighed down by two other heavy money bags, unable to chase the one that had slipped away.
"Nami! Stop screaming and let's go get it back! Yagara Bull! After that bag!" Usopp ordered.
"Hiii-hiiing!"
Responding to his command, the Yagara Bull carrying Nami and Usopp charged forward, allowing Usopp to just barely snatch the money bag back.
Hugging the bag tightly to his chest, Usopp let out a breath of relief—but also frustration.
"Damn it, Luffy! This money is to fix Merry! Can't you take it seriously for once!?"
"Ah, right, sorry, sorry, shishishi!" Luffy just laughed, oblivious to the danger.
Though Usopp wanted to tear his hair out, he couldn't stay mad. That reckless cheerfulness—that was Luffy's nature, his charm. With a grumble under his breath, Usopp let it go.
"Still… Merry went all the way to Skypiea. She took heavy damage going up and crashing back down. If we don't repair her soon…"
Usopp's mind flashed to the vision he had seen in Skypiea—tiny fairies of the shipyard, working to patch her wounds.
To Usopp, the Going Merry wasn't just the crew's ship. She was a gift from Kaya, the girl he loved. For that reason, she held a deeper meaning to him than to anyone else.
And so, with Nami and Luffy beside him, Usopp clutched the money bag tight as their Yagara Bull headed straight toward the Galley-La Company shipyard.
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