### Chapter 7: Should the Taming Ritual Be Initiated?
Earning one hundred million Berries in just a few minutes, Gloriosa's mood was exceptionally delightful.
She looked up at Marubu, "What do you want the contact information of the Ohara scholars for?"
With Kaido and Mahoraga by his side, Marubu wasn't worried that the Kuja Pirates would try to snatch the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.
On the contrary.
He was hoping to use their help to speed up the search process.
"Of course, there is something I want deep in the ruins."
He smiled slightly and pointed to the center of the island: "But I need to decipher the ancient text inside to find the clues. Ohara, which is full of archaeologists, is naturally my first choice."
"Willing to spend one hundred million Berries for intelligence, your ambitions are not small..."
Gloriosa stroked her chin and pondered, "If little brother doesn't mind, big sister also wants to see it with her own eyes."
"Couldn't be better."
Marubu did not refuse: "With beauties for company, the adventure will only become more interesting."
"Then let's go!"
After saying that, he took Kaido and Mahoraga and strode toward the depths of Sleepy Ancient Town.
Along the way, they saw dilapidated ancient ruins everywhere.
Judging from the game plot, the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit should be within these ruins.
Marubu turned to look at Kaido: "Notice anything?"
Kaido shook his head: "There's nothing special about this island, except the deeper we go, the gloomier it gets, and there are a bit too many blood-sucking bats."
*Zizizizi...*
*Swish swish swish...*
Kaido waved Hassaikai, knocking down a few bats flying overhead.
The members of the Kuja Pirates followed closely behind. While driving away the bats with arrows and swords, they complained in low voices: "What a dirty place, makes one feel very uncomfortable."
"Stay alert, don't let these stinking bats dirty Lady Gloriosa and Lady Shakky's clothes!"
Shakky pushed aside the bushes in front of her with her hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter; we should see the results soon."
Gloriosa nodded: "I hope so."
Not long after.
The tallest ruin in the center of the island was completely revealed before everyone's eyes.
Perhaps because it had been uninhabited for a long time, at the slightest disturbance, countless purple-red bats swarmed out from the depths of the ruin.
"The entrance should be right there."
Marubu and the others quickened their pace, stepping over the moss-covered, somewhat damp stone path, and drilled into the dark passage.
The passage was narrow, but the underground internal space was as huge as half a football field.
Marubu held the torch high and swept it forward.
In the dim yellow halo, a stone platform resembling an altar stood quietly in the middle of the space.
Several passages of ancient text that ordinary people couldn't read were carved on the altar.
"So..."
Marubu turned his head to the side: "Gloriosa, could you please call Clover now?"
"Huh?"
Gloriosa said unhappily: "Why me? I don't know that Clover!"
Of course it has to be you!
Just a random sentence from you can easily make a fan get things done.
Others would have to spend effort negotiating.
Marubu smiled and looked at her: "It has to be you."
Although somewhat reluctant, being deep in the ancient ruins and facing a secret about to be revealed, Gloriosa ultimately couldn't resist her curiosity. She nodded, signaling Toritoma beside her to take out the Den Den Mushi.
*Puru puru...*
*Puru puru...*
The dialing tone rang, and the Den Den Mushi quickly transformed, projecting light from its eyes.
"I'm still reading! So noisy! I told you, don't disturb me if it's nothing important, don't disturb me if it's nothing important..."
"Wait! You are... the superstar!! Ahhh! It's Lady Gloriosa!!!"
Dr. Clover hurriedly took off his toad sunglasses and smoothed his hair with his palm.
Pushing aside a pile of books, he pulled out a bouquet of flowers from nowhere and placed it in front of the camera.
"Oh my god! My heart is filing for bankruptcy!"
"Too tempting!! Goddess!! Please accept my flowers!!!"
Gloriosa was already accustomed to similar scenes. "You are Clover, right? Can you read these ancient texts?"
"Gloriosa-chan actually remembers my name!"
"Please wait, I'll be ready right away!"
Clover hurriedly put his toad sunglasses back on, narrowing his eyes slightly with a cooperative look: "Ahem, mm-hm... The content of these texts is very simple, recording daily affairs of Sleepy Ancient Town including natural disasters, harvests, and sacrifices."
"The most crucial information is... pointing to the residual power of the sealed evil progenitor."
Gloriosa pondered for a moment: "You mean, an evil power is sealed underground here?"
"Yes!"
Clover nodded, then became unserious the next second: "To serve Lady Gloriosa, Little Clover me... Little Clover me is so honored!"
Then his tone changed, reminding solemnly: "Sa-chan-chan... There should be a stone slab standing east of the altar. Inserting a torch into the correct hole behind the stone slab will reveal the final answer."
"It's the third hole from left to right! Absolutely do not insert it wrong! Otherwise, the stone slab will be destroyed!"
After listening to the interpretation, Gloriosa nodded slightly.
"Go try it."
Toritoma obediently picked up a torch and walked toward the stone slab standing on the ground.
"One... two... three..."
She counted carefully, nodded after confirming, and then firmly inserted the torch into the third groove behind the stone slab.
Instantly.
The firelight passed through the hollowed-out gem holes on the stone slab, turning into rays of various colors that fell on the opposite stone wall, converging into a vivid pattern.
It was a strange bat with spread wings.
This bat was much weirder than ordinary bats. It was purple-red all over, wore a white bone mask on its face, had semi-transparent wings, and had spikes and barbs growing on some parts.
"So there is a row of mechanisms on the wall, and only one is correct. If inserted in the wrong position, the mechanism is destroyed."
Marubu stepped forward quickly, fumbling at the bat's heart position where the light and shadow were brightest, and touched a hidden switch.
He pressed down hard.
*Rumble—!*
The mechanism activated, the altar emitted a low roar, and the entire basement vibrated slightly as a secret compartment slowly opened.
Everyone gathered around and saw a delicate treasure chest made of pure silver sitting quietly in the narrow secret compartment.
The box was carved with several bat patterns, and each bat's eye socket was inlaid with rubies, flowing with a weird luster in the firelight.
Marubu carefully opened the treasure chest, and a strange fruit came into view.
It was shaped like an apple the size of two fists, with demonically purple-red skin covered in twisted spiral arabesque patterns, faintly surrounded by flowing deep crimson as if hiding weird power.
"Sure enough..."
Although Marubu had mentally prepared himself, his heart still raced when he saw it with his own eyes.
Gloriosa covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes widening slightly in surprise: "Eh! It's actually a Devil Fruit!"
Shakky gazed intently, a flash of surprise in her eyes: "Looking at this shape, it seems to be a Zoan type."
"Devil Fruit!!" Kaido stared blankly.
Only a few days later, seeing a Secret Treasure of the Sea again, Kaido found it somewhat incredible.
Shakky turned her head and confirmed, "This is the thing you were looking for?"
Nodding slightly, Marubu admitted calmly: "This is the Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire, a Mythical Type!"
"Mythical Beast? Vampire Model?"
Gloriosa hadn't recovered from her surprise yet, seemingly thinking of something, and asked immediately: "Is this the power of the evil progenitor described on the altar? The sealed power? Hmm... my spine feels a bit chilled... but it's undeniable that this Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit is invaluable."
Devil Fruit... Kaido stared at the Devil Fruit in the silver box for a long time, subconsciously swallowing his saliva.
Ever since seeing Marubu gain Mahoraga after eating the Dark-Dark Fruit, his power had grown too fast. Kaido was very envious and had the intention of becoming an ability user in his heart.
With power close at hand now, he naturally couldn't help but be covetous.
As for that terrible strange smell...
Since knowing it was powerful strength, Kaido had already decided that even if it was a piece of shit, he would chew and taste it properly before swallowing.
At this time.
The scene gradually quieted down.
Only the Den Den Mushi was still blabbering non-stop.
"That... Sa-chan-chan-chan, be careful when sailing on the sea! Remember to drink warm water every morning and evening! Don't drink cold water! The sea breeze is strong, you must also pay attention to sun protection and wind protection. It's not good to get tanned. I have a very good sunscreen formula here... Mm, I researched it especially for you. My Den Den Mushi is on twenty hours a day. If needed, I... I... I..."
After this string of words, Gloriosa listened until her scalp went numb.
"Huh? What did you say? The wind is so strong, I can't hear clearly!"
Toritoma understood instantly and cut off the Den Den Mushi in a flash.
In the windless underground secret chamber, the scene became quiet again.
And at this moment.
Marubu had already reached out and taken the Devil Fruit out of the silver box.
The moment his palm touched the fruit.
The Shikigami Temple inside his body suddenly trembled, emitting a low resonance.
...
"Ding! Shikigami Temple detected—"
"Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire, Mythical Type!"
"Should the taming ritual be initiated?"