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"Lord Hitsuji, I... I don't know how to thank you enough!"
Inside the jubilant cave, the survivors knelt collectively in respectful gratitude before Hitsuji. They had no idea what the 'Water of Life' was, of course. But they knew that anything capable of such an impossible feat as regenerating limbs must be an unimaginably precious substance.
Yet, in response to their gratitude, Hitsuji waved his hand dismissively. "Ah, it's merely a trivial application of medical skill," he murmured. "Moreover, as I mentioned, besides searching for Cori on behalf of my colleague, I also have my own objectives on this island."
"If you don't mind, perhaps you could help me later."
His words left the survivors stunned for a moment.
Then,
"Of course, no problem at all!"
"Lord Hitsuji, whatever you command, I, Hata, will carry it out without fail!"
"I'd die for you, my lord!"
Upon hearing this, Hitsuji chuckled softly. "It's hardly as dramatic as being crushed to pieces."
Brrrrp, brrrrp. Brrrrp, brrrrp.
Just then, Issho, who had been watching with a smile, heard a sound from within his sleeve. He pulled out a Den Den Mushi equipped with a miniature gas mask, frowned, and answered the call.
"Hello."
"Hello, Commander Issho." A nonchalant voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "You've been patrolling long enough, the Kingdom's inspection fleet is approaching. Hurry over to greet them! The Second Prince is leading the expedition himself this time. Apparently, he's here to photograph the 'poison insects' on Plague Island for the World Nobles."
The caller appeared to be one of Issho's subordinates, but his tone made it clear that he held no respect for his superior.
"This old man understands," Issho replied calmly before hanging up the Den Den Mushi.
'Why today of all days?' He murmured under his breath.
Nearby, Hitsuji and the other survivors naturally understood the situation.
Clearly, though, Issho himself felt immense sympathy and guilt towards the survivors of Plague Island; most of the 'Adi Kingdom' guard army stationed on the island did not share his sentiments.
They were fundamentally incompatible with him and had long since secretly sidelined him.
This 'sidelining' was, of course, merely their perception; in truth, Issho had never wanted to associate with them.
Each month, he would make excuses to visit Plague Island secretly and deliver supplies, an easy task given his capabilities and status as commander of the guards.
But today was different.
The Second Prince of the Adi Kingdom had arrived with a fleet for inspection, and his request to photograph 'poisonous insects' was a thinly veiled reference to the island's survivors.
"Very well." But then, Issho seemed to steel his resolve. He raised his head and addressed the group in the cave. "Now that you have all recovered, I will destroy that fleet and lead you away from this island."
"Please wait just a moment," he said calmly.
Yes.
For Issho, promises and integrity were paramount, which was why he had agreed to serve as the Adi Kingdom's guard commander.
Yet these were not his ultimate priorities.
What mattered most was his conscience!
Now that the survivors had recovered, he would not hesitate to break his vow and betray his position in order to sink the Adi Kingdom's fleet and secure their escape from the island.
With that, he rose to leave.
But at that very moment...
"Mr. Issho, please wait." Hitsuji called out, stopping him.
"I believe there's someone even more suited to this task than you, Mr. Issho." He spoke. "After all, revenge is only truly satisfying when taken with one's own hands."
"Hmm?"
As his words fell, Issho naturally paused, taken aback. "Lord Hitsuji, what do you mean by that?"
He glanced at Hitsuji with a puzzled expression on his face. 'Take revenge with one's own hands? This lord doesn't seem to hold a grudge against the Adi Kingdom.'
But if anyone here truly did have a vendetta against the Adi Kingdom...
Could it be...?
Issho's gaze shifted to the other survivors huddled within the cave.
At that moment, Hitsuji remained silent.
He strode to the center of the cave and addressed the survivors. "Ladies and gentlemen... As I mentioned earlier, the fee for my healing services is that you assist me with a small task. Now, I must ask: do any of you harbor hatred towards the Adi Kingdom?"
As he spoke, he spread his hands wide.
His words fell like a spark into a pile of dry straw.
A brief, suffocating silence enveloped the cave.
The survivors remained silent, but something burning and deep welled up in their eyes.
Just as he had predicted.
The people brought to this island were either former slaves of the Celestial Dragons or victims of other World Government-affiliated nations.
For countless years, they had struggled to survive on this poisonous island.
Simply staying alive was a monumental challenge in itself.
But now, Hitsuji's words had stirred up memories they had desperately tried to suppress.
Whips, humiliation, the brutal deaths of loved ones and friends, who among them had not endured such horrors?
These memories had not been forgotten; they had merely been repressed. They refused to dwell on them because they knew their own powerlessness.
Survival was already a Herculean task, so they refused to dwell on the past.
Yet, as Hitsuji had told Issho earlier, closing your eyes and refusing to see is no solution.
Similarly...
What is suppressed is never truly forgotten.
Hitsuji continued, "My friends, do you desire revenge?"
"..."
Before him, only pairs of crimson eyes stared back, including those of Cori, a young woman who had only recently arrived.
A profound silence settled over the cave.
But the answer was deafening.
So,
"Excellent."
Beneath his Hitsuji mask, it seemed as though a grin was spreading across his face. "Then, please, everyone, don't resist."
As he spoke, his form began to transform once more. The peculiar flame clouds and scales reappeared on his body. But, unlike before, this time his entire body was transforming.
He sprouted a slender tail, gleaming white scale armor, azure flame clouds, and twin horns.
In an instant, he had transformed into a qilin. Yet this Qilin was fundamentally different from Killingham's.
Countless blue and golden patterns continuously etched themselves across its armor.
At that moment, golden threads flowed ceaselessly from the survivors, converging towards him. The survivors could feel something being drained from them: their life force, their energy and the swirling anger and hatred in their hearts.
The next moment...
Buzz!
The golden threads streaming from the survivors dissolved into mist and surged out of the cave.
The mist billowed and roiled, gradually turning crimson and pitch-black.
Suddenly, fury and hatred materialized, causing a colossal creature, alien to this world, to descend.
Dark crimson and golden patterns swirled across its body, combining the physique of a wolf with the head of a dragon, crowned by a single horn.
Clutched in its jaws was a legendary sword. Its massive form towered like a small mountain, its crimson horn and piercing eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Then, with a thunderous bang, it surged forward, the giant blade clutched in its teeth, hurtling towards the sea.
Witnessing this spectacle, the surviving members of the group nearly collapsed in terror.
"What... what is that?"
Cori covered her mouth, staring in disbelief at the enormous creature that had emerged from their midst.
Only Issho remained calm, his eyes widening as he turned to look at Hitsuji beside him. He instantly recognized the truth: Hitsuji's current form and abilities unmistakably marked him out as a user of the Mythological Zoan Devil Fruit.
And indeed it was.
[Fusion Devil Fruit – Dragon-Dragon Devil Fruit: Phantom Dream Qilin Form]
[Fusion materials: Dragon-Dragon Devil Fruit, Qilin Form LV5 + Essence-Essence Devil Fruit LV5]
[Devil Fruit Effect: Combines the abilities of both Devil Fruits simultaneously, granting control over dreams and the creation of Dream Creatures. It enables the extraction of vital life essence from other beings to enhance Dream Creatures and extend their presence in the real world.]
[Effects at each level:]
[LV3: Gains all Devil Fruit effects. Can incarnate as the Phantom Beast 'Phantom Dream Qilin', obtaining Zoan form and significantly enhancing all physical attributes. They are able to extract vital life essence from living beings and control their entry into dreams, creating Dream Items within those dreams. It sustains their existence by continuously replenishing vital life essence.]
[LV4: Can create Dream Creatures. These creatures require vital life essence to create. Devil Fruit Users can use vital life essence to modify their appearance and size, enhance their abilities and fuse multiple similar dreams and emotions together.]
[By providing a creature with passively offered Blue Essence, one can create a Subordinate Dream Creature and sustain its existence by replenishing the essence.]
[By providing a creature with voluntarily offered Golden Essence, one can create a more powerful High-Level Dream Creature and sustain its existence by replenishing the essence.]
[Dream creatures do not truly die. As long as their essence is not completely depleted, they can continuously regenerate.]
[LV5: Devil Fruit Awakening - Dream Lord. Gains the unique Awakening transformation of Zoan Fruits, enveloping the body in flaming clouds, significantly enhancing the physical attributes of the incarnation form. Simultaneously, allows recently touched creatures to enter a lucid dream state, enabling the creation of Dream Creatures based on their emotions and thoughts even while they are conscious.]
[Additional Fusion Effect - King of Illusory Dreams]
[The Phantom Dream Qilin reigns supreme over all dream creatures, allowing it to fuse with every dream creature in its vicinity, transforming into its Qilin True Form.]
[In this form, its combat power is greatly enhanced, and it becomes a "dream creature" itself. Until the fused dream creatures are exhausted, it remains immune to damage and can summon any type of dream creature or Dream Item for battle, unconditionally, at any time and in any place. The more powerful the summoned entities or objects, the greater the life essence expenditure.]
At that moment, Hitsuji's gaze fell calmly upon the Devil Fruit he wore.
Even he hadn't initially realized that the Qilin and Essence-Essence Devil Fruits could fuse. But upon reflection, it made perfect sense. After all, the Qilin Devil Fruit's ability to create dream creatures required drawing upon the life force and willpower of dreamers, which aligned perfectly with the Essence-Essence Devil Fruit.
The result of their fusion was remarkably potent.
He could still create Dream Creatures and alter them at will through vital life essence. Most importantly, the Dream Creatures he created could sustain their existence continuously through this vital life essence.
This was precisely why Hitsuji called himself the 'Legion Commander'.
Gazing at the colossal beast soaring across the sea, he asked with a light smile, "Mr Issho, have you ever heard of the Phantom Beast Yazi?"
"Phantom Beast?" Still recovering from the shock, Issho was taken aback.
"Yes, it's said to have the body of a jackal and the head of a dragon. It's fierce and loyal, repaying kindness with kindness."
Suddenly, Hitsuji's voice turned deep and icy as he continued. "And it never forgets a grudge."
The Twelve Zodiacs – Phantom Dream Legion – Yazi
Without waiting for Issho's reply, he raised his hand.
"Listen."
"What is that thing?! Turn the ship! Turn the ship!"
In the distance, the flagship of the patrol fleet, flying the Kingdom's flag, was sailing towards Plague Island. The Kingdom's Second Prince, Adi Garu, a man with a sharp-featured, monkey-like face, was furiously whipping the ship's first officer.
"Move it, you bastard, or I'll sell your wife and daughter into slavery and hang you like garbage at the gates of the Royal City when we get back!"
Ignoring his pain, the first officer barked orders at the soldiers to quickly change course.
Through his binoculars, he had already seen it.
That colossal creature bearing a sword, of unknown nature, had just annihilated the guard army's encampment on Plague Island and was now hurtling towards them. The island's army of guards had lasted less than two minutes. Far from being injured, the monster hadn't even lost a single hair.
The first officer had witnessed it being pierced through the body by a cannon shell, only for it to regenerate instantly.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
But it was clear that, given the dishevelled appearance of the Adi Kingdom soldiers and their usual habit of deceiving their superiors while oppressing the common people, they would be ineffective in the face of danger.
At that moment, the ship had not only failed to turn, but had come to a standstill.
However, Adi Garu clearly had no time to curse his adjutant. The Second Prince could already hear the thunderous roar of the colossal monster soaring through the air.
Bang!
Perhaps it was the sound of other ships firing their cannons.
Bang!
Or perhaps it was the sound of waves crashing against the creature's massive body.
Or perhaps...
Roar!
It was a roar of vengeance, filled with triumph and fury!
Boom!
The next moment, the giant blade held in Yazi's jaws sliced through the main ship, cleaving it in two.
Flames erupted and smoke billowed.
Across the sea, Hitsuji's words echoed:
"Listen... Hear this roar."
(End of Chapter)