Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me!

'Boom! Crack!'

Even the Armament Haki covering his shoulders couldn't stop Zephyr's punch, and the sound of his shoulder blade cracking rang out again.

The force of the burst sent Rocks flying like a tattered sack.

Rocks' body traced an arc before crashing heavily onto the ground on the riverbank.

Like a meteorite falling to earth, the ground shook violently, and a huge crater appeared in the ground.

Cracks spread along the edge of the pit...

"Cough cough..."

Rocks' body was embedded at the bottom of the pit, coughing up mouthfuls of blood again, his expression so grave it could drip water...

The gap in strength is still quite large.

Yesterday he crushed Crocodile, today he was crushed by Zeff.

As expected of a former general, his strength is truly terrifying.

If there's anything that gives them an advantage, it's speed.

However, this old guy has extremely strong experience and Observation Haki.

Being fast isn't really an advantage, as your attacks can be caught and blocked by the opponent!

"Let's give it our all!"

As his internal energy rapidly repaired his injuries, Rocks' energy reserves dwindled after repeated depletion.

Even when they erupted, they were all suppressed by Zephyr.

If the energy is exhausted, unless Rocks abandons the Black Demon and the three women and chooses to escape, he will perish here...

But he can't do that!

No one could make him abandon his companions and slink away!

The only way to escape now... is to fight for our lives!

Rocks kept the Great White Pig Fruit in his pocket the whole time.

One reason was that they didn't have time to let go, and another was that they wanted to keep it as a last resort...

The situation is now critical.

Lox couldn't think of any other way to deal with Zephyr, this formidable foe.

He had no choice but to take the risk and hope that consuming the Great White Pig Fruit would provide him with an opportunity to escape his predicament.

He needs to become stronger in a short period of time!

"I'm not going to die here so easily!"

A maniacal grin spread across Lox's face, like a wild beast driven to desperation.

All his concerns and worries were cast aside at this moment; he needed to become stronger!

'Click click...'

He swallowed the large white pig fruit in a few bites, and the indescribable taste exploded on his taste buds.

Even someone as strong as Rocks's will almost vomit...

unpalatable!

It's absolutely disgusting!

He had also eaten the Blackwing Demon Fruit before, and although it wasn't particularly delicious, it certainly didn't have this kind of "impactful" taste...

Perhaps this is the true taste of a Devil Fruit?

"Roar!"

As Rocks ate the Great White Pig Fruit, a roar that only he could hear resounded in his mind and consciousness.

A roar from the Blackwing Demon!

The void, known as the Blackwing Demon, fell into a "slumber" after being "pacified" by Locus...

At that moment, he opened his eyes.

Two emerald green lights suddenly shone in the not-so-bright space of the mind and consciousness.

The green light looked eerie in the dim space...

'Om! '

The Blackwing Demon suddenly opened its mouth.

Its mouth was like a black hole, sucking in something invisible...

"Roar!!"

With another roar, the Blackwing Demon unfurled its demonic wings.

An inexplicable sense of oppression swept out from it, causing the space that only Lox could "enter" to tremble slightly.

"Will it be transformed into energy and devoured by the Blackwing Demon?"

Lox watched this scene, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The Devil Fruit that was eaten was transformed into that kind of "energy" and was then devoured by the Blackwing Demon...

'Shuh! '

The Blackwing Demon seemed to have sensed something.

Its emerald green eyes were fixed on one spot, as if they were staring at Lox.

Then it opened its mouth, revealing a ferocious and eerie smile.

It's like saying... You won't be able to trap me next time!

"Just wait and I'll beat you into submission, you Blackwing Demon!"

Locus understood the Blackwing Demon's meaning and grinned maliciously: "But now, you need to pay your rent. You don't want to see me die here, do you?"

Having encountered the Blackwing Archdemon many times, Lox knew it possessed its own consciousness.

They are not monsters that only kill and destroy.

There is a possibility that they can communicate with each other, but the Blackwing Archdemon has never communicated with him.

It only seeks to take from him, trying to devour his soul and life force, and then take over his body, attempting to turn him into a monster that only knows destruction...

This is something Rocks didn't want to see!

"..."

The Blackwing Demon merely glanced at Lox, perhaps ignoring him, or perhaps simply not caring, without uttering a sound.

As if to digest the "energy" it had just received, it folded its outstretched wings, closed its eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

However, the emerald green energy surrounding it dissipates uncontrollably.

Is it possible that there is an "oversupply"?

Seeing this, Lockes narrowed his eyes: "Are you 'full' again?"

This situation is the same as in the past when he used his energy to "pacify" and calm the Blackwing Demon down.

To digest the "energy," the Blackwing Archmage will fall into a deep sleep...

Locus stared at the dissipating energy and murmured, "But this dissipating energy seems... to be usable by me!"

……

What happens in the mental world and the realm of consciousness is only a fleeting moment.

'Boom boom boom!!'

As Rocks swallowed the Great White Pig Fruit.

The "demon essence" within the Great White Pig Fruit transformed into "energy" for unknown reasons and was devoured by the Black Winged Demon.

Meanwhile, Locus himself underwent some changes due to the "feedback" from the strengthened Blackwing Archdemon.

Conqueror's Haki surged forth from Rocks' body, stirring the surrounding air.

A storm swept through, raising clouds of dust that obscured visibility...

I've said that before.

The Blackwing Demon would devour his soul and slowly grow stronger; and the Blackwing Demon's growing strength would be fed back to Lox.

Locus and the Blackwing Archdeacon maintain a certain balance, almost like a symbiotic relationship.

However, this balance is not absolute and can be broken!

Lockes discovered it.

The balance between him and the Blackwing Demon was completely shattered after he ate the Great White Boar Fruit.

The energy contained within the Devil Fruit is immense, almost equal to the total energy used to appease the Blackwing Demon.

Rocks thought to himself.

If the Blackwing Demon hadn't been calmed down by the massive amount of energy, and a new "attack" had been launched against him at this moment...

Lox didn't think he could handle it.

'Forget it, we can think about the future later. Let's deal with the immediate crisis first...'

Lockes shook off the thoughts in his mind.

"My physique has become stronger, and I've unlocked new abilities. My previously depleted energy has been replenished, and I can even use the energy that the Blackwing Demon didn't fully digest..."

Rocks stood up from the bottom of the pit.

His injuries have been completely healed, and his condition has been restored to its best—no, even stronger than before.

He's stronger than before!

Sensing the changes within his body, Rocks clenched his fist, a smirk playing on his lips: "I really am a Hollow jinchūriki, able to borrow the power of Hollows..."

"Powers like half-tailed beast transformation and intangibility don't necessarily have to wait until the Blackwing Demon is completely subdued before they can be used. I'll need to find some time to study this energy properly afterward..."