Pirate: I have a Hollow living inside me

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

The Great White Pig Fruit was always kept in Rocks' pocket.

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

It's already a critical situation.

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

He had no choice but to take the risk and hope that consuming the large white pig fruit would give him a chance 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 that of a cornered beast.

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

'Click click...'

I swallowed the big white pig fruit in a few bites, and the indescribable taste exploded on my taste buds.

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

It tastes awful!

It tastes absolutely awful!

He had 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 the 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, I opened my eyes.

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

The green light looked eerily strange in the dim space…

'Om! '

The Blackwing Demon suddenly opened its mouth.

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

"Roar!!"

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

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

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

Rocks watched this scene, his eyes narrowing slightly.

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

'Shuh! '

The Blackwing Great Golem sensed something.

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

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 demands from him, trying to devour his soul and life force, 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 down the Blackwing Demon.

In order 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 able to be used by me!?"

……

What happens in the spiritual 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.

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

A gust of wind arose, raising a cloud of dust that obscured the view...

I've said that before.

The Blackwing Demon will devour his soul and slowly grow stronger; and the Blackwing Demon's growing strength will feed back "power" to Lox.

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

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

Lox discovered it.

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

The Devil Fruit contains immense energy, 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, a new "attack" would have 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...'

Rocks 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 he is in top condition—no, even stronger than before.

He's become 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 a Hollow..."

"Powers like half-tailed beast transformation and Hollowfication 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 later..."

Rocks remembers.

In Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki can put on a Hollowfication mask, which allows his strength to increase explosively in a short period of time.

This is remarkably similar to how Rocks used that energy to enhance himself.

It's almost the same principle.

Perhaps we could study that energy and achieve an effect similar to Ichigo Kurosaki wearing the Hollowfication mask?

"What happened to you that gave you this aura and spirit?"

Zephyr landed on the ground, looked at the unharmed Rocks, and said coldly, "Your strength has increased considerably since then. Has your Devil Fruit awakened?"

"It hasn't come to that yet; it's just that we've delved a little deeper into the development of the Devil Fruit."

Rocks twisted his arm.

He flashed a fighting smile at Zephyr: "Let's continue, the second round begins!"

After their strength has increased.

Rocks was more confident of escaping from Zephyr's clutches.

His goal was not to fight Zefa to the bitter end, but simply to buy time.

Once the Black Demon is far away, he can slip away...

This is the same as when I faced Garp last time.

The difference is that Zephyr won't show him any mercy...

He still needs to fight desperately!

'Boom boom boom...'

The projectiles cleared a path, and a dense barrage of light orbs fell one after another.

Explosions rang out one after another in the venue.

The surrounding area was rocked by earthquakes and riddled with craters; each of the virtual bullets possessed the power of an artillery shell.

Amidst the artillery fire, a figure dodged back and forth. Zephyr's dark, domineering aura was as hard as steel, and the surrounding shockwaves had no effect on him.

'Boom!'

Zephyr dodged a phantom attack, then burst out of the ground beneath his feet to collide head-on with the oncoming Rocks.

Fist against fist, the impact between the two was deafening, the ground instantly collapsed, and the aftershocks swept around!

'Boom! Boom boom boom!!'

The two engaged in close combat, fist to fist, fist to sword, with a constant barrage of booming sounds.

*Sizzle!*

Using his speed advantage, Rocks dodged Zefa's punch by sidestepping.

Then he took a step forward, unleashing a verdant slash from the tip of his sword. At close range, the air itself seemed to be cleaved in two!

'Clang!'

Zefa raised his right arm, his mechanical fingers spreading out.

Grabbing the sword that Rocks had swung down, Armament Haki surged and erupted in his hand, neutralizing Rocks's sword strike which contained the power of a phantom bullet.

With his sword blocked, Rocks followed up with a kick, shimmering with emerald light and rippling the air!

Zephyr's eyes flashed red as he caught Rocks' attack, and he retaliated in kind, kicking out with his own foot!

'Boom!'

Their feet collided head-on, and with a deafening roar, they were both thrown back by the force of each other.

"What kind of Devil Fruit user are you?"

Zefa stepped back a few meters and regained his balance.

His chest rose and fell slightly, and his breathing seemed to become a little less smooth.