In the snowy forests of Drum Island.
Fang Huo was leisurely roasting a huge bison while dialing the Rocks Pirates' transponder snail.
"Fang Huo, have you finally found the Devil Fruit you wanted?"
"When are you coming back?"
Charlotte Linlin's voice rang out first; she'd been keeping watch over the transponder snail these days.
"Wahahaha! What power kept you searching so long?"
Rocks' hearty laugh came through; he sounded in a good mood.
"Bahahaha, Rocks, is that your first mate on the line?"
"Your first mate's stronger than Newgate, right!"
Two even deeper, booming voices cut in, scaring the transponder snail so badly it broke into a cold sweat and trembled.
"first mate! Come back quick! The Captain's beating us half to death!"
Four-Armed Gun King Kiel Bastard hurriedly poured out his woes to Fang Huo—only he could curb Rocks' brutality.
"first mate, when will you find me a strong Devil Fruit?"
Maron's voice piped up; he felt his talent couldn't match the monsters on board and could only make up for it with a Devil Fruit.
"Fang Huo, ignore Maron—any powerful fruit goes to me first!"
Stussy chimed in at once, afraid Fang Huo might forget her.
"first mate, hurry back—we need your Gravity training field!"
Babel and Sanbel spoke in unison; after days of brawling with Blue Ogre Dorry and Red Ogre Brogy, they realized they still lagged behind the mighty Giants.
"Gurarara! Fang Huo, you're really popular!"
"We're waiting for your return!"
Whitebeard Newgate laughed heartily, chugging drinks with Dorry and Brogy.
In the twenty-odd days on Little Garden they'd almost emptied the gibecks sword's entire liquor stash.
Fūgetsu Kisaburō watched the warm rapport between the Rocks crew and Fang Huo, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
These pirates aren't half bad!
It made him think of his Shimotsuki and Ugetsu clansmen again.
I really hope we meet soon!
—"Hahaha, found it—a nice ability!"
Fang Huo spun the spit; the huge bison sizzled as he spoke, tone light with satisfaction.
Hunting down the Gulp-Gulp Fruit had worn him out!
Luckily the Moonlight-Moonlight Fruit let him absorb lunar energy, giving him the stamina to search at night; otherwise he'd have needed far more time.
Fang Huo didn't realize his forays had already spawned countless horror stories in the snowy forest.
Now, throughout Drum Kingdom, talk of a Flying Demon in the snowfields had become a national hot topic.
Some citizens even urged the Drum King to dispatch troops and exterminate the demon sowing panic across the realm.
Fang Huo had wondered why, after the first few days, he hadn't run into any Drum hunters—turns out he'd scared them all away.
—"What power is it?"
Rocks pressed.
"Fang Huo, come back soon…"
Charlotte Linlin urged again.
"Hah, it's Gul—"
Fang Huo was about to answer when every pore on his skin bristled; a figure shot in at terrifying speed and drove a blade through his back.
Terrifying Armament Haki erupted; even Fang Huo's Gravity shield, newly merged steel body, and Armament Haki couldn't block it!
A blood-stained blade tip protruded from his chest.
"Found you at last! Gu Yue Fang Huo!!!"
A wild voice roared as ferocious Conqueror's Haki burst out, instantly knocking the transponder snail unconscious!
"Ugh—"
Fang Huo coughed a mouthful of blood, agony lancing through his chest.
Damn it!
I let my guard down!!
"Agh!!"
'Shinra Tensei!!'
In the face of death Fang Huo unleashed his Gravity and Conqueror's Haki at full power, blasting himself and the ambusher apart.
As the blood-drenched blade left his pierced body, he transformed into a swarm of Blood Shadow Bats and flashed away to gain distance.
"You won't escape!"
Saint Figarland Garling shot after him!
Had Imu not ordered Fang Huo taken alive, that stab would have gone straight through the heart.
He'd chased Gu Yue Fang Huo for twenty-plus days; hearing the Drum Kingdom's demon tales, he'd only meant to take a look.
Who knew his luck would be this good? Spotting smoke rising in the snowfield, he'd actually found a weary-looking Gu Yue Fang Huo.
And the guy was casually roasting meat and chatting on a transponder snail!
If not now, when? He had to cripple this flying little rat in one blow!
He could already picture capturing Gu Yue Fang Huo alone, earning Imu's great reward, and ascending to Leader of the Holy Knights in one stroke.
"It's you! Figarland Garling!!!"
Fang Huo recognized that familiar face and blazed with fury—this Celestial Dragons' opportunistic Wang Zhi had actually tracked him down.
His Vampire Ability was rapidly healing the horrific wound.
"You know me!"
Saint Figarland Garling hadn't expected a mere "lower-realm" man to recognize the supreme Celestial Dragons Knight.
But his long sword slashed out another terrifying sword beam!
"I'll remember this debt!!"
More than twenty days of nonstop searching plus the damage from the surprise attack had left Fang Huo in poor shape.
And Figarland Garling was no small fry!
He wielded the Three Types of Haki and an immortal body—impossible to kill!
Worst of all, he could summon the Gorosei and other God's Knights.
Fighting Garling now was pointless.
"Hold a grudge? How trifling!"
"Lower-realm scum, kneel before this Saint!"
Garling had no intention of letting Fang Huo go—this was his ticket to becoming Leader of the Holy Knights!
Nor did he mean to call in other Knights; he wanted sole credit for the capture.
Garling's savage Conqueror's Haki made the entire snowy forest tremble; countless beasts fainted and rolled their eyes…"Today's stab—you'll repay it with your life and your woman!!"
'Chaotic Void!'
Despite his unhealed injuries, Fang Huo clenched his teeth and forcibly unleashed a massive Gravity field.
Giant trees, earth, and boulders surged toward the pursuing Garling.
Fang Huo coughed up another mouthful of blood and frantically beat his wings, soaring into the sky.
"Damnable Gravity power!"
Terrifying slashes sliced the towering trees and Rocks to pieces.
Figarland Garling watched Gu Yue Fang Huo flying high above and immediately Moonwalked in pursuit.
But in the end he could only launch sky-splitting sword blasts, watching helplessly as Fang Huo vanished from sight.
He suddenly craved a flying Mythical Zoan ability!
He couldn't bear letting enemies escape before his eyes any longer!
"I won't let you go!"
Garling's eyes held regret and frustration; he hadn't expected Fang Huo, even after that surprise stab, to flee while gravely wounded.
Had he known, he'd have aimed lower—piercing the spine or even the heart.
He'd still underestimated the vampire's regeneration.
This un-awakened Mythical Zoan vampire power had insane recovery!
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