At the same time, deep within an uncharted island, a figure emerged from a cave—blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, a feral grin stretching across his face.
It was none other than Red Count, the legendary vampire who had escaped the chaos of Marineford.
The skies above raged with torrential rain, crimson lightning cracking through the clouds like veins of fury.
He clenched his fist, and with a single punch, a massive beast ten kilometers away collapsed with a thunderous crash. Its mournful cry echoed briefly before falling silent—its entire body drained of blood, leaving behind only a shriveled husk.
"Heh… this power. The Vampire Devil Fruit truly is remarkable," Red Count muttered, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust. "My strength has returned to the peak of my youth!"
Looking up, he spotted a newspaper delivery bird gliding across the stormy sky. With a casual flick of his hand, he punched through the air—the bird shrieked, then turned into a dried corpse mid-flight. The newspaper fluttered down, landing neatly in his grasp.
"Hmph. Let's see what the World Government has to say this time."
Unfolding it, his gaze fell immediately upon the cover—a wanted poster.
At its center was a familiar face.
Thorne Ashveil.
A low chuckle escaped his lips. "So the World Government has truly gone mad this time. A bounty of twenty billion Berries?"
He scoffed. "Even if they offer two hundred billion, no bounty hunter alive could touch him. Anyone who tries would just be rushing to their own grave."
Continuing to read, he noticed another headline: his own name. The World Government had placed a two-billion Berries bounty on anyone who could reveal his whereabouts.
"They've already begun to suspect I have the Celestial King's Key Fragment," he murmured. Then, his grin widened. "But it doesn't matter. With this fruit's power, I can survive anywhere—even without humans. Let them search."
A crimson glint flashed in his eyes. He crushed the newspaper in his hand, reducing it to dust, and disappeared into the shadows of the rain-soaked forest.
---
Meanwhile, Thorne Ashveil was living among the Whitebeard Pirates, where he was being treated like a hero.
Every day, countless members of the crew came to him—some with gifts, others simply asking for his autograph.
It was overwhelming.
He sighed as another group approached, bottles in hand.
"You guys are seriously too much," he complained, though a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he accepted their wine.
Though their rowdy energy often disturbed his peace, Ashveil—who had grown up an orphan in his past life—couldn't help but feel warmth among them.
Being surrounded by the Whitebeard Pirates… felt brighter than sunlight itself.
Despite the endless parties and drinking, Ashveil's strength continued to grow at an astonishing rate.
Since the Marineford War, his Conqueror's Haki had soared past 8,000 points, and every one of his Devil Fruit abilities had advanced to their highest form.
But there was something even more incredible.
His Conqueror's Haki had evolved—unlocking an active transformation:
[Golden Conqueror's Haki]
No longer did his Haki swirl like white smoke. Instead, it shimmered like molten gold, glittering under the sun as if wrapped in divine dust.
The transformation wasn't merely visual. Its power, defense, and oppressive force had all increased tenfold. Within his domain, the golden energy moved with a will of its own—allowing Ashveil to sense every movement, every presence, and every incoming strike with perfect clarity.
Currently, he could maintain a two-hundred-meter domain, and even that limited range made him virtually untouchable.
With such strength, Ashveil felt no fear toward the World Government. When he'd forced them to cede territory and pay reparations, he'd already anticipated their retaliation.
Now, with his Golden Conqueror's Haki awakened, he could face all their hidden forces alone.
Back then, to storm Marineford, he'd needed allies.
Now, he could raze it by himself.
---
That evening, while the Whitebeard Pirates drank and sang across the deck, a ship approached the horizon.
The visitor was none other than Donquixote Doflamingo, once Ashveil's temporary ally—and now, the self-proclaimed King of Dressrosa.
Ashveil raised an eyebrow when he heard the news.
Doflamingo had every reason to stay home and enjoy his riches. His business empire was flourishing; his yearly income had tripled since their alliance.
So what could the Heavenly Yaksha possibly want now?
He wasn't interested in trade, and if Doflamingo had come looking for a deal, he'd be disappointed.
A few moments later, Doflamingo arrived in person—followed by his top executives, including Vergo, the Marine spy within his ranks.
Ashveil frowned. "What the hell, Doflamingo? You drag your entire crew all the way here instead of enjoying your throne?"
He crossed his arms, sighing. "If you're here to eat, you'd better be ready to pay up."
Doflamingo blinked, then laughed loudly.
Typical Ashveil—always blunt, never pretending to be polite.
Yet that was exactly what made him so terrifying. He spoke and acted without fear, because he didn't need to.
Instead of taking offense, Doflamingo bowed his head slightly, his grin razor-sharp but respectful.
"I've come to form an alliance with you again, Ashveil-sama," Doflamingo said, his tone laced with excitement. "The world's about to shift once more… and I intend to stand beside the man who'll change it."
_____
The rate at which I get little to no power stones, lol💀
Well, if you want to at least read (60+ to 90+) chapters in advance.
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