"Huff… huff…"
"That was close—almost lost control and shifted into my Sulong Form!"
"If I'd wrecked the tree of knowledge, I'd have felt guilty the rest of my life!"
The white-furred Mink scholar's face was slick with cold sweat; for his rare species to reach the scholars' island Ohara had meant surviving untold hardships.
Slave-ships prowled the seas, coveting every rare race.
Had he lost control and damaged the library, he'd be expelled—or even arrested.
His dream of scholarship would be over!
So every full moon he locked himself in an underground chamber, blocking every glimpse of Moonlight.
Afraid the other scholars might brand him a monster.
Three Sheep stared in dread at the human radiating full-moon energy—blessing or curse for the Mink Tribe?
Even on Zou, fewer than fifty Minks could fully master the Sulong Form.
Most Minks scattered across the outer seas had no idea how to control it.
Seeing the full moon meant almost certain rampage.
Even Pekoms—future Big Mom Pirate worth 330 million Berries, master of both Haki colors—couldn't control his Sulong Form.
"Are you from Zou, or a Mink born on the outer seas?"
Kozuki Fang Huo studied the white Mink with interest; the black-framed spectacles gave him a gentle, bookish air, nothing like the savage beast he'd just become.
Yet moments ago the Moon-Lion's swelling body had reeked of brutality.
The Mink Sulong Form looked a lot like Saiyans turning into great apes under a full moon.
"You actually know Zou? My parents settled on the outer seas."
Three Sheep's eyes widened; even inside the tree of knowledge, information on Zou was scarce.
"The Moonlight energy I gave off—could it push you fully into Sulong Form?"
A speculative gleam lit Fang Huo's eyes; he could become a walking full moon, the Minks' personal transformation trigger.
The moonlight gu had merely been releasing its usual power.
Yet that sliver of Moonlight had triggered the Mink shift.
If he unleashed his full "Bright Moon Rising Over the Sea" lunar disk, these Minks would transform in an instant.
His Moonlight Ability would outclass Chopper's Rumble Balls for Bepo.
"Yes—I nearly lost myself completely."
Three Sheep stepped back, warily putting distance between himself and this dangerous human.
"I'm Kozuki Fang Huo—friends?"
Fang Huo smiled; a live Mink was a perfect test subject for his Moon-Moon Fruit powers.
He'd stumbled onto another astonishing use!
He might be the one true god of the Mink Tribe.
"sun god nika? Get lost."
"Fake sun god—can you even turn into a real sun?"
A grinning rubber clown had stolen the title of sun god.
Even a Logia Mera Mera no Mi user would fit the name better than a rubber man.
"I'm Three Sheep, white-furred Mink, scholar and doctor—hello…"
Seeing Fang Huo's friendliness, Three Sheep hastened to answer politely.
Life for rare species on the outer seas was harsh.
Minks were openly listed on human auction blocks, starting bid 700,000 Berries.
"A doctor? Ever consider piracy?"
Though he expected refusal, Fang Huo issued the invitation to the mild-mannered goat-Mink.
"A pirate? Impossible—I'm a scholar!"
Three Sheep leapt back in alarm; this gentle-looking human was actually a pirate?
"Relax, I won't force you."
"Let's just be friends."
"If you're ever in danger, drop my name."
Watching the terrified Mink, Fang Huo chuckled and dropped the recruitment, turning back to his book on past Ability users.
He'd reached the chronicles of the Gulp-Gulp Fruit's wielders and their techniques.
'Gulp-Gulp Factory…'
Fang Huo's eyes blazed—a move that fused two people into one.
Fuse two Devil-Fruit users and you'd get a single dual-ability wielder.
If the master fused with a pet while staying dominant, you'd have a two-fruit powerhouse.
He thought of Amazon Lily's human-snake contracts; merging warrior and snake would avoid any struggle for control.
A far cleaner fusion than two humans.
Fang Huo decided: the Gulp-Gulp Fruit was a top-priority target.
'Maybe have Stussy and Linlin raise a compatible pet; turning it into a dual-ability user later will be easy.'
'If Rocks and the other Executives don't mind being swallowed, they could become dual wielders too.'
After reading the fruit's history, Fang Huo burned to sail to Drum Island and claim the yet-unclaimed Gulp-Gulp Fruit.
While Silver Axe scoured the vast North Blue for the elusive Mag-Mag and Glint-Glint Fruits,
his own goal was already narrowed to Drum—and with Soul Fire that could sense the fruit, he had to split off and search!
Byrnndi World, user of the Momo Fruit, was still active in the Grand Line.
If time allowed, Fang Huo would even detour to Sky Island, to the isle of Bika Island, and hunt the Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
The more he read, the more his heart raced.
"Thank you… for being willing to be my friend."
Three Sheep hadn't expected this human to offer friendship; joy lit his face.
As long as no one forced him into piracy, he was happy to make friends.
He wasn't sure he believed the claim that dropping Fang Huo's name would keep him safe.
This handsome young man hardly looked like someone important.
"Let's grab a meal sometime."
Fang Huo tossed out the invitation; later he'd test how far his Moonlight could push the Mink.
"Sure!"
They exchanged den den mushi numbers, and Three Sheep hurried off to resume his research.
Watching him leave, Fang Huo's lips curved in a smile.
"Minks, your Moon God has arrived—prepare to welcome your one true deity!"
Rabbit-girls, cat-girls, dog-girls… Fang Huo clutched his chest—how could a human fantasize about such adorable beast-girls!
He was the Great Love Immortal Venerable, a man beyond base desires, guiding all races to prosperity!
Still… since he was here…
He might as well try.
Life's brilliance lies in endless experimentation!
Yes, that's it—experience the mortal world.
Only by entering the mortal coil of all species could he become the true Great Love Immortal Venerable and stride toward the stars, toward the myriad worlds…