"Captain!"
"Captain, you're back!"
"Captain! We heard you got taken by Charlotte Linlin—"
The crew swarmed him, talking over each other in excitement.
They always knew their captain was extraordinary—honestly, he didn't even look human (well, he wasn't).
But they never imagined he'd become the man of Charlotte Linlin, a pirate with a bounty of 1.5 billion Berries.
Reno waved his hand, signaling them to quiet down.
"Men!"
His voice carried across the deck.
"Our plans have changed—but only for the better!"
"Our new destination—Hachinosu Island!"
"We're going to see the man who claims he'll become the King of the World—Rocks D. Xebec!"
"So cheer! A greater adventure awaits us!"
"WOOOOOO!!!"
The deck erupted in thunderous cheers.
Hachinosu!
Joining the Rocks Pirates!
That was something countless pirates dreamed of!
"Bring out the best
"Let's celebrate!"
With a wave of Reno's hand, another banquet quickly began aboard his ship.
Music, roasted meat, and alcohol filled the air once again.
Reno sat at the center, drinking and laughing with his crew, fully enjoying the moment.
The celebration reached its peak—
When suddenly, a domineering voice cut through everything from the nearby pink ship.
"Reno!"
The music stopped instantly.
All noise vanished.
Every pirate froze mid-motion, then slowly turned toward the source.
At the bow of the massive pink ship stood a figure bathed in sunlight.
Even from a distance, her presence alone was overwhelming.
"It's Charlotte Linlin!"
"What terrifying pressure…"
"As expected of a 1.5 billion bounty pirate…"
The crew swallowed nervously.
Reno, however, simply smiled.
Looks like the transformation was a success.
With a flap of his black wings, he shot into the sky as a streak of crimson light and landed on Linlin's ship.
The moment he saw her—
His pupils shrank.
He had expected changes.
But not this.
Linlin still wore her usual outfit, but her entire appearance and aura had transformed.
Her long pink hair now shimmered with a soft silvery tint at the ends.
Hidden within it were a pair of golden fox ears, tipped with white fur.
Her already stunning face now carried an enchanting, almost supernatural charm.
Her amber eyes had become slitted, fox-like pupils, glowing faintly.
And behind her—
Nine विशाल, golden, fluffy tails swayed in the air.
Each one over ten meters long, glowing under the sunlight like flowing gold.
"My Reno, you're here."
Linlin smiled, revealing slightly sharpened canine teeth.
Before he could respond—
One of her massive tails shot forward.
In an instant, Reno felt his waist wrapped in a soft yet irresistible force.
"—!"
He was lifted into the air and pulled directly in front of her.
Linlin caught him and pulled him into a tight embrace.
"My Reno! Your ability will shake the entire sea!"
Reno chuckled, reaching up to touch her new fox ears.
"How does it feel?"
"Incredible!"
Her eyes shone brightly.
"I can fly without Zeus now!"
She immediately demonstrated—
Floating effortlessly into the air, her nine tails moving like wings as she circled above the deck.
When she landed, a puff of purple smoke appeared—
And suddenly—
She transformed into Reno.
"As long as I touch someone weaker than me, I can copy their appearance and even their strength!"
She clicked her tongue.
"Though your body is still a bit weak."
Then she reverted to her fox form.
"And I can feel it—my strength has increased by at least thirty percent!"
Thirty percent!
Reno was stunned.
Linlin was already an elite powerhouse.
A 30% boost likely pushed her into true Emperor-level combat power.
A thought flashed through his mind.
"System—can I absorb that increase?"
[Yes.]
[The host may extract the increased strength of converted targets without affecting them.]
[Unlimited extractions available.]
"Extract it. Now."
Boom!
A terrifying surge of power flooded into Reno's body.
His muscles tensed violently as if he were about to burst.
A faint red mist appeared on his skin, and his wings spread uncontrollably, glowing intensely.
Linlin frowned slightly.
"You okay?"
Reno gritted his teeth, forcing out a smile.
"I'm fine… your transformation boosts me too…"
The surge lasted over thirty seconds before finally settling.
Reno stood there, dRenoched in sweat, breathing heavily.
He opened his status panel:
[strength: Major General (740/1000)+]
[Speed: Major General (822/1000)+]
[Constitution: Major General (946/1000)+]
[Observation Haki: Intermediate (386/1000)+]
[Armament Haki: Intermediate (684/1000)+]
[Conqueror's Haki: Unawakened]
[Charm: 93/100]
[Overall Evaluation: Major General Level]
[Attribute Points: 35]
Major General level.
Just from Linlin alone, he had jumped from Rear Admiral to Major General—
Even approaching Vice Admiral territory.
Reno felt a surge of excitement.
This was the true power of Demon Conversion.
As long as he had strong targets and enough Devil Fruits—
His strength could grow without limit.
And Hachinosu Island…
It was full of exactly those kinds of monsters.
Including one at the very top—