Ever since Fang Huo gained the Gulp-Gulp Fruit's power, he'd been like a kid with a new toy, eagerly testing his brand-new ability.
Swallow a tree, turn into a tree-man; swallow snow, become a snow-man; swallow a stone mountain, morph into a rock-man; swallow steel, become Iron Man… isn't this just a Copy-Paste Superpower!
He even gulped down two hippos to craft a twin-headed hippo, three hippos to forge a triple-headed one… that's Fusion Alchemy!
He actually swallowed and fused with a Snow Hippo himself, transforming into a hippo-man… that's Beast-Warrior morphing!
"Fun! Way too fun!!"
After spitting the Snow Hippo back out, Fang Huo returned to human form, grinning non-stop.
The terrified Snow Hippo scrambled and rolled, fleeing the demon human.
Whenever Fang Huo used the Gulp-Gulp Fruit to devour a creature, he could completely crush its will and forcibly wield every one of its abilities.
It reminded him of how Wapol, after swallowing his elder brother Mochikuni, could instantly use the Munch-Munch Fruit power.
"Tch, one more Devil Fruit usage right gained!"
Fang Huo was extremely satisfied with the broken mechanics of the Gulp-Gulp Fruit.
As expected, Paramecia powers are bizarre and limitless in potential!
No wonder everyone loves Mechanic Freaks and Stat Monsters!
Fang Huo found himself disdaining certain caveman abilities—without mechanics and versatility, their development ceiling was way too low!
"If I swallow a poneglyph, wouldn't I gain indestructible hardness?"
Eyes sparkling, Fang Huo decided: from now on he'd be the HARDEST man alive!
Bar none!
Fang Huo watched the triple-headed hippo spinning in circles as its three minds fought for control of the body.
For some reason, Rocks' future son Blackbeard Teach popped into his head.
Come to think of it, Teach's symbolic animal seems to be the hippo.
Had he casually created a triple-headed hippo with the potential for three Devil Fruits?
The creature looked like one being, but it was actually three separate individuals fused together.
If each head were lucky enough to eat a Devil Fruit, it would become a three-fruit user.
Fang Huo had a wild thought: could Teach's monstrous form actually be… "Nah, just a coincidence, right?"
He rubbed his chin and muttered—though the Blackbeard Pirates did raid Drum Kingdom, hunting for Wapol and his Gulp-Gulp Fruit.
Maybe there really is some connection?
Did that Old Fox Oda use the Three-Headed Chief Judge—three people disguised as one—in the Enies Lobby Arc as foreshadowing, secretly hinting to the audience?
Plus, Wapol fused his underlings Chess and Kuromarimo into "Chessmarimo".
See? I planted all these clues ages ago; you readers just couldn't spot them.
"—Forget it. In this timeline, the future is MY call!"
Fang Huo quickly tossed aside all those messy speculations about Blackbeard Teach.
In this timeline, whether Rocks' son would even be born remained to be seen.
Everything had already changed; the butterfly was quietly flapping its wings… If a Transmigrator couldn't alter fate and the future, what was the point?
After a full day of experiments, Fang Huo left the Snow Hippos' territory satisfied.
As for the possible Human-Human Fruit and Ox-Ox Fruits, he couldn't be bothered to search anymore.
Just two common models—Fang Huo refused to waste more time.
These twenty-five days had nearly driven him insane!
He needed a good rest!
—While the Rocks Pirates were missing in action.
At the CP headquarters in Holy Land Mary Geoise, anxiety began to set in.
For more than twenty days, the two CP0 Agents who'd successfully infiltrated the Rocks Pirates hadn't sent back a single scrap of intel.
"Damn it—don't tell me they've been exposed?"
"Dead or alive, why not even a peep?"
"Calm down. That ship's full of monsters with powerful Observation Haki; they probably just haven't found a safe chance to pass a message!"
"Relax—the Chief saw their Vivre Cards; they're still alive."
"Any idea where the Rocks Pirates have gone?"
The two CP0 squads tasked with the Rocks Pirates had received nothing from their Undercover Agents and now had no clue how to proceed with their follow-up plans.
Meanwhile, inside the round-table chamber of the God's Knights.
Four black Magic Teleportation Arrays were spread across the floor in each of the room's four directions.
"Tch, Saint Garling's such a workaholic—still chasing after Gu Yue Fang Huo!"
Shepherd Ten Somaz Saint lounged in a chair, boots propped on the massive round table, a casual grin on his face.
With the previous Leader of the Holy Knights having passed away, every Knight was vying for the vacant seat.
Shepherd Ten Somaz Saint had the backing of Great Elder "Agriculture War God" Shepherd Ten Pete; he figured he stood a better chance than the non-Gorosei elites Thatchers Mafy Palace and Figarland Garling.
Makas Petygrew had support from "Martial God of Environment" Markus Mazesaint, but her strength lagged a notch and she'd joined the Knights later.
She simply wasn't qualified to compete with the three elite Knights!
Barring surprises, the next Leader of the God's Knights would emerge among Shepherd Ten Somaz Saint, Thatchers Mafy Palace, and Saint Garling.
As for Saint Mammaia Foss from the Mamyia family—this runt had no right to vie for the post.
"Marfey Palace is also in the West Blue chasing some Haoshoku brat."
The Knight with the Ram-headed Demon power, now back in human form, leaned his scythe against the table, his savage face baring rows of razor teeth.
"Garling Saint and Marfey Palace are both on missions—aren't you being a bit too laid-back, Saint Somaz?"
Saint Mammaia Foss wore a jewel-studded bowler; his eyes hidden in shadow, he lowered his head to polish his Supreme Sniper Rifle.
"Hmph, it's all pointless effort anyway!"
"A mission must be precise and elegant."
"I've already picked up clues about the remnants of the Buccaneer Tribe in the South Blue."
Somaz brimmed with confidence—he knew Imu feared anything related to Nika.
Especially the Buccaneer Tribe, among whom the sun god nika had once appeared.
Of course, the D Clan and the Davy Clan were also thorns in the Celestial Dragons' side.
"So you're heading to the South Blue?"
Saint Mammaia Foss's eyes lit up; he didn't get along with the arrogant Garling.
He'd rather see Somaz become Leader than watch Garling rise.
He had no intention of taking orders from Garling!
"Hah, we're the noblest of Celestial Dragons—elite among elites. Why dirty our own hands?"
"We move only once our Hounds have gathered enough intel!"
"That's why Garling and Marfey are fools!"
Somaz smirked—those families that had never produced a Gorosei lacked the mindset of true rulers.
—