LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 236: Chapter 236: Consuming the Vampire Devil Fruit
After stepping out of Lazuli's lab, feeling refreshed and invigorated, Li Yuan received an invitation from Amatsuki.
Without hesitation, he took a bath to cleanse himself of any lingering traces of his earlier activities and headed to the Shogunate's residence in Wano Country, where Toki awaited him in her private quarters.
Amatsuki, having gradually become part of Li Yuan's family, had her own room within the shogunate.
As Li Yuan opened the door, his eyes were met with Toki, dressed in a loose kimono with a short skirt, her snow-white shoulders peeking out alluringly.
Tonight, she was unlike her usual self—graceful, elegant, and radiating the refined manners of a woman of Wano Country. Instead, her smile carried a seductive charm, and her demeanor was bewitchingly inviting, reminiscent of a courtesan's allure.
"Darling, it's time to rest," she said softly, her voice like the whisper of a succubus—low yet melodic, filled with a mesmerizing quality.
Li Yuan felt his heart soften instantly, drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Slowly, he approached, taking her delicate hand and pulling her into his arms.
Surprisingly, Toki took the initiative from there, showcasing what it truly meant to embody the unique grace and passion of Wano's women. Despite her seemingly delicate physique, she demonstrated stamina that far surpassed that of Lazuli and the others, leaving Li Yuan thoroughly spent after only two rounds.
"Perhaps this is a matter of personal constitution or the result of Wano Country's particular upbringing," Li Yuan mused before allowing himself to drift into a deep sleep.
---
Onigashima: Training Grounds
After a few days of honeymoon bliss with Toki, Li Yuan made his way to Onigashima for intense training.
"Huff… my physical growth has slowed considerably," Li Yuan sighed, lying on the ground after completing another grueling round of extreme physical conditioning.
From the age of 16 to two years ago, his body had undergone rapid development, but over the past two years, that growth had significantly decelerated.
He understood why. His body had reached full maturity, and further improvements would require either time, relentless training to surpass his limits, or the tempering of Haki.
"Speaking of Haki, my Sword God Body Refinement Technique has reached the sixth stage, focusing on tempering the meridians. However, my Armament Haki is still at the advanced level and hasn't reached its peak.
"If I could push my Armament Haki to the pinnacle, my body refinement efficiency would improve significantly."
Li Yuan pondered his options. "If I want to maintain my rapid progress, consuming a Devil Fruit might be the only viable path."
He thought of the Zoan-type Mythical Vampire Devil Fruit he had been safeguarding for years. It was a fruit he had always intended for himself but had hesitated to consume, wary of being hunted and unable to escape to the sea.
However, with his recent victory over Roger in the World Swordsmanship Tournament and his current strength, he was confident that even if Rocks himself were to return, he would face him without fear in six to seven years.
"Let's do it. There's no point in letting it sit and rot."
Resolutely, Li Yuan retrieved the Vampire Devil Fruit from his storage, brought it back to Onigashima, and consumed it in a few bites.
---
The Power Awakens
The moment the Devil Fruit's bitter taste hit his tongue, Li Yuan grimaced.
"Urgh! It really tastes like crap!"
Even with his incredible willpower, he found himself gagging, the revolting flavor making him want to retch. However, he quickly suppressed the nausea, channeling his Observation Haki and the power of Life Return to assess the changes within his body.
A surge of vitality coursed through him as an unseen force merged with his cells, invigorating every fiber of his being.
"It feels just like when I first awakened my Armament Haki," Li Yuan marveled. "My entire body is brimming with energy, and even simple exercises could yield substantial improvements."
He carefully compared his physical state before and after consuming the Devil Fruit. The results left him overjoyed.
"Just consuming the fruit has increased my physical strength by over 5%! This is the power of a Mythical Zoan."
Given his already exceptional physique, this enhancement translated to a significant leap in combat power.
"This is just the initial boost. As I continue to develop the fruit's abilities, my strength will only grow further," Li Yuan said with excitement.
---
The Vampire Form
Without delay, Li Yuan activated the fruit's power, entering his hybrid form.
As with all Zoan-types, the Vampire Fruit granted him three forms: human, beast, and hybrid. Remarkably, Li Yuan skipped the full beast form and directly accessed the hybrid form.
His appearance transformed dramatically:
His teeth became razor-sharp fangs.
A pair of dark red bat-like wings with intricate blood patterns sprouted from his back.
His once-black eyes turned a glowing crimson.
In a flash of blood-red light, Li Yuan disappeared, reappearing several kilometers away, startling a massive rhino into a cold sweat. The beast turned to flee, but a strange ultrasonic wave froze it in place.
The rhino collapsed into a deep sleep, utterly helpless.
---
Drawing his Seven-Star Sword, Li Yuan plunged it into the rhino's neck. The creature showed no reaction, as if it were already dead.
The sword glowed with a blood-red hue, greedily absorbing the rhino's blood. The massive beast shriveled within moments, reduced to a desiccated husk.
As the blood flowed through the sword and into Li Yuan, his injuries healed, his stamina replenished, and even hidden internal injuries were mended.
"It's like being a battery that's instantly recharged. Incredible!"
---
Li Yuan took a moment to evaluate his new abilities:
1. Enhanced Physique: His hybrid form increased his physical strength by at least 40%.
2. Speed: His speed became almost unparalleled.
3. Ultrasound Manipulation: The ability to produce ultrasonic waves allowed him to hypnotize or disrupt opponents.
4. Blood Manipulation: He could absorb blood to heal injuries, restore stamina, and even extend his lifespan, granting him a form of immortality.
5. Enhanced Observation Haki: With the Vampire Fruit, his Haki could now encompass the entirety of Wano Country, far surpassing its previous range.
---
Determined to further develop his newfound powers, Li Yuan resumed his rigorous training, eager to test his limits.
"Eva, crank up the gravity to maximum!" he shouted.
"On it, big brother!" Eva responded, flying over to assist.
Li Yuan pressed on, tirelessly pushing himself to greater heights. Though Yadina and the others worried for him, Li Yuan eventually heeded their concerns, deciding to balance training with rest.
"It's important to improve, but not at the expense of our relationships," Li Yuan said, smiling as he gathered his family for a meal.
The path to strength lay before him, and with his newfound powers, Li Yuan was more determined than ever to carve his legacy into the annals of history.
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