Heat.
Scorching heat.
The air around him felt ignited.
Every breath he took burned like swallowing fire poison.
Zane felt his scales curling at the edges, his blood on the verge of boiling.
The primal instinct called “fear” screamed at him to run, to burrow into the ground.
“Run?
Run where?”
“I’m going to become the guardian serpent of Amazon Lily!
If I’m scared of mere flames, how the hell am I supposed to face Akainu’s magma or Kaido’s flames later?”
Zane forcibly suppressed his trembling instincts.
His golden vertical pupils, reflected crimson by the flames, flashed with a mad, ruthless determination.
[Ding!
Warning!
Host body surface temperature critically high!] [Warning!
High-purity thermal energy attack is causing continuous damage!]
The system’s alarms blared in his mind.
But then, a subtle prompt appeared:
[Hint: Large amounts of free thermal energy detected in the environment.
Skill Gluttony (LV1) can attempt to devour and convert it!]
Devour?
Eat the fire…?
Zane froze for a split second, then bared his fangs in an extremely ferocious grin.
Excellent idea.
If he feared fire, then he would turn the fire into his nourishment!
“Hiss— (Give it to me… suck it all in!!)”
In the sea of flames, Zane stopped retreating.
He reared up powerfully, opening his abyssal maw — wide enough to swallow an entire cow — toward the incoming rockets and roaring flames.
Skill — Gluttony, activated at full power!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!
A bizarre scene unfolded.
The scattered flames, as if pulled by a terrifying suction force, formed a massive fiery vortex and poured endlessly into Zane’s mouth!
The explosive rockets flying toward him were forcibly diverted mid-air by the suction, all of them vanishing into his bottomless throat.
“Wh… What?!”
Aine, who was about to fire her final arrow, froze completely.
She watched in disbelief as the giant python drank the roaring sea of flames like it was water.
The noisy spectator stands fell deathly silent.
Thousands of Kuja warriors stood with their mouths agape.
“He… He’s eating the fire?!”
“How is that possible?!
That’s the incendiary oil that can melt rock!”
“A miracle… This is a divine miracle!”
Gulp!
After the last tongue of flame disappeared into his belly, the blazing arena suddenly became clean, with only a few wisps of black smoke drifting in the air.
Zane’s body underwent a shocking transformation.
The scales on his abdomen turned glowing red, like a red-hot branding iron.
Through the gaps, one could even see magma-like light flowing inside.
A terrifying high temperature radiated from him, distorting the surrounding air.
[Ding!
Devoured massive amounts of thermal energy!] [Gluttony converting… Gained Temporary Status: Flame Charge!] [Comprehended New Skill Prototype: Elemental Breath (Fire Venom)!]
“Burp~”
Zane let out a satisfied burp, exhaling a mouthful of black smoke mixed with sparks.
Too hot.
His stomach felt like a volcano.
If he didn’t release it, he really would be cooked from the inside.
He lowered his head and looked at the completely stunned Aine in the distance, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Hiss— (Here, I’ll return it.
No need for change.)”
Zane puffed out his cheeks and spat violently!
BOOM—!!!
No longer simple venom — a terrifying purple-black breath wrapped in scorching flames roared out like a furious fire dragon.
It crossed a hundred meters in an instant and blasted straight toward Aine!
This attack carried not only the high temperature of flames but also Zane’s original deadly poison!
“Bad!
Armament Haki — Full Coverage!”
Aine’s expression changed drastically.
She sensed the world-destroying power.
She discarded her bow, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and released every ounce of her Haki without reservation.
BANG!
The purple fire instantly engulfed her.
“Ughhh!!”
With a miserable scream, Aine was blasted away like a broken kite.
She smashed heavily into the spectator stands.
Her snake-scale armor was completely carbonized.
Although her Haki protected her life, she had lost all ability to fight.
One move.
Complete reversal!
The arena fell into absolute silence.
Everyone stared dumbfounded at the giant black python in the center.
The red glow on his abdomen gradually faded as black smoke still leaked from his mouth.
This had already surpassed their understanding of any “creature.”
Immune to blades, intelligent, able to grow massive or shrink, and now… able to devour flames?
“We… won?”
Someone trembled.
The next second—
“ROAR!!!”
“Snake God!
Snake God!”
A tsunami of fanatical cheers erupted, nearly shaking all of Nine Snakes City.
In this nation that worshipped strength, Zane’s act of devouring flames had permanently branded the word “strongest” into everyone’s souls.
On the high platform, Hancock watched the figure bathed in cheers.
A seductive flush spread across her peerlessly beautiful face.
It was excitement, pride, and an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.
She stepped forward gracefully and landed in the center of the arena.
“Everyone, be quiet!”
The Empress’s voice instantly silenced the entire arena.
Hancock swept her gaze across the crowd, her deep blue eyes filled with supreme authority:
“From today onward, Night is no longer a mere pet.”
She walked to Zane’s side, pressing her soft, voluptuous body against his still-scorching scales without hesitation, and declared to everyone:
“He is the Vice Captain of the Kuja Pirates!
The Guardian Beast of Amazon Lily!
To see him is to see me!”
“Anyone who dares show him disrespect is an enemy of the entire Kuja Kingdom!”
All the warriors dropped to one knee in unison:
“Yes!
Lady Snake Princess!
We greet Lord Night!”
Zane listened to the thunderous salutes and felt incredible satisfaction.
This is how it should be!
This is the treatment a transmigrator deserves!
However…
“Hiss… it’s so hot…”
Zane suddenly felt dizzy.
His body swayed twice.
Although he had spat out most of the devoured flames, the remaining energy inside him was overwhelming.
Combined with the battle consumption, the system was forcing his body into “dormant digestion” mode.
[Ding!
Energy overload detected!
Forced Evolution Hibernation activating!]
Thud!
Zane’s massive body rapidly shrank back to his original three-meter size and collapsed limply into Hancock’s arms.
“Night?!
What’s wrong with you?!”
Hancock was startled and quickly embraced him.
His body was burning hot, like a piece of glowing charcoal.
“So hot… Did he overeat earlier?”
Hancock’s face was full of distress.
Forgetting all queenly dignity, she scooped Zane up horizontally and sprinted toward her chambers.
“Doctor!
Call the doctor immediately!”
“And… prepare ice!
Fill my private bath with cold water!”
Hancock looked down at the unconscious Zane in her arms, biting her lip.
A decisive, shy blush appeared on her face:
“Don’t worry, Night.
No matter what it takes… I will cool you down.”
“Even if I have to use… my own body…”
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