Rocks intended to visit an old friend in Elbaf and invite the Giant King to join his pirate crew.
Dæmon had no interest in accompanying him.
Harald was Rocks’s friend, not his.
However, Rocks’s earlier question had reminded Dæmon of something important.
The Elixir of Immortality worked on every living being.
It was effective on giants, other humanoid races, and even animals.
Naturally, that meant it would also work on enormous creatures such as Sea Kings.
In other words, Dæmon’s targets did not have to be limited to the pirates of Hachinosu.
After realizing this, he immediately rejected Rocks’s invitation.
“Harald is your friend, not mine.
I won’t be going.” Before leaving the Skull Hotel, Dæmon gave Kaido a meaningful wink.
…
Outside the hotel, Hachinosu was even livelier at night than during the day.
Pirates wandered everywhere in search of alcohol, gambling, women, and fights.
Dæmon waited near the entrance.
A short while later, Kaido walked out.
“Did you need something?” Kaido asked.
“Would you like another glass of the Elixir of Immortality?” Dæmon asked.
“Do me a favor, and I’ll give you one.” Kaido’s spirits immediately soared.
Although he was already immortal, the elixir was still exceptional wine.
He would never refuse another chance to satisfy his craving.
“What do you need?
We’re friends, so just tell me!” “Come with me and capture a Sea King—alive.” Dæmon deliberately provoked him with a teasing smile.
“With your strength, that shouldn’t be too difficult, right?” “Who do you think I am?” Kaido snorted before giving him a puzzled look.
“But why do you want to capture a Sea King?
Do you plan to eat it?” A look of disgust appeared on his face.
“Sea King meat tastes terrible.
I caught a few when I was starving in the past, but they weren’t worth the effort.” Sea Kings were among the most powerful creatures in the ocean.
They could be found throughout the world’s seas and came in countless bizarre forms.
Most were enormous, and the largest specimens were powerful enough to rule the ocean around them—hence the name Sea Kings.
“Are you going to help me or not?” Dæmon asked.
“Of course!” Kaido waved one hand carelessly.
“I’ll help you catch one.” What a dependable friend.
Dæmon found the situation amusing.
As expected of a pirate, Kaido could be persuaded to do almost anything with good wine.
“I’ll make the necessary preparations tonight.
We’ll meet at the harbor early tomorrow morning.” After parting with Kaido, Dæmon did not immediately return home.
Instead, he visited a medical clinic and purchased several large syringes.
The Elixir of Immortality did not necessarily have to be consumed orally.
Injecting it directly into a target’s body produced the same effect.
Once he returned to the Immortal Tavern, Dæmon spent another one hundred Demon Points to create a fresh bottle of the elixir.
He then used a syringe to draw some of the wine from the bottle.
“That should be enough.” Dæmon examined the crimson liquid inside the syringe.
“Devouring a Sea King may benefit me far more than devouring ordinary pirates.” The possibility was certainly worth testing.
With his preparations complete, Dæmon went upstairs and enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep.
…
The following morning, Dæmon arrived at the harbor.
Kaido was already waiting for him and had even prepared a ship for their journey.
It was not Rocks’ Fury.
The vessel was considerably smaller than the Rocks Pirates’ flagship, and Dæmon did not recognize the pirate flag flying above it.
“Where did you get this ship?” “I stole it.” Kaido grinned as if the answer should have been obvious.
For a pirate, stealing whatever he needed was perfectly natural.
If Dæmon had not been the only person capable of creating the Elixir of Immortality, the Rocks Pirates would probably have stolen that from him too.
Dæmon was gradually becoming accustomed to the pirate way of life.
“Of course you did.
Let’s go.” The two boarded the ship.
A group of pirates waited on the deck.
Every one of them had a bruised and swollen face, making it obvious that Kaido had beaten them into submission.
“H-Hehe…
Welcome aboard, Lord Kaido!” The captain smiled obsequiously, revealing several broken teeth still stained with blood.
Dæmon examined him with interest.
“What pirate crew is this?” “Lord Dæmon!
I am Bill, captain of the Hell Pirates!” the man answered respectfully.
“People call me ‘Devil’ Bill, and I have a bounty of one hundred and seventy-four million Berries!” Dæmon fell silent.
Munro, the pirate he had devoured the previous night, had also been an officer of the Hell Pirates.
What an unfortunate coincidence.
“Set sail,” Dæmon ordered.
“We’re heading for the Calm Belt.” The pirate ship soon departed from Hachinosu.
Sea Kings could be encountered throughout the world, but the truly gigantic specimens were most commonly found in the Calm Belt.
After two days at sea, the ship approached the edge of that windless region.
Captain Bill refused to go any farther.
“Lord Dæmon!
Lord Kaido!
If we continue, we’ll enter the Sea Kings’ lair!” He clung to Kaido’s trouser leg and cried desperately.
“We might be able to enter, but we’ll never escape!
There’s no wind in the Calm Belt, so the ship will be stranded!” “Stop complaining and keep sailing.” Kaido kicked him across the deck.
Seeing how terrified the crew was, Dæmon raised a hand.
“Forget it.
Lower a small boat.
Kaido and I will continue alone.” Both of them were immortal, and Kaido was powerful enough to handle any danger they encountered.
There was nothing to fear.
Bill was so relieved that tears filled his eyes.
“Yes, Lord Dæmon!
Lower a boat immediately!” His men hurriedly obeyed.
Dæmon lightly leaped over the railing and landed inside the small boat.
When Kaido jumped after him, the vessel nearly shattered beneath his weight.
“You row.” Dæmon steadied himself by gripping the sides before tossing both oars toward Kaido.
Kaido caught them and frowned.
“We should at least take turns.” “Don’t be so petty.
You’re strong and hardworking, Kaido.” Dæmon patted him on the shoulder.
“As the saying goes, the capable are always given the hardest jobs.” “…” Kaido could find no response to that.
For the sake of another glass of wine, he could only accept his fate.
He grabbed the oars and began rowing with tremendous force.
The small boat shot forward like an arrow, nearly skimming across the surface of the ocean.
Boom!
Enormous waves rose behind them.
Within moments, they had crossed into the Calm Belt.
The Hell Pirates gathered on their ship’s deck and watched them disappear into the distance.
One pirate quietly approached Bill.
“Captain, should we escape while we still can?” “Idiot!
Do you want Kaido to kill us?” Bill struck him on the head.
“Drop anchor and wait for them!” …
Kaido continued rowing with all his strength, propelling the little boat rapidly across the sea.
Half an hour passed.
Dæmon looked around and saw nothing but water in every direction.
There were no islands or other landmarks, and he had completely lost his sense of direction.
“Kaido, did you bring a Log Pose?” “No.” Kaido stopped rowing and frowned as he examined the surrounding sea.
“This is the Calm Belt, isn’t it?
Why haven’t we encountered any Sea Kings?” We’re lost.
Dæmon was speechless.
Kaido might have been reckless, but Dæmon had been equally careless for following him without preparing any navigational equipment.
“Hm?” Kaido suddenly narrowed his eyes.
“Something is coming from below.
Be careful, Dæmon.” The small boat began to tremble.
The surrounding seawater bulged upward before erupting with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
An enormous creature emerged from beneath the sea.
It resembled a horse covered in black-and-white markings, although only its head and part of its upper body were visible above the water.
The small boat now rested directly on top of the creature’s head and was carried hundreds of meters into the air.
Dæmon leaned over the side and looked down.
“It’s enormous!” One of the horse-headed Sea King’s eyes was nearly twice the size of their boat.
The portion visible above the ocean alone stood several hundred meters tall.
“Hmph!
Leave it to me!” Kaido smiled confidently and leaped into the air.
He had not brought his kanabo, so he clenched his right fist instead.
Armament Haki gathered around it, condensing into a crimson-black sphere resembling a miniature sun.
“Wait!
We need to capture it alive!” Dæmon hurriedly shouted.
“I know!” Kaido descended from the sky and drove his fist into the Sea King’s back.
Boom!
The impact produced a deafening explosion.
Advanced Armament Haki penetrated the creature’s body and shattered its spine from within.
The horse-headed Sea King released an agonized cry that echoed across the ocean.
Its scream immediately attracted the attention of other creatures in the Calm Belt.
The shock wave knocked the small boat from its head and sent it crashing toward the sea.
Dæmon grabbed the vessel to keep it from drifting away, then looked toward the place Kaido had struck.
Advanced Armament Haki—internal destruction.
I see.
It won’t die immediately, but it can no longer resist.
In the blink of an eye, the formerly calm ocean became turbulent.
Attracted by the injured creature’s cries, one gigantic Sea King after another emerged from beneath the water.
“Worororo!
This is more like it!” Kaido had already entered the rhythm of battle.
Laughing excitedly, he launched himself toward the approaching creatures.
Dæmon seized the opportunity.
He took out the prepared syringe and injected the Elixir of Immortality into the horse-headed Sea King.
Then he leaped onto its head and pressed his right palm against it.
Devour.
Terrifying demonic power erupted from his hand and engulfed the enormous creature.
Fwoosh!
The Sea King’s body crumbled into dust within seconds.
The countless particles surged toward Dæmon before disappearing into his palm.
The moment the creature vanished, an overwhelming force erupted inside Dæmon’s body.
His power soared!