Chapter 168: The Vampire Fruit
Night fell like a velvet curtain soaked in ink.
The outline of the remote island blurred in the darkness. Only the endless waves crashing against the rocky shore could be heard, echoing like hollow wails.
Trafalgar D. Water Law stood on the damp beach, his brows tightly furrowed.
He scanned the surroundings. Twisted dead trees and eerie rock formations filled his vision. Thick clouds blanketed the sky, blocking even the faintest trace of moonlight.
"Tch."
He cursed under his breath.
"This place screams bad news."
Standing beside him, however, Yamato looked as if she had stepped into a whole new world.
She wore a simple moon-white kimono, its hem embroidered with flowing silver cloud patterns.
Her hands were tightly wrapped around Luffy's arm, her crimson eyes shining brightly like sparks burning in the dark.
To her, escaping Onigashima, the iron cage that had imprisoned her for over twenty years, meant everything.
Wherever she went now—
the air smelled like freedom.
Every view looked like paradise.
"Luffy."
She gently shook his arm, her voice soft and filled with excitement.
"Let's go explore!"
Her long silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall to her waist, rippling gently with her movement.
The kimono clung to her tall, well-proportioned figure. Her breathing rose and fell slightly, tracing powerful yet graceful curves beneath the dim light.
"This place looks super fun!"
She pointed excitedly toward the eerie forest deeper inland, as if she had discovered hidden treasure.
"Yeah! Let's go!"
Luffy immediately responded.
The familiar spark of curiosity in his eyes flared up instantly.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Yamato's wrist with one hand and casually pulled out an Eternal Pose from his pocket with the other.
The needle trembled slightly, pointing toward the depths of the island.
"This way!"
He grinned widely and started marching toward the forest of dead trees, dragging Yamato along with cheerful enthusiasm.
His steps were so light that it felt less like exploring a dangerous place and more like heading to a festival.
"…Seriously?"
Law's forehead twitched with irritation.
He had always known his captain was a fearless idiot who relied entirely on instinct.
He never expected caution from him.
But he absolutely hadn't expected their newly joined companion—Yamato, who looked both powerful and heroic—to be just as reckless.
This cursed place, filled with eerie winds, half-buried bones, and an ominous atmosphere…
How was it any different from Onigashima?
If anything—
it might be worse.
Law looked past their excited backs toward the depths of the forest.
In the distance stood the silhouette of an ancient castle, its black towers piercing through the low clouds like jagged blades.
Law sighed heavily and followed them.
He couldn't exactly let those two wander around alone in a place like this.
"Hold on."
A calm, leisurely voice suddenly came from the side.
The clouds parted briefly, letting a sliver of moonlight illuminate a figure sitting on a smooth reef.
Silvers Rayleigh lifted a large sake gourd and took a comfortable sip. A drop of clear liquor slid down his gray beard and dripped onto the rock.
His eyes carried a knowing smile.
"Let the young ones enjoy themselves."
"There's no need for us to ruin their fun."
Law stopped and glanced at him.
Rayleigh simply winked and took another drink, looking as relaxed as if he were on a seaside vacation.
…
The castle stood at the center of the island like a sleeping giant.
"Wow… this place looks scary!"
Yamato stood before the massive worm-eaten wooden doors with her hands on her hips.
But instead of fear, her crimson eyes burned with excitement.
Even a few loose strands of her silver hair trembled with anticipation.
"Maybe there are vampires inside!" Luffy said excitedly.
His rubber arm stretched forward.
CREEEAK—
The heavy doors opened.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Yamato and rushed straight into the darkness.
…
The inside of the castle was even more desolate than it appeared outside.
The vast hall contained only broken stone pillars and thick layers of dust.
Moonlight streamed through holes in the ceiling and shattered windows, forming several faint beams of light.
One beam illuminated the center of a stone altar.
"So… what's fun about this place?"
Luffy kicked a rock on the floor, sounding disappointed.
"Where are the vampires?!"
"I want to see vampires!"
He had always loved strange monsters and ghosts.
His experience on Thriller Bark had excited him for a long time.
At the center of the altar lay a Devil Fruit.
It was about the size of a fist.
Deep purple.
Round like an overripe tomato.
Strange spiral patterns covered its surface.
The curved stem resembled an upside-down bat.
Four sharp protrusions extended from the bottom like crimson fangs.
It was unmistakably—
The Mythical Zoan: Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire.
But Luffy still looked bored.
"Just a Devil Fruit?"
On Thriller Bark, the zombies were created by Devil Fruit abilities.
And now—
in the place most likely to have real vampires—
there was only a fruit.
Did real monsters not exist in this world?
Luffy casually picked it up, weighed it in his hand, then tossed it into his system storage space without a second thought.
"Let's go, Yamato."
"This place is boring."
"Just rocks, dust, and a weird fruit."
"…Yamato?"
Luffy turned around.
Yamato was trembling.
Her face had turned pale.
She stared upward into the darkness above them.
"The ceiling?"
Luffy quickly looked up.
Then—
countless crimson lights suddenly appeared in the darkness.
One.
Ten.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
They lit up silently like an upside-down river of red stars.
Or like countless malicious eyes opening all at once.
The sight alone could make anyone's scalp go numb.
"SKREEEEE—!!!"
The piercing sound of wings shattered the silence.
The red lights moved.
A massive black swarm surged downward from the ceiling.
Bats.
Countless bats.
Their wings collided with terrifying noise as they flooded downward like a living nightmare.
Just as the swarm was about to engulf them—
CRACKLE—!!!
Black-red lightning erupted.
But not from Luffy.
It exploded from beside him.
A violent, domineering wave of Conqueror's Haki burst from Yamato.
Black and crimson lightning radiated outward like a storm.
The entire castle hall shook under the overwhelming kingly pressure.
Lightning whipped across the walls and pillars, scorching them black.
Even the charging bats froze momentarily, shrieking in confusion under the invisible force.
Luffy stared wide-eyed.
He looked at Yamato beside him—
her silver hair floating, black-red lightning surrounding her body like a raging storm.
She looked like a war god descended upon the world.
Luffy blurted out:
"HEY! It's just a bunch of bats!"
"Do you really need Conqueror's Haki for that?!"
"LUFFY—!!!"
Yamato's reply came with tears in her voice.
The powerful warrior who had just unleashed overwhelming Haki suddenly rushed forward—
WHOOSH
—and crashed straight into Luffy's arms.
The impact even pushed Luffy back a step.
"…Huh?"
Luffy instinctively wrapped an arm around her slim waist.
Her body trembled in his embrace.
"You're this strong…"
"…and you're scared of bats?"
Luffy asked in disbelief.
Yamato slowly raised her face.
Her crimson eyes were filled with tears.
Her long eyelashes trembled as she sniffled.
"I—I'm scared of ugly things!!"
As soon as she said it, she buried her face deeper into his chest and hugged him tighter.
Like a frightened animal seeking shelter.
Luffy froze for a moment.
Then he awkwardly raised a hand and gently patted her soft silver hair.
His fingers brushed through the silky strands.
And suddenly—
he understood something.
All the enthusiasm.
The way she looked at him.
The way she followed him.
And now this complete trust and closeness.
Even Luffy couldn't misunderstand it anymore.
Yamato liked him.
This wasn't arrogance.
Nami sometimes relied on him during danger.
Robin sometimes looked at him with a deep, gentle gaze.
And Boa Hancock…
Well, her feelings were practically a volcanic eruption.
Thinking about it, Luffy subconsciously adjusted his posture so Yamato could lean more comfortably against him.
His chin rested lightly on her head.
A faint fragrance drifted from her hair.
Cold like snow, mixed with a floral scent.
Yamato really was beautiful.
Tall and powerful.
Graceful yet strong.
Silver hair flowing to her waist.
Every feature seemed to perfectly match his vague sense of beauty.
Still…
Luffy scratched his head internally.
When did his love life suddenly become so chaotic?
Back in Foosha Village, he never had this problem.
He pictured Nami calculating money with hands on her hips.
Robin smiling mysteriously.
Hancock staring at him intensely.
And now Yamato—who looked like a fierce warrior but was apparently scared of ugly things.
Luffy mentally crossed himself.
Hopefully the ship wouldn't turn into a battlefield.
After all—
he was going to become King of the Pirates.
Adventure and friends came first.
Complicated feelings like this?
He could only let things happen naturally.
…
After some time, the bats finally scattered.
Silence returned to the castle.
Luffy gently patted Yamato's back.
"Looks like they're gone."
Yamato slowly lifted her head.
Her cheeks were slightly red.
Her eyes still moist.
But when she looked at Luffy, there was now a softness in her gaze.
She quietly released him.
Yet her fingers slid down—
hooking onto Luffy's.
Luffy glanced at their intertwined fingers.
Then at her shy crimson eyes.
He grinned and held her hand firmly.
"Let's go."
"Rayleigh and Law are probably waiting."
The two of them walked side by side out of the gloomy castle.
The mood was completely different from when they arrived.
Something warm and subtle lingered in the air.
…
"They're back."
On the shore, Law leaned against an ancient tree, Kikoku resting in his arms.
His Observation Haki had already sensed their approach.
But the atmosphere between them…
felt different.
Closer.
Warmer.
Law frowned slightly.
He couldn't quite explain it.
But somehow—
it was irritating.
On the nearby reef, Rayleigh took another sip of sake.
He watched the two young figures walking out of the forest under the moonlight.
A faint knowing smile appeared on his lips.
But he said nothing.
…
The sea wind grew stronger.
Yamato's silver hair danced like flowing moonlight.
Her face still carried a faint blush.
Her crimson eyes shone softly as she looked at Luffy.
She leaned closer to him.
Gathering courage.
"Luffy… I—"
Buru Buru Buru!
A Den Den Mushi suddenly rang.
The sound abruptly cut off her words.
"Huh?"
Luffy's eyes lit up.
He pulled out the snail phone with the tiny straw hat shell.
"It's Sanji!"
He answered immediately.
But the projection that appeared wasn't Sanji.
Instead—
a desperate scream exploded from the receiver.
"STRAW HAT BOY—!!!"
"SAVE ME!!!"
"PLEASE COME SAVE ME—!!!"
The voice was filled with absolute terror.
It echoed clearly across the silent island shore.
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