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Tap tap tap...
With the sound of hurried footsteps, Aurelius's figure approached from afar, gradually appearing within the training ground.
At this moment, inside the training ground, eleven Kingdom Army soldiers with somewhat tattered clothes were standing upright under the shade of a tree.
These were the eleven elite soldiers of the Kingdom that Aurelius had sent out to sea when he was three years old.
As for their standing posture, it was based on the military stance from his previous life.
When he was three years old, Aurelius, in his anxiety, thought of that Mythical Zoan fruit in Sleepy Ancient Town in the New World.
Thus, with no other choice, Aurelius went to the Kingdom's Army.
There, through layers of selection, Aurelius chose eleven people to form an elite squad.
During the selection process, because he didn't have time to change some habits, some military discipline and standing postures from his previous life were brought over.
In the end, after the four Legion Commanders discovered that these things could manage the army more effectively and concisely, they adopted them directly.
Therefore, currently, the discipline within the Kingdom's Army was incredibly distinct. The four legions were all vigorous, and overall, their spirit was extremely full.
At this moment, as Aurelius's figure got closer, the eleven Kingdom Army soldiers couldn't help but get excited.
"Apocalypse Squad, Captain Aldo, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Edwin, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Pius, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Silva, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Sohrab, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Rakesh, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Bennett, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Benoni, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Lefert, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Felina, greets Your Highness!"
"Apocalypse Squad, Soldier Damian, greets Your Highness!"
"Good! Good! Good!" Looking at the eleven Apocalypse Squad members before him, whose clothes were tattered but whose spirits were still full, Aurelius nodded excitedly. "Warriors, welcome back."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" The eleven members of the Apocalypse Squad shouted in unison, then quickly calmed their emotions and quieted down.
At this time, Aldo, the captain of the Apocalypse Squad, stepped forward and took out a small box from his chest.
"Your Highness, your subordinate did not fail Your Highness's command and brought back the Devil Fruit Your Highness needed."
Looking at the small box handed to him, Aurelius felt somewhat exhilarated.
Reaching out to take the small box, Aurelius didn't open it immediately but spoke to everyone in the Apocalypse Squad.
"This was an arduous task. It took two years, but you did not fail my expectations and brought it back."
"Of course, what comforts me the most is that you all returned to the Kingdom safely."
"For two years, you have been drifting outside. Now, I grant you a long vacation."
"You will have half a year to spend time with your families properly."
"In addition, everyone is awarded ten million Berries and a manor in the first ring of the Crown Highlands."
"Finally, you are granted the title of Fearless Warriors. From now on, you are a special independent team of the Kingdom."
Hearing Aurelius's rewards, the eleven Apocalypse Squad members were instantly overjoyed.
"Thank you, Your Highness!!!"
Aurelius nodded, then turned to Linda beside him and instructed.
"Linda, take them to reunite with their families first. Also, have other departments of the Kingdom confirm what I just said."
"Yes, Your Highness." Hearing this, Linda responded quickly.
Subsequently, under Aurelius's gaze, Linda led the eleven Apocalypse Squad members out of the palace.
After everyone left, Aurelius couldn't wait to return to his bedchamber.
Opening the small box, a deep purple Devil Fruit with spiral patterns appeared in Aurelius's eyes.
"I hope it's really that Devil Fruit."
Muttering softly, accompanied by a golden ripple, the Devil Fruit in his hand instantly disappeared.
When it reappeared, it had turned into a golden Devil Fruit.
[Noble Phantasm]: Zoan · Bat-Bat Fruit · Mythical Type · Model: Vampire
[Type]: Active Effect Noble Phantasm
[Category]: Consumable Noble Phantasm
[Release]: After consumption, strengthens strength, physique, and recovery. Can transform into Bat Form and Hybrid Form. Possesses super speed, can fly by unfolding bat wings, can transform into thousands of bats, can absorb blood essence to heal the body or restore youth. No side effects.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Looking at the screen before him, Aurelius's expression immediately became excited.
"Zoan · Bat-Bat Fruit · Mythical Type · Model: Vampire!"
"That Devil Fruit eaten by Redfield, Patrick Redfield!"
In his excitement, Aurelius couldn't help but laugh out loud a few times. "Hahaha!!!"
However, Aurelius quickly stopped after laughing a few times.
Looking at the Devil Fruit before him, Aurelius opened his mouth and ate the Devil Fruit clean, bite by bite.
"Hmm... After becoming a Noble Phantasm, even the side effect of tasting terrible is removed... Not bad, the taste is refreshing."
"However, speaking of which, there should be a Mythical Zoan Tanuki Fruit in Sleepy Ancient Town as well."
"It seems they didn't find it, or it was eaten by that Pato."
"But, no matter what, getting one Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit now is already pretty good."
"With this, I can become stronger faster."
Muttering, Aurelius's body began to change.
First, a pair of blood-red wings grew from his back.
Second, two of his teeth became sharp while rapidly becoming slender.
His ears became pointed, and a mysterious sense of evil slowly emerged around Aurelius.
After transforming, the royal noble temperament originally on Aurelius became particularly obvious.
It gave people an elegant, terrifying, and mysterious feeling, making them afraid while uncontrollably feeling a trace of yearning.
Feeling the increased strength and physique within his body, Aurelius's gaze flickered slightly.
Whoosh~
His figure instantly disappeared from the spot, reappearing in a corner of the bedchamber.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~
As Aurelius's figure constantly flashed, gradually, the increasing speed filled the entire bedchamber with afterimages.
"Phew~"
Finally, Aurelius stopped at his starting point, feeling his plummeting stamina, a look of helplessness on his face.
"Stamina consumption is too great. Even though this Devil Fruit strengthened my physique, the effects won't show immediately."
"However, the remaining stamina is enough to test other abilities."
With a slight vibration of the bat wings behind him, Aurelius hovered in mid-air.
Controlling his body to fly constantly within the bedchamber, Aurelius discovered that just flying didn't consume much stamina.
Then, after getting familiar with the flight ability, Aurelius suddenly dived downwards.
Whoosh~
Flutter flutter flutter~~~
With a whoosh sound from the rapid dive.
Just as he was about to hit the ground, suddenly, Aurelius turned into countless blood-red bats scattering in all directions.
Blood-red bats flew scattered throughout the bedchamber, finally reconvening above the bed to reform into Aurelius.
Landing on the soft and bouncy bed, Aurelius silently pondered the ability of this Devil Fruit.
"This ability... is a bit like Logia elementarization..."
"Simply put, this Devil Fruit is more like a speed type, not as all-rounded as Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit."
"Overall, this Vampire Fruit possesses: Godspeed, Blood Absorption, Self-Healing, Bat Wings, and Transformation into Thousands of Bats."
After pondering for a while, Aurelius lay on the bed and summoned his attribute screen.
[King's Treasure]
[King]: Helios Aurelius (5 Years Old)
[Combat Power]: G (Lieutenant Class)
[Physique]: Ordinary Human
[Abilities]: Swordsmanship (Basic)
[Haki]: Observation Haki (Low Level)
[Devil Fruit]: Vampire Fruit (Low Level: Godspeed, Blood Absorption, Self-Healing, Bat Wings, Transformation into Thousands of Bats)
[Noble Phantasms]: Great Grade Sword Sea Burial (Sea Burial Swordsmanship), Dual Haki Training Manuals, Basic Swordsmanship Training Manual...
"I didn't expect my strength to reach Lieutenant Class..."
Looking at the attribute screen before him, a light flashed in Aurelius's eyes.
"It seems it's because of the Vampire Fruit."
"However, although my combat power has reached Lieutenant Class, my actual combat experience is insufficient. It's easy for someone to seize an opportunity and take me out."
"Looks like I need to increase some actual combat experience training."
"Next, the focus of cultivation will be on swordsmanship, physique training, Observation Haki, and Devil Fruit development."
"My basic swordsmanship is solid. Next, I need to slowly comprehend the Sea Burial Swordsmanship."
"The swordsmanship comprehension of a Great Swordsman, truly something to look forward to..."
As the last whisper fell, Aurelius, who had consumed a large amount of stamina testing the fruit, unknowingly fell asleep.
The attribute screen before him automatically disappeared.
Gradually, only the sound of Aurelius's breathing remained in the bedchamber.
Sleep time always passes quickly.
During this period, the maids carefully cleaned Aurelius's body and then put him back to bed.
Because the maids had no malicious intent, Aurelius's Observation Haki did not trigger a warning.
He slept soundly until the next day, when sunlight sprinkled on the earth.
Awakened by hunger, Aurelius sat up groggily on the bed.
Served by the maids, Aurelius brushed his teeth, washed his face, and put on his clothes while his stomach growled.
Finally, after the chef delivered a delicious breakfast, Aurelius began to eat voraciously.
PS:
[Strength Levels]: Yonko/Admiral/SSS, Admiral Candidate/First Mate/SS, Elite Vice Admiral/S, Vice Admiral/A, Rear Admiral/B, Commodore/C, Captain/D, Commander/E, Lieutenant Commander/F, Lieutenant Class/G, Soldier Class/H