Chapter 18: Five Years Later

A Power Level of 860 in East Blue wasn't just formidable—it was practically unrivaled.

Someone like Arlong? A joke.

Ryu could take him down in three punches without breaking a sweat. And with his newly acquired Bat Form, he now possessed abilities eerily similar to those of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user—only without the drawbacks. The implications were staggering.

This realization sparked an intriguing thought. If consuming the blood of a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user granted him abilities akin to theirs, what would happen if he drank from a Logia-type? Could he potentially gain their elemental powers? It was a tantalizing possibility.

After all, he'd seen one just the other day—Smoker, stationed in Loguetown. Ryu's mind began racing with plans to ambush the Marine officer.

But he knew better than to act recklessly. Last time, during his evolution, he'd lost consciousness entirely. Had he been in a more populated area, the consequences could have been dire.

He couldn't afford such carelessness again—not when dealing with someone as dangerous as Smoker. Losing control mid-bite wouldn't end well.

By now, dawn was breaking. With Laru's severed head in hand, Ryu made his way toward the Marine branch office. His goal had been achieved; it was time to leave Loguetown.

The incident with those thugs still weighed heavily on his mind, and he worried about Gray and Mia back home. What if something happened to them while he was away?

On the way, Ryu spotted a familiar figure jogging along the road—Smoker. To his surprise, the young Marine was already hard at work, training diligently at the crack of dawn. So this is how he became a Vice Admiral later on, Ryu mused. Guess there's no shortcut to greatness.

Noticing Ryu, Smoker raised an eyebrow, glancing at the head in Ryu's hand. "That's… Poponoko 'Demon' Laru's head!"

"Good eye," Ryu teased, though his gaze lingered hungrily on Smoker's neck. The man was completely unguarded. If Ryu struck now, sinking his fangs into that exposed flesh, Smoker might not even react in time. Elemental powers awaited—Logia abilities that would make him nearly untouchable in a world where Haki was still rare.

But Smoker suddenly shivered, feeling an inexplicable chill run down his spine. Why was this brat staring so intently at his face? Did he have some weird fetish or something?

Meanwhile, Ryu winced slightly, pain flaring from his still-healing wounds. A tear slipped down his cheek, catching Smoker off guard. Startled, Ryu quickly wiped it away.

"I was actually looking for you, Smoker," Ryu said casually. "Can I claim the bounty for this pirate?"

"Uh…" Smoker hesitated. "No, you'll need to go to the branch office for that. I didn't bring any money with me."

"Alright then."

With that, Smoker resumed his jog, leaving Ryu standing there, watching his retreating figure. Once Smoker disappeared from sight, Ryu sighed wistfully. He looks so appetizing. The memory of Laru's blood lingered sweetly on his tongue. Devil Fruit users truly had the most delectable essence.

Shaking off the thought, Ryu headed to the Marine branch office. After exchanging Laru's head for 16 million Beri, he departed Loguetown.

A few days later, he returned safely to Boro Village, relieved to find everything in order.

The moment Ryu stepped through the door, Mia rushed over and hugged him tightly. Her enthusiasm left him momentarily breathless.

"Master Ryu! You're finally back! I missed you so much! Why were you gone for so long? You've gotten cuter too!"

Mia wasn't exaggerating.

Over the years, Ryu's appearance had undergone a dramatic transformation. Gone was the pale, demonic child; in his place stood a radiant, angelic figure. His skin now glowed with a healthy pallor—a rosy white that seemed almost translucent. His crimson eyes sparkled with clarity, as if they could pierce straight through to one's soul. Combined with his naturally aloof demeanor, Ryu exuded an irresistible charm that tugged at people's maternal instincts.

Ryu himself was pleased with the change. Who wouldn't want to look better? Though he estimated his current attractiveness was only about half of what it had been in his past life, it was more than enough to stand out in this world.

In a few years, he'd officially set sail—not debut, but embark on his grand adventure. The foolish pirates of this world had no idea what awaited them. Soon, they'd face the greatest among them: Ikano D. Ryu, wielder of Observation Haki, Count Vampire, and future legend. Tremble before him!

For now, however, life remained peaceful. With his recent rapid growth, Ryu decided it was time to consolidate his strength.

Thus began another period of steady training.

Five Years Later

Goa Kingdom, Gray Terminal.

Ryu gazed down at Luffy and Ace, who were now significantly shorter than him. Unable to suppress a grin, he chuckled softly. Thanks to excellent nutrition over the past five years, his height had skyrocketed. At twelve years old, he stood at an impressive 178 cm.

Ryu suspected he'd easily reach 280 cm by adulthood.

While such a height would classify him as a giant in his previous world, here in the One Piece universe, it wasn't entirely unheard of. Admirals routinely stood at three meters or taller, so Ryu's projected stature, while exaggerated, wasn't implausible.

"Damn it! How come you're so tall?! I eat just as much as you do!" Luffy complained, pouting indignantly. Ace mirrored his frustration, though envy flickered in his eyes.

Ryu shrugged nonchalantly. "Blame genetics."

Aside from his towering frame, Ryu's striking good looks turned heads wherever he went. Women swooned, men envied, and children idolized him. Life was good.

During one of his visits to the Goa Kingdom, Ryu had befriended Ace and Sabo. Unfortunately, despite his presence in this timeline, Sabo's fate remained unchanged.

On the fateful day, Ryu had been away on business. All he could do now was hope Sabo survived. After all, the four of them—Ryu, Luffy, Ace, and Sabo—had sworn brotherhood and promised to set sail together someday.

"Are you really leaving, Ryu?" Ace asked, craning his neck to meet Ryu's gaze.

"Yes," Ryu replied firmly. "My strength has grown considerably. You two know that better than anyone. Staying idle holds no appeal for me anymore. It's time I set sail."