Chapter 32: The Small Sea King
Did they not understand what it meant to be a vampire?!
The only challenge was the immense water pressure deep underwater, which required him to proceed with caution.
"Afraid to accept the challenge?" Zeff taunted.
"No, I accept," Ryu replied calmly. "But you'll need to tell me where these creatures frequent most often. East Blue is vast—I don't want to waste time searching."
"Right here," Zeff said, pointing beneath his feet. "That's why I placed Baratie in this location. Sea Kings are known to inhabit these waters frequently. However, they rarely surface—they despise light and tend to stay submerged." He handed over a photograph.
The Sea Kings looked different from what Ryu had imagined. Its appearance resembled that of a regular whale shark, but its body was pure white, like an ethereal spirit of the ocean. If forced to describe it, it was akin to a super-sized beluga whale—adorably majestic.
Ryu shot Zeff a glare. How could anyone think of turning such a magnificent creature into food? Was this man even human?
Caught off guard by Ryu's sudden glare, Zeff quickly added, "Ah, yes! If you manage to catch it, don't kill or harm it. I only want its caviar, not its life."
Hearing this, Ryu relaxed. In the world of One Piece , there were indeed skilled chefs capable of extracting caviar without harming the creature.
As Ryu studied the photo, a bold idea began forming in his mind.
Meanwhile, Sanji's expression grew increasingly serious. He knew full well the difficulty of capturing a Sea King. For years, he'd believed they were mere legends—but now, reality stared him in the face.
A flicker of anticipation sparked in Sanji's eyes. Rumor had it that the caviar of a Sea King possessed an unforgettable flavor. What kind of dish could he create with such a mythical ingredient?
Still, practicality won out. "Old man, isn't this test a bit excessive? How is anyone supposed to dive deep enough to catch such a monster?"
But as soon as he finished speaking, he realized someone was missing.
"Where's that guy?"
"Oh, he's already gone."
Plop!
The sound of something hitting the water echoed outside. Without hesitation, Sanji rushed out, shouting toward the sea. "Is he insane?!" Yet, no response came.
Zeff slowly emerged, placing a reassuring hand on Sanji's shoulder. "Don't worry, Sanji. That guy isn't your average person. He won't die so easily in the ocean."
Meanwhile, Ryu continued descending deeper into the abyss. As sunlight faded, his vision sharpened unnaturally. Around him, massive fish-like creatures drifted past—monsters straight out of ancient folklore.
Yet, this depth still wasn't sufficient. No Sea Kings appeared. Time seemed to slow underwater. Eventually, Ryu reached the seabed, shrouded in complete darkness—a place he found oddly comforting. Gigantic fish swam past, sparking another thought in his mind. What kind of boost would Sea King blood grant him?
Given their colossal size, their blood volume must be staggering. Swallowing hard, Ryu resisted the urge to hunt them—for now. His medium-sized blood pouch was already full; consuming more would be impossible.
The next moment, he sensed something behind him. A pair of enormous red eyes locked onto him. Turning around, Ryu faced a pitch-black eel-like creature over fifty meters long. Though considered a "small" Sea King, it dwarfed the Nearshore King of Windmill Village.
Initially reluctant to kill, Ryu saw no choice when the creature lunged at him unprovoked. Hindered by the water's resistance, he barely dodged before clamping down on its head and sinking his fangs into its flesh.
The wound was minuscule, and given fish's low sensitivity to pain, the creature felt little discomfort. However, its blood flowed steadily into Ryu, filling him with an intoxicating rush. Each gulp sent waves of power coursing through his veins.
His Power Level surged dramatically:
5865
5890
5920
...
The growth was astonishing—far beyond anything he'd achieved through months of intense training. Absorbing Sea King blood was clearly the shortcut he'd overlooked.
As his body absorbed the blood, the creature thrashed violently, slamming repeatedly into the seafloor. Each collision felt like his bones were shattering, but Ryu held firm. With a constant influx of blood fueling his regeneration, he endured the brutal assault, his body oscillating between collapse and recovery. With every restoration, he grew stronger, tougher.
Would he break under the strain? Not likely. As a vampire, pain was irrelevant. No matter how many times the beast struck, he could endure. Gradually, time blurred, and the once-mighty Sea King finally ceased moving.
Only then did Ryu release his grip. His clothes were tattered, but his body remained intact. His Power Level had skyrocketed:
Power Level: 6300
Just one Sea King had boosted his Power Level by 500 points—an increase that would normally take half a year of rigorous training. Sea Kings truly lived up to their reputation. This left him eagerly anticipating the blood of giants—and perhaps even the legendary Elephant Lord.