Vampire Devil Fruit!

In the Sea Circle Calendar of 1503, located in the first half of the Grand Line, there lay a small island spanning more than ten square kilometers across the blue sea.

The moist sea breeze swept from the ocean into the dense woods, carrying with it the sound of rustling leaves.

Seagulls landed on the beach one after another, flapping their wings and creating sharp, sweet chirping sounds.

A boy of around fourteen or fifteen years, dressed in a blue suit, possessed a youthful yet striking appearance with silver hair, though he seemed somewhat immature. He lay on the beach, eyes closed, allowing the tide to gently caress his body.

Above, the sun's rays grew increasingly intense, gradually heating the surrounding sands.

The silver-haired boy groaned, holding his forehead with one hand and supporting his upper body with the other, slowly standing up.

"Where am I...? The sea...!?"

"Wasn't I rescuing patients in earthquake-stricken areas...! ?"

The young man opened his sapphire-like eyes and glanced around with a blank expression.

When he caught sight of his slightly slender, white hands, he couldn't help but feel shocked.

This was certainly not the hand of a twenty-six-year-old man...

In other words, this was not his original body!

As he attempted to recall what had happened to him, a peculiar memory quickly resurfaced.

In a violent storm with thunder and lightning, a pirate ship bearing a black skull and crossbones flag launched an attack on the large tourist ship where the boy was.

Hundreds of pirates, armed and ferocious, rushed onto the ship's deck.

Their leader, a six-meter-tall fat man with golden braids, oversaw the chaos.

The pirates unleashed their twisted desires, pillaging and killing.

Women cried in panic, and men screamed in agony.

In a bid to create an opportunity for his son to escape, the silver-haired boy's father sacrificed himself, fending off a pirate attack and providing a lifebuoy for his son.

The boy's father was fatally stabbed in the chest from behind by another pirate as he placed the lifebuoy on his son.

With his last strength, he threw the crying boy into the rough sea...

"Karl D. Sephiroth..." The silver-haired boy whispered softly, uttering the name of his new, frail body.

Tears inexplicably streamed from his eyes.

Despite not feeling much sorrow in his heart due to the memories of another adult's soul, he couldn't cease his tears.

It was as though the sadness of his predecessor lingered within him.

Perhaps this was the body's instinctive reaction...?

After some time, the inexplicable emotions slowly dissipated.

"Forget it! Since I have taken over your body, I will use your identity to survive! I will undoubtedly avenge you…"

"However, in this world... Gol D. Roger... Pirate King...?"

After organizing the memories of his new body, Sephiroth couldn't help but smile wryly.

It was now Sea Circle Calendar 1503, the fifth year since Roger's execution, marking the official commencement of the Great Age of Pirates.

In the coming years, the world would descend into increasing chaos.

Those lacking in strength might find it difficult to protect themselves, just as the boy and his father had...

"The pirate flag that attacked the tourist ship seems familiar to me..."

"On the black flag, there are eight bones behind the skull and horns..."

A sharp pang of hunger from his abdomen and the weakness of his limbs forced Sephiroth to halt his contemplation.

His top priority now was to find sustenance to replenish his energy.

Sephiroth retrieved a silver pocket watch from his pocket, checked the time, and discovered it was past ten in the morning.

Surveying the surroundings from the beach, he finally resolved to venture into the island's woods in search of food.

Though seagulls dotted the shore, his current feeble state left him with insufficient strength to aim accurately at them with stones, and he didn't want to squander what little energy he had left.

As for fishing in the sea...?

He was ashamed to admit that in his previous life, he was a landlubber.

He lacked confidence in his ability to drag his weak and fatigued body through shallow waters to catch fish.

Sephiroth's somewhat slender frame navigated the humid, dense woods with caution, despite wearing small leather shoes.

He paid close attention to his footing, wary of any sudden spikes or holes that might impede his progress.

After an unknown duration of walking, he finally came across a small fruit tree bearing several green wild fruits.

Sephiroth rushed over eagerly, intending to pick the wild fruits to quell his hunger.

Suddenly, as he dashed beneath the fruit-laden tree, his eyes caught sight of a round fruit with a purple-red skin adorned with spiral patterns.

The secret treasure of the sea—Devil Fruit!

Upon this sight, Sephiroth's breathing quickened.

He hurried a few steps closer and grasped the purple-red fruit in his hands.

If his memory served him right, the full name of this fruit should be...

Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire!

By consuming this devil fruit, the user could drink blood to grant themselves eternal life and youth.

However, why had this fruit appeared here? Wasn't it meant to be hidden in Trans Town?

Sephiroth, stranded on a deserted island without the means to defend himself, no longer pondered the reason.

He brought the vampire fruit to his mouth, bit off the peel, and swallowed it whole.

He refrained from savoring the taste and force-fed it down to hasten the increase of the acquired ability's initial development, assuming the unconfirmed rumor to be accurate.

However, the taste of the Devil Fruit triggered a wave of revulsion within him, surpassing any distaste he had experienced in his past life.

After retching for a while, Sephiroth's frail body could no longer endure the strain, and he collapsed onto the grass, unconscious once more.

After an indeterminate period...

Three men emerged from the woods, carrying wooden barrels filled with fresh water. Upon seeing the silver-haired boy sprawled on the grass, they rushed to his side to inspect him.

"Huh!? There's a boy here, but this is clearly an uninhabited island..."

"Why has he collapsed?"

"Judging from his physical condition, aside from being a little weak, he doesn't seem to have any ailments."

"This boy has quite the appearance. He'll fetch a good price if we sell him to the upper-class nobles."

"Alright, let's take him aboard first."

Without consulting the boy, the three men swiftly determined his fate...