After devouring Monjirō, every part of Dimon's physique jumped a full grade. Strength, stamina, speed, explosive power, all surged.
At his current level, he could flatten a hundred of his former self with ease.
More than that, he now commanded the Observation Haki Monjirō had possessed.
A pity the man had never learned Armament Haki. With a bounty of only fifty five million he had been small fry, but Dimon did not mind.
If this one lacked it, the next target would not.
"Time to deliver the wine."
Not long after Dimon left, Elder Roku entered to tidy up and found no trace of Monjirō. A chill pricked his spine.
Did he get away.
Roku's brows knitted tight. He had watched the door the whole time. The cellar had no other exit.
That left only one answer.
"Lord Dimon ate him," Roku whispered, and instead of fear an odd excitement stirred.
A demon is a demon only when it eats.
With Lord Dimon here, the Shione Kingdom would one day have its vengeance on the Celestial Dragons.
Skull Grand Hotel, top floor banquet hall.
By the time Dimon arrived with two bottles of the Wine of Immortality, the Rocks Pirates' main cadre had gathered.
"You are finally here, Dimon. We have been waiting," Rocks boomed as he rose. "Our new crewmate, Brewer Dimon."
All eyes turned to take his measure.
Dimon measured them back. Besides Captain Rocks there were fourteen core members.
Half he knew. The others were new faces.
"So you are the newcomer everyone is chattering about. I am John." A man with pale violet hair lounged on a sofa, drinking as he spoke, a pirate whose love of liquor needed no proof.
Dimon nodded to him and looked to the next.
"My name is Wang Zhi."
"Xiong."
"Marlon."
"Kansui."
"Rookie, call me Babel."
"You crafty bastard," another snorted. "Rocks says you have a miraculous wine. Is that it in your hand."
They were all notorious in their own right. Dimon had seen their posters.
The lowest bounty among them was the apprentice Kaido's, the same five hundred million as Dimon's.
"Pleasure," Dimon said with a small, courteous smile. He carried the bottles to the long table, chose seven glasses, and poured out the Wine of Immortality.
The moment the wine flowed, the circle closed in.
Rocks stared at the blood red surface. "So this is the wine of immortality."
"This one is mine."
Charlotte Linlin had no intention of sharing. She snatched a glass and drained it.
Shiki moved nearly as fast, seized a glass, and tossed it back. Then Whitebeard, Gloriosa, Stussy, and Streusen each took one in turn.
"What a taste." Streusen, the Gourmet Knight, needed only a sip before his eyes went wide. "Every cell is dancing. A thousand times better than Shakky's."
Is it that good.
Dimon was genuinely curious. He had never tasted his own brew.
Suddenly a blade slid between Streusen's ribs from behind. Blood sheeted down his chest.
"It hurts, you bastard," Streusen snarled as he turned.
Shiki yanked the sword back and watched the blood reverse and the flesh knit shut.
He grinned. "Testing the effect."
"If you want to test it, stab yourself."
Steel flashed in Streusen's hand.
"Enough. Fools." Rocks muttered. He was used to their scraps. They were all untamable beasts and only his presence kept them in line.
Stussy and Gloriosa ignored the scuffle and adjusted their makeup in a hand mirror. Whitebeard simply studied his palm, opening and closing his fist, feeling the change humming under his skin.
Those who had missed a cup stared in awe.
Undying.
A hole punched through the chest and gone in a heartbeat.
Eyes met around the table, then slid to the last untouched glass.
No one dared snatch it.
Rocks reached out, took it, and drank it down.
"How is it," Dimon asked, watching his freshly minted immortals. To him they were the finest crop of chives a farmer could wish for.
"As Streusen said, every cell is cheering," Rocks said with a wolfish smile. He could feel his body shifting already. "Incredible, Dimon. A single Devil Fruit into this. Genius."
With the last cup empty the rest began to fidget.
John sniffed and swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing. He glanced at the bottle in his hand and suddenly it seemed dull.
"Dimon, got more. Leaving us out is not right. We are comrades."
Wang Zhi's eyes burned. "Exactly. There should be more, no."
"One cup for one Devil Fruit," Dimon said lightly. "Bring me a Fruit and you can drink your fill."
"Devil Fruit," Xiong murmured, eyes narrowing as pieces clicked. "So that is why you hit the Celestial Dragons."
Rocks snorted. "If you want to drink, prepare a Fruit. No one lays a hand on Dimon. Try it and I kill you."
The captain's growl, or rather the threat inside it, worked.
Marlon lit a cigar and chuckled. "No one is that stupid. We may be pirates, but we treat the brewer gently. A Fruit is a Fruit. Go steal one."
"Good hunting," Dimon said, pleased. With this crew scouring the seas, sourcing would be far faster than doing it himself.
A thought struck Rocks. "Dimon, does it work on giants."
"It works on any living thing," Dimon said. "Giants included."
"Good," Rocks' eyes narrowed. "Come with me. Elbaf."
Before Dimon could ask, Whitebeard spoke. "Rocks has long wanted the Giant King. He plans to recruit him with the wine."
Kaido curled his lip. "Why not use force. Easier."
Rocks kicked him without looking. "Harald is my friend. Watch yourself, Kaido."
Kaido bristled, eyes hot. Disagree and we fight. Gods or not, who feared who.
Charlotte Linlin cut in at once. "Calm down, idiots."
As the Rocks crew became immortals, far away the drums beat in the Kingdom of War, Elbaf.
Inside the royal palace.
The Giant King, Harald, a colossus even among giants, stood grave and still.
Before him a Den Den Mushi rested on a stone stand, the voice of the Five Elders rasping from its shell.
"Elbaf's conditions for joining the World Government."
"Harald, you will slay"
"Rocks."