One Piece: Blood Clan

With a Dao Power value of 860, in today's East Blue Bors was not merely at the pinnacle of combat strength—he was, by any measure, at the peak.

Creatures like bears were nothing more than trivial nuisances; a few swift punches and an enraged Bors could dispatch one without breaking a sweat.

Moreover, he had unlocked the Bat Transformation skill—a power that, curiously, resembled the transformation of an animal-type Devil Fruit user yet without any side effects. It was an astonishing ability.

As he mused on this, a thought struck him: since absorbing the blood of animal-type Devil Fruit users had granted him their abilities, might absorbing the blood of natural-type Devil Fruit users bestow upon him those powers as well?

Just the other day he'd seen one—in fact, Smoker was still in Loguetown! The idea sparked his strategic mind, and he began planning an assault on the Marines.

Still, Bors wasn't naive. His last blood-sucking episode had left him briefly unconscious, and his evolution had apparently occurred while he'd lost awareness. He was fortunate his remote hideout was so isolated—otherwise, a random passerby might have discovered him in his vulnerable state.

"Next time, I mustn't be so reckless," he thought bitterly. Losing control while biting Smoker was a risk he couldn't afford.

Now, as dawn approached, Bors clutched Laru's severed head and made his way toward the Marine headquarters. His evolution goal had been achieved, and it was nearly time to leave Loguetown behind.

Ever since that disastrous incident, he'd been uneasy about leaving home—what if Grey and Mia got into trouble again?

On the way, Bors caught sight of a familiar figure: Smoker, the notorious marine who now surprisingly spent his morning on a jog.

"Training at dawn?" Bors mused.

Smoker had once been a common man in Loguetown; no wonder he'd eventually climbed the ranks to vice admiral.

Smoker noticed Bors and his expression turned to one of shock as he glanced at the gruesome trophy Bors carried.

"That's… the head of 'Evil Ghost' Laru!" Smorg exclaimed.

"Not bad—you've got an eye for detail," Bors teased, his gaze fixed intently on Smorg's exposed neck.

In that moment, a dangerous idea sparked: if he could get close enough to sink his fangs into Smorg's neck—while the man was utterly off guard—Bors might gain the ability to "elementalize."

In an era when few wielded Haki, such a power would be unmatched.

Unnerved by Bors's unblinking stare, Smoker felt a chill crawl up his spine. "What kind of stare was that? Could it be… a weird obsession?" he wondered.

Meanwhile, pain flared through Bors's body as old wounds throbbed, and a single tear escaped, sliding from the corner of his mouth. Smoker's eyes widened in alarm at the sight.

Quickly, Bors wiped away the tear and called out, "I was just coming to find you, Smoker. Surely, even this pirate's head is worth a bounty exchange?"

"Uh…," Smoker hesitated.

"Can it be cashed in now?" Bors pressed.

"Not here—you must exchange it at the branch. I didn't bring any cash with me," Smoker replied reluctantly.

"Very well," Bors answered.

With that, Smoker resumed his jog while Bors continued to watch his retreating back until he vanished from sight.

A hungry gleam lit Bors's eyes as he recalled the taste of Laru's blood—the flavor still vivid in his memory. Devil Fruit users' blood was unbelievably sweet… he craved another taste.

Shaking off his lingering thoughts, Bors proceeded to the Marine headquarters. After exchanging Laru's head for 16 million Berries, he departed.

A few days later, he returned safely to East Bro Village—thankfully, all was quiet at home.

No sooner had he arrived than Mia bounded toward him. Due to his short stature, Bors felt a momentary suffocation as she enveloped him in an embrace.

"Young Master! You're finally back—I've missed you so much! Why did you take so long? You're even cuter than before!" she exclaimed.

Mia's praise wasn't empty flattery. Over the years, Bors's appearance had undergone a stunning transformation. Once resembling a mischievous little demon, he now looked more like a cherubic angel. His skin had shed its pallid, sickly hue for a healthy, rosy white; his eyes shone with crystalline clarity, as if able to peer into one's soul. He looked like a finely crafted porcelain doll—a striking contrast to his previously rough, intimidating demeanor—which naturally stirred a protective warmth in those around him.

Bors couldn't help but feel pleased with his new appearance. After all, who wouldn't want to look better? His current visage was nearly as refined as he'd dreamed in his past life—a level that would soon let him stand out as a true force among pirates.

Years later, he would finally set sail. "Foolish pirates," he thought with a self-satisfied grin, "in a few years, you'll tremble before the greatest of them all: Ikanu D. Bors, Master of Observation Haki and Vampire Count—Prepare!!"

For now, his thoughts were sweet and his life quiet. In the following days, Bors returned to his normal routine. His power had grown too quickly, and it was time to consolidate his strength before venturing into the open seas.

…

Five Years Later.

In the Kingdom of Goa—the uncertain final destination—Bors surveyed the familiar faces before him: a now much smaller Luffy and Ace standing in his path.

A wide smile broke across his face. Perhaps it was the sumptuous meals of these five years, but while Luffy had barely grown beyond his youthful stature, Bors's height had skyrocketed.

At only twelve years old, he now stood at 178 centimeters, and he imagined that once fully grown, he'd easily tower at 2.8 meters.

In the world they inhabited, such a height might label him a giant. In the pirate realm, however, where admirals averaged around three meters tall and many were even taller, his growth was impressive yet not entirely unexpected.

"Damn it," Luffy grumbled, glaring at Bors. "Why can you grow so tall? I eat just as much as you!" Ace, too, wore a look of envy.

Bors recalled how, during a visit to the Kingdom of Goa, he had met Ace and Sabo. Although in this life Sabo had met misfortune on the day of crisis—being absent while others fumbled—Bors only hoped his sworn brothers would remain unharmed. They had vowed, as four brothers bound by blood and ambition, to one day set sail together.

"You really are set on leaving the seas, aren't you, Bors?" Ace asked, his voice tinged with both concern and admiration.

"Indeed," Bors replied confidently. "My strength has reached a level where staying safe and quiet holds no allure. I've grown too powerful to be content with a life of stagnation—I'm ready to set sail."