A surge of raw energy crackled through Regulus as he held the purple fruit, its surface intricately patterned like some forgotten relic of ancient power. The Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Fenrir. The name alone echoed in his mind, as if calling to something deep within him. His grip tightened on the fruit, the weight of its promise settling over him. There was no hesitation—only the undeniable hunger for strength. For the extraordinary. He sank his teeth into it.
The taste was… wrong. A strange mix of sweetness and an almost metallic tang, as though he were biting into something that wasn't quite natural. A sharp tingling shot through his tongue and throat, spreading quickly down to his chest. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. His stomach twisted, a wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm him, but it was quickly replaced by something far more potent—a surge of energy that radiated from within, igniting a wild, untamed force inside his body.
Regulus ignored the aftertaste, pushing through the discomfort as he devoured the rest of the fruit. His body responded to the power, his muscles twitching, his very cells buzzing with intensity. The world around him felt sharper, more vivid—his senses already starting to heighten, but something deeper was stirring within him. An instinct. A primal hunger. His bones began to ache, stretching and reshaping, while his muscles twisted and expanded in ways that both terrified and exhilarated him.
The urge to transform became unbearable, a physical need clawing at him from the inside. His bones creaked and cracked, a sickening sound that made his stomach lurch. He could feel them shifting, elongating, reforming. His skin burned as coarse, grey fur sprouted rapidly, covering his body in a thick, bristling coat. His hands and feet distorted, fingers and toes stretching, nails sharpening into fierce claws. His face stretched forward, his jaw lengthening, and sharp fangs grew where his teeth once were. His ears twitched and flicked, pointing upward like those of a predator.
The pain was agonizing, but there was no going back. It wasn't just a transformation—it was a rebirth, a violent reshaping of everything he had known. Regulus gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly as his body buckled under the strain, his human form fighting to hold on. But the power of the Fenrir was too strong, overwhelming his mind.
With a deep, guttural growl—half human, half something else entirely—the transformation surged forward, unstoppable. He felt his spine curve, his muscles rippling with a new, terrifying strength. His senses exploded into clarity, each sound, each scent, every detail of the world around him intensified. The smell of the ocean, the rustle of leaves, the faintest scent of prey hiding deep in the jungle—everything was sharper, clearer, alive in ways he couldn't have imagined.
He took a first, hesitant step, his claws digging into the sand beneath him. The earth felt different, closer, more real. His body seemed to respond to the pull of instinct, driving him forward. His first leap was almost reckless, but his powerful legs sent him soaring across the beach in a bound, the wind rushing through his thick fur. The sensation was like nothing he had ever known—speed, strength, a rawness that connected him to something ancient.
He crashed through the jungle with abandon, tearing through vines and branches that were no match for his newfound strength. His body moved with a natural grace, each step guided by instincts that felt alien and yet entirely his own. Freedom. That's what it felt like—unbridled freedom.
And then, without warning, a howl erupted from deep within him. It wasn't just a cry; it was a declaration. The sound reverberated across the island, shaking the very earth beneath him. The birds scattered, panicked. The jungle seemed to shudder with the power of it. It was his voice, but it felt as if the Fenrir itself had spoken through him.
As the rush of transformation began to settle, Regulus tried to regain some semblance of control. He was still himself, still Regulus, but now something far greater than his human form pulsed through him. He focused, trying to quiet the storm inside. Shanks's lessons about control came to the forefront of his mind, but the Fenrir was dominant. His human commands felt weak, powerless against the primal will of the beast.
Suddenly, a bone-chilling cold seeped into his body, radiating outwards in an icy wave. His fur crackled with white-blue flames, each step leaving a trail of frostfire in its wake. The flames flickered and danced, freezing the leaves and trees in their path before melting them into ethereal ash. The power was immense, chaotic, unpredictable. He tried to focus, to control it, but the wild energy threatened to break free.
Regulus's gaze fell upon the "Fang of Fenrir" lying in the sand, knocked loose during his transformation. He lumbered over to it, his large paws gripping the hilt. As soon as his claws closed around it, a surge of power jolted through him. The weapon felt like an extension of his own body, balanced, alive with energy. The dark obsidian gleamed, resonating with the same force that surged inside him.
With an instinctive motion, he swung the blade. The sharp edge cut through the air with a terrifying swish, the weight of it familiar and comforting. Even in his clumsy, wild state, it felt as though it was meant to be in his grasp.
As the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows over the jungle, Regulus finally managed to wrest control from the beast within. With a final shudder, his fur receded, his bones realigned, and his human form returned. He collapsed to the ground, panting, his body heavy with exhaustion. His hands trembled as he stared at them—still alive with the echo of the Fenrir's power.
He had tasted the beast within him. Unleashed the Frostfire. Wielded the Fang of Fenrir. The possibilities were staggering, but the power came with a price. He was far from mastering it. The real challenge had only just begun.
A determined grin spread across his face. He had the beast now. But soon, he would tame it.