Starting with helping Zhao Kai ascend the throne in the snow

Pirate world.

The day after Blackbeard left, Lucci, along with Kaku, Kalifa, and others, finally confirmed that Teach and his crew had left after repeated probing. Subsequently, based on clues provided by the island's residents, they found Bruno's body.

Looking at Bruno's body, the CP9 members all fell silent. From the injuries on Bruno's body, they could roughly guess his final condition. They also knew that Bruno had chosen to commit suicide after his limbs were broken, as a warning to their comrades and to dissuade them from rushing to his rescue.

"Bruno, I, Lucci, swear I will not let you die in vain! I will definitely kill Blackbeard to avenge you! Ah..." After Bruno's burial, Lucci stood in front of Bruno's grave and let out a thunderous roar.

As fellow members of CP9, and having forged friendships during their recent escape, Lucci had come to regard all the members as friends and family. Therefore, Bruno's death filled him with uncontrollable rage, which he could only vent by roaring. With Lucci's roar, Hadori, the white dove that usually perched on his shoulder, was startled and flew up, fluttering nervously in the air. For the first time, it sensed its master's anger and sorrow.

Although Lucci was once a tool of slaughter in the hands of the World Government, the white dove Hadori represents peace and justice. Its existence also shows that Lucci is not completely cold-blooded and inhumane; he also has his own moral compass.

As Lucci's roar grew louder, his Devil Fruit ability suddenly activated automatically, switching back and forth between human, beast, and human-beast forms, and a black, cloud-like halo gradually rose from his back.

"This is the fruit awakening." Kaku and the others were shocked when they saw the changes in Lucci, and immediately retreated.

After an unknown amount of time, Lucci, still in his human-beast form, suddenly opened his eyes. He clenched his fists to feel the power in his body, and smiled with satisfaction. Then, he moved at high speed, almost teleporting. This extreme speed was completely different from the Navy's Six Styles of Shave; it was more casual and agile, unlike the rigid Shave.

"Damn it? I was so willful back then..." After experimenting with his abilities, Lucci suddenly looked at Kaku and said with a complicated expression.

"Captain, has your Devil Fruit awakened? What kind of changes have occurred?" Kaku asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.

“After my Cat-Cat Fruit awakened in Cheetah Mode, I received a comprehensive boost. My physical attributes and recovery ability have increased by at least 100%, and my speed has increased by 300%. However…” Lucci’s face suddenly darkened as he said this.

"What's wrong, Captain?" Kaku asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing." Lucci hesitated for a moment, then chose to remain silent. Only after awakening his Devil Fruit power did he realize the biggest difference between Zoan-type and other types of Devil Fruits.

Among the three types of Devil Fruits, Logia-type Devil Fruits represent the various natural phenomena and abilities that exist in the world, while Paramecia-type abilities are incredibly diverse, representing infinite possibilities and the unknown. There's a saying that there are no truly useless Devil Fruits, only people who don't know how to develop them. But in Lucci's view, this only applies to Paramecia and Logia types; Zoan-type Devil Fruits are a complete exception.

The abilities of Zoan-type Devil Fruits are predetermined from the moment of selection, limiting their potential. Ancient Zoan types are stronger than ordinary Zoan types, and Mythical Zoan types far surpass Ancient Zoan types. For example, an awakened ordinary Zoan-type Devil Fruit in its fish form could never be stronger than an awakened Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit in its Azure Dragon form. This enormous difference cannot be simply explained away by the fact that the ability hasn't been developed.

Once hailed as the most brilliant killing machine in CP's eight-hundred-year history, Lucci was extremely arrogant. Upon learning that the previously defected genius Who's-Who had chosen the Ancient Saber-toothed Tiger form, he deliberately chose an ordinary Cheetah form Devil Fruit, intending to prove that even with a weaker Devil Fruit, he could easily crush his opponent. His former superiors repeatedly tried to dissuade him, but Lucci's arrogance prevented him from heeding anyone's advice. He gave the Mythical Zoan type Kirin form Devil Fruit to Kaku, choosing an ordinary Devil Fruit for himself. In subsequent missions, he proved his strength with the Six Powers of the Navy, demonstrating that he wouldn't be affected by a mere Devil Fruit.

It wasn't until he awakened his Zoan-type Devil Fruit power that he realized the enormous gap between them was insurmountable, and he also realized how ignorant and ridiculous his arrogant choice back then was.

For example, if the bonus from awakening a Normal-type Devil Fruit ability is 1, then the bonus from awakening an Ancient-type Devil Fruit ability is at least 3, while the bonus from awakening a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability is at least 5. Furthermore, after awakening a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit ability, in addition to the powerful physical enhancement, one also gains control over the special abilities possessed by the Mythical Zoan, resulting in a world of difference in combat power. For instance, Kaido's Azure Dragon Fruit, besides its physical enhancement, also grants him the ability to control wind, lightning, fire, and clouds. After awakening, such a powerful fruit might even surpass the abilities of Logia-type Devil Fruits.

But all of this is now beyond Lucci's reach. From the moment he abandoned a Mythical Zoan fruit in favor of a regular Devil Fruit ability, he was destined to bear the consequences he faces today. This is also why, later on Eggman Island, even though both were awakened, Lucci was easily crushed by Luffy. A Mythical Zoan versus a regular Devil Fruit—the difference in their awakened forms inevitably led to a vast disparity.

At this moment, Lucci couldn't help but think that if he had chosen Kaku's Kirin form Devil Fruit back then, his combat power would probably be even stronger now. But there's no going back in life, and Kaku is also his friend. He can't just say it directly, otherwise it would easily cause Kaku to feel guilty, which would affect his later growth. Therefore, he can only swallow the bitter fruit of his youthful arrogance.

"Captain, what level of strength have you reached?" Kalifa asked enviously, looking at Lucci's awakened state.

Seeing the envious looks from Kalifa and the people around him, Lucci felt a little better. After all, many people never reach the awakened state in their entire lives. He regretted choosing the wrong Devil Fruit, while others envied him for achieving the awakened state.

"After my Devil Fruit awakens, I should have combat power comparable to a Marine Admiral candidate. If I combine it with assassination techniques, even an Admiral would fall into my hands if he is careless." After regaining his composure, Lucci told the CP9 members about his current state.

While Devil Fruit abilities are a major factor influencing combat power, so is Haki. Lucci has made up his mind to diligently train in Haki to atone for his past mistakes. However, unlike Devil Fruit abilities, Haki cannot be acquired overnight; it requires continuous, gradual accumulation.

Upon hearing that Lucci possessed combat strength comparable to a Marine Admiral candidate, everyone wore expressions of envy. Within the World Government's direct agencies, such combat strength was second only to a few mysterious powerhouses of CP0, making him a trump card in the World Government's hands.

Just as everyone was celebrating Lucci's increased strength, a CP0 member wearing a mask suddenly appeared beside them, clicking his tongue and saying, "You've brought a huge negative impact on the World Government's honor, and you still have the nerve to be happy here? I find your ignorance laughable. Next, I will eliminate you weaklings who have caused damage to the World Government's reputation, in order to wash away the World Government's shame."

"Watch out, everyone come to the back." Upon seeing the CP0 members appear, Lucci immediately bristled, activated his Awakened state, and looked at the CP0 members in front of him as if facing a formidable enemy.

CP0 is the most powerful intelligence agency within the World Government. Each CP0 member possesses combat strength comparable to a Marine Admiral, and three CP0 members correspond to the three Marine Admirals. The CP organization also corresponds to the Marine apparatus; while there is some cooperation, there is also a degree of competition between the two. If CP0 were truly weaker than a Marine Admiral, they wouldn't be considered trusted confidants by the World Government.