"Roar..."
Accompanied by a searing heat, a thunderous roar echoed through the surroundings.
Ren's form began to expand visibly, his once placid expression shifting into a ferocious visage, adorned with sharp, menacing fangs.
Antler-like protrusions emerged from the crown of his head, while fiery red scales adorned his entire physique, gleaming with a metallic brilliance. His limbs transformed into scaly armor, each featuring ferocious, razor-sharp claws.
"Boom..."
The ground trembled and fractured, as a primal and savage energy, reminiscent of a wild beast, surged outward. Countless creatures on the island, from birds and animals to fish, shrimp, and even colossal sea beasts in the nearby ocean, quivered in response.
A lion's head, antlers, tiger's eyes, elk's body, dragon's scales, wolf's claws, ox's tail...
In the blink of an eye, Ren had become a majestic creature drawn from the realm of myths and legends – a Qilin. This magnificent being, draped in resplendent shades of red, was an awe-inspiring sight.
"Huh...huh..."
In the following moment, a blazing eruption of flames enveloped him. Spectacular flames materialized seemingly from thin air, bathing his colossal form and casting a fiery, crimson hue over the landscape. The once lush earth turned to blackened, scorched ground.
Even the very air surrounding him wavered and distorted under the scorching heat.
"Whoosh..."
In the blink of an eye, Ren opened his maw wide. An awe-inspiring luminance gathered within, igniting into a formidable fireball.
"Call out..."
In the next moment, this astounding fireball pierced through the atmosphere, detonating upon impact with a towering hill. Rocks and debris were sent flying, while plumes of smoke billowed into the sky. The hill itself vanished as though it had never graced the landscape.
"Roar..."
Ren, now a fire-breathing Qilin, let loose a deafening roar. His aura exuded formidable power as he hovered in the air.
"Thunderbolt!"
The heavens responded with a tremendous burst of lightning, lancing toward a reef several meters high in the distance.
"Boom..."
A deafening crash ensued, accompanied by a cascade of rocks, as waves rippled across the sea. The colossal rock formation simply vanished, wiped from existence.
"Roar..."
Following this elemental display of power, the fire Qilin resounded with another earth-shaking roar. Bathed in scorching flames, it resembled a surreal, mythical entity.
Without warning, it hurtled earthward from hundreds of meters aloft, moving at the swiftness of lightning, and produced a thunderous sonic boom.
"Boom...boom..."
An overpowering wave of heat cascaded outward, and within several kilometers, the ambient temperature soared.
"Turn into lava!"
As if on cue, the fiery Qilin's trajectory shifted into that of a burning meteor, crashing with an earth-shattering impact.
"Boom...boom..."
A series of concussive blasts reverberated across the landscape, accompanied by torrents of incendiary waves. The surrounding area rapidly heated, causing the earth to crack like spiderwebs, and it transformed into an expanse of molten crimson.
"Gurgle..."
In the next instant, a scalding magma lake erupted into being, shrouding the surroundings in thick smoke and blistering heat.
"Whoa!"
Despite the passage of time, the fire Qilin emerged from the molten abyss seemingly unscathed. It pranced about with exhilaration, roaring triumphantly into the heavens.
Its roar was akin to thunder, resonating throughout the skies, leaving the entire ring of islands connected end to end, which comprised the Grand Line, trembling in its wake.
Countless creatures, from snakes to insects, rats, ants, birds, and beasts, as well as a myriad of marine life, including fish, shrimp, sea beasts, and even Sea Kings in the nearby sea, quaked with fear and trepidation.
"Wow!"
After an indeterminate duration, the fiery Qilin surged forth from the molten abyss, its feet treading upon auspicious clouds and enveloped in crimson flames. It resembled a stream of red light descending gracefully to the ground.
In an astonishing transformation, the colossal creature rapidly reduced in size until Ren once again assumed his human form.
It was truly incredible that he had emerged unscathed from his prolonged immersion in the magma, now frolicking about as if nothing extraordinary had occurred.
"Niu Niu Fruit · Phantom Beast Species · Qilin Form... I've truly struck gold!"
Exhilaration and joy painted Ren's countenance in an almost surreal manner. His newfound Devil Fruit ability, which he had unintentionally acquired on Little Garden, held unparalleled potential.
"Especially when my innate abilities, inherited from the Lunarian clan, converge with the attributes of this Phantom Beast Species I've recently obtained, the level of fire manipulation I now possess is beyond staggering..."
Suddenly, a fiery crest ignited at the base of his neck.
Simultaneously, Ren clenched his right fist, conjuring forth a blazing flame from thin air.
"Crackle..."
The flames surged with such intensity that the surrounding atmosphere became scorching and visibly distorted, sending a shiver down one's spine.
"Let's put it to the test!"
With narrowed eyes, Ren observed as the flames at the back of his neck once again extinguished.
"Fire Punch!"
Fury coursed through him as he thrust his clenched fist forward with sheer determination.
In an instant, the sky transformed into a crimson inferno, as the formidable flames expanded and soared skyward. This colossal blaze assumed the shape of a massive, fiery fist, its scorching heat distorting the atmosphere.
With an earth-shattering impact, it struck a nearby hill, about ten meters in height.
"Boom..."
Ancient rocks were reduced to rubble by the raging flames.
"Gurgle..."
Yet, what followed was even more astonishing.
Before the debris could settle, it was consumed by the relentless heat, melting into a pool of searing magma. The ground bore evidence of the transformation, blackened and charred.
"Ha-ha..."
A sense of exhilaration welled up within Ren.
Even though this was but a small test, he was certain of one thing. The temperature of his controlled flames had far surpassed the infamous 'Fire Fist' of Ace, the Logia Mera-Mera Fruit user.
"Mera-Mera Fruit... Even dogs wouldn't want to partake in it..."
He chuckled at the aptness of the saying while reveling in the incredible power he now possessed.