With the final item sold, the auction officially came to an end.
Karl toyed with the Heat-Heat Fruit for a moment before storing it away, a faint smile on his lips.
"Monkey D. Dragon, I'll leave the goods here. Take them when you're ready. As for payment—settle it after you've finished selling this batch."
Dragon nodded.
"Of course. We'll notify you once it's done."
"Good. Then I'll see you next time. Raven, let's go."
Return to Headquarters
The next day, Marineford.
After a brief report at the Fleet Admiral's office, Karl boarded a warship once more and set off for the New World. Such was the life of a Marine: if you weren't fighting, you were traveling.
Three months later, Karl had successfully developed Holy Light Projection. He could now manifest wings of light, allowing him to fly without relying on Raven. The speed wasn't comparable to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit or the Glint-Glint Fruit, but it was more than sufficient.
The ability to fly greatly improved his mobility—and more importantly, it looked incredibly cool.
At the same time, his awakening progress reached around 78%, bringing him ever closer to the evolution of his Devil Fruit.
Awakening
Sea Calendar 1520 — April. Aboard the Holy Light.
[Ding! Devil Fruit awakening progress has reached 100%. Holy Light Fruit awakened — "Holy Light Apocalypse."]
Holy Light Apocalypse:
Consumes 50% of stamina to unleash a field of light centered on the user. All allies within its range gain the Holy Protection effect for five hours. Can be used once per day. (This effect overrides all other Holy Light buffs.)
Holy Protection:
Greatly boosts physique, movement speed, and recovery (five times the standard Holy Light Blessing). If a fatal blow is received, a Divine Shield will automatically form to negate the damage (once per person).
[Ding! Devil Fruit advancement unlocked. Sacrifice additional Devil Fruits to further strengthen your primary fruit.]
Karl sucked in a breath.
This was essentially an upgraded Holy Light Domain. The cost was steep, but the duration was immense—five full hours.
In real battles, if he ever needed this level of power, he could just activate it and relax while his stamina recovered.
"I've gotten ridiculously strong… I almost feel sorry for Edward Newgate now."
Even if Shanks, Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin teamed up, they'd probably still eat a slap from the Marines before leaving.
But that wasn't his main concern right now.
The true priority was to advance his Holy Light Fruit and become even more absurdly powerful.
The Evolution
Karl exhaled and took out all the Devil Fruits he had collected over the past year—about fifty in total. Among them were the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Dark-Dark Fruit, Heat-Heat Fruit, Cloud-Cloud Fruit (a Logia), and a variety of Zoan and lesser Paramecia types.
He returned the Dark-Dark Fruit to his inventory. Everything else would be used as fuel.
"System, begin the Devil Fruit evolution."
[Confirm sacrifice: Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Heat-Heat Fruit, Cloud-Cloud Fruit, Ox-Ox Fruit: Cow Model, etc.?]
"Yes."
Golden light exploded outward from Karl, devouring the fruits one after another. Then he lost consciousness.
In the haze, he felt as though he were soaking in a warm spring—light, warm, and weightless.
When he awoke—
[Ding! Evolution successful. Paramecia Holy Light Fruit has evolved into — Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Model: Holy Arbiter.]
New Power
Human Form:
Retains all Holy Light abilities. Holy Light now carries thermal energy (similar to a certain glowing primate). Physical attributes and regeneration are significantly enhanced.
Holy Arbiter Form:
The body transforms into pure light, immune to physical attacks as well as normal flame and lightning. Allows near-light-speed movement through the atmosphere. Under sunlight, stamina and regeneration increase by 500%. All human-form abilities remain available.
Awakened Ability — Divine Judgment:
Transform into a towering Divine Arbiter. All attributes increase by 300% for 30 minutes if stamina falls below 30%. After the duration ends, all stored Holy Light is released in a massive explosion, followed by a period of exhaustion.
Karl stared at the description in silence.
"This is basically the Holy Light Fruit… plus the Glint-Glint Fruit."
In essence, he now possessed a Logia-level Holy Light ability—enhanced by Zoan-class regeneration.
Current Status
Name: Karl
Age: 30 (turns 31 after May)
Physique: EX (Boosted by "Heartthrob" and Devil Fruit)
Perception: SSS+
Willpower: SSS+
Haki:
Armament: MAX (Hardening, Infusion, Emission, Internal Destruction)Observation: MAX (Weakness Detection)Conqueror's: MAX (Domination, Infusion, Observation-Killing, Physical Damage)
Special Abilities:
Still as a Maiden, Swift as a Mad Rabbit, Father of the Sea, Swordsmanship MAX, Fish-Man Strength, Steel Body, Wandering Swordsman's Heart, Desert Affinity, Agent of Justice, Heartthrob (+92.32% stamina, +184.64% recovery)
Devil Fruit:
Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan Model: Holy Arbiter (Awakened)
Active Skills:
Frail Form (available), Shadow Vision (in use), Awakened Holy Light Apocalypse (available)
Karl exhaled.
"Seven years of 'slacking off'… and somehow I've ended up unstoppable."
[Ding! Worldline alteration detected. Ultimate Mission Unlocked — "Rise of the Worker."]
Rise of the Worker:
Life is turbulent, and those who work tirelessly still struggle to grasp what they deserve. Now is the time to change that.
Objective: Stand atop the world as the ultimate "boss."
No time limit. No penalty.
Reward: One wish granted.
Karl gazed out at the surging sea beyond the window and smiled faintly.
"The old era is fading… and the new one is coming."
"And the Holy Light… will cleanse everything."
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