Chapter 58 Devil Fruit Involving The "Law Of Time"

Edward Newgate.

This is the legendary powerhouse who once rivaled the Pirate King, Roger.

He is the Pirate Emperor known as "the strongest man in the world."

Dealing with him alone is already daunting.

But then, there are his captains: "Phoenix" Marco, "Diamond" Jozu, "Flower Sword" Vista, and many others.

Not to mention the overwhelming force they've brought this time.

The captains of the pirate crews under Whitebeard are all notorious figures with bounties exceeding 100 million Berries. Their strength is not to be underestimated.

However, Akainu did not feel nervous—instead, he was impatient.

Time spares no one, and even the mightiest cannot remain at their peak forever.

Whitebeard might have been incredibly strong once, but now, he's just an old man in his sixties, a relic of the past.

Akainu saw Whitebeard, the former legend, as an opportunity to make up for the regret of not having killed Kaido himself.

Thinking of this, Akainu glanced at Carlos, feeling an unexpected surge of competition.

"Since Whitebeard has walked into this trap, he can join Kaido in the afterlife," Akainu said softly, then turned, his justice cloak billowing as he strode towards the door.

Carlos also stood up and said, "In that case, let's set off."

Sengoku rubbed his brow. "Your warships and soldiers aren't fully prepared yet."

"It's an emergency, and we don't have time to wait. We'll use Gion's crew."

Marineford, Port, Evening.

Under the glow of the setting sun, the blue sea shimmered with orange hues.

The breeze blew gently, causing the waves to sparkle as warships docked in neat, orderly rows at the port.

On the deck of one of the warships, Carlos, dressed in a black suit with a "justice" cape, leaned against the railing, gazing into the distance.

At Zephyr's suggestion, Ain had also joined the team.

"She may not be much help in combat," Zephyr had said, "but with the skills of a Headquarters Colonel and mastery of various ship systems, she'll be an asset."

Carlos agreed, seeing the value in an extra pair of capable hands.

On the deck, sailors were busy loading large crates into the warehouse—everything needed for the journey ahead: daily necessities, and military supplies provided by Sengoku, including well-crafted standard swords, muskets, Seastone bullets, Seastone nets, cannonballs...

"Vice Admiral Carlos, all supplies are loaded! Awaiting your orders!"

"Prepare to set sail," Carlos commanded.

At the sound of the bugle, sailors quickly hauled in the anchor and raised the sails, startling countless seabirds perched on the masts.

Under Momousagi's command, everything ran smoothly as the warship left the port, carving white waves into the sea as it sailed into the distance.

Nightfall, On Deck.

Carlos lay back in a beach chair, hands behind his head, listening to the waves crash against the ship as he silently gazed at the stars.

"The Big Mom Pirates are truly relentless..." he mused.

Since his encounter with Charlotte Daifuku at Sabaody Archipelago, the two sides had clashed repeatedly over the past few months, escalating to a point where reconciliation seemed impossible.

To Carlos, Wanokuni was a crucial part of his future plans. The actions of the Big Mom Pirates had solidified his resolve.

"It's time to settle things with the Emperor of the Sea."

"Our captain is really laid-back..."

A voice grumbled in dissatisfaction, interrupting Carlos's thoughts.

Momousagi stood with her hands on her hips, clearly unhappy.

Carlos smiled and pointed to the empty glass on the table before him.

"Perfect timing. Could you get me another glass of juice?"

"What did you say?"

Momousagi's frown deepened, her voice rising a few notches. "Just because Sengoku appointed you as fleet commander and ordered me to assist you doesn't mean I'll cater to such trivial requests!"

No one would be pleased if an unfamiliar person suddenly became their superior. Besides, this was her warship—why should she take orders like that?

Carlos chuckled, observing her with interest. "Since we have some free time, how about we finish that battle we started? A little sparring, perhaps?"

"Here? Are you serious?"

Carlos spread his hands. "Don't forget, we'll likely face the Big Mom Pirates during this mission. We should understand each other's strengths. I don't want to be held back when the time comes."

Though Carlos had clashed with the Big Mom Pirates multiple times, defeating three of their generals, he never underestimated Charlotte Linlin.

This woman was incredibly gifted, having awakened her Conqueror's Haki at the age of five. The "Steel Balloon" physique gave her a terrifyingly strong body, beyond that of ordinary humans. She once tried to help the giants by swatting away mosquitoes but ended up breaking several of their ribs with a slap.

Not only was her strength astonishing, but her defense was equally formidable. The giants' blades shattered when they struck her body.

With a monstrous body and the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit, she was capable of fighting Kaido, a Zoan Mythical Beast user, on equal footing.

In short, this mission would be no easy task.

Carlos's casual remark, however, stung Momousagi.

"Explain yourself! What do you mean by 'held back'?" she demanded, her chest heaving in anger, almost drawing her sword.

But she quickly regained her composure.

"As for fighting, let's not."

"What? Didn't you want to fight me earlier?"

Momousagi huffed. "That was before, this is now. I know you're strong, but I'm no pushover. The sword has no eyes. If we truly fought, I can't guarantee I'd hold back. It's better to conserve our energy for the upcoming battle."

As she spoke, Momousagi seemed to resign herself to her fate and sighed softly.

"For this mission... I'll follow your lead."

Carlos smiled and pointed to the empty glass again. "Could you please pour me some juice? No ice. Thanks."

"Hey! Don't push your luck!"

"We're all on the same side. No need to be so formal."

"Ugh! I'll kill you!" Momousagi gritted her teeth and lunged at Carlos, starting a playful tussle.

But Carlos's strength was far superior. In just a few moments, Momousagi was bested, and she stormed off to her room in frustration.

"Carlos Vice Admiral, the battle is approaching... and Vice Admiral Momousagi..."

A timid voice broke the silence.

Carlos looked up.

Ain had placed a glass of orange juice on the table, but her expression was hesitant.

Carlos smiled and said, "Don't worry, I was just joking with her."

Then he added, "By the way, how about a little sparring? A few moves, just to see what you've got."

Ain looked confused and pointed at herself. "Me? Even Teacher Zephyr couldn't beat you, how could I...?"

She had been at the training ground that day and witnessed everything. Teacher Zephyr himself had praised Carlos for his Admiral-level strength.

Carlos interrupted her with a grin. "I remember you have a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, right? If used properly, it could be a real game-changer in battle. As the commander of this operation, I need to understand the strength of my subordinates to plan effectively."

He leaned back, placing his left hand behind his head, and continued, "Here's the deal. I'll just sit here, not moving. You attack me. If you can hurt me, you win. How does that sound?"

Ain was stunned by his words, a flash of anger appearing in her large amber eyes. "What? Sitting still? Vice Admiral Carlos, are you underestimating me?"

She took a deep breath and added, "I might as well tell you, I'm a Regression Fruit user. Anything I touch returns to the state it was in twelve years ago!"

Even though she knew she stood little chance against Carlos, Ain's innocent appearance hid a pride that was far from ordinary. She was not only a swordsman but also a Devil Fruit user, definitely stronger than your average Marine Colonel.

For Carlos to just sit there and fight her? From Ain's perspective, he was clearly underestimating her.

Carlos hooked his fingers, motioning her to come at him. "Sounds interesting. Let's see what you can do."

This wasn't just a whim. As the leader of the operation, it was important to show his strength and establish authority in front of his new subordinates. A quick sparring match was the fastest and most effective way to do that.

Ain snorted softly. "Fine, but don't blame me if you get embarrassed."

The shadow of Carlos's reputation loomed large. His relaxed posture and casual attitude only made Ain more determined to give it her all.

She drew the sharp blade from her waist and charged forward with a shout. At the same time, her other hand flared with a burning peach-colored flame.

Carlos, however, remained unfazed by her sudden attack. He lazily extended a finger, covered in Armament Haki, as black as steel.

Ain's eyes narrowed. She adjusted her stance and swung the back of her sword toward Carlos's neck with all her might.

"Interesting," Carlos remarked, his eyes lighting up with approval.

As soon as the blade made contact, the skin on his throat instantly turned jet black. The sword didn't even scratch him; instead, the force of the blow bounced back, causing sparks to fly.

"Good, but your strength is lacking," Carlos commented casually before flicking the blade away with ease.

"Fly Finger Pistol."

Snap!

The air vibrated, sending an invisible shockwave that struck Ain's sword.

Clang—

Sparks flew, and the sharp sound of metal echoed across the deck. Ain's wrist went numb, and she nearly lost her grip on the sword. But instead of being angry, she gritted her teeth and pushed off with her feet, using "Shave" to appear right in front of Carlos!

A sly smile curled on her lips. "I've got you now!"

Carlos silently watched as Ain pressed her small, soft hands against his chest. He didn't resist.

The next moment, a strange and mysterious force flowed into his body, spreading rapidly. Carlos raised an eyebrow, resisting the urge to counter with Haki, and observed the changes carefully.

The mysterious force came and went quickly, disappearing almost as soon as it had appeared.

Carlos looked at his body and sighed. "You've turned me into what I was five years ago? Fascinating."

"What? How is that possible?" Ain's smile vanished, and she instinctively tried to use "Shave" to distance herself from him.

But it was too late. Carlos reached out, pressing his fingers lightly against her chest, and the outcome was decided.

Perhaps it was the difference in their strength, or maybe Carlos's strong physique, but Ain's Regression Fruit only affected his physical appearance. His internal strength, Haki, and everything else remained unchanged.

Carlos rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. "Your ability does affect me, but that's about it. To be honest, it's somewhat useful."

Ain bit her lip, her frustration evident. "Is there no other way to use my powers?"

Carlos shook his head and continued, "Your ability is good, but it's a shame it's underdeveloped. Your Regression Fruit has the potential for many applications; it shouldn't be limited to just combat. In a real fight, your enemies won't just stand there and let you touch them."

He paused, then added, "You've got a rare ability. With more development, who knows what you could achieve. Don't underestimate yourself. Paramecia Devil Fruits have almost unlimited potential. If you continue to develop your powers, the possibilities are endless."

Ain looked down, contemplating his words. "I tried using it on Teacher Zephyr, but I couldn't permanently heal his injuries or return him to his prime..."

Carlos shook his head. "That's because the gap between your strength and his is too great, or perhaps you haven't reached the level of awakening yet."

He thought of Vice Admiral Vergo from the G5 branch, a master of Armament Haki. Even with his entire body covered in Haki, Trafalgar Law had sliced him in half with the power of the Op-Op Fruit. It wasn't that Vergo was weak; Law was simply too strong in his Devil Fruit development.

"Remember," Carlos continued, "your ability deals with the concept of time. If you develop it well, it could play a crucial role in the future. We've still got time before we reach Wanokuni, so use this time to grow stronger."

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