Chapter 8: Garling Takes Action!

Regardless of Rocks' ugly expression, Linlin chose to leave the battlefield the moment she saw the Paw-Paw Fruit.

She moved at an incredible speed, rushing straight toward Ivankov. Just as she was about to reach him, Carl suddenly raised his right hand, now cloaked in darkness, and aimed at Ivankov. A black vortex appeared in his palm.

"Universal Pull!"

Buzz!

A powerful gravitational force surged from the dark vortex. Ivankov and the Paw-Paw Fruit in his hand were instantly yanked toward Carl at high speed. Linlin, caught off guard, missed her target, her expression turning to confusion.

The distant powerhouses observing the scene reacted differently. Rocks stared at Carl in disbelief, his gaze locking onto the dark vortex in his hand.

"That kid from earlier?! That ability… could it be?!"

Meanwhile, Garling's face showed rare shock—not because of the Dark-Dark Fruit, but because of Carl's face.

"Who is that boy?"

His sharp gaze shifted toward Saturn, who remained silent. Saturn's expression was complicated, his voice barely a whisper.

"He's supposed to be dead… but he looks just like—"

Everyone harbored their own thoughts.

Linlin, after a moment of confusion, turned to Carl with an amused smile. Her voice carried a teasing tone as she said,

"I didn't expect you, a little brat, to have an ability. And it looks like a good one too. You're pretty handsome, but you just took something that belongs to me. How about handing over the fruit… and maybe coming with me?"

At this point, Linlin had yet to gain her bloated, monstrous form. She was still a stunning and fiery woman, her voice laced with charm.

However, Carl could only picture the grotesque, gluttonous Big Mom she would become in the future. A shudder ran down his spine.

Linlin assumed he was simply scared of her and laughed, striding toward Carl confidently.

Just as she thought she was about to claim the Paw-Paw Fruit, Carl suddenly tightened his grip on Ivankov's hand. Ivankov yelped in pain, momentarily distracted, giving Carl the chance to snatch the fruit from him. Without hesitation, Carl moved to shove it into Ivankov's mouth.

But he underestimated Linlin's speed.

In just a heartbeat, she closed the distance. Ivankov was kicked away like a ragdoll, sent flying into the air.

Linlin squatted down, effortlessly gripping Carl's slender arm between her fingers. Her expression darkened as she murmured,

"You're not being very obedient, are you… huh?!"

Her eyes widened in alarm. In the next instant, a black shadow wielding a sword appeared beside her, slashing down at her arm.

Clang!

The blade clashed against her haki-coated skin. The attacker quickly retreated, landing a short distance away, his piercing gaze locked onto Linlin.

It was none other than Garling.

Linlin instinctively retracted her arm. As the haki faded, a clear red mark remained on her fair skin. Her defenses were monstrous, yet she still felt a dull pain from the impact.

Frowning, she realized that the leader of the Holy Knights had abandoned the main battlefield just to confront her. That was troublesome.

"So the Celestial Dragons value this fruit too?" she mused.

Linlin had originally come to the Valley of the Gods for another Devil Fruit—the Azure Dragon Fruit. She had memorized the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia before arriving, ensuring she knew exactly what she wanted.

She already had the Soul-Soul Fruit, so she didn't need another power for herself. Instead, she planned to use the Azure Dragon Fruit to entice Kaido into joining her.

She had never truly submitted to Rocks and had long harbored ambitions of leaving his crew to establish her own power. She saw Kaido as the perfect ally and intended to bind him to her with the lure of the mythical Zoan fruit.

The Paw-Paw Fruit was originally just a secondary prize in her mind. But Garling's unexpected interference made her rethink its importance.

However, her assumption was off the mark. Garling didn't care about the Paw-Paw Fruit at all. His focus remained solely on Carl.

Turning his head, he scrutinized the boy before him, his eyes lingering on Carl's exposed chest. His gaze flickered with recognition upon seeing the crisscrossing scars.

"Hey, what's your name?"

Carl was momentarily taken aback. He knew exactly who Garling was—the leader of the Holy Knights, a Celestial Dragon of terrifying strength.

But why was someone like him interested in a mere child?

Was it because of the Dark-Dark Fruit?

No… There was something more to this.

Considering Garling's strength, neither Carl nor Linlin could afford to provoke him. Seeing no harm in answering, Carl spoke honestly,

"My name is Carl."

Garling's body stiffened. His voice grew more eager.

"Your full name?"

Carl hesitated. He had no memories of his past life in this world. If Garling truly knew something, perhaps this was an opportunity to learn the truth.

But for now, all he could do was be truthful.

"I… I don't remember. I lost my memories. I only know that my name is Carl."

His voice carried a tone of genuine sincerity.

Garling studied him in silence before murmuring,

"You remember your name, but not your surname?"

Carl's curiosity flared.

"You know me, don't you? Can you tell me what my full name is?"

As the two spoke, Linlin was completely ignored. Veins bulged on her forehead as her frustration reached its peak.

"Enough already! Who cares about names?! Who do you think I am?!" she bellowed.

Her patience snapped. She reached for the Paw-Paw Fruit, gripping it tightly and turning to leave.

Just as Carl thought all was lost, Garling moved again.

He simply swung his sword—a single, fluid motion.

A blade of energy erupted from the weapon, crackling with red and black lightning as it shot toward Linlin.

Linlin's instincts screamed danger. She hurriedly crossed her arms to block the attack, but in doing so, the Paw-Paw Fruit slipped from her grasp.

The fruit rolled across the ground—right to Carl's feet.

Ivankov had been kicked several meters away, but Carl wasted no time. He kicked the Paw-Paw Fruit into the air and shouted:

"Kuma! Eat the Paw-Paw Fruit, now!"

Kuma and Ginny, still in shock from everything happening around them, were jolted back to reality by Carl's urgent cry.

Without hesitation, Kuma lunged forward, opening his mouth wide.

The fruit vanished into his maw in a single gulp.

A moment later, a pair of paw-shaped pads appeared on his hands—his new power fully awakened.

Author's Note

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