Chapter 13: Four People

As Carl recounted his past, his expression remained eerily calm, devoid of any emotion.

Ginny and the others sat in stunned silence. They couldn't fathom that such a father could exist in this world. Even calling him "worse than a beast" seemed too kind.

Carl lowered his eyes, a wisp of black smoke curling from their corners. Despite his composed exterior, it was clear that his emotions were anything but stable.

"I will return to Mary Geoise one day," he muttered, his voice laced with chilling determination. "And I will kill him with my own hands."

Ginny's heart clenched. Instinctively, she grasped Carl's hand, her voice laced with worry.

"Brother Carl... Are you going to leave us?"

Ivankov blinked rapidly, his way of expressing unease, while Kuma lifted his head, his normally stoic face filled with concern.

Carl was momentarily taken aback. Then, a soft chuckle escaped his lips.

"How could I? I'm still weak. Now isn't the time to take back Mary Geoise."

At his words, the trio let out a collective sigh of relief. Having survived the Valley of Gods together, their bond ran deep.

For Ginny, the only girl in their group, Carl had long become her emotional anchor. When she realized he wasn't planning to leave them yet, she couldn't contain her joy. She threw herself at him, hugging him tightly and rubbing her face against his.

"That's great, Brother Carl! We'll always be together! Never separate!"

Ivankov, despite his injuries, attempted to chime in, but Kuma spoke first.

"Brother Carl, you gave me this strength. I'll work hard. I won't be a burden!"

A smile spread across Carl's face, but with the shadows still lingering around his eyes, it carried a strange, almost sinister charm.

"Kuma," he said, his voice gentle but firm, "don't you care that I'm a Celestial Dragon?"

Kuma shook his head and answered in a steady voice.

"No. Carl is Carl. He will always be my big brother."

Ginny turned to Kuma, confused.

"Then why were you so quiet before? You looked really worried."

Kuma hesitated, then lowered his gaze.

"I knew as soon as Garling mentioned Figarland. I had heard of that family when I was a slave... but I didn't want to ruin what we had. I thought if I pretended not to know, we could continue as we were. But then, Brother Carl spoke first..."

His honesty, coupled with his usual calm demeanor, made Carl appreciate him even more. Pushing Ginny away gently, Carl looked at the three of them in turn. Shadows loomed behind him as he spoke.

"Don't just think about me. You've all suffered because of the Celestial Dragons. I will make them pay."

Ginny bit her lip, doubt flickering in her eyes.

"But Brother Carl... can we really fight against the Celestial Dragons? They're too powerful."

Carl simply smiled and raised his right hand. Darkness rippled around it like a living entity.

"Of course we can. Otherwise, what's the point of me having the Dark-Dark Fruit?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, endless darkness erupted from his body, swallowing the entire church. It was as if a black curtain had fallen, erasing every trace of light.

Ginny shrieked and clung to Carl's clothes, trembling.

But the darkness didn't last. Slowly, it receded, revealing a spotless, gleaming hall.

Ginny gasped, covering her mouth in astonishment.

"What... what is this?"

Kuma, a fellow Devil Fruit user, was even more astounded. He had already witnessed the terrifying power of the Dark-Dark Fruit—how it nearly swallowed them all. He knew it was a force of pure destruction.

Yet Carl had just demonstrated incredible precision. Despite unleashing such vast darkness, he had only absorbed the dust and debris, leaving everything else untouched.

If it were Kuma, he would have to use his Paw-Paw Fruit to push the dirt away, but he lacked the control Carl had just shown. More than likely, he would have accidentally destroyed the entire church.

Carl's ability to manipulate his Devil Fruit so precisely was nothing short of extraordinary. Kuma now looked at him with newfound admiration.

In truth, Carl's mastery came from his recent soul fusion. With his enhanced spiritual strength, his innate talent had skyrocketed—so much so that he had even awakened Observation Haki.

While Kuma marveled at Carl's control, Ginny was simply excited. She clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling.

"That was amazing!"

Ivankov, however, gulped nervously. Envy flickered in his eyes. Among the boys, he was the only one without a Devil Fruit. After witnessing Carl's and Kuma's powers, he couldn't help but crave his own.

Carl noticed his expression immediately. Being highly perceptive, he could easily read Ivankov's thoughts. With a knowing smile, he reassured him.

"Ivankov, don't worry. The Devil Fruit meant for you hasn't appeared yet. But believe me—it's out there, and it's destined to be yours."

Ivankov perked up, eyes gleaming. He trusted Carl completely and immediately asked,

"What's the name of the fruit?"

Carl smirked, wagging a finger.

"That, my friend, is a secret. Just know that it will be perfect for your... little hobbies."

Ivankov's curiosity exploded. He practically bounced in place, pestering Carl for more details.

"Come on! Just a hint! A tiny one! Please, Brother Carl!"

But no matter how much he begged, Carl refused to reveal anything. Eventually, Ivankov's excitement turned into frustration.

Seeing this, Carl chuckled darkly and casually flicked his finger. A tendril of darkness shot out, covering Ivankov's mouth.

The suction force distorted his lips into a ridiculous pout.

"Mmmph! (I haven't eaten yet!)"

Carl smirked, amused by the sight.

And for the first time in a long while, the church was filled with laughter.

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