Chapter 67: The Strongest
Here's the proofread version of your chapter with improved flow, readability, and grammar while keeping the intensity intact.
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### Chapter 67: The Strongest
Carl lightly tapped his toes against the ground and reappeared beside Zephyr.
Garp wasted no time. He stepped forward, poking Carl's **jade-like skin** with his finger and muttering,
"Oi… are you really Carl?"
Carl ignored him. Instead, he turned to Zephyr and said,
"Teacher Zephyr, we have the situation on the warship under control. You don't need to worry."
Zephyr could only nod stiffly. His mind was still reeling from Carl's **drastic transformation**. After a moment of hesitation, he finally asked,
"Carl… what happened to you? Why do you look like this?"
Carl's face remained indifferent.
"It's the power of the **Mink Tribe**. Someone experimented on me."
Before Zephyr could respond—
**Boom!**
A **shockwave** burst forth as Whitebeard **lunged** forward, his **Murakumogiri** gleaming with destructive power.
His enormous body shot through the air at astonishing speed. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of Carl.
**"Kid! Hand over your life!"**
Murakumogiri pierced through Carl from **head to toe**.
The unleashed **shockwave** fractured the air itself, creating **dense green cracks** around Carl's body. The **Moby Dick** trembled violently under the force.
But—
Carl's figure **wavered** like a mirage before returning to normal.
It was as if nothing had happened.
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed. His grip on his naginata tightened.
"What the hell…? That attack didn't hit anything at all."
His mind raced.
**Is this a special Devil Fruit ability?**
For the first time in a long while, Whitebeard felt the unfamiliar sting of uncertainty.
Before he could react—
**Boom! Boom!**
Two **iron fists**, one large and one slightly smaller, slammed into Whitebeard's waist.
**Garp and Zephyr had struck at the same time.**
Whitebeard grunted, a transparent **shockwave** crackling in his palm as he prepared to retaliate. But—
The energy **flickered** and… vanished.
Whitebeard's gaze snapped downward.
Carl's **darkened hand** was pressed against his abdomen.
Before Whitebeard could make sense of what had just happened—
**BAM!**
Garp and Zephyr's fists landed. Two deep **fist-shaped imprints** appeared on **both sides** of Whitebeard's waist.
**Roar!!**
With a furious bellow, Whitebeard's **Conqueror's Haki** erupted, shaking the very air.
He reacted with lightning speed—first breaking free from Carl's grasp, then grabbing **both** Garp and Zephyr by the collar and **smashing them together**.
**Crash!**
The two Admirals collided right in front of Carl.
Though the move didn't do much damage, **it was humiliating**.
Fortunately, Carl's face remained **unfazed**, as if he hadn't seen a thing.
**Bang! Bang! Bang!**
Zephyr, though strong, wasn't quite on Garp's level. While Zephyr was still shaking off the daze, Garp had already **rushed back in**, throwing himself into a **fierce hand-to-hand battle** with Whitebeard—**despite the tremor shockwaves.**
Meanwhile, Carl continued to **interfere**, touching Whitebeard at opportune moments to **disrupt his Tremor-Tremor Fruit powers**.
Whitebeard, however, was no fool.
He began to **analyze Carl's ability** mid-battle.
**He's only solid when he touches me… That means—**
Finally, he saw an opening.
**BOOM!**
Whitebeard's fist **slammed** into Carl's chest.
Even for someone like Carl, taking **a prime-era Whitebeard punch** was no joke.
**"Tch—!"**
Carl let out a muffled grunt before immediately shifting into his **Kamui state**, phasing away to the edge of the deck to recover.
As the battle raged on, **electricity crackled** from Carl's abdomen. Under the influence of the **Moon God's power**, the pain in his body gradually **subsided**.
At that moment—
**"Young... Cousin!"**
A frantic voice echoed from above.
Lucia descended from the sky, her **wings folding** behind her as she rushed toward Carl in **a panic**.
"Cousin! Are you injured?!"
Carl shook his head, his voice soft.
"I'm fine, Lucia. Let's head back. This level of battle is still a bit too much for me."
In truth, Carl **could** continue fighting if he wanted to.
His **transformed state** had brought him to the **level of a Yonko's top commander**.
If he **teamed up** with Zephyr and Garp, **taking down Whitebeard** wasn't impossible—**but it would come at a cost.**
And Carl wasn't interested in an unnecessary **war of attrition**.
Lucia, however, misunderstood his reasoning. She thought he was **overwhelmed** by Whitebeard's strength.
She grasped his hand tightly, her voice firm.
"No, Cousin. You've already done incredibly well! You're still young… Just give it a little more time. I know you'll surpass even Whitebeard!"
Carl chuckled softly.
He reached out and gently **brushed a strand of Lucia's hair behind her ear**.
"Of course I will. I am **your** young master, after all."
Lucia nodded vigorously, a **bright smile** lighting up her face.
The two turned, sparing one last glance at the **three powerhouses** still locked in battle.
Then—
**They leapt into the sky, heading back toward the warship.**
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### Meanwhile, on the Warship
The moment Carl reappeared, the **Whitebeard Pirates froze in shock.**
Jozu, caught off guard, **missed a block** and was sent tumbling across the deck by **Kuma's slap**.
As he stumbled to his feet, he didn't hesitate.
**"Retreat! Everyone, support Dad!"**
Though he called it "support," everyone **knew** what he really meant.
**They had to get out—NOW.**
One by one, the remaining pirates began their escape. Those who were physically strong **jumped** onto nearby ships, while the weaker ones **dove into the sea** to swim for their lives.
**But not everyone was lucky.**
As they fled, **many were cut down by the Marines**. There was no **mercy**—only **slaughter**.
By the time the **last pirate** was wiped from the deck, the battlefield had **quieted**.
Akainu, Borsalino, and others gathered around Carl, their expressions complicated.
Even the **infamously ruthless Akainu** now looked at Carl with **genuine respect**.
Because the truth was **clear**—
**Without Carl, they would have lost this battle.**
**Oden alone** would have been difficult enough to handle, **let alone Nekomamushi, Inuarashi, and the elite members of the Whitebeard Pirates.**
Carl had **changed everything.**
Even Gion, who had been watching from a distance, couldn't hide the **spark in her eyes** as she stared at Carl's transformed state.
His **mysterious aura, noble presence, and overwhelming strength** had left an **unforgettable impact**.
At that moment, Kuma approached, carrying a **knocked-out pirate**.
He set the unconscious man down and activated his power.
A **red, transparent bear paw** emerged from Carl's abdomen, extracting his pain.
Carl stretched, sighing in relief.
"Thanks, Kuma."
Kuma scratched the back of his head.
"This is what I should do, brother…"
Meanwhile, Ginny and Lucia **gently massaged Carl's sore muscles**, treating him like **royalty**.
Carl let out a deep breath.
Slowly, his **silver hair receded**, the **floating ribbons of light vanished**, and he returned to **his original form**.
The battle was over.
For now.
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That should keep the intensity high while ensuring smooth readability. Let me know if you want any further refinements!