Chapter 96: Dark God
****
One Year Later, Grand Line, **G-1 Branch**.
The **steel warship** slowly docked at the harbor as **Marine soldiers** disembarked in precise formation. They lined up into two **orderly columns**, their expressions **solemn**, forming a clear path toward the ship.
A tall figure in a **Marine cloak** stepped onto the dock, flanked by two **slender figures**.
At the front of the welcoming group, **Momonga** stood waiting. The moment he saw the man at the lead, he **stepped forward**, offering a crisp salute.
**"Vice Admiral Carl!"**
The man in question—**Carl**—had changed over the past year.
His **physique** had grown even **stronger**, his presence more **commanding**, his Haki feeling **heavy and restrained**. He now wore **black gloves**, and the **shoulder straps and cuffs** of his Marine cloak were also pure black, signifying his unique position.
Carl **glanced up**, a slight **smirk** forming on his lips. Raising his hand, a large cloud of **black mist** materialized in the air.
Then—**thud, thud, thud!**
One by one, **bloodied heads** fell to the ground.
A cold shiver ran down **Momonga's spine**. He instantly recognized the severed heads—these were the **Cat Pirates**, a newly emergent crew that had **recently entered these waters**.
Among them, the most striking head belonged to their **captain**, a golden-haired woman. Her face was **frozen in terror**, her neck **cleanly severed**, and a **black hole** bored through the center of her forehead.
**Caitlin**, Captain of the Cat Pirates.
Her bounty had been **120 million Belly**, and she was a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user—the **Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Persian Cat**. Though not an exceptionally rare Zoan, Caitlin had awakened **both Observation and Armament Haki**, making her a dangerous opponent.
But her **arrogance** had been her downfall.
The moment she entered **Carl's patrol zone**, she was **doomed**.
Carl pointed at the head, his tone **casual yet commanding**.
**"Momonga, this is Caitlin, the Cat Pirates' captain. Lucia and Ginny killed her. Make sure that's noted in the report to Headquarters."**
---
### **The Hunt**
When the **Cat Pirates** encountered Carl's fleet, they never even had a chance to fight back.
A terrifying **gravitational force** had dragged their entire fleet into the sky, their ships **suspended helplessly** above the sea. Then, **darkness swallowed them whole**.
Carl had **let only one survivor remain**—Caitlin.
Not for mercy.
But for an **experiment**.
Carl extended his hand, enveloping Caitlin in **dark energy**.
In the face of death, she had **begged desperately** for her life, falling to her knees in **utter terror**.
In a final act of desperation, she had even **tried to strip**, hoping to **seduce** her way out of death.
That was **the last straw**.
Before Carl could even react, **Lucia and Ginny struck first**—one with a **blade**, the other with a **bullet**, their attacks **merciless**.
Caitlin's head hit the ground, her **body still twitching** as her lifeblood pooled around her.
Carl **wasn't angry**.
Instead, he simply **watched the corpse**—waiting for what came next.
And then—it **happened**.
---
### **The Devil's Harvest**
Back in **his office**, Carl sat behind his desk, a **purple, apple-shaped Devil Fruit** resting in his palm.
Across from him, **Ginny and Lucia** stood watching, their eyes filled with **shock and disbelief**.
Carl casually tossed the **newly created fruit** in his hand.
**"Ginny, do you want it? It's the Persian Cat Fruit."**
Ginny immediately **scrunched her nose in disgust**.
**"Brother Carl, that woman's fruit is **filthy**! I don't want it!"**
Her rejection was **instant**.
From the moment she had first **spotted Caitlin's ship through a telescope**, she had witnessed **things she wished she hadn't**.
**A debauched, half-beast woman indulging in excess…**
Even now, the **memory made her blush in embarrassment**. She had **no interest** in gaining that woman's powers.
Lucia, however, stared at the **Devil Fruit**, her brows furrowing.
**"Young Master… isn't that Caitlin's fruit? But how…?"**
Carl had already explained **Lucia's position** to Ginny, so there was no need for **formalities** between them anymore.
Ginny echoed Lucia's sentiment, crossing her arms.
**"Yeah, Brother Carl! Devil Fruits are supposed to respawn **randomly** after the user dies! How did it end up in your hand? That's way too much of a coincidence!"**
Carl simply **chuckled**, shaking his head.
**"There's no such coincidence. Here—take a look."**
With a **thought**, the **Dark Bible** in Carl's hands **opened**, revealing a **collection of ordinary fruits**—apples, bananas, pineapples.
Lucia's **eyes widened** as realization **dawned on her**.
**"I see! The abilities attach themselves to ordinary fruits! So, you must have prepared these in advance, right?"**
But then, **doubt flickered across her face**.
If it were **that simple**, wouldn't this method have been **discovered long ago**?
Carl smirked, as if he had been **waiting for this moment**.
**"Lucia, you've got it **half right**. But the key lies **here**."**
He **raised his hand**, and **black energy** rippled around his palm.
Immediately, Lucia felt something **inside her shift**, as though an invisible force was **pulling at her very essence**.
Her heart **pounded wildly**—this wasn't just Haki.
Ginny, standing nearby, **felt nothing at all**.
Lucia's **face paled** as Carl finally **released the energy**, letting the sensation fade.
His voice was **calm, yet absolute**.
**"This is a power I developed recently. When a Devil Fruit user dies, I can **bind** their unseparated fruit ability using my darkness… and transfer it into a prepared fruit."**
He leaned back in his chair, **smiling slightly**.
**"I call it… 'Dark God.'"**
---
### **The Implications**
Lucia and Ginny stood **frozen**, their minds reeling.
This ability…
This **completely shattered** everything the world knew about **Devil Fruits**.
If Carl could **control the rebirth** of a Devil Fruit… then he had **absolute power** over their existence.
He could **choose who wielded what abilities**.
He could **stockpile** Devil Fruits, **denying** them to enemies.
He could **create an army of Devil Fruit users** at any moment.
Lucia's **throat felt dry** as she finally found her voice.
**"Young Master… this… this power is… terrifying."**
Carl's **smile widened**.
**"It is, isn't it?"**
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**+75 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg**
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