Chapter 152

Chapter 152: Chapter 152

The sea of blood surged, and a throne made of blood rose from the ground. Darian rested his chin on one hand, an evil smile playing on his lips as he looked down at Carl.

He snapped his fingers. Instantly, all the Darian clones lunged forward, swarming Carl from every direction.

Carl remained calm. With a swift motion of his sword, an impenetrable net of slashes formed around him, cutting down the oncoming clones.

These clones only possessed about half the strength of Darian's original body. If Carl used his full power, he could wipe them out in a single strike.

However, their numbers were overwhelming. The most frustrating part was that even when they were destroyed and reduced to blood, they quickly reformed, seemingly endless.

Carl cleared an open space around him with a powerful *Shinra Tensei*. Before the next wave of clones could attack, he dropped to one knee and plunged his sword into the ground.

A wave of darkness spread outward, consuming countless clones and crushing them. The ones caught within had no chance of reforming.

When the attack subsided, only ten clones remained. Unlike the others, these ten resisted the darkness and fused their lower bodies into the blood throne.

Darian clapped his hands and laughed.

"The Dark-Dark Fruit truly lives up to its reputation. But you still haven't awakened its full potential."

Though Darian had obtained the Blood-Blood Fruit after Carl, he had already awakened it.

It wasn't that Carl lacked talent in developing Devil Fruits—Logia awakenings were notoriously difficult compared to other types. Meanwhile, the Blood-Blood Fruit was among the easiest to awaken, requiring only a relentless thirst for blood.

But power always came at a price. For Darian, that price was the accelerated decay of his own life.

Black energy radiated from Carl's body. He gripped his sword tightly and unleashed a surge of darkness, cleaving the blood throne in half.

Three of the ten clones took the blow head-on, their combined strength deflecting it.

These clones were far stronger than the previous ones. Earlier, Carl's sword energy could cut through dozens in one strike, but now, each clone required focused effort to eliminate.

Carl found himself on the defensive, alternating between offense and evasion. Every strike he landed took out a clone, but the others immediately adjusted.

Grabbing two by the neck, he twisted them apart, absorbing their blood into his body. His sword impaled another clone's head, devouring it entirely.

The remaining seven quickly regrouped, closing ranks to prevent Carl from isolating them again.

Carl let out a low growl. Flames ignited around him, forming a massive fireball.

Raising his hand, he unleashed *Ten Thousand Things Heaven Attraction*, pulling five clones toward the fireball.

As they were drawn in, the temperature spiked, the heat engulfing them completely.

*"Cause trouble to the Fire Realm!"* Carl roared.

The fireball expanded and then detonated. A shockwave of searing heat left a deep, charred crater.

When the smoke cleared, the five clones were gone.

Only two remained.

Darian stepped down from the blood throne, standing before the last two clones.

He showed no fear, only amusement as he studied Carl.

"It seems your body has completely adapted to the bloodline factors. I must say, I'm impressed."

Carl sneered and shot a bolt of silver lightning. One clone intercepted it mid-air, shattering it with a palm strike.

Darian feigned a sigh. In a flash of blood, he lunged forward at incredible speed, striking Carl before he could react.

With a thunderous impact, Carl was sent crashing into the ground.

Garling reached for his sword, but before he could draw it, Carl burst out of the crater, wiping the blood from his mouth. His expression had grown more serious than ever.

Darian's strength and speed had increased dramatically since his awakening. Worse yet, the remaining clones were now nearly as powerful as Darian had been before his transformation.

Darian spread his arms wide and smirked.

"So, Carl, do you still think you can beat me?"

Carl's flames extinguished as he switched to the Lunarian tribe's speed mode.

His lips moved silently.

Darian and his clones suddenly trembled as if their very blood was destabilizing.

The ground beneath them fractured.

Darian staggered for a brief moment—just long enough.

Carl vanished.

In a flash, he bisected Darian and his clones. One clone managed to reform, but another was absorbed before it could react.

Darian and his last clone retreated, his face contorted with rage.

"What was that?" Darian demanded.

Carl remained silent. He had no intention of revealing the secrets of his Vampire Fruit abilities.

Darian sneered, his bloodshot eyes gleaming.

"No matter. Soon, you'll belong to me."

His expression twisted into something grotesque, his face covered in pulsating veins.

Garling watched Carl with a conflicted expression and muttered, "It's now or never, Carl. Darian's losing control. This is your chance."

Carl raised his sword, locking eyes with Darian.

Darian turned his gaze toward Garling and sneered.

"My dear brother Garling… it seems you really do want me dead."