Chapter 154

Chapter 154

Carl's body trembled. If what Darian said was true, then with his father's strength, it would have been easy for him to take over Carl's body back then.

Seeing Carl's silence, Darian sneered.

"Do you know the first thing my father said to me when he found me?" His voice dripped with resentment. "He asked if I was willing to sacrifice my life for him!"

This time, he didn't wait for Garling to respond.

"I naively thought he was going to give me something important. But no—he told me how to stop the Blood-Blood Fruit from going out of control. What he wanted was my body!"

Darian's expression twisted, his voice filled with hatred. He pointed at Carl.

"If that was all, I wouldn't have hated him. At least he gave me a choice! But he didn't even mention it to you! From beginning to end, I was just a backup plan. He only wanted to use me!"

His words struck Carl like a blade. He staggered, and with a clang, his sword slipped from his grasp.

The steel-like resolve that had carried Carl through countless battles wavered. For the first time, he was truly at a loss.

Garling stepped forward, his voice deep.

"So… from the day I was born, you intended to use the Blood-Blood Fruit to take my body?"

Darian's blood aura surged as he walked toward them, a wicked smile on his face.

"No," he admitted. "At first, my target was Garling. I wanted our father to pay for his favoritism. But I didn't expect you to be so… talented."

Before he finished speaking, Darian's figure flickered, growing translucent. Carl's eyes narrowed as he instinctively activated his Haki.

A second later, Darian appeared beside him, grinning darkly. His body suddenly exploded into a dense blood mist, enveloping Carl in an instant.

Carl's expression changed. Too late, he realized—Darian had never intended to take Garling. His real target was Carl all along!

Darian had used their conversation to break Carl's mental defenses. And now, at his weakest moment, he struck.

Darian's voice echoed through the blood mist.

"Carl, since you won't give me your body willingly, I'll just take it! After I'm done with you, I'll deal with your friends in the Navy. Let's see if you can hold back then!"

Among the Five Elders, Warcury was stunned. He had always loathed Carl but had never expected him to fall like this.

Saturn's expression darkened, and behind him, a black flame cloud began to form. The other three elders remained indifferent. As long as Darian's possession prevented the Blood-Blood Fruit from running rampant and didn't threaten Mary Geoise, they had no reason to interfere.

Carl couldn't allow Darian to possess Garling. As the blood mist seeped into Carl's pores, his hand shot out, Haki-infused, and pierced through the swirling red fog.

One of Carl's eyes turned blood-red. Then, just as quickly, the color faded.

A twisted laugh came from Carl's lips.

"Hahaha! You've been fooled!!!"

Huff!

The blood mist that had been seeping into Garling suddenly recoiled, surging into Carl at a terrifying speed.

Garling's mind cleared in an instant. He spun toward Carl and shouted,

"Carl!"

Carl's body shuddered violently. His veins bulged, his Haki flaring wildly. He forced a strained smile.

"Garling… you helped me so much before." His voice wavered. "Now, let me help you."

Dark red spikes erupted from the ground around Carl, releasing a suffocating aura.

Then, he laughed—a twisted, unnatural sound.

"Ho ho ho… My son's body is even more perfect than I imagined. This vessel is truly ideal!"

Darian's voice echoed from Carl's mouth.

Garling's grip tightened around his sword, his hands trembling. His heart felt like it was being crushed.

"What's wrong, Garling?" Darian taunted. "You can't even lift your sword? This is your chance! Kill me! Just like you killed our father! Hahaha!"

At that moment, Saturn's robes tore as his body transformed. Six black spider-like legs emerged from his lower half, and black horns sprouted from his head. He brandished his weapon, voice booming.

"Saint Darian, your actions have gone too far! Saint Carl is the rightful heir of the Figarland family!"

Garling's eyes hardened. He raised his sword, black lightning crackling around the blade, and intercepted Saturn's strike.

"Saint Saturn," Garling said evenly, "I appreciate your support… but Darian is still Carl right now."

"But he won't be for long!" Saturn shouted. "If you don't act now, it will be too late!"

Garling turned his back on Saturn. His voice was quiet but firm.

"Then let it be. When the time comes… I will die with my nephew."

"Nani?! Carl! Are you really going to betray Kazan Saint like this?!" Saturn roared.