Chapter 178

### **Chapter 178**

The **white, pear-shaped fruit** lay in Carl's palm—

A sight as **shocking as a cannon blast**.

Doflamingo's **eyes trembled**.

His breath **hitched**.

He sat up **abruptly**, whispering in disbelief—

**"This… this is my String-String Fruit!"**

Vergo, Diamante, and Pica stood **frozen**, their voices stolen.

Trebol, still struggling to recover, could only **stare in horror**.

What they had just witnessed—

Carl extracting a **Devil Fruit from the body of a living user**—

**Defied everything they knew about the world.**

**It was impossible.**

And yet…

**Carl had done it.**

---

Doflamingo **subconsciously twitched his fingers**.

But—

**Nothing happened.**

No strings formed.

No power surged through his veins.

His **String-String Fruit ability**—

**Was completely gone.**

A deep **sense of loss** settled in his chest.

But before he could dwell on it—

Carl placed **two fruits before him**.

The **Float-Float Fruit**.

And his **former String-String Fruit**.

One was a **legendary power**, capable of **dominating the skies**.

The other—

Now felt **insignificant** in comparison.

Like a **mere pistol** beside a **mighty warship**.

Doflamingo's gaze shifted.

At that moment—

Under the sunlight, **Carl looked god-like**.

---

**His hands trembled.**

Slowly, he reached forward.

His fingers **pressed** against the Float-Float Fruit's surface.

It felt **almost unreal**.

A moment of hesitation—

Then, with **resolve**, he **opened his mouth**.

And **took a bite.**

---

Just then—

Trebol **jerked awake**.

His blurry eyes landed on Doflamingo—

**Chewing on a Devil Fruit.**

Trebol's face **drained of color**.

His voice cracked with terror—

**"Doffy! You—!"**

Before he could finish—

Vergo **clamped a hand over his mouth**, silencing him.

His voice was **low, steady**—

**"Don't disturb Doffy."**

His grip was **so firm** that Trebol nearly **suffocated**.

---

Doflamingo **swallowed the last bite**, leaving only the **stalk** behind.

His face **turned slightly pale**, but—

His **expression remained composed**.

His will was **ironclad**.

Like a **wolf** who had endured countless storms.

Then—

With a thought—

His body **lifted from the ground**.

A faint **smirk** tugged at his lips.

He floated **steadily**.

The sensation was **exhilarating**.

A freedom beyond anything he'd ever known.

---

In the past, he had relied on his **String-String Fruit** to weave an **"airway"**, pulling himself across the sky.

But even at its peak—

That method was **nothing** compared to the effortless flight of the **Float-Float Fruit**.

This power…

It was **limitless.**

His confidence **soared**.

Testing his control—

He **lifted a massive chunk of earth**, suspending it in the air.

For a brief moment—

He **resembled a young Golden Lion**.

Trebol **stared in disbelief**.

Vergo, though silent, furrowed his brows—

Then grimaced as he noticed **snot** clinging to his fingers.

With a **look of disgust**, he quickly **wiped his hand clean**.

---

Caught up in his newfound abilities—

Doflamingo forgot about his **injuries**.

His body **wavered mid-air**—

Then, suddenly—

He **plummeted.**

Before he could crash—

Carl **stepped forward**, catching him effortlessly.

A **calm smile** played on his lips.

**"It seems you're quite pleased with this ability."**

Doflamingo—

For the first time in a long while—

Felt a **rare sense of embarrassment**.

He lowered his head slightly.

**"Yes, I am… Saint Carl."**

---

Back on solid ground—

Carl gestured to the **String-String Fruit** still lying there.

**"Don't waste it. Put it away."**

Doflamingo moved to retrieve it—

But—

Vergo suddenly stepped forward.

His voice was **calm, unwavering**.

**"Saint Carl… may I have the String-String Fruit?"**

Carl's gaze flickered with **interest**.

**"Oh? You want it?"**

He studied Vergo for a moment, then asked—

**"Are you certain? There may be better opportunities in the future."**

Vergo's eyes **did not waver**.

He glanced at Doflamingo—

Then, with **conviction**, he replied—

**"No, Saint Carl. I only want the String-String Fruit."**

---

Among Doflamingo's **trusted family**,

Vergo was the **most devoted**.

His loyalty was **absolute**.

And the **String-String Fruit**, once belonging to Doflamingo—

**Held immense significance to him.**

Carl observed him thoughtfully—

Then, turning to Doflamingo, he smiled.

**"Doffy, you have a remarkable family."**

Doflamingo nodded **without hesitation**.

Among them all—

**Vergo was one of his most trusted.**

---

Carl **gestured**, and the String-String Fruit **floated toward him**.

Vergo stepped forward, then—

**Lowered himself to one knee.**

Carl leaned in, placing the fruit in his hands.

Under Doflamingo's watchful gaze—

Vergo **bit into the fruit.**

Once—

Twice.

Instantly—

**White threads extended from his fingertips.**

They wove together—

Forming a **bamboo staff**.

Even now, as a **Devil Fruit user**,

Vergo's preferred weapon **remained the same**.

---

Setting the bamboo aside—

Vergo suddenly **dropped to both knees.**

Then, bowing his head, he declared—

**"Thank you for your gift, Saint Carl!"**

Carl **waved him off lightly**, his expression amused.

**"Rise, Vergo. You've done well."**

---

Just then—

Doflamingo **staggered.**

Carl **steadied him**, his eyes sharp.

Even with his **resilient physique**,

His wounds were **severe**.

If not for **Carl's intervention**—

**He would have collapsed long ago.**

---

Carl sighed.

Then, placing a hand on Doflamingo's shoulder—

A faint **red glow** surrounded him.

His wounds began to **heal instantly**.

Doflamingo's breathing **evened out**, though exhaustion still clung to him.

Carl's voice was **calm yet commanding**—

**"Rest. Your new power is only the beginning."**

Doflamingo **nodded weakly**.

He had **sacrificed much** today—

But he had also **gained more than he ever imagined.**

A **new path** lay before him.

A **new destiny.**

And under **Saint Carl's guidance**—

He would rise **higher than ever before.**

---

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