Chapter 2
### **Chapter 2: Target—Devil Fruit!**
Cold water splashed against Carl's face, and he suddenly started coughing violently. A strange flush spread across his skin, steam rising from his body as if his blood were **boiling** from within.
Seeing this, Ivankov and the others rushed toward him. Ivankov grabbed his shoulder and asked anxiously,
"Carl! Are you okay? Your body—"
Carl took a few deep breaths, trying to steady himself. Without a word, he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his chest.
A horrifying sight greeted them—deep scars crisscrossed over his heart, some stitched together in a way that suggested past surgeries or experiments. The skin around the scars glowed an unnatural **red,** as if something inside was radiating heat.
His entire body looked like it was burning up.
It resembled Luffy's **Second Gear** transformation in appearance, but the difference was obvious.
When Luffy activated Second Gear, he became faster, stronger—full of energy. But for Carl, this strange reaction left him **drained,** his strength rapidly fading.
It always happened when he became too emotional or engaged in strenuous activity.
This was clearly a problem inherited from the **original owner** of this body. From the scars on his chest to the **high-quality clothes** he had been wearing when he first woke up—everything suggested that this body had **a past.**
But Carl had no memory of it. No clue why he had this condition.
**"Damn it… Forget not having a cheat, but I even get stuck with a damn debuff?"**
Carl cursed internally but forced himself to endure the discomfort, slowly sitting down.
Without hesitation, Kuma sat up and let Carl lean against him.
Ginny quickly cupped her hands, scooping up water from the pool, and carefully brought it to Carl's lips.
The concern in their eyes warmed Carl's heart despite his frustration.
Even in this nightmare, **these three** were his one stroke of luck. Without them, he wouldn't have lasted this long. **Escaping from the Valley of the Gods?** That would have been a joke.
Carl's only advantage was that he had **read the manga.** He knew **some** key details.
The Celestial Dragons had brought **six** Devil Fruits to God Valley, but their exact locations were **never mentioned** in the story.
Still, one thing was certain—**Devil Fruits have a way of finding their destined users.**
Since Kuma eventually found the **Paw-Paw Fruit** in the original timeline, **sticking with him** might be the best bet.
Among the six Devil Fruits, Carl was certain about **two:**
- **The Paw-Paw Fruit** – A top-tier **Paramecia**, with **unparalleled utility and escape potential.**
- **The Azure Dragon Fruit** – A **Mythical Zoan**, granting **flight and immense power.**
If the Celestial Dragons had picked **these two** as trophies, the remaining Devil Fruits had to be of similar value.
Carl had a theory—one of the boxes probably contained **the fruit that would later be possessed by Red-Haired Shanks.**
If that was true, then the **fifth fruit** was likely:
- **The Phoenix Fruit** – Mythical Zoan, near-immortality.
- **The Great Buddha Fruit** – Another Mythical Zoan, insane durability and strength.
- **The Tremor-Tremor Fruit** – If Whitebeard hadn't eaten it yet, it might still be here.
Regardless of **which one** he managed to get, **every single fruit here** was an insane power-up.
No debate, no hesitation—**he needed one.**
People liked to say, *"There are no useless Devil Fruits, only useless users."*
That was **bullshit.**
If that were true, then why did **Luffy's** seemingly weak **Gomu Gomu no Mi** turn out to be a **legendary God Fruit?**
Would anyone seriously compare a **random bird Zoan** to **a Phoenix?**
Lucci was a **monster** with his **Leopard Zoan**, but **what if he had eaten the Azure Dragon Fruit instead?**
The difference between an **ordinary Zoan** and a **Mythical Zoan** was **night and day.**
In this world, **a powerful Devil Fruit was the foundation of survival.**
With that in mind, Carl turned to Ginny, his eyes sharp.
Caught by his sudden focus, Ginny instinctively sat up straight and stammered, "W-What's wrong, Carl?"
"Ginny," he said seriously. "Are you **sure** the message about the Devil Fruits has spread?"
The moment he brought it up, Ginny's worried expression flipped into a smug grin. She **thumped** her tiny chest with pride.
"Of course! This is **my specialty!** I made sure the whole world heard it! Anyone who can pick up a signal should know **the best Devil Fruits are here.**"
Hearing her confirmation, Carl **exhaled in relief.**
The **worst-case scenario** had always been the **butterfly effect.**
If his presence **somehow changed things**, if **the Marines and Rocks Pirates didn't show up**, then God Valley would just **remain a hunting ground.**
They'd have no chance of survival.
Because right now? **They were weak.**
Except for Kuma, they weren't even strong enough to take on a single **ordinary adult.**
If they wanted a **chance at grabbing a Devil Fruit**, they **needed** absolute chaos.
That meant **Rocks had to arrive.**
And soon.
If the **Marines** and **Rocks Pirates** had already entered **God Valley**, then the battle was about to begin.
Maybe even **tomorrow.**
Carl narrowed his eyes, mentally running through his plan once again.
**The Paw-Paw Fruit was the key to everything.**
With **its ability to repel anything**, it was **their best shot at escaping**. If he found it, **he would eat it without hesitation.**
Sure, the **Azure Dragon Fruit** was **tempting**, but compared to the **unmatched versatility of the Paw-Paw Fruit**, it still fell short.
Besides, **flying** wouldn't be enough to survive in **God Valley.**
There were too many **monsters** here—if his flight speed was too slow, a single **Haki-infused** attack would **swat him out of the sky.**
And he wasn't just thinking about himself.
If it was just about survival, eating the Paw-Paw Fruit and running away alone was the **most logical move.**
But Carl looked at Kuma.
The boy still had an **arrow lodged in his back.**
He clenched his fists.
He couldn't just **abandon them.**
They had only known each other for **a short time**, but bonds formed **in life-and-death situations** were **the strongest.**
And these three?
They were **worth it.**
Carl let out a slow breath, determination hardening in his eyes.
**People could be selfish.**
**But they couldn't be heartless monsters.**
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