After dinner, Carl left Garling's bedroom. When he reached an empty courtyard, he abruptly stopped. The demon sword, Muramasa, flew out from his right hand and shot into a dark corner.
In that shadowed corner, a pool of bright red blood began to disperse, and the demon sword, Muramasa, sank into the ground.
The blood gathered once more, forming a red human figure, which solidified into a middle-aged man.
This man's face resembled Garling's, and his hair was styled in a bizarre cone shape.
The moment Carl saw him, a fierce murderous intent surged through him. Raising his hand, the demon sword Muramasa returned to his grasp. Simultaneously, a wave of darkness spread from under his feet, covering the entire courtyard.
The middle-aged man showed no sign of panic and chuckled.
"Carl, is this how you greet your father?"
Carl responded coldly, "Darian, do you honestly think it's amusing to say that?"
Darian shrugged indifferently, glancing at the dark wave beneath him with curiosity.
"So, this is the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit. Interesting... Show me how strong you've become."
With that, Darian extended his hand, summoning a blood-red sword.
Carl gripped Muramasa tightly, locking eyes with Darian.
The blood sword in Darian's hand shifted fluidly. He smiled slightly, but Carl swung Muramasa fiercely. In an instant, Darian, who had been smiling, appeared in front of Carl.
Muramasa clashed with the blood sword, and surprise flashed across Darian's face.
"Not bad," he commented, "Your observation Haki is well-practiced."
Carl glanced at the spot where Darian had stood moments ago. Another "Darian" stood there, gradually fading like an afterimage. His speed was so fast it left a phantom behind.
It seemed every member of the Figarland family was a monster.
Carl had no desire for conversation. His other hand turned black, transforming into a claw, and he aimed for Darian's heart.
A bloody hole suddenly appeared in Darian's chest, but it quickly closed up, mended by the power of darkness. Darian sidestepped, avoiding Carl's next strike.
"I almost forgot," Darian murmured, "I can't rely too much on my fruit ability against you."
In the next moment, Muramasa devoured Darian's blood sword. Carl swung his sword once more, but Darian wrapped his hands in Armament Haki to block the attack.
Darian applied force with both hands, knocking Muramasa aside before kicking Carl's abdomen. Yet as he raised his foot, dark tendrils had already coiled around his legs. Carl seized the opportunity and pierced Darian with Muramasa.
Darian grimaced, grabbing the blade and pulling it from his body before retreating. His wounds writhed, healing almost instantly.
"You nearly had me," Darian said with a grin. "That could've been fatal."
Suddenly, his eyes turned blood red, and Carl's body trembled as his blood seemed to boil, trying to escape his veins.
Carl quickly enveloped his body in darkness, suppressing the strange effect.
Darian chuckled, baring sharp, crimson teeth. "You resisted well. You really are my son."
Carl took a deep breath. "No wonder you're interested in this fruit... its ability is troublesome."
If not for Carl's exceptional physical strength, anyone else would have been drained dry.
Darian rolled his neck, still smiling. "Someday, I'd love to show you a true bloodfire spectacle. It's a beautiful sight."
Carl snorted, releasing his power, pulling Darian toward him.
Darian laughed, and just as he was about to be caught, his right hand turned a dark crimson, grasping Carl's arm.
Carl's pupils contracted as he released his power, his body shifting into an intangible state, phasing through Darian's grasp.
A few drops of dark red blood dripped from Darian's hand, hitting the ground. Immediately, the vegetation began to wither at an alarming rate, leaving the once-green courtyard barren and gray.
Cold sweat trickled down Carl's forehead as memories of Magellan's poisonous powers surfaced. The toxicity of the Blood-Blood Fruit seemed no less deadly.
Darian withdrew his hand, observing Carl closely. "This isn't elementalization... it's something more mystical."
Carl, not taking any chances, stepped back, still in his hollow state. He released it only to coat both Muramasa and his arms in Armament Haki, launching another attack.
Darian met Carl's charge with bare fists, relying on his powerful Haki. Despite lacking weapons or fruit abilities, Darian didn't falter. In fact, he began to gain the upper hand.
This was the power of a true emperor.
Darian smiled in satisfaction, speaking as they clashed. "Impressive! Even Garling wasn't this strong at your age. All my efforts were worth it!"
Carl's face twisted in anger. "You only ever did it for yourself!"
His words ignited a fury in Carl. He roared, and bolts of lightning surged from his body. A silver glow began to form behind him.
Darian's eyes gleamed with excitement as he glanced at the crescent moon. "Ah, so it's true. The royal bloodline of the Mink Tribe can control their transformation at will!"
But Carl was no longer listening. His pupils turned blood red, and his hair lengthened, gradually becoming silver like moonlight. Unlike the last transformation, this time his sanity was slipping away, overtaken by a primal rage.
Carl had become a killing machine.
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+86 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg