Garling's expression remained unchanged, and he responded calmly,
"Darian, death may be a relief for you."
Darian smiled disdainfully and said,
"You are still so self-righteous."
Ignoring him, Garling addressed Carl directly,
"Carl, before the Fruit goes out of control, its core will be exposed. At that time, Darian will be very weak. Your current speed is enough to take him down."
Garling still remembered the moment when his father lost control. Because he hesitated back then and didn't seize the opportunity, his father had managed to regain a sliver of consciousness, which allowed Garling to succeed in the end. That experience taught Garling the importance of acting decisively.
That's why Garling was warning Carl to seize the moment, or else, with Darian's character, he wouldn't surrender even if he regained a shred of his sanity.
Carl nodded at Garling's words, preparing himself. He planned to wait for the moment when Darian showed weakness, just as Garling described, and then strike decisively.
Darian shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he said,
"Garling, you're too naive. Do you think I'd repeat my father's mistakes? What do you really know about this Fruit?"
Garling frowned, asking,
"What do you mean?"
"Heh, you'll find out soon enough."
With a twisted smile, Darian glanced at his remaining clone, which immediately started walking toward him before dissolving into a mass of blood that merged with Darian's body.
At that very moment, Darian's aura surged even more fiercely. His muscles expanded, shredding his clothes, and his once dark hair turned white, spreading wildly. The blood energy around him erupted, shooting towards the sky like a crimson beacon. His eyes were bloodshot, and his expression twisted into a monstrous grin.
As Darian's power peaked, his sanity seemed to waver. His movements grew more erratic as he gritted his teeth, trying to stay in control.
In this frenzy, Darian unleashed his full power. Despite the overwhelming bloodlust coursing through him, he managed to hold on by dispersing some of his energy through his clones. It was a temporary measure, a way to buy time.
This tactic initially confused Carl, who hadn't noticed a significant change in Darian's strength right away. But Darian had underestimated Carl's progress since obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit, a fruit that seemed to counter his own abilities.
Realizing his situation, Darian shifted his focus back to Carl, an almost maniacal hunger in his eyes as he lunged towards him like a beast, moving with a speed that belied his increased size.
Despite Darian's monstrous strength, Carl remained calm. He activated his divine power, his body phasing out of reality. Darian's savage strikes passed through him harmlessly, each attack leaving the area around them in ruins while Carl stood untouched.
As Darian continued his rampage, blood vessels bulging and his skin breaking into blood-spewing cracks, he finally stopped, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Garling. The fury and desperation in Darian's gaze intensified.
"Garling!" Darian growled, "Let me use your body first!!!"
Without hesitation, Garling unsheathed his sword, its edge gleaming with Haki as he slashed at Darian, who barely flinched at the blow. The cut sealed itself almost instantly, the regenerative power of his Blood-Blood Fruit working overtime.
"I'm not crazy yet, Garling," Darian said with a twisted grin, "but I will be if I don't get your help!"
"You've lost your mind!" Garling retorted, his voice cold and steady.
"Hahaha!" Darian cackled madly. "My father... he already told me how to stop the Blood-Blood Fruit from spiraling out of control!"
"What did you say!?" Garling faltered, momentarily caught off-guard.
"The solution is simple," Darian continued with a malevolent smirk. "Just before you lose control, all you need to do is take over the body of a loved one."
Stunned, Garling hesitated for just a second too long. Darian seized the moment, delivering a powerful punch to Garling, sending him crashing back, blood splattering from his mouth.
As Garling hit the ground, Darian didn't pursue him right away. Instead, he greedily absorbed the blood that spilled from Garling, his eyes regaining a brief hint of clarity.
"What did your father say to you back then?" Garling asked, struggling to regain his composure. "Why didn't he tell me?"
"Because you were his favorite," Darian sneered, his tone dripping with bitterness. "He'd never even consider taking over your body, not even in his last moments."
Carl appeared beside Garling in an instant, his divine power shimmering around him. Together, they stood firm, ready to face the maddened Darian, who was now beyond any reasoning or redemption.
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+115 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg