Benson was stunned. Ellie too.
I'd never shown them my Devil Fruit before. The only time I'd gone all-out was that brief clash with Roger on Baterilla—and they hadn't seen it. On the summit, with flame-clouds coiling around a horned, tiger-shaped divine beast, the pressure alone made their knees wobble.
"K-Karl… c-could you, um, be smaller? You're scaring me," Ellie squeaked.
I let the form drop. "What's there to be scared of? Just giving you a proper look."
"Captain," Benson asked, "what exactly is a Mythical Zoan?"
"Rarer than Logias," I said. "You get the Zoan body boost plus extra abilities. Mine gives me flame clouds to fly, wind and fire manipulation, and a special kind of Observation. Come on—I'll show you something else."
I shouldered aside a slab of stone. Beneath it yawned a dark shaft.
"Down we go."
One torch, then another, and the vault bloomed to life.
"So much treasure!" Ellie gasped. "Karl-nii, we struck it rich! Where'd it all come from?"
"No idea. But it's ours now." I grinned. "I'm peeling off a chunk as your research budget. Keep pushing the life-extension formula—make something that truly lengthens lifespan and rejuvenates."
"With this much funding, I'll do it!" Ellie's eyes were stars.
"Ask for whatever you need. I'll build you a mountaintop lab up here. Benson, this will be your training ground. No people, but plenty of beasts—good enough to keep Ellie safe."
"Got it!" Ellie bounced… and I tapped her forehead. "Don't get too excited. Research needs stamina. You're training your body first."
The siblings went to work, and so did I—hewing stone blocks and slabs with my blade, sketching floor plans, and listing parts. We'd need generator sets. Tom would know a guy.
Buru-buru-buru… click.
"Wahahaha! Karl, lad—what can I do for you?"
"Tom, who built the generator on my sub? I want five more. Money's no issue."
"My old friend Derrick. Blueprints were in that design you brought."
"In that case, could you sound him out about relocating? I'll pay very well—whatever he asks, if he'll come work with us."
"No problem. Truth be told, his hometown got sacked by pirates. He sent all his savings back to rebuild—can't even afford a drink. If you've got the coin, I reckon he'll bite."
"Perfect. If he agrees, I'll pick him up in a month."
Call done, I stacked tasks: source Ellie's lab gear, buy materials for more generators, and anything Derrick requested. One run, all in.
Half a year later, a laboratory and a villa crowned the peak. Derrick turned out to be a genius; I explained the principle of air-conditioning, and the man built one. Generators plus AC—paradise.
Derrick moved his family here—couldn't resist how good life is on the island.
Down in town, the new guard trained steadily. The Sea Circle Calendar was turning to 1501. Time for me to chase a bigger leap in Haki.
"Ellie, Benson," I said, "I'm going to an uninhabited island for a few years to grind Haki. Follow the training plan I wrote. Ellie—at minimum master Soru and Geppo. I'll drop in now and then to check."
"Okay, Captain."
"'Kay, Karl-nii!"
A year later on a lonely Grand Line rock, my Haki-wrapped fists hammered a cliff face until my Haki reserves ran dry; then I waited, recovered, and did it again.
I'd learned Conqueror's coating, but my pool still wasn't big enough. Real monsters can bang for days. Burn out your Haki, and you're a sitting duck—ask Dressrosa Luffy. If he hadn't been Destiny's Favorite, Doffy would've folded him like laundry.
So: more. Always more.
I sprawled on the ground, panting, then finally pushed up.
"Time to head home. I'm turning this island into gravel." My stomach growled. "Food first."
An hour later, a five-hundred-jin fish was just a perfect skeleton by the fire. I ballooned up, then used Life Return to slim back down. (Yeah, it's busted. Love it.)
Flame clouds spun to life; I launched for Tiger Roar. In the last year I'd honed the Fruit enough to fly without transforming.
"I'm home, Mom! Where are Dad and Sis?"
"Oh, so you remember this house? Gone a year and all," she sniffed, without looking up from making Ann giggle. "They're at the orchard."
Weird. No lecture? Guess granddaughters outrank sons.
Ann stared at me, curious. An evil idea landed.
"Ann! Did you miss Uncle?" I squished her cheeks. She burst into tears.
"Waaaah! Grandmaaa!"
I bolted. "Going to find Benson and Ellie!" Mom's scolding followed me out the door.
"Wait—did I just hear Ann talk? Makes sense—she's almost two. Time flies… Wonder how Ace is doing." I shook it off and rode the clouds to the Sacred Mountain.
"Ellie—why are you alone? Where's your brother?"
"Karl-nii! You're back!" She barreled into me.
"You're not a kid anymore—easy." I nudged her off, grinning.
Fifteen now, already 1.8 meters, and… not exactly flat anymore. The little bean had grown up.
"You didn't miss me?" She pouted. "Hmph!"
"Of course I did. Come on—home for dinner. I'll cook."
"Then I'm eating a lot."
"As much as you like. How's your Six Powers? I did say I'd test you."
"I've got Soru and Kami-e, and Geppo is almost there!"
"Not bad. I thought you'd slack."
"Hmph! I won't be a useless vase."
"Our ship doctor grows fearsome. Let's grab your brother."
Down at the shore, Benson was doing seawater resistance drills. He looked wrecked—first phase, then.
"How's it feel?"
"Captain! Better now. First touch nearly dropped me. It's… manageable."
"Good. Don't rush it. Okay—home. Tonight, everyone eats."
We feasted like a proper reunion.
"Karl," Rouge asked, "how's your training? Are you leaving again?"
"Yeah. I broke through, but it's not enough. I'll head out in two days. Could be three to four years this time."
"That long?"
"Gotta focus for this stretch."
"Then take a Den-Den. Promise."
"I know, Mom."
"Ann, give Uncle a hug!"
"Nooo! You bullied me!"
"Uncle promises he won't again. One hug?"
"...Okay. Just a little."
She giggled in my arms.
Two days later, I left—found a huge, nasty island in the Calm Belt with more mountains than sense. Perfect for punching.
For years, thunderous booms rattled the place until beasts gave it a wide berth. By S.C.C. 1507, the island really was barren—mountains flattened, a giant crater in the middle now a lake.
"Pure grind won't move the needle much more," I admitted to the wind. "Still—this is top-tier now. No need to rush." Five years is a long time; if I don't go home, Ann will forget my face.
I'd slipped out a few times for supplies—and in February I swung by Sabaody and chatted with Silvers Rayleigh. We traded blows. Honestly? The Dark King isn't my match anymore. Felt good.
His price for that spar: help him with "a thing."
Buru-buru-buru…
"Huh? Now who—" I picked up.
"Ha-ha-ha. Karl, lad—you didn't forget our deal, did you?"
"Didn't. What's the job, old Ray?"
"Come to Sabaody and you'll see. Hurry."
Click.
"That old rogue… Alright. A promise is a promise."
I pulled on gray-black travel gear, face wrapped to the eyes. Not ready to be famous—and I don't need the Government sniffing around. I slung my black blade—years of Haki had finally forged it black—and rose on flame clouds, angling for the Sabaody Archipelago.
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