c2: Ready to Go to Sea
Accompanied by the sound of two famed blades piercing the earth
With unwillingness still flickering in his eyes, Golden Lion Shiki finally collapsed, lifeless on the ground.
Carl stood there panting, his heart thudding wildly in his chest.
Although he had chosen to kill Shiki and gain some of his powers through the system
He still fought with full caution, sparing no strength.
Carl had deliberately kept his distance, wary that the legendary pirate might unleash a last-ditch counterattack in his dying breath.
Even weakened, the man before him had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and the great Whitebeard.
Caution, in such moments, was always warranted.
To ensure no surprises remained, Carl used his newly acquired powers—recalling Kogarashi and Oto into his grip.
With a fluid, merciless slash, he drew both blades across Shiki's neck—ending the life of the man once feared across the New World.
Golden Lion Shiki was thus severed from history.
The blood-soaked scene caused some of the adult townsfolk to grimace and look away.
But among the children, a spark of excitement ignited in their eyes.
"Thank you, Carl! If you hadn't come, we wouldn't have known what to do!"
"Brother Carl is the strongest! He's like a real marine admiral!"
"Master Carl is soooo handsome! If only I could marry him..."
"Master Carl! Master Carl!"
Though Shiki's end was gory, Carl's bravery once again moved the residents of Boya Town.
They had long grown used to his constant protection, and now, as always, they cheered and celebrated loudly after the danger passed.
Carl didn't dwell on the praise.
He simply instructed a few villagers to wrap Shiki's body and store it in a specially sealed coffin for later delivery to the World Government or bounty offices.
Next, he located the village's best blacksmith and handed him Kogarashi and Oto for urgent repair.
The twin sabers had been modified into prosthetic legs during Shiki's final years—meaning their hilts had been heavily damaged and corroded.
Though the blades themselves remained intact, the grips needed restoration.
Since it wasn't a matter of forging new blades, Carl trusted the village smiths to handle it.
With that, Carl returned to his modest home, basking briefly in the warmth of the villagers' cheers.
"I never imagined I'd run into Golden Lion Shiki right after my system activated..."
"Based on what he said before dying, he must have escaped after being defeated by Luffy and somehow ended up here in the East Blue. It's pathetic, really..."
Carl shook his head slowly, then pulled up his status panel, and his eyes lit up in surprise.
He hadn't only received Shiki's Devil Fruit powers—his base attributes had risen as well!
'Status Panel:
Name: Carl
Strength: E+
Agility: E-
Spirit: F+
Physical Strength: D-
Abilities: Military Boxing (G), Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (No side effects), Armament Haki (Mastery), Observation Haki (Mastery), Conqueror's Haki (Semi-Mastery), Dual Sword Style (E+)'
'Note 1: Haki mastery levels include: Semi-Mastery, Mastery, Proficient, Expert, and Perfect.'
'Note 2: Since the Golden Lion was near death, the host only receives his pre-death attributes and abilities.'
'Note 3: All abilities granted by the system are permanently side-effect free!'
"No wonder my Haki levels aren't that high, and the attribute gains are modest—it's all because the source was already dying."
However, the Devil Fruit ability had no side effects, which was a great advantage—so Carl didn't need to worry about seawater or seastone paralysis.
But this secret must never be known by others!
Carl rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then turned his gaze to the packed suitcase at his side.
According to his schedule, once he completed his push-up training over the next few days, he would leave Boya Town for good.
Though the village was peaceful and its people warm-hearted
Carl, as a man, knew he couldn't be tied down to one place forever.
He had always planned to set sail and roam the seas.
Especially now that he had acquired the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, Shiki's former Paramecia-type Devil Fruit—he no longer feared most enemies, so long as they weren't among the true monsters of the New World.
"Next step... join the Navy. Becoming a pirate is meaningless. Pirates live in fear every day."
Carl had decided from the beginning—he would walk the path of justice.
In this chaotic world, true independence required strength.
And until he had the power to stand alone, the safest route was to join the Marines.
Although he now wielded the gravity-defying power of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, he was under no illusion that he was invincible.
This was the world of One Piece, where Emperors and Admirals reigned supreme
With his current abilities, he wouldn't even make the lower ranks of the world's strongest.
Carl headed to the port and retrieved the small ship he had reserved nearly a year ago.
He carefully stowed his supplies and belongings aboard.
Once the repairs of Kogarashi and Oto were complete, he would officially set out leaving behind five years of life in Boya Town.
"It's a little hard to say goodbye after five years…"
Carl sighed, but pushed the sentiment aside. He returned home and rested for the night, knowing the next day would mark a turning point.
At dawn, Carl picked up Deadwood and Sakura Ten from the town blacksmith.
He reached into his coat to pay, but the elderly blacksmith waved it off with a kind smile.
"Master Carl, don't worry about it. You've always supported my shop and never missed a payment."
"I heard from the kids you're leaving soon consider this my gift to help you on your new journey."
Carl felt touched by the gesture.
"Thank you, Uncle. I'll miss you when I'm out at sea."
Strapping the repaired swords at his waist, Carl walked proudly through the streets
The villagers had already gathered to see him off.
His reputation here was unmatched, and the people were reluctant to let him go.
The children were visibly saddened
While the unmarried girls wore expressions of quiet longing, as if a precious treasure was being taken from them.
Carl walked all the way to the harbor, flanked by cheers and tearful goodbyes.
Just as he was about to board his boat, a deep humming sound echoed across the coastline.
A massive Marine warship appeared on the horizon, heading straight for the port.
Carl recognized the design and the flag it belonged to Marine Headquarters, not a local branch.
The vessels of the G-2 or G-8 divisions were never this large or heavily armed.
At the same time
The Marines aboard also noticed the crowd at the pier.
They were puzzled by the large send-off for what appeared to be a single traveler.
Driven by curiosity, the ship docked cutting off Carl's path to the open sea.
"I am Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel of Marine HQ. We're searching for a dangerous pirate have you seen this man?"
Though the visit began out of curiosity, the vice admiral remained professional and respectful.
His polite manner immediately won the favor of the townspeople.
"Hey! Isn't that the pirate Lord Carl killed yesterday?"
"Yeah, let me see that bounty poster yup, that's him alright!"
"Sir Marine, you don't need to search anymore! Lord Carl took care of him already!"
The flood of enthusiastic responses caused Vice Admiral Flying Squirrel's expression to tighten with disbelief.
He turned and looked at Carl, who had been gently nudged forward by the crowd.
The admiral's eyes, and those of the surrounding officers, were filled with shock.
After a moment's silence, the Flying Squirrel asked cautiously:
"You really defeated that pirate?"
Carl nodded confidently, gesturing toward a large, sealed coffin behind him.
"Feel free to verify it—he's inside. Not a fake."
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