After seeing Admiral Snow Lion die and looking into his vacant eyes, Carl glanced around, then went to one side and dragged over a huge rock, placing it on top of him.
After all, he had been a powerful Marine Admiral. Carl didn't want him to lie here forgotten, his corpse torn apart by wild animals. That would have been far too cruel to him.
Once he had taken care of that, he turned to look toward the battlefield.
The fighting on the main battlefield had ended. Most of the pirates had poured into the capital of the Tyr Kingdom. Screams rang out all over the city. After all, many people didn't want to leave their kingdom, and some had no choice but to return because there weren't enough ships.
He stood still for a moment, feeling the power continually surging up from beneath the earth. It gradually restored his strength. Honestly, this was the first time he had fought until he was completely exhausted. Wounds of all sizes covered his body. If he hadn't grown stronger during the battle, he might well have been close to death.
"Open the system panel."
"Host: Rocks D. Carl
Fused Templates: Old Celestial Master from The Outcast; Sword Saint Ge Nie from Legend of Qin (not fused); Wangquan Fugui from Fox Spirit Matchmaker (not fused).
Skills: Armament Haki emission, advanced Observation Haki, intermediate Conqueror's Haki, Six Powers, Golden Light Incantation, Palm Lightning, Yang Five Thunders, Taiji Fist...
Talent: Titan Power
Money: 3.7 billion Beli
Items: Energy Fruit, Rain-Rain Fruit, Zoan Ox-Ox Fruit, Zoan Rhino-Rhino Fruit, Venom-Venom Fruit, Art-Art Fruit, Change-Change Fruit, Fish-Fish Fruit Mythical Beast Flood Dragon Form, Bird-Bird Fruit Mythical Zoan Golden-Winged Peng Form, Logia Earth-Earth Fruit, Zoan Triceratops Fruit, Zoan Saber-Toothed Tiger Fruit, Great Grade Sword Ancient Moon Blade, Great Grade Sword Silver Harmony Blade... (This is the last time I'll show you so many items. I won't list them all from now on, so no one can say I'm padding the story.)
Evaluation: A first-rate powerhouse of the seas, with the overall strength of an Admiral."
Seeing his evaluation, Carl realized he had finally reached Admiral level. Above that were probably the Four Emperors and the rulers of the seas.
But he didn't feel any relief. Since joining the Rocks Pirates, he had fought constantly. He was either out battling or training nonstop on the island, without a moment's rest. Now he was exhausted in both body and mind.
Then a trace of regret and loss appeared in his eyes. He looked deeply saddened.
Without realizing it, he had already killed quite a few people, both good and bad. He didn't feel much guilt about killing bad people. Those who did evil could die for all he cared.
But Admiral Snow Lion should have been a truly good person. During their fight, Carl had learned that he had genuinely been trying to uphold justice on the seas. He shouldn't have died here.
When had he become like this?
Did having strength mean he could do whatever he wanted?
Did he no longer care about the difference between right and wrong?
When had he become this way?
Carl fell into a deep spiral of self-doubt.
But through the fading aftershocks of the battle, he saw two small golden figures racing toward him. He knew the two little ones were coming.
As soon as Long Yi and Long Er saw the fighting on Carl's side was over, they ran straight to him.
That instantly strengthened his resolve again.
To keep something like this from happening in the future, he had to do everything in his power to bring liberation to this world as soon as possible.
Then there would be no pirates, and everyone could live in peace and prosperity. Surely there would be fewer tragedies then.
His conviction had returned.
Changing the world would start with you.
His gaze settled on Long Yi and Long Er in the distance. You two will be the first step toward realizing my ideals.
"Lord Carl."
"Lord Carl, are you all right? Are you badly hurt?"
Long Er looked at Carl, his body covered in blood, with a pained expression. He had never seen Lord Carl like this and thought he must have been seriously injured.
"I'm all right. It's not that bad."
Carl sounded fairly relaxed. His injuries had indeed been serious, but he had gradually recovered, and he could walk normally again.
"Really, Lord Carl?"
Long Yi's eyes showed doubt and confusion. Those wounds didn't look minor to him.
"You two did well. I saw everything."
"Come on. It's time to reap the rewards."
Carl took the lead, bringing the two of them toward the palace of the Tyr Kingdom.
The two were puzzled, but seeing that Lord Carl could move without trouble, they had no choice but to follow.
They whispered to each other behind him, wondering if Lord Carl was just trying to tough it out.
Carl ignored their quiet muttering.
As he saw it, the Tyr Kingdom was probably the only powerful opponent the Rocks Pirates would face in the second half of the Grand Line. After this, there shouldn't be any major battles for a while, giving them more time to rest and recover.
He could use that time to make careful preparations and start putting some things in motion now.
That way, after God Valley, he could put his plan into action right away.
He was already getting a little impatient.
When he entered the town with the two little ones, the streets were covered in corpses. Pirates were rushing everywhere, robbing every bit of wealth they could find.
He had grown somewhat used to seeing things like this, but it still unsettled him. He hurried toward the royal palace.
"Gurarara!"
"Carl, you're here."
Newgate had finished fighting a little later. He had just reached the entrance and hadn't gone inside yet when he saw Carl approaching with two children.
"Brother Newgate."
Carl quickly walked up to him and looked him over from head to toe. Newgate had no obvious injuries, which showed that his opponent hadn't hurt him at all.
"Are you all right?"
Only when Newgate came closer did he notice that Carl was covered in wounds, some of them still bleeding.
"It's nothing. I'm almost better."
It was true. Carl could feel that some of his smaller wounds had healed completely. The others were recovering more slowly because Admiral Snow Lion's Frost Power was still at work.
But he could clearly feel those wounds healing little by little. After all, they no longer had any power sustaining them.
"Where are the Devil Fruits?"
As the two were chatting, a low, angry roar suddenly came from inside the palace.
They exchanged a look, their expressions turning grave, and hurried inside.
Carl told Long Yi and Long Er to wait at the entrance and not to come in.
The roar had come from Rocks.
They followed a passageway, with a torch every few steps along either side.
A bright light shone from the far end. As they approached, they saw that the innermost treasury was strewn with gold. But several chests at the top had been opened, and the Devil Fruits inside had vanished without a trace.
Before you continue