Chapter 98: Strength Greatly Increased

With a tremor of his body, everything became insipid.

Karl had become stronger, and he hadn't gone bald.

Observation Haki had increased from Level 5 to Level 7, far exceeding the usage requirement for Weakness Perception.

"Use Observation Haki: Weakness Perception."

Thus, Karl’s attributes became as follows.

Host: Karl

Age: 24

Physique: A- (Heart-Arsonist, Fish-Man Strength Bonus)

Perception: B

Will: B+

Haki: Armament Haki Level 6 (Hardening, Imbuement, Emission, Internal Destruction), Observation Haki Level 7 (Weakness Perception)

Special Abilities: [Still as a Virgin], [Moving as a Rabbit], [Child of the Sea], [Fish-Man Strength], [Swordsmanship Level 3]

[Heart-Arsonist]: Stamina: +25.051%, Stamina Recovery Speed: +50.102%

Holy Light Fruit: 27.8% (Awakening Progress)

Active Skills: Frail (Usable), Shadow Sight (Used)."

But this wasn't over. After briefly studying the Special Skill Upgrade Card, Karl used the first one on [Child of the Sea] without hesitation.

"Usage successful. [Child of the Sea] has been changed to [Father of the Sea]. Detected conflict between Holy Light Fruit and [Father of the Sea] effects. Correcting... Correction successful!"

[Father of the Sea]: In the ocean, can ignore water pressure, breathe freely, move quickly, and continuously recover stamina. Immune to the negative effects of Devil Fruits."

The corners of Karl’s mouth curled up slightly. He had bet correctly. Now, the ocean was no longer a debuff for him!

For the remaining Special Skill Upgrade Card, Karl thought for a moment and chose to use it on [Moving as a Rabbit].

"Usage successful. [Moving as a Rabbit] has been changed to [Moving as a Mad Rabbit]."

[Moving as a Mad Rabbit]: In combat state, stamina consumption is reduced by 75%.

With this, Karl had completely become a stamina monster. Added to the bonuses of [Still as a Virgin] and [Heart-Arsonist], Karl was willing to call it "Sit-ups (Pseudo)."

Now Karl felt he was only missing Conqueror’s Haki. Should he go find Teacher Kaido and bump into him?

Maybe he could get it in one go?

"Eh~ why do you feel Move Move Like you’ve grown taller?"

Karl was stunned. He had just enhanced his physique; could it have had a height-increasing effect?

Karl stood up quickly and found it seemed to be true. He used to be a head taller than Ain; now it was more than a head.

"You really have grown taller! Hey~ wait a moment, I’ll go find a ruler!"

"Look, I told you! Your height is now 198CM, 6CM taller than before!"

Karl said with a half-smile: "How do you know I’m 6CM taller?"

"I, of course... Hmph, can't I just tell? I’m not talking to you anymore, I’m going to play with Shirahoshi!" Ain ran away, blushing.

Karl chuckled, then suddenly slapped his forehead. He had almost forgotten to test the effect of Weakness Perception. He then activated Observation Haki.

In his Observation Haki perception, more than a dozen weaknesses appeared on Ain. These were the most basic human weak points. Even without activating Observation Haki, Karl would usually strike at these weak points during normal combat.

But Weakness Perception had more than just this effect. As Ain moved, the weaknesses exposed on her body would also change.

This meant that Weakness Perception had the ability to change dynamically, shifting as the opponent moved and changed their moves, showing Karl the current weak points in order to land a "critical hit."

"Phew, feels quite practical. If I could get future sight or telepathy in the future, that would be great."

Bang bang bang!

Just as the knocking sounded, Smoker impatiently elementalized and slipped through the door crack, entering the palace.

"The Flying Pirates have landed on Fish-Man Island. They are currently causing trouble in Water Wheel Town. Jinbe has already taken people there! Let’s go too!"

"Water Wheel Town?"

Karl stroked his chin, feeling something was wrong. Water Wheel Town was the town furthest from the Dragon Palace; why go there?

"No rush. Let Jinbe handle it. We’ll stay at the Dragon Palace and wait for the rabbit to come to us!"

Smoker was about to say something but suddenly froze: "You mean, this guy Vander Decken is using a diversion?"

"Very possible! After all, the Marines aren't on Fish-Man Island now, and the most threatening person on the island is Jinbe."

"If Jinbe is away, then the Dragon Palace... hehe, I don't need to say more, right?"

Outside the Dragon Palace.

"How’s the situation?"

"Don't worry, Boss. Jinbe has already rushed to Water Wheel Town. Now there are only some Neptune Army soldiers left in the Dragon Palace. We can just rush in and find Princess Shirahoshi."

Vander Decken’s mouth curled up slightly, revealing a lecherous smile: "Heh, hehe, Princess Shirahoshi, here I come!"

Bang~

The wall of the Dragon Palace collapsed with a roar, and a dozen fierce fish-man pirates rushed in.

"Brothers, charge! Kill anyone who blocks the way!"

"Ooooooh!"

Nelson put down his binoculars and revealed a smile. As expected.

"Pirates are here! Everyone, get your spirits up!"

"Yes!"

Ain, who was playing with Shirahoshi, also heard the loud noise and quickly looked at Karl: "It must be that guy Vander Decken! I’ll go take a look!"

Karl nodded: "Then I’ll leave it to you! Kill or capture."

Although he had just enhanced his strength, he had absolutely no interest in making a move. If he had to personally deal with such small fry, then he wouldn't be able to slack off at all.

On the other side.

After marking a Neptune Army soldier, Vander Decken quickly hid behind the palace and casually threw a small knife.

The knife seemed to have eyes, spinning in the air a few times before hitting the soldier between the eyebrows, killing him instantly.

"Tch! The Neptune Army really are all trash."

Looking at the Hard-Shell Tower not far away, Vander Decken’s heart grew hot. After a year, he could finally see Shirahoshi, whom he had been thinking of, again.

After solving the Neptune Army soldiers with his subordinates, Vander Decken finally arrived in front of the Hard-Shell Tower. Although the lack of guards made him feel a bit strange, the swords, hammers, and halberds on the Hard-Shell Tower made him very certain that Shirahoshi was inside.

"Hehehe~ Shirahoshi! Look who’s here to see you!"

Click click click~

Vander Decken pushed open the door and froze.

He saw more than twenty Marines pointing their guns at him, with Nelson, Ain, and Smoker standing in the center, looking at him with half-smiles.

"Marines! How can there be Marines? Didn't you leave?"

Ain gave a mocking laugh: "Yes, we did leave, but we’re back!"

"You pedophilic pervert, prepare to die!" After saying this, Ain was the first to rush toward Vander Decken.

Vander Decken was terrified, shouting in shock: "Damn it, we’ve been tricked! Retreat! Retreat!"

"Surrender, pirate!"