"Otherwise, the Angel Fruit may reincarnate elsewhere, and if that happens, it may never be found."
"This has happened before throughout history."
"When the time comes, you must enter the secret chamber, retrieve the reborn Angel Fruit from among the other fruits, and inherit its power!"
"Only then will you become the true Pope—one who embodies divinity, can take on the form of an angel, and wield the Holy Light!"
The Alternate Pope—Inheritance of Power, Angel Fruit in Hand!
"Do you remember everything I have told you?"
The old Pope had now imparted everything about the inheritance of power. With all that needed to be said finally spoken, it was as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart. He let out a long sigh.
At this moment, his face was etched with exhaustion, and his body seemed to be running on the last vestiges of life energy. It was evident—he did not have much time left.
Seeing his mentor on the verge of death, having unburdened himself of his final teachings, the new Pope felt his chest tighten with sorrow. Holding back his emotions, he nodded.
"Yes, Teacher. I remember everything."
From the shadows, Caesar—who had been secretly observing—curled his lips into a faint smile. He murmured softly:
"I remember too..."
Having learned the secret of Devil Fruit inheritance from the old Pope, Caesar chose to remain hidden on the island, biding his time. He would wait for the old Pope's death.
Once the inheritance ritual was complete and the power had transferred, that would be the perfect moment to act.
Until then, he had to remain undetected, ensuring that no unexpected complications arose.
The method of inheritance intrigued him—not just for its immediate benefits, but for the potential it held for his future plans. If Devil Fruits could be manipulated in this way, he could exploit this knowledge to secure even greater power.
However, this process required a significant amount of Seastone, a rare and highly valuable resource.
Apart from its natural source and a few countries, the Marines controlled the largest supply of Seastone. Due to Wano's long-standing isolationism, Seastone was incredibly scarce in the outside world.
Not only was a large quantity of Seastone required, but it also needed to be refined into bricks and crushed into a fine powder, which, when mixed with water, would create a specialized binding agent.
Only then could a proper Seastone chamber be constructed for the ritual.
But Seastone was notoriously difficult to work with. Only the master craftsmen of Wano had the skills necessary to refine and shape it with such precision.
"It seems that dealing with Wano is inevitable in the future," Caesar thought to himself.
Time passed quickly. As the old Pope's life force waned, preparations for the inheritance ceremony were already underway.
With the event drawing closer, the city had become unusually tense.
Where once soldiers were a rare sight, now the streets were filled with patrols. Security checks were conducted daily, ensuring that no outsider could interfere with this sacred transition of power.
For this devout nation, the succession of the Pope and the transfer of angelic power was of utmost importance.
The heavy military presence created an air of unease, as though the city itself was holding its breath.
Yet, despite the heightened security, Caesar remained undetected.
Thanks to his cunning and abilities, he easily avoided detection, slipping through inspections and remaining hidden within the city.
Then, at last, the old Pope's final moments arrived.
The ceremony of succession had begun.
On this day, the grand church at the heart of the city was packed with devout followers, all clad in ceremonial robes, heads bowed in solemn prayer.
Caesar, however, remained inside his rented hotel room.
He had no reason to join them. He was neither a believer nor in possession of their sacred attire. If he were to stand among them without praying or dressing accordingly, he would immediately attract unwanted attention.
Instead, he extended his observation from afar, quietly waiting for the moment of inheritance.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the handover of the Pope's title was completed.
Now came the most crucial phase—the transfer of power.
Before the eyes of all, the new Pope guided the frail old Pope into the church's sacred chamber.
Though overwhelmed by emotion, he remained vigilant, remembering his teacher's warnings.
Inside the chamber, which was lined with countless fruits, he gently laid the old Pope upon a stone bed.
Then, after thoroughly inspecting every corner of the room to ensure nothing was amiss, he let out a deep sigh and stepped back.
With one last glance at his dying mentor, he slowly shut the heavy Seastone door, sealing the chamber completely.
All that remained now was to wait twenty-four hours.
Only after the old Pope's life had fully faded would his angelic power transfer into one of the fruits within the chamber.
As the ceremony continued, most of the congregation slowly dispersed, oblivious to the specifics of the inheritance process.
They believed that once the new Pope escorted the old Pope away, the ritual was effectively complete.
In reality, however, the transfer of power required a full twenty-four hours.
The general populace may have left, but the church's elite paladins remained behind, standing guard outside the Seastone chamber.
They knew the ritual was not yet over.
Their duty was to ensure that nothing disrupted the process.
Only once the new Pope re-entered the chamber the following day and received the angelic power would the ceremony be complete.
Yet, despite these heavy precautions, Caesar was unfazed.
After merely waiting for a few dozen minutes, he began executing his plan.
Though Seastone could suppress Devil Fruit abilities, it had no effect on his mind-based powers.
Thus, he was able to extend his invisible force into the Seastone chamber, slipping past the guards undetected.
Quietly, he influenced the old Pope's body, hastening his inevitable demise.
He was going to die anyway—why prolong the suffering?
Caesar saw no point in waiting longer than necessary.
As the old Pope breathed his last, Caesar turned his attention to the fruits within the chamber, waiting for one to transform.
Having studied Devil Fruits extensively, he knew that the transfer process was not immediate.
Sure enough, after a few minutes, one of the fruits began to change.
Immediately, Caesar honed in on it.
He needed to extract it—without being caught.
Using his mental abilities, he created a small blood clot in the heart of one of the oldest paladins standing guard.
Moments later, the paladin collapsed, struggling to breathe.
Alarmed, his comrades rushed to his aid.
"Quick! Call for reinforcements! We need to get him to a healer!"
As the guards scrambled in panic, Caesar seized his chance.
With a precise burst of thought power, he nudged the chamber door open just enough to extract the transformed fruit.
Then, just as swiftly, he sealed the door shut once more—leaving no trace of interference.
And just like that, the Angel Fruit had been stolen, without a single soul realizing it.
Return to the New World—Caesar's Triumph!
Under the cover of night, a dark silhouette streaked through the sky, moving with the speed of lightning.
On the bustling streets below, passersby caught only a fleeting glimpse of the shadow, dismissing it as a bird.
Inside his hotel room, Caesar sat comfortably, suspending the fruit in midair with his mental power, examining it closely.
Its surface shimmered with an ethereal glow, white patterns intertwining like angelic wings.
It exuded an undeniable sense of holiness—its presence alone radiated divinity.
After double-checking its details, Caesar confirmed it.
It was exactly as described in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia—a Mythical Zoan, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Angel.
"This time, I've hit the jackpot."
Grinning, he carefully placed the fruit into a secure container.
Then, without a moment's hesitation, he slipped away from the town, diving into the sea.
By the time he resurfaced, miles away from the island, he took flight.
His next destination—the New World.
For Caesar, the matter was settled.
But for the religious island he had just left behind…
The nightmare was only about to begin.
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