"Caelan-sama, what do you want so much fruit for?"
Magellan asked curiously.
"To collect Devil Fruits."
Caelan spoke casually.
There was nothing to hide. He was already invincible, so there was no need to conceal anything.
Releasing this kind of news could shock some and attract others.
"I see. I understand."
Magellan nodded.
After a user dies, a Devil Fruit ability may transfer to a nearby fruit.
It was a secret, but not to him.
After all, his Poison-Poison Fruit had reappeared by attaching to the fruit on his plate after a prisoner died.
This kind of thing had happened more than once in Impel Down.
It was also one minor reason why the World Government concentrated prisoners in Impel Down instead of executing them.
The main reason, of course, was to slow down the rebirth of Devil Fruits to avoid causing turmoil in the world.
As for collecting Devil Fruits, it was just a side operation because the success rate was not high.
Even if all the prisoners were killed, getting two or three abilities to attach to prepared fruits would already be considered a success.
"Hm?"
Caelan looked at Magellan in surprise.
So he knew?
Did he also know that Blackbeard could strip other people's Devil Fruits?
Caelan did not care what Magellan knew. He pointed at the fruits and said to Blackbeard, "Very good. You can process five thousand people at a time."
"Yes, Caelan-sama."
Bound by the Command Spell, Blackbeard had no choice but to agree.
But in his heart he was shouting no.
He would have to squeeze out all the strength from five thousand people at once.
Every bit and every trace would be wrung out.
The whole process was like having his skin peeled and tendons pulled. The pain was unimaginable.
After using it, he would end up as an empty husk.
If he still had control over his own will, he would never agree to such a cruel death.
Unfortunately, under Caelan's control, he could only obey.
"Black Hole!"
Blackbeard placed his hands on the ground.
Rolling darkness poured over the floor and spread outward.
This time, the power was even more terrifying than when he had besieged Caelan.
Because he was activating it with all his stamina and life force, something he could only do once per life.
Blackbeard's strength and vitality were drained bit by bit, plunging him into endless agony.
Instinct told his body to stop, but the Command Spell forced him to continue.
Soon, the darkness extended to its maximum range, enveloping five thousand criminals.
The horrible suction tore at their bodies. They were already knocked out by Caelan and could not resist at all.
Soon, the bodies of five thousand criminals were crushed by gravity and died.
As several ability users perished, invisible Devil Fruit powers floated out, trying to escape and attach to new fruits.
But under the gravity of the Dark-Dark Fruit, these invisible powers were dragged back and forced into the corresponding fruits one by one.
Immediately, twelve fruits began to change.
Their skin wrinkled and strange patterns appeared.
Twelve Devil Fruits were successfully extracted.
"Efficient."
Caelan nodded slightly, satisfied.
He did not know what abilities they were, but they were probably ordinary. These five thousand were prisoners on Level 1, the Crimson Hell. They did not have any special powers.
It did not matter. The better fruits were still to come.
"Twelve whole Devil Fruits?"
Magellan was a little stunned.
He had not expected the first five thousand to yield twelve Devil Fruits.
After a Devil Fruit user dies, there is a chance the ability will attach to a nearby fruit.
But the chance was not that high. Almost all Devil Fruits were reborn on fruits in general, but getting this many at once was unusual.
If the probability were always this high, the World Government would not bother keeping these criminals alive.
Something was off.
Take another look.
Magellan looked at Blackbeard, his expression turning serious.
"Ahhh~"
But Blackbeard was having a miserable time. His burly frame had withered.
He had used the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit on five thousand people at the same time. Even though only a few among them were ability users, the power he consumed was still that of five thousand people.
Before dying, he was filled with regret.
If he could do it again, he would stay far away from Caelan.
With such terrifying strength and cruel methods, he never wanted to see Caelan again.
But Caelan was not a fool.
If Blackbeard were kept, there would be an endless supply of Devil Fruits.
Now he had just died and only two Devil Fruits had been gained.
"It is better to die like this. At least he will not torture me anymore, and I will not provide him any more benefits."
Blackbeard tried to comfort himself.
His death would be a huge loss to Caelan, or so he hoped.
However…
"Resurrect, my tool."
Caelan extended his hand toward Blackbeard's spirit, which was about to dissipate.
Infinite mana poured from his palm into Blackbeard's soul.
The fading spirit immediately stabilized and recovered quickly.
"Eh? I am alive again?"
Blackbeard felt his vitality returning and was stunned.
Even after exhausting all life force and hovering at death's door, he was resurrected.
He could feel strength surging in his body, as if nothing had been consumed.
Could it be that Caelan had realized his importance and paid a huge price to revive him?
This time, he should be valued, right?
Blackbeard could not help but think optimistically.
"Process another five thousand."
Caelan ordered calmly.
He felt no guilt using a man like Blackbeard.
If he did not die, use him to death. If he died, revive him and use him again.
Blackbeard's optimism shattered, replaced by boundless fear.
No one wanted to experience their life being drained away a second time.
He wanted to refuse, but when he opened his mouth, he said, "Yes, Caelan-sama!"
Once again, Blackbeard burned all his life force to unleash the Dark-Dark Fruit, extracting abilities from another five thousand prisoners.
Two more fruits turned into Devil Fruits, and Blackbeard's death replayed itself.
Just as he thought he was about to be freed, a powerful force poured into his body, reviving him to full strength.
"Continue. Five thousand more."
Caelan spoke coldly.
"Yes, Caelan-sama."
Blackbeard agreed under the Command Spell.
He screamed in his heart, trying to refuse this repeated torture, but he could not resist at all.
After twenty rounds, more than one hundred thousand criminals were killed by the Dark-Dark Fruit.
The Devil Fruit users among them contributed their abilities.
Caelan harvested a total of 256 Devil Fruits.
Most were ordinary, like the Animal-type Giraffe Fruit, but there were also good ones such as the Chop-Chop Fruit, the Mimicry Fruit, and the Explosion Fruit.
As for the fruits of Sanjuan Wolf, Catarina Devon, and the others, Caelan only collected Sanjuan Wolf's fruit and had no intention of transforming him into a Heroic Spirit.
That 170-meter-tall giant consumed too much mana to transform and would require constant replenishment.
The value was far less than the cost. It was better to store his soul in Valhalla until truly needed.
Catarina Devon and the Evil King were both notorious pirates and considered strong on the seas. It was more efficient to transform them directly into Heroic Spirits and have their Devil Fruit powers remain within them.
In any case, with Blackbeard under control, Caelan could extract at any time.
As for Blackbeard, he was now a spirit with dull eyes, devoid of self-awareness.
His life limit had been pushed over twenty times, dying in repeated agony.
The pain had already scarred his consciousness, destroying it beyond recognition.
In effect, his consciousness was dead.
"Perhaps this could be a starting point for autonomous puppets."
Caelan glanced at the hollow Blackbeard, deep in thought.
But that was for later. There were other matters now.
He had to arrange these fruits, then head to Marineford to join the battle.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)