Bang!
Kicking the coffin lid open again, Carl threw Enel's corpse out and hurriedly searched inside for what he wanted.
Hundreds of fruits were piled within. Although a few had been crushed by Enel's body, the vast majority were intact.
Yet Carl's face quickly darkened.
"The worst-case scenario… did it really happen?"
He turned the entire black coffin over and still didn't find a Devil Fruit with spiral patterns inside.
In other words, Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit hadn't been reborn in the coffin.
If this black stone coffin really can force a Devil Fruit to reincarnate within a set area, then the Rumble-Rumble Fruit could have reappeared on Upper Yard, on Angel Island, or in the Shandia's hidden village.
Just combing all of Upper Yard for a fruit the size of a human head is already hard.
Searching three places would be far harder.
On top of that, Carl couldn't be sure whether any person or animal had already eaten the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
If the coffin's power was fake, or if it stopped working away from the Arabasta Kingdom, he'd waste time scouring three places.
So, while Carl's expression looked bad, he couldn't let his mood get worse. For one of the most invincible Devil Fruits, he had to do it.
"Come on, Little White. We're going to find Karina."
Calming his emotions, Carl dumped all the fruit out of the coffin, slung it onto his shoulder, leapt onto the Blue-Eyes White Dragon's back, and flew out of the still-lingering mushroom cloud.
For the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Carl couldn't be bothered with the mountains of gold in the temple used to build Ark Maxim.
"Carl, is it settled over there?"
In less than two minutes, Carl and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon found Karina, who was searching for the City of Gold.
Seeing the dragon descend, Karina waved and asked with a smile.
No real need to ask.
Seeing Carl return unscathed, Karina knew he'd won decisively.
"Yeah… settled."
Carl nodded, then looked at Perona and Robin. "Perona, Miss Robin, I need your help."
"Help?"
Seeing Carl without his usual smile and instead a hint of urgency, Perona and Robin—and also Karina and Nami—grew serious.
"Help me find something on this island."
Carl didn't explain in detail. He stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Perona's and Robin's waists, and said to Karina and Nami, and to the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, "Karina, Nami, keep looking for the City of Gold."
"Little White, stay and protect Karina."
"Rooaar…"
With a soft reply from the dragon, Carl carried Robin and Perona and flashed into the sky with Soru.
Since he needed to land and search for the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Carl didn't take the dragon along.
The Blue-Eyes White Dragon was too big to weave through the forest, and shrinking would still mean searching place by place. Perona's and Robin's abilities were the help Carl needed most right now.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit?!"
As Carl flew low over Upper Yard with Robin and Perona in his arms, hearing what they sought, Robin's eyes widened slightly. "Your opponent—so the sea hasn't seen a user of that fruit for years?"
"A Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit user… no wonder that explosion just now was so huge!"
Perona nodded in dawning realization, shock heavy on her face.
Even someone raised on Thriller Bark knew about the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Anyone who knows Logias knows it.
If the previous Rumble-Rumble Fruit really had reappeared only on the sky island Bika ten thousand meters up, and hadn't shown up in the Blue Sea for years, that fruit would become a legend.
Had it surfaced in the Blue Sea and been eaten by someone decent, they would already have made a name for themselves.
Just like Portgas D. Ace, who ate the very strong Logia Flame-Flame Fruit, went undefeated from the East Blue through Paradise, and received an invitation to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea from Mary Geoise.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit is rarer and stronger than the Flame-Flame Fruit, hailed as the strongest Logia, one of the invincibles even among all Devil Fruits.
No exaggeration: an ordinary person who eats it—so long as they don't die early—could, by developing its power through their prime in their forties and fifties, reach the level of a candidate admiral.
If a genius eats it, they're admiral material.
Therefore…
When they heard the Rumble-Rumble Fruit might have reborn somewhere on this island, both Robin and Perona couldn't hide their excitement.
If Carl, already a monster, ate one of the invincible fruits on top of that, wouldn't he be truly unbeatable?
Perona was instantly fired up and promised Carl, "Don't worry, Carl—I'll make sure you get the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!"
"Uh… I'll leave it to you then, Perona."
Carl blinked, realized her misunderstanding, chose not to explain, and gave her a smile like sunlight.
That seemingly buffed-with-special-effects smile made Perona's heart pound. Being held by him for the first time flushed her cheeks scarlet.
To keep them from seeing her flustered state, Perona said quickly, "Carl, I'll check the area first—please watch my body."
Then she let her soul slip free.
A spirit body identical to her own lifted from Perona's form.
Out of body, in ghost state, Perona split off several Negative Hollows from that spirit.
She sent them in different directions, then smiled at Carl. "Get ready for my good news!"
With that, her ghostly self fluttered away.
"Not going to become a Devil Fruit user yourself?"
After Perona left, noticing Carl's expression, Robin gently suggested, "If you want to strengthen Nami and plan to have her eat the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I'd suggest you eat it instead."
"Nami might have a talent for handling lightning, but her body is too weak. For such a rare and powerful fruit, it would take years or more than a decade to truly develop it."
"If you eat it, that's different."
Without letting Carl interrupt, Robin continued, "Your physique is incredibly strong, your stamina nearly limitless, and Devil Fruits drain the user's stamina. If you became the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's user, you could unleash astonishing power right away."
"Though you'd become a landlubber, compared to the downside of not swimming, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit would give you power on par with a Marine admiral, even letting you challenge the sea's top rulers."
Carl only smiled in silence.
Seeing that, Robin smiled warmly. "Looks like you already have an idea."
"Yeah…"
Carl finally nodded, looked at Robin, and said meaningfully, "If we find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, I'll show you—and Karina—a performance that will shock the world."
"I'm looking forward to it," Robin said, genuinely expectant this time.
Then Robin fully unleashed the Bloom-Bloom Fruit. Across a designated swath of forest below, eyes sprouted on flowers, grass, trees, and even animals.
With countless eyes watching, Robin's view became a 360-degree, no-blind-spot god's-eye.
Perona phases through things; Robin covers range…
That's why Carl didn't bring the Little Dragon: if even Perona and Robin couldn't find it, then the Rumble-Rumble Fruit clearly hadn't reincarnated on Upper Yard.
While Perona and Robin searched in earnest, Carl didn't idle.
Like them, he closed his eyes and pushed his Observation Haki to the limit, spreading his senses over all of Upper Yard.
For now his perception could blanket Upper Yard and part of the White Sea around it, but not monitor both Upper Yard and Angel Island the way Enel had.
He had to be ready in case, after rebirth, the fruit was eaten by someone or by an animal.
Perona and Robin took the search; Carl tracked every presence on Upper Yard.
Observation Haki can feel the strength of a person's aura. If one suddenly grows stronger, it means they've either used a trump card—or obtained something that skyrockets their power.
Truthfully, Carl preferred that someone ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit right now.
That would prove the coffin's power, and he'd only need to kill once more.
Unfortunately, over the next several hours, Carl sensed no sudden surge in anyone's aura.
Likewise, after hours of searching, Robin—whose stamina was waning—and Perona—whose ghostly doubles and hollows were scouring the island—still found nothing.
By nightfall, the three of them regrouped by a campfire with Karina, Nami, and the dragon, who also had no results.
"So that black coffin can actually force a Devil Fruit to reincarnate within a set area?" Karina clicked her tongue.
"Whether it can or not, we still don't know."
Eating roasted game, Carl shook his head and changed the subject. "Forget that for now—did you find the City of Gold?"
"I'm not sure."
Grilling the meat Carl had hunted, Nami sighed. "Among ruins that have crumbled for centuries, I did find a little gold—but it's nowhere near enough."
"There's a giant monster on this island—maybe it swallowed the gold?"
Thinking of Ark Maxim in the temple but lacking time to go, Carl offered a hint. "Tomorrow, go with Little White to look for it—and check inside its belly."
"Good idea!"
Karina and Nami's eyes lit up.
"Perona, Miss Robin, thank you for today."
The gluttonous Carl was in a bad mood and only ate two beasts. He stood and said to Perona and Robin, "Rest well tonight. We'll continue tomorrow."
Seeing him about to leave, Karina quickly asked, "Where are you going, Carl?"
"To keep the fruit from reincarnating elsewhere and being eaten without us knowing, I'm going back to the sky island."
He waved. "Don't worry about me. I can go ten days without sleep."
With that, Carl vanished from the firelight and sped toward Angel Island.
He wouldn't sleep until he confirmed where the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was—or wasn't.
All night, Carl shuttled between Upper Yard and Angel Island.
He even searched the Shandia's hidden village.
His Observation Haki stayed spread over all three, ready to catch any sudden surge.
On day two, Carl continued with Perona and Robin.
Still nothing.
Meanwhile, Karina, Nami, and the Little Dragon found the Sky Lord on Upper Yard the same day.
After the dragon defeated it, Karina and Nami indeed found a trove of gold in its belly that hadn't been digested.
Carl spent five days scouring all of Upper Yard. He even climbed Giant Jack, found the Golden Bell, and stumbled on Poneglyph history that delighted Robin—yet still no Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Believing it hadn't reincarnated on Upper Yard, Carl took Perona and Robin to Angel Island.
Over the next few days, Robin's countless eyes and Perona's ghosts threw Angel Island into chaos.
Another five days passed…
Ten days without sleep and still no fruit—Karina's heart ached for him.
On the thirteenth day, after more uproar in the Shandia village—and even flattening some hot-headed Shandia to vent—Carl gave up hope that the fruit had reincarnated on the sky island.
"Hah… what a waste of my time. That guy had better pray I don't have time to go back to Sainting Island."
After a cathartic beatdown of Shandia to vent ten days of frustration, Carl regained his usual composure, yawned, and grumbled.
If it isn't fated, forcing it only brings anger.
Better to relax than stew.
So…
Carl prepared to leave this maddening sky island.
But before going, he brought the four girls to the temple ruins blasted by his light lance, ready to find the true City of Gold—and Ark Maxim.
Yet fate loves jokes…
Just when Carl gave up on the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and decided it hadn't reincarnated on the sky island—
As the four girls and the Little Dragon pried away slabs of broken wall and stone—
"C-Carl, get over here!"
Perona's voice quivered with excitement.
She was so thrilled she stuttered. "Th… there's… the thing… the thing we're looking for?!"
Hearing her, Carl and Karina rushed over.
Beneath a fallen wall, in a narrow crevice, lay several bright red apples—and one special fruit that used to be an apple.
Its peel was blue-white, patterned with distinctive Devil Fruit spirals.
A Devil Fruit—Logia Rumble-Rumble.
"…"
Carl fell silent.
Karina and Nami, even Robin, fell silent.
"Pfft…"
After a long beat, Karina burst into laughter. "Hahaha… I'm dying—this is too much… hahaha…"
Even her signature laugh didn't come out. That said it all.
"Hahaha…"
Nami doubled over too, laughing tears out.
Perona and Robin joined in. Even the Little Dragon seemed to be laughing.
Carl alone stood silent, out of place.
Luckily, he had a thick skin. Otherwise he'd be looking for a hole to crawl into—or another planet to live on.
Thirteen whole days.
He turned Upper Yard upside down, then Angel Island, then the Shandia village—high Giant Jack, low ravines, big bird nests, deep valleys… any spot that could hold a fruit or a crevice, he checked.
But he missed one place.
The temple ruins where he fought Enel.
Since the coffin had been packed with fruit and none had captured the power, how could Carl imagine the fruit would reincarnate in the ruins?
Trusting his light lance too much, how could he guess a few apples survived that all-scorching light heat—and weren't crushed by falling stone?
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit just had to reincarnate right there.
Fate really does enjoy jokes.
Carl, who had given up, found it in the most dramatic way possible.
Bending down to take the fruit from the crack, Carl glanced at the girls still laughing and smiled faintly. "Next, I'll show you a performance that will shock the world."
"Little White…"
Before the four could finish turning their surprise into anticipation, Carl looked at the grinning Little Dragon.
"Rooaar…"
In sync with Carl, the dragon fluttered over to the fruit.
Under four pairs of eyes, the Little Dragon bit a chunk from the fruit and swallowed it, face turning a little green.
Bzzzz…
"…"
The next second, a sight that widened all their eyes appeared.
Carl and the Little Dragon both began to shine with fierce blue-white light. Serpentine arcs of electricity coiled around their bodies.
"C-Carl—what's happening?!"
Staring at the man and dragon wrapped in lightning, Karina stammered.
"Exactly what it looks like."
Carl glanced at his hand, now transformed into lightning, then looked up at the four and grinned. "The Little Dragon and I are both Rumble-Rumble Fruit users now."
"…Unbelievable."
Witnessing a miracle, Robin's voice shook.
Compared with Karina—less versed in Devil Fruits—Robin was far more stunned.
It's common knowledge: there are no two identical Devil Fruits. Even similar types are divided into higher and lower forms.
Likewise, no one in history has held two fruits—or two beings shared the same fruit's power.
Especially the latter, which is even more inconceivable than double-fruit users.
When a Devil Fruit is split, only the first to eat its flesh gains power.
The second or third gets only an awful-tasting bite.
So…
As Carl said, this truly was a world-shocking performance.
Two beings—man and dragon—sharing one invincible fruit, the Rumble-Rumble.
This isn't just one plus one greater than two.
One Rumble-Rumble can make one monster. Now it's on two of them.
The long-stable order of the Grand Line is about to be shaken.
"Carl, how did you do it?!"
Once Karina learned from Robin how outrageous this was, she couldn't wait for an explanation.
Even Robin was curious.
"It's simple. Little White isn't an ordinary dragon, and our bond isn't an ordinary master-servant bond."
Carl didn't reveal his system's secret; he half-told the truth. "Just like I have an innate gift, Little White has a special one too."
"His special gift is sharing. Once he recognizes a master, he'll never betray them, his life binds to theirs, and he can share abilities and strength with them."
"Amazing!"
All four girls looked at the Little Dragon in awe.
No wonder he's so strong—he shares Carl's power.
"This world really is incredible—even a 'share Devil Fruit' gift exists," Robin marveled again.
She didn't doubt Carl. The evidence stood in front of them.
With a Rumble-Rumble power by proxy, Carl's strength leaped again.
From top-tier among the Seven Warlords, he now had every right to challenge the apex monsters.
Even without awakening Conqueror's Haki—or mastering Conqueror's coating.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit makes up the gap entirely.
As one of the invincible fruits, it's not just destructive—it's comprehensive.
First, elementization. Carl already had a body like steel—now he gains an elementization no less slippery than the Glint-Glint Fruit. Once fused with Observation Haki, even Armament has trouble pinning down his body—practically immortal among Logias.
Second, electro-sensing. Carl's Observation Haki, previously lagging far behind his Armament after two evolutions, instantly caught up and became singular in range.
Before sharing, he could cover Upper Yard but not reach Angel Island.
Even with his physique, he couldn't keep it up round-the-clock.
Now, even without closing his eyes, he can observe both Upper Yard and Angel Island, even the Shandia village.
He can hear the sky people and the Shandia talk.
The drain is negligible.
Not just twenty-four hours—ten days straight is easy.
A monster with an invincible fruit—this is the advantage.
In game terms:
The fruit's skills cost MP—stamina—but Carl's MAX stamina comes with MP regen. The cost of sensing can't outpace the regen.
Beyond elementization and electro-sensing, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's electric field, therapy, and thermal power are all terrifying.
Before his second evolution—
More precisely, before his third draw—Carl wouldn't have eaten any fruit.
Even if the strongest Paramecia Tremor-Tremor or the Rumble-Rumble lay before him.
Compared to his monster physique and the Mysterious Spear, even those would cost him the sea—he'd become unable to swim. Not worth it.
After drawing the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and binding souls, Carl—ever the transmigrator—had a wild idea.
The bond-share can be toggled.
He can share or not share the dragon's light powers at will.
That discovery led to a guess.
If the Little Dragon becomes a Devil Fruit user, can Carl share the fruit's power without fearing the sea?
He guessed right.
Apparently only the one who eats a fruit suffers the sea's curse. Sharing didn't curse Carl.
With the shared Rumble-Rumble, he can swim—and even use fruit powers in the ocean.
The Little Dragon, however, loses the ability to swim.
But he can return to his card space at any time. If he falls in, Carl can recall him instantly.
With a perfect Rumble-Rumble by proxy, Carl now resembles Blackbeard—another freak of the sea.
Worse for his enemies, at his side is a Blue-Eyes White Dragon that's basically Carl-lite.
From now on, Carl's full-power mode isn't the Spearman form—it's the Dragon Knight form.
With elementization and lightning speed, the dragon can finally keep his pace, fight shoulder to shoulder, and unleash double the thunder.
Without a doubt, when the Dragon Knight mode appears, Carl and the Blue-Eyes White Dragon will shock the world once again.
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