Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Pile-Pile Fruit
"A slash... got deflected?"
"Incredible..."
Not far away, Lily and Witt widened their eyes in astonishment, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. El had effortlessly deflected such a powerful slash with his bare hand, something unimaginable.
"That kind of invulnerable body is just outrageous!" Gerd muttered under her breath.
She had worked hard to master the flying slash technique, and even skilled warriors from the giant race would struggle to withstand it. Yet, El had casually swatted it away without a scratch or any hint of damage.
"The Soul-Soul Fruit really is an all-purpose ability," El remarked, looking at the elegant and confident Gerd wielding her long-handled scythe. He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I didn't expect you to not only master the Six Powers but also to unleash such powerful flying slashes so quickly."
Typically, it wasn't easy for giants to learn the Six Powers because of their massive size. El usually didn't expect giants to take up these techniques. However, Gerd was different from other giant warriors. As a user of the Paramecia-type Soul-Soul Fruit, she had taken El's suggestion and infused the souls she collected into her muscles, nerves, and organs.
This allowed her to not only easily grasp a variant of the "Life Return" technique but also to heal her injuries rapidly. Even while resting, the souls within her body continued to train and strengthen her muscles. As long as she replenished her energy and compensated for the stamina loss, it was like she was constantly training without stopping, gaining results at a much faster rate than anyone else.
This "cheat-like" ability allowed Gerd's strength to skyrocket, giving her a body far more powerful than veteran giant warriors. She had even mastered the Six Powers, something most giants struggled with, thanks to her tireless efforts. Even the elders, like Mountain Beard and Waterfall Beard, had remarked that she might one day master the legendary Elbaf spear techniques that their race prided themselves on.
As El often said to her, "You're like a fully developed cell, ready to train yourself."
This "broken" ability of hers was essentially a training hack, leaving Linlin, Hajrudin, and others envious.
"Hehe, I only recently figured out this new technique..." Gerd said, standing tall with pride.
But then she sighed and shrugged, "Unfortunately, it still wasn't enough to make you retreat even half a step, you monster!"
It was something that often frustrated her. No matter how hard she trained, she could never seem to catch up to El. She could only watch him from behind, his strength always out of reach. And it wasn't just El—Gerd even struggled to keep up with Linlin, another natural-born monster.
"Keep working hard, you'll get there eventually," El said with a smile, patting Gerd on the head in reassurance.
"Hmph, don't lie to me! I'm not a kid anymore!" Gerd puffed her cheeks in mock annoyance, but her crescent-shaped eyes and subtle smile revealed she enjoyed El's attention.
"Gerd, you're amazing!" At that moment, the green-haired giantess Lily ran over, her eyes full of admiration as she gazed at Gerd. "That slash was incredible!"
While Gerd couldn't shake El, it didn't mean her strength wasn't impressive. She was up against El, a true natural-born monster. Even without using her Soul-Soul Fruit, Gerd's speed and strength had reached a level far surpassing 90% of the giant warriors.
"Wow, Gerd, you've gotten stronger and stronger!" Witt chimed in with a sigh, looking at the young giantess with a mix of respect and disbelief. "I remember when I first joined the Fallen Angel Pirates, you couldn't even beat me without using your Devil Fruit powers!"
When Witt had first joined, being a newly adult giant warrior, Gerd wouldn't have stood a chance against him without relying on her Soul-Soul Fruit or the assistance of her Homies like Zeus and Prometheus. But now, even without them, she could easily overpower him.
"Oh, I'm still far from being that strong!" Gerd said modestly, although the smile on her face showed she was genuinely pleased by the compliments from both Lily and Witt. Any lingering frustration from earlier had vanished.
There was no need to compare herself to El or Linlin, she reminded herself. As long as she grew stronger and contributed to El's grand ambitions, that was enough. As long as she didn't fall behind, she was content.
"Gerd! When I grow up, if we combine forces, we'll be invincible!" Lily exclaimed excitedly, grabbing Gerd's hand with enthusiasm.
"You better work hard for that, then!" Gerd said with a smile, patting Lily's head.
A year ago, the Hell Trading Company had acquired a rather odd Devil Fruit from the black market—the Paramecia-type Pile-Pile Fruit. After careful consideration, El had given it to Lily. The reason was simple: the fruit had a unique ability.
Unlike the Clank-Clank Fruit, which allowed the user to merge non-living objects like steel or stone with their body to enhance their combat abilities, the Pile-Pile Fruit worked exclusively on living beings. It was more of a support-type ability, allowing the user to merge with other living creatures to increase their strength.
And notably, the Pile-Pile Fruit could also fuse with someone with special abilities. During the fusion, the user could wield multiple abilities. Since Homies, like Zeus and Prometheus, were technically living beings created from Devil Fruit powers, Lily could fuse with them if she wished.
El had even tamed a powerful bird from the Calm Belt to partner with Lily, allowing her to fuse with it and unleash devastating attacks in battle.
~~~
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Chapter 49: Chapter 49: Grand Auction? Time to Step into the Spotlight!
"By the way, El..."
By the shore, Gerd handed a towel to a sweaty El. The bright and lively young woman, her large eyes gazing at the handsome boy before her, smiled and said, "News just came in from the Hell Trading Company... Apparently, there will be a grand slave auction on the Sabaody Archipelago in the first half of the Grand Line!"
She had specifically come over to inform El of this news. Over the years, the Fallen Angel Pirates had been collecting a large number of Devil Fruits, often buying slaves of various races from auctions and putting great effort into training them.
"Oh?"
"An auction?" Witt and Lily, the two nearby giants, were a bit surprised. Despite their curiosity, they knew full well that, as giants, they weren't suitable for such events. Especially now, with tensions between the giants and the World Government worsening, their presence at the Sabaody Archipelago could easily cause trouble.
"Any special Devil Fruits?" El asked with a smile as he accepted the towel. Over the past few years, with the growth of the Hell Trading Company, they had been steadily purchasing Devil Fruits through black markets and auctions. He wasn't too concerned about the slaves; Hell Trading Company had plenty of workers by now.
"Yes, I heard that two Devil Fruits will be up for auction this time!" Gerd said with a grin. "Though they're not Logia or rare Mythical Zoan types, they are still valuable abilities!"
"However, this auction might attract the Celestial Dragons," she continued, shrugging a bit. "You know how those people are—arrogant, domineering, and prone to causing trouble. While we have enough money to compete financially, if we offend them during the auction, it could bring trouble to Hell Trading Company."
It was worth noting that five years ago, after their Dreamland near Elbaf had been discovered by the World Government's CP agents, they were besieged by a naval fleet led by an Admiral. Fortunately, thanks to Gerd's warning system using her sea Homies, El was prepared and avoided a direct confrontation by retreating with everyone from Dreamland before the navy could strike. Afterward, they relocated to an island in the Calm Belt and established a new Dreamland.
Though they had secluded themselves in the Calm Belt for training, Dreamland maintained contact with the outside world, keeping an eye on developments. Over the years, while the Fallen Angel Pirates remained discreet, El had been making strategic moves. He sent Gerd's flying Homies to scout the Calm Belt, finding several islands to develop into large plantations. Through Streusen, he purchased slaves from the black market and established Hell Trading Company, cultivating crops like grain, fruits, and medicinal herbs.
These plantations were tended by Homies created by Gerd, while El used his Mythical Zoan ability to accelerate crop growth, allowing for quick and repeated harvests for sale. They also created a sea king Homie army to protect Hell Trading Company's fleet, ensuring safe passage through the Calm Belt without interference from other sea kings. Over the years, Hell Trading Company had grown significantly, becoming a dominant force in the New World's food and medicinal industries.
The company's rapid success inevitably attracted attention, and some had tried to take over, but the consequences were severe. Leaders of rival pirate crews and gangs soon became nothing more than corpses, their deaths serving as a warning to others. This solidified Hell Trading Company's reputation, making it a powerful underground force.
During this time, El had used the company's wealth to acquire Devil Fruits from the black market, using them to enhance the strength of Dreamland's growing members, some of whom had now become capable Devil Fruit users. Strong members were recruited into the Fallen Angel Pirates, while those with lesser abilities were trained in management and governance, taking up positions within Hell Trading Company.
Both Witt, the giant who had been captured by slave traders, and Lily, the young giantess, had been granted Devil Fruit powers by El, making them powerful assets.
"I guess I'll go personally then..." El wiped the sweat from his brow, a cold smile forming on his face. "If it comes to it, we'll just let them win the auction and then steal everything afterward. It'll save us some money!"
"After all this time in the shadows, it's about time to step into the spotlight!" He stretched his wrists, the corner of his mouth lifting in a confident grin. Years of relentless training, mastery of his powers, and development of his Haki had brought him to a new level. As a natural-born monster, bearing the bloodline of the Lunarian race, El's strength had reached heights where he no longer feared even an Admiral.
While there might still be individuals out there he couldn't defeat, he doubted there was anyone who could kill him. The Fallen Angel Pirates, too, had grown far beyond their humble beginnings. It was time to stop hiding.
"That sounds exciting!" Gerd's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. After years of training under El's guidance, pushing her body and Devil Fruit abilities to the limit, she was eager to show her power to the world.
"I heard this auction will be special. There will be a young mermaid for sale, and even a slave from the nearly extinct Three-Eye Tribe!"
"Hmm?" El's previously casual demeanor shifted as his pupils contracted. "A Three-Eye Tribe member?"
"I knew that would catch your interest!" Gerd playfully flicked her hair, winking at him. "I've already looked into it—it's a young, beautiful girl!"
"You..." El chuckled, flicking her forehead in response.
He made no secret of his nature as a man who enjoyed the company of women. Monogamy? Lifelong devotion to one woman? That wasn't part of his life plan. As the one responsible for reviving the Lunarian race, he felt it was necessary to ensure the survival of his species, even if it meant embracing a more... prolific lifestyle.
Special women from unique races certainly piqued his interest. And as for concerns about differences in size? That wasn't an issue at all. The years he'd spent mastering "Life Return" were not in vain.
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