11:00 AM.
In a certain sea area, the ocean stretched endlessly in all directions. A sailing ship navigated these vast currents.
Leaning against the ship's railing, Merlin guided Monet, who was practicing swordsmanship not far in front of him, while looking at the equipment slot that appeared before his eyes.
[Name: Zoan - Camel Fruit - Bactrian Camel Form]
[Effect: After equipping, grants you the ability to transform into a Bactrian camel and freely switch between human, beast, and hybrid forms. Also grants you the biological characteristics possessed by the Bactrian camel.
However, at the same time, you will also possess a restriction from nature (PS: This restriction is integral to this origin power; it can be "weakened" but cannot be erased).]
[Synchronization Rate: 1%]
[Evaluation: A supernatural creation ingeniously combined by pure power of will and the world's origin.]
With a faint smile playing on his lips, Merlin held a dragon fruit in his hand, peeling it piece by piece to reveal the red flesh inside, then took a big bite.
The fruit tasted very sweet and glutinous, and the texture of the flesh with its crunchy black seeds was top-notch.
At this time, Merlin came to a conclusion.
Even though the Devil Fruit origin relied on fruit to transform into a Devil Fruit.
But now, the dragon fruit in his hand could not be directly put into the second equipment slot to fuse with the Devil Fruit origin in the equipment frame to become a Devil Fruit.
It seemed that a brand new equipment frame was still needed as a medium to achieve synthesis.
With this enlightenment in his heart.
At this time, Merlin looked up at the patches of white clouds in the sky, then looked at the slightly dark sky in the distance to the left. Sensing the airflow and water vapor in the surrounding environment through his body, Merlin thought to himself: "Is it going to rain?"
The keen sense of smell and environmental perception characteristics brought by equipping the Camel Fruit maximized Merlin's sensitivity to wind and water.
Finishing the dragon fruit in a few bites, he casually threw the peel into the sea. With a soft plop, Merlin saw a large yellow-green fish surface and swallow it in one gulp.
The corners of his lips couldn't help but rise slightly.
And at this moment.
"You seem very happy?"
Merlin turned his head to look at Rosinante walking out of the cabin. He came over and handed Merlin a bottle of fruit wine.
Reaching out to take it, Merlin looked at him suspiciously: "Solicitous for no reason? Something up?"
Rosinante's mouth twitched, his face dark as he ground his teeth: "Can't I just come to chat with you?"
Merlin's gaze moved slightly, then he pulled out the cork, took a sip of this sweet yet slightly astringent wine, and looked at him saying: "Your strength ranks at the bottom of the Donquixote Family. Instead of chatting when you have time, you might as well spar with me."
Rosinante's eye twitched, and he couldn't help complaining: "I think you just want to beat me up? By the way, where did I offend you? I always feel you have some unknown malice towards me."
Merlin smiled. At this moment, he looked at Monet three meters away, wearing a green waist-cinched vest and a pair of denim shorts, sweating profusely.
Fifteen-year-old Monet, the same age as himself, already had a graceful figure. After learning Merlin's swordsmanship and body tempering art, combined with Monet's high nose bridge, clear jawline, fair face, and golden eyes, a heroic and cool beauty loomed on her body.
Plus having a foundation in swordsmanship since childhood, and now after Merlin's training, Monet's swordsmanship had also taken shape.
"There's something I want to ask you. Did you... kill all the royal family of Cassandra?"
Merlin glanced at him, then shook his head. Rosinante was somewhat confused. But at this time, Merlin said to Monet: "It's about to rain, Monet. Come back to the room with me, I'll teach you a type of visualization!"
Immediately, Monet stopped swinging her sword, blinked, and instantly the cool feeling on her body disappeared, becoming a bit dazed and cute. With curiosity on her face, she followed Merlin's footsteps.
Rosinante was confused. He didn't seem to have asked anything out, but?
Rain?
The weather is fine?
He couldn't help looking at Merlin's back, always feeling he was somewhat mysterious.
Regarding intelligence on Merlin, he had previously taken time to report to his adoptive father. His adoptive father, Sengoku, an Admiral, had also replied to him. Merlin hadn't done evil, so he should act according to the situation and see if he could recruit him into the Marines.
But now with this matter, he couldn't be sure what the situation with the Cassandra royal family was.
Thinking somewhat confusedly, at this time, drops of water fell on his face. He looked up, and unknowingly, dark clouds had gathered overhead.
Then a pouring shower fell from the sky.
Rosinante was very surprised; it really rained. Then he quickly returned to the cabin to avoid the rain.
At the cabin entrance, standing there watching the increasingly heavy rain outside, he was speechless, the corner of his mouth twitching: "Strange!"
An hour later.
The heavy rain came fast and went fast. Standing by the window in the room, Merlin opened the window, and a cool breeze blew in from outside.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Monet opened her eyes at this moment, somewhat bewildered. At this time, Merlin smiled: " regarding the visualization method, you can basically achieve meditation now. In the future, try to keep some impressive phenomena in your mind. It can be nature or objects, or various creatures."
Monet tilted her head at this time, pursing her lips and looking at Merlin curiously: "What about you? Your visualization object?"
"Mine?"
Merlin chuckled lightly, then took a deep breath. His gaze condensed instantly, and his aura slowly rose. At this moment, Monet's eyes became somewhat dull.
Just because the air pressure around Merlin seemed to become low. In the blink of an eye, a monster with a human body and cat head, growing upward-curved double horns and wrapped in pitch-black flames appeared in her eyes.
Her body stiffened suddenly.
A chill rushed to her heart.
But immediately after, Merlin was still Merlin, still looking at her with a smile.
Monet only then began to gasp heavily. Merlin smiled: "Visualization isn't immutable. With the changes in your experience, you can also constantly adjust your visualization object yourself."
Hearing Merlin's explanation, a thoughtful look began to appear in Monet's eyes.
At this time, the equipment slot appeared before Merlin's eyes, and he looked at the specialty column.
[Basic Level Demon Visualization Art]: In your mind, the Demon Race symbolizes struggle and calamity. You possess the heart of struggle and the intent of the lynx. You visualize the demon in your heart. Through confrontation with the demon in your heart, tempering your spiritual will, you will slightly increase your mental resistance to external interference.
The [Demon Visualization Art] evolved from the [Lynx Visualization Art]. Ever since the Devil Fruit origin was synthesized, and the original Zoan - Human-Human Fruit - Oni Form was permanently blessed on Merlin, with the blessing of the [Awakening Specialty], Merlin glimpsed the [Bestiality] existing in Zoan types that affects oneself.
Through confrontation in daily cultivation again and again, Merlin visualized this [Bestiality] for confrontation, and finally evolved the Lynx Visualization Art.
And renamed it.
Moreover, with today's daily visualization cultivation, Merlin faintly had an enlightenment. When the synchronization rate of his [Demon Form] reached 100%, his [Demon Visualization Art] might enter the next stage.
"So strong!"
Monet's golden eyes shone with light, staring straight at Merlin without blinking. Seeing her gaze, Merlin touched his face at this time, somewhat puzzled: "Is there something on my face?"
Monet instantly looked away with a blushing face, lowering her head shyly: "No!"
Seeing this, Merlin raised his eyebrows slightly, his gaze becoming strange: "By the way, Monet, I find you get shy sometimes."
Hearing this, Monet couldn't help lowering her head even more. Seeing this, Merlin walked over, sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at her: "By the way, do you have any thoughts of eating a Devil Fruit in the future?"
Hearing this, Monet slowly looked up, then looked at Merlin with surprise in her eyes: "Devil Fruit?"
Merlin smiled, lying sideways on the bed, leaning against the quilt at the head of the bed.
"Mmh, although there are weaknesses, a suitable Devil Fruit can indeed make people stronger. Chat with me, do you have any thoughts of eating a fruit in the future?"
Monet turned her head to look at Merlin, nodding with a flash of longing in her eyes: "I want to! My physical fitness isn't that strong, completely incomparable to yours, but I want to become stronger!"
If I become stronger, I can help you better in the future.
Monet blinked her eyes, looking at Merlin, thinking so in her heart.
Merlin smiled, "Then it seems I'll have to find a suitable Devil Fruit for you in the future."
Hearing this, emotion flashed in Monet's eyes. She hummed in a low voice, then said: "Thank you, Merlin."
"You're welcome, we're on the same side."
Monet's eyes became joyful, a happy smile appearing on her face instantly. She got up immediately: "Rested enough, I'm going to practice swordsmanship."
Monet picked up the Fubuki sword from the bedside, then assumed a stance and began to swing the sword in the room.
Movements coordinated, swings powerful.
Merlin watched her for a while, then closed his eyes and began to visualize cultivation.
Life on the ship, for Merlin now, was no different from on land.
Every day was either cultivation or finding a chance to "spar" with Rosinante under a nice name, beating him black and blue or something.
Time flew by, five days later.
At 10:00 AM this morning, as a News Coo flew over, several newspapers were dropped onto the deck. Then a shocked, ear-piercing scream suddenly rang out: "Come out quickly, unprecedented big news!!! Something happened in Mary Geoise!!!"
At the cabin entrance, Merlin, who had just come out of the toilet, saw Buffalo's hand holding the newspaper trembling, his face so shocked that even snot flowed out.
Gaze moving slightly, Merlin went over and took a newspaper from his hand. A line of bold red text on the front of the newspaper entered his eyes.
And a front-facing photo of a red-skinned fishman.
[Unprecedented! Is he a hero liberating slaves? Or a demon? Fish-Man Island — Fisher Tiger!!!]
As he read, a glint flashed in Merlin's eyes, thinking to himself: "Sure enough, I remembered correctly. It was during this time of this year that this world-shocking event occurred."
Fisher Tiger climbed up the Red Line to Mary Geoise, where the Celestial Dragons lived, under the cover of night.
Liberated the slaves of Mary Geoise, and even led the slaves to escape.
As for why Merlin knew.
Of course, it was because several people who ran away from this incident became big shots in the future.
Like the Empress!
Like the Golden Emperor!
Like a certain cadre of the Revolutionary Army!
And the Marines were about to become overwhelmed.