Numancia Flamingo.
In the cabin.
Merlin looked at a right arm on the table in front of him. Although it had been thawed, it was clearly necrotic from freezing.
"Can't reattach it. It's been too long; the muscle tissue is necrotic."
Hearing this, the burly man in a red tank top with lush body hair in front of him flashed despair in his eyes.
Everyone present looked gloomy.
"Is there really no way?"
Doflamingo looked helpless. Merlin's eyes flashed, and he chuckled lightly. "Do you think I'm a god? Heh! But there is indeed a way, but the price he pays will be somewhat high."
Machvise's eyes lit up with excitement, looking eagerly at Doflamingo. Seeing this, a smile appeared in Doflamingo's eyes. "No matter how big the price, I can pay it. Whether it's money or anything else."
"No need." Merlin laughed. "We had an agreement before. Within the contract period, I treat you for free.
"I keep my promises."
"The price I'm talking about is that growing a right arm out of nothing requires him to pay the price himself. Lifespan. Equivalent exchange; he needs to pay with his lifespan."
This was the mechanism of form-shadow conversion of the Shadow-Shadow Fruit.
At this time, Machvise hesitated, but a few seconds later, he gritted his teeth. "Please help me."
Merlin smiled. He hooked a finger, and a shadow hand grabbed the shadow under Machvise's feet and pulled it up. Instantly, as Machvise was pulled down by his own shadow, the shadow turned into a human shape in Merlin's hand.
Then, Merlin looked at the shadow missing a right arm. The shadow hand brought the shadow in front of him. Merlin pressed his left hand on the shadow's right shoulder. Activating shadow control ability, like wiping a blade, as his left hand stroked down, the shadow's right arm slowly appeared. At the same time, synchronously on Machvise's right shoulder.
A right arm grew out of nothing.
But at the same time, his face became more mature, and a touch of gray gradually grew on his temples.
From around forty, turning fifty in a blink...
Soon, the shadow's right arm appeared, and Machvise's right arm also appeared.
At this time, Merlin released the shadow, looking at the latter with interest. Using Observation Haki to sense his aura, his human electric field also appeared weaker at this moment.
"About ten years of lifespan."
Merlin instinctively understood and said it out.
Gripping the limb that was no different from his previous right arm, excitement flashed in Machvise's eyes. At the same time, everyone present was dumbfounded with shock.
Feeling the stamina consumed in his body after performing this "surgery"... Heh! The consumption wasn't even faster than his recovery.
After a battle with Aokiji, Merlin roughly knew his general level on this sea.
He was enough to remain undefeated for a short time against a weak Admiral-level combatant. As long as his physical fitness improved by a few more levels, and his Haki level caught up later, he would be an Admiral-level combatant.
And why weak? Because Aokiji had not yet reached the peak of his life.
A smile played on Merlin's lips. At this time, looking at everyone present, shadows separated and wrapped around them, igniting calamity black flames to absorb the injuries on their bodies.
Before long, when all treatments were done, Merlin looked at Doflamingo. "Since you are fine now, it's time for us to part ways."
Doflamingo nodded with a smile. Rather, he also wanted to leave early. Staying with the current Merlin put a bit too much pressure on him.
This... was too unsafe.
At this time, Merlin looked at Law and chuckled lightly. "I'm leaving. If you don't understand anything about training, contact me via Den Den Mushi."
Reluctance was in Law's eyes, but his tone was arrogant. "You offered yourself; I didn't beg you to teach me."
Merlin scolded laughingly, "Get lost."
Saying this, a small shadow appeared from under his feet and drilled into Law's abdomen.
Law was surprised. "This is?"
Merlin smiled. "All our own people have it."
Saying this, without looking at Doflamingo's strange subtle gaze, he turned and left decisively.
Merlin left. Pink nodded to Doflamingo, then left together.
A thoughtful look flashed in Doflamingo's eyes. He suddenly felt that the relationship with Merlin needed to be deepened again.
He suddenly felt that in this world, he was still very weak. He needed a powerful true ally, and during the time spent with Merlin, Merlin's credibility was worthy of certification.
Pink in the future... should he also be stationed with Merlin permanently?
Baby 5 is already Merlin's person, and Pink's loyalty is affirmative. Just right to serve as a bridge between the two forces.
Then, perhaps I should find time to have a good talk with Pink!
Also, although there are already signs of the Flevance royal family's tracks, I need to increase the effort.
Pink, who left, did not know his fate...
Two and a half months passed in a flash.
March 12th, year 1528.
A new year had arrived.
Nothing major happened during this time. Encounters with Tsuru's warship occurred occasionally, but the other party maintained basic restraint towards Merlin, pretending not to see him.
During this time, Merlin spent most of his time wandering around Swallow Island.
Every night, he would swap positions with his shadow to go home and rest, occasionally guiding Yor and the others in their training at home.
After more than a year of training, in recent months, Yor had gradually begun to master the power of two types of Haki. In sparring with Merlin, her swordsmanship also improved rapidly.
At 5:00 PM this afternoon, in the villa.
After daily training, Merlin took Shusui's shadow out of Yor's body.
Sitting on the threshold steps, looking at the increasingly mature and alluring Yor, Merlin held a short sword-like dagger in his hand.
Fine Grade quality.
Synthesized a few months ago from his family's heirloom dagger and that Fine Grade dagger called Steel Cutter.
Sword Name: Steel Cutter.
At this time, Yor sat beside Merlin, holding her knees, glancing at Lami and Sugar practicing sword swings in the yard. She said, "How long are you staying home this time?"
Breathing in, Merlin smelled the faint fragrance coming from Yor and said, "Waiting for Fulvio's intelligence. Won't take many days. After that matter is done, you guys leave here with me!"
Resting her chin on her right hand, left palm supporting her right elbow, a brilliant smile unconsciously rose on Yor's lips. "Mmh okay, I'll listen to you."
At this time, San Pao crawled over from the side, lying down at Merlin's feet, playing with Merlin's trouser leg with a pair of front paws. Merlin crooked his finger. San Pao raised his head. Merlin rubbed the big cat's head, and a purr purr sound rang out instantly.
One could see San Pao's enjoyment at this moment.
At this time, while teasing San Pao, Merlin looked at the equipment slot in front of him.
Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit Synchronization Rate: 26%
Water Bear Synchronization Rate: 51%
Mercury Fruit Synchronization Rate: 26%
Over these two and a half months, several more special specialties had been obtained by Merlin.
After synthesizing the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit and Muscle-Muscle Fruit, Merlin only obtained one special specialty now.
[Free Transformation]: Through contact with a creature, you can change your own cell and tissue structure. You can perfectly transform into the target creature, including the target's clothing.
Besides the transformation specialty, Merlin's Ancient Giant also obtained a transformation due to the synthesized Nine-Tailed Fox.
Even maintaining normal size, he could possess the monstrous strength of an "Ancient Giant," and as his size increased, this monstrous strength would continue to surge explosively.
[Cryptobiosis]: You can freely drain water from your body, thereby extremely reducing all your metabolism. In the state of "Cryptobiosis," your genes will stimulate unique metabolic pathways and stress resistance. By replenishing water later, you can freely choose whether to exit the cryptobiosis state.
[Mercurialization]: Your body undergoes a strange change. You can freely control mercury and transform yourself into mercury.
"Cryptobiosis" was a strange feigned death specialty, and "Mercurialization" was as the name suggested.
These were the special specialties Merlin obtained. And not only that, after the hard clash with Aokiji, Merlin also gained insights into Taijutsu.
[Specialization Level Demon God Body Tempering]: Will reaches every bone, combination of movement and stillness, consciousness resides in the flesh. A thought can control the tips of hair; your flesh is no longer a soulless shell.
[Specialization Level Taijutsu]: Body follows mind, free and formless. Internal Qi flows with consciousness, controlling the body, greatly enhancing physical offensive capabilities.
Shortly after the battle, Merlin comprehended Life Return, and this technique was incorporated into "Demon God Body Tempering." Consequently, body control improved significantly.
A few days later, the specialty transformed. Immediately after, through control of the body, Taijutsu also improved in level.
And at this very moment, as consciousness fully poured into the flesh, controlling himself and interfering at the cellular level, bzzzt electric sounds rang out. Merlin controlled his skin to lock tight, internal mercurialization with ultra-low resistance mercury added, further reducing damage to the body from electricity to near zero.
Blue-white electric arcs hummed and jumped on his body surface. As the current heated up, his palm gradually turned transparent and vaporized. However, under the infusion of Merlin's consciousness constraining the palm's shape, it was now a blue-white palm-shaped mass of ionized plasma.
Pressurizing the current, soon the temperature rose to hundreds of degrees Celsius. A gleam flashed in Merlin's eyes, sensing this strong current shuttling through the gaseous mercury.
Yor had left Merlin's vicinity at some point. At this time, this current conducted through his whole body, followed by full-body ionization.
Merlin alternated between movement and stillness. Electric figures flashed and shuttled through the courtyard.
Not far away, Lami and Sugar watched with mouths gaping wide, staring in shock at Merlin's afterimages being stretched into wisps of electric current in the clearing.
Suddenly, Merlin stood still. The electricity on his body surface gradually disappeared, and the ultra-high temperature on his body surface also dropped rapidly.
Linked transformation between specialty abilities.
A bit of an unexpected joy.
Merlin looked at the three equipment in the slots in front of him, "graduating" again.
He glanced at Yor in front of him, considering her fruit allocation. But after thinking, Merlin felt it was better to wait a while longer.
Because there were still some ideas he wanted to realize.
It would be a pity not to do it.
At this time, a voice sounded from the gate outside: "Hello, is anyone there?"
Yor blinked, saying to Merlin, "Food delivery arrived?"
"You guys go get it; better if I don't show my face."
"Okay!"
Before long, on the dining table in the living room, the four people and one cat ate a large table of delicious food together.
7:00 PM.
Merlin disappeared from home. At the same time, a shadow arrow appeared in the room.
On an island not far from Swallow Island, in the city port called Razi.
On Merlin's ship, Merlin appeared here at this moment. The distance for swapping positions couldn't be too far; it had to be within the range of his Observation Haki perception.
Therefore, Merlin transferred twice at sea on the way. Merlin's current Observation Haki range was fully fifteen kilometers.
Thus, this suitably distant town of Razi was also Merlin's chosen transfer point.
At this time, Pink, who was fishing, discovered Merlin's return and smiled. "They went to play in town."
Merlin looked at Pink. Seeing him somewhat impatient, he couldn't help being curious. "Do you have something to do?"
Hearing this, Pink's eyes looked away. "You're back, so I'll go stroll around town."
Saying this, he impatiently put down the fishing rod that hadn't caught any fish, jumped off the ship with Moonwalk a few times, and left.
Merlin narrowed his eyes, watching his departing posture looking like a dog was chasing him.
"Something's fishy..."
Merlin sat where Pink was fishing just now, picked up the fishing rod, and continued fishing.
As the sky darkened completely, a burst of cheerful laughter came from nearby. Then he heard Perona's highly recognizable laugh: "Didn't expect that guy Pink to actually find a woman. So weird! And smiling so purely too."
"What was that woman's name again? Lucian?"
Baby 5 giggled. Beside her, a subtle look flashed in Monet's eyes. "Mmh, called Lucian. A woman who looks quite lively and loves to smile."
"Then, seeing us, why did Mr. Pink say you and he were colleagues at the bank, Monet?
"Isn't that lying?"
Baby 5 was puzzled. At this moment, Merlin heard their conversation, understanding flashing in his eyes. He thought to himself:
So Pink and the two of them met here?
"Eh?" At this time, Perona's surprised voice came: "You're back?"
Then footsteps approached. Perona trotted over, leaning on the railing beside Merlin, smiling with squinted eyes. "You should have heard what we said just now, right? Any thoughts?"
Merlin said speechlessly, "Finding a woman he likes is Pink's freedom.
"What thoughts should I have?"
Hearing this, Perona's mouth curled up, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "What about you? What type do you like?"
Merlin reached out and patted her head, laughing. "None of your damn business!"
Perona puffed out her cheeks, angrily sending a Negative Hollow towards Merlin.
Merlin didn't even dodge because he was completely immune to her Negative Hollows now.
And Perona knew it too. At this moment, puffing her cheeks: "Bad guy."
10:00 PM.
The group sat on the sofa in the cabin chatting. With footsteps, Pink returned from outside. Entering the door and seeing everyone, a trace of uneasiness flashed in his eyes. "Why is everyone here?"
Merlin looked at him and smiled. "Nothing, just chatting together."
But at this time, the sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out. Merlin raised an eyebrow. Baby 5 brought the Den Den Mushi over. After Merlin connected, Fulvio's voice came: "Merlin, specific whereabouts of Germa 66 have been grasped. I'm chasing behind them now. Are you coming now?
"Currently, I'm in the waters around the Country of Ice."
Hearing this, a gleam flashed in Merlin's eyes. "Good, I'll move now. You act as a coordinate and chase behind.
"I'll be there in a few days."
The Den Den Mushi hung up.
A bright look flashed in Merlin's eyes. Then he looked at Pink and the others. "We set off. Target: Country of Ice."
"These few days, Baby 5 and I will take turns sailing at night. Monet, you three sail during the day.
"Strive to catch up with them as soon as possible."
"Okay!"
"Mmh, no problem."
"Set off. You guys rest early tonight."
In a blink, ten days later, morning, 7:30 AM.
A sea area far from the Country of Ice.
Merlin's ship rendezvoused with Fulvio. At this time, under the telescope, two kilometers away.
Groups of rock buildings pieced together on the backs of snails appeared.
Surprise appeared in Merlin's eyes. Although he had this image in his memory, only after seeing it in reality could he realize: "Germa 66's biotechnology is really impressive!"
At this time, Fulvio beside him said with admiration in his tone, "No matter how many times I see it, I feel amazed. So what do you plan to do?"
Merlin said, "I'll go first. You guys follow behind. Defeat them first."
Saying this, Merlin's shadow gathered an exaggerated shadow bow in his hand. Drawing the bow and nocking an arrow, immediately, Haki wrapped around it.
Merlin's Observation Haki locked onto a clearing in front of a Germa castle in the distance. Creak shadow string sounds rang out. In a flash, Merlin's right hand released the bowstring. Hum—a shadow arrow broke through the air, causing a sharp shriek in the air.
A few breaths later.
Above the clearing of Germa 66's castle, a shadow arrow suddenly appeared.
Bang! With a sound, this shadow arrow inserted into the marble on the ground in a blink.
Instantly, the shadow arrow disappeared.
But, Merlin's figure appeared.