Chapter 122

Olivia turned to the back of the stone tablet and began to explore. Soon, she found a secret compartment. Then, pressing her hands on it, a clicking sound echoed, and a piece of ground not far from the stone tablet opened up, revealing a tunnel.

Clearly, this tunnel was the entrance to the ruins. Carl immediately took Olivia down.

In the past, Olivia would never enter such ruins directly after finding them, as many were riddled with deadly traps—a lesson learned through blood. But now, with Carl, an Admiral of the Navy, Olivia had no such concerns. She walked in boldly.

As the two ventured deeper, the surroundings became darker. Just when the light seemed to vanish completely, a flame suddenly flickered behind Carl's neck, startling Olivia.

The fire dispelled the cold and illuminated their path.

Olivia was momentarily dazed as she stared at the flames behind Carl's neck. She remembered the black wings she had seen earlier and thought of a legendary race. She couldn't help but ask,

"Black Dragon Admiral, are you... Lunarian?"

Carl glanced back, and Olivia immediately regretted her words, quickly lowering her head in silence. But curiosity gnawed at her. After all, the Lunarian race had existed on the Red Line since ancient times, tied to the very history of the world!

Olivia stole a glance at Carl's back, her eyes burning with interest.

However, Carl had no intention of discussing it. He continued ahead. Suddenly, as his foot pressed down, a trap activated, sending countless black arrows shooting from the walls.

Without a second thought, Carl remained still. The arrows clattered harmlessly against his body. Simultaneously, a shadowy mass surged from his back, consuming the arrows aimed at Olivia.

The attack happened so suddenly that Olivia was left in shock. When she regained her senses, all she saw were arrows scattered around Carl.

The sharp arrowheads were dented, and many shafts were broken. Carl turned around and calmly asked,

"Olivia, are you alright?"

"No, it's... it's fine. Thank you, Admiral Black Dragon."

Carl smiled. "You're welcome. Since I asked you to help, I have to protect you."

Olivia then pointed at the torn parts of Carl's clothes. "Admiral Black Dragon, your clothes..."

Carl glanced down. Black mist seeped out from the holes in his garments, and when the mist dissipated, his clothes were completely restored.

"One of the perks of being a Logia user," Carl remarked casually, then looked ahead. "Let's pick up the pace."

Olivia nodded and, before she could react, Carl scooped her up in one swift motion. In the blink of an eye, they reached the end of the tunnel.

Before them was a vast chamber. In the center stood a stone compass, with ancient texts carved into its base. A massive red rune was etched into the ground in front of the compass, its glow eerie and foreboding.

Olivia, well-versed in these ancient writings, approached the compass. She placed her hand on it and twisted it in a specific pattern. When she stopped, the ground beneath the red rune slowly descended, revealing an altar made of gold. Atop the altar rested a strange, dark-purple fruit.

The moment it appeared, Carl leaped forward and grabbed it. He examined it for a moment before murmuring,

"Yes, this is the Vampire fruit."

Without hesitation, and to Olivia's horror, Carl took a bite of the fruit, tossing the rest aside like garbage.

Carl landed softly on the ground, and Olivia rushed over, shaking him frantically. She could only reach his waist with her height, but that didn't stop her.

"Spit it out!" she yelled, panic in her voice.

"Oh my god, how could a Navy Admiral not know you can only eat one Devil Fruit!?"

But Carl remained calm. He swallowed the fruit pulp with a grimace and wiped the purple juice from his mouth.

"This thing still tastes disgusting," he muttered.

Olivia stared at him, despair creeping into her heart. "Admiral Black Dragon... you..."

Carl ignored her, focusing on the sensation within his body. He felt the same kind of power coursing through him as when he ate the Dark-Dark Fruit. It was a power he could now control.

With a thought, blood surged from Carl's body. Olivia gasped.

"It's over! He's going to explode!" she screamed.

Suddenly, the sound of tearing fabric echoed, and black wings spread from Carl's back once more. His wings, however, now transformed—feathers replaced by enormous, black bat-like appendages. His ears elongated, and sharp fangs peeked from his mouth.

At that moment, Carl looked like a demon. Olivia instinctively stepped back, but Carl reached out and grabbed her arm.

A strange red light emitted from his hand, quickly spreading across Olivia's body.

To her horror, Olivia's once vibrant silver hair turned gray, and deep wrinkles crept onto her smooth face. She had aged in an instant.

Meanwhile, Carl's complexion became rosier, and the fire behind his neck burned brighter.

Olivia raised her hand, staring at the withered skin. She coughed twice, her voice trembling,

"This... what is happening?"

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