Chapter 142: Awakening of the Mera-Mera Fruit

Bartolomeo was caught off guard and quickly summoned his barrier power in defense. But Joz, with a sly smile, activated his formidable String-String Fruit ability. His silk threads sliced through Bartolomeo's barriers like knives, leaving them shredded.

Bartolomeo's eyes widened in shock. "How... how is this possible?"

Joz examined the strength of his new String-String Fruit abilities and nodded with satisfaction. Not only did he gain impressive speed, but his attack power was also vastly enhanced. This fruit was even better than he'd anticipated, and he knew that once he fully mastered it, even Ace wouldn't be able to rival him.

Joz grinned, instantly appearing beside Vista and clapping him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, my friend. I'll help you get the awakened Gravity Fruit next."

Vista chuckled. "Alright, I'll be waiting."

Bartolomeo, however, grew frustrated. He turned to Chiba, "Captain, this isn't fair! Joz already has a fruit—he shouldn't be allowed to compete again!"

Ace, overhearing, scoffed, "What's wrong? Are you saying that those stronger than you shouldn't participate? Besides, Joz hasn't competed before, so why can't he now?"

Bartolomeo looked to Chiba, who also nodded in agreement. "Ace is right. Joz can compete."

Cavendish joined in, mocking Bartolomeo. "Come on, Bartolomeo. Even if Joz couldn't compete, do you really think you'd win? There are plenty of people here much stronger than you."

Ace's crew laughed, taking turns teasing Bartolomeo. Ignoring them, Bartolomeo looked at Chiba with determination. "Captain, what can I do to earn this fruit?"

Chiba smiled. "It's simple. I have a list of rare medicinal herbs. Whoever brings back the highest value of these within three months will win the Gravity Fruit."

With that, Chiba pulled a list from his pocket, which he had been planning to use for refining a panacea to push his own strength to the next level—something he needed before facing Kaido.

Before Bartolomeo could even reach for it, a white line shot out, snatching the list from Chiba's hand. Joz laughed, clutching the list. "Captain Chiba, I'll go collect the herbs now!" With a grin, he dashed off at top speed.

"Damn it, Joz! You stole the list! What are we supposed to do now?" Bartolomeo yelled in frustration as Joz disappeared, calling back, "Not my problem!"

"Incredible," Vista said, watching Joz's rapid departure. "Joz is really making the most of that String-String Fruit. At this rate, that Gravity Fruit is as good as mine."

Realizing he couldn't catch up, Bartolomeo turned to Chiba with a hopeful grin. "Captain, would you mind making some more copies of the list?"

Chiba nodded. "Sure, give me a moment." He returned to the ship and came back with additional copies for the remaining crew members, who immediately set off to start their search.

Watching the others depart, Ace murmured, "I wouldn't mind that Gravity Fruit myself."

Chiba chuckled. "You should've said so earlier—I would've given it to you. But you're still holding onto that Zoan Yellow Dragon Fruit, right?"

Ace grinned, "Yeah, I wouldn't trade it for anything. But Chiba, could you give me some stronger pills? I'm on the brink of a breakthrough and need a serious energy boost."

Chiba considered it, originally planning to hand over ten high-quality foundation-building pills, but instead, he gave Ace one incredibly potent elixir.

Ace raised an eyebrow. "Just one? Don't you think that's a bit stingy, Chiba?"

Chiba smirked. "This one pill is worth a hundred of the usual ones. It's pure and powerful. But be careful—don't take it all at once, or it'll blow you to pieces. Dissolve a bit at a time in water, starting with only 1% and gradually increasing. Any more than that, and I won't be able to save you."

Ace laughed. "Alright, alright, I got it! I'll head back and get ready for my breakthrough. When I'm done, I'll test my new strength against you—and maybe even match you this time."

Taking Chiba's advice, Ace carefully scraped off a small portion of the elixir, dissolved it in water, and drank it. The moment he did, he felt an intense surge of energy begin to rejuvenate his entire body.

As his strength grew, Ace began to focus on his Golden Crow Burning World Technique, condensing the power of the Golden Crow as his cultivation deepened. His spirit and body became stronger with each day, and over the course of a month, he gradually consumed the entire elixir. At that point, he had to return to Chiba for two more doses to continue his progress.

Finally, after a month, Ace absorbed the last of his third elixir, and his Golden Crow Burning World Technique advanced to a new level, allowing him to condense six Golden Crows. His aura was overwhelming, a testament to his unprecedented strength.

At the same time, his Mera-Mera Fruit began to react, its energy radiating wildly. Ace struggled to control it, but as he continued practicing his cultivation technique, he started absorbing the overflowing power. With this newfound strength, the Mera-Mera Fruit itself seemed to be awakening, transforming within him.

The energy was boundless. Ace harnessed the Golden Crow Burning World Technique once more, absorbing the immense force of the Mera-Mera Fruit's awakening.

[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.