Chapter 399 - 399: Mother Carmel
(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 Chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)
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For the first time in decades of ruling the seas, Kaido found himself at a loss.
He didn't know how to choose in this situation.
If he chose death, he would be resurrected by the demon in front of him and turned into a mindless puppet.
But if he surrendered... he couldn't!
He was one of the Four Emperors!
In this world, there were only Emperors who died standing—none who lived on their knees.
The room fell into an eerie silence.
Suddenly, a black spatial rift appeared, and Ōtsutsuki Kaguya floated out soundlessly, adding even more pressure to Kaido's already heavy heart.
"Why are you here?" Colt asked, surprised by Kaguya's sudden appearance.
"I came to see if I could assist you," Kaguya replied softly, her gaze flickering toward Kaido.
"If this man refuses to cooperate, just kill him. I will clear all obstacles for you."
In Kaguya's eyes, someone like Kaido—who had risen to become a major power in this world—was insignificant.
She had every confidence in her ability to back up her words.
Colt was momentarily stunned.
He hadn't expected Kaguya to offer her help so readily.
A thought crossed his mind, and he quickly opened the system's task panel.
Sure enough, the longest-standing task had been completed, and the rewards were ready to be claimed.
'When did this happen?' Colt wondered.
'Was it after Kaguya was drained of her power, or when she arrived in this world? I'm not sure.'
But now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
Having Kaguya's assistance was a boon.
"Kaido, you heard her," Colt said, his voice firm.
"This is your last chance to choose your fate."
The room fell silent again as Kaido weighed his options.
Finally, he spoke.
"I'll join you. But I have one condition: let my subordinates go."
Colt nodded without hesitation.
"Of course. I'll take over the Beasts Pirates, and you'll continue to lead them in normal circumstances. But first, you'll need to help my subordinates with recruitment and surrender efforts."
With that, Kaido was released, the seastone cuffs removed from his wrists.
Colt wasn't worried about any betrayal. Besides himself, there were others in Wano Country capable of defeating—or even killing—Kaido.
If he made any moves, Colt wouldn't give him a second chance.
"Next!" Colt called.
Charlotte Linlin was brought in by Senju Hashirama.
Compared to Kaido, her physical prowess was even more terrifying.
Even suppressed by seastone, she still radiated an aura of danger.
Colt couldn't help but frown as he looked at her.
It was hard to believe that this monstrous figure had once been a beautiful young woman.
'What happened to her?' he wondered.
"Should I call you Charlotte Linlin... or Mother Carmel?" Colt asked.
The moment the name "Carmel" left his lips, it was as if a bomb had been detonated.
Charlotte Linlin began to thrash violently, the seastone shackles cracking under her immense strength.
The floor beneath her shattered, and the room trembled.
Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's expression darkened.
With a flick of her hand, several vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around Linlin and restraining her completely.
Watching the enraged Charlotte Linlin, Colt's suspicions were confirmed.
In his previous life, he had come across a chilling theory: Charlotte Linlin's body housed more than one soul.
The first soul belonged to Carmel, the previous owner of the [Soul-Soul Fruit], a nun who had secretly been a human trafficker.
After a fire, Carmel had disappeared, and Charlotte Linlin gained the powers of the [Soul-Soul Fruit].
The second clue came from the original storyline, where Linlin had briefly lost her memory after falling into the sea near Wano Country.
During that time, her personality had been completely different from her usual cruel and tyrannical self.
Finally, there were her Homies—Prometheus, Zeus, and Napoleon—each with distinct personalities.
Prometheus was sinister and ruthless, while Zeus was gluttonous and somewhat compassionate, reminiscent of the young Charlotte Linlin.
All of this pointed to one conclusion: Charlotte Linlin's body was a battleground for multiple souls.
"Let's see what's really going on," Colt muttered.
He flew to Charlotte Linlin's side and placed a hand on her head.
His [Chakra] surged into her mind, probing the depths of her soul.
As the product of spiritual and physical energy, [Chakra] was uniquely suited to detecting the presence of multiple souls.
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Sure enough, Colt sensed two diametrically opposed spiritual entities within her.
One was cruel and vicious, exuding a cold, malevolent aura.
The other was weak and fragile, constantly crying out for help.
Without hesitation, Colt destroyed the malevolent soul.
"You can let go, Kaguya," he said.
The vines retreated, and Charlotte Linlin's massive body collapsed to the ground.
Colt used his [Healing Technique] to heal her, and soon, her eyes fluttered open.
"Where... am I?" she asked, her voice trembling with fear.
The room fell silent as everyone stared at her in shock.
The once-terrifying Yonko now looked like a lost, frightened child.
"What... just happened?" Kaguya whispered, utterly confused by the sudden transformation.
The cruel, monstrous figure from moments ago had been replaced by a timid, vulnerable woman.
Despite her appearance, she found it hard to dislike her now.
The others turned to Colt for an explanation.
He gave a brief summary of his findings.
Even Uchiha Madara was intrigued.
"There are such peculiar Devil Fruits in this world? Truly remarkable," Madara mused.
While he didn't care much for the [Soul-Soul Fruit]'s combat abilities, its unique effects fascinated him.
'Though,' he thought bitterly, 'it's probably because of that damned Black Zetsu. That thing left a permanent scar on my soul.'
Hinata, her heart softened by compassion, asked, "What will you do with her now?"
Though Charlotte Linlin had committed countless atrocities, the woman before them was essentially a blank slate—a victim of circumstances.
Colt thought for a moment before making a decision.
"Hashirama-san, I'll leave Charlotte Linlin in your care for now. Find some female ninjas to look after her. Without the nun's soul, she's like a blank canvas. We'll shape her into someone new."