"Enough, put away your smoke power!"
Smoker deactivated his elementalization, and the surrounding smoke disappeared without a trace in an instant.
"How do you feel?" Smoker looked a bit excited, as if he had discovered a new world.
"Very powerful! I think you haven't been using the advantages of the Smoke Fruit at all."
Smoker nodded. Honestly, he had tried to learn from the three admirals to develop his abilities, but how could smoke compare to lava and ice?
Of course, it can't.
"Yes, I've been developing completely wrong!"
Karl nodded with relief: "It seems you already have some thoughts on this. As it happens, I also have some ideas about the Smoke Fruit. I can tell you everything!"
Smoker eagerly stepped closer and said he was listening carefully.
"The first direction is what I've already mentioned: enveloping a large area with smoke, using the smoke to occupy space, pushing air away, making it difficult for people to breathe. There's another effect—disrupting the perception of Observation Haki."
Smoker was stunned. Is that even possible? Why didn't he know? Could Karl have just used Observation Haki?
"Yes, exactly as you thought. When you didn't fully elementalize your body, I could still sense your position, but after you elementalized..."
Smoker said, "I merged with the smoke, even Observation Haki can't sense my position! Is that right?"
"Congratulations! You all learned to respond quickly!"
"Yes!"
Smoker touched his chin and nodded. This news was very important for him. His perception wasn't hindered at all within the smoke!
Isn't this better than using the Ten Hands of Sea-Stone?
"And what about the second? Tell me!"
Karl glanced slightly at Smoker, took his cigar, and clenched it between his teeth.
Click
Smoker lit Karl's cigar with a lighter, and Karl nodded: "The second is to compress the concentration and volume of smoke and instantly introduce it into the opponent's body, achieving an effect of instant suffocation."
"Or secretly manipulate the smoke so it infiltrates the opponent's body and chokes them, equivalent to an advanced version of enveloping a large area with smoke."
"It doesn't matter which you choose, you'll be able to swiftly deal with the opponent, depriving them of their combat ability, leaving them at your mercy, unless they can hold their breath and fight you the whole time!"
Smoker clenched his fists, a spark shone in his eyes, right, right, just like that, brother!
At this moment, he increasingly felt that the Smoke Fruit should be used exactly this way!
"The third is more challenging, you need to create a smoke clone."
"A smoke clone?"
Smoker extended his hand, and a smoky figure appeared on his palm, performing various actions: "Like this?"
Karl shook his head: "Almost, but not enough. The so-called clone must move independently of you, to detect opponents, restrain, fight, and so on."
"But it's best to wait for the awakening of Armament Color to study the application of clones in battle, otherwise the effect will be very weak because smoke has its own nature."
"That's all for today. For now, I can't think of other development directions."
Karl scratched the back of his head and continued: "If you can achieve the effect I just mentioned, you could easily defeat pirates with bounties around 500 million."
Smoker was grinning from ear to ear: "Enough, enough, I can't wait to try it!"
After that, Smoker immediately ran to the corner and released a lot of smoke to experiment on his own.
During the experiments, he found that when elementalizing his Jutte, the sea-stone on top affected the speed of elementalization. Smoker was so angered that he threw the Jutte into the sea right there, deciding never to use that thing again.
Karl laughed foolishly, watching this. Finally, he got rid of that broken thing.
By the way, Karl's Holy Light Fruit was actually well-developed, but he didn't have many opportunities to use it.
Currently, his Holy Light can be released individually or in groups, providing healing effects and physical enhancement. The effect of releasing Holy Light individually is approximately stronger than in groups.
Then comes the enhancement of healing and strengthening effects. At this stage, his Holy Light can improve Karl's physical strength by two levels, but only for him, the owner of the Holy Light Fruit.
The effect on others is only half of his, with the effect of releasing Holy Light in a group being only a quarter.
The weaker the power, the stronger the effect of the Holy Light, and vice versa.
The duration has also increased from the original one hour to three hours. Of course, this is just standby time. Once the battle starts, the duration will depend on the situation.
Unless Karl develops it into a halo-like effect that constantly provides the effect.
As for combat development, it's still limited. Currently, there is only one move, the Moment of Light, which releases a strong flash to disturb the opponent's vision, which is very pointless.
After all, the Holy Light Fruit is a real supportive devil fruit, almost without aggression, and can only be used on friendly individuals. Using it on enemies is purely foolish.
At this time, Ain approached and, looking at Karl, said, "Hmph! Biased, why don't you ever guide me in the development of my abilities?"
Looking at Ain, who seemed ready to say "I'm angry," Karl suddenly had a bitter smile.
"It's not that I don't want to guide you, but your ability is similar to mine. Strictly speaking, we both have supportive devil fruits, and the development direction is very clear."
Ain pouted her cherry lips and mumbled, "How is it clear? Why don't I know?"
Karl released rings of smoke and, looking at Ian, said, "Think about it, as long as your Retrograde Fruit can continue to improve its effect, it will be very powerful!"
"It doesn't matter if you instantly reduce an opponent's age or rejuvenate elderly people, it's very useful. The only drawback is that it can only be released in close combat."
"If you can develop it into a group-release effect, like I did that day, then you'll be unbeatable!"
Karl wasn't joking. Once Ain's Retrograde Fruit awakens, it may indeed achieve that effect.
The Holy Light Fruit offers group enhancement, while the Retrograde Fruit causes group deterioration. It's frightening to even think about.
Ain smiled. What Karl said wasn't unfounded, but she hadn't developed a long-range release, so how could she speak of a full release?
However, Karl's attitude greatly satisfied her. When that obnoxious woman Hancock leaves, he-he-he...
"Yes, I'll do my best!"