Lucia ignored everyone else in the room and threw herself into Carl's arms, embracing him tightly.
Carl, who had just woken up, was still a bit dazed. With Lucia's sudden action, he fell back onto the bed. She leaned over him, her hands pressed against his chest. The emotions in her eyes made Carl's heart tremble.
"Lu... mmph..."
Her lips silenced whatever he wanted to say. Lucia's long hair, flowing like a cascading river, transformed into a purple blaze, flickering as years of pent-up emotions erupted in this single moment.
Everyone else in the room was stunned, frozen in place.
Monet's ears twitched slightly as she caught the faint sound of someone approaching. It seemed like Ginny had returned. Without a word, Monet quietly left the room.
Inside, time seemed to stand still. It was unclear how much time had passed when a black flame-like ribbon faintly appeared behind Lucia.
Finally, Lucia broke away from Carl. Her face was flushed as she gazed at him, her voice soft and filled with emotion.
"Young Master, you've finally woken up..."
As the two separated, the black flame ribbon behind Lucia dissipated. Carl smiled faintly and said,
"Lucia, you've worked hard all these years."
He slowly sat up, cupped her face gently, and wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
"Lucia, you're just as beautiful as ever. How could you think you've grown old?"
Lucia, now in her Fallen Angel form, wore a bright and radiant smile.
"That's because I haven't heard your voice for so long. Now, I feel like I've become young again."
Carl brushed a strand of white hair from her forehead with a single finger and said softly,
"No need to feel that way. Without my permission, you're not allowed to grow old."
Lucia hummed softly in agreement. Carl leaned in again, kissing her once more. After a brief moment of surprise, Lucia responded passionately.
The next moment, to everyone's shock, a pair of massive black wings unfurled from Carl's back, their crimson veins pulsating with life. His short black hair transformed into long silver strands that cascaded like a waterfall, and a dark red ribbon of flames appeared behind him.
At the same time, behind Lucia, her black flame ribbon solidified completely, marking the full awakening of her Fallen Angel Fruit.
Lucia had always said her desire was Carl. He had been asleep for 22 years, suppressing her longing all this time. Now, in their second kiss, all her desires were unleashed, leading to her complete awakening.
As the kiss lingered, Carl opened his eyes, and brilliant golden light radiated from his pupils. He bit Lucia's lip gently, making her gasp softly.
Suddenly, crimson patterns began to appear across her skin. These patterns moved across her body before converging at her forehead, forming a blood-red diamond mark.
With its appearance, her skin seemed cleansed by some mysterious force, becoming more radiant and smooth. Scars, wrinkles, and even marks from her childhood injuries vanished, restoring her to the prime beauty of her twenties.
Lucia now resembled a flawless work of art, so breathtaking that even Boa Hancock and the others in the room were captivated.
Opening her eyes, which gleamed with a crimson light, Lucia touched her cheek in amazement.
"Young Master, what... what happened to me?"
Carl smiled gently.
"Lucia, from this moment on, you are bound to me, for life and death."
During his 22 years of sleep, Carl's Vampire Fruit had also undergone its awakening. However, this was no ordinary awakening. His fruit had merged with the core power of the Blood-Blood Fruit, evolving into something entirely new: the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, True Ancestor Form.
This form brought more than the typical enhancements to physical strength or regeneration—it unlocked entirely new abilities.
The power Carl had just used was one of these: First Embrace, which could transform others into vampires. Those transformed would share their lifespan with Carl. As long as he lived, they would too. However, their deaths wouldn't affect him.
Carl held absolute control over the lives of those he transformed—an unshakable hierarchy.
Lucia's transformation was perfect because she had completely surrendered to the process, allowing it to flow naturally. If the recipient resisted, the transformation wouldn't succeed. In such cases, Carl could only drain their blood entirely, turning them into mindless puppets who would fear sunlight.
Now adjusted to her new form, Lucia rested her head against Carl's chest, smiling blissfully as their heartbeats synchronized.
Carl gently ran his fingers through her hair, his golden eyes filled with tender warmth.
Sugar and the others held their breaths, afraid to interrupt the moment.
Eventually, Carl looked up at Sugar with a soft smile.
"Sugar, it's been years. You've grown so much."
Sugar, no longer the tiny girl who once followed Monet everywhere, had grown into a tall and beautiful young woman. She blushed at Carl's words and lowered her head shyly.
"Young Master, you still remember me..."
"How could I forget? I remember you used to boast about how much you'd grown taller... and, well, other measurements too."
Sugar's eyes widened in shock as her face turned crimson.
"Young Master, you... you heard that?!"
Carl chuckled.
"Not everything, but bits and pieces."
Steam practically rose from Sugar's head as she let out a small cry, grabbing Nico Robin to hide behind her, leaving the others chuckling at her embarrassment.
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+210 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg