HST: Chapter 234/235

Chapter 234: Join The Glorious Evolution

"Why, you don't even believe me?"

Caelan raised an eyebrow and asked.

Judging from his usual reputation of succeeding at everything, he thought at least some of them would believe him.

"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that what you said is too shocking," Robin replied softly, shaking her head. "The legendary Ope Ope no Mi that is said to grant immortality has always been just that, a legend. In the past eight hundred years, no one has ever heard of anyone achieving eternal life with it."

"Eternal life runs completely contrary to common sense. It would be strange if we accepted it so easily," Gion said helplessly.

Vivi, Nami, and the others nodded in agreement. Even those who had followed him the longest couldn't quite believe it.

"It's true that empty words are hard to trust, but you will soon see the results. All of you will become immortal Heroic Spirits, just like me."

Caelan didn't mind their doubts.

Skepticism was normal. He just needed to show them proof.

Since he had spoken, it meant he already had a plan.

He would transform them into Heroic Spirits, record their existence within Valhalla, and ensure that even if something happened, they would remain safe.

"Let us all become immortal Heroic Spirits?"

The women exclaimed in unison, staring at him in shock.

They could accept that Caelan himself had achieved immortality. After all, he was the strongest man standing at the top of the world, with countless impossible feats behind him.

But to extend that immortality to them—so many people at once—was something beyond imagination.

The Ope Ope no Mi's rumored "immortality operation" required the user to sacrifice their own life to grant another eternal youth.

The price of granting immortality to all of them would be unimaginable.

"The immortal body of a Heroic Spirit sounds nice. But I don't seek eternal life. If you want to give me something, let it be Berries instead."

Nami brushed her hair back with a sweet smile.

Even if his words were true, everything in this world came with a price.

Eternal life was indeed beautiful, something countless people pursued.

But at what cost?

She would never allow Caelan to pay such a price again.

"If possible, I'd rather trade the chance at immortality for more Poneglyphs," Robin added with a gentle, mature smile.

Since traveling with Caelan, she had already seen through his nature.

This was a man endlessly kind to his companions, yet merciless to his enemies.

So if he offered immortality, it was surely sincere. Still, like Nami, she didn't want him to pay a heavy price for it.

"Really? All of you are turning down immortality so casually?" Gion teased lightly, though her true attitude was clear.

She had once been tricked by Caelan, but now she was fully convinced. Their relationship was no longer one of distrust, but that of a couple.

"I don't care about living forever. I just want to stay with you for the rest of my life."

Hancock looked straight into Caelan's eyes, her affection undisguised.

This man had just promised her eternal life.

Didn't that mean he wanted to be with her forever?

That feeling alone was enough. Nothing else mattered.

"Just stay with me more, and listen to me sing."

Uta twirled her hair shyly.

"I've run into a lot of trouble with swordsmanship lately. I hope you can give me some guidance."

Tashigi held Shigure tightly, speaking with sincere resolve.

"Alabasta wants to join the Illuminati. I expect you to take this seriously, Caelan."

Vivi stood with her hands on her hips, giving a firm command.

One after another, Perona, Violet, Kalifa, and the others voiced their own requests. Yet not one of them asked for eternal life.

What countless others pursued desperately, they tossed aside.

What a wonderful group of women, Caelan thought.

With his skill [Discernment of the Poor], he could see through people's hearts and read their true intentions.

If he hadn't reincarnated, finding even one such person would have been worth treasuring forever.

But now, to gather all of them around him was the greatest blessing.

"I'm truly touched by your words," Caelan smiled. "But I want you all to live forever with me. And this costs me nothing."

His tone carried no room for doubt.

To transform them into Heroic Spirits required only magic power. And for someone with infinite reserves of it, that price was meaningless.

"Nami, you go first."

Caelan didn't wait for further discussion. He simply chose.

"Eh? Me?"

Nami pointed at herself in disbelief.

But before she could refuse, Caelan pulled her to his side.

There was no time for hesitation.

It was time to join the glorious evolution together.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 235: Indecent Transformation Mystery

Caelan pushed Nami, who was showing resistance, to the center of the temple, onto a huge, smooth altar.

Several pillars surrounded the altar, engraved with mysterious symbols and patterns. No one could understand their meaning, but just by looking, one could tell they were extremely precise and beautiful.

The scene resembled some kind of sorcerer's ritual.

"It's really not necessary, Caelan!"

Nami struggled on the altar, still resisting.

She didn't want him to pay any terrible price just to make her immortal.

And now, faced with this strange altar, her resistance grew even stronger. Instinct screamed at her to avoid the unknown.

Her timid side surfaced again.

"Hey, hey, this is a serious and good thing. Why are you making it sound like some shady cult?"

Caelan held down the struggling Nami, speechless.

These elegant characters and patterns were the result of the Third Magic as interpreted through Einzbern family magecraft.

If he had to compare it, it was closer to a tsar's ascension disc, something meant to elevate and refine, not harm.

"Stop being difficult. If you keep this up, I won't mind having a 'love battle' with you first, then holding your evolution ceremony after." Caelan patted Nami's chest mischievously. "We're all family here. It's the perfect time for you to learn some new positions."

"No, no, I'll listen to you!"

Nami instantly became obedient, hugging her chest as she trembled on the altar.

Even though everyone present were close sisters who had already shared the same bed at times, the idea of performing alone with Caelan in front of them was mortifying.

Just imagining her best friends critiquing her posture made her want to scream, "No way!"

Seeing Nami finally quiet down, Caelan nodded in satisfaction, then spoke seriously.

"I'm going to start."

The moment he finished, an immense surge of magic erupted from his body.

The wind howled, clouds churned, and the very heavens and earth shifted in color.

Though magic was usually invisible, at this moment it felt tangible.

A crushing pressure radiated outward, pressing down on all the women.

It was the same suffocating force Caelan had experienced when constructing his Reality Marble, only stronger.

Fortunately, now that the Reality Marble was complete, this pressure remained contained within it and would not spill into the outside world.

"The consumption really is a bit excessive," Caelan muttered, calculating the flow of power.

Judging by the current expenditure, the magic required to complete Nami's transformation was nearly equal to what he had used to construct the Reality Marble itself.

According to the magical knowledge in his mind, this was equivalent to thirty years' worth of power accumulated by a major leyline.

Yes, comparable to the one beneath Ryuudou Temple during the Holy Grail War.

The magic he was spending just to transform one Heroic Spirit could have fueled half of a Holy Grail War.

The cost was absurdly high.

Thankfully, his supply of magic was infinite, so it meant little to him.

As he poured vast amounts of power into the altar, astonishing changes took place.

An intricate magic circle unfolded across the stone, streams of power coursing along its lines like liquid silver, glowing with a brilliant, mysterious light.

Faint silver radiance flowed into Nami's body, reshaping her slowly from human into another form of life.

Her graceful figure grew more ethereal before solidifying again, refined and even more beautiful than before.

"It's incredible… like watching a caterpillar become a butterfly," Robin whispered in awe.

"I thought the process of becoming a Heroic Spirit would be cruel, but this is so beautiful."

Gion nodded, though her expression was conflicted.

Could eternal life really be obtained this easily?

According to the World Government's records, even artificially extending one's lifespan was filled with terrible risks and agonizing pain.

But seeing the massive energy Caelan continued to pour into the altar, Gion began to understand.

The sheer scale of the power he unleashed felt boundless, as vast as the ocean. Even draining the life force of ten admirals would not generate this much power in a single minute.

So eternal life did have a price.

A terrifyingly high price.

But he bore it all alone.

Watching, she no longer doubted the truth of Caelan's promise.

If this couldn't grant immortality, nothing could.

The only concern left was…

"Can his body really handle this kind of energy output?"

The women exchanged worried glances.

The scale of the release was enough to cripple any ordinary man, as if forced to pay public grain a thousand times in a single day.

But when they saw Caelan standing strong, showing no weakness, their hearts eased slightly.

He had always been reliable. Surely, he would be fine this time as well.

Meanwhile, inside the circle, Nami was overwhelmed.

"It feels… so strange. Why does becoming a Heroic Spirit feel like this?"

Her face flushed as she bit her lips, trying not to let out shameful sounds.

It felt like Caelan was stripping her bare and massaging every inch of her body.

The tingling sensation grew unbearable, and she could no longer contain it.

She shot Caelan a reproachful, embarrassed glance.

With Robin, Vivi, and the others watching intently, she wished she could vanish.

Was this Heroic Spirit ritual really legitimate?

Fortunately, the sensation didn't last long.

After only a few minutes, the blissful current faded, leaving Nami both relieved and strangely regretful.

"Is it… over already?"

She stood dazed on the altar, caught in the afterglow.

This ritual felt far too indecent.

"It's done, Nami."

Caelan finally spoke, seeing her stand motionless.

If he hadn't sensed that she was perfectly fine, he might have thought something had gone wrong.

"O-oh!"

Nami quickly snapped out of it, nodding.

Her body felt light, overflowing with energy, every fiber of her refreshed.

Looking down, she saw herself unchanged. Her toes were still hidden by her chest, and everything else looked the same.

Except for one thing.

The faint tattoo on her left arm, the old mark of the Arlong Pirates, was gone.

Even though she had tried many times before to erase it, a trace had always remained.

Now, it had vanished completely, leaving behind only flawless, milk-white skin.

"Wonderful!"

Admiring her perfect body, Nami let out a satisfied cry.

"Come down, there are others waiting."

Caelan beckoned her from the altar, then pulled Robin up.

Both the palm and the back of the hand are flesh. He couldn't favor one over the other.

"Don't you need to rest?" Robin asked, concern in her eyes.

The others wore the same worried expression. They were afraid he might collapse after expending so much energy.

"Who are you looking down on? You should know I'm very durable."

Caelan curled his lips, looking perfectly calm.

He had already said his energy was infinite. For him, this level of consumption was nothing.

At once, magic surged through him again, and the altar's circle blazed to life.

"Oh well."

Seeing his confidence, the women no longer tried to dissuade him.

Instead, their eyes turned eagerly to Nami, waiting to see the changes in her.

(To be continued.)