Chapter 11: It Was a Trick (Part 2)

Walking through the fields, Finn was lost in thought. He realized that hoarding coins without a clear goal was pointless. He needed to figure out what he truly wanted.

The Unconventional and Powerful Choices are for Crucial Moments

Finn knew he needed to save his resources for emergencies. The current focus was on accumulating a suitable amount for both enhancements and contingencies.

"Devil Fruits are useless to me since I can't eat another one," he muttered. "Wait…" A thought struck him.

"Sika, can I give the fruits to other people?" he asked with interest.

[Once you purchase them, they're yours. You can even throw them away if you want.]

"Perfect," he said, a grin spreading across his face. If he could empower his future harem and pawns with these fruits, it would greatly benefit his plans.

"Wait, of course, why didn’t I think of this sooner?" He opened the store menu and spotted a **Stell Body** ability, which promised to increase his physical durability and strength significantly. Better yet, it was upgradeable.

The first stage, named *Stell*, granted a lifting capacity of 1,500 kilograms per arm. "Hold on. How strong are my arms currently?"

[It appears Finn has reached 791 kilograms per arm. Impressive indeed.]

Finn was surprised at his own strength but was still drawn to the promise of even greater power. "Sika, buy the first stage of Stell Body."

[Purchase Complete.]

[-500∆]

[Obtained: Level 1 (Stell)]

[Current Arm Strength: 1,500 kilograms per arm.]

[Durability: Semi-stone-like.]

[Healing Efficiency: 5% increase.]

Finn’s entire body froze as a sudden wave of searing pain erupted from deep within him, spreading like wildfire through his veins. Every muscle in his frame clenched violently, his joints locking as if his very bones were being twisted and shattered. It felt as though an earthquake was tearing him apart from the inside, each tremor leaving trails of fire in its wake.

With a strangled gasp, Finn collapsed to one knee, his breath hitching as his vision blurred from the sheer intensity of the agony. His teeth ground together audibly, his jaw clenched so tightly it felt like it might snap. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as his hands clawed at the ground, trying to anchor himself against the overwhelming **** ravaging his body.

The torment seemed unending, his mind teetering on the brink of collapse, until, just as suddenly as it began, the pain vanished, leaving his body trembling and his breaths shallow.

The system interface flickered in his vision, displaying the new enhancements with clinical precision. Finn’s gaze lingered on the glowing text, his breaths still uneven as he processed the ordeal. The stats were there, clear proof of his growth—but they felt almost mocking in the face of the torment he had just endured.

He flexed his fingers slowly, feeling the residual heat coursing through his body. The newfound strength in his arms was undeniable, and though the pain had subsided, a faint tremor lingered in his limbs, a reminder of the cost.

Then, wiping the sweat from his brow, he pushed himself to his feet, his legs still unsteady but his determination unshaken.

"Hah… durability and faster healing, too. This has other benefits," he said, standing and brushing off the lingering pain.

[No, those are just side benefits. Similar minor perks exist in other levels, but they're not the focus. If you want those benefits, there are separate options to buy.]

"What’s the next level?" he asked.

[Silver Body, with 2,000 kilograms per arm. Cost: 1000∆.]

"Hey! Why does the price double?!" he complained.

[It won’t always double, but the cost will increase significantly. The first stage is the cheapest.]

Finn pondered Sika’s words, standing still as he gazed at the nearby treehouse, his blonde hair rustling in the wind. His body trembled slightly as realization hit him.

They had baited him with extraordinary power at a low cost, subtly forcing him to take it. Reflecting further, he realized they had given him a Devil Fruit for free—essentially trapping him in its abilities with no way to change it.

"The bastards made me do what they wanted," he muttered bitterly, clenching his fists tightly.

[...]

Despite his efforts to resist, it became clear he’d been manipulated from the start. And these were only the things he was aware of. Who knew what else was yet to come? He had been deceived; the store was just a means to control him.

"All the other fruits are now useless. I’m stuck with the ability of some damn Navy leader," he yelled in frustration, realizing the gravity of his situation.

Raising his fist, he slammed it into the ground with all 1,500 kilograms of ****, creating a half-meter-deep crater. Dust and rock fragments scattered as cracks radiated outward like a spiderweb.

"No one… no one will control me! Not again!!" he shouted, his face dripping with sweat and twisted in rage, his teeth clenched tightly.

[Again?]

"Don’t speak unless I permit it!" he roared.

[...]

He sat in the crater for over an hour, the quiet atmosphere heavy with reflection. Eventually, he sighed and climbed out, heading back to the treehouse. He had been outplayed, and there was no way to undo it. All he could do now was minimize his reliance on the store.

When he entered, Jake greeted him, but Finn ignored him and climbed to his room. Hours passed in solitude as he lay there, eyes closed, despite being awake.

[Sorry to interrupt, but… there’s a problem.]

"Speak," he said indifferently.

[A magical aura is approaching. It resembles that of the serpent you fought but is stronger.]

"What’s its level?" His eyes snapped open.

[Level six in the Entry Phase.]

Rising from the bed, Finn recalled that he had previously defeated a level-three serpent, a level-two wolf, and a level-three giant. This creature, however, posed a new challenge.

Descending the stairs, he spotted Jake playing video games on BMO with headphones on, oblivious to Finn’s movements.

Finn exited the house and asked Sika for the creature’s location. Despite the potential danger, he wasn’t afraid. For him, this was finally a chance to vent his anger.

In the distance, a swirling cloud of dust raced toward him, growing larger with each passing second. The ground beneath Finn’s feet trembled as the source of the commotion revealed itself—a colossal bull, its brown fur gleaming under the sun like polished bronze. Its massive white horns, sharp and menacing, caught the light, reflecting a lethal brilliance that promised destruction.

The beast’s piercing eyes locked onto Finn, filled with primal fury and unyielding strength. Its nostrils flared, releasing bursts of hot breath that hung like steam in the air. Each thundering step it took reverberated like a drumbeat of impending chaos.

Finn stood firm, his body tense and coiled like a spring, every muscle ready to unleash. As the bull charged with unstoppable momentum, Finn launched himself into the air, soaring nearly four meters high. His molten arm glowed brighter as he brought his fist crashing down with devastating **** onto the bull’s face.

The impact echoed like a thunderclap, sending ripples of shock through the beast's massive frame. The bull stumbled, its knees nearly buckling under the blow. A bellow of rage erupted from its throat, a sound that seemed to shake the very air.

The creature’s retaliation was swift. Lowering its head, it surged forward with relentless ferocity, its sharp horns aimed to impale. Finn had no time to dodge as the bull’s skull slammed into him like a battering ram, sending him hurtling backward. He crashed into the dirt, the **** of the blow sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.

Coughing and dazed, Finn pushed himself upright, his jaw clenched in fury. The molten glow in his arm intensified, the heat radiating from it warping the air around him. His entire body trembled, not with fear, but with unrelenting determination.

His fiery blue eyes locked onto the bull as a guttural roar tore from his throat, raw and defiant. Flames licked along his molten arm, twisting into jagged trails of magma as his battle cry echoed across the field. Without hesitation, he charged forward, his fist blazing, ready to meet the beast head-on.