Solace Book Store.
Diluc had just finished reading One Piece – East Blue Arc.
"The story really is excellent… just a bit too short."
Closing the manga, he let out a sigh of admiration.
Although he had once traveled the Seven Nations and experienced no shortage of exciting adventures, the kinds of exploits described in One Piece still felt fresh to him.
Beyond the fantastical Devil Fruits mentioned within, several characters left a deep impression on him:
There was Luffy—absurdly chūnibyō at times, but unwavering in his dream of becoming the Pirate King.
There was Zoro—carrying on Kuina's will, striving to become the world's greatest swordsman.
And then there was a figure whose appearances were few but unforgettable—
Dracule Mihawk.
A lone man on a lone ship, drifting across the sea, casually cleaving a massive galleon in half with a single stroke.
Wielding nothing more than a small cruciform sword, yet able to effortlessly defeat Zoro.
If I had that kind of strength… how could I still have failed to avenge my father?
Memories surfaced, and a flash of hatred lit Diluc's eyes.
His father had died because of the black dragon Durin.
Which meant, in a certain sense, that the Fatui's Doctor was his father's killer.
Though the man was "just" a researcher, his power far exceeded that of many Vision holders.
If Diluc wanted a real chance, he needed greater strength.
And this mysterious manga shop… might just be his chance.
At that moment, the system updated.
Han Feng glanced at the interface:
[Customer Diluc has finished reading One Piece – East Blue Arc. Reward acquired: Mera-Mera Fruit Trial Card (24h)]
[Mera-Mera Fruit Trial Card (24h): Upon consumption, the user can transform their body into fire, rendering normal physical attacks and non-Haki attacks ineffective. They can produce and control flames at will. Weakness: large amounts of water will extinguish the flames, and the power is ineffective against magma, as the Magma-Magma Fruit is its superior form.]
[Note: This fruit has not been modified by the system, so it retains its original "authentic" state, with a strict 24-hour duration once consumed.]
"This luck…"
Han Feng couldn't help but sigh.
Never mind the fruit's strength—just the time limit was enough to make one speechless.
It was the first time he'd ever seen the system give out a trial card.
Before, everyone else had gotten the full abilities outright.
Still, better than nothing—
It might prove useful in a crucial moment.
But the "authentic" detail really made him feel like the system was playing favorites.
When Lumine and Barbara had gotten their Devil Fruits, there'd been—
No weaknesses.
No need to eat the famously foul-tasting fruit.
Yet Diluc?
Limited-time trial, full original taste and weaknesses included.
Is "cuteness is justice" really a thing here?
Diluc had it rough.
Vmmm—
A brilliant light descended from the ceiling, enveloping Diluc.
Nearby, Venti and Bennett both turned to watch, curious to see what he'd get.
Moments later, the glow faded—
And in Diluc's hand appeared a strange-looking fruit.
It resembled a fire dragon fruit: a spherical, orange-red body covered with spiral flame-like patterns, capped with a green stem whose ends twisted into a whirlpool on one side and a flame shape on the other. The pale orange flesh peeked through faint seams in the surface.
"Boss, this is…?" Diluc asked.
"This is the Mera-Mera Fruit—it gives you the power of fire," Han Feng explained.
"Though it only lasts twenty-four hours, I think it's quite a good fit for you."
He had his reasons for saying so.
The Mera-Mera Fruit's main strength lay in its ability to summon and control flames at will.
Ace had wielded it to create raging seas of fire with his "Fire Fist."
At first, this ability was rare—
But as the story progressed, more and more characters gained ways to manipulate fire: Luffy, Sanji, Kaido, and so on.
The uniqueness of the Mera-Mera Fruit diminished over time.
And more importantly—
Its ceiling was fixed.
The Magma-Magma Fruit was its direct superior, meaning the Mera-Mera Fruit could never surpass it.
Even Akainu had chosen magma over fire.
This had led to the running joke: "The Mera-Mera Fruit—so bad even dogs won't eat it."
Diluc was much the same.
In Genshin Impact, as the original Pyro main DPS at launch, he had been incredibly strong before Inazuma's release.
But as time went on, newer characters arrived with more complete mechanics and higher damage ceilings.
Add in other factors, and Diluc had, in a way, fallen from prominence.
Which made him… a perfect match for the Mera-Mera Fruit.
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