The transport beam faded with a soft hum, depositing the group onto solid ground. For a heartbeat, everything was silent.
Then Emily gasped.
Her knees nearly buckled as her eyes swept across the landscape before her.
Sunlight. Real sunlight.
Not the sickly, filtered glow that barely penetrated the toxic fog below. Not the dim emergency lighting of crumbling shelters. This was pure, unfiltered radiance pouring down from a crystal-clear sky, warm against their skin.
Green grass carpeted the floating island, swaying gently in a breeze that carried no hint of poison or decay. Trees—actual living trees—dotted the landscape, their leaves rustling with life. The air itself tasted clean, almost sweet, filling their lungs without the familiar burn of contamination.
"It's real," Yanan whispered, her voice trembling. "God... it's actually real."
Emily couldn't speak. Her chest felt tight, but not from the toxic air she'd breathed her entire life. This was something else—a release of tension she hadn't even realized she'd been carrying. Her shoulders, perpetually hunched from years of survival, slowly relaxed.
She turned to look at Elric, who stood calmly beside them, seemingly unbothered by the miraculous environment. His expression was neutral, almost casual, as if stepping into paradise was just another Tuesday for him.
"If I hadn't met you," Emily said quietly, her voice thick with emotion, "I would already be dead."
The words hung in the air. It wasn't gratitude—or rather, it was more than gratitude. It was the sudden, overwhelming realization that her entire future had pivoted on a single encounter. Without him, she would have suffocated in that collapsing shelter, or starved in the wasteland, or been torn apart by mutants. Instead, she was standing in heaven.
Elric met her gaze briefly, then nodded. "You're safe now. Both of you."
He gestured toward Wang Rong and Liu Ping, who stepped forward with warm smiles. "Take them to get cleaned up," Elric instructed. "There are proper facilities here—hot water, clean clothes, everything you need. I'll be waiting in the main quarters when you're ready."
Emily wanted to say something more, but the words caught in her throat. She simply nodded, following the two women as they led her and Yananw toward a nearby building.
As they walked away, Emily glanced back once more at the impossible sky above. She still couldn't quite believe it was real.
Elric didn't waste time admiring the scenery. He had other matters to attend to.
With a thought, he activated his ability and stepped through the shimmering boundary into the Mirror World.
The space inside was exactly as he'd left it—a pristine pocket dimension, separated from reality. Mia and Kelly sat together near one wall, whispering quietly. The two other girls—Grace's recent recruits—huddled beside them, their faces pale and drawn.
Grace stood nearby, her expression troubled. When she saw Elric appear, she approached immediately.
"I tried talking to them, but... they're still terrified. Everything they saw in the wasteland, everything that happened—they can't process it yet."
Elric glanced at the two frightened girls. Their eyes darted around nervously, avoiding his gaze. One of them was trembling slightly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
He understood. They had witnessed horrors in the wasteland—mutants, death, desperation. Being suddenly pulled into a stranger's shelter, no matter how miraculous it seemed, would naturally breed fear and suspicion. Forcing a decision now would only break their fragile mental states.
"Leave them for now," Elric said calmly. "Once they see the shelter properly, once they understand what's being offered, they'll come around. Don't push them."
Grace nodded, relief evident in her posture. "Thank you."
Elric turned and exited the Mirror World, stepping back into the physical realm.
Several hours later, in the private quarters Elric had designated as the "love room," everything had settled into place.
Emily and Yanan had bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and eaten their first proper meal in what felt like years. The transformation was remarkable—cleaned of grime and exhaustion, both women looked years younger, their natural beauty finally visible.
More importantly, their trust in Elric had solidified. They understood now what kind of world he had built here, and what it meant to be part of it.
As the evening drew to a close, Elric sat alone in the quiet room, his eyes closed in meditation.
Then the system chimed.
Ding!
Congratulations to the host for successfully adopting a qualified adopter (Emily).
Devil Fruit Tree Growth +1Thread Fruit has fully matured—ready to harvestSupplies unlocked: 30 submachine guns
Elric's eyes snapped open.
Before he could react, another notification followed.
Ding!
Congratulations to the host for successfully adopting a qualified adopter.
Devil Fruit Tree Growth +1Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon is growingSupplies unlocked: 50 sets of women's clothing (stockings, skirts, leather shoes, uniforms, etc.)
Elric sat up sharply, his heart pounding.
"Fish-Fish Fruit... Azure Dragon Form?"
His voice was barely a whisper, but the weight behind those words was immense.
This wasn't just any Devil Fruit. This was a mythical Zoan—one of the rarest types in existence. The Azure Dragon form granted its user the ability to transform into a massive Eastern dragon, complete with control over fire, lightning, wind, and clouds. Its defensive capabilities were legendary. Its physical strength was unmatched.
In the world the Devil Fruits came from, this power had belonged to one of the strongest creatures alive.
And now, it was growing in his shelter.
Once fully matured, consuming that fruit would elevate his physical foundation to an entirely new level. Flight, elemental manipulation, near-invulnerability—all of it would be within his grasp.
Elric clenched his fist, excitement surging through him.
But he forced himself to stay calm.
The Azure Dragon fruit wasn't ripe yet. It still needed time—and one more qualified adoption to fully mature.
He turned his attention to the other notification.
The Thread Fruit had fully matured.
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