Yuta stared at the strange fruit in his hand, his fingers tightening slightly around it.
A Devil Fruit.
Even now, it didn't feel real.
In the world he remembered, these fruits granted unbelievable abilities—powers that broke all logic. Fire, ice, lightning… even things beyond that.
But they also came with a cost.
"…No swimming…"
He muttered under his breath.
A permanent weakness in a world filled with ocean.
Yuta lowered his gaze to the fruit again.
"…Is it worth it…?"
He asked himself honestly.
Because once he ate it—
There was no turning back.
His expression grew more complicated.
"…I could get something amazing…"
He paused.
"…or something useless…"
Then his face twitched slightly.
"…or worse…"
A ridiculous image appeared in his mind.
"…What if I turn into a hamster…"
He imagined himself small, round, squeaking.
"…Yeah, no…"
He shook his head immediately.
That would be the worst outcome.
But even so—
After thinking for a moment—
"…It's still better than nothing…"
His voice steadied.
Because the truth was simple.
Right now, he had nothing.
No strength.
No weapon.
No experience.
If danger appeared—
He wouldn't survive.
"…At least with a power…"
He tightened his grip.
"…I have a chance."
That was enough.
His hesitation disappeared.
"…Alright."
Without giving himself time to overthink—
He raised the fruit.
"…Let's see what I get."
Then—
He bit into it.
The moment the fruit touched his tongue—
His entire body froze.
"…?!"
The taste—
Was beyond horrible.
Not just bitter.
Not just rotten.
It was something completely unnatural.
Like his body was rejecting it on every level.
"…What the—?!"
He almost spat it out instantly.
His face twisted in disgust, his stomach already reacting.
But—
He forced himself.
"…No…"
His brows furrowed as he clenched his teeth.
"…I'm not wasting this…"
He chewed.
Each second felt like torture.
"…This is insane…"
He swallowed.
Then quickly forced down another bite.
And another.
The taste didn't get better.
If anything—
It got worse.
By the time he finished the entire fruit, his body felt like it was screaming in protest.
"…That… was the worst thing I've ever eaten…"
He staggered slightly, holding his stomach.
And then—
It hit.
A strange, overwhelming reaction spread through his body.
"…Ah—!"
His knees almost gave out.
His chest tightened.
His limbs felt weak.
"…What is this feeling…?!"
His breathing became uneven.
His vision blurred slightly.
It didn't feel like real damage—
But it felt horrible.
Like his body had just gone through something extreme.
"…It feels like…"
He grimaced.
"…I just lost five years of my life…"
Not literally—
But that was the only way he could describe the exhaustion and discomfort hitting him all at once.
Like he had been drained.
At the same time—
It also felt like mild poisoning.
His stomach churned, his body rejecting the aftertaste.
"…Damn it…"
He steadied himself, forcing his body upright.
"…So this is the price…?"
Seconds passed.
The discomfort lingered—
Then slowly began to fade.
His breathing steadied.
The weakness lessened.
The nausea disappeared.
"…Haa…"
He exhaled deeply.
"…That was rough…"
He stood still for a moment, recovering.
Then—
Something changed.
A strange sensation appeared in his mind.
"…Hm?"
His expression shifted.
It wasn't pain.
It wasn't discomfort.
It was… understanding.
Information.
Not in words.
Not as a voice.
But as something he simply knew.
"…This is…"
His eyes focused.
Almost instinctively—
He raised his hand.
Without thinking too much—
He moved it.
A simple swipe through the air.
And—
Something happened.
Shhhk—
The space in front of him distorted.
Just for a moment.
Then—
CRACK.
The trees ahead—
Were cut cleanly in half.
"…?!"
Yuta's eyes widened instantly.
The upper halves of the trees tilted—
Then crashed down.
BOOM.
The sound echoed through the forest.
Silence followed.
Yuta stood there, completely frozen.
"…What…?"
His hand was still raised.
His mind blank.
"…What just happened…?"
He looked at the fallen trees.
Then at his hand.
"…I… did that?"
His heartbeat started rising rapidly.
Then—
The realization hit.
"…No way…"
His breathing quickened.
"…No way…"
A grin slowly formed on his face.
"…I hit the jackpot…"
He couldn't stop it anymore.
"…I HIT THE JACKPOT!"
His voice echoed loudly.
Excitement surged through him.
Real.
Undeniable.
"…This power…"
He looked at his hand again.
"…I can control space…?"
The knowledge in his mind responded.
Not fully.
But enough.
Cutting space.
Manipulating space.
A power that didn't rely on physical contact—
A power that ignored normal rules.
"…This is insane…"
He laughed softly, unable to hold it back.
Of all the abilities he could have gotten—
This one…
Was on a completely different level.
"…With this…"
His thoughts raced.
"…I don't have to be afraid anymore…"
In this world—
Strength was everything.
And this—
Was strength.
"…I can survive…"
No—
More than that.
"…I can become strong…"
His eyes sharpened.
"…I can become the strongest…"
The idea settled deeply in his mind.
Not as a fantasy—
But as a real possibility.
Yuta looked at the fallen trees again.
The proof of his power.
Clear.
Absolute.
Then—
He slowly clenched his hand.
"…This world…"
His voice was quiet, but firm.
"…I'm not just going to survive in it…"
The confusion from before was gone.
Replaced by something else.
Determination.
"…I'm going to stand at the top."
The wind moved through the forest once more.
But now—
Everything felt different.
Because now—
Yuta had power.
And for the first time—
He had control over his own path.