Time passed—another day.
Five hundred rays of vitality? Vane didn't fully understand it either. The [Investment System] only mentioned that this was the Life Fruit, an investment-grade ability tied to the domain of life itself.
Lying in bed that night, Vane remembered he still had the Life Fruit, unused. His aim was to evolve it—elevating it beyond the limits of this world's rules.
He understood those rules well: the boundaries this world imposes. No matter how powerful someone like Whitebeard was, even he couldn't shatter the world with the Gura Gura no Mi. This world might be a planet, but Whitebeard couldn't destroy it. His title, "the man who could destroy the world," was hyperbole—his strength was immense, but not omnipotent.
The Life Fruit, according to his notes, granted longevity, healed diseases, and perhaps more—but it offered no direct boost in combat power. It was a support-type fruit. But with investment, it could evolve, expand its abilities, and strengthen its foundation.
"System, five hundred strands of life force—how many Devil Fruits would that equal?"
[Investment System]:
[Devil Fruit investment value is fixed. Variants like ancient Zoans are not inherently worth more. One fruit equals one unit. Development potential depends on the user. Even a trash fruit in the hands of a genius can become terrifying.]
Vane remembered a user of the Numa Numa no Mi—or was it some kind of mud fruit? Despite being Logia-class, it was utterly wasted on its user. The ability to manipulate soil—turning it into swamp—was frighteningly versatile. After all, soil exists everywhere, even beneath the sea. But in incompetent hands, even a powerful ability is reduced to garbage. If the Gura Gura no Mi hadn't ended up with Whitebeard, it might never have earned the title of strongest Paramecia. Whitebeard elevated the fruit—not the other way around.
[You can't change this power. Life-based powers are special. No Devil Fruit can copy healing like this.]
"So, I can't switch it for something else?"
[Right. Life Fruit's power is one of a kind.]
"Okay."
[Do you want to invest in the Life Fruit? How much?]
"What's the smallest amount?"
"Fifty strands."
Vane agreed to invest fifty strands first. That left 450 strands.
"Do I need to hurry and invest the rest?"
[No, you can take your time. These investments can add up.]
"So I can invest all at once?"
"Yes."
[Then put all life force into the Life Fruit.]
[Ding! Beginning Life Fruit investment. Please wait ten minutes.]
Vane waited, anticipation rising. Non-character investment was a second-tier feature of the [Investment System]—one use per target. Like dimensional character scanning, it had a weekly cooldown. Still, Vane hadn't used it weekly. So far, he'd only invested in three people and wasn't planning a fourth anytime soon. His next target was Kalifa. Despite her Navy training, her progress with her Devil Fruit was lacking. Natural abilities require time to mature—decades even. The same held true for the Navy's Admirals and even Fire Fist Ace. Ace had only wielded the Mera Mera no Mi for a few years—he was still at the supernova level.
Vane wanted to fast-track Kalifa's development. The second-tier [System] included character templates—essentially subsystems. He could transfer investment profits through these and enhance her growth, as if strengthening weapons or gear in a game. Currently, aside from himself, Kalifa and Esdeath had templates. Investing in Kalifa would deepen her control of the Goro Goro no Mi.
Ten minutes passed.
[Ding! Life Fruit investment complete. Calculating returns.]
[Ding! Investment succeeded. Life Fruit has evolved into Second Realm of Life.]
[Ding! You have obtained: Three thousand years of lifespan. (Note: Attempting to achieve immortality now will crash the system.)]
[Ding! You have obtained: Disease Elimination, Lifespan Gift, Life Creation, and Life Freezing.]
As the notifications ended, new knowledge downloaded into Vane's mind.
Disease Elimination – Removes any illness. Can be applied to others.
Lifespan Gift – Grants lifespan to others at the host's discretion.
Life Creation – Where the host walks, even dust and sand can spark life.
Life Freezing – Halts aging or growth at a specific point. Effectively: eternal youth.
Incredible.
Vane's pulse quickened. The names alone felt divine. The Life Fruit, now at the second level, had surpassed its original limits. If this was just the second stage, what level would true immortality be?
That night, he sat by the window. The moonlight spilled over a pot where Esdeath had planted three epiphyllums.
A flash of life under the moon.
Vane extended his right hand. The epiphyllums hadn't bloomed yet—they'd bought them leaving Sabaody two days earlier. His palm emitted colorless, invisible life energy only he could sense.
The power flowed into the plants. Their leaves darkened to vibrant green, pulsing with energy.
"I'll make you bloom."
More energy surged.
Life Creation. Power to awaken the world.
The epiphyllums bloomed. Pale petals shimmered with hints of blue, unfolding gently, exuding a delicate scent.
Bathed in moonlight, the sight was ethereal. Short-lived, yet magnificent.
"So this is Life Creation?"
He looked down. Even the wooden floor beneath him had started to grow moss.
Even dust and sand can revive all things…
Startled, Vane stepped on the moss.
He wasn't about to slip and fall in his own room.
---
Author's Note (PS): Almost forgot about the Life Fruit. Now Vane can pursue immortality openly later on. This ability is only going to get more powerful. For now, I'm avoiding true immortality to prevent the system from breaking. Future upgrades might include physical or soul immortality.
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