In Abel's eyes, the Talent [Otherworlder's Heart] was essentially a life-draining ability.
At a cost of 5 days of lifespan per minute, an hour of use would consume 300 days.
With his current lifespan of just over a thousand days, he could only indulge in a few hours of use.
What could he accomplish in just a few hours?
He wouldn't even have time for a quick trip to the brothel and back.
Let alone participate in those legendary battles that could last for days and nights.
Even if he emptied the System Shop of all 99 [Red Hearts], it wouldn't be enough to sustain this Talent's consumption.
Therefore, the [Otherworlder's Heart] Talent was currently quite impractical.
Still, as a blue-quality Talent—not the lowest tier, but close to it—he couldn't expect too much.
In his Otherworlder Form, his defense, speed, and strength were all enhanced by 50%, while his pain sensitivity was reduced by 50%.
It seemed decent enough. If it weren't for the life-draining side effect, Abel would have fully accepted it.
After all, it was just a low-quality blue Talent. What more could he expect?
The only remaining hope lay in its potential for growth. Perhaps after evolving, these flaws might be mitigated or even eliminated.
"No wonder it's only a blue-quality Talent. Most people wouldn't dare use it."
"But I'm different. Since the System Shop offers lifespan-extending items like the Red Heart, it means similar items will likely become available in the future."
"So, as long as I use it sparingly and save it for critical moments, it's acceptable."
"Moreover, the Otherworlder's Heart is a growth-type Talent. Although the growth conditions are dangerously risky, if I can ensure my safety, I might attempt it later."
With these thoughts, Abel's expression finally brightened somewhat.
He had originally planned to remove the Amber Lead Syndrome toxins as soon as either he or Law acquired the Ope Ope no Mi.
But as it turned out, plans change faster than expected.
The Amber Lead Syndrome had mutated into Abel's innate Talent, becoming an integral part of his being. It seemed unlikely he would ever be able to rid himself of it.
'Every sip and peck carries both fortune and misfortune, their true nature uncertain.'
Even Abel himself couldn't yet determine whether this transformation was a blessing or a curse.
Knowing he would inevitably need to rely on this Talent in life-or-death situations, Abel steeled his resolve and attempted to activate it directly. He wanted to experience its effects firsthand, to mentally prepare himself for future use. In a real battle, his enemies wouldn't grant him the luxury of trial and error; any mistake could cost him his life.
"Ugh..."
As he activated the Otherworlder's Heart, Abel involuntarily let out a muffled groan of pain.
His heart began to race violently, pumping massive amounts of lethal toxins through his bloodstream to every part of his body.
In the blink of an eye, Abel's skin rapidly turned a sickly pale white, as if the original white patches had spread across his entire body.
His pupils became bloodshot, glowing with an eerie crimson light in the dim surroundings.
Even his short, choppy hair began to grow wildly, eventually reaching his waist and turning completely white.
This was the true Other Form!
A grotesque, pale, demonic entity!
In this state, Abel was so transformed that even Law would struggle to recognize him—or perhaps, would be too afraid to acknowledge him.
"Huff..."
After completing the transformation, Abel exhaled deeply. He had never imagined activating this Talent would be so agonizing.
Fortunately, once he fully assumed this monstrous form, the pain immediately halved, the torment shifting from unbearable to merely causing a deep frown.
"Adapting beforehand was definitely the right choice," Abel thought. The System's description had failed to mention this level of agony. Without prior mental preparation, he would have been completely caught off guard.
Abel examined his now-pale hands, clenching his fists to feel the changes within his body.
Though the sensation wasn't particularly distinct, his strength seemed to have increased slightly.
Given his current weakness, the improvement was subtle and not immediately noticeable.
To truly unleash the power of this Talent, Abel knew he had to first build a solid foundation. There was no shortcut to mastery.
After a brief period of acclimatization, Abel swiftly deactivated his Other Form.
The toxins that had spread throughout his body rapidly retreated to his heart. The white patches faded, and his long white hair instantly reverted to its original short black style, the excess strands crumbling into ash.
In less than a minute, he had already consumed five days of his lifespan. This wasn't just about pain anymore; it was about survival.
Undeterred, he immediately tried releasing a tiny fraction of the toxins stored in his heart...
The next moment, the familiar white patches reappeared sporadically across his body, accompanied by a faint, throbbing ache.
"So I can control it after all."
Forcing himself to endure the discomfort, Abel glanced at the Otherworlder's Heart Talent. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized this method didn't count as activating the Talent, then maintained his current state.
Otherwise, he would have no way to explain such a conspicuous transformation to Law. And if he couldn't explain it clearly, a rift would inevitably form between them.
For now, maintaining the status quo seemed best.
His character profile had already updated to:
[Host: Gustavus Abel]
[Basic Trading Qualification]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 10]
[Height: 140 cm]
[Weight: 25.5 kg]
[Lifespan: 4 years, 355 days]
[Talent: Otherworlder's Heart (Blue)]
[Ability: None]
[Trade Points: 825]
Staring at his remaining lifespan of less than five years, Abel suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to spend all his Transaction Points on Red Hearts.
But he restrained himself.
He had come to realize the true value of Transaction Points.
Besides, what difference did it make to him now whether the lifespan counter showed five years or ten?
In the short term, it would be a completely ineffective investment.
It would be better to keep the points in hand for flexible use, choosing instead to purchase items more immediately relevant to his current situation.
Having reasoned this out, Abel stopped dwelling on it.
Still...
"That Law guy has been gone for so long. Why hasn't he returned yet?"
His brow furrowed slightly, a sudden premonition of trouble stirring within him.
Leaving a marker behind, he immediately rose to search for Law's trail.
Fortunately, he could now control the Syndrome release and retraction. By will, he could appear as an ordinary, somewhat disheveled child