Ufole lay sprawled on the island, breath hitching. With every rise of his chest, fresh blood bubbled from the corner of his mouth. He was hanging by a thread.
"L Lord…"
He forced the words out, eyes bloodshot.
"Lord, I found the Devil Fruits."
Ecstasy flashed across his face, then pain ripped it away as the movement tugged at his wounds. His features twisted, his lips trembling. Even so, the excitement would not leave his eyes.
Rakuya looked toward Ufole's arms.
Two Devil Fruits, heavy with curling whorls, were clutched tight against his chest. Blood had soaked them to a dull red.
Momousagi stared, mouth slightly open, not knowing what to do.
"Where did you get them?" Rakuya asked, voice light.
"From a ship under Whitebeard. I stole them." Ufole's face was a mask of blood, yet a bright grin still bloomed there. In his eyes there was only Rakuya and the fruits.
Two days. He had cleared Flowing Cloud's first trial.
"You robbed Whitebeard's fleet for Devil Fruits. Not afraid he will hunt you to the ends of the sea?" Rakuya shook his head. The kid had guts.
"Heh." Ufole's smile turned almost peaceful. "If I can pass Flowing Cloud's trial, what is death to me. The only pity is I will not last. Lord, take them. Think of it as an offering from a disciple who never got to kneel."
His chest heaved. Blood gurgled. Even speaking cost him.
He was a dying man.
"Worth it?"
Looking at Ufole's agony, Rakuya could not help a soft sigh. Throwing away your life just to be his disciple. Only a fool would.
"Worth it." Ufole's grin did not fade.
"Cough… Lord Flowing Cloud, take the fruits and go. I will not make it."
Rakuya studied him for a heartbeat, then lifted his right hand. The two fruits leapt from Ufole's arms and fell into his palm.
[Ding. Mysterious energy detected. Absorb]
"Absorb."
[Ding. Absorption complete]
[Paramecia class Devil Fruit. 1000 points]
[Logia class Devil Fruit. 1800 points]
[Ding. Conversion successful]
His points soared. The tally jumped to 7300.
[Ding. One character summon available. Summon now]
"Summon?" Rakuya glanced through the premium roster. Without five figures worth of points, any top pick was out of reach.
"No."
[Ding. Besides direct purchase, you can spin the Summon Lottery. With 7300 points, spend 5000 to pull once]
"A lottery?"
[Just like last time, a random pull. Because you are staking 5000 points, you have a fifty percent chance to draw a powerful character]
"And the other fifty percent?"
[You get nothing]
"I see."
Gambling, dressed up in flashing lights. Hit the jackpot, reach the sky. Miss, crawl back to the starting line.
"What is in the 5000 point pool? Do not tell me it is full of bargain bin genin who will not last a second in this world."
[Ding. Pool includes Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, Namikaze Minato, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Nagato, Nine Tails, the Third Raikage, and other top tiers]
"Now that is more like it. At least not cannon fodder."
He hesitated.
Then he bit down.
"Pull."
[Ding. Rolling. Success. Congratulations, you obtained Nine Tails]
"Nine Tails?"
He froze for half a beat, then laughed. He had hit gold.
A moment later, a miniaturized Nine Tails appeared in the System space, nine tails flicking lazily.
"Master."
"Mhm."
He nodded, taking in the deceptively harmless form. When that temper flared, it was a calamity made fur and fangs.
"Wait here for now."
He left the System and returned to the island breeze.
"Lord, you accepted my fruits. That means I passed. I can die without regret." Ufole chuckled foolishly.
"You die here without clearing all three trials and you think that is not too cheap a price to pay?"
Rakuya felt a flicker of guilt. The kid was in this state because of his test. If Ufole had nothing to do with him, he would not bother. But this mess had his fingerprints on it.
"I know my body. You do not have to comfort me. I think I am done." Ufole's wry smile held more pain than humor.
"Die? Without my leave, who dares let you die?"
"I dare let him die. Not only him, you as well. You steal from Whitebeard's flag and think you can walk away?"
The voice that cut across the clearing was cocky and cold.
Rakuya did not even turn. So Ufole had been tailed. He had not asked who hurt the kid, and now he did not need to.
"Damn. They are here." Terror flashed in Ufole's eyes. He shouted hoarsely, "Lord, run. That is Marco the Phoenix. He sails under Whitebeard. Whitebeard will be here any second."
"Whitebeard?" Rakuya glanced at Ufole and smiled. "Is he very strong?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't forget to add this story to your Library, drop a review, and leave a Power Stone if you enjoyed it!
"Want to stay ahead of the game? Advanced chapters are up on my Patron. If you're enjoying the ride, swing by and check them out."
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"