"You can forget it! I'll never agree to your request."
Natasha's tone was firm, her refusal absolute. Her hand slipped behind her, fingers closing around a glass on the desk. If Elric dared to take another step, she was ready to smash it against his skull.
"Oh?"
Elric tilted his head, studying her. For a moment, he weighed the option of forcing her—violence would certainly be effective. But then he exhaled slowly and dismissed the thought.
No. He didn't want to use force to make a woman submit. Violence might work in the short term, but it bred hatred, and hatred could lead to betrayal. One knife in the back when he least expected it—that was a risk he couldn't afford.
He had the Surgical Fruit now. In this new apocalypse, he had the power to protect himself. Natasha, on the other hand, was vulnerable. Without someone strong to shield her, she wouldn't last long.
With the right approach, sooner or later, she'd come to him willingly.
"Natasha," Elric said calmly, stepping back, "I'll give you some time to think it over. I'll be staying on this floor. If you change your mind, just call out. I'll come when I hear your voice."
He let the words linger, his gaze sharp. "That will be your last chance."
With that, Elric turned and walked out, leaving her room behind.
"Haah…"
The moment the door shut, Natasha collapsed onto the floor, trembling. Relief and fear mingled in her chest. He was gone—for now.
—
Elric strode down the dimly lit hallway of the faculty housing building. This wing of the university was usually reserved for professors and senior staff. Tonight, it was eerily silent. Most faculty had either been trapped outside by the strange fog or cut off somewhere else on campus.
That meant dozens of apartments sat abandoned.
He found a unit not far from Natasha's, the lock so worn it broke under a push. Inside, the apartment opened up into a surprisingly spacious three-bedroom with a living room.
The sight made him pause.
Pink plush dolls were scattered everywhere—from the couch to the shelves to the bed. Whoever lived here had a girlish heart despite being an adult.
Elric smirked as a memory surfaced. There had been a philosophy lecturer, an intern with twin ponytails—what was her name again? Ah, Tina Lawson. Cute face, knockout figure. She and Natasha were known as the "Two Goddesses" of campus.
Shaking the thought away, Elric locked the door behind him. He hadn't come here to reminisce. He needed to test his new powers.
First was the foundation: ROOM.
He raised his hand. "ROOM."
At once, a transparent dome expanded outward, centered on him, stretching fifty meters in every direction. It shimmered faintly, visible not just to him but to anyone caught inside.
"Scan."
Blue light flickered across his eyes. Suddenly, the walls, the thick fog outside—even the furniture—no longer blocked his vision. Every detail within his ROOM became clear, like a CT scan made real.
Perfect.
Next: Exchange Location.
Elric's gaze shifted toward the apartment next door. Through his Scan, he saw no people inside—just two large bags of chips and candy piled on the bed, along with unopened bottles of water. In this ruined world, food and clean water were treasure.
"Swap."
With a snap of his fingers, the snacks and bottles appeared at his feet, while in an instant he himself was standing on the bed of the neighboring apartment.
"Ugh!"
Elric gritted his teeth, panting. His legs trembled from the sudden drain of energy.
It was like sprinting up six flights of stairs carrying fifty pounds. The exhaustion hit harder than he expected. He had known using Devil Fruit abilities would take stamina—but not this much.
If his body was this weak, a dozen swaps would leave him completely drained.
He clenched his fists. "I'll need to train… build my endurance. Or level up the fruit."
Still, the result was undeniable. Grinning, Elric began scanning nearby units. One by one, he swapped out abandoned supplies—chips, canned food, bottled drinks—until his room was stacked with loot. By the time he stopped, he had more than thirty bottles of water and soda piled high.
Exhausted, he finally collapsed onto the couch.
Glancing at his watch, he realized five hours had passed since the outbreak began. It was already close to midnight.
And though the campus was wrapped in silence, no one inside the university could truly sleep tonight.