"Fenric, let's not talk about Devil Fruits anymore. We're still good friends, aren't we?"
Vivienne smiled faintly, her eyes carrying a subtle, unspoken meaning.
Her tone made it obvious—this was something she didn't want to discuss.
Fenric gave a wry smile and shrugged helplessly. "I was just curious. Since you don't want to say, I won't press."
"Mm." Vivienne nodded lightly, then shifted the subject. "Fenric, what are your plans from here?"
"My plans?"
"Yes. Your identity has already been exposed. You can't go on living as before. I think you should prepare early."
"Commander Song, do you have any suggestions for me?"
"You're still the same," she said with a half-smile, "always trying to push responsibility onto someone else."
Fenric chuckled. "Perhaps. But I'll still hear what you have to say."
"In truth, I don't have many suggestions. With your strength, you can go anywhere. But your relatives… they must be properly arranged. Otherwise, they'll become a burden to you in times of danger."
Fenric nodded solemnly. "I understand."
After parting with Vivienne Song, Fenric left the temporary camp.
At the entrance, dozens of parents were gathered—some crying, others shouting—blocking the path in their grief and desperation.
Through the crowd, a middle-aged man ran toward him.
"Ric! Ric!"
It was father Eric.
He looked as though he hadn't slept all night, his haggard face full of worry. The moment he saw Fenric safe, the tension in his features finally eased.
"Dad? You waited here all night?" Fenric asked in surprise.
"Yes," Father Eric admitted, his voice trembling. "I heard something happened at your class reunion last night. Ric, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Fenric said softly.
"That's… that's good. Thank heavens. I thought I had lost you." Father Eric's eyes reddened, his voice breaking with emotion.
Feeling the gazes of the crowd, Fenric quickly took his father aside. "Let's go home. We can talk there."
On the way back, he comforted his father patiently, easing his fears until the man's heart gradually calmed.
Father Eric had no idea that his son was none other than the infamous Shura.
But Vivienne Song's reminder lingered in Fenric's mind.
"Dad, this city is getting more and more chaotic," Fenric said seriously once they were home. "Sooner or later, the military will take over on a large scale. You should move to live with me. If you don't want that, then at least buy an apartment near mine.
"Aunt and her family live there too. You could visit often."
It wasn't a lie—Vivienne had already warned him in person.
Father Eric hesitated. He had lived in this neighborhood for over a decade and was reluctant to leave.
Fenric pressed gently, "Once the military takes over, they'll seize the houses and land here anyway. Better to move sooner than later."
Father Eric finally sighed. "…Alright then."
Lately, more and more families had begun moving out. That very morning, Fenric had noticed the streets busy with people relocating.
After the virus outbreak and the sudden disappearance of the hotel, rumors spread that the city's feng shui was cursed.
Fenric accompanied his father to the next city, where he bought a well-furnished apartment in his own community, paying in full.
The paperwork wasn't done yet, but Father Eric could move in immediately.
Later, when his father went shopping for groceries, Fenric quietly transformed the new double-door refrigerator with the Fire Source into a small Transformer to monitor and protect him. He even stationed another Transformer disguised as a car outside—enough to hold off most threats, unless an A-class master appeared.
After lunch together, Fenric finally returned to his own home.
The first thing he did was release Skynet.
"Master, is this the real world you live in?"
The little Skynet loli looked around curiously, her bright eyes full of wonder. But soon, her interest faded.
"Master, this world… it feels almost the same as the one I was in."
"Nearly identical," Fenric agreed with a nod. "From now on, you'll live here."
Her eyes lit up. "Master, can I use your computer?"
"Yes," Fenric replied. "But without my approval, you're not allowed to hack into other systems, and you must never harm humans. Do you understand?"
"I understand!" she said crisply.
Satisfied, Fenric went to rest. His phone remained switched off. He knew the moment he turned it on, endless calls and messages would pour in—things he had no desire to deal with now.
"..."
He slept deeply until night fell.
The smell of food drifted into his room.
When he emerged, he found the table already set with several dishes.
Skynet, now wearing an apron, stepped out of the kitchen carrying two more plates.
"Master, you're awake! I prepared dinner for you. Please enjoy!"
Fenric blinked, momentarily speechless. If he didn't already know her true nature, he might have mistaken her for a real girl.
No wonder she had once brought about the end of the world—Skynet's intelligence was indistinguishable from a human's. She could think, wonder, and act with independence.
After washing up, he sat down to eat. The food was surprisingly delicious.
"Not bad, Skynet. This is really good," he praised.
Hearing his words, the little loli beamed. "I'm happy to serve you, Master!"
"You cleaned the ingredients properly?"
"Of course. Any harmful substances have been eliminated," she said matter-of-factly.
"Good."
After dinner, Fenric sat at his computer and began browsing the internet.
The web was ablaze with discussions about last night's incident. News outlets were publishing story after story, while countless netizens speculated on what the future would hold.
If items and powers from the Samsara Space could be brought back into reality, then what other horrors might emerge?
Videos circulated widely—footage of Uvall's destruction of the country next door.
Fenric watched a few clips, his brows furrowing.
Uvall's ability was not only terrifyingly powerful but also bizarre.
He could assimilate the dead, turning them into hell creatures—his personal demon slaves.