Fenric was more than satisfied with the power of the Tremor Fruit.
In fact, the sheer destructiveness of its ability exceeded even his own expectations.
He recalled the original One Piece storyline—Whitebeard's fist once smashed into Akainu's body, crushing bone and spilling blood, deforming even the Admiral's frame.
No wonder.
It was no exaggeration that the Tremor Fruit could propel his combat evaluation directly to sixth place in the global rankings.
And that was without his trident or his ultimate technique—the Indestructible Demon Body.
If he unleashed everything at once, he had no doubt he could break into the S-rank.
—--
Together, Fenric and Vivienne entered the space node and left the hell dimension behind.
The wounded behemoth remained where it was, groaning miserably.
Moments later, a dog's bark split the void.
"Woof!"
The sound alone froze the beast's blood. Trembling, it collapsed to its belly, not daring to move.
From the distance, high in the air, the three-headed Hellhound strode forth, each step echoing across the empty realm. Upon its back sat a strange figure.
When the behemoth's eyes fell upon the man, its pupils shrank in terror. With a strangled whimper, it buried its massive head into the ground, as if wishing to vanish entirely.
"So, Behemoth… even you were beaten to this state? That can only mean strong humans are present on this planet."
The demon's voice was cold, his words carrying a weight that made the air itself shiver. He lifted one hand and gestured.
The Hellhound leapt forward, three maws opening wide as it tore into the behemoth's flesh, ripping away great chunks of meat.
"Arghhh!"
The giant beast wailed in pain, yet it did not resist. It merely endured, allowing itself to be devoured.
The demon ignored the spectacle, his scarlet eyes fixed on the direction of the space node.
"My father once warned me before he fell into slumber: this planet is not to be invaded lightly. The Creator's artifact rests here. It seems this world is far from ordinary…"
If not for that warning, he would have already led an army from hell to conquer this realm.
He turned back to his beast. "Have you eaten enough?"
At his command, the three-headed Hellhound reluctantly pulled away from its meal and lowered itself, waiting for its master to mount once more.
As the demon climbed onto its back, the half-devoured Behemoth remained, bleeding and broken. When the hound and its rider vanished into the depths of hell, only then did the creature dare to stir, burrowing deep into the earth to hide.
A space node was, in truth, a wormhole—an unstable bridge linking two dimensions.
Stepping through felt like falling into an endless abyss. Time and space twisted into something dreamlike: it was both an eternity and a fleeting instant.
When Fenric's vision cleared, he found himself back in familiar surroundings.
The first glow of dawn painted the sky in red, chasing away the night.
"Sister! Fenric!"
"Commander, you've returned!"
Familiar voices filled the air. Fenric turned to see Yuhan, Jitto, and the surviving students waiting anxiously. Relief washed over their faces at the sight of him and Vivienne.
Later, in a temporary office, Fenric and Vivienne sat across from one another.
The tea set on the table remained untouched. Neither of them was in the mood for tea.
"Shura," Vivienne exhaled softly, "I truly didn't expect you to be only two months older than Yuhan."
She had already known his identity from the Samsara Space, but meeting him face-to-face was different. His youthful features clashed with the towering reputation he had built.
His feats were far too great for someone his age.
Fenric smiled faintly. "Haven't you heard the saying? Aspirations aren't bound by age. Besides, you're not much older than me. You became a commander while still so young. In Jadeveil's history, that alone is unprecedented."
Vivienne gave him a long look. "You don't carry yourself like someone who just came of age. You speak more like someone tempered by years in society."
"In the real world, just call me by my real name—Fenric. As for your compliments…" Fenric smirked. "I already know I'm excellent. No need to flatter me."
Vivienne chuckled despite herself. "Very well, Fenric."
Though she was older, she could not bring herself to call him "Little Ric." With his momentum, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed her in the Samsara Space.
Suddenly, a commotion rose outside the camp. Shouts, cries, and angry demands echoed through the air.
"What's going on out there?" Fenric frowned.
Vivienne pressed a button on the table. Moments later, a major stepped in and saluted.
"Commander!"
"What's happening?" she asked.
"The families of the deceased… they're demanding answers." The officer's expression was grim.
Vivienne let out a quiet sigh. This was a global disaster. Until official policies came down, there was no explanation they could offer. Entire regions were still entangled with the hell dimension, countless people still trapped inside.
"Dismissed." She waved him away, and the major exited.
Vivienne leaned back and murmured, "Fenric, sometimes I envy you. You don't have to deal with burdens like this."
Fenric had no reply.
"Ah, that reminds me," Vivienne continued, her expression brightening slightly. "I should thank you for Devil Fruit Purifying Water. With that resolved, I'm much more confident about the next dungeon."
Fenric's brows lifted. That alone revealed a great deal.
So Vivienne indeed had a powerful Devil Fruit reserve—and now used it.
"Commander Song," Fenric said curiously, "I've always wondered… what kind of Devil Fruit did you eat before? The one that disgusted you so much. Care to share?"
At his question, Vivienne's cheeks flushed, and an embarrassed look crossed her pretty face.