The Atlantic Ocean. Deep Water.
Vincent moved through the pitch-black depths with ease.
Thanks to his Hydro-Kinesis (inherited from the Mera template), the ocean felt like home. He swam faster than any torpedo, the water pressure feeling like a gentle caress rather than a crushing weight.
After swimming for hours, he emerged onto the shore of an uncharted island in the middle of the Atlantic.
"Far from the city. Far from spies. Perfect."
Vincent stood on the beach. Water sluiced off his body instantly.
Above, the Milky Way stretched across the sky, unpolluted by city lights. The reflection on the ocean created a mirror of stars. It was breathtaking.
But Vincent wasn't here for sightseeing.
He was here to ascend.
His Ice-Ice Fruit was powerful, but it had limits. He needed to push it to the Awakening stage—where his power could permanently alter the environment, just like Aokiji and Akainu on Punk Hazard.
"Gwen is probably still mad at me," Vincent chuckled, his thoughts drifting back to civilization.
He thought of Jessica Jones. Their relationship was uncomplicated. Raw, physical, like a hurricane.
Gwen was different. Sweet, tentative, like a spring breeze.
"Focus," Vincent shook his head. "No more distractions."
He sensed the island with his Hydro-Kinesis.
Something is wrong.
The blood signatures on this island were... massive. Not human. Not normal animals either.
Prehistoric? Mutated?
A roar echoed from the jungle.
Vincent frowned. "If I awaken here, this entire island will become a frozen wasteland. Everything will die."
He hesitated.
Suddenly, a massive black shadow lunged from the treeline.
It was a serpent. But not just a snake—it was fifty feet long, with scales as hard as steel and a horn on its snout.
"A horned python?"
Vincent didn't flinch.
Flash Freeze.
The giant snake froze mid-air, crashing to the sand as a solid ice sculpture.
Vincent examined it under the moonlight. The creature radiated heat from its belly, trying to melt the ice from the inside out.
"Fire-attribute biology? Interesting."
Vincent realized this island might be a secret lab for Weapon Plus, HYDRA, or some other shadowy organization breeding bioweapons.
"I don't have time to investigate."
Vincent waved his hand.
Ice Block: Partisan!
Water vapor condensed into ice spears, skewering the frozen snake.
Then, Ice Time.
He reinforced the freeze, crushing the creature's internal fire.
"System. Initiate Awakening."
[System Prompt]
[Ice-Ice Fruit Limit Break initiating...]
[Cost: 5,000,000 Desire Points.]
[Confirm?]
"Confirm."
[Desire Points Deducted.]
[Awakening Progress: 10%... 20%...]
A surge of cold energy exploded from Vincent's core. His body dissolved into pure ice, then reformed, then dissolved again. He was becoming the element itself.
The temperature on the island plummeted.
Tropical trees shattered as their sap froze instantly. The wind howled, creating a localized blizzard.
[Progress: 100%.]
[Congratulations. Ability Upgraded: Ice-Ice Fruit (Awakened).]
Vincent opened his eyes. They glowed with a pale blue light.
He felt connected to every molecule of moisture in the atmosphere. He didn't just freeze things anymore; he commanded the concept of "Cold."
The creatures of the island—mutant tigers, giant lizards, strange hybrids—panicked. They stampeded toward the shore, desperate to escape the unnatural winter.
Vincent looked at the stampede. He looked at the ocean.
He raised his hand.
"Ice Age."
A wave of absolute cold expanded from his body.
The jungle turned white. The ocean waves froze into jagged glaciers. The stampeding monsters turned into statues.
In seconds, the tropical island became a frozen hellscape.
Now Get The FULL NOVEL at Once!
Get 40% OFF Using Code: DFCC7
@patreon.com/Authorizz