--- Chapter 139 ---
Grigori.
"Is this true?"
"What are you rambling for, Vali? It's true, you dumbass."
"Don't call me that..."
Vali Lucifer read the information letter Azazel gave him, frowning because it felt too surreal. Huo Yuhao has killed his wretched grandfather in the Underworld, Familiar Forest.
He should have felt relieved, knowing that the bastard died in Huo Yuhao's hands. Yet, it's unsettling that he couldn't kill Rizevim by himself.
'Ahh... It's annoying.' Vali cursed in his mind.
After getting tortured by Rizevim and his father, Vali has grown into a power-hungry youth. Even though he doesn't let the dark desire overcome his heart, the sudden death of the lunatic grandfather makes that drive to become stronger dead for some reason.
After all, Vali trained every day to make Rizevim's life miserable.
"Hmm? What's this..." Vali flipped the letter and saw an additional message from Huo Yuhao. He read it and began to laugh like a maniac because this new boss somehow predicted his sour mood after reading this news.
"That guy sure knows how to talk his subordinate out of frustration. He got your brazen nature very well in just one meeting, Vali." Albion commented in amusement, knowing Vali's personality.
"Shut it, Albion." Vali was embarrassed. After all, he challenged Huo Yuhao to a fight and was "completely." defeated to the ground.
Even his most powerful technique couldn't scratch Huo Yuhao, making the blue-haired young man look like a wild beast to him. Vali sighed because he should have trained more, and becoming the Dragon Nest's member opened a new stage for him.
Azazel observed Vali's face and smiled, "Such a good expression you had there."
"Aih, I remember you were a crybaby years ago." Like a sad father, Azazel wiped nonexistent tears from his eyes. Vali's mouth twitched when listening to this man's nonsense.
"AAH, SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU TWO!" Vali stormed out of the room, leaving Azazel alone in his office.
The general governor of Grigori shook his head and commented, "What a nice moment to be alive. Since we are under Huo Yuhao's direct control, fewer issues have been happening in the last two months."
"Sooner or later, this world will fall into his hands. I wonder what he is going to do with the Heaven System."
Azazel was always curious about his father's Heaven System because it governed the cycle of life and death in this world, allowing one into rebirth after cleaning their karma. The Heaven System also controlled how the Sacred Gear and Miracle were distributed to humankind. Or anyone who believed in the Biblical God.
"I will ask him later about it." Azazel picked up the coffee on his table.
...
...
[Vali Lucifer's loyalty has increased]
[You now could awaken Vali Lucifer's Martial Soul]
Huo Yuhao peeked at the system panel in the air and chuckled because the letter had arrived. He could have used the communication magic, but a written letter would be more sentimental to share about Rizevim's death.
"Things are going well." He commented casually.
"Hyaaa~! Take this, Nyaa~!" Kuroka's shouts echoed in the training ground. The Nekoshou launched a cat paw-like energy blast at Grayfia after infusing it with a fire element.
Grayfia lifted her handgun and fired an energy bullet at the incoming fire paw, freezing in motion. She was about to shoot another bullet, but Kuroka had already anticipated that.
Kuroka skipped the distance between them by creating a chain of small explosions with her elemental beads. Water splashes evaporated because of it, causing the white mist to cover the training ground.
Grayfia kept her stature and launched a barrage of energy bullets, feeling the earth below her feet moving. Several cat tails made of rocks sealed her legs to the ground.
"Gotcha~!" Kuroka infused Wood Element into her palm and struck Grayfia's stomach.
Grayfia watched the palm approaching her stomach and sighed, vanishing from Kuroka's view. The black cat was speechless when a cold sensation rubbed her sensitive neck.
"This is unfair, nyaa~!" Kuroka complained while raising her hands. "Time manipulation is too overpowering!"
"Ugh... With my elemental beads, I can only get closer to her."
"You're wrong. I'm at my limit as well." Grayfia shook her head gently.
"Time Manipulation is only powerful when the user is strong enough to control the flow. The energy consumption is also massive. Accelerating myself 30 times depleted 50% of my spirit energy in just 1 second."
The silver-haired maid smiled and added, "You're doing great, Kuroka."
BOOM!
The nekoshou and devil glanced at the other side of the training ground, seeing the new girl named Nico Robin being trained by Scathach personally.
They envied and pitied the girl because Scathach was known for her brutality in training. Even Huo Yuhao wasn't so safe against the red-eyed teacher.
"Come on. I know you could do more than this." Scathach kicked Robin on the stomach and made her puke on the ground.
Robin groaned in pain and used her devil fruit's power on Scathach's neck, trying to strangle her. However, it's a useless move because Robin doesn't have enough physical strength to do it.
"Insect's bite is more painful than this." Scathach sighed in disappointment.
"Yuhao said your power was unique and had the potential to become a vital resource for Dragon Nest, but this is worse than I thought."
Robin gritted her teeth and mumbled, "One more time..."
" I can't hear you." Scathach raised her voice a little.
"One more time..."
"I can't hear you! Robin!" Scathach grabbed Robin's face and stared right into her blue eyes.
"ONE MORE TIME, PLEASE!" Robin firmly replied. "Please help me to become stronger."
Scathach grinned and dragged the young archeologist into the gravity pits, throwing her into the center. "In this gravity-increased field, I'll teach you to draw primordial runes. Endure the weight on your body while comprehending this new knowledge." She said sternly.
"Understand, Robin?"
Robin nodded solemnly and responded, "Crystal, Shishou."
Scathach flicked Robin's forehead and returned, "That's ma'am for you, girl. Only Yuhao could call me Shishou."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
...
Huo Yuhao enjoyed the time before they began the plan to attack Hades and the Realm of the Dead. "I haven't checked my rewards from Saving Robin." He commented while opening his inventory.
Five devil fruits with no colors and undefined patterns appeared on the table.
[Name: Seed of Concept Fruits]
[Type: Consumable]
[Grade: D-SSS]
[Description: Seed of Concept Fruits is an incredibly uncommon consumable item for comprehending Universal Laws, ranging from something simple such as fundamental elements to abstract laws like Death and Life]
[After consumption, the obtainable concept ranged from D to SSS grade because it depends on the user's talent. One couldn't consume more than one Seed of Concept Fruit in their entire life]
[And unlike Devil Fruits, the Seed of Concept Fruits are free from Worldly Curse because it was pure force without any will from the previous era. It also doesn't have limitations from reaching a higher realm where pure concepts are needed]
[Of course, a lower grade doesn't mean the concept is weak. The people who have eaten the Seed of Concept Fruits could develop their unique ability of their own and reach the Law of Universe Stage]
"What do you mean by limitation of devil fruits, Evo?" Huo Yuhao frowned slightly.
[Devil Fruits are a manifestation of one's desire, Host]
[It allows one to breach natural order like a shortcut but comes with weaknesses such as "losing the ability to swim." and "limitation of ascending to a higher realm because that person's soul got tainted by the will of the past."]
[Only people with D's will and God's Blessing could transcend this limit and become demi gods]
Huo Yuhao becomes even more confused, digesting the information slowly because One Piece he knew wasn't this complicated. Or maybe this specific One Piece is an Alternative Universe connected to another realm?
That's his possible guess for now.
"Can I get rid of Devil Fruits' weakness? I get some of them when saving Robin." Huo Yuhao questioned the system.
"Oh wait, I can just upgrade it." What a dumb question Huo Yuhao had in a while.
[...]
[Yes]
[You could have just upgraded the Devil Fruit into a better Devil Fruit]
Huo Yuhao smiled and pulled Pika Pika no Mi, a banana fruit with a glimmering yellowish gold shade and dim light. Even though Qianye Ying'er possessed Spirit Skill to manipulate light elements, this fruit will help her gain the Concept of Light.
[Do you want to upgrade Pika Pika no Mi?]
"Yes." Huo Yuhao replied naturally.
[Using 1 Gold Upgrading Ticket on the Pika Pika no Mi]
[Upgrading...]
[You have received Concept of Light Fruit]
"Evo, I can consume more than one seed of concept fruits, right?" He went to the Qianye Ying'er room.
[Yes, Host]
[Your Demi-Primordial Human and War Beast allowed you to bypass the boundary. The awakened potential: Limit Breaker also helped you in this situation]
"That's good then." Huo Yuhao saved the seed for later.
Huo Yuhao was about to knock on Qianye Ying'er room when hearing a small moan. He was stunned on the spot, opening the door gently.
'Don't do it, Yuhao!' Tian Meng shouted from the spiritual world.
'Oy, Remember! You have a war tomorrow!'
The young man grinned and replied, "War can wait, Sister Daydream."
"It seems that I have been neglecting my little Ying'er."
"Ahn~!"
"Yes, Yuhao~!"
"Please shove that big thing into me."
"Split me into half~!"
"MM~! I'm so wet..." Qianye Ying'er voice is much higher in pitch than usual. "I'm such a bad girl..."
"Yes, you are." Huo Yuhao replied while leaning on the wall.
"Looks like I have to teach you some lessons."
Knowing where this would develop, Qianye Ying'er bit her lips and coyly responded, "P-Please put me in my place, my lord."
"This little girl has been astray from your holy path."
Huo Yuhao placed the Concept of Light Fruit on the table and asked, "Who has been a bad girl all this time?"
"M-Me~!" Qianye Ying'er shivered in excitement.