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Rosh only smiled lightly in response to Hank Pym's praise, choosing not to say much. Instead, he simply asked, "So, Dr. Pym, are you here to purchase a Devil Fruit for yourself this time?"
"Absolutely. I can't wait to experience something so extraordinary," Hank replied, adjusting his glasses. The gleam of anticipation in his eyes was unmistakable. Even someone as composed as Hank couldn't entirely suppress his anticipation when faced with the wonders of the Devil Fruits.
"You're more than welcome," Rosh responded, smiling. "I'm sure Hope has explained the wonders of Devil Fruits to you already, so I won't repeat myself. Feel free to take a look through the catalog."
Rosh then handed Hank a detailed catalog of Devil Fruits, each offering a unique power. Hank carefully examined the various fruits, his expression growing more astonished by the minute at the incredible range of abilities they offered.
Then, one particular entry caught his eye: The Mini-Mini Fruit. A Devil Fruit that could shrink its user at will.
Hank's heart skipped a beat. 'A fruit that could shrink people?' This was Ant-Man's ability, perfectly aligned with the technology he had pioneered. He never imagined that the fruit store would offer a fitting power, almost as if it were made just for him. Excitement surged through him. 'Could this really be happening? Becoming Ant-Man again without relying on the suit?' The Mini-Mini Fruit seemed tailor-made for him.
"Rosh, do you have this Mini-Mini Fruit in stock?" Hank eagerly asked Rosh, unable to contain his excitement.
Rosh raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "Mini-Mini Fruit? That's the one that gives you the ability to shrink and enlarge your body, right? Isn't that similar to your Ant-Man suit?"
But it quickly dawned on Rosh. Hank Pym must no longer be physically able to use the Ant-Man suit. Rosh remembered from the movies that Hank never wore the suit anymore, likely because his body couldn't handle the strain. Instead, he had trained others to take on the role, such as Scott Lang.
Understanding Hank's situation, Rosh smiled. "I apologize. Yes, the Mini-Mini Fruit is available. As described in the catalog, it grants the ability to shrink or enlarge your body at will. The extent of the effect depends on how much you develop the power."
Hank's eyes lit up even more. "This is remarkable—just like something out of a fairy tale. Incredible," he marveled, his gaze growing distant. Rosh suspected Hank wasn't just praising the fruit and reminiscing about his invention, the Ant-Man suit.
"Do you want to purchase the Mini-Mini Fruit, then?" Rosh asked, waiting for Hank to finish his moment of nostalgia.
"Yes, I'll take it," Hank responded with determination.
"The price is four million dollars," Rosh said, quoting the price. Hank took out his card without hesitation, ready to complete the transaction.
*Beep*
The deal was done. Rosh retrieved the Mini-Mini Fruit from the display case and handed it to Hank. Hank gazed at the fruit in his hand, brimming with excitement at the thought of regaining his powers.
As Hank prepared to take a bite, Hope quickly stopped him. "Dad, wait! I need to warn you. Devil Fruits taste… well, awful. And you only need one bite to get the powers. Don't eat the whole thing."
Hank gave her a puzzled look. "What are you talking about, Hope? How could I waste something this amazing?"
"Four million dollars for one fruit, and you expect me to only eat one bite?" Hank muttered under his breath, incredulous at the idea of leaving the rest untouched.
Hope could only sigh.
But the moment Hank bit into the fruit, he finally understood what his daughter meant. It was the most disgusting thing he had ever tasted. The flavor was so unbearable that his eyes watered, and it took all his willpower not to spit it out.
"Rosh," Hank gasped, "You said one bite is enough, right?" He desperately sought confirmation, dreading the thought of eating anymore.
"Yes, Hank," Rosh chuckled, "Just one bite is plenty. You really didn't need to take such a big one."
Hank's face twitched slightly, realizing he had unnecessarily subjected himself to more suffering than needed.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, everything around Hank seemed to grow rapidly, or rather, he began to shrink. He was intimately familiar with the sensation—he was getting smaller, just like when he used to don the Ant-Man suit.
When his surroundings finally stabilized, Hank found himself standing at the base of his daughter Hope's high heels. She now appeared to be a towering giant, while he was no taller than her shoe. The Mini-Mini Fruit had worked its magic. Hank would need to consciously activate the fruit's ability to return to his normal size. Until then, he was stuck in this shrunken state.
Hank felt the thrill of shrinking again for the first time in years. He knew the journey ahead was filled with challenges, but for now, the excitement of shrinking without relying on the Ant-Man suit was enough.
Hank was back and was ready to take on the world, one tiny step at a time.
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Next Chapter: Elektra Returns
Next Next Chapter: The Slow-Slow Fruit and the Grow-Grow Fruit
Next Next Next Chapter: Bust Out Some Moves, Old Man!
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