Fire and ice: two forces bound together yet constantly opposed. For Ethan Hayes, mastering both had become his greatest accomplishment. His powers, born from Devil Fruits, had long fought for dominance within him, but with his mind now at the master level, he'd learned to balance these conflicting energies. That balance created a constant, perfect temperature—a true equilibrium between endothermic and exothermic forces.
Onboard the iceship, the atmosphere felt like spring. Through a blend of ice and flame, Ethan shaped a water chair for Raven, coating it with white magic to form a jelly-like comfort. As she lay back, the chair's circulating water massaged her, melting away her fatigue. It was beyond her understanding, yet here he was, her own miracle worker.
The iceship sliced through the sea, stable and smooth under Ethan's control. At one point, lobsters and king crabs leapt from the waves into his hands, his psychic abilities handling and grilling them in seconds. Raven looked on in awe, her admiration growing with every display of power.
"Stay here and eat. I'll be back soon," he told her, plunging into the sea's depths, leaving the iceship motionless. Alone, Raven marveled at the night sky's vastness, finding herself unexpectedly at peace. Here, nestled in the tranquil dark and watching the stars, she wondered if she could stay like this forever.
Far from the boat, Ethan emerged from the ocean, frost gathering around him as he summoned a new power. "Let's break the limits," he whispered, preparing to ascend his freezing ability to the next level.
The familiar chill of his frozen fruit began to spread, blanketing ten kilometers around him in ice and snow. Light and heat drained away, the atmosphere turning a shade of black ice. The temperature plummeted as if time itself were freezing.
The cost? Eighty million desire points to unlock the third level of his freezing ability. Yet as that barrier broke, an unfamiliar force pulsed through him—a new, terrifyingly absolute power he sensed could halt atomic movement itself. It was as if he could stop time.
The system's offer appeared: "Would you like to spend wealth points to upgrade the third-level freezing ability to proficiency?"
"Do it," Ethan replied. Two billion wealth points disappeared in an instant. In return, he gained control over a power that let him alter temperatures on a planetary scale, ushering in an ice age at will.
Next, he focused on his burning fruit. "Now, the fire." Balancing one with the other, he broke through the third level of the burning fruit, reaching an unprecedented dual mastery. His body contained two elemental forces, both at their peak, intertwined and perfectly balanced.
Ethan's powers ascended. Two massive demons, one of fire and one of ice, formed behind him, casting a split light across the ocean. Waves raged around him, a force tearing through the icy shell he'd created.
Returning to the iceship, he checked his attributes:
Host: Ethan Hayes
Wealth value: 80.06675 billion points
Desire points: 670 million points
Abilities: Frozen Fruit (Level 3, Proficient), Burning Fruit (Level 3, Proficient), Psychic Mastery (Master Level), Water Control Magic (Master Level)
Skills: Phantom Fist (Transformation Realm), Dragon Elephant Prajna Kung Fu (Peak of the Thirteenth Floor)
Rewards: Purple Blind Box (1), Gold Blind Box (1)
Tasks: [Destined Encounter: In special encounters, deepen super-friendship for rewards. Reward: Blue Blind Box. Stacked rewards completed: 5]
Ethan now possessed the power to affect atomic structures, granting him a sliver of the abilities of Dr. Manhattan—a god among mortals. Standing there in a blend of fire and ice, he was bound to neither, yet controlled both. Finally, he let the elemental powers recede, the calm sea returning to its natural state.
When he boarded, Raven had set up a meal, her face full of anticipation. He allowed himself a rare moment of relaxation, lying on the water bed as Raven gave him a back massage. "Longtao, now that you're practically a god, when will you help me get my powers back?" she teased, her voice dripping with seduction.
Ethan chuckled, turning to face her. Placing a hand on her arm, he channeled a blend of magic and qi into her body. Blue liquid droplets emerged from her skin, remnants of the mutant cure, and soon she felt her powers returning. Her body glowed blue as her shapeshifting ability reignited, now stronger than before. Raven gasped with newfound strength.
In a playful tone, Ethan prompted, "Show me a few faces, Raven. Let's see who else you've met these last few days."
She smirked and transformed, her body becoming a vision of mixed heritage and fiery spirit, embodying none other than Psylocke, one of the most mysterious and formidable mutants.
"Wait—Psylocke?" Ethan said, surprised. Raven laughed, taking on the pose of the mutant fighter. But before she could say another word, he was already turning the tables on her, a challenge glinting in his eyes.
READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD OF EVERYONE FOR ONLY $7!
LINK: patr eon.com/SenatusPopulus
ALSO CHECK MY OTHER PROJECTS!
Naruto: Masters of Strategy