Kai discovered his quirk entirely by accident. While trying to dispose of the busted inventions on his desk, he forgot to turn one off and shocked himself. Instead of pain, he felt electric energy flow into his body, building up at the crown of his head.
For a moment, Kai panicked, thinking he'd fried his brain. But instead of harm, there was a strange sense of clarity. The energy didn't hurt; it felt familiar, like a second heartbeat pulsing through him, waiting to be released.
Sitting on the bed, he tried to move the energy. It only traveled upward through his hair. Frustrated, Kai bunched it up and pushed. As it reached the edge of his bushy hair, exhaustion crept in. Finally, Kai managed to push it out—right above his hairline, a small fruit dangled from a branch.
"Whoa," he thought. "That's how it works. I can turn ambient energy into related fruits. That's actually pretty cool. I can disguise my Devil Fruits as a quirk awakening or something if someone questions them."
He laid back on the bed, thankful he had already removed all the trash. But as he relaxed, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.
"It absolutely destroys my own energy reserves, though. I can barely move at this point."
Quest: 'Your First Quest!' has updated.
Try out your Quirk (2/3)
Roughly a minute later, he heard a familiar pop, and Fenn appeared, standing on his desk with what seemed to be a kids-sized KFC bucket.
"What's up, nerd?" Fenn grinned. "I got the system notification. How'd you manage to figure it out so quickly? It's only been eight hours."
Kai chuckled weakly, still trying to recover from his earlier exertion. "Just a lucky accident, I guess. But it's draining. I didn't expect my energy to take such a hit."
"Eh, you're using your own body as a conduit for energy, and a physical fruit doesn't come from nothing. You'll be fine if you spend some time in the sun and drink some water though." Fenn set his bucket down at Kai's feet and scrambled over the piles on the desk to reach the window. With a quick yank, he pried it open. "See? Good as new."
A warm breeze flowed into the room, washing over Kai and lifting his spirits. He sighed in relief, feeling a hint of energy returning. "Thanks, Fenn. I guess I needed that."
Fenn leaned out the window, grinning. "Just remember to pace yourself. You've got a lot to learn, and I get a nice commission the better you do. Now pluck that fruit and let's see what it does."
"Shouldn't that hurt? It's like attached to my body. I don't really want to rip a limb off," Kai said, concern etched on his face.
"Not at all," Fenn assured him. "It'll probably feel more like popping a joint. There aren't any nerve endings in your branches, so you'll just feel a slight pressure."
Kai hesitated, eyeing the small fruit hanging above him. It looked vibrant and enticing, but the thought of yanking it off made him uneasy. "Okay, here goes nothing," he said, taking a deep breath.
He reached up, fingers trembling slightly, and grasped the fruit. It felt cool to the touch, pulsing with energy. With a swift pull, he yanked it free, the sensation reminiscent of a gentle tug rather than pain.
A wave of electric energy surged through him, leaving him momentarily breathless as he processed the experience.
"Did it work?" Kai asked, looking at Fenn with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"You tell me; you're the one who has to manipulate the system. I can only see the screens you pull up," Fenn replied, munching on a chicken drumstick.
"Just think about the fruit you've got in your hand, and it'll tell you about it. Do note that this only works for fruits you make. You can't appraise other stuff."
Kai nodded, focusing on the fruit. It was a small yellow fruit, similar in appearance to a strawberry. He closed his eyes, visualizing it and willing the information to come forth. Moments later, a translucent screen appeared before him, glowing with vibrant text.
Fruit Level: 2
Name: Static Charge
Ability: Generate static energy and release it in small pulses from your palm.
Duration: 10 minutes
Cooldown: 1 hour
"Static Charge?" Kai murmured, intrigued. "That's a fitting name. It sounds like I'll be able to create little bursts of energy."
"Roughly," Fenn added. "The problem with these enhanced fruits is that they can't be improved, they're one-time uses, and you can't eat another until the cooldown is over. The good news is that they taste pretty good and are easy to make—provided you build up your currently abysmal stamina."
Kai frowned, considering Fenn's words. "So, I can only use this once every hour? That's kind of limiting."
"True, but you'll get stronger over time. Plus, once you start making more fruits, you'll have a variety of abilities to choose from," Fenn encouraged, hopping around excitedly. "Think of it as a strategy game—you'll have to decide when to use your resources wisely!"
"Yeah, I see what you mean," Kai said, feeling a flicker of motivation. "I guess I need to focus on building my stamina first, then."
"No, first is this—"
Quest: 'Your First Quest!' has updated.
Try out your Quirk (3/3) Completed!
You have completed 'Your First Quest!'
Distributing Rewards: Check Inventory!
Kai's eyes widened with excitement. "I completed the quest? Just like that?"
"Yup." Fenn said. "Now you get your rewards. Open your inventory and see what you've earned."
Eagerly, Kai concentrated on the notification, and a new screen materialized before him, displaying his inventory with three slots filled.
Custom Devil Fruit
Curse Removal Voucher
Random Spin
Kai focused on the Custom Devil Fruit and a panel appeared in front of him;
Who do you want the fruit to be made for?
"Kai Sugimoto." Kai responded, determined.
Generating Fruit for user Kai Sugimoto…
A moment later, the screen flickered, and a new fruit materialized above his head. Its exterior resembles a glossy, metallic gear, with intricate clockwork engravings swirling around its surface. The fruit is primarily a vibrant copper color, accented with brass and silver highlights.
Small, shimmering bolts of energy seem to dance along the edges, giving it a lively, animated quality. Atop the fruit sits a tiny, ornate gear-shaped crown.
Name: Tinker Tinker Fruit
Type: Paramecia
Details: This fruit allows the user to manipulate machinery, generate minor electricity, and visualize blueprints. More to be discovered.