Chapter 7: The Shop
The boy returned to his room. After some time, Marceline got up from the cold floor, still naked. She dressed herself and climbed up to him.
Finn was lying on his bed, and she approached him hesitantly. After a moment of awkward silence, she spoke first. "Thank you," she said softly.
Without opening his eyes, he replied, "Do you want more?" His murmured question startled her, but she quickly answered with fervent enthusiasm. How could she refuse more of that incredible pleasure?
"Yes, yes, please, very much," her voice trembled with her swift response. It was clear that Finn's effect on her was far more profound than she realized.
"Then help me," he murmured meaningfully.
"Help you with what?"
"I need to get a certain girl. I want her to be mine. You're lucky to be the first, but my need for her is much greater than for you." Finn's eyes gleamed with purpose, knowing Marceline was the closest link to Princess Bubblegum. She represented a shortcut to claiming the latter.
Her eyes widened in shock as she drifted into thoughtâ€"not about his words per se, but about how the Finn she knew could say something like that. The question was practically written across her face. His manner of speaking, his actions, and his seemingly malevolent intentâ€"it was impossible to chalk it up to teenage rebellion.
"If you'll satisfy me more, I'll do anything," her overwhelming desire ignored all common sense, plunging her further into the dark abyss.
"Perfect," he said, opening his eyes and sitting up. "Now, on to our target."
"Who?" she asked, confused. He simply smiled slyly at her, and from his silence, she could infer who he meant.
"Impossible… You know her, Finn. She'd never submit to you. You have me now, and we can find someone else…" She tried reasoning to spare her girlfriend from the looming doom.
"Silence!" he interrupted her sharply. "When I say I want her, it means one thing. I don't care about obstacles," he said with a sinister grin. "The most important thing now is not to separate from her."
"What?" she asked in surprise. "Are you seriously okay with me going back to her?" She was taken aback.
"You won't date her, but you're the closest person to her. Staying with her makes it easier for me to reach her. This is an order, not a request. Now go, and come back to me tomorrow at the same time," he commanded, reclining back on his bed.
Marceline wanted to protest but closed her mouth and left, glancing back to see him drifting back into his comfortable slumber.
---
[Congratulations]
[Harem: +Marceline]
[Submission: 6/10]
[Corruption: 8.5/10]
[Fear: 7/10]
[Bonus Reward (not typically given for harem): 40∆]
---
"Status, Sika," Finn requested.
[Finn Mertens]
[13 years old]
Partners: ~
Harem: Marceline
Pawns: ~
Abilities: Magma Fruit
(Shop) 90∆
"Impressive," he thought proudly. Suddenly, he sat up and shouted, "Oh no, I forgot!" The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.
Jumping out of the treehouse, he began sprinting frantically. After some time, he passed the area where the snake's corpse had been, but the bloody remains were gone. Assuming some fire wolves had dragged it away, he dismissed the thought and leaped into the pit, searching for the cave with the blue portal.
According to the trail, the creature had emerged from that portal, and Sika mentioned the snake was from another world. Could this portal be a tool for interdimensional travel?
Entering the cave, Finn found it empty where the portal once stoodâ€"it had vanished. Even in the pitch darkness, the emptiness of the cavern was apparent.
"Where is it…?" he searched with his eyes until he spotted something unusualâ€"footprints. Human footprints. They passed by and exited the cave. "What's this?" he murmured.
[Human footprints, as evident. However, for someone to tread through this molten rock effortlessly, their mana shield must be exceptionally strong.]
"He's the one who took the portal," Finn concluded. "Could this person be stronger than me?"
[If I could laugh, I would do so until morning. Instead, I'll respond with a question: Can a fly kill a tiger?]
"That powerful, huh?" While it was obvious this person was strong, Sika's analogy seemed exaggerated. But as a system, she wouldn't inflate or undervalue the truth.
Finn followed the footprints out of the cave and up from the pit. The trail stopped where the snake had been, leaving only a pool of blood.
"He took the snake's body too," Finn muttered. All these chilling thoughts about interdimensional portals and someone vastly stronger left him conflicted. With no other leads, he returned home, as the footprints vanished beyond the snake's resting place.
---
At home, Finn ate dinner with Jake, who had just returned. After finishing his meal, he left Jake to clean up and stepped outside. He wandered to a small green hill, climbed its peak, and lay down.
"Now, let's see what this shop has to offer," he resolved.
"Sika, the shop," he commanded.
A large word, Shop, appeared above him, followed by a variety of options. Browsing through them, Finn was stunned by the sheer number and range of choices, with prices varying widely.
"Sika, give me a summary of the most useful abilities for me," he suggested, finding a quicker solution.
Sika's voice echoed in his mind.
[Most Useful Skills: ~]
[Illusory Dash: Amplify your movement speed by an astonishing 400%, enabling rapid dashes and evasive maneuvers. Ideal for both combat and exploration. Temporary activation costs 100 LIB per day; permanent mastery available for 2,500 LIB.]
[Levitation: Unlock the freedom of flight, soaring effortlessly at any speed and altitude. Perfect for traversing terrain or gaining a tactical advantage. Temporary activation costs 250 LIB per day; permanent mastery available for 3,000 LIB.]
[Martial Arts: Attain unparalleled proficiency in a wide array of defensive and offensive combat techniques. Become a master in hand-to-hand combat and tactical maneuvers. Costs 7,000 LIB with no temporary option.]
[Steel Body (Upgradeable): Fortify your physical strength, durability, and endurance to exceptional levels. Level 1 (Steel): Grants the ability to lift 1,500 kilograms per arm while significantly increasing resistance to physical damage. Upgradeable to advanced tiers for even greater power. Cost: 500 LIB for Level 1.]
[Invisibility: Completely shroud yourself in undetectable stealth, erasing all traces of sound, movement, and scent. Perfect for silent infiltration or evading detection. Cost: 1,000 LIB per hour, no permanent option available]
[Killer Instinct: Harness the power of pure intimidation, striking paralyzing fear into the hearts of weaker opponents with a single glance. Effective against those with lower strength or resolve, rendering them unable to act. Cost: 3,000 LIB.]
The six skills were incredible, each one extraordinary. Finn wanted them all, but their prices were steep. Renting them temporarily only to lose them later seemed like a waste.
"Are there other abilities like mine?" he asked.
---
[Notable Devil Fruits available in the shop: ~]
[Magma-Magma Fruit (Logia): Purchased.]
[Smoke-Smoke Fruit (Logia): Allows the user to transform into and manipulate smoke. Cost: 15,000 LIB.]
[Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Logia): Grants control over lightning and the ability to summon thunderbolts. Cost: 25,000 LIB.]
[Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon (Mythical Zoan): Enables transformation into an Azure Dragon, a mythical creature of immense power. Cost: 40,000 LIB.]
[Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika (Mythical Zoan): Bestows the properties of the mythical Nika, granting enhanced freedom and elasticity. Cost: 50,000 LIB.]
[Flame-Flame Fruit (Logia): Allows the user to create and control fire at will. Cost: 20,000 LIB.]
[String-String Fruit (Paramecia): Enables manipulation of strings, which can be used for various purposes, including combat and control. Cost: 7,500 LIB.]
[Chop-Chop Fruit (Paramecia): Allows the user to split their body into pieces and control them independently, rendering them immune to slashing attacks. Cost: 5,000 LIB.]
Sitting upright, Finn remarked, "All these from One Piece, right?" It wasn't among his favorite shows, but its widespread fame made ignorance difficult.
"Wow, these fruits are incredibly expensive. I can't afford another one," he said, rubbing his scalp.
[Remember, consuming two fruits will kill you. Also, if you fall into the sea, you'll never be able to swim.]
The fruits shared the same strengths and weaknesses as in One Piece. Lying back, another thought crossed Finn's mind.
"Sika, show me the most powerful, expensive, and unusual abilities."
[Acknowledged: ~]
[Second Chance: Grants you another complete soul. Activates only if you die with your body intact. Costs 70,000 LIB.]
[Astral Projection: Leaves your body as a spirit, allowing you to traverse dimensions and worlds without obstacles. Upon returning, reactivation requires another purchase. Costs 18,000 LIB.]
[Dimensional Gate: Opens a portal to any dimension of your choice. Costs 20,000 LIB per use.]
[Nightmare: Activates an aura that forces your opponent to see their worst fears. Must be repurchased after use. Costs 8,000 LIB.]
Sika continued listing numerous unique abilities, some so powerful they made Finn's jaw drop, others overwhelming due to their exorbitant prices.
---
[Initial Mission Accepted]
[Mission: Kill 50 monsters within 2 hours.]
[Reward: 100 LIB]
[Countdown: 1:59:59]
Sika interrupted his thoughts. "What's this? Didn't you say missions were based on my desires?"
[Yes, but I can assign missions with rewards. They're optional. If you want to reject this one, just decline. This is a trial to see if you're interested in missions.]
Finn hesitated briefly. He didn't want to become a puppet of some unknown creator, but 100 LIB was a decent reward. Besides, killing 50 monsters didn't seem to serve anyone else's interests.