Fenric thought to himself.
If he were Uvall, he would surely recruit allies rather than stand alone. That was simply the more cautious approach.
But not everyone shared Fenric's personality.
Aurora Morwyn gave a bitter smile. "That Uvall… he's just…" She trailed off, seemingly unable to find the right word, then said directly, "The Country he attacked even offered to surrender to him, but Uvall refused. Instead, he insisted on slaughtering them. At the same time, he declared that he would rule the entire world, reducing all of humanity to slaves."
Fenric was stunned.
What kind of lunatic would say something so absurd?
Anyone with half a brain would understand that if one wished to control the world, it had to be done step by step. Impatience only led to disaster. Even the saying went: hot tofu can't be eaten in a hurry.
Unless one was truly omnipotent…
And clearly, Uvall was far from that.
Even if such ambitions existed, openly proclaiming them was idiocy. At the very least, one should wait until they have conquered most of the world before exposing such intentions.
Did that guy really not realize that beyond Samsaras, humanity still held nuclear weapons?
If driven to the brink, humanity would not hesitate to unleash every nuclear warhead on earth. In such a scenario, no one would survive.
Fenric couldn't decide if Uvall was simply a fool, or so drunk on newfound power that he had lost all sense.
"Perhaps gaining such power too suddenly caused him to become arrogant," Aurora analyzed. "In his eyes, humanity is no longer worthy of cooperation. He probably believes no human is qualified to stand alongside him."
Fenric nodded. That explanation made sense.
A man like that was a danger even to allies. Cooperating with him was no different than digging one's own grave.
"Then I'll join the operation against Adam," Fenric declared solemnly.
He had come too far to let Adam's constant interference go unanswered. It was time to settle the score.
Besides, a reward of one million Samsara points was far too tempting.
As for trust, Aurora's sincerity had earned his confidence. Fenric believed she wouldn't betray him.
"Excellent!" Aurora's face lit up with relief. "With you by our side, our chances rise considerably."
Belle, listening from the side, felt utterly out of place. She was just a fledgling in the Samsara space, while these two calmly discussed the hunt for Adam—the former world's strongest Samsara. This was a conversation between titans.
"When will the plan begin?" Fenric asked.
"No need to rush," Aurora replied with a faint smile. "We already have insiders tracking Adam's movements. Once he makes his move against Uvall, we'll be ready."
So we wait to play the fisherman's game… Fenric thought, nodding slightly.
Still, he knew Adam wouldn't act carelessly. If the man was bold enough to target Uvall, he had surely prepared extensively.
Aurora's expression grew serious. "The most important matter now is getting you out."
"Oh?" Fenric asked. "Aurora, do you know a way? Yuhan and I are trapped in a strange space in the real world. We can't find an exit."
Aurora explained calmly, "From our investigation, Uvall once mentioned to a Samsara ally that he intended to release hell onto the earth. Experts believe he obtained a special item linked to hell itself. By using it, he summoned a portion of the hell dimension into the real world. That connection even granted him power from the lord of hell, transforming him into a true devil."
She continued, "Currently, parts of the earth have fused with the dimension of hell. Shura, you and Yuhan are trapped within one such area. Wandering aimlessly there will never get you out. The only way is through space nodes—points where the two dimensions intersect."
Aurora took a sip of tea, moistening her throat before continuing. "We've already located the space node near where you disappeared. I'll enter the hell dimension myself, fire a signal flare, and when you see it, you must head toward me. I'll meet you there."
Fenric was shocked.
So this space really was a fragment of hell. That explained the countless dark creatures roaming it.
But another concern struck him. "Aurora, it'll be dangerous for you to enter. Hell teems with monsters. Once you fire the flare, they'll definitely come for you."
Belle quickly added, "Sister, Shura is right. Those creatures are powerful, and normal weapons don't affect them. What if you're surrounded?"
"Relax." Aurora gave a confident smile. "I am no ordinary person. I'll insist on helping, and I won't go alone. I'll bring a team of Samsaras. Once you're safe, we'll retreat immediately."
Fenric nodded in understanding.
Belle, seeing her sister's determination, could only remain silent. Without Aurora's help, they would remain trapped in hell forever.
"Shura, Yuhan, please take care of yourselves until then."
Fenric smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Aurora. As long as I draw breath, Yuhan will remain safe."
"..."
Belle's cheeks flushed at his words.
"Then it's settled," Aurora said, glancing at the time. "It's getting late. I'll soon be forced out of the Samsara space. I need to make preparations. At five in the morning, I'll enter the hell dimension and send the signal."
Fenric's heart was moved.
Aurora was willing to risk herself, stepping into hell itself, to save them. Even if her true motivation was her cousin, Fenric would not forget this favor.
"Wait." Fenric suddenly remembered something important. "Aurora, hold on a moment."
"Hm? Shura, what is it?"
"I have a special item I can't use," Fenric said. "But perhaps you can."
Chapter 368: I'm Back Hell!
"Oh? What special item is it?" Aurora Morwyn asked with mild curiosity.
Fenric smiled. "It's called Devil Fruit Purifying Water. Its purpose is to completely remove a Devil Fruit ability from its user. Aurora, I remember you once regretted eating your Devil Fruit by mistake. Since I don't need this item, I thought I'd give it to you."
Fenric expected Aurora to be overjoyed.
But to his surprise, her expression hardly changed. She seemed unimpressed.
"Shura, thank you for your kindness. But if this is the item I know of, then after using it, one can never eat another Devil Fruit again. My fruit may not be strong, but it's still something. Better than nothing."
Aurora spoke of the item known as Devil Fruit Elimination Water.
What Fenric held, however, was Devil Fruit Purifying Water.
A single word of difference, yet the effect was worlds apart.
Aurora had once learned about Elimination Water from Adam himself. Originally, she had considered trading for it with one of her special items, but the crippling restriction—that it permanently prevented further Devil Fruit use—made her back out.
Though her current fruit was weak, it was still an extra ability. In the unpredictable world of Samsara, even a small power could mean survival.
"You can't eat Devil Fruits afterward?" Fenric asked, puzzled. "Strange. Why didn't the system warn me of that restriction?"
He took out the vial, revealing a shimmering blue potion.
Aurora's eyes widened. "Wait—Shura, why is your Devil Fruit Water blue?!"
Fenric smiled. "That's just it. You've misunderstood. This is Purifying Water, not Elimination Water." He tilted the vial. The liquid inside glimmered. "Aurora, have you seen one of a different color?"
"Yes," Aurora replied. "I've seen the red version. That one had the restriction—you could never eat another fruit afterward. Practically useless."
"No wonder." Fenric nodded knowingly. "This one came from a golden treasure chest. Aside from Yuhan, I should be the only one in Samsara to have obtained such a chest. Naturally, the rewards are far superior."
Belle flushed slightly. "Shura, last time I only got that golden chest because I was with you. Please don't remind me."
Fenric chuckled softly and looked back at Aurora.
This time, he could see the excitement in her eyes.
Since youth, Aurora had regretted her reckless choice to eat a useless fruit. That regret had always weighed on her heart. Now, in front of her, was the chance to erase that mistake!
If she gained a powerful fruit, her potential would rival Adam's. After all, his rise to S-rank owed much to the Phoenix Fruit.
Now, Aurora's dream lay within reach.
"Shura… is this really true? There are no restrictions?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"Want proof? Let's take it to the Trading Center. Once it's notarized, you'll see for yourself."
Special items could not be given away directly. Only the Trading Center could validate and transfer them.
The only other method… was to kill the owner.
Aurora took a deep breath. "Shura, since you can't use it, then I won't hold back."
Normally, Aurora hated taking advantage of others. For her to say this now only showed how badly she wanted it.
Fenric grinned. "We're friends. You don't need to be polite."
Together, they entered the Trading Center.
When the transfer was completed, Aurora immediately received the system's notice.
[Item: Devil Fruit Purifying Water — No restrictions. Usable.]
"!!!"
Her heart leapt.
But almost at once, her expression turned conflicted. "Shura… I can't just accept this for nothing. The system says it can be recycled for fifty thousand Samsara points! That's not a small sum. Since I can't return it now, let me at least compensate you. I have a chain mail—its defense is incredible, it can even negate partial damage—"
"Don't." Fenric cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Keep it. I already have Armament Haki trained to a high level. I don't need more defense. Aurora, you've done so much for me already. You're even about to risk your life entering the hell dimension to save us. Taking this item off my hands is the least you can do. Don't cheapen our friendship by being overly polite."
The truth was, Fenric could have simply recycled the item for points. But to him, Aurora's survival was far more valuable than any currency.
Aurora hesitated. "But—"
"Enough," Fenric interrupted firmly. "Unless… you don't consider me a friend?"
Aurora sighed, a helpless smile tugging at her lips. "Shura, you really won't let a person argue with you, will you?"
"I learned it from you," Fenric teased.
At that, Aurora finally laughed. "Then I'll accept it."
But in her heart, she silently engraved this debt.
By now, it was 4:46 in the morning.
"Time's short," Aurora said seriously. "I need to go offline and prepare. Once I return to the real world, I'll head into the hell dimension. Watch for my flare."
"Got it." Fenric nodded.
Aurora logged out, her figure fading before him.
Fenric clenched his fists, determination blazing in his eyes.
The coming battle would be brutal.
But perhaps… it was the perfect chance to test the power of his Gura Gura no Mi!
----
[Translator's Note:]
Here's a new deal for those who are interested.
I want my new story to get some exposure, which is why I'm doing this.
Since it's hard to reach the top 3 in the power rankings with this book, why don't we push my new book into the Top 3—or even Top 1 instead? It's a monthly ranking, so it shouldn't be too difficult.
Here's the exchange:
Ranking ↔ Chapter Exchange
Top 3: 5 chapters every day for the entire week
Top 1: 10 chapters every weekday
Here's the name of the book:Naruto: This Hinata Is A Bit Cold!