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Chapter 33 - "A Place to Rest and Absorb"

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The colossal beast—lord of this jungle—was obliterated in a single blast.Through that kill, Harry finally understood just how powerful his near-full-strength energy wave truly was.

The sight of the giant's instant death sent shockwaves through the other beasts that had been eyeing the crimson fruit.Some had already begun charging in—but the sudden, terrifying explosion stopped them cold, their claws digging trenches in the dirt as they tried to brake in time.

One lion-tiger hybrid didn't stop fast enough. It stumbled, got rear-ended by the beasts behind it, and went tumbling right up to where Harry hovered above the ground.

Terror filled its eyes. The great creature's body shook, fur bristling as it scrambled backward, like a guilty child caught in the act.

And that fear spread—rippling through the rest of the beasts.

When temptation is strong enough, it can make you forget fear.But when fear itself becomes overwhelming, no temptation can move you anymore.

The message was clear.Hovering in the air, arms crossed, Harry radiated an aura of absolute dominance.A small frame—but an impossible pressure emanated from him.Anyone who approached would die.

Harry was not a merciful man.Or rather—mercy depended entirely on who you were.Cross him, and you were done.This world had no room for the weak.

So time passed in silence.

Before long, Gine's spaceship descended, returning to Harry's position.As planned, they harvested every last blood-red fruit from the tree, carefully storing them aboard.

The ship wasn't big to begin with, and twenty-four massive fruits nearly filled it to bursting.Still, that was a small price to pay. The value of those fruits was far beyond a little lost space.

And unlike space travel, being on a planet meant they could step out and move around whenever they wanted.

Once the final fruit was picked, Harry watched as the entire tree withered before his eyes.

Just as Gine had said:The tree existed to nurture the fruit—to absorb and transfer life energy.But looking at it now, Harry realized something deeper:It wasn't that the fruit depended on the tree—it was that the tree existed for the fruit.

As long as the fruit lived, the tree had purpose. Once the fruit was gone… it had none.

"The fruit's gone, so the tree no longer has a reason to exist. Just like people—when they lose their worth, they're discarded."Murmuring to himself, Harry turned away and led Gine and Celari back aboard the ship.

The beasts didn't move. They simply crouched where they were, forced to watch silently as Harry and his companions departed.For them, the blood-soaked battle was over.At least now, there'd be no more killing over those cursed crimson fruits.

Inside the ship, Harry piloted steadily through the air until he found a more suitable landing site—a broad, peaceful valley.

It was like a hidden paradise: flowers and birds, clear streams, even a small waterfall tumbling from the rocks.Hard to believe such a place could exist in this wild, primal world.

What truly surprised them, though, was the enormous wooden cabin in the middle of the valley.It was old, rough-hewn, covered in vines and moss—but sturdy.The dust coating the inside made it obvious that no one had lived there for years, yet the structure hadn't decayed.

Most likely, it had been built by one of the Oyun survivors stranded here long ago.Otherwise, there'd be no reason for it to be that large.Standing before it, the three Saiyans looked tiny in comparison.

"The area's clear—no threats nearby," Harry said. "Let's settle here for now. We need a few days to rest… and to absorb the blood fruit."

Neither Gine nor Celari objected.

Ever since they'd left, Harry had been subtly shaping their mindset—reminding them that this mission wasn't truly an invasion.That quiet influence had taken hold; both women now saw this as exploration, not conquest.

They unloaded the fruits from the ship.Under the sunlight, each one gleamed with an eerie, almost sacred crimson glow.

Twenty-four fruits. Eight for each of them—at least in theory.But the actual amount would depend on how each body reacted.

Deciding to take the risk himself first, Harry didn't want Gine or Celari to face danger unnecessarily.

Crunch… crunch…

He bit down without hesitation. The blood-red flesh melted in his mouth, sending a cool rush spreading through his body.Sweet—like strawberries, only far larger.The flavor lingered on his tongue, leaving behind a faint floral scent.

"What a strange feeling…" he murmured, closing his eyes.That cooling energy flowed through every inch of him—pure and revitalizing.

No wonder his body had craved it so badly. This wasn't just nourishment—it was transformation.

He kept eating. The fruit's energy faded fast once absorbed, and if he stopped, that chill would vanish.So he devoured the rest.

When he finally finished one massive fruit, his body burned hot, power surging in his veins.His muscles tightened. His ki roared.

His strength had grown. His body had evolved.

He pressed the scouter's side button—and watched the number jump from 1300 to 1500.

Fifteen hundred!The exact same level Raditz had at the beginning of Dragon Ball Z!

Just one fruit—and his power had risen by two hundred points!

No wonder the beasts had gone mad for them.One of these could turn an ordinary predator into a planet's apex tyrant.

Gine and Celari, who had been watching silently, exchanged worried glances.

"Harry, how do you feel?" Gine finally asked.

"Are you okay, big brother Harry?" Celari added quickly.

He opened his eyes and smiled. "I'm fine. These fruits really do boost strength—and they reinforce the body too. My power level's already hit fifteen hundred."

Both women froze in shock.

"That much? When Bardock and I ate ours back then, our power only went up by about a hundred," Gine said, frowning as she tried to recall the details.

"Maybe the fruits we found absorbed more life energy," Harry replied casually.

But deep down, he was curious—would they get the same result? Or was the fruit's power different for everyone?

"Gine, Celari—try one each," he said, pulling two fruits from the ship's compartment and handing them over. "Let's see how much your power rises."

"..."

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