The Midnight Exchange
"Good night, Theo. Try not to lose yourself in those documents," my manager said with a chuckle, handing me another mountain of paperwork. As I watched his retreating back, I sighed, adjusting my glasses before settling into my seat. I was a simple convenience store clerk, a faceless employee in a world that demanded long hours for meager pay. The neon lights overhead hummed and flickered in the silence, my only companions the scattered reports that littered my desk.
Exhaustion weighed me down, yet I forced myself to stay awake. I was on the verge of finishing the last of the paperwork when a sudden lightheadedness consumed me. The world around me began to blur, the edges of my reality fading into oblivion.
I blinked, and when I reopened my eyes, I was somewhere else entirely. The buzz of the fluorescent lights was replaced by the gentle symphony of the night, the soft rustling of palm leaves, and the distant lap of waves against the shore. The air was filled with a cool sea breeze and the sweet smell of the ocean. Silver moonlight spilled from the sky, turning the entire beach into a surreal painting.
"What the...?" I murmured, scrambling to my feet. My heart pounded in my chest as my eyes darted around, taking in the sudden change in surroundings.
Then, something strange happened. An interface materialized in front of me, holographic words floating in mid-air: "Welcome, Theo. You have been transmigrated to the world of One Piece. You have been granted a unique upgrading system."
My breath hitched. One Piece, as in the anime? I blinked, expecting the words to disappear, but they stayed, seeming as real as the sandy beach beneath my feet.
"Starter Pack Gifts: 1. Choose one Devil Fruit from the following list. 2. Beginner Observation Haki. 3. A Ship."
Before me, a list of twenty fruits appeared, each looking more bizarre than the last. I recognized them as Devil Fruits from the show, each holding tremendous power. But what caught my eye was the variety of the fruits – there were Logia, Paramecia, Zoan, Ancient Zoan, and even Mythical Zoan fruits.
Curiosity piqued, I asked for a description of each fruit. Sure, here is a list of 20 Devil Fruits with a brief description of each:
1. Kaze Kaze no Mi (Logia)
2. Gan Gan no Mi (Paramecia)
3. Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Direwolf (Ancient Zoan)
4. Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Angel (Mythical Zoan)
5. Tetsu Tetsu no Mi (Logia)
6. Oni Oni no Mi, Model: Krampus (Mythical Zoan)
7. Mosa Mosa no Mi (Paramecia)
8. Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Quetzalcoatlus (Ancient Zoan)
9. Doku Doku no Mi (Logia)
10. Kumo Kumo no Mi (Paramecia)
11. Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Leviathan (Mythical Zoan)
12. Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Anubis (Mythical Zoan)
13. Kage Kage no Mi (Logia)
14. Denki Denki no Mi (Paramecia)
15. Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Spinosaurus (Ancient Zoan)
16. Ishi Ishi no Mi (Logia)
17. Manto Manto no Mi (Paramecia)
18. Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Pegasus (Mythical Zoan)
19. Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Gorgon (Mythical Zoan)
20. Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Fenrir (Mythical Zoan)
Each of these fruits holds unique powers, ready to be harnessed by those daring.
A sudden curiosity bloomed within me, and I decided to ask for more details about two more fruits. "System," I began, the words sounding odd to my ears in the quiet night, "Could you provide a brief description of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Gorgon, the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Leviathan, and Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Fenrir?"
Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Fenrir (Mythical Zoan):
This Mythical Zoan-type fruit allows the user to transform into Fenrir, the monstrous wolf from Norse mythology.
Strengths: As a Mythical Zoan type, it combines the strengths of both Zoan and Paramecia types. In the Fenrir form, the user's physical capabilities (strength, speed, endurance) are drastically increased. The user can also control ice, creating devastating ice attacks or using it for defensive purposes. As Fenrir was known to grow continuously in Norse mythology, the user could potentially become larger and more powerful over time.
Weaknesses: As with all Devil Fruits, the user will become weak and unable to move if they fall into seawater or are touched by Sea Stone. Despite the control over ice, the user doesn't gain resistance to extremely cold temperatures. Additionally, continuous growth could potentially become uncontrollable if not kept in check.
Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Gorgon (Mythical Zoan):
This fruit allows the user to transform into a Gorgon, a mythical creature from Greek mythology known for their ability to turn anyone who looks into their eyes to stone.
Strengths: Along with enhanced physical attributes in the Gorgon form, the user gains the fearsome ability to petrify anything they gaze upon, effectively immobilizing enemies in battle. The transformation could also potentially cause fear in opponents due to Gorgon's terrifying appearance.
Weaknesses: Standard Devil Fruit's weaknesses apply. Additionally, the petrification ability can be a double-edged sword - allies, or even the user themselves, could be accidentally turned to stone if they are not careful. The Gorgon form might also attract unwanted attention due to its distinct and horrifying appearance.
Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Leviathan (Mythical Zoan):
This fruit allows the user to transform into a Leviathan, a gigantic sea monster from Biblical texts.
Strengths: This fruit gives the user exceptional swimming ability and the power to control water to some extent, creating waves or whirlpools, which is unique for a Devil Fruit. The transformation into a Leviathan also drastically increases the user's size and strength, making them formidable opponent, especially in sea battles.
Weaknesses: Despite the sea creature transformation, the user is still subject to the standard Devil Fruit weakness of being unable to move in seawater. They must be partially transformed and actively using their powers not to sink. Furthermore, while the user can control water, they can't transform into it, unlike a Logia type. The Leviathan's massive size could also potentially make the user an easy target for coordinated attacks.
Under the silver sheen of the moonlight, I stared at the three Devil Fruits in front of me. Each held power beyond imagination, but they also carried their own set of drawbacks. The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Gorgon, offered an incredibly potent ability - turning anything to stone with a mere gaze. However, the danger of accidentally petrifying allies, or even myself, couldn't be overlooked.
Next, the Ryu Ryu no Mi Model: Leviathan, caught my attention. With the power to transform into a giant sea monster and control water to some extent, it was undeniably a formidable fruit. But the inherent conflict of being a sea creature unable to swim freely in the ocean, unless partially transformed, was a paradox that seemed too risky.
That left me with the Inu Inu no Mi Model: Fenrir. I'd become a creature of legend, an imposing wolf with enhanced physical prowess and control over ice. The continuous growth aspect of the fruit held an element of danger, but if I could master it, it could become my most potent weapon.
After a moment of contemplation, I reached out for the Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Fenrir. Its spiraled, unusual appearance did little to prepare me for the taste that followed. I grimaced, my taste buds assaulted by a disgusting medley of flavors - it was as if I had just bitten into a rotten egg coated with the bitterest gourd, accentuated by an intense, off-putting spiciness. Despite the vile taste, I swallowed, ready to embrace the powers it would grant me.