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The descriptions laid out in the catalog lined up perfectly with everything Tony Stark had already explained to him. Devil Fruits were exactly what they sounded like: mysterious fruits that granted extraordinary abilities to anyone brave or foolish enough to eat one.
What Rhodey hadn't expected was just how many kinds of abilities there were.
There were countless varieties, each more absurd or impressive than the last. The possibilities stacked on top of one another until his brain struggled to keep up. It felt like he'd gone from a dusty roadside town straight into a royal palace, wide-eyed, overwhelmed, and completely unsure where to look first.
If he had to sum it up in a few words, it would be simple: utterly overwhelmed and completely awestruck.
Before he realized it, Rhodey was fully absorbed in the strange, fantastical world of Devil Fruits, his attention hooked beyond any chance of escape.
"Arms-Arms Fruit…" he muttered, reading carefully. "Allows the user to transform any part of their body into any weapon!"
His eyebrows shot up. "So this is the one Tony ate."
Flipping through the catalog a bit faster now, Rhodey quickly found Tony Stark's Devil Fruit entry. Sure enough, it was clearly marked as sold. Not that it mattered, something told him that even if it had been available, it never would've ended up in his hands.
As a lifelong soldier, the Arms-Arms Fruit spoke to him on a fundamental level. Weapons, adaptability, raw combat potential, it suited his instincts and training perfectly.
Too bad his best friend had gotten there first.
"Tsk—!"
Then Rhodey noticed the price listed beneath the description and sucked in a sharp breath.
2,000 kilograms of gold.
'Yeah. No. Absolutely not,' he thought flatly, staring at the number like it had personally offended him. That kind of price wasn't just unrealistic, it was soul-crushing. Someone as broke as him didn't even have the right to daydream about a Devil Fruit like that.
With a quiet sigh, Rhodey pushed the thought aside and continued flipping through the catalog, forcing himself to stay grounded.
That was when something finally caught his eye.
His posture straightened, and a spark of interest lit up his expression as he reread the entry.
"Shopkeeper," Rhodey said, looking up with renewed focus. "Could you tell me more about this Phantom-Phantom Fruit? If I'm reading this right, it lets the user create illusions?"
A power like that didn't need much explanation. In military operations, reconnaissance, deception, and psychological warfare, the applications were endless. Anyone with even basic tactical sense could see its value immediately.
And best of all, the price was incredibly reasonable.
Only 50 kilograms of gold.
For what it offered, the cost-performance ratio was borderline ridiculous.
"Yes," Rosh replied with a nod. "That's an accurate understanding. The Phantom-Phantom Fruit allows the user to generate illusions."
"The catalog mentions projecting illusions based on things the user has personally witnessed, but that's only the most basic function."
"Once the user gains enough experience," Rosh continued calmly, "they're no longer restricted to memory. They can freely construct any illusion they imagine."
Rhodey's eyes lit up instantly.
The ability to fabricate illusions at will, tailored, flexible, and limited only by creativity, was exactly the kind of power he'd been hoping to find.
For the first time since opening the catalog, it felt like he'd found something that truly fit.
"Shopkeeper," Rhodey said after a brief pause, his expression turning serious, "how realistic are the illusions created by the Phantom-Phantom Fruit? Would people be able to tell they aren't real?"
This wasn't casual curiosity; it was a deal-breaker. He needed a straight, reliable answer.
Rosh chuckled softly, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "You're underestimating Devil Fruits."
"The illusions produced by the Phantom-Phantom Fruit are realistic enough to be mistaken for reality itself."
"Anyone who isn't already aware of the ability would have no way of telling the difference."
Rhodey let out a slow breath. "That's perfect." He nodded to himself, the excitement unmistakable on his face.
An illusion powerful enough to completely deceive the senses, this wasn't just useful; it was tailor-made for him.
"And there's more," Rosh added smoothly. "The term 'illusion' can be misleading. It doesn't only apply to visuals."
"It also includes sound, and even other sensory feedback."
"For example," Rosh continued, "if the user creates the illusion of fire, people won't just see the flames. They'll hear the crackling of burning materials, and they'll feel the heat on their skin."
"That," he finished calmly, "is what defines a truly convincing illusion."
"That's… incredible," Rhodey murmured, genuine awe slipping into his voice. "No wonder they call these Devil Fruits."
This wasn't cheap trickery or smoke and mirrors. It was a complete sensory deception, airtight, immersive, and honestly terrifying when used correctly.
Devil Fruits really didn't follow any known rules of reality.
"And one more thing," Rosh said, raising a finger. "The Phantom-Phantom Fruit has an adaptive quality."
"The illusions automatically adjust to their surroundings, blending seamlessly into the environment without noticeable flaws."
"After all," he added, "even the most creative mind can miss small details."
"Additionally, the user can physically touch a photograph or image to 'capture' it. Afterward, they'll be able to recreate that subject perfectly as an illusion."
'Holy hell!'
Rhodey's eyes practically gleamed. With every new detail, the Phantom-Phantom Fruit felt less like a power and more like a tactical miracle. It pushed the very concept of illusion to its absolute limit, so much so that he almost felt like bowing in respect.
"However," Rosh continued evenly, "there is one limitation you should be aware of."
"In the early stages, when the user hasn't yet mastered the ability, the illusions have a time limit. After a certain duration, they'll dissipate and can't be sustained indefinitely."
"The exact length varies depending on the user."
"But as proficiency increases," Rosh concluded, "the duration can be freely controlled."
"Thanks for the warning," Rhodey said with a nod. "That's something I can work with."
Short-lived illusions didn't bother him in the slightest. In the hands of a trained soldier, even a few seconds of perfect deception could change the outcome of an entire operation.
"Oh, right," Rhodey said suddenly, lifting his head as another thought struck him. "Shopkeeper, you offer trial experiences for Devil Fruits here, don't you?"
"Of course," Rosh replied, nodding without hesitation.
Relief and excitement flashed across Rhodey's face. "That's great. Then… may I try the Phantom-Phantom Fruit?"
"No problem at all."
Rosh turned away briefly, then returned with a small sample of the Phantom-Phantom Fruit in hand. He passed it over smoothly.
Rhodey accepted it with care, turning it over in his palm as he studied its strange shape and texture. After a moment's hesitation, mixed with unmistakable anticipation, he took a bite and swallowed.
''Hmm!?''
The change was immediate.
The moment the fruit slid down his throat, Rhodey felt something shift deep inside him. His eyes widened slightly as an unfamiliar sensation spread through his body.
'So this is what eating a Devil Fruit feels like?'
It was hard to put into words, but the closest comparison he could think of was having a high-end 3D projection system installed directly into his body, one that responded to thought and intent.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Alright," Rhodey said, barely able to contain his excitement. "Let's see what this Phantom-Phantom Fruit can really do."
Curiosity overtook caution. He focused, testing the strange new power humming beneath his skin, and carefully activated it for the first time.
He flicked his hand forward.
A small bubble of shimmering, translucent light shot out from his palm, floating briefly in the air before...
*Pop!*
The bubble burst.
In the very next instant, several fully armed soldiers appeared directly in front of him, standing there as if they had always been there.
Rhodey froze, staring wide-eyed at the scene he'd just created.
"…Holy Shit!!!"
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Next Chapter: Ghost Soldier
Next Next Chapter: The Devil Fruit Shop Gets Shut Down?!
Next Next Next Chapter: The Streets Ran Red with Rosh's Wrath
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