Zhang Da Ye was familiar with both items. The cigar needed no explanation—it was Tom's tool to show off when flirting with female cats, capable of forming fancy smoke rings.
The milk, however, had a wild backstory. Jerry often stole Tom's milk, so Tom added a mix of dangerous chemicals to it. Unexpectedly, when Jerry drank it, he transformed into a super-muscular demon mouse and beat Tom mercilessly. Perhaps it could be considered a berserk potion.
With these items, Zhang Da Ye felt a little more secure—he wasn't completely helpless anymore.
He picked up a cigar from the inventory, curious about its magical properties.
Looking at the brown stick, he hesitated. He didn't know how to smoke; which end was up? He asked Tom for guidance.
Tom was a pro. He reached behind, pulled out a small cutter, snipped the cigar, and placed it in Zhang Da Ye's mouth. Then he fetched a match, struck it against the ground, and gestured for Zhang Da Ye to draw in smoke.
Zhang Da Ye inhaled carefully, the cigar lit, and he tried to imitate smokers, holding it between two fingers. He exhaled a puff that formed the words: "Hello world!" The smoke held the shape briefly before dispersing.
"It actually works!" Zhang Da Ye marveled. He didn't understand much else about smoking—he only needed one puff to release the effect.
Tom, observing with interest, lit another cigar himself. Smoke formed the words: "Go on!"
Zhang Da Ye tried again, but nothing happened. Only the first puff was controllable.
Tom tilted his head, inhaled and exhaled, forming two Chinese characters with the smoke: "Is that so?" Zhang Da Ye was stunned.
Tom's performance escalated—smoke rings, letters, Chinese characters, even shapes from his ears. He ended with a smiling cat face.
"Alright, Tom, you're impressive. I'm just a weakling relying on props," Zhang Da Ye admitted.
Tom, hands crossed, shifted the cigar from one side of his mouth to the other, looking smug.
Zhang Da Ye quickly snatched the cigar and extinguished it along with his own. "Enough. Smoking is harmful to health."
Not out of jealousy—he doubted Tom's health was actually at risk.
He tried to store the cigars in the inventory. Tom's cigar wouldn't fit, but his own did, taking up an extra slot.
[Used Stylish Cigar: No special effect, but excellent taste for smokers.]
Zhang Da Ye didn't understand the appeal. He decided to keep it anyway—slots were plentiful, and it might come in handy later.
The Magical Milk bubbled vigorously. Tom looked nervous, and Zhang Da Ye dared not try it. It would be saved for desperate situations.
He decided to exercise a bit more to recharge the magic circle while building strength—killing two birds with one stone.
Watching the energy rise slowly, he felt revitalized. "Come on, I can keep going!"
Half an hour later, energy reached 43%. He was exhausted and gasping. He noticed jogging speed affected energy gain. A slow jog for 90 minutes could fully charge, while faster running might achieve it in an hour. Push-ups and other exercises helped too but less efficiently.
Daily workouts of at least 90 minutes would be necessary, and eventually he could charge multiple times per day. His current stamina made even these exercises challenging, inspiring envy toward athletic experts.
Weakness wasn't safe in this world.
Dragging his fatigued body, Zhang Da Ye returned with Tom. He had been so focused on charging that he hadn't noticed the island scenery. Luckily, he wasn't as directionally challenged as Zoro.
He observed exotic buildings, busy streets, and occasional bubbles rising from the ground.
Tom watched people dive into bubbles while riding bikes, and others tying luggage to bubbles like balloons.
"Tom, try this!" Zhang Da Ye pressed a nearby bubble onto Tom.
Before Tom understood, his head was inside a basketball-sized bubble. He panicked briefly, then realized it was safe—breathing was fine, and vision unobstructed.
Zhang Da Ye waved in front of him. "Feels okay? Want to go all in?"
Curious as any cat, Tom curled into a ball inside the bubble, eyes blinking innocently.
Releasing his grip, Zhang Da Ye watched the bubble float upward.
The bubbles came from the roots of a red tree, where special resin mixed with air caused them to rise. They only popped outside the archipelago.
As a science student, Zhang Da Ye noted the air density and wondered how a bubble could float so unrealistically, especially with a cat inside.
"Wait, where's my cat?"
Looking up, Tom's face showed horror as he struggled inside the rising bubble.
"Use your paws! Make a bigger hole and you can get out!"
Tom pawed frantically, popping the bubble with a loud snap.
He froze midair as he realized he was falling.
Zhang Da Ye reached out but was too slow.
Tom hit the ground flat as a pancake.
"Uh…" Zhang Da Ye scooped him up, and with a puff, Tom returned to normal.
"Tom, your profile says you're immortal. Want to do a little test?"
He had already seen Tom flattened. Was it time to try something else?
Tom stared at him, eyes wide, as if facing a demon.