All ability proficiencies +30.
The Azure Dragon Fruit proficiency advanced from Skilled to Mastered.
Instantly—
Zhao Xuan felt the power of his fruit surging wildly within him. A mysterious voice echoed deep in his consciousness, whispering that a new ability had awakened.
⚡ Lightning Summon! ⚡
In his Dragon-Human Form, every one of Zhao Xuan's attacks could now carry lightning.
He could wrap the formless energy of thunder around his legs, fists, or even weapons, turning each blow into an elemental strike rather than a mere physical one.
Yes—
He could now transform into a half-dragon, half-human hybrid, with power and physique multiplied manyfold.
Zhao Xuan grinned mischievously.
"If I had a spiked club in my hand right now… with Armament Haki and lightning wrapped around it—wouldn't that basically be Thunder Bagua?"
Just then, his phone buzzed urgently.
Caller ID: Lian Jie.
The moment Zhao Xuan picked up, a panicked, breathless voice came through:
"Zhao Xuan! Run! It's a trap! The ruins—this was all a trap by the Demon Cult! Their goal was to lure me and Commander Di away from Tong City. Their real target is you students! They've probably been planning this for a long time! Fengming High already has a Tier-4 cultist appearing—there's no time to explain! Get everyone out of there! Evacuate immediately!"
"We're turning back as fast as we can—"
"Wait, President Lian, actually—"
Before Zhao Xuan could finish, the line went dead.
He looked at the disconnected call, then down at the corpse of the cultist lying nearby, and sighed.
"Guess I'll explain when he's back. He wouldn't pick up now anyway."
Then, his expression suddenly changed.
"Wait—did he just say a Tier-4 cultist appeared at Fengming High?"
A surge of energy and battle lust flared in Zhao Xuan's chest.
"Come to think of it… I haven't fought a real Tier-4 ability user yet."
The stone giants in the desert ruins were ranked four on paper—but those things were slow, predictable, and far from threatening now.
"I wonder how strong I've actually become in this Dragon-Human Form."
"Maybe… it's time to find out."
He clenched his fists.
"Twenty minutes—that's how long it'll take President Lian and Commander Di to get back. Twenty minutes is more than enough for a Tier-4 cultist to slaughter an entire school."
"No! I can't just sit here!"
Thud! Thud!
Zhao Xuan kicked off the ground, vanishing in a blur.
"From Tong City No.1 to Fengming High—it'll take me about seven minutes at full speed."
"Di Ruqing's talented, and her Magma Fruit's powerful… but the gap between Tier-3 and Tier-4 isn't something talent alone can bridge."
"She'd better hold out till I get there."
Meanwhile — Fengming High.
The campus was in chaos.
Firelight blazed across the courtyard, smoke choked the sky.
From the heart of the inferno came steady, heavy footsteps—
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
A massive man nearly two meters tall, cloaked in black and covered in burns, stared at the young girl before him. His left arm was charred and mangled, still smoldering.
"Magma Fruit… truly one of the most destructive Devil Fruits. For a little third-rank brat to hurt me—hah, impressive."
A twisted grin spread across his scarred face.
"But it won't matter soon… because that power will belong to me! Hahaha!"
That was the true horror of the Demon Cult.
They possessed a forbidden ritual—a secret art that could steal another's fruit ability.
More than a decade ago, during the height of the cult's power, countless gifted Devil Fruit users—especially those of the Natural type—fell victim to their hunts.
Their infamy became so great that even newly awakened geniuses refused to reveal or use their powers upon reaching adulthood.
That was how terrifyingly rampant the Demon Cult once was.
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