Lili then commanded the system to give him the fruit.
Right in front of his eyes, a fruit materialized—a Kumo Kumo no Mi, Model: Rosamygale Grauvogeli (Black Maria – spider).
Well, this looked beautiful and imposing… but hadn't they said Devil Fruits taste like shit—or worse?
But… had those people actually eaten shit before to know that?
Lili scratched his head. Anyway, nothing's gonna happen if I don't eat this…
He slowly opened his mouth and took a bite. The fruit's flesh was strangely sweet with an earthy bitterness, like honey soaked in mud—but the texture was firm, almost crisp, giving a peculiar but oddly pleasant chew.
Yet, his face remained completely nonchalant, calm, as if he hadn't just eaten something supposedly disgusting… or maybe that was just Lili being him. The taste aint bad unlike what they say maybe Shakky removes its shit taste or is it because this is a replica ?or is it because im here in douluo dalu .well sucks to those devil fruit user who tasted a shit.
.After finishing the fruit, licking his fingers like he had just eaten a delicacy, he noticed… no changes in his body.
Then—creakkkkkk!
A sensation surged inside him, like something was trying to get out. It wasn't painful or forceful; it was polite, almost casual, like, "Hey, dude… wanna chill?"
But he didn't let it flow. He was too lazy, too tired for experiments. Lili didn't care that he'd been reincarnated, didn't care about the power coursing inside him. He was perfectly content to sleep. He was a sloth in human form.
After stabilizing himself, Lili sat down on the ground near the river's edge. He lowered his head, peering into the rippling water to catch a glimpse of his reflection.
The sight made him raise an eyebrow.
"Hmmm… why the fuck do I look like that?" he muttered in a low, uninterested tone, laced with sarcasm.
He saw purple hair cascading to his waist, dark purple eyes, and features uncannily similar to hers—but slightly more toned, with a subtle hint of masculinity beneath the familiar curves. His body was paler, like a lifeless version of her, and his gaze carried nothing—completely uninterested, detached, a void of emotion.
He stared at his reflection.
"Hmmm… Merzzy… you really did control the roulette, and you're still denying it," he said in a deep, calm voice.
Then he looked up at the sky. The sun hovered around 4:00 PM, casting a red-orange glow over the horizon. Clouds streaked like molten lava, fading into deep violet at the edges, painting the mountains with surreal colors. Lili's eyes were mesmerized, absorbing the burning beauty of the slowly setting sun.
Then…
tack… tack… tack… tack…
A rhythmic stepping sound came from the forest behind him. Someone—or something—was heading toward the river…
But Lili didn't care. He simply raised his head, looking straight at the glowing sun, letting the last of its light wash over him as it slowly sank behind the mountains..
♤
"Haaa—just where is that river? I've been searching for like three hours," said the cute girl in a pink dress with bunny-like ears.
She was pretty, carrying a natural sexiness around her. Slim, yet curvy, her dress clung to her body, making her even more alluring—a figure that could easily make one's head hard.
She was Xiao Wu—Xiao for little, Wu for Wudongqu… no, wait—Wu for dancing. Xiao Wu had been living with Tang San for over a decade now, and just four days ago, she and her adoptive brother had graduated from Notting Junior Soul Master Academy.
Tomorrow, they would attend the academy that Tang San's master had recommended. Xiao Wu didn't argue; wherever her brother went, she would follow.
This time, however, they had returned to Holy Soul Village to pack their belongings and say their final goodbyes to the village chief.
Tang San was cooking dinner for the night, while Xiao Wu decided to visit the river the villagers kept talking about. They said the water there was so clear you could see straight to the bottom. Because of that, it had become a favorite spot for children to play and swim.
The villagers claimed the river itself was a blessing from an unknown cultivator. Long ago, that cultivator had wanted to bathe, but upon seeing how dirty the village's water was—and fearing the villagers would get sick—he moved up into the mountains and created the river. Its water was said to be cleaner than glass itself.
"If you want to relax, go there in the morning," they said. "But don't go when it's about to get dark. Many people have witnessed monsters living in the river. At night, they come out to eat."
Of course, it was probably just a rumor… or so the villagers told Xiao Wu.
She had been bored all day anyway. She usually followed Tang San wherever he went, but when she heard about a crystal-clear river, curiosity got the better of her. She told Tang San she wanted to take a bath before leaving.
If she didn't, Tang San would probably go berserk—maybe even search the entire universe just to find her.
Well… he did do that once after dying in Soul Land Four and reincarnating into another world—now Soul Land Five.
Loyal?
Or just possessive?
Hit right on the spot.
Anyway, Xiao Wu climbed the mountain above the flower fields where she and Tang San used to play.
But after three hours, she still hadn't found it.
She wasn't tired—just irritated. She wasn't lost either. She was a rabbit. And what kind of rabbit gets lost in the mountains?
Just as she decided to turn back, her bunny ears twitched.
She heard something.
A deep voice… and the gentle flow of water.
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She had finally found the river.
But the voice was strange—deep, raspy, hoarse… like a mix between a woman's and a man's.
She slowly moved toward the sound, staying vigilant. Brushing aside thick vines, she finally saw it—the river, the setting sun, and a person sitting near the water's edge.
The person's back was facing her.
They were wearing a yellow kimono.
With the long purple hair and slender frame, Xiao Wu instinctively thought the person was a girl. She couldn't be blamed for that.
She studied the figure carefully. She felt no malice, no killing intent. It was as if she wasn't noticed at all—or worse, completely ignored.
Xiao Wu didn't approach immediately.
Instead, her cute voice called out softly,
"Hey… uhm, what are you doing here? Are you also here to watch the river?"
No answer.
The person continued staring at the sunset.
For a moment, Xiao Wu thought the person might be dead—but she had clearly heard their voice earlier, and she could see their chest rising and falling.
"Or maybe… they're just deaf?" Xiao Wu muttered to herself.
Or maybe they're ignoring me.
Her bunny ears swayed slightly as she tilted her head.
Xiao Wu stepped closer, stopping about ten feet away.
"Hey… are you alright?" she asked again. "What are you doing here?"
Still no response.