Ding! One day ago, Sofie Barnes consumed one pack of compressed biscuits, returning 1,200 packs! They have been stored in the personal space. Ding! Two days ago, Sofie Barnes consumed one can of military braised pork, returning 1,200 cans! They have been stored in the personal space. Ding! Three days ago, Sofie Barnes consumed one pack of military pickled vegetables, returning 1,200 packs! They have been stored in the personal space. ... Ding! Fourteen days ago, Sofie Barnes consumed one Enlightenment Fruit—Willpower Weapon, returning 1,200 fruits! They have been stored in the personal space. ... Ding! Nineteen days ago, Sofie Barnes consumed one Enlightenment Fruit—Gravitational Distortion, returning 1,200 fruits! They have been stored in the personal space.

James Lone's eyes lit up. Indeed, Sofie dual-wielded abilities, with a keen relation to willpower!

Enlightenment Fruit (Willpower Weapon): 1-Star. Consuming this grants the ability to forge a weapon with willpower. Repeated consumption can raise the star level. Enlightenment Fruit (Gravitational Distortion): 3-Star. Consuming this grants the ability to manipulate the size and direction of gravity on metallic objects you touch. Repeated consumption can raise the star level.

James Lone promptly took out a Gravitational Distortion fruit and ate it.

Gravitational Distortion: 3-Star. Manipulate the size and direction of gravity freely, but only on metal objects you touch.

A revelation!

No wonder she used a rope to pull along a series of metal plates—she found an exploit! Connected by a rope, the metal plates were perceived as a single object through the ability.

He touched a heavy cabinet with a finger. Gravitational Distortion!

He soon felt capable of controlling the cabinet's gravitational direction and intensity. With his focus, the cabinet began to levitate gently.

He could alter gravity in any direction, using it to pull forward, pull back—every which way.

Adjusting gravity used his stamina, its rate proportionate to changes in gravitational strength. Alterations in gravitational direction consumed noticeably more energy—orders of magnitude greater!

Boasting a physique above 200, James Lone felt the stamina cost for adjusting gravity's strength was negligible. Adjusting gravitational direction taxed him as much as full-speed running.

"An exceptional boost for my combat capabilities!" James Lone smirked. If an enemy wore metal gear, he could change its gravity upward, thoroughly disrupting their balance. Moreover, if he wore metal, wouldn't he be able to take flight?

Spurred by imagination, James Lone grabbed a spool of wire. Gravitational Distortion!

With a sudden lurch, the wire shot upward, lifting his feet off the ground! He really could fly!

Elated by the successful test, James Lone acknowledged that despite rapid stamina consumption, he could easily fly for an hour or so, given his physique.

"Shame about lacking that armor guy's ability—armor paired with gravitational distortion would be a perfect match!" James lamented, momentarily. He settled on another idea, though: simple mimicry.

He fetched the finest leather belt from his personal space and wrapped it repeatedly with wire, fashioning a heavy, wiry belt. He donned the belt. Gravitational Distortion activated! James began to lift tentatively from the ground.

"Ha ha ha!" Buoyant, he tested further, soon recognizing the method was somewhat clumsy. The belt alone as a pressure point lacked flexibility, unsuitable for combat.

He pondered a moment, then outfitted his left wrist with a mechanical watch and his right with a man's bracelet. He added a pair of combat boots, inserting thin iron sheets into their soles.

Gravitational Distortion!

This time during flight, movement flowed noticeably smoother. Five points—wrists, feet, waist—offered diverse gravitational adjustments, boosting his agility remarkably.

He phased through the ceiling, floating to the top of the module. There was a helipad on top. From hundreds of meters high, wind roared fiercely.

Standing mid-air, viewing the sprawling New York below, he relished in his newfound freedom. Flight—a perpetual human aspiration.

People had invented airplanes, yet flying always came with constraints. And now, James could soar by mere will!

Flight + Phasing + Teleportation meant he could reach any corner of the globe.

After reveling mid-air, James.Lone reentered his quarters from above, acclimating to his new-flight skill. Not pausing, he grabbed and swallowed another Enlightenment Fruit—this time, a Willpower Weapon.

Willpower Weapon: 1-Star. Use your willpower to forge an indestructible weapon inside of you, only usable once certain progress is made; Willpower +3.

Within his consciousness appeared a mercurial weapon. Blue one moment, green the next. A sword one instant, a spear the next. Like a phantom, James couldn't wield it yet.

He attempted to channel energy, but even with his substantial 120 willpower, his spirit quickly ran dry, as if sleep-deprived for days.

The willpower weapon showed minor progress. He suspected it would take time before the weapon emerged. No surprise then, why Sofie never attacked him with it—she hadn't forged it yet!

Sofie Barnes regained consciousness, realizing immediately what had transpired. Fueled by rage and shame, she covered herself with a towel and glared at James Lone: "Degenerate! Scoundrel! You'll die a horrible death!"

James glanced coolly her way. Her abilities stripped, she now posed little use. Perhaps she was better off dead?

Despite her vile words, something about her—maybe the faint red aura—prompted him to reconsider.

Letting her live for now could prove advantageous if the base sought revenge; she might serve as a shield or hostage yet, expending her last benefits.

Whap!

James struck Sofie Barnes a dismissive blow, with a callous reminder, "It's the apocalypse—can anyone expect a happy ending?"

With that, he ruthlessly fetched a length of rope from his personal space, binding her hands and feet securely.

In a fit of indignation, she screamed: "Henry ran off; the base will send people to rescue me! You're done for! Let me go! Mmff! Mmmff!!!"

Jamie blocked her cries with one of his socks, summoning, "Shirley Inr Won, Monroe Anne, Lily Green, come in."

The trio entered, registering Sofie's plight with knowing smiles.

James Lone wasn't one to go soft on women.

Especially Monroe Anne, who gleefully reveled in schadenfreude. No other woman had endured James' discipline as harshly. Her prior punishments had been whispered mockeries amongst the women.

Finally, she wasn't alone anymore!