Half an hour later, Tailsa Evans walked shyly into James Lone's room.

James Lone was seated by the window, casually eating a handful of enlightenment fruits.

A pile of peels formed a small mountain on the plate, making Tailsa Evans secretly marvel.

Just how many ability fruits did he have?

Thump, thump!

James Lone patted the sofa beside him: "Come over."

Tailsa Evans jumped like a startled rabbit but then moved cautiously toward him.

James Lone glanced at her. With such appealing "food" near him, he wasn't in a hurry. Surrounded daily by beautiful women, he'd grown accustomed to it.

Though Tailsa Evans appeared beautiful to most men and was previously considered a goddess, amidst James Lone's women, she was quite ordinary.

James said calmly, "You seem surprised?"

Tailsa Evans composed herself and nodded, "Yeah, how can you consume so many ability fruits? Can your body handle it?"

"Hm?" James Lone frowned, "What do you mean? Is there a limit to how many abilities one can handle?"

Tailsa Evans was shocked, "You didn't know? Everyone at the base knows each ability places a significant burden on the body. Generally, one or two abilities, at most three for young adults. Only a few exceptionally talented or physically robust people can handle more. I thought it was common knowledge."

A limitation like that?

Why hadn't he felt it?

After pondering, James realized his early consumption of the physique-enhancing fruit had given him a higher overall constitution, allowing him to consume more ability fruits without feeling burdened.

Still, it served as a reminder.

Even with a strong constitution, there had to be a limit to how many abilities he could sustain. But what was that limit? He had no way of calculating it.

Moreover, his women each had two or three abilities already; he needed to promote physique enhancement among them or they'd soon be unable to acquire new abilities.

"That's valuable information," James said lightly, "I believe in fair rewards, so I'll give you a new ability fruit. What do you want?"

"Huh?" Tailsa Evans was dumbfounded, "I can choose?"

James considered briefly, "Oh right, you can't choose. Since you already have two abilities, your third must enhance your physique; otherwise, you can't gain new abilities later. Consuming a physique-enhancing fruit and bathing together is necessary. Today's too late, though. I'll give you one tomorrow to strengthen your physique."

Tailsa Evans was in complete disbelief. Did he truly have so many ability fruits that he could distribute them casually?

James noticed her red aura fading entirely, being replaced by faint traces of green. Clearly, the allure of enlightenment fruits had dispelled Tailsa Evans's resistance.

Heh.

Self-interest remains a constant.

Regardless of gender, no one is exempt.

This female doctor, though merely a medical student, could somewhat replace Wot Andrew.

James then asked, "Did you ever try accelerating ability fruits at the base?"

Tailsa Evans replied disappointingly, "Director Peterson had me attempt it several times with various plants that produce ability fruits, but accelerating them had no effect; it only sped up growth without producing new ability fruits."

James nodded understandingly.

That made sense; if she could accelerate ability fruit production, she'd be a strategic-level asset.

She certainly wouldn't have been deployed in combat, and the base wouldn't have only 100 or so ability users.

With his questions answered, James turned off the lights: "Alright, that's enough talk. Let's get some sleep."

Tailsa Evans blushed deeply, both nervous and a little excited about what was to come.

The next morning, James Lone stretched comfortably.

With an overall physique over 200, he no longer needed sleep physiologically.

However, the past two days fighting Martin Stewart and others had been mentally and physically exhausting. A good night's rest fully revitalized him.

James glanced at the system notifications from last night:

[Ding! 1 day ago, Tailsa Evans consumed a pack of compressed biscuits, returning 1300 packs! Stored in personal space.]

[Ding! 1 day ago, Tailsa Evans consumed an enlightenment fruit - perception, returning 1300! Stored in personal space.]

[Ding! 2 days ago, Tailsa Evans consumed a military braised pork can, returning 1300 cans! Stored in personal space.]

[Ding! 3 days ago, Tailsa Evans consumed a pack of military pickled vegetables, returning 1300 packs! Stored in personal space.]

...

[Ding! 21 days ago, Tailsa Evans consumed an enlightenment fruit - plant acceleration, returning 1300! Stored in personal space.]

Enlightenment Fruit (Plant Acceleration): 1 star. Consuming grants the ability to accelerate plant growth. Repeated consumption can potentially increase the star level.

James immediately consumed a plant acceleration fruit.

Plant Acceleration: 1 star, enables you to speed up plant growth.

The ability description was notably brief.

James couldn't discern anything extraordinary.

Gravity Distortion! Phasing!

James flew through the ceiling, landing on the rooftop to test the ability with a plant.

He found weeds already sprouting in rooftop nooks.

Previously oblivious to such details, he squatted down for a closer look.

The weeds initiated growth from small soil clumps, slowly adapting to the concrete by embedding roots, gradually spreading towards the center.

James punched a concrete chunk loose.

Crushing it revealed weeds with extensive root systems.

Seeing this, James sighed.

Under the pervading purple mist, even concrete couldn't stop the weeds.

Unchecked, human traces would soon disappear, engulfed by a sea of plants.

Given the lurking "aliens," James felt increasingly oppressed.

An alien crossing the universe physically—what terrifying existence could that be?

James recalled Frieza in Dragon Ball Z—he'd rather not face anyone like that!

He couldn't fathom: why would aliens visit such an out-of-the-way planet?

To their civilization, Earth should be as barren as a desert. They'd either overlook or obliterate it, as simple as humans crushing an ant.

Why generate a purple mist catastrophe?

Wasn't that redundant?

Confounded, James focused on a clump of grass.

Plant Acceleration!

A surge of stamina flowed into the grass, which rapidly grew!

In just half a minute, it sprouted from mere centimeters to over a meter high!

Nearby concrete was thoroughly fragmented by the roots.

Finger-thick, dark, resilient stems wove through the concrete, eventually emerging above ground.

James yanked at a stem, finding it unbreakable!

Only with a 200% blood-energy burst did the stem finally snap.