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"That one," T'Challa said, his voice steady as he pointed.
His finger directed Rosh's attention to the massive, ultra-high-definition display mounted on the office wall. The promotional reel was currently cycling through a catalog of exotic, swirling shapes, and it had just paused on a sleek, spotted fruit: the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard.
Rosh suppressed a smug grin. 'Exactly as I predicted.'
In all honesty, even Rosh had to admit that this specific fruit was the absolute pinnacle match for T'Challa. While some critics in the meta-human community looked down on Zoan-type fruits, dismissing them as "too basic" compared to the reality-warping madness of Paramecia or the elemental invulnerability of Logia types, the Leopard form was anything but weak. Anyone who had witnessed Rob Lucci's terrifying, bone-crushing performance back at Enies Lobby knew the devastating potential of a carnivorous Zoan.
So, what would happen if T'Challa were the one to eat it?
Granted, the average baseline for human physicality in the Marvel Universe didn't quite measure up to the monstrous, logic-defying biology of the One Piece world. But T'Challa was a glaring exception to that rule. The man was already an enhanced super-soldier in his own right, having ingested the sacred Heart-Shaped Herb of Wakanda.
The physical enhancements from the Herb alone put T'Challa on equal footing with super-soldiers like Bucky Barnes and Captain America. If he stacked the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard, on top of that divine physical foundation, the resulting synergy would be astronomical. He wouldn't just be strong; he would unlock a level of raw, savage physical might that would leave ordinary Devil Fruit users in the dust.
Combine that terrifying physical boost with the state-of-the-art, vibranium nanotech suit his sister Shuri was bound to develop down the line, and T'Challa would become the "Black Panther" in the most literal, unstoppable sense of the word.
It was a flawless, terrifyingly perfect synergy.
"An excellent choice," Rosh said, smoothly snapping back from his internal analysis with a warm, professional smile. "You have a keen eye, Prince T'Challa. While it may be classified as a Zoan-type, its raw, close-quarters combat potential easily outclasses a vast majority of Paramecia fruits on the market."
"In my culture, the Black Panther is more than a title; it is the eternal guardian of our nation," T'Challa replied, his expression shifting into one of solemn reverence. "We share a deep, ancestral bond with the feline. I did not choose this fruit simply because of the raw strength it promises. I chose it because I believe this is destiny's hand at work."
Rosh nodded, appreciating the depth of the Prince's conviction. It was clear that Wakanda's unique spiritual connection to the Panther Goddess played a massive role in this decision. For a businessman, this was the absolute best-case scenario: a customer who wasn't just buying a weapon, but was spiritually committed to the purchase.
"Then it seems you are simply answering the call of destiny," Rosh replied with a light, respectful chuckle.
"Indeed," T'Challa nodded, his eyes locking onto Rosh's before he added a polite, measured request. "Manager, I noticed on your website that your establishment offers a 'trial experience.' Would it be possible for me to test this power firsthand before we finalize our transaction?"
"Of course, Prince T'Challa. Right this way." Rosh gestured smoothly toward a heavy, reinforced door at the back of his office. There was absolutely no reason to deny such a reasonable request, especially to a client of this caliber.
He led the Wakandan prince into a state-of-the-art, custom-built testing chamber. Unlike the cramped backroom of his old shop, where clients had to test their reality-warping powers on a single, long-suffering tree outside, this room was a marvel of modern engineering.
It was entirely soundproofed and shielded with multi-layered electromagnetic dampeners to ensure absolute privacy from prying eyes and satellite surveillance. The walls were lined with reinforced, shock-absorbing materials, and the space was outfitted with heavy-duty training targets and kinetic-energy testing equipment.
Once they were settled, Rosh gave a slight nod to his staff. A moment later, a technician stepped in, carefully presenting a perfectly preserved sample of the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard, on a velvet-lined tray.
T'Challa picked up the sample, holding it with an air of profound anticipation. He didn't hesitate. He took a decisive bite, swallowed, and just like every single customer before him, stiffened as the strange, foreign energy of the fruit took hold instantly.
Perhaps it truly was destiny, or perhaps the Panther Goddess Bast herself was smiling down on her chosen warrior, but T'Challa's compatibility with the Devil Fruit was nothing short of staggering. Despite it being his very first time touching this otherworldly power, there was no awkward adjustment period, no loss of control. He wielded it with an instinctive, terrifyingly predatory grace.
With a single, focused thought, his hands lengthened, his fingers tipping into sharp, gleaming claws. His facial features shifted, molding into a sleek, dangerous hybrid form that bridged the gap between man and feline. Rather than being alarmed by the monstrous change, T'Challa looked down at his new claws with a sudden, fierce spark of excitement. To him, this wasn't a curse; it felt like he had just taken a step closer to the very spirit of the Panther.
And then, the true power hit.
A wild, explosive surge of raw, untamed energy coursed through his veins, the ferocious, unmatched vigor of an apex predator. It was a sensation entirely different from the clean, refined physical boost the Heart-Shaped Herb had granted him. This was primal. This was hunger.
*Swish! Swish!*
In an instinctive blur of motion, T'Challa dropped low to the ground and began to prowl the chamber. He moved like a shadow, leaping from the reinforced floor to the walls and back again with gravity-defying agility. The sheer speed and raw force he generated were unlike anything he had ever felt in his life.
With another sharp mental command, his body shifted again, transitioning seamlessly from the bipedal hybrid form into a state of full beast transformation.
Where the Prince of Wakanda had stood just a heartbeat before, there was now a magnificent, jet-black leopard. The great beast paced the room with silent, heavy steps, testing its razor-sharp claws against the heavily reinforced flooring, leaving shallow scores in the metal. Satisfied, the panther let out a low, vibrating purr before shifting effortlessly back into T'Challa's human form.
He stood tall, adjusting his collar, though his eyes still burned with a lingering golden light.
"Destiny, indeed," T'Challa breathed, offering Rosh a deeply satisfied nod.
"So, Prince T'Challa, have you made your decision?" Rosh asked, already knowing the answer.
"Yes, Manager. There is no doubt in my mind, this is the one," T'Challa replied, his voice ringing with absolute certainty. "I have brought the eight hundred kilograms of gold with me. It is already waiting in your secure receiving bay."
Rosh let out a soft whistle. "You certainly came prepared."
With a polite smile, Rosh signaled his staff team to verify the delivery. Once the confirmation flashed onto his tablet, Rosh gave a casual, subtle wave of his hand. Using the system's spatial storage, he swept the massive payment directly into his inventory in a silent shimmer.
He turned back to the Wakandan prince. "Would you like to consume the actual fruit here in the safety of our testing facility, or will you be taking it to go?"
"I will take it with me," T'Challa decided without hesitation.
Given his cultural background, T'Challa wanted to return to Wakanda and perform a formal ritual to the Panther Goddess before consuming the fruit. It was a matter of paying respect to his ancestors and securing the goddess's blessing for this new power.
"Package the Cat-Cat Fruit, Model: Leopard," Rosh instructed his staff.
A few minutes later, a technician returned, presenting the spotted, swirled fruit cradled inside an exquisite, velvet-lined mahogany case. T'Challa accepted the case, holding it with the kind of quiet reverence one might show a holy relic. After a few more polite exchanges and mutual nods of respect, the Prince took his leave, stepping out of the office to be flanked immediately by his fiercely loyal Dora Milaje captain, Okoye, who had been keeping a watchful eye in the lobby.
As the heavy double doors clicked shut behind them, Rosh let out a long breath, a thrill of accomplishment washing over him. He turned to his staff.
"Give me a few minutes," Rosh instructed. "Don't let the next customer in just yet."
The moment the transaction with T'Challa had officially closed, a familiar, digital chime had echoed directly in his mind, a sound he hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity.
Rosh sank back into his plush executive chair, his heart rate spiking with anticipation, and mentally commanded the System interface to open. A glowing, semi-transparent screen materialized in his vision.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[Host has successfully sold 50 Devil Fruits.]
[System upgrade is now available.]
[Would the Host like to proceed with the upgrade now?]
[YES / NO]
Staring at the glowing prompt, Rosh felt a surge of genuine excitement. It had been quite a while since the last update. He couldn't help but wonder what new features and surprises the system had in store for him this time.
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Next Chapter: System Upgrade! The Arrival of Admiral and Mythical Zoan Fruits
Next Next Chapter: Gold is Boring, Let's Harvest Fate!
Next Next Next Chapter: The Soldier's Anchor and the Agent's Duty
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