"So the thorns this fruit produces are really that hard?"
Elektra's eyes lit up at once.
Didn't that mean she could turn her entire body into a collection of blades?
Just... blades in the form of thorns?
If that were true...
She quickly imagined what that would look like, and the more she thought about it, the more satisfied she became.
This would be a massive boost to her combat ability.
At that point, every part of her body could become a weapon.
Try fighting that.
"That's right, miss. In the world of Devil Fruits, you need to throw away your everyday assumptions. Even the things you're most familiar with can undergo a complete transformation here."
Rorschach nodded and gave her the explanation with complete seriousness.
"They really are incredible."
Elektra gave an approving nod, then made her choice without hesitation.
"In that case, I want the Thorn-Thorn Fruit."
"It suits you very well, miss. You've got a good eye."
Rorschach praised her choice first, then gave her the price.
"The Thorn-Thorn Fruit costs two million dollars."
"Two million?"
Elektra paused.
That was nearly everything she had.
If she paid it, she'd be flat broke.
But that hesitation lasted all of one second.
The next moment, she shoved the thought aside—and even found herself mocking her own hesitation.
A monstrous thing like a Devil Fruit was the kind of opportunity you only stumbled into once in a lifetime.
If you found one, you bought it—even if it emptied your entire bank account.
What had she even been hesitating for?
Had she lost her mind?
"Run the card."
She pulled out her bank card and handed it over without another word.
The transaction was completed quickly.
Elektra finally got the Thorn-Thorn Fruit she wanted so badly, and she ate it on the spot without delay.
The moment she swallowed it, her expression shifted.
Excitement flashed across her face.
She could feel it clearly—the new power inside her.
A moment later, she raised her hand.
With a single thought, a thorned spike burst out from her palm.
She tested it.
The hardness was astonishing. Using it as a weapon would be no problem at all.
More importantly, it was absurdly light—far lighter than a normal blade.
That alone would save her a great deal of stamina in battle and make her movements even sharper.
And since these thorn spikes could erupt from any part of her body at a moment's notice, their value in combat was obvious.
This fruit would dramatically increase her lethality.
"Not bad. Very, very good."
A smile finally appeared on Elektra's face.
"Boss, I'm very satisfied."
"I'm glad to hear it."
Rorschach smiled back, then followed up with his usual question.
"I've created a group chat for Devil Fruit users. Would you like to join?"
"Thank you for the offer, but I'll pass. I'm not exactly someone with a lot of free time."
Elektra shook her head and refused without hesitation.
Strictly speaking, her real identity wasn't something that could stand too much exposure. She had no intention of casually joining some group chat and leaving a trail behind.
"That's fine."
Rorschach just smiled and left it at that.
He never forced the issue. Joining or not joining was entirely up to the customer.
"Thank you for understanding."
Elektra gave him a brief nod and turned to leave.
But just then, another thought struck her.
She stopped, looked back at him, and asked, "Boss, do you happen to have a fruit here that can turn someone's fist into a red-hot iron bar?"
So she really had fought Kingpin.
Rorschach came to that conclusion immediately. Otherwise, why would she ask something so specific?
He nodded without hiding anything.
"Of course. The Steel Fruit can do exactly that. You turn your fist into steel first, then heat it until it reaches a high-temperature state."
"So... that's what it was."
Elektra's gaze shifted.
In that instant, a lot of things clicked into place.
When Stick had talked to her about the new Iron Fist from K'un-Lun, he'd expressed serious doubts. In every possible way, Kingpin didn't fit the profile.
And yet his fist had lit up.
That single fact had shut Stick up completely and made him ignore every other inconsistency.
Because only the Iron Fist of K'un-Lun was supposed to be able to make a fist shine.
But now...
Elektra felt like she had finally uncovered the truth.
Kingpin wasn't the Iron Fist at all.
He wasn't some chosen warrior from K'un-Lun.
He had just eaten the Steel Fruit.
That was all.
There was no way she was wrong.
Kingpin and Wesley had both eaten Devil Fruits.
That had to be it.
A flicker of excitement rose in her chest.
If that was the truth, then Stick would have no reason to stop her from killing Kingpin anymore.
"Well then, Boss, goodbye."
She gave Rorschach a quick wave, left the Devil Fruit shop in high spirits, and immediately returned to Hell's Kitchen.
Her destination was Matt Murdock's old apartment.
Stick was there.
"What were you doing, Elektra?"
Stick was still carefully polishing the sword in his hands, treating it like a piece of art.
"You were wrong, Stick. Completely wrong."
Elektra didn't bother answering his question.
She went straight to the point.
"Kingpin is not the Iron Fist. You have no right to stop me from killing him."
"What are you talking about?"
Stick didn't even bother looking up.
"I know you're not over it. You want revenge for Matt. And I'm sure Matt would be touched to know that."
"But you saw it with your own eyes. Kingpin's fist glowed."
"If you're here to argue about that again, save your breath."
He sounded completely indifferent.
"Oh, really?"
Elektra let out a cold laugh.
"Kingpin's fist glowed because he ate a strange fruit called a Devil Fruit and gained the power to turn his fist into steel!"
She shot the words back at him with open defiance.
Stick's hand paused for the first time.
"Devil Fruit? Superpower?"
Then he gave a sharp, mocking laugh.
"Elektra, you should really hear the nonsense coming out of your mouth."
"Oh? Is that so?"
Elektra sneered.
Then, without another word, she threw a punch at him.
Blind or not, Stick was still Stick.
His reflexes were terrifying.
Of course, Elektra had also pulled that punch on purpose, so Stick caught her wrist in a clean hold almost instantly.
But in the next second—
A thorn spike shot out from Elektra's hand and pressed straight against Stick's throat.