Harlan Flint leaned on the counter, skimming the system's latest update. Barbara had pulled another impressive reward, and he wasn't surprised. "She's ridiculously lucky," he muttered to himself.
Her first pull had been Snowballmon—a simple Digimon egg with high potential. That had been strong on its own. Now, with the Freeze Fruit Ability from One Piece: East Sea Saga, she was becoming a serious powerhouse.
The ability gave her control over cold air and the power to freeze objects with touch. She could form ice weapons, barriers, or traps. Her body could also turn into ice, making her immune to most physical and energy-based attacks—unless someone used Haki.
It wasn't limited by the original world's rules, either. No Devil Fruit drawbacks. She wouldn't drown, and Seastone meant nothing. The system had cleaned it up into a pure elemental power, safe to use.
Compared to Fischl's dramatic but flashy reward or Lisa's quiet gain, Barbara's new power had clear practical value. Harlan mentally dubbed her the "Teyvat Emperor of Luck." Two top-tier draws in a row wasn't normal.
Lisa had gotten Koshiro's Laptop from Digimon: First Frontier. It wasn't a weapon, but it gave her access to detailed data about Digimon, including evolutionary chains and digital-world mechanics. For her, that was ideal.
The system activated, and two beams of light came down from the ceiling. Lisa and Barbara stood in them as their rewards arrived.
Barbara gasped. Frost spread out from her feet as cold air rushed across the room. A visible wave of chill hit the customers, and ice began to crawl across the floor. Luke and Daryl shivered and huddled behind a shelf.
"Why is it freezing all of a sudden?" Luke asked, his breath visible.
The Lady looked up from her comic and narrowed her eyes. "Ice-based. Strong output."
Barbara struggled to stop it. She hadn't meant to trigger anything—it had just burst out of her when she spoke.
Harlan raised one hand. With a small pulse of energy, he cancelled the spreading cold instantly. The room returned to normal temperature in seconds.
"Try to stay calm. You'll get better control with practice," he said.
Barbara exhaled and nodded. The pressure in her chest faded as the ice stopped forming. She had felt like she was about to lose control, but Harlan had stepped in quickly.
Lisa turned her laptop over in her hands, glancing at Barbara with wide eyes. "What exactly did she get?" she asked.
"The Freeze Fruit Ability," Harlan answered. "She can generate freezing air, form weapons or shields from ice, and turn her body into ice to avoid attacks."
Barbara listened closely. Every ability he listed was strong. Together, they were overwhelming.
"It gets better," Harlan added. "With time and training, she could change the weather in an entire region. Ice everywhere. Or melt frozen land into water."
That wasn't exaggeration. In One Piece, Aokiji's battle had frozen one half of an island for good. If Barbara reached that level, she'd be more than just a support unit—she'd be a battlefield hazard by herself.
Barbara stared at her hands, trying to picture it. Could she really reshape Mondstadt's climate someday? Could she stop a blizzard, or freeze a lake in seconds?
Lisa stayed quiet, already mentally logging how Barbara's power would affect team balance.
The Lady went back to reading. She didn't say anything else, but Harlan noticed her reading faster. She wanted her turn soon.
By the end of the hour, the shop's energy had shifted. Barbara had taken another major step forward. Lisa, satisfied with her laptop, was content to sit back and observe—for now.
Harlan tapped the counter, watching the three girls carefully. Power was stacking quickly. Soon, they wouldn't just be readers—they'd be players in whatever came next.
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Reflection:
Barbara's Freeze Fruit Ability sets her apart as a serious combat asset. Her control is still unstable, but the potential is undeniable. Lisa's reward is passive but useful for strategy and planning. The balance of flash and function continues to shape the group. The Lady remains focused on her goal, clearly threatened by Barbara's growing power. Harlan stays in control, but even he is beginning to notice how quickly his customers are transforming. The shop's role in shaping Mondstadt's future is growing.