Any power comes at a cost.
Even one's own innate strength, if pushed beyond the body's limits, can lead to exhaustion or even muscle strains. The power of the "Eye of the Gods" is no different.
Although it enhances combat ability, it also places a burden on the user. After all, lightning itself has no consciousness to know not to harm its wielder.
Fortunately, compared to the boost in power, this burden is quite light.
Yukiko tried it out briefly and only felt a slight numbness in her arm. An ordinary person might not be able to withstand the voltage, but those with great strength can largely ignore it.
It can even be used to activate cells, achieving the effect of strengthening the body.
However, Ren had never heard of another Logia Fruit user being able to do this after their Awakening. Perhaps this is also an effect of the collision between the Devil Fruit and the magic received.
Still, not any type of jade can become the "Eye of the Gods." For instance, the one in his hand, though it contains lightning power, cannot be unleashed due to its inert nature.
Ren hadn't yet figured out how to use this piece of jade. If he could extract the electricity from it, even if it were cumbersome and couldn't be carried around, it could be used as a battery.
Maybe Kuri could enter the electrical era because of this.
Science and technology are productive forces, so why not Devil Fruit abilities?
"I'll find time to polish it later. Then it can be worn as an accessory," Ren said.
"If we have this, the combat power of the samurai in the Daimyo's office will increase significantly," Yukiko said.
But Ren's words made her abandon that idea.
"That's impossible. To be honest, I don't know how it was created either. Although the jade in the Daimyo's mansion was also affected by lightning power, only this one is different."
"It might be related to the material. I, I don't know. But at least it proves one thing: it will be very difficult to create a second one."
"I see," Yukiko nodded, not feeling regretful. "In that case, it's better to leave this for someone else. Leave it for Mari or another person."
Yukiko felt her strength was already much greater than the other women's. Since there was only one, it was better to give it to someone else. She already had Yukihiro, a sword given to her by Ren whose value she considered irreplaceable.
"Then let's give it to Yuriko," Ren said after thinking. Satsuki and Saya, as well as Keiko, did not have the physical constitution to use this thing. On the contrary, the originally weak Yuriko's physical constitution had just barely met the requirement after eating the Devil Fruit.
"A fox and the Eye of Lightning... Hmm, I almost regret that Yuriko doesn't have pink hair."
Yukiko: "Huh?"
"Never mind. They should be arriving soon. Have the servants tidy up the mansion a bit then," Ren said. "By the way, with this kind of weather appearing, the common people must be very worried. We need to come up with an excuse to reassure them. Otherwise, the people living in Yingxiang Town might be worried about their future."
A few days after the thunderstorm ended, it was already December 31st.
"Today is New Year's Eve."
"Tonight is the final night of the year; after tonight, it will be the New Year. The letter from Ayame said that man will be at the temple tonight to ring the bell."
Inside a house with all its doors and windows sealed shut, several samurai gathered, speaking in low voices.
"Tonight is a perfect opportunity. The Daimyo's travel must involve a large number of guards, leaving the Daimyo's mansion interior defenseless. We'll use this chance to infiltrate the Daimyo's mansion..."
One samurai proposed the plan. But even now, some samurai wanted to give up.
"Can we really do this? The rumors lately have been terrible..."
Someone sighed. "Rumors are spreading from who-knows-where that the Daimyo of Kuri is the reincarnation of the Thunder God, his true identity being the great lord, Oh no Sukune. A few of us trying to fight a god... it's just too..."
"Idiot, when did you become as timid as Hana?" The man glared at him and snapped, "What god? It's all a lie!"
"If that's the case, how do you explain the thunderstorm a few days ago? The lightning was thicker than a water barrel! I've never heard of weather like this in the world! Everyone now says the Daimyo of Kuri is the embodiment of lightning. Even if it's not true, we can't possibly fight that kind of power!"
"You, you're going to back out at the last moment? Where's your samurai spirit?"
"I, I just don't want to make a pointless sacrifice for something that's impossible to begin with!" The man's emotions flared. "After all, we have no obligation to go to our deaths for Suzuki Kaijin and his men, do we? I have a wife and children waiting for me at home!"
Mentioning their families, the other samurai present fell silent. Samurai had families too. Some felt they themselves didn't care if they died, but the thought of leaving their wives and children to survive alone made their resolve crumble completely.
"You bastard!" The samurai he had been arguing with angrily stood up. The others thought they might start a fight, but instead, he drew his sword and struck in one motion.
The wound ran from the man's left shoulder to his right waist, with severed intestines and fresh blood spilling out together.
"Ahhh..." The man fell to the ground, his eyes wide open even in death.
"Hey! You..."
The others were startled and tried to stand up to question the killer, but they were stopped by his fierce glare. The nauseating smell of blood soon filled the room, and even these samurai felt their legs go weak for a moment.
"Hmph, a wife? We'll take good care of your wife!" He sneered, then turned his gaze to the other samurai. "Listen up, if we die because the assassination fails, Lord Suzuki will provide our families with a pension, but..."
His bleeding blade pointed to the man lying in a pool of blood as he threatened, "But if you back out like this coward before we've even started, then you can just watch your wife and daughter get sold to the pleasure districts!"
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