After a short rest, David grabbed a quick meal from a nearby street vendor and returned to his modest rental room.
His mind was buzzing with determination. He needed to learn about magnetism—systematically and thoroughly. Even if it meant starting from the basics, he was ready. If he wanted to fully unlock the potential of his magnetic fruit powers, understanding the principles of magnetism was absolutely essential.
Lying on his creaky bed with his smartphone in hand, David began his research. He browsed articles, searched Wikipedia, and soaked up every bit of information about magnetism, starting from its fundamental properties.
The tiny room, once filled with despair, now seemed like a private study. The grim, suffocating atmosphere had been replaced by a quiet sense of hope and purpose.
For hours, David read about the origins and applications of magnetism. By the time he finally set his phone down, his head felt heavy, his brain overworked from absorbing the complex information.
"Studying is exhausting," he muttered, stretching his arms. "But it's worth it."
Although his body was tired, his mind brimmed with newfound knowledge. David now understood that the potential of his magnetic fruit abilities was limitless, but the gap between the fruit's lower and upper limits was enormous. The lower limit was no better than scavenging junk, while the upper limit held the possibility of god-like creation.
His thoughts wandered to Eustass Kid, the magnetic fruit user from One Piece. "Kid didn't really shine until he awakened his fruit powers in the New World," David mused. "He started with basic magnetism but eventually used moves like the 'Electromagnetic Cannon' and the 'Electromagnetic Demon.'"
A sudden thought struck him, and he chuckled. "Was Kid uneducated at first? Maybe losing his arm pushed him to secretly study magnetism?"
It sounded absurd, but upon closer consideration, it wasn't far-fetched. Without an understanding of how magnetic fields and electromagnetism work, even someone with magnetic fruit powers would be stuck at a basic level—manipulating scrap metal like a glorified recycler.
David sighed. "Without knowledge, the most these powers are good for is picking up junk without bending over. Not exactly impressive."
The reason he had been able to affect short-range electromagnetic communication earlier was thanks to his existing knowledge about electromagnetic waves. But to truly master his fruit powers, David needed to combine practice with a deeper understanding of physics.
"Magnetic fruit? More like the 'advanced physics fruit,'" he muttered. The irony wasn't lost on him. "At this rate, I might need to go back to school and get a degree in physics."
For now, though, his focus was clear: practice. David closed his eyes and began concentrating, recalling what he had just learned.
"There are two ways to generate electricity with magnetism: induction and motion. I just need to use part of my body as a conductor, create a magnetic field, and move in a way that cuts through the field lines to form a closed circuit..."
His mind raced as he visualized the process. Bit by bit, he adjusted the speed and method of the charges moving through his magnetic field.
Then, something began to change.
Sparks danced across David's skin. Tiny arcs of electricity crackled around him like flickering fireflies. The dim light in the room made the scene even more mesmerizing.
The sparks darted across his arms, glided to his chest, and flitted near his forehead. Despite their faint glow, they radiated a sense of raw power.
David's eyes snapped open, determination blazing within them. "If I can localize the magnetic field to specific parts of my body, then I should be able to generate electricity in those areas..."
He raised his hands slowly, focusing on his fingertips. The scattered sparks gathered, converging in his palm as if he were holding a miniature galaxy.
The electricity crackled louder as the magnetic field intensified. "Now, if I increase the magnetic field's speed..."
The faint sparks expanded into thick arcs of electricity that danced between his fingers. Purple-white streaks of energy illuminated his face, giving him an almost divine—or demonic—aura.
David clenched his fists, his face breaking into a grin. "It worked! I actually did it!"
He had developed a new technique: magnetism-generated electricity.
But his triumph was short-lived. A wave of fatigue hit him like a freight train, and the electric arcs around his hands flickered out. Darkness returned to the room as his energy was utterly drained.
David slumped onto the bed, panting heavily. "This... energy conservation thing is such a pain sometimes," he groaned. His stomach growled loudly, emphasizing the toll the experiment had taken on his body.
With no other choice, David stumbled to the vending machine outside his door, purchasing several snacks to replenish his energy.
As he wolfed down the food, he reflected on what had happened. "I need to figure out a way to increase my body's energy storage. My stamina can't keep up with the power I'm trying to use."
He estimated that the electricity he had generated earlier was strong enough to incapacitate five or six grown men. Against ordinary enemies, it would be enough to protect himself—but for David, that wasn't nearly sufficient.
"If I want to handle tougher challenges," he thought, "I'll need to improve my body as much as my powers."
It was clear that alongside mastering his magnetic fruit and earning money, physical training was now a priority.
David smirked as a thought crossed his mind. "So, Saitama-sensei's training routine wasn't a joke after all..."
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