58. Doghouse, Tests.

Excitement buzzed through Ryan's veins as arcs of blue lightning danced along his fingertips, intertwining with flickering flames that shifted between deep orange and vibrant purple. The air around him sizzled, carrying the faint scent of ozone and charred wood. He grinned, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "Check this out!"

Yue, Rachel, and Serenity turned to him, their eyes widening at the display of power. For a brief moment, awe flickered across their faces, but it was quickly overshadowed by something far more intense—anger.

Rachel was the first to speak, her voice a sharp contrast to her usual calm demeanor. "Ryan... what did you do?"

Ryan's grin faltered slightly as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, I may have... eaten both Devil Fruits."

The room fell into silence.

"You what?!" Yue's usually soft voice rose in disbelief, her crimson eyes narrowing. They knew about the fruits, of course—they also knew that eating two of them resulted in death.

Serenity, who had remained quiet, now stepped closer, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. "You do realize you could have died, right?"

Ryan sighed, rubbing his temples. "I was careful. I made sure to remove the curses, double-checked everything—"

"And you didn't think to tell us?!" Rachel cut him off, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You didn't let us check your work or at least be there in case something went wrong?"

Yue stepped forward, her expression softening but still filled with concern. Ryan noticed her hands trembling slightly, betraying the fear she had felt. "Ryan... we care about you. More than anything. If something had happened, we wouldn't have even known until it was too late."

Serenity's usually unreadable face showed an unmistakable hint of hurt. "You always say we're a team, but this? This was reckless."

Ryan shifted uncomfortably under their gazes, realizing he had truly messed up. He had been so caught up in his excitement that he hadn't considered how they would feel. "I didn't mean to worry you... I just—I wanted to be sure before telling you."

Rachel let out a deep breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Well, congratulations, you've successfully earned yourself a night on the couch. Alone."

Ryan blinked. "Wait—what?"

Yue nodded, arms crossed. "Consider it your punishment. We're upset, and you're going to sleep in the proverbial doghouse tonight."

Serenity simply gave him a small, knowing smile. "Actions have consequences, Ryan. Enjoy the couch."

Ryan groaned, but deep down, he knew they were right. He had scared them, and for that, he deserved this. "Fine... but at least admit my new powers are cool."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "They are. Doesn't mean you're off the hook."

Yue smirked. "We'll discuss it in the morning. Sweet dreams, Ryan."

With that, the girls turned and left him standing there, his incredible new powers feeling far less exciting as he looked at the lonely couch awaiting him for the night in his trunk's living space.

He knew the girls were upset, and honestly, they had every right to be. Still, he couldn't help but be excited about his newfound abilities. He just had to make sure he fully understood them before using them in any real capacity.

The next day after a lonely night on the couch, Ryan headed to the Room of Requirement, forming an image in his mind of a large, isolated pool to test whether he retained the usual Devil Fruit weakness to water. The room shifted and provided exactly what he needed—an Olympic-sized pool, with crystal-clear water reflecting the torches lining the walls.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the water cautiously. Nothing happened. He felt no sudden weakness, no energy drain, and, most importantly, he could still move just fine. Taking another step forward, he let himself sink in, testing his ability to swim. To his relief, he floated with ease and swam laps effortlessly.

"So, no Devil Fruit weakness… perfect." He mused, pulling himself up onto the pool's edge. This was a huge advantage. Unlike typical Devil Fruit users, he wouldn't be helpless in water.

Next, he tested his abilities in a more controlled manner. He focused on the energy inside him, shifting into lightning. His body crackled with electricity before fully transforming into a living current, zipping across the room at blinding speed far faster than before. He reformed near the pool, his heart pounding with exhilaration. Raising his hand, he fired lightning bolts and beams of condensed lightning like lasers.

Switching focus, he activated his fire ability. Flames engulfed his body, yet he felt no pain, no discomfort—just raw heat under his control. He waved his hand, producing a controlled stream of fire before taking a deep breath and blowing out flames like a dragon.

"So fucking cool!"

Then came the real test. Merging the two elements, his body turned into a hybrid of electricity and fire. His form pulsed, turning into purple flames with arcs of electricity running over his body, creating his new Thunderfire form. He felt nearly invincible. Physical attacks would pass through him, fire couldn't harm him, and electricity was now an extension of his very being. Seeing as how he was made of fire and lightning, he was probably immune or highly resistant to cold and ice-based attacks as well.

With a smile, he dismissed his elemental form and considered his next test. He knew Haki and energy-based attacks could still hurt him, but there was one unknown factor—seastone. Unfortunately, he had none to test, so that would remain a mystery for now.

There was also another concern—he had to control his powers carefully in water. If he lost focus, he could easily end up boiling the pool or electrocuting anyone near him. Considering he often showered with Yue, Serenity, or Rachel, that was something he didn't want to happen.

Taking a deep breath, Ryan smirked. "This is going to be fun."