In the Shrek dorm, which looked more like proper housing than a school building, the structure was based on thick oak wood, with vines coiling around it. It showed how poor yet carefully maintained the ancient Chinese aesthetic was—old as hell, but sturdy.
The dormitory itself was built into the base of a massive, dead tree stump. Moss, mud, and thick roots covered the exterior, allowing it to blend perfectly into the swamp. Inside, the lighting was dim, coming mostly from candles and a fireplace. The atmosphere felt very "organic," with curved walls and wooden furniture shaped naturally rather than precisely.
The windows were small and uneven, often covered in grime or simple shutters. The floors were made of wood, dirt, and stone, with the occasional rug woven from unknown materials. The color palette was dominated by earthy tones—moss green, mud brown, and swampy greys. It really looked like Shrek's house, just more organized and more livable for humans.
The boys' house, which had many rooms and dorms, was located separately. Dai Mubai, Tang San, Oscar, and the chicken-fire-spitting rooster who hadn't come back for an entire night all lived there together.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong lived in the same house as roommates.
Zhu Zhuqing woke up earlier than Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. She was already sitting in a lotus posture, meditating. Zhu Zhuqing could feel the changes in her body—not just how her assets had gotten bigger, but how her soul power was increasing exponentially and how cultivation had become much easier.
She tried her best to concentrate and prepare herself. She didn't know what she would say if she ever faced the purple-haired woman whose name she had only just learned—Lili.
Last night, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing had talked about Lili.
Xiao Wu explained how she had met her.
She talked about seeing Lili by the clear river, about how Lili turned out to be a royal who had gotten lost and was on her way to Suotuo to enroll at Shrek Academy.
Which was all just a misunderstanding.
Zhu Zhuqing listened to Xiao Wu's explanation the way students listen to their math teacher explaining algebra—in English.
Shit… that was hard.
Ning Rongrong became interested the moment she heard the word "royalty." Maybe she had seen her somewhere before—at one of those parties or gatherings where rich kids bragged about their wealth and achievements.
And today was the day Zhu Zhuqing would see her again.
Her face remained composed, but the truth inside her was far more complicated than that.
♤
Then Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong went on to do their own things—taking a bath, wearing the same clothes as always. Some habits just never changed. Soon after, the three girls left the dorm together and headed straight to the Shrek grounds, where everyone would be waiting for the upcoming exercise.
More like torture… shhhh.
Tang San, Oscar, and Dai Mubai arrived earlier than the women, who were slow to prepare as always.
Tang San, her beloved incest, waved at Xiao Wu. "Here," he said.
Dai Mubai glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, and every time he saw her, he got a boner.
Oscar now looked more handsome and presentable. He had cut off his long mustache, even cleaned up his hair down there. His eyes landed on the petite girl—his future ex-wife.
"Oh, brother, you're early," said the bunny as she rushed to Tang San's side.
Ning Rongrong didn't follow Xiao Wu. She kept her distance from the goofballs.
Then Zhao Wuji entered with his usual dramatic descent. He looked at the students and said, "Be prepared." Those were Flender's words.
They waited on the grounds for about one hour and thirty minutes.
Dai Mubai leaned against a tree. "Hey, where are they? I'm tired of waiting."
Oscar felt the same.
Zhao Wuji sat on the ground like a bear would.
Tang San and Xiao Wu knew one or two things—this was that slow bitch again.
Ning Rongrong went back to the dorm to grab some snacks, then returned to the grounds, eating while she waited for them to arrive.
Zhu Zhuqing stood there silently, her eyes fixed on the entrance of the grounds. She didn't look away—not even for a second.
After seven more minutes of waiting, they heard footsteps.
Tap… tap… tap… tap… tap…
Then they saw Flender—and behind him, a tall figure.
Yup. Lili had grown taller after eating the Devil Fruit. He knew it, but he didn't give a fuck. His height had been around 6.9 feet before.
Now, it was around 7.7 feet.
Lili felt the change when he first activated his Black Maria hybrid form. He didn't know exactly what caused it, and honestly, he didn't care at all.
Flender didn't realize something was off. He had been keeping his distance from her this whole time. Even when he met her at the hotel entrance earlier, he hadn't looked back or tried to inspect her more closely.
He just thought she was tall. It wasn't like he hadn't seen tall people before. Why would a veteran be surprised by something like height?
But for the students who were seeing her clearly for the first time—and barely knew her—it was different.
They didn't know what was happening.
But one thing was fucking sure.
This wasn't going to be just a fucking exercise....
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Ding—
□ Research
• In the world of One Piece, Devil Fruits can definitely affect a user's height, though the way they do so varies depending on the type of fruit and how it's used
1. Active Transformations (Zoan Types)
Zoan-type fruits are the most common way height changes. Since they allow the user to turn into an animal or a hybrid, their physical dimensions shift accordingly.
2. Specific Ability Effects (Paramecia Types)
Some Paramecia fruits are specifically designed to manipulate size or have height changes as a "side effect" of their power:
3.Permanent Body Alterations
There is some fan debate about whether eating a fruit as a child can permanently stunt or alter natural growth. ( so Lili's height was based on this theory and because of **********)