New World, unknown waters.
After battling a brutal storm through the night, the Roger Pirates had veered far off course.
Everyone on board wore a look of frustration.
"We're doomed."
"Where the hell did we drift to?"
"The log pose reaction is barely showing anything."
"We must've gone way off track."
"What a pain."
Only Roger grinned, staring ahead with a wide smile. "Guys! Get ready! Something big is coming! Wahahahaha!"
The crew instantly tensed up.
"What?!
"An attack?!"
"Wait, no, there's nothing there..."
"Captain Roger, don't scare us like that!"
Roger chuckled. "I'm not trying to scare you. I heard it. It's right... there."
His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he'd seen the colossal figure in the far distance.
That ancient creature that roamed the seas day after day...
* * *
New World, Wano Country, Onigashima. The stronghold of the Beasts Pirates.
Onigashima had already begun to resemble its future form, though it was still somewhat crude. The main reason was Kaido's overwhelming strength, and his caution toward a certain someone aboard the Roger Pirates' ship.
But all of that would end today.
In a hidden underground lab within Onigashima...
Compared to the outside, this place was exceptionally advanced. Various experimental tools filled the room, and in the corner, cages held numerous "test subjects."
Laying on the operating table was Kaido, his abdomen cut open.
Queen, wearing gloves, was busy working inside the pirate's body. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he occasionally wiped it away.
Finally, after a few hours of work, he stitched up the wound and let out a breath of relief.
"Kaido-sama, try sitting up."
With the mechanical lung now implanted, Kaido felt a steady surge of strength flowing through his body. It felt as if nothing in the world could stop him now.
He took a few deep breaths to calm down, knowing that the strength he was feeling was from having his physical flaws corrected.
Coming down the operating table, he walked to the lab entrance. Then, he transformed into a massive blue dragon, several hundred meters long, and burst through the door, soaring into the sky.
"Roooarrr!"
A mighty dragon roar echoed through the heavens as the creature's mouth charged with heat.
Boom!
A stream of scorching flames shot forth. As the blue dragon flew around, all of Onigashima was engulfed in a sea of fire, but none of it could dampen Kaido's happiness.
After who knew how long of spewing fire, the pirate brewed gusts of wind in his mouth and blasted them outward.
In the blink of an eye, the flames were blown out.
Transforming back into human form, Kaido landed with a crash.
"Worororororo! Perfect! Absolutely perfect! This feeling is incredible!!!"
After soaking in the moment, he turned toward King, who was visibly thrilled, and Queen and the other subordinates, who looked a bit intimidated.
His smile didn't fade.
"Queen, you did well. King, bring it out and give it to him."
An excited King nodded and pulled out an object, tossing it to the man. Though he usually looked down on the guy, Queen had earned some credit for fixing up Kaido.
Queen caught the strange-looking Devil Fruit between his teeth, cigarette still in his mouth.
"What's this?"
King crossed his arms and explained, "Ancient Zoan-type. Dragon-Dragon Fruit, model: Brachiosaurus. You did alright this time. Kaido-san is rewarding you."
Queen looked at Kaido with surprise and gratitude.
"Thank you, Kaido-sama."
The pirate waved it off. "Wororororo! Eat it. From now on, you're family."
Queen shouted with excitement, "Yes!"
Clenching his fists, Kaido felt the rising power in his body, even his own Devil Fruit seemed to have improved a little.
"Strength..."
* * *
A few days later, Grand Line, Jody Pirates.
Captain Landon Jody barked orders at his crew as they fired their cannons.
"Hurry! Reload the ammo, Damn it! Block that warship! Just a bit more and we'll shake them off!"
While wiping the sweat off his forehead, Jody cursed his terrible luck.
They had barely set out after resupplying when they ran into a Marine ship. Before he even had time to react, the vessel was already charging straight at them.
He had a decent sense of his own strength, so Jody turned and ran without hesitation. But seriously, why was this crazy warship chasing a pirate with just a 15-million bounty?
He had only raided a few villages. Was that really such a big deal?
"Dump the supplies!"
"Full speed!"
"Wind's coming!"
"Move!"
* * *
On Sakazuki's warship.
Watching the pirate ship fleeing in panic, the vice admiral glanced at the sea chart and said, "Enel, leave one alive."
The boy's clear voice rang out. "Understood."
Crack!
With a loud snap, his body turned into lightning and shot onto the mast of Jody Pirates' ship.
Looking down at the terrified pirates, Enel raised his index finger and pointed at the deck. Crackling sounds filled the air as lightning sparked at his fingertip.
"Thunder Net."
The condensed electricity dropped like a bead to the deck and the instant it made contact, it exploded, stretching out in irregular curves like a massive web. In a flash, it covered the entire ship.
Everyone inside lost consciousness and collapsed. However, Enel looked at a burly child among them.
"Hm? Faking it?"
His brow lifted, but he didn't bother checking. By now, the warship had come closer.
Sakazuki and Carlo were the first to leap across. With a quick scan using Observation Haki, the former noticed something was off.
He stepped over to the one pretending to be unconscious and nudged him with his foot, then signaled Carlo to wake one of the other pirates.
The pirate stirred, eyes wide with fear when he saw the two men.
"M-M-Marines!"
Releasing a hint of Conqueror's Haki, Sakazuki spoke. "I ask. You answer. If you don't, you die."
The pirate gulped and nodded frantically.
The vice admiral looked at the child at his feet and questioned, "What's this kid's name?"
The pirate stammered. "T-T... Teach."
Sakazuki gave a nod. Then, he casually raised his index finger and pointed it at the awake pirate.
Pop!
The man's head burst instantly, turning into a bloody mist.
He looked at Enel. "Clean up the rest."
The boy nodded.
"30 Million Volt: Vari."
Lightning flickered at his fingertips as he pointed at the unconscious pirates. One by one, they were reduced to scorched husks by the deadly voltage.
Sakazuki turned his attention back to the one lying at his feet.
"Quit playing dead, brat."
Boom!
His boot slammed into the boy's gut, sending him flying. The boy, Teach, coughed violently as he hit the deck.
He struggled to his feet, trembling. "M-Marine sir! I was taken by force! Please don't kill me!"
After speaking, he dropped to his knees and started kowtowing nonstop.
Sakazuki chuckled lightly. 'He's switched from kneeling to Whitebeard to me now...'
But he ignored Teach's pleading, reached out to Carlo and took two Zoan-type Devil Fruits, walking toward him.
"Relax. I'm not going to kill you. In fact, I've got something good for you."
Teach looked up and saw the two fruits in the vice admiral's hands. His pupils shrank, panic surging in his chest. 'Dammit. No way. How does he know...'
Suppressing the fear, he asked carefully, "S-Sir... what's this?"
Sakazuki didn't answer. He held the boy's chin and shoved one of the Zoan Fruits into his mouth, then let go.
"Transform. Let me see."
Teach trembled and raised a hand, with an instinctive reaction, it turned into a hoof.
Nodding slightly, Sakazuki grabbed the second Zoan-type fruit, pried opened Teach's mouth again, and pushed it in.
Made him swallow it whole.
Carlo was shocked at first, but when he caught on, his face changed. "Impossible… he actually ate a second Devil Fruit?"
While he stood stunned, Teach himself was in shock. The crazy scientist had been right. He really could eat multiple Devil Fruits...
But to be forced to eat two of these trash fruits? The anger in his heart burned hotter and hotter.
'Dammit. Damn it all!! DAMN IT!!!'
His rage began to spill out uncontrollably.
Sakazuki once again pressed down on his jaw.
Eyes burning with fury, Teach watched helplessly as the vice admiral reached for a third Zoan-type.
**
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