Azure Dragon Fruit (Pink Version)

Punk Hazard Vegapunk Laboratory

After two days of recuperation and adjustment in the nutrient chamber, Bonney finally woke up.

The tall Medical Bay slowly opened, and a faint white mist escaped from the gaps.

The glow of the nutrient solution illuminated her pink hair, which clung to her delicate cheeks as she groggily opened her eyes.

"Hmm... Kuma, please?"

Before she could even sit up, a huge figure strode forward.

Kuma bent down, his arms trembling as he cradled her in his embrace. His usually calm and collected face was now red-rimmed, and his voice choked with emotion. "Bonney... it's so good... you're finally awake..."

Vegapunk stood to the side, his tablet still displaying vital signs data.

His tone remained calm as always, yet carried a hint of barely concealed relief. "The spread of toxins in her body has been suppressed. Next, we just need to wait for the stem cell clone tissue to mature before the transplant surgery can be performed."

As if all the burdens had been lifted, the Kuma looked down at the little girl in his arms, tears streaming down his cheeks and falling onto her shoulder.

"Thank you... thank you so much, Doctor..."

Bonney raised her little hand, a mixture of confusion and heartache in her eyes, and gently wiped away Kuma's tears. In her sweet, childish voice, she said, "Kuma, why are you crying... Don't cry, don't cry~ Bonney is okay now."

Kuma stopped crying and smiled, gently rubbing her little face with his fingertips. "Daddy's tears of joy, sweetie."

Roy, leaning against the equipment, smiled silently, then quietly strolled over to Vegapunk's side, lowering his voice and chuckling cheekily, "Doctor~ Didn't I solve your problem elegantly?"

Vegapunk glanced at him and scoffed, "Don't give me that crap. Do you think I don't know what you're up to?"

"Oh, Doctor, that's really hurtful!"

"Shut up and come with me."

Vegapunk uttered those words and turned to walk deeper into the Laboratory.

Roy's eyes lit up, and he immediately followed. The two passed through multiple encrypted doors and finally stopped in front of a high-specification storage cabin.

A dreamlike Devil Fruit floats inside a huge, transparent glass container.

--Artificial Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form (Pink Version)!

Compared to the original fruit that Kaido ate, this fruit is a warm pink color all over, and the spiral patterns flow with a biological luster, as if it contains some kind of power that has not yet been Awakening.

Vegapunk input a series of commands, and the barrier field slowly dissipated, as if the temperature in the entire storage room had dropped by one degree.

He carefully placed the fruit on the table and handed it to Roy: "I will report to the World Government that it has been destroyed, and the serial number has been erased from the records. What you have now is a 'non-existent failure'."

Roy accepted it with both hands, his eyes deep, excitement surging beneath the surface. "Doctor, this fruit of yours... the accuracy is even more perfect than I imagined."

Vegapunk casually pushed up his Glasses: "Nonsense, who do you think I am? Twenty years of research and accumulation, how could I be a failure? I'm just keeping it as a precaution."

Roy toyed with the pink Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "Kaido is very strong, but the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon's help and enhancement for him are undeniable! Apart from the different color, this fruit has the same potential in every other aspect!"

Vegapunk paused, then asked suspiciously, "Who do you plan to give it to? This level of Mythical Zoan isn't something an ordinary person can handle."

Roy didn't answer, but instead gave a slight, mysterious smile, "Don't worry, I already have someone in mind."

He will become the Navy's future 'destroying dragon'!

Vegapunk was slightly taken aback, then shook his head helplessly. "Something only someone like you would do..."

Looking into Roy's ambitious and calculating eyes, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "He's even more cunning than those old foxes up there..."

Roy toyed with the pink Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, as if he were already envisioning a massive storm in the future.

That belongs to the "Navy's strongest dragon king," a dragon born from a single move!

The air was still filled with the cool smell of disinfectant and metal, but the hall echoed with cheerful laughter.

Bonney had fully recovered and was sitting on the Kuma's broad shoulders, swinging her two pink little legs, her face full of energy that said, "I'm lively and energetic again."

"Wow--so tall, Kuma Bear!" she giggled, her little hands still tightly gripping Kuma's hair.

Kuma carefully supported her, a long-lost gentle smile appearing on his face.

Roy walked over, holding a shiny fruit candy in his hand, and held it up to Bonney with a smile.

"Bonney, this is for you, as a reward for your bravery."

Bonney's eyes lit up instantly, sparkling with greedy little stars. "Wow--is it strawberry flavored?"

"Of course, I specifically took it from the doctor's private stash." Roy winked smugly.

"Roy!" Bonney happily accepted the candy, quickly unwrapped it, popped it into her mouth, and squinted her eyes in bliss.

The Kuma watching this scene looked on with deep gratitude in its eyes.

He said in a low voice, "This time... I really owe you a lot."

"You're welcome."

Roy patted his muscular arm, his tone relaxed yet earnest, "We're comrades, aren't we?"

He paused, then changed his tone. "Next... what are you planning to do?"

Kuma gazed at the billowing fog outside the window, his eyes as steady as a rock. "I will proceed according to plan. As Shichibukai,' I will carry out missions, cooperate with the World Government's orders to combat criminals, and also provide cover for Dr. and Bonney."

Roy nodded. "Very good. Bonney will stay here for now, under the Doctor's care. It's safer here than anywhere else. We'll return to the Sorbet Kingdom together after the surgery."

Kuma gently lifted his daughter off his shoulders, knelt down to look at her, and carefully cupped her little face in his hands.

"Bonney, Daddy has to leave for a while to take care of something very important."

Although Bonney was young, she seemed to sense the weight in her father's words. She didn't cry or make a fuss, but simply looked up and held up one little finger.

"Let's pinky swear," she said earnestly. "You have to come back for me, okay?"

Kuma froze for a moment, then a warm light appeared in his eyes.

He extended his finger and solemnly touched Bonney's little hand together. "Yes, pinky promise—I mean it!"

After they made their pinky promise, the little girl placed their hands on her heart and smiled quietly.

Vegapunk nearby, coughed lightly. "Hey, Roy, shouldn't you go back?"

"Of course." Roy smiled and turned to walk towards the door of the storage room.

He took out the Artificial Devil Fruit wrapped in special cloth from the storage box— the Artificial Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Azure Dragon Form (Pink Version).

The pink fruits shimmered under the light, like some kind of dormant power.

He looked up at the two people behind him. "I'm leaving Bonney in your care, Dr. Vegapunk. Don't just focus on your research; you can't neglect the child either."

Vegapunk scoffed, "This doctor can invent all sorts of things; taking care of a little girl is a piece of cake."

Kuma nodded solemnly. "Roy, go ahead and do what you need to do."

Roy smiled slightly, his figure gradually blurring in space, transforming into a vortex-like afterimage before completely disappearing from the Laboratory.

Soon to return to Marineford, the "Dragon" in his hands will ignite a new power for the Navy.