Returning to the Pirate World

"We've finally waited for this day... The last experiment was quite successful, hopefully this one won't have any problems!"

As the purple pillar of light slowly condensed and condensed before him, Vegapunk showed a hint of tension on his face. Beside him stood Hancock and Nico Robin.

After a moment, the purple light finally stabilized, transforming into an Uzumaki -like portal of light. Vegapunk breathed a sigh of relief.

"Alright, now let's see how lucky we are!"

We have no choice but to take a gamble. We've almost used up all the Dragon Vein energy. If we don't get through this time, relying solely on the replica Dragon Vein energy, it will probably take us seven or eight years of research before we have any chance of returning to the Pirate World.

As for returning after going there, it would be easier. After all, Vegapunk has already created coordinates and rendezvous devices on the moon in the Ninja World and its Parallel World. In the Pirate World, he also has a base like the Dream Star, so he won't need the Dragon Vein energy anymore.

The two worlds are connected, much like a bridge built across a river, making travel between them much easier.

If one wants to travel directly from one world to another, the difficulty is roughly the same as performing a trapeze act. Even though Vegapunk has tried his best to make the time portal as perfect as possible, he still only has an 80% chance of success.

Fortunately, even if they fail, thanks to Hancock's Amenominaka Space, their lives won't be in danger. At most, they might drift to some unknown world.

The three slowly walked into the purple Uzumaki. Before leaving, Vegapunk handed over the Chakra Illusion Network of this world to Kaguya Otsutsuki. Of course, before that, Vegapunk did not forget to plant a "Human Bomb" in Kaguya Otsutsuki.

If Vegapunk wants to return to the Ninja World, he'll need Kaguya Otsutsuki's help. To prevent Kaguya Otsutsuki from having any ill intentions, the bomb is set to detonate automatically after ten years, and only Kaguya can detonate it. Therefore, Kaguya Otsutsuki definitely wouldn't dare to do anything to Vegapunk when he returns.

As for what would happen to Kaguya Otsutsuki if something went wrong with Vegapunk? Well, let Kaguya Otsutsuki die!

Anyway, Vegapunk felt that if he were to die, Kaguya Otsutsuki would definitely not be very obedient, and might even decide to play the game of everyone climbing trees together again. In that case, he would consider himself to have rid the world of a scourge.

A flash of light appeared, Vegapunk looked around in surprise. It was a space formed of steel, with a faint white light emanating from it.

"This is... Dream Star? I remember we left from here!"

"That's right... that should be the location of the Quantum Brain!"

Nico Robin looked at the central crater, where powerful crimson energy shimmered. That was the pure energy provided by the Nuclear Fusion Solar Chamber, where the Quantum Brain was initially placed to absorb energy and perform calculations.

"It feels like quite a bit of time has passed. We've been in the Ninja World for four or five years, but I wonder how much time has passed in this world as well?"

As he spoke, Vegapunk looked at Hancock:

"Hancock, put the Quantum Brain in! It's really lucky that it took us right back to where we left!"

Hancock nodded, opened the Amenominaka Space, took out the Quantum Brain, and put it back in its original place.

Just as the Quantum Brain returned to its place, the entire head suddenly flashed with a circuit board-like brilliance, and eventually, as the light grew stronger, it transformed into a Light Orb.

At the same time, the entire Dream Star seemed to come alive, and even the light reflected from the surrounding metal became more vibrant.

With a casual swipe of his hand through space, a projection screen immediately appeared in the void. Vegapunk stroked his chin, examined it carefully, and finally felt relieved.

"It seems that the absence of the Quantum Brain has not had a significant impact on Dream Star... At least the internal self-testing and maintenance systems are still in place, and some of the experimental samples that were stored before are also fine now!"

As Vegapunk's lair, Dream Star, in addition to its main brain, the Quantum Brain, also possesses some electronic program sub-brains. Although they are only at the level of artificial intelligence, they are more than sufficient for mechanical self-testing, maintenance, and functional repair.

As for the so-called experimental subjects... they were cells and blood from some Devil Fruit User that Vegapunk had collected before, or even the users themselves who were soaked in Suspension Pod.

This is also something Vegapunk is quite worried about, fearing that during his absence, those ability users might have escaped or died.

Devil Fruit, especially the Paramecia which he values most, have abilities that are almost impossible to replicate.

Even if their abilities are replicated using blood or other tissues, it's impossible to continue developing them. What's most valuable about Paramecia is their almost limitless potential for development.

If it's Devil Fruit- Zoan or Logia Devil Fruit, its potential is basically fixed.

Even if developed to the point of Awakening, Zoan only become faster, stronger, more defensive, and more resilient, while Logia attacks only have a larger attack range and a longer duration of effect.

In comparison, Paramecia Devil Fruit have their own strengths and Devil Fruit in combat, but in terms of auxiliary abilities, especially in helping scientific research, they absolutely surpass the other two types of Devil Fruit.

"Let's go check out my collection... I hope they're all okay. I've already prepared to have Kotoamatsukami brainwash them!"

Upon hearing Vegapunk's wicked intentions, neither Hancock nor Nico Robin showed any other reaction on their faces.

Hancock might care about Amazon Lily, except for Vegapunk, but she doesn't care about anyone else.

Nico Robin is slightly better off, but not by much. As long as Vegapunk doesn't commit massacres or other inhumane acts, she won't oppose Vegapunk's plans.

Soon, Vegapunk led the two women to a special room inside Dream Star. Inside, there were hundreds of Suspension Pod, most of which were empty, while a few had people lying inside, hibernating.

Placed in the very center is a round-looking guy with an iron chin; that is Wapol, Vegapunk's most closely watched experimental subject and the Devil Fruit User.

Vegapunk has always used Wapol's blood to create various robots capable of using the Munch-Munch Fruit's power to synthesize various raw materials.

However, directly using the Munch-Munch Fruit to manufacture raw materials is only the most basic application of the Munch-Munch Fruit, Vegapunk obviously does not want to stop there.

However, the blood extracted from a Devil Fruit user can only unleash the power that Devil Fruit User had developed at the time. Wapol is clearly not a strong person who enjoys developing Devil Fruit powers, nor is he someone who is willing to listen to Vegapunk.

Furthermore, the self-modification ability of the Munch-Munch Fruit rendered Vegapunk's threat to plant a bomb in his brain ineffective, so Vegapunk temporarily put him into hibernation.

In fact, the various Devil Fruit abilities in the Pirate King world are even more outrageous than those in the Ninja World. At least the abilities in the Ninja World are based on logic.

Those generic-looking ninjas can only use the Five Basic Nature Transformations at most. Even if you put the Impure World Reincarnation or Flying Thunder God Technique in front of them, they still wouldn't be able to learn them.

However, Devil Fruit in the Pirate World don't follow logic. You never know, some seemingly foolish guy might have an incredible Devil Fruit ability, and the strangeness and quirkiness of that ability might be beyond your imagination.

The Devil Fruit User Vegapunk was able to find and collect were naturally those with great abilities and potential, who were not very obedient and difficult to control.

"Let's start with this guy! From today onwards, let him focus wholeheartedly on developing his Devil Fruit ability!"

As he spoke, Vegapunk had already formed hand Hand Seals, and a red light appeared in his eyes.

Although Vegapunk didn't acquire the Rinnegan, theoretically, all blood-related abilities are a kind of instinctive application of Chakra. In other words, as long as the level and quantity of Chakra are sufficient, all blood-related abilities can be deduced using Ninjutsu.

Vegapunk's Chakra might only be considered the floor of the Otsutsuki Clan, but in terms of level, having absorbed Kaguya Otsutsuki's enhanced Chakra, he is a notch stronger than an ordinary Otsutsuki.

With his brainpower and the help of the Chakra Network, it only took him a day or two to deduce the enhanced version of Kotoamatsukami. This is Kotoamatsukami of the Yin-Yang Release Kekkei Mōra level. Theoretically, if Otsutsuki Clan were to be hit by it, they could all become loyal dogs.

Using it against Wapol would be an absolute waste of talent, like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

It took Vegapunk half a minute to complete the Hand Seals, and the red light in his eyes grew stronger and stronger. Then, a huge amount of mental energy rushed into the Suspension Pod, instantly altering Wapol's subconscious.

Letting out a long sigh, Vegapunk said, "Open the Suspension Pod!"

A moment later, the Suspension Pod was opened, and as the liquid was drained, Wapol slowly opened his eyes.

Upon seeing Vegapunk, Wapol's expression immediately turned serious:

"Greetings, Lord Vegapunk! What are your orders, sir?"

Nodding slightly, Vegapunk glanced at Wapol and gave the order:

"Go and train your Devil Fruit abilities properly!"

Wapol's face lit up with a fanatical smile, and he answered without hesitation, "Yes, sir! What I love most is training my Devil Fruit abilities!"

After sending Wapol to the warehouse to synthesize various supplies, Vegapunk began brainwashing the other Devil Fruit User.

Devil Fruit User, which allows them to store all sorts of things, including people; Devil Fruit User, which allows them to create various radioactive isotopes; Devil Fruit User, which allows them to alter the weight of matter; Devil Fruit User, which allows them to compress matter...

A whole bunch of strange and wonderful Devil Fruit User were brainwashed by Vegapunk, recruited into his ranks, and given the task of training their Devil Fruit abilities.

Finally, Vegapunk arrived at the central Suspension Pod and slightly raised his head.

Sleeping in this Suspension Pod is a beautiful woman wearing a kimono with long green hair, who is also the most magical Devil Fruit User among Vegapunk's collection.

Kozuki Toki, the Devil Fruit User the Time-Time Fruit!

This Devil Fruit User, who should have died in Wano Country, was captured alive by Kaido himself because of Vegapunk and handed over to Vegapunk.

In the original work, Kaido didn't care much about Kozuki Oden's wife, children, and subordinates, so after Kozuki Oden was captured, his wife and children were still causing trouble for a while.

However, when Vegapunk used the imitation Azure Dragon Fruit as a trade item and specified that he needed Kozuki Toki, a Devil Fruit User, Kaido immediately detained and arrested Kozuki Toki, and then sent him to Vegapunk's Research Base.

Whether Vegapunk was attracted to Kozuki Toki's appearance or her Kozuki Toki Devil Fruit was irrelevant to Kaido. Faced with the temptation of a replica of the Azure Dragon Fruit, Kaido didn't care about anything else.

To ensure the transaction went through, Kaido even threw in two Great Grade Swords and the then-young Kozuki Hiyori extras, leaving Vegapunk completely speechless.

It's one thing to send Great Grade Sword, even though it's useless against Vegapunk, it's still a normal high-value trade item. But why send a little girl instead?

Following the same procedure, when the Suspension Pod opened, Kozuki Toki stepped out gracefully and bowed slightly to Vegapunk.

"I am Kozuki Toki, and I have met Vegapunk!"

Although Kozuki should be over 40 years old by current reckoning, she has been lying in Suspension Pod for nearly 20 years, so she still maintains the youth and beauty of a 27 or 28-year-old.

At this moment, she slightly raised her head, her eyes darting around, her face pleading, looking utterly pitiful, and she spoke to Vegapunk earnestly:

"Lord Vegapunk, I wonder how my daughter is doing now?"

Kotoamatsukami can control a person's subconscious and make them completely obey the implanted commands. However, apart from this, the controlled person will not show any other abnormalities, nor will their attitude towards anything other than the commands change.

In other words, aside from obeying Vegapunk's orders and diligently training his Devil Fruit abilities, Kozuki Toki will not change in any other way.

Naturally, his concern and worry for his daughter will not change, after all, she was captured and taken to Vegapunk's Research Base along with Kozuki Hiyori.

At the time, Vegapunk would occasionally draw her blood for experiments. To prevent Kozuki Toki from escaping, he used Kozuki Hiyori and restrain her, but he basically never let Kozuki Toki and Kozuki Hiyori actually meet.

After all, the Time-Time Fruit's ability to escape is truly the best in the world.