Anti-Seastone Stance Plan and Bakin Gom Stussy

Chapter 30: Anti-Seastone Field Plan and Bakin Gom Stussy

Devil Fruits, the sea's secret treasures, grant incredible abilities upon consumption, but they also earn the sea's hatred, turning the user into a landlubber.

Even Fish-Men, after eating a Devil Fruit, lose their ability to swim. While they can still breathe underwater, they sink like stones.

Vegapunk and Oran were experimenting with a special device aimed at separating Pyrobroinp particles.

These are special keratinous particles, carried into the upper atmosphere by volcanic eruptions. Upon contact with moisture, their differing densities form sky clouds and sea clouds.

Furthermore, Seastone has an extremely high concentration of these particles. Rivers, lakes, and oceans also contain components of these particles, making them ubiquitous. However, once they enter the human digestive system, they vanish without a trace.

The sea clouds of Skypiea, like seawater, make Ability Users feel powerless, and Seastone is their nemesis.

The powerlessness induced by seawater merely prevents Ability Users from actively using their powers; their bodies' passive changes remain. For example, in the original timeline at Arlong Park, when Luffy fell into the water, he could still pull his head up to let him breathe.

Highly pure Seastone seals an Ability User's powers, returning their bodies to normal. During the Summit War in the original timeline, Marco, handcuffed with Seastone, temporarily lost his abilities.

All of this is inextricably linked to Pyrobroinp particles. The higher the concentration of Pyrobroinp, the stronger the sealing effect of Seastone.

Therefore, Oran proposed this experimental model: using a special generator to create a field that isolates these particles, thus preventing Ability Users from fearing ordinary water.

As a user of the Brain-Brain Fruit, Vegapunk personally served as the test subject, but without success.

"Oran, these particles are strange. Their penetration is extremely strong, and their affinity for water is also peculiar. It seems conventional methods won't achieve this goal.

Perhaps it would be easier to isolate the water directly, mimicking the bubbles of Sabaody Archipelago."

"That would consume too much energy and restrict the user's combat capabilities. At least you have the strength to swing your arms this time; that's progress."

Handing Vegapunk a new research suit, Oran marked another 'X' in the experiment log.

"Oran, do you remember the hypothesis I mentioned about the origin of Devil Fruits? I believe that to understand the fundamental reason for this repulsion, we need to find the source of their creation."

Devil Fruits are the possibility of human evolution pursued by people, beings from multiple dimensions that live within human fantasy.

Because they are unnatural, they are rejected by Mother Nature – the sea. Despite bearing this punishment, they still exist in the world.

This is Vegapunk's hypothesis on the origin of Devil Fruits, though he himself doesn't know if it's correct.

"Assuming my idea is right, P-particles are special substances naturally generated to counteract the unnatural."

"Isn't our research already about going against nature? Your goal of endless energy defies the laws of physics. Even if your hypothesis is true, I won't abandon this research. Surpassing it is what we should do."

Over the past two years, Oran and Vegapunk have had many arguments, but they've grown closer through them. They weren't competing for first place, but rather for the direction of technological research.

Their arguments actually propelled their research forward. Even with differing opinions, they wouldn't use seniority to suppress each other; instead, they would help each other perfect experiments, letting results speak for themselves.

In Vegapunk's eyes, Oran's way of thinking was wild and imaginative, and his research proposals aligned with his own, making him a good friend.

There was just one peculiarity: Oran was sometimes more radical, possessing a pursuit of weapons as well.

"When others suspect you have a deadly weapon, you'd best have an even more formidable one."

These were Oran's exact words. Vegapunk believed that endless energy could reduce conflict and bring about peace, but Oran felt that peace could only be discussed after securing a weapon capable of preventing that energy from being exploited by those with ill intentions.

Through their time together, Vegapunk also realized that although Oran always appeared polite, he was more arrogant than anyone deep down. However, this arrogance was never displayed by oppressing the weak.

Without careful observation, one would only see his gentle side. Only by offending him would one understand the consequences.

As for how Vegapunk knew the consequences...

Let's just say someone on the ship had already experienced them. When Oran indulged his mischievous side, he was the most dangerous person on board.

The ship's broadcast sounded at that moment, calling both Oran and Vegapunk out.

On the deck, a woman with long blonde hair sat by the ship's railing, wearing a white hat, quietly awaiting the results. Around her, a struggle seemed to have occurred; several of the ship's security personnel had been taken down by her.

"I told you, I just want to talk to your person in charge about something. There's no need to be so aggressive."

She raised her hands slightly, signaling she meant no harm. After all, she sensed some threatening individuals among the people who had arrived later.

As she said, she had come with a specific purpose, so there was no need to make enemies.

"What's going on? Who is this woman? Does she have a grudge against Siderial and Vegapunk?"

"Shurorororo, if they do have a grudge, that's even better. It'd be great if someone could teach those two arrogant guys a lesson, don't you think, Queen?"

Since Oran joined, he had further strengthened the united front of these three. Their most frequent activity was verbal psychological warfare.

But for some reason, Queen, who was usually the most talkative, remained silent this time.

"Looks like you're not convinced again. What, do you want to fight?"

"That's right, do you want to fight Blitz again?"

"!!"

Now Caesar and Judge understood why Queen hadn't responded. Kate and Blitz had appeared behind them at some point.

Kate was one thing, but Blitz, that clunky metal shell, had learned to walk like a cat due to its learning module. It had walked all the way over without making a sound.

Over the past two years, MADS had held several competitions showcasing their achievements.

Kate believed her heart was created by Oran, making her an achievement as well. She teamed up with Blitz for a 2v3 match.

Judging by Caesar's terrified expression, Kate's record was quite impressive, leaving at least the three of them with some psychological trauma.

The Hex-enhanced Mink Tribe, combined with Blitz, made it quite easy to defeat them, who were still novices.

[Queen, you little traitor!]

Caesar's gaze was filled with anger towards Queen. Queen didn't respond, likely having discovered something, but he hadn't warned them.

Queen met Caesar's stare without fear.

[What does this have to do with me? If I warned you now, I'd be an accomplice!]

While exchanging glances, the three of them simultaneously began shaking their heads. They hadn't made any new breakthroughs recently, so they weren't about to court death.

Kate didn't say anything either and stayed behind with Blitz until Oran and Vegapunk came outside.

"I've seen that woman on a wanted poster before. Bakin Gom Stussy, she's a pirate. Why is she here?"