The Scar test subject opened his mouth, and a ball of orange light churned deep in his throat.
Then he suddenly unleashed a dragon's breath—a pillar of orange flame shot from his mouth and slammed into the laboratory's protective wall.
The protective wall, reinforced by Bar with the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, trembled violently under the impact of the dragon's breath.
The surface was charred into a pit, and the metal frame around the edges was glowing red from the high temperature.
"Dragon breath temperature—3,700 degrees Celsius, exactly the same as Kaido's original Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon!" Vegapunk's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.
The next test is cloud-controlled flight.
The second test subject, after consuming the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, successfully used the Flame Clouds to levitate his body into the air.
He stood on two white clouds and slowly flew around the laboratory dome.
Although the maneuvers were still not very skillful, and I almost crashed into the equipment on the wall several times, the stability of the flight improved significantly in just a few minutes.
The third test subject was used to test the current physical strength.
We tested whether it could enhance the body's defense and recovery abilities like Mythical Zoan. The test results were obvious, compared to before.
After consuming the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, this soldier experienced a significant enhancement in both physical strength and regenerative abilities.
Vegapunk let out a long sigh, slumping back in his chair like a deflated balloon.
"This can be considered an initial success."
Gracia took off her glasses and wiped the fog off the lenses with the corner of her clothes.
"A three-month observation period is still necessary. But based on the current data, this batch of replicas does not have any genetic defects."
Their core abilities—dragon breath, cloud control, flight, and physical enhancement—are all perfectly replicated.
The difference from the original Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon is almost negligible.
The remaining question is whether he can achieve Awakening like Kaido.
However, this will require a long period of observation.
Gracia put his glasses back on, turned to look at the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon that was still slowly rotating in the cultivation chamber, and his eyes gleamed with a kind of fanatical light unique to scientists.
"The next step is to see if they can improve their abilities through training."
Theoretically, the reissued Devil Fruit should have the same full growth potential as the original.
But theory is one thing; no one can guarantee anything until the actual data is available.
Vegapunk nodded:
I have already arranged a follow-up testing plan.
Starting tomorrow, the three test subjects will undergo eight hours of high-intensity training every day, with all physiological data transmitted back in real time.
A preliminary report will be released in one month, and a final conclusion in three months.
The two old men looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
That smile held weariness, excitement, but more than anything, it carried the sense of accomplishment one feels after completing an almost impossible task.
······
Onigashima Grand Hall.
When Roy entered the hall, Kaido was lying on his throne, snoring.
Several empty wine gourds lay scattered at my feet, and the air was thick with the smell of alcohol.
Hassaikai leaned against the armrest of the throne, the blade gleaming coldly in the lamplight.
Roy walked up to the throne and used his Observation Haki to directly strike Kaido's spirit.
Kaido suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed the Hassaikai with one hand, and unleashed a burst of Conqueror's Haki: "Enemy Attack—"
"It wasn't an enemy attack."
Roy held his arm, his tone neither hurried nor slow.
"That's good news. News has come from Hachinosu —your Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon has been successfully replicated."
Kaido was stunned.
The Hassaikai slipped from his hand and crashed to the ground with a thud.
His rugged face first showed blankness, then disbelief, and finally, a volcanic eruption of ecstasy.
He sprang up from the throne, grabbed Roy's shoulder with such force that Roy felt his bones crack.
"Really?! That old Vegapunk —he really recreated him?!"
"The first batch of three samples all passed the live animal testing."
Roy pulled his hand away from Kaido's and rubbed his shoulder, which was sore from being pinched.
"All three test subjects successfully transformed into the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon and unleashed its basic abilities: dragon breath temperature control, flight control, and fire immunity."
All core abilities are completely identical to the original Azure Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon.
The next three months will be an observation period. If no genetic breakdown or capacity decline occurs, mass production can begin.
Kaido released Roy and burst into laughter.
The laughter shook the walls of the hall, and dust fell from the ceiling.
Several guards covered their ears from the shock, and one who was nearby was so shaken that he collapsed to the ground.
The Flying Six members patrolling outside the palace exchanged bewildered glances upon hearing the laughter. They had followed Kaido for so many years and had never seen the governor laugh like that before.
"Hehehehe--Everyone in the Beast Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon! The entire Beasts Pirates has the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon!!!"
Kaido paced back and forth in the main hall, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.
"My dream, which I've waited twenty years for, is finally about to come true!!!"
At this moment, Kaido excited as a child who had just received a new toy, muttering tactical plans at a pace so fast they were almost inaudible:
" The All-Stars all ate the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon —Jin's Pteranodon plus the Azure Dragon, the ruler of the skies!"
Queen's Brachiosaurus combined with the Azure Dragon, with their massive size and dragon breath, doubles their destructive power!
Jack's mammoth combined with the Azure Dragon makes for unbeatable defense! And then there are the Flying Six and Katakuri— "
Roy leaned against the wall, watching Kaido spin around excitedly like a top in the main hall, a smile playing on his lips.
Just as Kaido was lost in excited fantasies because of Roy's news,
Off the coast of Wano Country,
A thick fog blankets the sea near Wano Country.
The Thousand Sunny struggled through dense fog with visibility of less than fifty meters, the currents on either side of the ship so turbulent it looked as if someone were churning the seabed.
Huge whirlpools occasionally brushed past the side of the boat, each time nearly pulling the small sailboat in.
The waterfalls cascading down the cliffs created layers of mist that blocked the Straw Hat Pirates ' path.
Luffy stood on the bow of the ship, barefoot on the lion-head figurehead, one hand gripping the mast, the other resting on his forehead, straining to see into the depths of the thick fog.
His eyes gleamed in the dim light, like two small lanterns.
"Hey! Luffy ~"
Did you see anything?
Nami stood on the deck, gripping the Clima-Tact tightly in her hand.
Her complexion was not good; the sea conditions in this area were extremely bad.
As a navigator, she could sense an extremely unstable current surging wildly on the seabed, threatening to sweep the ship away at any moment.
"I can't see anything! It's all fog!"
Luffy answered loudly, his tone even carrying a hint of excitement.
"Then what are you so excited about?!" Nami was so angry she almost smashed her Clima-Tact over her shoulder.
"Because we're almost there."
Luffy turned his head and grinned, a smile as pure as a child getting ready to go to an amusement Paradise.
" Wano Country! The land of samurai!"
That's a place with lots of samurai!