Inside the new laboratory of the Golden Ark.
The laboratory had been rearranged.
A row of circular biological cabins stood on the side of the lab, inside which there was a group of pale-skinned White Zetsu, each with tubes inserted into their bodies.
It couldn't be helped.
No matter how many experimental subjects there were.
They were ultimately not as useful as White Zetsu.
The body of a White Zetsu was like a blank slate with no genetic overlay.
If there was a need to experiment with any ability, known genetic techniques could be directly used to perform gene editing on White Zetsu, and they had succeeded quite a few times.
The Sand-Sand Fruit ability from Crocodile, the Ice-Ice Fruit ability from Admiral Aokiji, the Flash-Flash Fruit ability from Admiral Kizaru.
And now…
They had gained Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability.
Unfortunately, these abilities were no match for those of the original Devil Fruit Users, and could not even be fused with each other. This meant that the fruit abilities indeed had inherent incompatibilities.
The scientists of the Konoha Pirates experimented separately using White Zetsu and the Heavenly Celestial Dragon. Anyone who received transplants of two genetic abilities died from body explosion.
But!
How could they possibly give up?
No matter how strange the Devil Fruits of this sea were, could they be stranger than those who could traverse worlds?
No matter how terrifying the mutual exclusion of these Devil Fruit Users was, could it compare to the devouring terror of Senju Hashirama's Cells?
Orochimaru and Senju Tobirama tested by attempting to fuse all genes with Hashirama Cells, and cells from other cloned individuals were all devoured and assimilated by Hashirama Cells, leaving only a mass of writhing Hashirama Cells in the experiment…
"Big brother's cells are too dangerous…"
Senju Tobirama could only commend his own big brother with a word of praise.
"But our experiment isn't complete…"
Orochimaru lamented, having no choice but to collect the Hashirama Cells again, speaking softly: "The First Hokage's Cells will devour all genes, and in the end, we're left only with the Wood Release Bloodline, and can't possibly acquire their abilities…"
"It's really such a pity…"
Senju Tobirama's eyes fell on a corner of the lab, where a petri dish held a figure incapacitated in seawater, none other than the Sky Island God Enel.
Senju Tobirama furrowed his brows, thinking about Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, and solemnly proposed an idea: "If it really doesn't work, then all of White Zetsu's army's abilities should be replaced with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability; compared to the Flashing Ability and Ice-Ice Ability, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's ability is more comprehensive and can awaken a powerful Observation Haki in them…"
"Don't give up so early…"
The figure of Asura Path: Sasori appeared in the laboratory, quietly speaking: "Perhaps with the genes of one more person, you might find a possibility for fruit abilities to be fused. I know of a person who might be able to possess two Fruit Abilities…"
"Oh?"
Orochimaru and Senju Tobirama's eyes lit up simultaneously.
"Before that…"
Asura Path: Sasori tilted his head, the eyes of the mechanical puppet remained lifeless and dull: "Could you both help arrange the hunting ground? The players in this hunting game will arrive soon, I heard only the Captain is busy with it?"
"We'd like to use violent means…"
Senju Tobirama furrowed his brow, speaking in a deep voice: "But the big brother insisted on handling it alone, so it's really hard for us to intervene…"
Sky Island.
Apayado.
With the death of Enel, the Sky People and Land Dwellers were gathering again, and there was no conflict yet between the former warring parties.
The Konoha Pirates gathered these Sky People and Land Dwellers together, and they were somewhat worried about what the conqueror of Enel, Senju Hashirama, intended to do…
Would he kill them all?
Everyone felt a bit tense and uneasy.
However…
Senju Hashirama directly knelt on the ground!
The captain of the strongest pirate crew in this ocean prostrated himself completely in front of these people, pleading with them to relocate: "Please, I beg you not to stay in Apayado for the time being! It's going to become very dangerous here soon! I implore you to temporarily move to another place! Please!"
Senju Hashirama personally managing this matter was precisely to avoid implicating these innocent people, knowing that after all, these locals weren't villains…
"..."
The Sky People and Land Dwellers looked at each other in confusion.
It was puzzling to see the man who defeated Enel kneel and beg them, but at least from this, they could tell Senju Hashirama wasn't a bad person.
"Why is it going to become very dangerous here?"
The leader among the Sky People, Gan Fall, stepped forward, helping Senju Hashirama up: "Is it because enemies are coming?"
"No."
Senju Hashirama shook his head, his expression becoming exceptionally solemn and earnest: "We're planning to make Apayado into a hunting ground, releasing over a thousand Heavenly Celestial Dragons here as prey to be hunted. Likely many strong individuals will come here to participate in this hunting game…"
"What kind of creatures are the Heavenly Celestial Dragons?"
"Do they sound like humanoid beasts?"
Many of the Sky People expressed their curiosity.
Senju Hashirama honestly explained the truth to these people: "They are the nobles who rule and oppress the entire world, using cruel methods to exploit the whole world. They once toyed with and killed other humans as prey. To make the world dare to resist them, we captured many of them and decided to make them prey as well…"