Stepping off the docks of Egghead Island, the pirate crew naturally scattered to the winds.
The promise of exploring a city built five hundred years in the future proved too tempting to ignore. Despite the warnings from Lilith, the various groups wandered deeper into the high-tech metropolis. Sanji immediately vanished in search of an advanced kitchen, dragging a protesting Zoro along to prevent the swordsman from wandering into the ocean. Robin and Nami moved toward the commercial district.
Wandering away from the pristine upper levels, a smaller group found themselves descending into the lower, discarded sections of the island.
The Fabiriophase offered bright lights and holographic monsters, but the Scrap Heap held a different kind of charm. Mountains of rusted metal, discarded inventions, and broken machinery littered the valley.
Kicking a loose gear across the dirt, the rubber captain scanned the junk piles. Chopper trotted closely behind, marveling at the bizarre medical equipment tossed carelessly into the scrap. Bonney walked with her hands on her hips, chewing on a slice of futuristic pizza acquired from an automated vending machine. Vivi brought up the rear, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.
Rounding a massive hill of rusted iron plates, the group stopped in their tracks.
Sitting against the back wall of the valley, half-buried under decades of debris, a colossal mechanical figure.
The Iron Giant dwarfed the surrounding scrap. Two massive, curved horns extended from a rusted helmet. Unfamiliar symbols were etched into the tarnished metal plating across its broad chest. Thick layers of dust and climbing vines covered the limbs.
Stars instantly filled the captain's eyes.
"A giant robot! Even bigger than Mecha Merry" Luffy cheered, dropping his jaw. "I have to ride it! I am going to find the cockpit!"
"Wait, Luffy!" Chopper panicked, chasing after the captain. "It looks really old! It might fall apart!"
Before the rubber pirate could scale the massive iron leg, a strange, high-pitched whistling noise echoed from the sky.
Looking up, the group spotted a small, erratic object plummeting rapidly toward the scrap yard. The shape tumbled out of control, trailing a thin line of dark smoke.
Crash.
The object slammed into the upper shoulder of the Iron Giant. Sparks showered across the rusted plating. A cloud of thick, gray dust billowed covering the upper half of the machine.
Stopping his climb, Luffy tilted his head, peering through the settling dust.
"Ouch," a muffled, elderly voice groaned from the impact site. "Miscalculated the spatial displacement coordinates again. My teleportation boots are misaligned."
Stuck waist-deep inside a jagged hole in the rusted shoulder plating, an older man struggled weakly. His legs kicked in the air, trapped by the warped metal. He wore a long white lab coat and a pair of dark goggles pushed up onto his forehead. Most surprisingly, the upper half of his head resembled the stem and leaf of an apple.
Stretching his arms upward, Luffy grabbed the struggling man by the collar of his lab coat.
Pulling backward, the elastic tension popped the scientist free like a cork from a bottle. The two plummeted safely to the dirt below.
Dusting off his coat, the older man adjusted his glasses, squinting at his rescuer. Recognition dawned instantly.
"Monkey D. Luffy!" the scientist gasped, his eyes widening. Turning his head, he spotted the pink-haired pirate holding her pizza. "And Bonney! To think you would wander into the Scrap Heap."
"Hey, Apple-guy!" Bonney greeted warmly.
Hearing the friendly tone, a wave of relief washed over the scientist's features. Lowering his head, a look of guilt replaced the surprise.
"Bonney," Dr. Vegapunk started, his voice dropping to an apologetic register. "Words cannot express the sorrow I hold for what happened to Kuma. The modifications I was ordered to perform... I never wanted to erase his humanity."
"Don't worry about it," Bonney mumbled through a mouthful of cheese. "Dad already explained everything to me. I know why he agreed to the experiments, and I know you were just following orders. I'm not angry with you anymore."
Swallowing her food, she offered a reassuring nod.
"I actually spoke to him on a transponder snail just yesterday," Bonney added cheerfully. "He said he is busy with some Revolutionary Army work right now. He doesn't share the details."
Tears welled in the corners of the scientist's eyes. The burden of guilt he had carried for years lifted slightly.
Turning his attention back to the rubber captain, the scientist leaned forward, his curiosity burning brightly.
"Is he here?" Vegapunk requested, scanning the immediate area. "The man from your crew named Edgar D Benjamin. The intelligence reports indicated a magician restored Kuma's humanity. I must speak with him. I need to understand the methodology he utilized to bypass the neural blockers!"
Luffy picked his nose casually, pointing a thumb back toward the upper levels of the city.
"He is around here somewhere," the captain answered. "We all split up when we got off the ship. He said he was going to look for a vending machine."
Vegapunk sighed. The opportunity to discuss advanced restoration mechanics would simply have to wait.
Walking around the scientist, Bonney peered closely at his head. The top of his skull appeared flat, capped off by the strange, metallic apple stem.
"What happened to your head?" Bonney demanded, pointing a greasy finger. "It used to be massive. Did it shrink?"
Chuckling softly, Vegapunk tapped the metal apple stem resting on his scalp.
"It simply grew too large to carry around," the scientist explained casually. "I ate the Nomi Nomi no Mi. It allows me to memorize and store an unlimited amount of knowledge. Every book I read, every calculation I make, is permanently recorded."
The group listened intently, though the captain already looked slightly bored by the explanation.
"However, the side effect is continuous brain growth," Vegapunk continued, pacing slightly in the dirt. "To accommodate the expanding knowledge, my skull grew to ridiculous proportions. It eventually became a liability. So, I cut the expanding portion off."
"You cut your brain out?!" Chopper shrieked, clutching his furry cheeks in horror. "Are you stupid now?!"
Luffy blinked, leaning closer to inspect the flat head. "Does cutting your brain out make you dumb?"
"Not at all!" the scientist laughed loudly, waving his hands. "The brain tissue remains alive and active. It simply resides elsewhere. I transformed the expanding mass into Punk Records. That giant, egg-shaped structure floating high above the island contains my actual brain."
Pointing to the metal apple stem, Vegapunk revealed the secret.
"This is an antenna," the doctor clarified. "It connects me wirelessly to Punk Records at all times. I still possess every ounce of knowledge I ever acquired."
The concept of a detached, wirelessly connected brain fascinated the princess and the reindeer, even if the captain remained lost.
"Furthermore," Vegapunk elaborated, warming up to his favorite subject. "I realized my single body could not possibly accomplish all the research I wished to complete. So, I split my personality into six different bodies. The Satellites."
Holding up six fingers, the scientist listed them off. "Good, Evil, Logic, Wisdom, Violence, and Greed. They all operate independently across the island, conducting research and updating their findings to Punk Records every single day."
Looking up at the massive egg floating in the sky, a visionary gleam entered the old man's eyes.
"One day," Vegapunk declared, his voice filled with passion. "I intend to grant all of humanity access to Punk Records. Imagine a world where every single person can tap into a shared, infinite well of knowledge. Humankind sharing a single, collective brain."
Listening to the grand vision, the princess crossed her arms. Her experiences as a ruler offered a much more cautious perspective.
"A shared brain sounds ideal in theory," Vivi noted quietly. "But what happens if someone updates the database with dangerous ideologies? Prejudices, hatred, or violent doctrines? If everyone is connected, a single toxic thought could poison the whole world."
Waving the concern away, the scientist brushed off the practical reality in favor of discovery.
"Knowledge is neutral!" Vegapunk insisted enthusiastically. "The pursuit of truth outweighs the risks. The more we know, the closer we step to a perfect society."
Luffy then turned his attention back to the massive, rusted machine resting against the scrap pile.
"Hey, Apple-guy," the captain called out, pointing at the Iron Giant. "Can you turn this robot on? I really want to ride it."
Vegapunk walked over to the towering mechanical legs. Looking up at the rusted plating, the eccentric energy faded, replaced by the quiet reverence of a historian.
"I cannot turn it on," Vegapunk admitted softly. "No one can. The power source eludes me."
Reaching out, the doctor rested a hand against the cold metal.
"I did not build this machine," the scientist revealed, the weight of history coloring his words. "It was constructed approximately nine hundred years ago, during the Void Century."
The mention of the forbidden era caught Vivi's attention instantly. Vivi leaned closer, recognizing the historical significance of the claim.
"Two hundred years ago," Vegapunk continued, "long before I was born, this machine suddenly activated. It climbed the face of the Red Line. It breached the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. It was prepared to launch a devastating attack upon the Celestial Dragons."
The scale of the assault painted a terrifying picture. A single machine possessing the power to scale the continent and threaten the rulers of the world.
"What happened?" Vivi asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"It simply stopped," Vegapunk answered, stepping back from the leg. "Before it could cause any damage, the power source drained. The World Government ordered it to be destroyed. However, the scientists of that era recognized its value. They hid the remains, preserving it in secret, and eventually passed it down to me."
Turning away from the ancient weapon, the scientist looked at the rubber captain. The eccentric, manic energy had vanished.
"Monkey D. Luffy," Dr. Vegapunk requested, his tone carrying immense gravity. "I need you to take me off this island."
High above the Scrap Heap, deep inside the heavily armored Labophase monitor room, a tense situation rapidly escalated.
Standing in front of a wall of glowing screens, Shaka watched the video feed streaming from the lower valley. The logical Satellite observed the original Vegapunk speaking quietly with the Emperor of the Sea.
Beside him, Zoro, Sanji, Ben, and Robin watched the monitor.
"He built a giant robot based on that ancient machine," Shaka explained to the pirates, pointing to a different schematic flashing on a side screen. "The Vegaforce-01 mimics the structural design of the Iron Giant. However, I have been eunable to replicate the original dynamic power source. The ancient energy remains a complete mystery."
Before the conversation could continue, a loud, blaring alarm echoed through the control room.
Red lights flashed across the consoles. A small, robotic Satellite resembling a mechanical toy hurried over to the main terminal. Pythagoras frantically typed across the keyboard, bringing up an external feed of the island's coastal waters.
"Emergency alert!" Pythagoras announced, his robotic voice pitching upward in panic. "A World Government vessel is breaching the perimeter! They are ignoring the warning beacons!"
The video feed displayed a sleek Marine ship cutting through the waves.
"It is CP0," Shaka noted, his voice calm. "They have arrived."
Standing near the door, Lilith gripped her energy rifle tightly.
"They are here for us," Lilith snarled, glaring at the screens. "Just hand the pirates over to them. Use the Straw Hats as a bargaining chip to get the assassins off the island."
Resting a hand casually on the hilt of his sword, Zoro offered a dangerous smirk. "You can try."
"Do not be foolish, Lilith," Shaka reprimanded sharply. "The World Government does not negotiate with targets marked for execution. Handing the pirates over would only ensure our mutual destruction."
Leaning over the console, Shaka engaged the external communication arrays.
"Attention CP0," Shaka projected his voice to the invading ship. "You are violating restricted waters. Drop the Seraphim payload on the docks and immediately turn your vessel around. You are denied entry to the Labophase."
Turning away from the microphone, the logical Satellite began rapidly entering defense protocols.
"Prepare for combat," Shaka ordered, addressing the surrounding robotic staff. "They will not turn back."
The certainty in his voice caught the pirates by surprise. The World Government officially employed Vegapunk. Ordering a lethal defense against their own intelligence agency signaled an irreversible fracture in the alliance.
Down in the Scrap Heap, the conversation continued without knowledge of the approaching threat.
"You want to leave?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. "Why? You have all this cool stuff here."
Pacing back and forth in front of the ancient machine, the scientist wrung his hands together.
"Because my dream is not finished," Vegapunk explained passionately. "I wish to create a world powered by endless free energy. A power source available to every single human on the planet, regardless of their status or wealth."
Luffy picked his nose again. "Sounds boring."
"It isn't boring," Vivi countered softly, stepping forward. "A lack of resources is the primary catalyst for almost every major war in human history. Nations fight over land, food, and fuel. If energy were infinite and free, the foundation of global conflict would crumble."
Hearing the princess understand his vision, Vegapunk enthusiastically expanded on the theory.
"Exactly!" the scientist cheered, pointing a finger into the air. "Energy is everywhere! It exists in the wind, the sun, the ocean currents, and the very fabric of space! The challenge lies in converting that ambient energy into a stable, visible form that humanity can easily harness."
Luffy yawned widely, stretching his arms over his head. The intricacies of resource management failed to hold his attention.
Ignoring the captain's boredom, Vegapunk lowered his voice.
"My research into this endless power source led me to a dangerous conclusion," the doctor revealed, looking back at the rusted Iron Giant. "The 'ancient energy' powering this machine is the key. The civilization of the Void Century possessed the technology I am trying to create."
The mention of the forbidden era brought sadness to the old man's face.
"Professor Clover of Ohara understood this," Vegapunk whispered, grief coloring his words. "He realized the Ancient Kingdom was not just powerful; it was technologically superior. His death, and the destruction of Ohara, motivated me to continue his initial research into the Void Century."
A loud, booming explosion shattered the quiet atmosphere of the valley.
The ground trembled violently. Smoke plumed from the distant, upper levels of the Fabiriophase, signaling the beginning of a heavy assault.
"The government has finally caught wind of my actions," Vegapunk stated, looking toward the rising smoke. The panic did not return; he accepted the inevitable consequence of his research. "They know I have looked too deeply into the past. They are here to erase me."
Turning back to the pirate captain, the scientist bowed his head respectfully.
"I ask you again, Monkey D. Luffy," Vegapunk pleaded. "Take me off this island. Help me survive so my dream can be realized."
A wide, genuine grin broke across the captain's face.
"Okay," Luffy agreed simply. "Your head is really funny. You can come with us."
Standing up straight, relief washed over the scientist.
"Thank you," Vegapunk breathed. "We must reconvene in the Labophase. The defenses here will not hold them for long."
Without waiting for the pirates to respond, the scientist tapped a small dial on his teleportation boots. The spatial coordinates aligned correctly this time. In a flash of pale light, the original body of Dr. Vegapunk vanished before their eyes, teleporting safely to the upper laboratory.
Inside the Labophase monitor room, the situation deteriorated rapidly.
"They are ignoring the warnings," Pythagoras reported, his mechanical hands flying across the keyboard.
On the screen, Lucci's face appeared via a hacked communication link. The assassin stood on the deck of the approaching vessel, unbothered by the warning shots firing from the coastal defense systems.
"Dr. Vegapunk," Lucci's voice echoed smoothly into the control room. "Are you aware of the Egghead Disappearances? Over the last two months, ships from CP5, CP7, and CP8 visited this island. Not a single vessel ever returned."
Shaka remained perfectly still. "We have no knowledge of any disappearances. All three government vessels departed our port safely and on schedule."
"Liar!" Lilith shouted at the monitor, enraged by the accusation. "We don't need to kidnap your weak agents! Let them onto the island, Shaka! I will show them what happens when they insult our integrity!"
"Silence, Lilith," Shaka ordered sharply. Turning back to the microphone, the logical Satellite delivered a final ultimatum. "Your insinuation is baseless. Leave these waters immediately."
Reaching out, Shaka cut the communication link. The screen went black.
Seconds later, Pythagoras gasped, pulling up a new external feed.
"The Sea Beast Weapons have engaged!" the robotic Satellite panicked. "They are actively consuming the World Government ship!"
The video showed cyborg monsters tearing the sleek Marine vessel apart, dragging the sinking hull down into the freezing water. However, the victory was hollow. The ship was empty.
"Where are the agents?" Zoro asked, stepping closer to the monitor.
"Fabiriophase," Shaka deduced instantly, pulling up internal security cameras. "They utilized the Seraphim payload. S-Bear possesses a replicated version of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi. They transported themselves onto the island before the ship sank."
The screen flickered, showing three figures and a child-like construct walking casually through the futuristic theme park of the lower level.
"They are determined to fight," Shaka concluded, his mind shifting fully into combat mode.
The logical Satellite began issuing orders to the surrounding staff.
"Evacuate all researchers and workers to the emergency shelters," Shaka commanded. "Tell Atlas to return to the Labophase immediately. Mobilize S-Shark, S-Snake, and S-Hawk. Put Sentomaru in command of the Seraphim deployment."
Down in the Fabiriophase, the infiltration proceeded smoothly.
Landing safely amidst the holographic attractions, Kaku stretched his arms, eager for action. Spotting a space monster roaring in the center of the park, the square-nosed agent drew his blades.
"Target acquired!" Kaku cheered, launching himself toward the roaring beast.
Swinging his swords in a devastating cross-slash, the blades passed harmlessly through the roaring monster. The space creature flickered, revealing its true nature as a harmless projection of light.
"It is a hologram," Stussy noted calmly, examining her perfectly manicured nails. "I visited this island a few years ago. Most of the attractions here are visual."
Landing awkwardly on the pristine pavement, Kaku glared at the intelligence agent. "You could have mentioned that before I attacked a flashlight!"
Ignoring the annoyance, Kaku decided to take the high ground. Pumping his legs rapidly, the agent utilized the Geppo technique, kicking off the air to scale the distance toward the floating egg of the Labophase above.
"Lucci," Stussy murmured casually, watching Kaku ascend. "The double lines running the circumference of Punk Records. That is the Frontier Dome. A high-powered laser border. Anyone who crosses it without clearance gets shot down instantly."
High above, Kaku unintentionally triggered the perimeter defense.
A blinding array of automated lasers fired simultaneously. The concentrated beams struck the ascending agent perfectly. Screaming in pain, Kaku plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily onto the pavement. His white suit was scorched black, and smoke drifted from his severely burnt hair.
"You did that on purpose!" Kaku wheezed, glaring weakly at the smiling woman.
Before the agents could advance any further, a figure charged down the pristine street.
Atlas, the violent, oversized Satellite of Vegapunk, ignored the evacuation orders. Enraged by the intrusion, the colossal cyborg wound up a massive, piston-driven punch, intending to crush the assassins into the pavement.
Rob Lucci used his Devil Fruit, the assassin transformed instantly. Shifting into his awakened, hybrid leopard form, dark flames wreathed his shoulders. Moving with blinding speed, Lucci slipped under the massive robotic punch.
Placing both fists firmly against the thick metal plating of the Satellite's torso, the assassin unleashed the pinnacle of the Rokushiki martial arts.
Rokuogan.
A concentrated shockwave of energy blasted through the cyborg's heavy armor.
The internal circuitry shattered. Sparks flew vfrom the broken chassis as the force of the impact lifted the massive robot off the ground, tossing her backward into a nearby building. The Satellite was knocked instantly offline, badly damaged by the single strike.
As the dust settled around the fallen robot, footsteps echoed down the adjacent street.
Wandering up from the Scrap Heap, Luffy, Chopper, Bonney, and Vivi strolled into the intersection, stopping dead in their tracks.
Standing in the center of the street, the awakened leopard assassin slowly turned his head. His cold, predatory eyes locked onto the boy wearing the straw hat.
"Straw Hat Luffy," Lucci growled, a dark, simmering hatred burning in his chest.
Blinking in confusion, the rubber captain stared at the massive leopard man. He scratched his chin, a frown wrinkling his forehead. He crossed his arms, leaning backward into an exaggerated, straining pose of deep thought.
"Hey," Luffy muttered, squinting hard. "I think I've seen you somewhere?"
Lucci's eye twitched violently.
"Enies Lobby, Luffy," Vivi reminded him quietly. "The pigeon guy."
The realization hit like a lightning bolt.
"Oh!" Luffy cheered, slamming a fist into his palm. "The pigeon guy! You look different with all the black fire stuff!"
Ignoring the assassin for a moment, Luffy noticed the broken robot lying in the rubble nearby.
"Hey, Chopper!" Luffy yelled, running over to the fallen Satellite. "Fix her up!"
Sprinting to the robot's side, the reindeer began frantic triage, pulling medical supplies from his backpack despite the nature of the injuries.
Standing near the smoking assassin, Kaku slowly pushed himself up from the pavement.
"Lucci, wait," Kaku cautioned, his voice strained from the burns. "He is officially recognized as an Emperor now. We are not permitted to engage a Yonko without approval from Marine Headquarters. Fighting him here could trigger an unwanted war."
The warning fell on deaf ears.
The humiliation suffered at Enies Lobby had burned in Lucci's pride for years. He had trained relentlessly, awakening his Devil Fruit and clawing his way back to the top of the intelligence hierarchy just for the chance to exact revenge.
"We have grown much stronger since that day, Kaku," Lucci stated coldly, cracking his knuckles. "Do not worry."
Dropping into a low, predatory stance, the awakened leopard exploded forward.
Moving faster than the eye could follow, Lucci aimed a clawed strike at the captain's throat, intending to end the fight.
Standing casually in front of the fallen robot, the captain simply pulled his right fist back.
Advanced Conqueror's Haki wrapped around his knuckles. The spiritual pressure condensed into a single point of impact.
Lucci's claws were inches away from the boy's neck.
Luffy punched forward.
The fist struck the assassin squarely on his temple.
The advanced Conqueror's Haki bypassed the awakened Zoan durability, crushing the assassin's ribs and scrambling his internal organs in a fraction of a millisecond.
The force plastered Lucci into the pristine, metallic floorboards of the street. The impact cratered the reinforced steel, burying the unconscious leopard man deep into the pavement.
Retracting his fist, Luffy wiped a spot of dust from his knuckles.
Standing a few yards away, Kaku and Stussy stared at the crater in silence. The strongest assassin in the history of CP9, a man who had awakened his Devil Fruit and mastered every lethal art, had been swatted down like a minor annoyance with a single punch.
A terrified gulp echoed loudly from Kaku's throat as the true, terrifying reality of facing an Emperor finally set in.