Dust settled slowly over the pavement of the Fabiriophase.
Buried deep within the cratered street, the strongest assassin of CP0 lay unconscious. His awakened hybrid form had already begun to recede, returning the defeated agent to his human appearance.
Standing near the edge of the crater, the rubber captain tilted his head, looking unfazed. Chopper, Bonney, and Vivi stepped up beside him, glancing down at the ruined street before turning their attention to the two remaining intelligence officers.
Kaku and Stussy stood frozen in place. The single punch had shattered their resolve.
"Hey," Luffy called out, pointing a finger at the two conscious agents. "Do you guys want to fight too?"
Staring at the newly recognized Emperor of the Sea, Kaku and Stussy shook their heads. Engaging a Yonko without authorization was dangerous, but fighting a Yonko who could swat down Rob Lucci like a fly was suicide.
"Okay," the captain decided, offering a wide grin. "Then pick him up and get off the island."
Not requiring further permission, Kaku scrambled forward. Hoisting his battered comrade over his shoulder, the square-nosed agent did not offer a single threat or parting insult. Alongside Stussy, the remaining CP0 operatives retreated swiftly toward the coast, eager to put as much distance between themselves and the Straw Hat crew as possible.
Far across the ocean, inside the highest office of Marine Headquarters, the atmosphere turned hostile once more.
Listening to the latest intelligence report, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki crushed a thick stack of paperwork in his hands. The magma dripping from his knuckles scorched the edges of the desk.
"The Straw Hats are on Egghead," Sakazuki growled, his voice rumbling like an active volcano.
Connecting the dots, Marine intelligence assumed Dr. Vegapunk had discovered the assassination plot. Realizing CP0 was coming to erase him, the genius scientist had hired the newly crowned Emperor of the Sea to act as his personal bodyguard.
"Fools," the Fleet Admiral muttered, pacing behind his desk. "Sending a single CP0 unit into the territory of a Yonko is a waste of resources."
Picking up a secure Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki contacted the nearest available military asset.
Admiral Kizaru had already departed for the Egghead region on a separate, highly classified mission regarding the Pacifista project. Answering the call, the laid-back Admiral listened to the updated situation while casually sipping a cup of hot tea on his flagship.
"Change of plans, Borsalino," Sakazuki ordered sharply. "Contact CP0 immediately. Tell them to stand down and wait for Marine reinforcements. They are not to engage the Straw Hat crew under any circumstances."
"Understood, Sakazuki-san," Kizaru replied slowly, his tone unbothered by the escalating crisis.
"Furthermore," the Fleet Admiral commanded, "mobilize every single battleship currently stationed in that sector. Set a direct course for Egghead Island. We cannot allow Vegapunk to slip away under the protection of a pirate crew."
Hanging up the receiver, Kizaru relayed the new orders to his subordinates, turning a standard escort mission into a massive, full-scale military blockade.
While Headquarters scrambled to contain the Egghead situation, chaos erupted at Marine Base G-14.
Standing in the central courtyard of the base, Vice Admiral Doll clutched a transponder snail, arguing furiously with the officer on the other end of the line. Battleships were already preparing to detach from the docks, following the emergency mobilization orders issued by Kizaru.
"You cannot take a ship right now!" Doll yelled into the snail, her frustration boiling over. "We have strict orders to deploy to Egghead! The Fleet Admiral requires every available unit!"
Ignoring the Vice Admiral, a booming loud laugh echoed from the docks.
Vice Admiral Garp stood on the deck of his personal Marine vessel, chewing loudly on a bag of infinite rice crackers. The Hero of the Marines had no interest in bureaucratic orders or global blockades. His priorities rested elsewhere.
"Doll, stop yelling!" Garp laughed cheerfully into his own snail. "Egghead can wait! I have a much more important errand to run!"
Leaning over the railing of his ship, Garp spotted a familiar, tear-streaked blonde officer standing in the courtyard.
"Helmeppo!" Garp bellowed, his voice carrying easily over the bustling Marine base. "Get your gear and get on the ship, boy!"
Sniffling loudly, Helmeppo looked up in shock.
"We are going to Hachinosu!" the legendary Marine announced, a grin crossing his weathered face. "We are going to beat up those Blackbeard pirates and rescue our protégé! Come on!"
Hearing the impossible offer, fresh tears of joy streamed down the young officer's face. Abandoning his post immediately, Helmeppo sprinted toward the docks, leaving Vice Admiral Doll screaming protests into a dead transponder snail as Garp's ship prepared to sail straight into the heart of an Emperor's territory.
High above the clouds of Egghead Island, inside the pristine Labophase, the various factions finally converged.
Stepping out of the main elevator, Dr. Vegapunk's original body walked into the central monitor room. The scientist adjusted his lab coat, taking a moment to survey the massive bank of glowing screens displaying the island's exterior defenses.
The sliding doors on the opposite side of the room hissed open.
Entering the command center, the magician walked smoothly into the room, followed closely by Nami and Robin. Adjusting his dark sunglasses, Ben took a brief look around the advanced technological hub, noting the various Satellites rushing between the control panels.
Spotting the man in the blue jacket, Vegapunk abandoned the monitors instantly.
Sprinting across the room, the world's greatest scientist grabbed the magician by the hands, shaking them vigorously.
"Edgar D. Benjamin!" Vegapunk greeted enthusiastically, his eyes shining with curiosity. "It is an honor! I have read the intelligence reports. The man who restored Bartholomew Kuma's humanity! Please, you must tell me how you bypassed the neural decay!"
Pulling his hands back gently, Ben offered a casual shrug.
"It wasn't a mechanical procedure," the magician replied smoothly. "Just a bit of magic. It solves most problems rather easily."
The word acted as an immediate trigger.
"Magic?!" Vegapunk gasped, pulling a small notebook and pen from his pocket. "Fascinating! How does the energy conversion work? Does it rely on latent atmospheric particles, or is it drawn from an internal biological reserve? What is the molecular structure of a spell? Explain the thermodynamic limits!"
A rapid-fire barrage of highly technical questions flooded the room. The scientist practically vibrated with excitement, desperate to quantify the unexplainable.
Sighing softly, Ben held up a hand to stop the interrogation.
"How about this," the magician proposed. "I will give you a few books on the foundational theories of magic. You can read them yourself. It will save us both a lot of time."
Nodding vigorously, Vegapunk accepted the compromise, eagerly anticipating the new reading material.
The elevator doors chimed again.
Luffy, Vivi, Bonney, and Chopper spilled into the room. The rubber captain immediately began looking for the nearest food dispenser, unbothered by the high-tech surroundings. A moment later, Zoro and Sanji arrived from a separate corridor, accompanied by Sunny and Merry, who were marveling at the glowing floors.
Stepping into the monitor room, three imposing figures arrived.
S-Shark, S-Snake, and S-Hawk stood silently in a row. The Seraphim possessed the dark skin, white hair, and black wings of the Lunarian race, but their faces bore striking resemblances to the former Warlords of the Sea.
Resting a hand on the hilt of Wado Ichimonji, Zoro narrowed his eye, inspecting the small swordsman carrying a black blade.
"A clone," the pirate swordsman noted, recognizing the face of Dracule Mihawk. "But the presence is different. It lacks the same weight."
While Zoro analyzed the threat level of the artificial weapons, the captain found himself staring at the female Seraphim.
S-Snake possessed the facial structure of Boa Hancock. Noticing the rubber pirate staring at her, the child-like construct froze. The emotionless, Terminator-like programming faltered instantly.
Walking closer, Luffy tilted his head, oblivious to the sudden tension.
"Hey," the captain muttered, leaning his face mere inches away from the Seraphim to get a better look. "You look like Hammock. Are you related?"
The proximity proved too much for the artificial weapon.
A red flush spread across S-Snake's dark cheeks. Her eyes widened into sparkling hearts. The emotional overload caused her internal cooling systems to fail.
Steam blew out of her ears. Swaying on her feet, the Seraphim let out a quiet squeak before collapsing onto the metal floor, knocked out by a blushing fever.
Standing nearby, Vegapunk rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Fascinating," the scientist murmured, recording the interaction in his notebook. "It appears the Lineage Factor utilized in their creation carried over specific, deeply ingrained emotional traits from their original templates. I did not anticipate such a strong behavioral response."
Adjusting his sunglasses, Ben offered a deadpan expression. "You don't say."
Watching the interaction, Robin smiled serenely behind her hand, amused by the captain's effortless charm over any iteration of the Pirate Empress.
Snapping his notebook shut, Vegapunk turned his attention back to the crew.
"I have a few final preparations to conclude before we depart this island," the scientist announced, gesturing toward the launch bay. "I need to secure specific research materials."
"Depart?" Nami asked, raising an eyebrow. "We just got here. Where are you going?"
Stepping forward, Vivi quickly explained the situation. "Luffy agreed to take the doctor with us. The World Government sent those assassins to kill him. He needs a ride off the island."
The navigator nodded in agreement.
"I will return shortly," Vegapunk promised, turning toward the door. "Sentomaru, gather the Seraphim. We are heading down to the secure vaults."
Accompanied by his bodyguard and the two remaining artificial weapons, the scientist hurried out of the monitor room, leaving the pirates to their own devices.
Realizing they had free time while the doctor packed his luggage, the crew instantly shifted into vacation mode.
The advanced, automated wonders of the Labophase provided an endless playground. Sanji discovered a futuristic, fully stocked kitchen capable of synthesizing rare ingredients. Chopper and Usopp found a holographic arcade, while Franky began taking notes on the anti-gravity vehicles parked outside the dome. Merry and Sunny chased each other through the pristine corridors, enjoying the climate-controlled environment.
While the crew scattered to enjoy the technological marvels, the magician remained focused on a specific task.
Walking over to one of the nearby control consoles, Ben found the small, robotic Satellite compiling data.
"Edison," Ben called out, catching the robot's attention. "Where is York?"
Checking the internal tracking systems, the Satellite pointed toward a distant sector of the facility. "York is currently resting in the primary sleeping quarters, located in the east wing. Why do you ask? Do you require her assistance?"
"Something like that," the magician replied smoothly. "Why don't you follow me and see for yourself."
Curious about the request, Edison hovered after the man in the blue jacket, leading the way through the winding, metallic corridors of the laboratory.
Reaching the east wing, the sliding doors hissed open.
Inside the sleeping quarters, York lounged lazily on a giant, plush bed. The Satellite responsible for the biological needs of the Vegapunk collective—eating, sleeping, and using the restroom—looked up lazily as the doors opened.
"Edison?" York mumbled, stretching her arms and rubbing her eyes. "What's going on? Who is your friend?"
Stopping in the center of the room, Ben did not offer a polite greeting.
"He had something to say," Edison explained, hovering nearby.
"What do you want?" York asked, sitting up slightly, annoyed by the interruption to her nap.
Ben raised a hand.
Snapping his fingers, the fabric of reality warped instantly.
A flash of blue light consumed the bedroom. In a fraction of a second, Ben, Edison, and the treacherous Satellite vanished from the Labophase teleported into the secure, magic-dampening confines of the pocket dimension.