Hearing this, Dracule Mihawk shook his head without hesitation and replied, "No, Master, I only seek to be the purest swordsman, pursuing nothing but the pinnacle of swordsmanship."
Hearing the answer he had long expected, the corners of Caesar's mouth curled up slightly. "Is that so? Well, I understand."
Even if I have intervened in the course of events, the final outcome will always be intricately tied to the original plot of this world!
"Very well. The boat is ready for you. You may set sail whenever you wish."
After taking a final look at Mihawk's sharp golden eyes and imposing presence, Caesar turned his back and waved his hand dismissively.
He admired this silent and disciplined disciple—not only for his exceptional talent but for his unique temperament, exuding both aloofness and unwavering determination.
"Yes, I understand."
With a solemn nod, Mihawk retreated to the island's edge. Without hesitation, he turned and leaped off the cliff. On his descent, he stepped lightly on the air, executing Geppo (Moonwalk) to slow his fall. His movements carried a newfound refinement—each step a testament to his growing mastery.
In this time of rigorous training, Mihawk had already begun embodying the essence of the world's greatest swordsman, much like his future self.
As Mihawk departed, Caesar soared into the sky.
Recent advancements in the combat uniform had piqued his interest, and he intended to inspect the progress firsthand.
Upon reaching the moon, he found several scientists already hard at work.
His first visit was to Dr. Vegapunk, where he inquired about two major projects: the replication of Devil Fruits and the refinement of the IQ Herb to remove its violent side effects and transform it into a stable medicinal formula.
The replication of Devil Fruits had seen some initial success, though the results remained highly unpredictable. For instance, when animals consumed the replicated Azure Dragon Fruit (Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu), the outcomes varied—some grew dragon horns, others elongated into serpent-like forms, and a few transformed into four-legged lizards.
The most successful specimen had even managed to generate golden clouds beneath its feet, resembling Kaido's ability to create Flame Clouds. Yet, this was still far from perfection. What Caesar truly desired was not a mere lizard with draconic traits, but a full-fledged mythical beast—a true flying dragon.
Still, considering the complexity of Devil Fruit replication, the current progress was remarkable.
"So far, we have been able to reproduce some abilities of the Azure Dragon Fruit," Vegapunk reported.
Caesar nodded. "Impressive, but a true breakthrough will take years."
Even Vegapunk, with his unparalleled intellect, acknowledged that the replication of Devil Fruits was one of the most challenging feats imaginable.
Next, Caesar examined the progress on the IQ Herb. The removal of its primary side effect—the induced berserk state—had been largely successful. Furthermore, targeted research had uncovered potential applications in lifespan extension, focusing on controlled telomere evolution. While the current formula showed minor life-prolonging effects, its efficacy was still limited. Clinical trials had already begun, with plans to commercialize it as a high-end beauty treatment to generate substantial revenue.
After reviewing the advancements, Caesar proceeded to Judge Vinsmoke's laboratory.
There, he observed promising developments in combat technology. More than half of the Raid Suit's boot system had been completed, allowing short-term aerial maneuvering akin to Geppo. However, achieving sustained flight and mid-air combat capabilities, as seen in the original work, remained a work in progress. The miniaturization of power sources was also advancing, with efforts focused on reducing the size of the Raid Suit's transformation mechanisms.
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The Execution of the Pirate King: A New Era Approaches
Time passed swiftly. One month, two months, three months...
Half a year later, on Vermejo Island, Caesar was instructing three young prodigies. The trio—Carlos, Lucius, and Alice—had reached the age of seven. Despite their youth, their strength was formidable. Even without utilizing their Logia elemental forms, Carlos and Lucius already matched the prowess of elite Marine Colonels. If they employed Elementalization, even experienced Vice Admirals would struggle against them.
Carlos, wielding the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Fruit), had developed devastating electrical attacks, while Lucius, a user of the Pika Pika no Mi (Glint-Glint Fruit), could move at the speed of light, making him nearly untouchable.
Alice, though slightly behind in raw power, possessed an ability that set her apart—her Mythical Zoan fruit granted her an angelic form with immense regenerative properties. While her physical strength was at the Colonel level, her durability and recovery capabilities far surpassed her brothers. Moreover, her fruit had multiple transformation stages yet to be unlocked.
The trio's relentless training had led to an unexpected phenomenon: the surrounding wildlife had begun evolving in response. Beasts regularly exposed to Carlos' lightning developed natural insulation, while those encountering Lucius' light-speed movements adapted by enhancing their dynamic vision or developing reflective skin. Some had even evolved abilities akin to Pacifista technology, capable of emitting light-based attacks.
This discovery thrilled the lunar scientists, as it provided new insights into biological evolution. Even Vegapunk took an interest in creatures displaying beam weaponry, light bullets, and light shields, requesting live specimens for further study.
Caesar, recognizing the significance of this research, anticipated its applications far beyond combat. Mass-producing artificial Pacifista units with such abilities could revolutionize military warfare.
Then, at that moment, his transponder snail rang.
A deep, steady voice spoke on the other end—a report from his intelligence network.
"Your Majesty, urgent news. Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King, has turned himself in at Marineford. He has been apprehended by Vice Admiral Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Caesar's eyes narrowed.
Roger's surrender signified the end of an era—and the birth of a new one.
The World Government would soon make a grand spectacle of his execution, heralding the coming of the Great Pirate Era.
The tides of history were shifting, and Caesar had made his preparations. The world was about to be engulfed in a storm, and he intended to be at its very heart.
As he hung up the transponder snail, he reflected on the moment.
Back in his previous life, watching Roger's execution had always sent shivers down his spine.
Now, he would witness history unfold—not as a spectator, but as a player on the grandest stage of all.
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