Darren had never imagined that a single cup of coffee could sharpen Vegapunk so dramatically.
It was as if the caffeine had clicked something into place—his gaze turning clear, focused, almost unsettlingly perceptive.
Noticing Darren's surprise, Vegapunk chuckled. "Never underestimate the power of science, Darren-san."
He gestured toward a nearby screen where pulsing red curves rose and fell in steady rhythm. At first Darren assumed it was yet another readout of lab data—such displays were everywhere in Vegapunk's workspace. But as he focused, he realized those curves were measuring something else entirely.
The intensity of his own biomagnetic field.
"Dr. Vegapunk… you can remotely detect the strength of a biomagnetic field?" Darren asked, genuinely taken aback.
Vegapunk smiled. "The essence of a biomagnetic field is radiant energy."
"Once I deciphered the energy transfer mechanism of Borsalino's Glint-Glint Fruit, it was only natural that I explored magnetic fields as well." His expression grew thoughtful. "But the deeper I went, the more complex the problems became. It only reinforced my respect for how profound—and how mysterious—this force truly is."
"The electromagnetic force…" Vegapunk murmured, almost to himself. "It feels like an unfathomable power rooted in some fundamental essence. Even I can't fully grasp its mysteries."
Darren fell silent.
Vegapunk truly deserved his reputation. Through nothing but research—within a world whose physics was still primitive by any modern standard—he had already brushed against the concept of the electromagnetic force.
On Darren's old Earth, it was one of the four fundamental forces of the universe.
If someone here ever truly unraveled it—mastered it—they wouldn't just be manipulating metal.
They'd be wielding something godlike.
Changing minds. Summoning storms. Moving planets. Opening wormholes. Maybe even reversing time… in theory, none of it would be out of reach.
Of course, it was all unimaginably distant—closer to fantasy than reality.
And yet even reaching the threshold of that understanding in this era was a feat that bordered on the miraculous.
"That's a realm I can't enter yet," Vegapunk said, a trace of regret in his smile. "I always feel as though I'm missing a few crucial pieces."
Then he chuckled, the mood lightening. "Fortunately, my research into Devil Fruits has been much more satisfying."
Darren's interest snapped into focus.
He knew the great scientists of the seas each had their own fields:
Vinsmoke Judge excelled in genetic engineering and weapon development.
Queen specialized in bioengineering and viruses.
Caesar Clown—Doflamingo's mad scientist in the original timeline—was obsessed with artificial Devil Fruits.
Each had talent. Each had achievements.
But Vegapunk surpassed them all—not only in breadth, but in depth. Especially in the study of Devil Fruits.
In that realm, no one could rival him.
Even though Darren had awakened the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, and with Queen's help had grasped the training method behind "Magnetic Field Rotation," there were still too many uncertainties he hadn't been able to resolve.
If Vegapunk could point him in the right direction, it would save him years of blind trial and wasted effort.
"Dr. Vegapunk," Darren said, "I do have some questions I need answered."
He laid out his issues succinctly—what he'd encountered, what he didn't understand, what still felt unstable.
Vegapunk listened without interrupting, occasionally nodding. When Darren finished, he fell silent for a few seconds, thinking. Then a faint smile spread across his face.
He turned back to Darren, voice calm and measured.
"Darren-san… over the years, my research has led me to a clearer understanding of what Devil Fruits truly are."
The fundamental nature of Devil Fruits.
Darren and Stussy both stiffened, instinctively sobering.
Borsalino didn't even look up. He kept clipping his nails as if Vegapunk were discussing the weather.
Hands clasped behind his back, Vegapunk began to pace slowly in front of the towering glass window, speaking like a lecturer who had waited a long time for an audience that could actually follow.
"Devil Fruits… are, in essence, the embodiment of humanity's pursuit of evolution."
"Zoan types reflect our desire to evolve into beasts—to survive harsh environments through animal strength."
"Paramecia types embody our fantasies of obtaining supernatural abilities to overcome disasters and hardship."
"As for Logia types…" His eyes sharpened behind his lenses. "They represent our desire to harness 'nature' itself."
He paused, letting the thought settle.
"In other words, all three major types are products of humanity's longing for 'evolution'—but this so-called evolution is, fundamentally, unnatural."
"And because it is unnatural, the sea—Mother Nature—rejects it."
"That is why Devil Fruit users cannot swim."
Darren's heart skipped.
As Vegapunk spoke, something flashed through Darren's mind—an insight he almost caught. Almost. Then it slipped away like mist through his fingers.
Stussy listened with a deeply furrowed brow, grasping only fragments.
Vegapunk, unhurried, took a sip of his coffee and waited with an almost indulgent patience.
"So…" Darren said abruptly, "you're saying Devil Fruits aren't naturally occurring?"
Vegapunk's smile turned quietly pleased. He looked at Darren with open admiration.
"Darren-san, your intuition truly is exceptional. You've grasped the core of it."
"Yes. This may be the essence of Devil Fruits." His tone softened, as if he were carefully choosing each word. "Perhaps they were never natural phenomena to begin with."
"Perhaps they are creations—born from some unique power, forged by some great being, or produced by an extraordinary environment…"
He shook his head slightly.
"But that part doesn't matter. From the moment a Devil Fruit is born, it is destined to be unpredictable."
"Because what it symbolizes is human evolution. And human evolution is unpredictable."
"Which means…" Vegapunk stopped pacing and looked directly at Darren, his voice suddenly solemn. "The direction you've taken with your awakening is not wrong."
"Because there is no single 'correct' path for Devil Fruit development."
"Or rather—any path that allows the user to adapt to their environment and achieve their own form of 'evolution'…"
Vegapunk's gaze held Darren's.
"…is the correct path."
To be continued...