The air inside the personal dimension smelled of fresh grass and clean water, a contrast to the atmosphere of Egghead. No dark clouds blocked the sun, and the pressure that had weighed on their chests was gone. The sky stretched above them in a clear, endless blue.
High above the green hills, four metallic shapes broke through the clouds, flying in formation. The Red Falcon led the group, its metal wings cutting through the wind. The Blue Condor followed closely, flanked by the Yellow Eagle and the Hawk Zord.
They descended toward a stone castle perched on the highest hill. As the four Zords approached the courtyard, they slowed and hovered above the ground.
Then, directly beneath them, a large section of the cobblestone courtyard began to split apart.
Stone slabs shifted aside with a deep mechanical rumble, revealing a wide underground hangar hidden beneath the castle grounds. Bright lights flickered on inside the opening, illuminating a massive platform below.
The Red Falcon descended first, entering the underground hangar. The Blue Condor followed, with the Yellow Eagle and Hawk Zord close behind. One after another, the machines disappeared beneath the courtyard as the platform carried them down into the hidden facility.
Once the last Zord had entered, the stone slabs slid back into place, sealing the opening and restoring the courtyard to its original appearance.
Ben stood in the center of the courtyard, waiting as the rest of the crew stepped through the portal from Egghead just before the tear in space snapped shut. The fight had left marks on everyone. Dirt covered their clothes, sweat soaked their collars, and bruises colored their skin.
"Gather around," Ben called out.
As the crew formed a loose circle on the stones, Ben used Golden Fleece on them. The Golden Fleece radiated a warm light. He held it up, activating the magic.
A wave of golden energy washed over the courtyard. The moment it touched the crew, the effects took hold. The cuts on Zoro's arms stitched themselves shut, leaving smooth skin behind. The scorch marks on Sanji's suit faded, and the bruising along Yamato's ribs vanished. The exhaustion drained from their muscles, replaced by a surge of stamina.
Luffy stretched both arms high into the air, letting out a long, satisfied breath. "Shishishi! That magic wool feels great!"
"The immediate damage is gone," Ben said, tucking the fleece back into his pocket. "But your bodies still require food and rest to fully recover. Let's head inside."
He pushed open the wooden doors of the keep. The entrance hall was warm, illuminated by torches that cast shadows across the stone walls. A long wooden table dominated the center of the room, surrounded by chairs.
Vegapunk sat at the far end, with his satellites—Shaka, Lilith, Edison, Pythagoras, Atlas, and York—occupying the seats nearby. Sentomaru leaned against a stone pillar, resting his broadaxe on the floor. They all looked up as the pirates entered.
"You survived," Vegapunk said, standing up and adjusting his glasses. "We've been waiting for five hours."
"The fight ended," Zoro said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. He rested his three blades against the table.
Sentomaru stepped forward, gripping his axe handle. "Did Uncle Kizaru leave?"
"Kizaru went on a vacation," Ben answered smoothly. "The admiral is currently resting on a beach in the East Blue."
Vegapunk walked around the table, studying the crew. He noted the complete lack of injuries, his gaze eventually lingering on Luffy. "How did you guys fight?"
Luffy dropped into a chair next to Zoro and crossed his arms. "A giant robot woke up. It punched a giant worm, untied a knot, and then a big wave of Haki pushed the monsters away. So the fight stopped."
Vegapunk froze in his tracks. He stared at Luffy, his hands beginning to shake. "The giant robot? The iron giant from two hundred years ago? It moved?"
"It punched a worm," Luffy confirmed with a nod.
"The energy source," Vegapunk muttered, pacing back and forth across the stone floor. "The ancient energy source. We failed to replicate the power. We failed to understand the fuel. What triggered its activation?"
Ben pulled out a chair and sat down. "The robot heard the drums. It heard the heartbeat. That sound provided the power."
Vegapunk stopped pacing and turned toward Luffy. "The heartbeat?"
"My heartbeat," Luffy said, tapping his chest. "My heart sounds different sometimes. Don. Da-da. Don. Da-da. The robot liked the sound."
Vegapunk moved closer to the table, his eyes locked onto the captain. "When did your heartbeat change? What form did your body take?"
Nami sank onto a wooden bench nearby, resting her Clima-Tact on the floor. "Luffy changed his form when he used his awakening powers. His hair and clothes turned completely white. The ground turned into rubber, and his fighting style became ridiculous."
Vegapunk leaned over the table, his expression serious. "Straw Hat. Answer me this. What Devil Fruit did you consume?"
Luffy tilted his head, treating the question as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "The Gum Gum fruit. It turned my body into rubber. Shanks brought it to my village."
Vegapunk shook his head. He slammed a hand onto the wooden table, the smack echoing through the hall.
"Incorrect," Vegapunk stated loudly. "The old Devil Fruit encyclopedia contains the records of every known fruit. It holds descriptions, powers, and names. The Gum Gum fruit does not exist in that text. The name is a fabrication."
The entrance hall went silent.
Zoro stopped reaching for a cup of water. Nami paused, her hand hovering over a piece of parchment. Usopp dropped a small wrench onto the stone floor with a clatter, while Chopper stared with wide eyes. Everyone has the same reaction.
Only two people in the room didn't react. Ben sat comfortably in his chair, watching the conversation unfold, while Robin sat beside him with her legs crossed, calm. Ben had shared the truth with the archaeologist already.
"No Gum Gum fruit?" Usopp asked, his voice cracking the silence. He looked from Luffy to Vegapunk. "But Luffy's body is literally rubber. It has to be the Gum Gum fruit."
"His body possesses the properties of rubber," Vegapunk corrected, resuming his pacing. "But the awakening brings a specific change. White hair. White clothes. A heartbeat resembling a drum. The ability to fight with freedom, altering the environment based solely on imagination."
He stopped at the head of the table and looked at the crew.
"The World Government hid its true name because they feared its power," Vegapunk explained. "They erased its existence from the records. That fruit does not belong to the Paramecia class. It belongs to the Mythical Zoan class."
Luffy blinked. "A Zoan? Like Chopper?"
"Exactly like Chopper," Vegapunk nodded. "The fruit holds the name of a god. The Hito Hito no Mi. Model: Nika. The Sun God. The White Warrior of Liberation."
Every eye in the room turned to the captain.
"A god," Zoro said flatly. He picked up his cup of water and took a long drink. "Still looks like an idiot to me."
"Luffy ate a god," Chopper whispered, clutching his head with both hooves.
"Our captain holds the power of a mythical deity," Brook said, his skeletal jaw dropping slightly. "My eyes would pop out of my skull, if I had any! Yohohoho!"
"The government hunted that fruit for eight hundred years," Vegapunk continued, oblivious to the crew's antics. "But it always evaded capture. Zoan fruits hold a will of their own. The fruit chose the eater. Its awakening signals the return of Joy Boy."
The crew fell silent again as they processed the information. Their captain held the most hunted power in the world, carrying the legacy of an ancient, forgotten figure. The scale of the revelation hung in the air.
Luffy sat silently in his chair, looking down at his hands. He stretched his fingers slightly, pulling the rubbery skin. A look of concentration crossed his face, his eyebrows pulling together as if he were struggling with a problem.
"Luffy?" Nami asked, leaning forward on the bench. "Are you okay? I know the news is shocking."
Luffy looked up at her, then back down at his hands.
"The name is wrong," he said.
"The name of the fruit?" Vegapunk asked.
"The name of my attacks," Luffy clarified, raising a fist in distress. "I use the name of the fruit. Gomu Gomu no Pistol. Gomu Gomu no Bazooka. The name feels right!"
He lowered his fist, looking miserable.
"The new name sounds strange," Luffy complained. "Hito Hito no Pistol? Nika Nika no Bazooka? The words don't match the punch at all! Do I need to rename every single attack? That sounds like a massive pain!"
The entire crew stared at him. The silence returned to the hall, somehow heavier than before.
Sanji let out a long, tired sigh and pulled a cigarette from his pocket. Zoro shook his head, setting his water cup down. Nami slapped her palm against her forehead, the smack echoing through the room. Rest immediately followed suit, creating a chorus of facepalms that filled the entrance hall.
"The fate of the world rests on the shoulders of a brained idiot," Sanji muttered, turning away from the table. "I will leave you guys to him, I'm going to make food."
The cook walked through the doorway leading to the castle kitchen. Vivi stood up from her chair near the wall, smiling slightly at her captain's priorities, and followed Sanji out of the hall.
The castle kitchen was outfitted by Ben with modern, high-end equipment. Wide stone counters stretched across the room, leading to an iron stove against the back wall. Knives rested on a magnetic strip, while copper pots and pans hung from a metal ceiling rack.
"Wash the potatoes," Sanji instructed softly, handing Vivi a basket. "Peel the carrots and chop the onions. The crew needs high calories to replace all that burned stamina."
Vivi nodded. Taking a scrub brush, she began cleaning the skins of the potatoes, the water splashing gently in the basin.
Sanji grabbed a chef's knife and placed a large cut of beef on a wooden cutting board. His blade moved in a blur, slicing smoothly through the meat to create even portions. The steel hitting the board settled into a fast, steady rhythm. Chop-chop-chop-chop.
Moving to the stove, he turned the dials. Blue flames flared to life beneath the iron burners. Sanji set a deep pot over the fire, adding oil, garlic, and chopped onions. A loud sizzle filled the kitchen, releasing a savory aroma that drifted into the main hall.
Vivi brought a bowl of peeled carrots to the counter, picked up a smaller knife, and began slicing. Her cuts lacked Sanji's speed, but the orange pieces fell neatly onto the board.
"That fight was difficult," Vivi said softly, keeping her eyes on her knife. "The enemies held too much power. My attacks didn't work, and I still couldn't coat my spear with conquerors haki."
Sanji threw the cubed meat into the hot pot, searing it instantly to lock in the juices, and began stirring with a wooden spoon.
"They have a specific trick," Sanji replied, adding a pinch of salt. "Their immortality covers up a lack of actual skill. Those beasts rely on healing. They don't block. They don't dodge. Surviving them required endurance, not superior technique. Your spirit is strong, Vivi-chan. You will soon be able to coat it with conquerors haki."
Vivi stopped chopping and looked over at him. "Luffy-san defeated one. The robot defeated one."
"Our captain breaks the rules," Sanji said, pouring a rich, dark broth over the seared meat. "And the robot holds ancient power. The rest of us just have to adapt. And we will. The next time we clash with them, the result will be different."
Vivi nodded, picking up her knife again. The chopping resumed, and the kitchen fell into a comfortable silence, filled only by the sounds of boiling broth, sizzling meat, and the steady rhythm of preparation.
An hour later, Sanji carried huge iron pot out of the kitchen, followed by Vivi with a stack of ceramic bowls and wooden spoons.
The crew was waiting at the long table, their stomachs rumbling at the smell. Sanji set the pot in the center of the table while Vivi passed the bowls around. Grabbing a ladle, Sanji served up a thick stew. Chunks of tender beef, soft potatoes, and sweet carrots swam in a dark gravy, accompanied by baskets of warm bread for dipping.
"Eat," Sanji commanded.
They didn't hesitate. Spoons clattered against bowls as the food vanished. Luffy ate with his usual speed, shoveling the stew into his mouth, swallowing without chewing, and immediately reaching for a refill.
Even the Vegapunks ate quietly on the other side of the table, though York managed to consume five bowls in ten minutes, easily matching the pirate captain's appetite.
As the warm food filled their empty stomachs, the last remnants of adrenaline faded, and exhaustion settled over the group.
Luffy's head bobbed. His chin hit his chest, and a small snore escaped his lips. Zoro leaned back in his chair and closed his eye. Nami rested her head on the wooden table, using her arms as a pillow, while Usopp slumped against his chair, fast asleep.
Ben stood up. "The bedrooms are on the second floor," he announced to the few who were still awake. "Find a room and rest. The day ends here."
Sanji nodded, quietly gathering a few empty bowls. Brook stood and gently nudged Luffy awake, guiding the sleepy captain toward the stone stairs. Yamato simply scooped Usopp up, throwing the sniper over his shoulder like a sack of flour, and followed the skeleton up to the upper levels.
Slowly, the crew migrated upstairs. The wooden doors clicked shut one by one until the main hall grew quiet.
Ben didn't go upstairs. Instead, he turned toward the main Vegapunk, who was still sitting at the table, staring thoughtfully at an empty bowl.
"Walk with me," Ben said.
Vegapunk looked up, then nodded, pushing his chair back to stand. Sentomaru moved to follow, but Ben raised a hand to stop him.
"This conversation requires privacy," Ben said. "Rest, Sentomaru. That axe looks heavy."
Sentomaru glanced at Vegapunk, who nodded his permission, before sitting back down and resting his head against the stone pillar.
Ben led the scientist out of the main hall and down a stone corridor, the torches flickering softly as they passed. At the end of the hall, Ben pushed open an oak door.
The room served as a private study. A wooden desk dominated the center, surrounded by bookshelves packed with ancient texts and modern journals. Ben walked behind the desk and took the leather chair, while Vegapunk settled into a wooden seat opposite him.
"We need to discuss your plans," Ben started, resting his hands on the wood of the desk. "The situation has changed. Egghead is empty. The lab was left behind. You need a direction for the future."
Vegapunk sighed, reaching up to rub his tired eyes. "I have no plan for the future," he admitted, his voice sounding old and weary. "My calculations predicted a different outcome. They predicted my death. All my preparations were focused solely on saving the knowledge—sacrificing my main body to allow the satellites to escape. My goal ended at survival."
Ben leaned back, observing the scientist. For all his genius, the man lacked a long-term vision.
"Survival is a poor goal," Ben stated. "It simply delays the inevitable. The world requires change, and your knowledge requires application." He leaned forward again. "I'm proposing a deal. The terms are simple. The Straw Hat pirates will provide you with an island. We will provide resources, protection, and secrecy. We will supply the materials necessary for any experiment, invention, or theory you wish to test."
Vegapunk listened closely, his eyes locking onto the pirate.
"In return," Ben continued, "I want your loyalty. Your knowledge works for this crew. Your inventions serve our fleet. Your mind prepares for the coming war."
Vegapunk frowned slightly, rubbing his chin as he processed the terms. "A war against the World Government. That is a massive undertaking. A war of that scale will consume the seas and burn the islands."
"It's a necessary war," Ben corrected. "The current rulers hold the world stagnant. They erase history and hoard technology. This war will remove that stagnation."
"And after the war?" Vegapunk asked. "What happens when the empty throne falls? The world will require structure. The oceans will need leadership."
"Your mind will provide the leadership," Ben answered smoothly. "Your technology will build the new structure. Your knowledge will guide the survivors."
Vegapunk fell quiet, his gaze drifting toward the bookshelves as his mind raced through possibilities, equations, and outcomes.
"The world faces a grave threat," Vegapunk spoke softly, his eyes still distant. "My calculations revealed a terrible truth. The sea levels are rising. The use of ancient weapons causes catastrophic earthquakes. The land is slowly disappearing. Eventually, this world will sink beneath the ocean."
Ben raised a hand, stopping the explanation. "I know."
Vegapunk snapped his head back, staring at Ben in surprise. "That knowledge is a closely guarded secret. My research took years. How could your crew possibly know the truth?"
"The source matters little," Ben said calmly. "The truth is what it is. The sinking of the world is approaching, and preparation has to start now. Technology must save the people when the water rises. This deal provides you the time and safety to build that solution."
Vegapunk searched the pirate captain's face. He saw no deception, only confidence.
Slowly, the scientist nodded. "Deal," Vegapunk agreed. "My knowledge will serve your crew. My inventions will prepare the world."
Ben smiled slightly. "Excellent. The first step is relocation. The satellites and the machines need a safe base of operations, one with isolation." He tapped a finger on the desk. "Do you know the location of an empty island? Somewhere far from the trading routes, lacking resources, populations, or tactical value. It doesn't need to be a secret. My magic will provide the secrecy."
Vegapunk closed his eyes, accessing the database stored within his brain, scanning the maps of the four Blues and the Grand Line.
"There is an island in the West Blue," Vegapunk said. "It sits in a dead zone of currents. The land is nothing but bare rocks and sparse trees. The soil can't grow crops, and marine charts list it as a severe navigational hazard. No ships ever visit."
"Perfect," Ben said. "Focus your mind. Picture the island. The rocks, the trees, the shoreline. Hold that image."
Vegapunk concentrated, pulling the rocky landscape to the forefront of his thoughts.
Ben stood up, walked around the desk, and stopped beside Vegapunk's chair. He reached out, pressing a finger lightly against the scientist's temple. Using his mind-reading abilities, Ben saw the image, the coordinates, and the location in the West Blue.
He pulled his finger away. "The location is secured."
Ben walked toward the door. "Gather the satellites. Gather Sentomaru and the machines. We are relocating immediately."
Vegapunk followed Ben back to the main hall, where the satellites were resting in their chairs and Sentomaru sat by the pillar.
"Stand up," Vegapunk ordered. "Our destination awaits."
As they rose, Ben raised a hand. He focused his mind on the coordinates in the West Blue and snapped his fingers. The space inside the hall twisted. The Vegapunks, Sentomaru, and the machines waiting out in the courtyard vanished instantly.
Ben snapped his fingers again and followed them.
He appeared on a rocky shore, the air smelling sharply of salt and dry earth. The West Blue ocean washed gently against the gray stones. The island matched Vegapunk's memory perfectly—a desolate stretch of bare rocks and a few twisted, hardy trees clinging to the dirt. It held no life, no buildings, and no inherent value.
Vegapunk and the group stood nearby, surveying the empty landscape while the Vegaforce-01 hovered quietly overhead. The Seraphim and Pacifistas stood in rows.
Reaching into his pocket, Ben pulled out two smooth Kimyo beads. He tossed one to Vegapunk and the other to Sentomaru.
"These beads provide instant communication," Ben explained as Vegapunk inspected the surface. "They ignore distance and jamming signals. Speak into the bead to reach the crew. Request materials, tools, or food, and a portal will deliver them."
"This island requires a laboratory," Vegapunk noted, looking at the barren rocks. "You also said about books of magic, do you have them?"
Ben nodded. "I have what you need."
He raised a hand, pointing at a patch of dirt near the center of the island. Accessing his spatial storage, Ben commanded specific items to leave his inventory.
A portal tore open in the air above the dirt.
Books didn't just fall from the rift; they poured out like a waterfall. Thick, leather-bound tomes hit the earth, followed by ancient scrolls and books. Thousands upon thousands of books, covering every conceivable magical and scientific discipline collected from multiple worlds, tumbled down, forming a mountain of paper and leather on the dry earth.
The portal snapped shut.
Vegapunk stared at the towering pile, his eyes wide and his hands shaking with excitement. The volume of knowledge sitting in the dirt easily surpassed the library of Ohara.
"The answers are in there," Ben said, watching the scientist's reaction. "Combine the magic with your science. Read the texts. Build the lab. Build the future."
Turning away from the books, Ben knew the island still required security. He kicked off the rocky ground, flying high into the air until he could look down over the entire landmass. Tapping into the teachings of Medea, he drew upon Nasuverse magic to provide isolation.
Ben raised both hands, his fingers tracing complex, glowing purple runes in the empty air. The runes connected rapidly, forming a circle in the sky.
"Bounded Field," Ben spoke softly.
The purple circle pulsed, raining magic down over the island. The energy soaked into the rocks, the trees, and the dirt. Ben layered the spells. The first created a physical barrier—a dome of hardened magic that stopped physical entry and blocked Den Den Mushi signals. The second was an illusion, bending the light around the island so that from the outside, it vanished, blending with the surrounding ocean. The third was a subconscious repulsion field; any ship sailing near the coordinates would experience unease, prompting navigators and captains to alter their course without realizing why.
The island in the West Blue effectively ceased to exist.
Ben lowered his hands as the purple runes faded. The magic settled into the environment, invisible and absolute.
His work finished, Ben focused on the personal dimension, snapped his fingers, and vanished from the sky.
He reappeared in the quiet hallway of his castle. The torches still flickered on the walls, and the silence of the sleeping crew filled the building.
Ben walked down the hall and pushed open a wooden door. The bedroom smelled pleasantly of old paper and lavender. Moonlight shined through a high window, casting a silver glow over the bed where Robin lay sleeping, her dark hair spilling across the white pillows.
Closing the door, Ben walked to the edge of the bed and lay down on top of the blankets, too tired to bother removing his clothes. He reached out, wrapping an arm around Robin's waist and pulling her close. The warmth of the contact was grounding after the chaos of the day.
Robin stirred slightly. She opened her eyes, looking at him in the silver light, before shifting and wrapping an arm around his chest to hug him back.
"Is the work finished?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep.
"The deal is finished," Ben whispered softly.
Robin smiled slightly and closed her eyes again. "Good. Now rest."
Ben nodded, resting his chin gently against her hair. Their breathing synchronized in the quiet room, and exhaustion finally claimed him.
The night passed without interruption.
The morning sun eventually broke through the clouds, casting a warm light over the personal dimension as birds sang in the trees outside the castle.
Inside, the crew woke up refreshed. The deep sleep had repaired their lingering fatigue; their bodies felt light, and their minds were sharp. Dressed in clean clothes found in the castle wardrobes, they gathered in the main hall.
Sanji had prepared a quick, light breakfast of fresh fruit, warm bread, and hot coffee. The crew ate eagerly, ready to move on. The battle on Egghead Island was already in the past; the journey forward was calling.
Ben walked into the hall. "The ship is waiting outside."
The pirates left the castle, walking across the cobblestone courtyard and down the green hill. The Thousand Sunny sat waiting on the grass, its lion figurehead shining in the morning light.
They boarded quickly. Franky checked the helm, Sanji inspected the kitchen stores, and Nami checked the Log Pose strapped to her wrist.
Standing on the deck, Ben looked over his crew. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
The magic shifted space around them, and the personal dimension vanished.
The Thousand Sunny appeared on the open ocean. Blue water stretched out in all directions beneath a bright sun, and a steady wind blew past, carrying the familiar smell of salt and adventure.
Nami looked down at the Log Pose. The three needles spun for a moment before settling. The middle needle pointed firmly forward.
"The path is clear!" Nami announced, pointing toward the horizon. "And the wind is blowing strong."
Luffy ran to the front of the ship and vaulted onto the lion figurehead, sitting directly on the carved mane. He pointed a hand forward, a massive grin stretching across his face.
"Set sail, to next island!" Luffy shouted, his voice carrying joyfully over the waves.
The sails caught the wind, and the wood groaned softly as the Thousand Sunny cut through the waves, leaving a trail of white foam in its wake. The journey to the land of the giants had begun.
---
A/N: The narration will continue once the Elbaph arc is finished. New information comes out every week and keeps forcing me to scrap my planned ending, so I'm waiting until the arc is complete before writing it.