Ren had another reason for wanting to fuse the Ender Pearl.
It was a consumable item with a low draw rate, yet its function was undeniable.A punch strong enough to send the Red-Haired Emperor flying, escaping Garp's pursuit—all of it was possible thanks to the "castling" maneuver that mimicked teleportation.
And now, with Crocodile as his next opponent, instantaneous movement was an invaluable survival tool.
That said, replacing the final "dessert" ingredient with Seastone could also prove useful against him.After some deliberation, Ren ultimately decided—the dessert slot would remain the Ender Pearl. There was no rush for anti-Devil Fruit weaponry; even if Crocodile was formidable, the Revolutionary Army had already agreed to provide support.
Yes—The Revolutionaries had replied. They'd accepted the trade and dispatched a Division Commander to meet him. By his calculation, that commander—one named Karasu—should already be nearing the waters of Alabasta.
Under those circumstances, there was no need to rush special anti-fruit preparations. For the Devil Fruit users of Paradise, ambition alone was enough of a counter. It wasn't as though another boss-level enemy like Shanks would suddenly show up and charge him head-on. Beyond that, there wasn't much more he could do.
Of course,he could remove the trident from the synthesis, adding its enchantments later.
However—Ren had thrown in the fragment of the Rat Talisman. Its properties of turning stillness into motion and death into life were no mere figure of speech. Most importantly, he wanted the "Loyalty" attribute to merge with whatever "life" might be born from this process.
That was a far more cautious consideration.
Then it's settled.
Ren unrolled the Synthesis Scroll, placing the Gáe Bolg into the sixth slot before inscribing his thoughts into the runes. Then, just like preparing a lavish meal, he filled each remaining space with the appetizer, entrée, main dish, side dish, and finally—the dessert.
Without hesitation, he initiated the synthesis.
A burst of radiant white light erupted from the scroll, flooding the room in brilliant violet-blue energy.
When the glow faded, a tiny sphere of lightning hovered in his hand. It looked like a knot of jagged, twisting lightning—its core a deep violet, fading outward into bright azure. It lasted only a few seconds before the lightning collapsed inward toward the purple core——and before Ren's expectant gaze, it reshaped itself into a faint, dragon-like silhouette that danced around his palm.
An indescribable connection surged between them; Ren could feel emotions like joy, excitement, and affection radiating from the small creature.
A light-screen prompt appeared before his eyes:
[Thunder Spear]
Origin: One Piece Dimension / Fate/Stay Night / Fairy Tail / Jackie Chan Adventures / Minecraft / Runeterra
Type: Soul Armament
Effect: A perfect fusion of multiple mystical artifacts synthesized via scroll, granting numerous traits—"Thunder Spirit," "Metamorphosis," "Lock-On," "Energy Overflow," "Teleportation," "Lightning Control," and "Static-Dynamic Balance."
Thunder Spirit Trait — Awakened by the Rat Talisman's fragment, granting life to the broken dragon soul.Due to the Loyalty Enchantment infused during synthesis, it holds absolute attachment and obedience to "Ren". However, because the dragon soul's memories and personality were eroded by Dragon-Slaying Magic, it lacks advanced intellect—only possessing the emotional capacity of a three-year-old child. Its will manifests only while in Thunder Spirit form.
Metamorphosis Trait — The Thunder Spirit's core exists as a spiritual essence; it has no true physical mass except for its one-centimeter core. It can alter size and form freely—transforming into blades, guns, or cannons—but the spear form remains optimal.
Lock-On Trait — The wielder may communicate telepathically with the Thunder Spirit to mark and relentlessly pursue targets.
Energy Overflow Trait — Continuously absorbs natural electric charges and supernatural thunder energy, storing it within the Thunder Spirit. Once charged to a threshold, it activates Teleportation and Lightning Control traits.
Teleportation Trait — Consumes stored thunder energy to summon lightning within a hundred-meter radius; the wielder can instantly switch positions with the summoned lightning.
Lightning Control Trait — Can attract, shape, and command thunder. The Thunder Spear can amplify its charge into more powerful strikes or direct lightning-based attacks.
Static-Dynamic Balance Trait — Created from the residual power of the Rat Talisman fused with the Thunder Spirit and the Riptide Enchantment. This effect causes alternating positive and negative charges in the surrounding area, generating micro-lightning and boosting the weapon's speed within the electric field.
During rainfall, the wielder can achieve short-term levitation flight.
Consumption: None.
Ren read the entire description carefully, then closed his eyes, syncing his mind with the Thunder Spirit.
The dragon-like spirit glowed, crackling as it elongated into a spear nearly one-point-seven meters long.With a flick, it reshaped again into a streak of lightning.
Not bad—holding it felt like gripping pure thunder, yet without any paralyzing shock. It was like grasping solid metal that hummed with power.
When Ren's will sank deeper, guiding the spirit in finer detail,the lightning coiled tighter, morphing into a cyan-violet flintlock pistol—though the result looked more like an ornate toy than a weapon.
Even so,its power was undeniable. Ren could feel the energy raging within—the thunder pulsing like a living heartbeat.
It absorbs thunder energy… then maybe I can store it inside my body too?
He reduced the spear back into a small bolt and experimentally swallowed it. His Fire Calabash template possessed the power to produce lightning—"Thunderclap". He simply needed to exhale, and a flash of lightning would blast forth. Lightning and flame shared the same generation mechanism—both converted from his life force.
Since the Thunder Spear had no physical mass, he might be able to nurture it internally like a divine artifact.
After a few moments of testing—yes, it worked. He could warm and nurture it within himself.He barely even felt it—his physique had advanced enough, and his vitality was abundant enough to produce endless bolts.
And of course—he still had plenty of high-grade medicinal tonics on hand.
Once the draw was complete, Ren rose to prepare for the next matter—the Baroque Works conference, scheduled for the afternoon.
Robin had handled everything perfectly. She knew the temperament and egos of the senior agents well, and she'd resolved any potential leaks that could expose Ren's identity.
Of course—it was also thanks to her tact.
"Marianne, see that? It's raining—but not the right kind of rain. You know why?"
Mr. 3—Galdino—stood at the window, squinting into the shimmering sunlight. The thunderstorm had faded, leaving the air moist and heavy. The streets of Nanohana were alive with laughter; desert citizens danced and splashed in puddles, beaming with joy.
But human joy was not shared equally. Watching their smiles only made Galdino feel more irritable—like a fly caught in a web, thrashing for escape.
Marianne looked up from her sofa, her tone flat as ever. "If you're planning something, I'll make sure you get a decent burial… for old times' sake."
"You're not even curious?" Galdino asked, faintly frustrated.
"I only know one thing," she said coldly. "Our superior is someone we could never hope to oppose. Whatever you're thinking, I want no part of it. In fact, since you've already told me this—if you step out that door, I'll report you. Live or die, that's up to you.You want to know why?"
She sat up, brushing cookie crumbs from her fingers and showing them to him. "Because you're trash. So am I. But I didn't work this hard just to end up dead."
"…Hah."
Galdino took a long breath but said nothing more.
A knock came at the door, followed by a low voice: "Mr. 3, Miss Goldenweek. The BOSS requests your presence in the top-floor conference hall."
Footsteps faded.
"Mr. 1—Shura?" Marianne murmured. "He seems cold-blooded."
"I'm more curious," Galdino replied, "how a swordsman like him managed to defeat that swordsman."
He shook his head, opened the door, and walked out. "Come on. Let's not keep the BOSS waiting."
At nearly the same moment, doors opened throughout the Baroque Works tower as senior agents converged toward the top floor.
"This is exciting," said Zala—Miss Doublefinger—swaying her hips as she walked. Beside her, Bon Clay pranced and twirled dramatically.
Her former partner, Daz Bonez, had challenged the new Mr. 1—Shura—and lost his life. She'd tried to approach her new partner, but he'd been cold and indifferent, so she ended up pairing with Mr. 2 instead.
Bon Clay twirled his scarf and said cheerfully, "Who knows? The BOSS is showing up in person for the first time—must be something important!"
As they turned a corner, two more figures appeared. One held a parasol—Miss Valentine, hopping along lightly. The other was a new addition to Baroque Works, a personal recruit of the BOSS himself—Jewelry Bonney, former bounty 21.1 million.
Her codename: Mr. Bucket.
Since the title came directly from the BOSS, no one dared mock it. Thus, despite her resistance, the nickname stuck like glue.
"I told you," Miss Valentine grumbled, "with you on our side, the Flame Queen and Weather Messenger's Mr. 4 positions should've been ours!"
Bonney yawned, digging at her ear. "Whatever. I don't care."
Her mind was elsewhere—on the Revolutionary Army. Ren had said those people were her father's comrades, and their subsequent contact had even shown her proof. Now she didn't know what to feel.
Fortunately, the thoughts vanished once they stepped into the conference room.
"Bonney!" The cheerful Nojiko waved her over. Beside her, Nami scribbled something into a notebook, head lowered.
"Is everyone here?" Robin entered just then, standing beside the head chair. She subtly crushed an Ender Pearl between her fingers.
A flash of light——and Ren, clad in a black coat, appeared before them.
Robin quietly turned the high-backed chair, and Ren sat down, leaning back in a relaxed posture as his gaze swept across the room.
"As you can see," he said evenly, "I'm the BOSS of Baroque Works."
"Whether you've heard of me or not doesn't matter. If anyone disagrees, speak now. Just note—I'm not good at solving problems, but I'm excellent at solving the people who create them."
Silence.
The agents all lowered their heads instinctively under his gaze. None had forgotten how effortlessly he'd crushed them under the storm that day. Those who hadn't witnessed it firsthand still felt the weight of that legend.
"Good. Let's begin."
Ren's tone turned sharp. "You all know Baroque Works' founding purpose. And I believe you also know—we were never meant to be heroes. Our blade is aimed—at this nation itself."
"Oooh! That's so exciting! I can't wait!" Bon Clay burst out, face flushing under his heavy makeup.
"Do not interrupt me," Ren said coldly.
"Sorry, BOSS!" He shrank back immediately, sticking out his tongue like a chastised child.
Everyone else twitched in disgust, barely holding back a groan. The antics of a flamboyant okama were… a bit much for most of them.
Ren's expression darkened, but he ignored it. Honestly, if not for maintaining his composure, he might've zapped Bon Clay into oblivion right then. The guy had charisma—but cute wasn't his style.
"Alright," Ren continued, "now that the purpose is clear, let's talk about our enemy. The Utopia Project is entering its next phase. We're closer than ever to the final goal. And standing in our way… is one enemy who deserves Baroque Works' full attention."
His voice dropped, grave and commanding.
"The current Warlord of the Sea—Crocodile."
"If that's our target," Zala mused, "then it makes sense to summon us all."
"Exactly," said Miss Valentine, floating into the air with a dramatic spin. "Otherwise, there'd be no reason for the BOSS to appear! But it doesn't matter—he'll die by our hands. No one Baroque Works targets has ever lived to tell the tale!"
Are these people really that easy to fool? Nami and Nojiko exchanged a glance.
Their subtle motion didn't go unnoticed; several agents tensed immediately. Marianne frowned and kicked Galdino under the table.
Galdino forced a dry laugh. "Ahem—besides the BOSS, that was all just a misunderstanding."
"Ha—right," Miss Valentine replied quickly, realizing what he meant. "That was Sunday's mistake!"
She shifted blame deftly toward Miss All Sunday, referring to the battle on Darwin Island. After all, if that woman hadn't abused her authority and loopholes, none of them would've faced the BOSS and suffered humiliation. The thought rekindled her fury.
In her mind, Miss All Sunday deserved to be torn apart.
(End of Chapter)