"Forest of Abomination!!"
Araki roared, and thousands of dark green vines quickly grew, intertwining.
His body also transformed into the appearance of an ancient tree, with a humanized expression on its trunk.
Buzz.
Accompanied by a buzzing sound.
All the thorny vines gradually took on a deep, dark luster.
Armament Haki!!
"Let me show you my power!!"
Swish, swish, swish
Swish, swish, swish
The withered face on the trunk revealed a sneer.
With a flick of his arm, a large number of pitch-black vines attacked Gerd and Tashigi from all directions.
They were dense, forming an impenetrable net of fire.
"You think I'm scared of you?!"
"Flamethrower!!"
"Flame Shaping — Forest Great Boa!!"
Gerd was not to be outdone, wielding her hellflame axe with fierce momentum.
Under her control, a large amount of black flames transformed into several terrifying forest giant pythons.
They flicked their tongues, their dangerous vertical pupils fixed on Araki.
As they opened their bloodthirsty mouths, the giant pythons charged forward fearlessly.
With one bite, the vines covered in Armament Haki were directly severed.
Armor Break!!
The hellflame axe's inherent skill could effectively counter defensive types and Armament Haki users.
"Thundercloud Bomb!!"
Carrot was not to be outdone.
She tightly gripped Moonlight Dance, which was entwined with spherical thunderclouds and refined Armament Haki.
Boom, boom, boom!!
Boom, boom, boom!!
When the sword energy touched the thorny vines, it triggered widespread electric shocks and explosions.
For a time, the entire scene was in chaos.
Reno overlooked the battlefield below, sometimes furrowing his brow, sometimes relaxing it.
It had to be said that Gerd and Carrot both had strong cultivation talents, reaching this level in just over ten days.
What a pity.
With their current strength, defeating Araki was still a bit of a stretch.
After all, Gerd' Haki and the Momomo Fruit, which she relied on, had no time to improve and develop.
Carrot also couldn't unleash the true power of Moonlight Dance and the Mink Tribe.
"Hmm??"
Lost in thought, Reno suddenly raised an eyebrow, his gaze instinctively sweeping towards Baltigo.
"Tashigi, Gunko, you two will provide support here."
"If Gerd and Carrot are overwhelmed, eliminate Araki immediately."
"Don't worry, Reno."
"Yes, Captain."
The two women nodded obediently.
Each of their strengths was no less than Araki's.
If they teamed up, Araki would have no chance of survival.
"Gerd, remember to burn the entire Marine warship to ashes."
Reno remembered something and reminded her again.
"Reno!!!"
Araki, who had been constantly monitoring the movements here, suddenly let out an angry roar.
If everything was burned to ashes, he truly would have no way out.
"Understood."
Gerd glanced at Araki with a half-smile.
After giving his final instructions, Reno summoned the Golden Ark and quickly flew towards Egghead.
"I'll fight you to the death!!!"
Meanwhile, Araki unleashed his full power, seeking a sliver of a chance to survive.
At the same time.
Lilith controlled the Iron Giant to return to Egghead at the fastest speed.
Then, without stopping, she returned to the laboratory.
"What, the Marine sent people to kill us?!"
A hot-bodied, cute little girl said, feigning surprise.
She had freckles on her face, wavy pigtails, and wore goggles.
She was dressed in a dark crop top with a thick light-colored jacket over it.
She was clone number six, York, representing desire.
On the surface, she appeared lazy and fond of food, but in reality, she was extremely selfish and full of schemes.
It was she who secretly leaked Vegapunk's research on the "Void Century" to the World Government, thus incurring the murderous intent of the Five Elders.
York's goal was also simple: she wanted to replace the real Vegapunk and become a Celestial Dragon.
To enjoy endless wealth and supreme power.
"Damn it, it must be because our research on the 'Void Century' history was discovered!"
"Wait, how did the Marine know??"
Clone number four, Pythagoras, who had a robot appearance and represented wisdom, guessed the reason but quickly realized something was amiss.
Vegapunk's investigation into that period of history was extremely secretive and had never been leaked.
How did the Marine and the World Government find out?
"Could it be…"
"Oh my goodness!! I still have so many ideas in my mind that haven't been realized, I don't want to die here!!"
Clone number three, Edison, whose head was oval-shaped and whose clothes were primarily green.
Edison, representing thought, covered his face with his hands and said, somewhat distraught.
"Hehehehe, what's there to be afraid of??"
"Didn't Lilith just say those Marines have already been stopped by someone?"
"Besides, there are so many Mechanical Beasts on the island; if they dare to come, we'll just kill them directly!"
A large-bodied clone with distinct hair colors on either side, wearing light-pressure gloves on her hands and a tail dragging behind her, said.
She was clone number five, Atlas, representing ferocity.
"Atlas, don't be impulsive,"
"Even Lilith wasn't his match; I'm afraid the person the Marine sent this time is extraordinarily strong."
Clone number one, who wore a black helmet and a dark blue coat.
Shaka, representing integrity, shook his head.
"Shaka is right, that person is very powerful."
Lilith nodded repeatedly.
If it weren't for someone saving her, she might be dead by now.
"Where's Vegapunk? Where did he go??"
Shaka looked at everyone and asked.
"He should have gone to the scrap yard. He's been researching that ancient robot recently."
Edison replied.
"Lilith, quickly notify him of the news."
"Understood."
"Wait, look quickly, someone's coming!"
Just then, Pythagoras suddenly pointed at the monitoring screen.
Everyone looked in that direction.
"He is… Reno??"
Edison exclaimed in surprise.
"The person Lilith mentioned who stopped the Marine, could it be him??"
"What is Reno doing here??"
Shaka frowned, asking in confusion.
"Cough, cough," Pythagoras seemed to have thought of something.
He glanced at Lilith, York, and Atlas, then said uncertainly:
"Reno isn't here for you, is he??"
The three women froze, and when they realized, their hearts suddenly sank.
"Quickly leave here!!!"
York's reaction was the most intense.
As the desire clone, when she first heard of the Marine attack, she was secretly delighted.
Once the Marine killed Vegapunk and the other five clones,
she would be the only Vegapunk.
Who would have thought that a wild card would appear?
Although she was indignant, she would rather her plan fail than fall into Reno's hands.
At that point, there would truly be no chance left.
While Lilith and Atlas's reactions weren't as intense as York's, their expressions were extremely grim.
"Don't worry, things might not be as bad as we imagine."
Edison softly comforted the three.
Reno might be here for Vegapunk's inventions.
Although this possibility was very small.
"Let's pack our things first."
Lilith felt increasingly uneasy, and she frantically sorted through the data.
Seeing this, the other clones also sprang into action.
No matter what, it was best to be prepared for the worst.
At the same time.
Reno had already arrived on this technologically advanced island, riding on an island cloud.
Looking around, it was as if he was immersed in an ocean of technology.
What appeared before him was an incredibly dazzling scene.
Countless machine whales swam and drifted in the air, and dreamlike star trails constantly shuttled through.
A labyrinthine city of machines enveloped in large bubbles, and experimental bases shaped like rockets.
All sorts of bizarre buildings made one dizzy.
These were all the crystallization of Vegapunk's imagination.
Even Reno had to admit that Vegapunk, the genius scientist 500 years ahead of the world, truly lived up to his reputation.
After a brief moment of surprise, Reno glanced at a certain laboratory.
Inside, he sensed several presences.
Without a doubt, they should be Vegapunk's six satellites.
With his Observation Haki locking onto their presences, Reno did not go to the laboratory immediately, but instead walked towards another direction.
A large scrap yard.
In one corner, a giant steel robot was casually placed.
Reno looked at it quietly.
Emitt.
The Iron Giant created 900 years ago.
200 years ago, it attacked Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Later, due to energy depletion, it fell into a deep sleep, and the World Government ordered scientists to destroy it.
But Satan Saint, one of the Five Elders, out of selfish motives, chose to hide it and secretly research it.
Somehow, it eventually fell into Vegapunk's hands by accident.
Legend has it that it can be awakened simply by hearing the sound of the Drums of Liberation.
"What exactly is the World Government hiding?"
"What kind of existence was that Ancient Kingdom?"
"What happened during the Void Century?"
The moment he saw Emitt, even Reno felt a little dazed.
"It's a pity, you will never wake up."
Reno, having come back to his senses, shook his head.
The Nika Fruit was in his system warehouse.
Besides Luffy, he didn't know who else could transform into Nika after eating it.
Of course.
Reno would not let such a thing happen either.
"Ouch."
Suddenly.
A cry of pain came from an inconspicuous corner.
"What did you say? The Marine sent people to kill me??"
"Reno is here too?"
"Is the news true??"
Following that, a series of incredulous voices continuously entered Reno's ears.
Reno withdrew his gaze and shook his head with a light chuckle.
He walked towards that direction and soon saw the owner of the voice.
The other party was a Little Old Man who closely resembled Albert Einstein.
He had rosy cheeks, white hair, a head covering like an apple tree branch on his head, and his tongue hung out of his mouth, extending all the way to his abdomen.
He wore a white research coat with "SSG" printed on it and a floral shirt.
The most striking feature was his enormous head, which soared towards the sky.
With such an appearance, his identity was obvious.
It was none other than the genius scientist, "the man with the world's greatest brain."
The Paramecia type Devil Fruit Ability user of the Brain-Brain Fruit, Vegapunk!
Reno looked at this strangely appearing old man before him, feeling genuine respect.
Vegapunk was a true genius.
His research covered multiple fields: biology, physics, Devil Fruits, weapons, history, medicine…
And he had achieved extraordinary accomplishments in every field.
Well-known among them are:
Six satellites.
Pacifista and seraphim.
artificial devil fruits.
Ability conversion conditions — the technology to make "objects" eat Devil Fruits (e.g., the elephant sword).
PS: So it was this Little Old Man who made it.
Green Blood.
Authority Chip. (The built-in chip that controls the seraphim.)
mother flame. (The thing Imu drew on the map, which blew up the Revolutionary Army's headquarters with one shot.)
Sea Stone Battleships. (Capable of easily traversing the Calm Belt.)
In addition to these well-known ones, there were also GPFlowers, Cloud Tai, artificial diamonds, sea beast weapons, artificial organs, stem cell transplantation, holographic projection, vacuum rockets… Some may not be widely known, but their effects are no less significant.
There is a rumor about Vegapunk on the sea.
It is said that even in 500 years, no one will be able to rival his technological level.
Reno deeply agreed with this.
Such a person must be under his control.
One must know that technology has no end.
Putting aside other things for now, just the power of the mother flame alone was comparable to the three ancient weapons.
"Re… Reno!!!"
Vegapunk stammered, his long tongue flailing.
He had just received news from Lilith, and then he ran into Reno, which was really bad luck.
"Hello there, Dr. Vegapunk."
Reno greeted the Little Old Man before him with a chuckle.
"Hmm??"
"You…"
Seeing that Reno didn't seem to have any ill intentions, Vegapunk relaxed slightly. He tentatively asked:
"Reno, you… you're not here to kill me, are you??"
Reno smiled slightly and shook his head: "No, it's the World Government that wants to kill you."
"Phew."
Vegapunk patted his chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
He could live a little longer.
"Lilith said the Marine has already sent people. Did you stop them??"
Vegapunk asked.
"That's right, my people are currently engaging them."
Reno nodded in response.
"Then why are you here…"
Vegapunk frowned, feeling deeply puzzled.
Although he was engrossed in his research, who on the sea didn't know Reno's name?
Since the other party came here, he must have some ulterior motive.
It couldn't be… "Doctor, I want you to join the Reno Pirates."
Reno sincerely extended an olive branch to Vegapunk.
"Eh?"
Vegapunk's eyes widened, and an expression of surprise appeared on his face.
Many possibilities flashed through his mind, but he hadn't thought of this one.
As if he had Vegapunk figured out, Reno said confidently:
"Doctor, your research has already touched the World Government's raw nerve. They see you as a thorn in their side, and they will never let you go."
"As long as you join the Reno Pirates, I can guarantee your safety."
Vegapunk fell silent at his words.
From the moment he had this idea, he knew how dangerous it was.
But as a scientist, curiosity drove him to uncover what truly happened during the Void Century.
"World Government…"
Vegapunk murmured softly.
He knew how terrifying the World Government was.
With his own power, even if he hid at the ends of the earth, the only outcome would be death.
But once he joined the Reno Pirates, all his technological inventions would have to be shared with Reno.
"Reno, I have a question."
After a while.
Vegapunk asked with a serious expression.
Reno nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
Vegapunk looked directly into Reno's eyes and said, word by word: "I want to know, what is your ultimate goal?"
"If I join the Reno Pirates, what will you do with my research?"
For him, this was a very important question.
He didn't understand Reno's character.
What if the other party was a truly wicked person? His formidable strength combined with his own technology…
It would bring endless disaster to the sea.
If that were the case, he would rather die than surrender.
Reno fell silent.
A scene suddenly flashed through his mind.
At Baratie Restaurant in the East Blue.
Mihawk once asked him his first question.
He vaguely remembered his answer was to recruit beautiful women.
But now, his thoughts had changed.
Or rather, it was more than that.
During this time, one thing deeply moved him.
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