There's no such thing as a "correct" path when it comes to developing a Devil Fruit!
Vegapunk's words left Daren frozen in place.
Though he had awakened the Jiki Jiki no Mi during his battle with Michael, the leader of the God's Knights, the side effects that followed had always weighed on him. Deep down, he couldn't help but doubt himself.
After all, in the original storyline, no matter the type of Devil Fruit, no awakening ever came with side effects this severe.
Over time, he had figured out how to use "magnetic field rotation" to assist his training, managing to reduce the side effects to a tolerable level... but even then, that method had never been validated by any real expert.
The chubby guy in suspenders might've been a genius scientist, sure—but his expertise was mostly in virology and bioengineering. When it came to Devil Fruits, his knowledge was severely limited. He hadn't even awakened his own Devil Fruit yet.
But now, with Vegapunk's confirmation, the last sliver of doubt in Daren's heart vanished.
The terrifying side effects of his Devil Fruit weren't a flaw—he was awakening it in a direction no one had ever explored before.
In other words, this was a form of "evolution" humanity had never seen.
"But Daren-san," Vegapunk's voice grew heavier, "the path toward greater, unknown heights is always full of obstacles."
He spoke slowly. "From my assessment, even if you use your so-called 'low-frequency magnetic field' method to stimulate evolution, it likely won't eliminate the side effects completely."
"Chronic toxins are still toxins. Scientists love to say 'the dose makes the poison,' but in truth, even the smallest dose builds up over time and will eventually harm the body."
Daren frowned.
"So what you're saying, Dr. Vegapunk, is that the damage from magnetic field rotation is unavoidable?"
Vegapunk nodded.
"That's my estimate—but there may be exceptions."
"Every evolution comes with a cost. Since Devil Fruits are unnatural to begin with, evolving them means going against nature itself—and that always demands a price."
Daren fell silent.
Stussy cast a worried glance his way.
That "price" was clear enough—it meant shortening one's lifespan.
Borsalino paused mid-action, lifting his head to look at Daren.
Vegapunk hesitated for a moment, then suddenly added,
"If you chose a different direction, the risk would be much lower. Most Paramecia awakenings follow the same path: rather than changing yourself, you influence external matter. That way, the burden on your body would be far less..."
"—But if I'd done that, I wouldn't be as strong as I am now, right?"
Daren cut him off.
Vegapunk blinked, then replied hesitantly,
"Probably not."
"From what I understand about the Jiki Jiki no Mi, awakening it externally at most lets you assign positive or negative polarity to outside objects, or slightly alter magnetic fields within a range..."
"Then there's no issue."
Daren suddenly laughed.
"The 'safe' route just isn't for me."
"I'll stay a madman."
Vegapunk furrowed his brow and asked, puzzled,
"Are you sure, Daren-san? A human life only comes once. Longevity is the foundation of all evolution."
"A long life—even eternal life—has always been humanity's ultimate dream."
"I've been researching this for years, but physical aging is unavoidable. That's why I plan to detach my brain from my body... The flesh may wither and die, but thought and knowledge can endure."
"With that, I'll have enough time... to chase truth and understanding."
Daren glanced at Vegapunk's grotesquely oversized head.
That bizarre brain held knowledge beyond anything humanly imaginable.
"Dr. Vegapunk, I admire your dedication to truth and knowledge. But I'm not like you. I'm just an ordinary man."
A faint smile curved up at the corners of Daren's mouth.
"If I wanted to live a long life, I would've never turned against the Five Elders back on Philseque Island."
"Sure, lifespan matters. But I've never had any interest in chasing knowledge or truth."
"If I can't live in the moment with everything I've got... I just start to feel lost."
Right then, Daren suddenly froze.
Vegapunk froze too.
Stussy stood motionless.
Borsalino's eyes widened slightly beneath his sunglasses, his expression shifting into something surprisingly complex.
It was as if the world itself paused for an instant—
Then, the next moment—
Boom!!
A massive, oppressive force exploded from Daren's body, vast and unfathomable like the ocean, boundless like the sky, surging outward in every direction.
In an instant, black and red lightning crackled violently, flooding the entire lab.
Glassware and instruments shattered under the sheer pressure, bursting into smoke with sharp cracks and bangs.
The modified creatures and steel beasts around them dropped one after another—some frothing at the mouth and seeing stars, others sparking and smoking from the head as circuits overloaded.
This overwhelming aura didn't stop at the lab's walls—it only grew stronger, sweeping across the entire island in the blink of an eye.
If someone had been watching from the sky above Egghead Island, they would've witnessed a terrifying scene:
The skies over the entire island were filled with howling winds and black-red lightning. The clouds churned violently, and the sea below surged with towering waves.
The world looked like a vision of hell!
"Is that Conqueror's Haki!?"
Vegapunk, now shielded behind Borsalino without even noticing when it happened, looked like he might collapse under the sheer force of it—but his eyes stayed wide open, locked on Daren's wild, windblown hair.
Stussy stared in disbelief, raising one arm to shield herself, but her body was still being pushed back step by step.
Borsalino's expression shifted again—then settled into a faint, unreadable smile.
And then, just a few seconds later—
The aura that had arrived like a thunderclap vanished just as quickly.
Everyone felt their breath suddenly ease, and all the chaos seemed to disappear in an instant.
In the wrecked lab, with papers flying and glass crunching underfoot,
The black-haired young man stood there, dazed, staring blankly at his own hands—still caught in the aftermath of his shock.
"I couldn't achieve it…"
He murmured, as if finishing the sentence he'd been about to say.
"...Justice as I please."