"...So that's how it is."
After hearing Teach out, Ozz froze for a moment in genuine surprise, then couldn't help sighing in admiration.
As expected of a king of his era.
The number of backhands this man had prepared was ridiculous.
If this were a world without "destiny," there was no way this father and son would ever lose.
Unfortunately.
They were born in the wrong age.
This was the age of the D.
Also known as the DAD era.
"Wait," Ozz said. "In a few years, I'll give you the Dark-Dark Fruit. But not now."
He rose to his feet and snapped his fingers.
A glass tube appeared in his hand, and within it, a fresh vial of blood.
The sight was so eerie that Teach swallowed hard, mouth hanging open as he stared at it.
He was certain.
That was his blood.
Paired with the method Ozz had just asked about, panic churned in his chest, yet he didn't dare say a word.
His instincts screamed that what Ozz was planning was something that would overturn the world.
After all, this was a man as strong as his father, maybe even stronger.
And yet...
Watching Ozz's figure fade away, Teach collapsed onto the bed like all his bones had been drained. But the smile on his face was pure excitement.
"Zehahah... Zehahahahaha...!"
A light flashed in Teach's eyes, colder and sharper than he'd ever shown before.
"No matter what, the Dark-Dark Fruit is finally within reach. For now, I'll let that bastard Ozz turn the sea upside down!"
"Now isn't the time to clash with him..."
...
"So fast?!"
Inside the precision laboratory, countless instruments whirred nonstop. Yet Vegapunk's focus was entirely on the vials of blood laid out on the table.
In the past, whenever he needed anything, just filing the request meant running a gauntlet of inspections and approvals.
The World Government watched him like a hawk.
They dragged their feet every time.
How could that compare to Ozz?
Money when he needed money. Materials when he needed materials.
A dream client for any researcher.
"Of course!" Ozz said, lounging by the worktable with one leg crossed over the other, a cigar between his fingers, grinning at the visibly thrilled Vegapunk.
He even explained which sample should be used as the base for appearance, which was the key to multiple Devil Fruit abilities, which carried better raw potential.
For anyone else, extracting a person's "traits" from a bit of blood and tissue would be pure fantasy.
But Vegapunk was different.
His brain grew larger without end. The Brain-Brain Fruit expanded his intellect limitlessly.
Even if he couldn't do it yet, one day he absolutely would.
And there was still plenty of time before the "right moment" arrived.
Ozz had time to spare.
"With these samples," Vegapunk said, scribbling rapidly, "I can at least produce something preliminary. I can grow a basic embryo."
He gathered a pile of materials and left in a hurry.
Ozz stayed behind, cigar in hand, casually playing with some of Vegapunk's inventions.
A floating board.
A pistol that fired compressed air rounds.
As he considered whether he could "borrow" a few things on the way out, a tiny baby crawled over.
"Hm? Isn't this Bonney?"
Ozz stubbed out his cigar. With a curl of his finger, the crawling baby vanished and reappeared in his arms.
Little Bonney stared up at him, eyes wide, then broke into a gummy grin, like she found teleportation fascinating.
"Bonney! Bonney!!"
At that moment, Kuma hurried over, face full of worry. Only when he saw the baby safe in Ozz's arms did he finally breathe again.
"Thank you, Mr. Ozz. I was afraid Bonney might crawl somewhere dangerous."
"Come here, Bonney."
Kuma smiled in that honest, clumsy way of his and reached out.
But strangely, when baby Bonney saw Kuma waving at her, she shook her head and burrowed deeper into Ozz's chest.
Crack.
Kuma took critical damage on the spot. He went stiff, soul leaving his body as if he might split apart.
"Hahaha..."
Ozz chuckled, then gently placed Bonney into Kuma's arms.
"Since you can be with your family, treasure it, little Kuma."
"L... little Kuma?"
Kuma scrambled to hold Bonney properly, blinking in surprise at the nickname, his whole expression still adorably blank.
Ozz didn't explain. He just patted Kuma's arm.
"It's nothing. Don't mind it."
...
Ozz left.
His destination: Wano Country.
He was going to claim the Ripe-Ripe Fruit's ability.
And since he was already going, there was no point sneaking around.
Inside the shogun's palace.
Shogun Orochi was hosting Kaido for drinks.
Kaido's mood was foul, because Wano's recent Seastone output was far lower than he expected.
"So... explain it to me, Orochi."
"Gulp, gulp..."
Kaido drank straight from the jug, his massive body looming like a demon god in the room as he stared down at the trembling Orochi.
Orochi had his reasons, but he couldn't say them.
What could he do?
Ozz had threatened him. Supply Seastone to the underworld, or die.
Now Kaido was demanding answers.
Either way, it was death!
But drunk Kaido didn't care about anyone's difficulties.
Seeing Orochi stammer and fail to reply, his patience snapped.
The kanabo in his hand swung out.
The bastard had nine lives, didn't he?
He should be fine.
And in that instant, under Orochi's horrified gaze, a pitch-black hand shaped like a dragon's claw appeared out of nowhere and caught the club cleanly.
Crack crack crack crack!!
The moment they collided, black and red lightning erupted, exploding across the air, shattering the shogun's palace and the surrounding area like glass.
"Sashiburi dana, Kaido."
A terrifying shockwave tore outward. Orochi tried to grab something to steady himself, but it was impossible. He was thrown back by the torrent of air.
At the center, one huge figure and one smaller figure faced each other, their clothes snapping violently in the wind.
Kaido hadn't even used full force. He'd barely layered any Haki into the swing.
But someone had dared to catch it barehanded.
The rebound was what made the clash so explosive.
It sobered him a little.
And when he looked closely, the man blocking him with a single hand could only be one person.
Ozz.
"Ozz!!!"
"Worororororo...!"
"Did you come here to fight me?!!"
Kaido was truly drunk. So drunk he'd lost even basic judgment.
The moment he saw Ozz, excitement surged through him, wiping away his usual caution and suspicion.
Drunk Kaido and normal Kaido weren't just different.
They were worlds apart.
Ozz knew it too. This idiot wouldn't listen to a single word right now, so Ozz couldn't be bothered to talk.
Besides.
His hands were itching anyway.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"