Alex's Observation Log – Rengoku's Physical Training, Day 1
Under Dr. Vegapunk's supervision, Vice Admiral Rengoku began training in our new strength-conditioning chamber.
There is, however, a hidden detail about this place: none of the weights are what they seem.
A plate marked 10 kg actually weighs closer to 20. A 100 kg plate is really 200. Some are doubled, some even tripled.
On top of that, a subtle gravity field raises the pull to 1.5 times normal.
When we tested it on several of the Navy's so-called strongmen, they all collapsed far below their usual records. Balancing mismatched plates under crushing gravity was impossible for them.
I wondered—could even Vice Admiral Rengoku endure this?
....
Alex's Observation Log – Day 2
He's a monster. I swear I'm watching something inhuman.
It was as if the man had a built-in scale.
The plates look different—lighter, heavier—but the researchers know the truth. And somehow, Rengoku stacked two perfect columns of plates with exactly the same hidden weight.
His body had already adapted. Heart rate normal. Movement precise. Even under warped weights and heavier gravity, he was calm.
We began recording measurable improvements earlier than expected.
....
Alex's Observation Log – Day 4
Good thing this is my personal journal and not a formal report.
Because I'll say it: holy shit, is that guy even human?
Just four days in, and he's already training with every plate in the chamber combined. With seastone cuffs still locked on. Are those even seastone? They look like decorative bracelets on him!
....
Alex's Observation Log – Day 19
By Vegapunk's order, gravity was raised again—now three times standard.
The disguised plates had long been replaced with normal ones; their original purpose was only to study brainwaves under false loads. Useless now.
He knows the gravity is crushing him. And still he trains. Without complaint. Without pause.
Is this what makes a Vice Admiral? A body like steel—and a will even harder?
....
Alex's Observation Log – Day 37
I'm a man. I like women. I like Katarina from the lab, and I like Vice Admiral Hina.
I like women. Sexy women. Not men.
…Then why does this one man keep catching my eyes? We've barely exchanged words, yet he grips my heart like a vice.
Is that what charisma means? Is that what people mean when they whisper about a "future Admiral"?
Damn it. He's dangerous. A devil in human form.
....
Alex's Observation Log – Day 39
Vegapunk has gone too far.
He succeeded in fusing two Zoan lineage factors—Nemean Lion and Azure Dragon—into a prototype. He calls it the Chimera Lineage Factor.
And now he wants to inject it into Rengoku.
No. Impossible. Two Devil Fruits in one body equals death. Everyone knows that. If I don't intervene, he'll kill him.
....
Forty days of training passed. Then came Vegapunk's announcement.
As expected of the world's greatest scientist, he had already completed a prototype serum designed to stabilize transformation wavelengths.
But instead of just that, he presented a bombshell:
He had forged the [Chimera Lineage Factor], a 9.5:0.5 fusion of Rengoku's Nemean Lion with Kaido's Azure Dragon.
Rengoku's silence was heavy. Could such madness be trusted?
Two Devil Fruits meant death. Everyone knew this. Yet Vegapunk claimed he had solved it.
Rengoku pressed him.
"I asked for control over my transformation wavelengths, Doctor—not a suicide serum."
"Suicide?!" Vegapunk snapped. "This is a miracle! A Chimera! The power of two mythical beasts in one vessel!"
"That is the problem. I will not be your test subject."
"Bah! If rejection occurs, we inject this neutralizer—remove the dragon factor, keep the lion. Perfectly safe."
"Safe? What if I explode before you can jab me with it?"
The lab rang with their argument.
Vegapunk fumed at his work being dismissed. Rengoku bristled at being treated like a guinea pig. Neither yielded.
At last, Vegapunk slumped, defeated. His voice sounded older than ever.
"…Very well. Then I'll give you this."
He held up a vial.
"What is that?"
"Your own lineage factor, analyzed, broken down, and rebuilt. This one only refines your transformation wavelength. Nothing more."
Rengoku's eyes narrowed. "If you had shown me that from the beginning, we could have avoided this mess."
"I know! But can you blame me? A successful Chimera prototype is history itself! Still, if you refuse, I won't force you."
Mad genius or not, at least the man could yield.
"Fine," Rengoku said at last.
He stepped into the machine, strapped himself to the chair, and closed his eyes. The anesthesia crept into his veins.
Darkness claimed him.
Inside the machine, a mechanical arm extended and prepared to inject Rengoku's arm with the serum.
Vegapunk, looking more haggard than usual, began administering the dose.
"I'm here, sir."
"Oh, you've arrived, Researcher Alex?"
Alex, who had been utterly captivated while observing Rengoku's training, had just started his afternoon shift.
The moment he entered, he realized what was currently being injected through that chamber.
And he shouted.
"D-Doctor! C-could I… could I know what exactly is being injected right now?"
"Hm? Why, it's the prototype serum for Rengoku Vice Admiral's transformation wavelength. Why? Is something wrong?"
Vegapunk's voice lacked its usual energy, perhaps because he still regretted not being able to administer his so-called Chimera Lineage Factor.
Meanwhile, Alex felt as if his very soul had left his body.
"Stop! Stop it right now!"
Alex rushed forward to stop the injection, but other researchers restrained him.
Vegapunk himself couldn't understand why Alex was acting this way.
"What's the matter with you?"
"You remember I was the one who labeled the serum vials, right? That one… I put the wrong label on it!"
"What?!"
The laboratory instantly descended into chaos.
"Are you insane? How dare you tamper with my experiments?!"
"Just stop it now! I switched it on purpose because I was afraid Rengoku Vice Admiral would simply accept it if you offered him a serum made by fusing two Zoan lineage factors!"
Through his long observation of Rengoku, Alex had come to believe that if Vegapunk presented the Chimera Lineage Factor prototype—even with its risk of death—Rengoku might very well have agreed to take it.
That was the kind of man Rengoku seemed to be.
So Alex had carried out the swap, preferring that Rengoku be given only the safe serum meant to stabilize transformation wavelengths.
But in the end, Vegapunk had relented, stepping back from his Chimera project, and obediently injected what he believed to be the wavelength serum.
The truth, however, was that the vial actually contained the Chimera Lineage Factor!
By Alex's reckless decision to defy protocol and secretly swap the labels, Rengoku now stood at the brink of life and death.
"Prepare the neutralizer!"
"No—we have to stop this right now!"
"It's too late! It's already in!!!"
In the frantic confusion of the lab, the Chimera Lineage Factor had already been injected into Rengoku's body.
…
Everyone swallowed hard as silence fell. The serum coursed into Rengoku's veins.
…
And nothing happened.
Ten minutes. Twenty. Thirty.
Until finally, Rengoku stirred awake from the anesthesia. Nothing at all had occurred.
"F-failed? Did it not take?"
As soon as Rengoku opened his eyes, Vegapunk rushed to his side in a panic.
"Are you alright?"
Rengoku moved his body experimentally.
Nothing felt off. No pain, no strain, no abnormalities.
"Does this mean… I can now control my transformation wavelength?"
"Uh—j-just give me a moment!"
Vegapunk hurried over to the monitor and addressed Rengoku, who was still inside the chamber.
"Try transforming into your beast form!"
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