Grand Line, Sky Island · God's Island · Apayado · PH Research Laboratory.
"Let's start by testing one Seraph!"
After learning the effects of the Maturity-Maturity Fruit, Dr. Vegapunk first had Shinobu experiment on ordinary animals to measure the fruit's time-based aging increments. He wanted her to become familiar with the precise intervals before attempting it on valuable subjects.
The last thing he wanted was for these priceless Seraph weapons to suddenly age twenty years in one burst—becoming older than Souta Kiryuu himself. That would ruin their growth potential.
For several days, Vegapunk trained Shinobu to activate her Devil Fruit with precision, aging a subject one year… two years… five years at a time.
Meanwhile, Kozuki Hiyori and her companions were left speechless. They hadn't expected the Araryū Pirates' base to be located on a floating island in the sky.
Even though they had heard stories of Sky Island adventures from Oden, actually seeing the endless white sea of cloud-islands before them was overwhelming.
"Now that you know our headquarters' location," Bonney said coldly, eyes sharp with danger, "your only choices are to stay with the Araryū Pirates—or die."
Her killing intent froze Hiyori and the others in place, their faces pale.
Did this mean they would never return to Wano again?
The thought was unbearable.
Elsewhere, the miner-slave Hanazono Hyōgorō, sold back to Souta by Kaido, was now tasked with teaching other members and divine soldiers the technique of Ryūō Haki.
This style of Haki gave them a huge advantage—allowing Armament Haki to flow outside the body, even if one's raw strength wasn't that refined.
Under Souta Kiryuu's cold gaze, Shinobu nervously obeyed Vegapunk's instructions. She extended her power over one Seraph, accelerating its body's maturity by a year in an instant.
Vegapunk and his science team rushed forward, running rapid diagnostics, checking if any anomalies surfaced.
One test after another, Shinobu repeated the process, increasing its age incrementally. Soon, this Seraph stood a head taller than its siblings.
"For now, the body shows no major abnormalities," Vegapunk said, visibly excited. "Its wisdom and consciousness remain the same as the others, but that's no real issue. We can directly implant combat knowledge into its mind and let it grow through training."
His eyes gleamed. The fusion of science and Devil Fruits—this was the true secret behind the ancient kingdom's rapid rise to power.
Give him another decade or two, and perhaps he could restore Egghead's golden age.
"Still, I suggest we only accelerate them to around ten or twelve years old," Vegapunk added. "From there, let them grow naturally. If we force them into adulthood too quickly, it may stunt their true potential. They deserve the chance to experience childhood and gradual growth."
"Fine. Twelve it is," Souta Kiryuu agreed after a pause, choosing to follow the expert's advice.
If an emergency arose, he could always accelerate them again later.
"Excellent." Vegapunk quickly adjusted the parameters and instructed Shinobu to age the first Seraph to twelve years.
"Souta, have you decided which ability to implant into your Seraph—Araryū Tendō?" Vegapunk asked, barely able to contain his excitement. His greatest masterpiece of the Pacifista Peace series was about to be born.
"Araryū Tendō will wield the Gravity-Gravity Fruit!" Souta declared with a grin. His fists clenched in anticipation.
The fruit's powers didn't just impose vertical gravity; they could unleash lateral force as well. With proper development, it could replicate techniques like Shinra Tensei—wide-area annihilation attacks.
It could even pull down meteors, or lift entire towns into the sky. Truly divine power, befitting the name Tendō.
"Very well. We'll implant the green-blood ability of the Gravity Fruit, along with the combat techniques gathered from Admiral Fujitora."
Streams of data surged through Tendō's star-shaped pupils as Vegapunk worked, combat styles and abilities flooding into its neural core.
"Any further additions?" Vegapunk asked offhandedly.
To his surprise, Souta stepped forward and personally uploaded even more techniques—unused abilities of Fujitora, plus gravity-based arts from other worlds—directly as written data. Tendō could develop them in time.
Vegapunk looked at him with admiration. "Impressive, Souta. To think you've studied the Gravity Fruit so deeply… with ideas like these, a Seraph of this caliber could push its abilities beyond imagination."
Moments later, the Seraph—Araryū Tendō—was fully activated, its battle training and correction cycle beginning.
"Papa Souta!"
The childlike voice startled everyone. Before them stood a bronze-skinned boy with white hair, black wings, and Souta's own youthful features.
Tendō carried Lunarian bloodline factors from King, combined with Souta's own. Already taller than him, it hinted at an adult height surpassing five meters.
"Good. From here, work with the doctor and train diligently," Souta said warmly, patting Tendō's shoulder like a proud father. The strange, paternal feeling caught him off guard.
"Yes, Papa Souta!" Tendō saluted sharply, standing straight like a disciplined soldier.
Vegapunk's clones, Edison and Pythagoras, soon led the boy away for further testing.
"Shall we accelerate the others as well?" Vegapunk asked.
Souta considered, then nodded. "Age the Shura Path and Human Path. Implant the Weapon-Weapon Fruit and the Float-Float Fruit."
The Weapon Fruit would require immense study, even referencing the blueprints of Pluton to unlock its full potential. Souta already envisioned it—an electromagnetic cannon in the left hand, Pluton's main cannon in the right, annihilating enemies with a single blast.
The Float-Float Fruit, meanwhile, was his gift of assurance to Boa Hancock—a promise that Amazon Lily would be protected.
"Understood."
Vegapunk busied himself again, Shinobu aging the Seraphs, while green-blood abilities and combat data streamed into them.
Before long, two more fully awakened Seraphs stood before Souta.
"Papa Souta!" x2
Both looked at him with innocent joy, like recruits awaiting a commander's approval.
"You're all good children. Train hard, and fight alongside me one day," Souta encouraged, his words making their faces light up with pride.
Moments later, reports came in.
"Souta-sama, Tendō's results are out! In addition to standard laser weaponry, he's awakened the giant's ancient strength from your bloodline!"