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Chapter 12 - Lantern Master's Meat

"Wano Country?"

Abyss frowned.

Bad luck.

He wanted—honestly, he wanted to grab Lady Toki right there and then, shake her, and stop her from ever giving birth to Momonosuke. But even as the thought flared, he realized she hadn't really done anything wrong. Not yet. And besides… his grandsons, Enta and Anka, clearly liked her.

He let the thought go. "Go."

Toki's eyes blinked in confusion.

"Wano Country… is in the future."

Abyss lifted his hand, pointing across the endless sea. His voice was calm, but there was weight to it—a pull, a promise. He wasn't just pointing for her benefit. He was pointing for himself. Toward what would come, toward that dazzling, chaotic Great Pirate Era.

A flicker of surprise crossed Toki's light-green eyes. How could this man know about her Devil Fruit, about her secret origin?

But she didn't question him. She didn't need to. She had already decided. This era had nothing for her. Her future lay elsewhere.

She inclined her head slightly. "Thank you."

The moment she spoke, a soft light radiated from her. Her body shimmered, glowing faintly as the power of the Time-Time Fruit activated. A strange energy began to pulse around her.

Enta and Anka's mouths fell open in disbelief as their goddess slowly faded, her form dissolving into nothingness. Within heartbeats, she was gone. Completely. Gone from this era.

"Toki!!!"

The brothers' cries rang out, raw anguish spilling from their throats.

Abyss's expression hardened. "Stop crying," he said, voice low but commanding. "She didn't die. She just left."

He let a pause hang over them, letting the words sink in. Then he softened slightly. "If you want to see her again…"

Their heads snapped up, hope flaring in their eyes.

"Ten years from now… come to my Stomach World."

A pause. He let that sink in.

"Grandpa has a way to send you to that era. To meet her. To find her."

It was almost irresistible.

The Dragon Brothers and the Tiger Brothers exchanged looks, set their jaws, and nodded as one:"…Alright. Ten years from now, we'll go."

With family matters and matters of the heart settled, Abyss turned his attention to business.

His face grew serious. "I have two objectives on this trip."

He let that hang for a beat. Then spoke, measured, weighty:

"To locate two special islands."

"The first… is the Boyn Archipelago. Known as Stomach Baron. Not a mere island, but a giant carnivorous plant, filled with exotic delicacies and aggressive flora. Usopp trained there for two years. If Lord Lantern were to swallow it…"

He didn't need to finish. The implication was clear. Food, power, resources—everything would rise several levels.

"With Elder Doctor and a Shi-Shi Fruit user, those plants can be engineered, repurposed. Weapons, tools, medicinal flora—the possibilities are endless."

"The second island is Vermeille. A wild, untamed place. On it grows a plant called 'IQ.' Any animal that consumes it becomes hyper-aggressive, ferocious, unstoppable. Lord Lantern swallows it, and it becomes our ultimate defensive weapon. Maybe even enhances Lord Lantern himself."

He met their eyes, his tone absolute. "These two islands are vital—not just for Lord Lantern, but for our Eternal Heavenly Kingdom."

He let the words sink in. This was his custom-made "balanced diet" for Lord Lantern. One island: sustenance. One island: weapon. Acquire both, and the Stomach World would leap forward in civilization and power.

"In addition…" His voice grew quiet, serious. "I need corrosion-resistant metals. Acid-proof, rare, invaluable. Now that I've returned, I'll gather as much as I can."

Enta and Anka straightened at once, every muscle alert.

"Understood," they said together. "Leave it to us."

"Good." Abyss nodded once. "Head to Sabaody Archipelago. Find your godfather."

Without another word, he and Tuck boarded the grandsons' ship and set sail. Sabaody Archipelago was relatively safe in this era—almost no lawless zones. They moved quietly, invisible, met Abel in secret, and withdrew without incident.

"You're looking for Stomach Baron and Vermeille, huh?" Abel said quietly, eyes narrowed in thought.

He made a series of Den Den Mushi calls, and soon returned with news: the location of Boyn Archipelago and dozens of Stomach Baron seeds, carefully catalogued and ready.

Anka chuckled. "Grandpa, Godfather was a hegemon once. Even retired, he still holds influence everywhere."

Abyss raised an eyebrow. Surprised. After losing him and Tana—his trusted lieutenants—Abel had not faltered. He had risen again, dominating the seas.

He remembered those days: sixty-five years ago, the Supernova—the Flame Ring Pirate Group. Unmatched. Flame Ul, Fairy Tana, and Strategist Abyss. Abel and Tana had both been potential Haki users, rising side by side. Abyss had used cunning and strategy to crush pirate natives. The three had been legends.

He had thought Abel would crumble. But no—Abel had built himself back up, claiming the seas as his own. Maybe Abyss's role had never been as central as he believed.

Abel's tone shifted. "No leads on Vermeille yet. Too many islands. Too much unknown."

Abyss nodded. "Then we'll begin with Stomach Baron seeds."

He weighed the options: let Lord Lantern swallow the full island now, or transport seeds back for cultivation in the Stomach World. Stomach Baron was a living being, not mere soil. It might not survive inside Lord Lantern, or it might be digested. Seeds offered control.

"Let our son, Tas, carry the seeds," Abyss decided. Every son had a purpose.

Abel agreed.

Abyss turned back to Enta and Anka. "About God Pen and Shen Mu. Are they Supernova generation like you? Do you know them?"

He referred to Shen Mu—God Pen—a 90 million Berries bounty pirate, wielder of the Brush-Brush Fruit. Like Kanjuro, he could bring his drawings to life. A creation-type Devil Fruit.

If Abyss could recruit such a genius, a pirate capable of shaping reality with ink, it would be invaluable to the Stomach World.

The brothers exchanged glances. Anka smiled faintly. "I know the name, but haven't met him. God Pen's reputation precedes him."

Abyss's eyes narrowed. This voyage had grown larger than islands and metals. It was about legacy. About power. About creation itself.

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