One Piece: Rayquaza of the Beasts Pirates

Even with absolute confidence in their father's strength, seeing the current lineup of the Beast Pirates would make anyone have doubts.

"Dad?" Marco finally broke the suffocating silence.

His gaze, filled with hesitation and worry, fell upon the pillar of the Whitebeard Pirates.

At this moment, the white-bearded man had several IV drips hanging from his arm. His tall body was still majestic, but he inevitably showed a trace of fatigue.

Marco suddenly realized that his father, who he remembered as an ever-strong and upright man who seemed capable of carrying the entire ocean, had truly grown old.

"Gulalalala... Don't worry, my old bones aren't rusty yet."

Noticing the lingering gloom in Marco's and the others' eyes, Whitebeard suddenly burst into a hearty laugh.

The laughter, like a resounding bell dispelling the fog, echoed over the Moby Dick.

After laughing, he deliberately shook his thick arm, which was receiving an IV drip, to continue to give his family a boost of confidence.

"Moreover, those guys whose ambitions burn like wildfire on this sea are probably even more restless than we are right now!"

Marco immediately understood his father's meaning, and his eyes regained some of their luster as he replied, "That's right, and the World Government too... They will never sit idly by and watch the Beast Pirates expand unchecked."

"That's right!"

"The Beasts Pirates won't be arrogant for long!"

The pirates on the ship gradually calmed down from their anxiety.

Familiar smiles and fighting spirit gradually returned, the stifling air on the deck began to circulate, and laughter and cheerful voices filled the air once again.

However, amidst the laughter and merriment, a dark-skinned, overweight cadre silently lowered his head, concealing his unusual expression in the shadows.

He could sense a hint of helplessness and hesitation deep within his father's laughter.

This discovery sent a chill down his spine.

Perhaps... I shouldn't have gone down this path alone?

A new world, another sea.

On the Red Fosse.

Shanks put down the newspaper in his hand, tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden railing, and gazed at the distant horizon with a long, thoughtful look.

"The storms of this era are getting more and more intense."

Ben Beckman lit a cigarette, walked over to him, and his gaze was particularly sharp through the swirling smoke: "Should we make some preparations? For example, an alliance with the Whitebeard Pirates?"

Although it might be demoralizing to say it, he truly believed that only two emperors could stand against two emperors.

Of course, a merger is impossible.

Given the good relationship between the two families, helping each other should not be a problem.

"It's not a bad idea."

Shanks stroked his stubble and nodded.

He looked around, taking in the varying degrees of tension on his companions' faces, and suddenly grinned, a smile full of carefree abandon.

"If all else fails, we'll turn the ship around and head back to the Grand Line, back to the four seas. Fighting to the death with those lunatics for territory isn't the kind of adventure I want."

"Haha, this is great!"

"I'll go back and see Yasopp's son. I wonder if the little guy's nose is as long as his dad's, hahaha!"

This seemingly "hopeless" fallback plan was unanimously approved by the crew.

A knowing laugh immediately erupted on the deck, instantly dispelling the tense atmosphere.

Grand Line, Kuraigana Island.

Having just finished his daily farm work, Eagle Eye leaned against the castle window and unfolded the latest newspaper.

His hawk-like gaze swept over the headline and photo, and a smile played on his lips: "Kane, you seem to have gotten stronger again."

"I'm really looking forward to our next meeting."

The Calm Belt, Amazon Lily, deep within the palace.

The increasingly beautiful Hancock was pressing the newspaper with Kane's picture tightly into the ravine with an almost pious and possessive attitude.

A blush rose to her beautiful cheeks, and her eyes overflowed with hearts.

"Lord Kane, you're getting more and more handsome!!!"

"I can't wait to stand openly and honestly by your side!"

The Devil's Triangle, a terrifying three-masted sailing ship.

Moria's increasingly round and massive body sank into the throne. He held the newspaper and read the report of Kaido's defeat. He first let out a suppressed "ho ho" laugh, then the laughter grew louder and louder, and finally turned into a maniacal laugh that shook the castle and made dust fall.

"Hehehehehehe... Kaido! You've finally met your match!!!"

He was as happy as a 400-pound little boy.

Below him, several of his subordinates stared at their captain as if he were an idiot, exchanging helpless glances and sighing in unison.

Hopeless.

Just as the entire ocean was in an uproar because of the Beasts Pirates, a low-profile warship without any flags quietly entered the hidden port of Punk Hazard.

The warship's hatch opened, and a group of people wearing naval justice capes stepped out.

"Sashiburida, Kuzan. And little Gion, you're even prettier every time I see you~ Do you have a boyfriend yet?"

Borsalino, who had been waiting on the shore, greeted them in his characteristic slow, deliberate voice.

Gion responded with a charming yet slightly annoyed eye roll: "No!"

Before she could finish speaking, a figure wearing a khaki striped suit, wooden clogs, and with a slightly sleazy appearance peeked out from behind her and said with a grin, "That's because I haven't officially confessed my feelings yet!"

"Hey, if I remember correctly, you've confessed your feelings more than sixty times, haven't you? Still haven't given up?"

Even Kizaru couldn't help but complain about his colleague's persistence.

They've been obsessed with Gion for years.

"Wrong!" Jiaji shook a finger, a strange sense of pride on his face. "It's seventy-one times!"

Everyone fell silent.

"Alright, we'll talk later. Let me take you to the lab first; business is important. I don't want Grandpa Zhan Guo to dock my pay."

Kizaru turned around and put his hands in his pockets.

He led this elite force, consisting of one general, two general candidates, and three lieutenant generals, toward the heavily guarded SSG (Special Science Group) headquarters deep within the island, which was also the location of Vegapunk's laboratory.

On the way—

"Roar--!!!"

A deep and majestic roar came from above, accompanied by a strong gust of air.

Everyone looked up and saw a huge dragon with fiery red scales spreading its wings and swiftly passing overhead.

"Dragons? These creatures...do they really exist?"

Gion, visiting this place for the first time, couldn't help but widen its beautiful eyes.

"Oh, you mean that one?"

Kizaru glanced up and explained in his usual unhurried tone, "That's a 'creation' that Dr. Vegapunk created to protect this island."

"It is said to have an extraordinary ability to adapt to almost any environment. Isn't that amazing? Even the Celestial Dragons gave it a special name."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips: "But that name was just too hard to pronounce; nobody on the island could remember it. Now everyone just calls it 'Fire Dragon.'"

Upon hearing this, several naval vice admirals could not hide their shock.

They had long heard of Vega's reputation, and his sea stone inlay technique was one of his masterpieces.

But to create life out of thin air... that's too far-fetched.

This has already touched upon the realm of the legendary "gods".

Kizaru observed everyone's reactions, simply smiled, and said with an air of nonchalance, "The outer area is well-hidden, so there's not much to see. The real 'surprise' is inside the laboratory."

Sure enough, when the team passed through layers of strict identity verification and security gates and officially stepped into the core laboratory area, even seasoned veterans like Momousagi and Chaton were speechless.

As far as the eye could see, there was a bizarre and surreal scene.

Machines that can create artificial diamonds; flowers that can bloom in gunpowder; automated food processors that can produce dishes with the touch of a button…

A dazzling array of imaginative inventions that defy common sense are displayed or operated in their respective transparent areas in an orderly manner.

"What a genius!"

Upon learning that these astonishing inventions were all developed under Vegapunk's leadership, Gion's eyes lit up with admiration, and she murmured her praises.

Only now did she truly understand why the World Government was willing to go to any lengths to keep Vegapunk firmly in its grasp.

Given enough resources and time, the power that this genius scientist could wield alone would probably be no less than the impact of a Yonko crew.

"That's nothing!"

Kizaru maintained his mysterious expression: "The 'thing' you're about to receive and take away is the island's current... most outstanding achievement."

He led everyone through the last heavy alloy door, and suddenly the view opened up before them.

A vast space with a futuristic, sci-fi feel unfolds before your eyes.

This place doesn't resemble a laboratory; it's more like an arena prepared for testing military strength.

The entire space is a huge, silver-white elliptical dome structure, with walls and floors made of a matte metal that can absorb impacts.

In the center of the field, several target devices gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster, their material appearing extraordinary.

"Uncle, you've finally arrived."

A powerful voice rang out.

The newcomer was carrying a giant axe almost as tall as himself on his shoulder. He was burly, wearing a red bib and a huge rope tied around his waist. He was walking steadily toward them.

Kizaru stepped aside and gestured to his colleagues: "This is Sentomaru, Dr. Vegapunk's personal bodyguard."

Sentomaru nodded to several high-ranking naval officers, his tone serious: "Welcome to the combat testing ground."

Kuzan glanced around the futuristic, empty space and casually asked, "Where is the Doctor?"