One Piece: Rayquaza of the Beasts Pirates

"Uncle! Take care of yourself! Wait for the Doctor and me to come back!!"

Before his voice could even echo in the laboratory, Sentomaru swiftly leaped and disappeared up the hole, vanishing from Kizaru's sight.

"You silly boy...you'd better take good care of yourself."

Kizaru gazed in the direction where Sentomaru had disappeared and sighed softly.

He knew that with Sentomaru gone, given the deep bond between him and Vegapunk—a bond that was like that of father and teacher, even transcending blood ties—their next meeting would likely be as enemies.

He slowly looked around; the laboratory was in ruins.

This place, which once represented the world's cutting-edge technology, is now nothing but ruins and silence.

Light streamed in through the hole, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air and also Kizaru's profile, which revealed a clear weariness and vicissitude.

"They're gone, they're all gone, it's good that they're gone."

Blue blue blue...

Just then, the encrypted Den Den Mushi in his arms suddenly rang, interrupting his worries.

Kizaru looked down and inwardly groaned.

coming……

The toughest hurdle to overcome today.

"Moshi moshi. This is Borsalino~"

The moment he answered the phone, that lazy, slightly flamboyant smile returned to Kizaru's face.

His tone was light and cheerful, with a slight panting from having just finished a "busy" session.

Everything was handled perfectly.

The Den Den Mushi simulated a serious, even cold, aged face, which was none other than Saint Satan, one of the Five Elders.

Borsalino.

Satan skipped all pleasantries and asked directly: "How is Punk Hazard doing now?"

"Oh my, Lord Satan, your call came just in time. We had just finished up here."

Kizaru timely suppressed his smile, his tone shifting to a complex mix of regret and indignation: "Dr. Vegapunk, and the Punk Records... unfortunately, were forcibly taken away by Kane and his associates."

"what?!"

Even through the Den Den Mushi, one could clearly feel Satan's sudden outburst of shock and rage.

After a brief silence, came a volcanic eruption of harsh rebukes:

"Useless! What exactly is the Navy doing?! The World Government has repeatedly emphasized that Vegapunk and his research are the highest priority targets for protection! They even gave you the most lenient duties among the admirals, only requiring you to ensure that Punk Hazard is absolutely safe! Is this the answer you've given?!"

"Borsalino, is this how you repay the authority and trust we have given you?!"

"And what about Kuzan?! His elite support troops should have joined you by now! Are they also doing nothing?!"

Kizaru's face grew increasingly haggard, yet he couldn't refute it and could only obediently accept the scolding.

After venting his anger, Satan Saint's voice finally calmed down a bit, but it was still as cold as iron: "After receiving your message, Maz Saint has set off for Punk Hazard. He is expected to arrive in half an hour."

"Later, you and Kuzan must give him a detailed report on all the events of today, down to the last detail, without any omissions!"

"Yes! Understood!" Kizaru replied quickly and respectfully.

Seemingly satisfied with his "good" attitude, Satan did not pursue the matter further or mention any specific punishment.

At the level of a naval admiral, it's acceptable to scold someone for making a mistake, but that's basically all there is to it.

The Den Den Mushi clicked shut, and the simulated serious face disappeared.

"Ugh, what a hassle, I have to write another report."

Kizaru put away the Den Den Mushi, rubbed his temples, and let out a long sigh.

Leaving the lab, he found Kuzan amidst the chaos, directing the treatment of the wounded and the cleanup of the scene, and shared the 'good news' with him.

As colleagues, we may not share the good times, but we must share the bad times.

Kuzan, upon hearing the devastating news, also wore a pained expression.

Seeing his appearance, Kizaru's frustration from being scolded dissipated considerably.

Before long, Kizaru and Kuzan, having received news that "Saint Maz is about to arrive," came to the base to prepare to welcome the Five Elders.

They didn't have to wait long.

A strange howl came from the distant sky, and an ominous shadow rapidly approached.

It was a huge, strange bird shrouded in black flames!

It is enormous, with a bird's head, wings, claws, and a snake's body. Its appearance is bizarre and terrifying, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

The strange bird landed, its massive body contracting and reshaping inwards, instantly transforming into a tall, thin old man wearing a black suit and sporting a mustache and goatee.

His face looked extremely pale.

Upon receiving news of the attack on Punk Hazard, he rushed over at full speed without stopping, but he was still a step too late.

"Welcome, His Excellency Maz."

Kizaru stepped forward and spoke first, his tone respectful.

Maz Saint had no time for pleasantries. His sharp gaze swept over the two of them, and he cut straight to the point: "Now, report to me the whole story."

Kizaru and Kuzan exchanged a glance and began to take turns giving their statements.

Upon hearing Kane demonstrate that bizarre new ability that could ignore Devil Fruit powers, even with Maz Saint's centuries of experience and shrewdness, his eyebrows twitched violently.

Maz couldn't help but press, "Are you sure? The Devil Fruit power is completely ineffective against him?"

Kuzan nodded heavily but firmly.

Maz Saint remained silent for a moment, and the anger on his face softened slightly.

It's understandable that someone would be killed on their first encounter by such an unprecedented ability.

Of course, while we understand, we still need to offer some criticism.

Otherwise, it would not be enough to demonstrate the authority of the world government.

However, Mazsan was too hasty in his criticism.

"What? Even one of the Seraphim was abducted by Kane?" Maz Saint's brows furrowed again.

"Although it's hard to accept, it's true."

Kuzan, in a low voice, added a description of S-Empress's performance when facing Kane.

Maz Saint's solemn gaze swept over the remaining few Seraphim standing silently and expressionlessly, his heart filled with doubts.

Is this a coincidence, or is it an inherent flaw of the Seraphim?

Until this problem is solved, Seraphs cannot be manufactured any further.

He didn't dwell on it too much. After all, it wasn't his responsibility to defend the God of War scientifically. Let Satan worry about it.

Right now, there is something far more important and urgent than the Seraphim going out of control—the Holy Mother's Flames!

Maz Saint said no more and turned to walk straight toward the Holy Mother's Flame Laboratory.

Several researchers who had just regained consciousness were now waiting anxiously in the laboratory, barely daring to breathe.

“Lord Maz, this, this is all the research data on ‘Mother's Flame’ left behind by Vegapunk.”

The lead researcher's voice trembled as he pointed to a pile of scattered data boards and paper documents on the ground, covered with complex formulas and strange symbols.

He swallowed hard, lowered his head even further, and barely dared to look directly at the world's highest authority: "There should have been more data, but... but during the previous invasion and battle, a lot of data was destroyed."

His colleagues behind him were also pale-faced, fearing that they would be held accountable by Mazsan.

They even wished they could slap themselves for having such a good constitution and waking up so quickly!

Fortunately, Mazsan's attention was clearly not on these insignificant little people.

His gaze swept over the pile of incomplete documents, and he simply waved his hand impatiently, as if shooing away flies: "Leave the documents, and you can leave."

Several researchers, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, practically scrambled to escape the suffocating place.

After the onlookers had left, Maz Saint took out a Den Den Mushi and contacted his four colleagues, who were far away in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, amidst the power struggles.

He succinctly recounted everything that had happened in Punk Hazard.

"A bizarre new ability?"

The five elders frowned deeply.

What kind of monster is Kane's Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit? How come it has so many different abilities?

After a moment's thought, Saint Vochuli slowly spoke: "Kane's ability is somewhat troublesome, but according to Kuzan's description, it's not absolutely invincible; he can still be injured. We don't need to dwell too much on his individual strength. The most crucial thing right now is to completely halt the Mother's Flame Project!"

Upon hearing this, a tense silence fell over the power structure.

When the "Blessed Virgin Mary" was mentioned, the eyes of the Five Elders flashed with barely concealed anger.

Others may not know, but they are the ones who understand better than anyone the importance of the Holy Mother's Flame to the World Government.

It is the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of all rebels, and one of their greatest sources of confidence in the face of turbulent times.

Now, Kane's interference has completely ruined it.

Even if you wait a few years, allowing Vegapunk to fully create the Holy Mother's Flame, that would have been better.

Nasshoulang Saint looked at Satan Saint, who was the most scientifically knowledgeable among them, and asked, "What remedial measures do we have?"

Satan frowned: "With York as an inside agent, even if Vegapunk were kidnapped, we could still continue our research with the help of her intelligence..."

As Vegapunk's alter ego, even if York was only designed to handle basic needs like eating, drinking, and excretion, his intelligence was enough to crush most so-called genius scientists on the sea.

What's infuriating is that York was discovered and completely wiped out by Enel!

They died completely and utterly, leaving not a single part behind, just a pool of unrecognizable molten metal!

There was originally a chance to modify other Vegapunk clones for their use, but Kane went too far and even took away the remains of those clones.

Currently, there are only two ways to continue researching how to create the Virgin Mary's Flame.

"Either I personally lead a scientific force to reverse-engineer and re-examine the incomplete data left by Vegapunk, or we go and bring Vegapunk back."