Rowen recognized this artillery piece; it was the original “Armstrong Rotary Jet Armstrong Cannon” he had seen in the Marine Headquarters Scientific Force Underground room. It had been transformed into the first Super Electromagnetic Cannon.
Rowen took the one stored in G-10 Branch for comparison, only to be met with a staggering price tag, promptly vetoed by Sengoku.
It was understandable to spend extravagantly in the laboratory, as the accumulated results of experiments were the fruits of pouring money into scientific projects.
However, mass production at this cost would burden Sengoku immensely.
Seven parts of his funds came from government allocations, while three parts came from various hidden incomes. Taking care of compensation for fallen soldiers’ families, equipment maintenance, weapon procurement, and the like consumed a significant portion each year. Money wasn’t something that came easily.
G-10 Branch was distant; even with aircraft transport, it would take several days to reach this place. To swiftly deploy it to the battlefield, Sengoku had ordered the Super Electromagnetic Cannon left at the Marine Headquarters to be transported.
“We’re conducting the Ark trial so quickly to ensure safer transportation. Originally, the trial was scheduled three months from now…” Vegapunk, suppressing a bad feeling in his heart, trod through the red, fungus-like network that covered the ground beside the artillery, and examined the control panel.
“The data indicates that everything is normal… but how do we explain these?!” He pointed at the crimson muscular layer covering the cannon, his face slightly flushed.
“We conducted a final test fire before coming, and these things appeared, growing continuously!”
“They’re alive, I can feel it!”
Looking around, the entire room had turned a eerie blood-red. Countless red veins wove on the walls, some thicker… roots? Deeply embedded in the walls, they connected with internal metal conduits.
The artillery remained an artillery, but its two teeth-like fangs had removed the metallic support from the Super Electromagnetic Cannon’s barrel. The surrounding muscular organization exuded a strong, dark style, making the entire room appear abominable like Hell.
“The Super Electromagnetic Cannon was created by adjusting your blood genetics with Lineage Factor technology to control the power of Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Thunder Fruit). To maintain stability, Caesar duplicated a drop of your blood and stored it here. And now…”
Vegapunk pressed a code on the control panel. Subsequently, a metal panel lifted, revealing a metal container filled with Rowen’s blood, blooming like a pot broken by plant roots. A strange, powerful pulsation emanated from it, “Pū Tōng, Pū Tōng”…
“Your blood, it’s alive! It’s replicating itself!”
“This situation only occurs in Zoan Ability users with exceptionally strong vitality, and successful cases are extremely rare!”
“So what kind of monster are you?!”
“You are a Goro Goro no Mi Ability user, there’s no doubt about that!!”
Vegapunk didn’t pause as he rapidly explained a bunch of things, his face tinged with red, staring at Rowen.
In his eyes, there was fear, but also curiosity.
To possess the terrifying vitality that even Zoan Ability users generally don’t have, despite not being a Zoan Ability user! Anyone who dared to say Rowen was human, Vegapunk would be the first to crush them with data!
A dta which was three meters thick!
Rowen didn’t know how much shock his unintentional alien remark had brought to Vegapunk, but Vegapunk himself was aware that even the previous research hadn’t given him such a colossal shock!
This wasn’t something that could possibly exist in their world!
Rowen’s mystery was even more dreadful than he had imagined! It was highly likely that he was truly an alien!
The two stared at each other in a strange silence, the atmosphere becoming somewhat tense.
These were things Rowen was learning for the first time. He presumed that at this moment, his file was probably placed before the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)… or even in front of that Im-Sama on the legendary Empty Throne.
The replicated blood had come to life on its own and continued to proliferate, which is something that a human definitely couldn’t achieve!
But he truly didn’t know the reason behind it.
After a few seconds of calm, Rowen tugged at the corner of his mouth and said. “Just think of me as an alien!”
“But my current identity is Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Rowen, there’s no doubt about that.”
One of the consensus among travelers was not to reveal their identity as travelers.
It would only bring trouble, and it was entirely useless. On Earth, he would be sent straight to a mental hospital, given free restraints and bite-proof masks! In comparison, in this genuine world of “Pirates,” the notion of aliens seemed much more normal.
If the historical mystery was indeed related to this, Im-Sama on the Empty Throne would naturally follow this line of thought for speculation.
At Rowen’s words, Vegapunk’s expression froze, his hand trembling as he raised it, only to put it down after a long while before he forced a smile and shook his head. “Yeah! You are a Marine!”
Regardless of what Rowen’s true identity was, he was a Marine.
And as a Marine, Rowen was undoubtedly qualified to have his own secrets!
Having two Shichibukai fall into his hands, the Thunder-Lightning Stimulation Device of the Marines, and the unmatched destructive power of the Plasma Cannon— all of these were military merits that could not be erased!
This world harbored far too many secrets hidden in the mist, one more or one less Rowen wouldn’t make much of a difference. Top-tier scientists had their own way of adjusting their mindset. Vegapunk took a deep breath and waved his hand.
“Never mind, let’s not talk about this… The operation method hasn’t changed. Just channel the thunder directly into the storage Device.”
“As for aiming, that’s up to you. I believe we can’t find anyone more suitable to operate this artillery than you…”
Given the Super Electromagnetic Cannon’s rate of fire and range, conventional aiming methods were simply ineffective. If not for Rowen’s expansive Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) coverage, even he wouldn’t be able to use this artillery.
A millimeter deviation in aiming, considering the range of the Super Electromagnetic Cannon, would result in a margin of error spanning thousands of miles!
No one else could do better.
With that said, Vegapunk fell silent for a moment before choosing to leave. Rowen watched him go, then turned to survey the blood-red room.
“Vegapunk-San, please don’t go ahead and clone my flesh into a Monster!” Rowen’s eyes glittered as he spoke of this.
He knew that Pacifistas, imbued with Tenacious and impact resistance, were created by cloning Kuma’s flesh. As for his own secret, he couldn’t fathom it. If the control chip couldn’t manage the replicated flesh and a bunch of uncontrollable Monsters with personalities and strengths similar to Rowen were created, then this world…
Just thinking about it was exhilarating!
Feeling the soft touch of the fleshy membrane, Rowen’s mouth curled into a cold smile, electricity sparking around him.
…
Boom!!
A fountain of magma burst forth, incinerating several Pirate Ships. The scorching heat of over a thousand degrees fell upon the pirates, making them scream and writhe in agony, rolling frantically on the ground.
Luckily, they soon couldn’t feel the stinging of their skin. As the biting cold wind blew, the pirates, burnt to a crisp, froze into lifelike ice sculptures.
“Are you trying to scratch an itch for me?!”
Kaido laughed heartily as he burst out from the encircling walls of magma and ice. After such a prolonged battle, aside from some slightly torn clothing, there was no sign of injury on Kaido! He didn’t even need to actively use Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) for defense; his natural resilience was just that astounding!
The strongest creature on land, sea, and in the air! Facing two Marine Admirals alone, he didn’t even need to resort to his second form.
Fortunately, Akainu and Aokiji hadn’t intended to kill him in the first place. The reason they had sent the two of them and kept Kizaru at the Marine Headquarters was precisely for this.
The mass manipulation of magma and ice allowed them to interfere massively with the environment, leaving Kaido free to focus on the battlefield without reservation.
Partisan – Two Thorn Pikes!
Blades of ice formed rapidly and shot towards Kaido. He didn’t dodge or evade, his perpetually fierce face twisted into a grin. Suddenly, he opened his mouth wide…
Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!
Boom!!
The force was enough to pierce through Battleships as the ice spears thrust forward, ruthlessly impaling into his mouth. However, the expected sound of the ice spears piercing through muscles and bones didn’t occur.
Instead, as the ice spears fell into Kaido’s mouth, they emitted a series of bell-like resonances!
Crack!
Under Aokiji’s increasingly indifferent gaze, Kaido closed his mouth, chewing for a moment. Then, his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down…
Gulugulu…
He had actually swallowed the Ice Mass raw!
“A Monster that’s truly Undying!!” Aokiji sighed inwardly, evading Kaido’s counterattack. Akainu’s fist, enveloped in magma, swiftly descended, smashing Kaido into the ice-encrusted ground.
Thud!
Akainu dispersed the magma and stood next to Aokiji, his chest rising and falling.
Despite their inexhaustible stamina from battling relentlessly for ten days and nights, intercepting Kaido in this challenging endeavor forced them to unleash their strongest moves continuously, resulting in considerable stamina consumption.
After catching his breath for a moment, Akainu glanced at Aokiji beside him and said, “Did you notice? Garp has arrived…”
They were now thousands of meters away from the main battlefield, far beyond the range observable by Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki). However, the flames erupting from the battlefield still heated the incoming air, indicating how high the temperature at the center of the battlefield was!
However, despite this, a figure appeared every time, sending the flames recklessly sprayed by King back into the sea. This had happened seven or eight times already… Once could be considered a sneak attack, but repeatedly?
In Akainu’s understanding, there was only one person with such formidable mastery over abilities who could achieve such incredible feats!
“So soon?!”
Aokiji’s pupils contracted, evidently not expecting Garp to enter the battle over a day earlier. However, he understood the underlying meaning of Garp’s arrival, and he looked around suspiciously.
“Now that Garp-San is here, our gift should be just about ready, right?”
Suddenly, Aokiji’s attention was drawn, and he asked in a daze, “Wait, where’s Rowen?!”
“He’s probably resting after being drained… Wait!”
Akainu answered instinctively, then suddenly realized, “He’s aiming at us!!”
Bingo!
In the sky above the clouds, within the room where the Super Electromagnetic Cannon was mounted, Rowen’s mouth curled up as he slowly pushed the control lever forward.
As Akainu’s words fell, a terrible pressure suddenly emanated from the sky!
Kaido, who had just crawled out of the ice, looked up. For a brief moment, he seemed to forget even to breathe.
“What is that?”
With this question in mind, the next second, an earth-shattering bang erupted!!
(End of this chapter)
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