—The New World, "Egghead."
On this island, owned by the World Government, lived a certain scientist.
A man said to possess the world's greatest intellect—the renowned genius scientist, Dr. Vegapunk.
"Hey, old man Punk! A package has arrived!"
"Oh! It's here!!"
A white-coated, elderly man with a distinctive head, resembling an apple with a core stuck in it, and a strikingly long tongue, scurried to receive the package.
The one carrying the large package was a man carrying a battle-axe as tall as himself on his back, Vegapunk's bodyguard, Sentomaru.
He received the box at the laboratory... although, since the frail Vegapunk couldn't carry it anyway, he had it transported to the necessary location, and began to open the box at the edge of the laboratory.
"What did she send this time?"
"Experimental equipment and depleted materials. As always, she sends exactly what I need."
"Isn't she monitoring you or something?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind if she was."
"You should mind."
For Vegapunk, it was simply a blessing that she sent what he needed when he needed it. He didn't seem to care about the details.
After all, research required enormous amounts of funding.
He currently had the World Government and "Twilight" as sponsors, but they didn't provide unlimited funds, and it took time to apply for the necessary budget and get approval.
For Vegapunk, that was far too slow.
"This will advance my delayed research... I was worried when she said she was going to work away from home, but at this rate, there's no need to worry."
"How many times are you going to say that... I'm sick of hearing it."
"Don't say that, Sentomaru. Happy things are happy no matter how many times you talk about them."
Vegapunk smiled happily.
Sentomaru sighed at this and began to help take out the contents of the box.
The sender's name was—Alpha Maraptonoka.
***
Facing the destructive breath that blew away the surrounding area, Komurasaki calmly held her sword in a high stance.
"Severance."
The slash, swung with bluish-white lightning, neutralized Maraptonoka's "Boro Breath," and although a shockwave was generated at the moment of impact, no damage went behind Komurasaki.
She could have cut the flames themselves, but if she hadn't neutralized them, there would have been damage behind her.
Reminding Robin and the others to escape once again, Komurasaki immediately pursued Maraptonoka.
—What was there was a non-human, monstrous being.
"...This is, truly unexpected."
The overall form was similar to a fox, but there were four eyes on the head, and what appeared to be fur was actually white scales when looked at closely.
Red lines running across the surface of the scales colored the area around the eyes, and five tails extending backward each had red eye-like patterns.
It boasted a giant body that caused the ground to tremble with each step, and clouds that shimmered like flames—flame clouds—were created around its limbs.
"I didn't really intend to fight seriously—but it seemed like it would be a little troublesome."
"...That technique just now, it was Kaido's... but it doesn't quite fit that form."
If she was using an ability similar to Kaido's—she thought, but that form was completely different from what she had imagined. It was understandable to be bewildered, but no matter what, what she had to do didn't change.
She clad herself in Armament Haki, and swung the blackened "Shunrai" to slash Maraptonoka.
But the slash was blocked by the tough scales and the thin layer of Haki she wore.
"It's useless. You can't penetrate my attacks in this state."
Her physical abilities must have increased compared to when she was in human form. Her toughness and strength should be considered far more powerful.
Moreover, she was fast.
Despite boasting a giant body that surpassed even the giants, she swung her claws with a speed that surprised Komurasaki.
She blocked the blow with her sword, but was blown away by the strength that far exceeded Komurasaki's.
"Truly, powerful...!!"
Even after being blown away, she regained her posture and swung "Shunrai" to send a slash.
But that, too, was deflected as if sliding on the surface of her body.
"I told you it's useless. A slash of that level won't work on me."
The flames that had gathered at her mouth were condensed and fired again as "Boro Breath."
Komurasaki's lightning neutralized it, but she realized once again that her opponent wasn't as easy as she had thought.
Although the form was different, the power it used was very similar to Kaido's. This would be a good warm-up before cutting down the "Hundred Beasts."
She sheathed "Shunrai" and grasped another sword.
"Enma—Draw."
The lightning that had been emitting a bluish-white light turned black.
The lightning that had been looping around Komurasaki's body converged under "Enma," making crackling sounds.
"Let's see if this will work."
A flash.
The slash, released by absorbing Komurasaki's Haki, cut through the earth and boasted the power to cut even Maraptonoka's body.
Maraptonoka, who had dodged just before being hit, was sweating profusely at this.
"What... Such an outrageous person was in the first half of the sea..."
"It seems this will work. Then things will be quick."
Holding "Enma" in a low stance, she moved at the speed of lightning to harass Maraptonoka and struck again.
Maraptonoka grabbed the flame clouds and evaded into the sky, and continuously breathed out flames to attack, but Komurasaki intercepted all of them with lightning, not allowing a single stray bullet to reach the ground.
Kanata's teachings were always strict, and because of that, Komurasaki had become strong.
If her opponent had some connection to Kaido, Komurasaki's motivation would rise without limit.
"Hmph—!!"
"I won't let you escape!"
Komurasaki chased Maraptonoka, who was running further into the sky to avoid Komurasaki's attacks, and Komurasaki also kicked off the sky and moved.
She crossed a shrine that was in the way, cut down the "Giant Jack" that stretched straight to the sky with a single stroke, and scattered Maraptonoka's flames, which burned a wide area, with lightning spread over a wide area.
The Haki-clad claws and "Enma" collided, and a tremendous Clang!! sound echoed.
Immediately after, Komurasaki, approaching as if to slip through the giant body, held the sword in both hands in a high stance.
"Oden One-Sword Style—Togen Kusanagi!!"
"Aaaaagghhh!!!"
Maraptonoka, whose right shoulder was slashed along with the hard scales, screamed in pain, and all four of her eyes turned to Komurasaki.
Komurasaki, sensing the attack, immediately retreated, and immediately after, a blast of fire rushed to where Komurasaki had been.
The ability was very similar to Kaido's, but it was subtly different from what Kanata had taught her. She thought it might be a difference due to the user of the ability, but she widened her eyes at the fact that the place she had just cut was now enveloped in blue flames.
Incredibly, the wound was gradually closing.
"What's going on..."
"My body is a little special. You wouldn't understand even if I told you, but the bloodline factors of various creatures are mixed together in a mess. The Whitebeard Pirates seem to have been struggling with funding for many years. It was a good purchase."
"Bloodline factor...?"
"...Well, you, who can only swing a sword, wouldn't understand."
The blue flames gradually disappeared, and the place she had just cut was restored as if nothing had happened. It was tough to an absurd degree, but her Haki had diminished. It seemed that she couldn't heal indefinitely.
"If it were a Devil Fruit ability, I'd consider stealing it... but it doesn't seem like I have that luxury."
Komurasaki sighed and drew "Muramasa" with her right hand while holding "Enma" in her left.
These two swords were a bit tiring, so they weren't suitable for long battles, but she judged that she might be the one to be defeated if she didn't finish it quickly.
Although Kanata had told her to "use it as you like," it wasn't something that could be used so easily.
She glared at Maraptonoka, who was clad in black lightning and, in addition to flames, had begun to wear ice.
"—I'll cut you down."
"—If you can."
Thump!!! The giant claws and the sword collided, and a tremendous shockwave struck the surroundings.
Dodging the claws that were swung in succession, Komurasaki struck from above.
"Oden Two-Sword Style—Togen Shirataki!!"
She caught the two slashes that were swung horizontally with her fangs, and Maraptonoka opened her huge mouth, showing flames.
Komurasaki clicked her tongue once and chose to dodge, and moved to Maraptonoka's side, ignoring the "Boro Breath" that was released towards the sky.
Even if she was cut, she would regenerate, but it still hurt. Disliking that, Maraptonoka created flame clouds and moved through the sky, landing in a place where broken shrines were scattered.
Following her, Komurasaki also landed in the same place.
"Harder than before... It seems your Haki is increasing."
"Don't underestimate me—Namuji Hyoga!!"
This time, it was a breath of ice, not flames.
It was a kind of Mythical Zoan with composite abilities, but there was no way such a creature existed.
Frowning, Komurasaki concentrated lightning on both arms and swung.
"500 Million V—Takemikazuchi."
The lightning strike, boasting tremendous energy, roared with flashes and thunder, temporarily depriving Maraptonoka of her senses. Since Komurasaki had the advantage in terms of Observation Haki proficiency, even a moment's delay in judgment would be an opportunity to take the initiative.
While their attacks collided and neutralized each other, Komurasaki took the lead and slipped into her bosom, slashing her abdomen.
"Oden Two-Sword Style—Togen Jukyo!!"
Did that one blow, which roughly cut a cross, work? Maraptonoka screamed shrilly and tried to distance herself by running into the sky again.
But, without easily allowing that, Komurasaki took full advantage of her speed advantage and took the lead in the sky.
The four eyes that looked up with annoyance pierced Komurasaki.
"Again...!!"
"Maximum firepower, 1 Billion V—Tenma Daijinzai Tenjin!!"
"Boro Breath!!!"
Countless lightning bolts extended from the rapidly spreading dark clouds, converged at one point, and fell on "Enma" and "Muramasa."
Komurasaki, crossing the two swords to catch it, struck Maraptonoka straight down with the giant lightning.
The flames and thunderclaps that collided in the sky echoed, and Komurasaki's lightning, which broke through head-on, pierced even the shrine in the middle and struck Maraptonoka to the ground.
It wouldn't be strange if a normal opponent died from this, but... Komurasaki, knowing the precedent of Kanata deflecting it head-on, still didn't let her guard down and searched for her "voice."
"...She seems to be still alive."
Her "voice" hadn't disappeared yet.
If she dawdled, she would be healed again, so she immediately fell to the ground and searched for Maraptonoka.
—But there was no giant body there from before.
"I didn't really want to show this, but..."
Her physique was larger than when she was in human form, more than twice Komurasaki's size.
Her hair was golden, her eyes were red, and most importantly, she had five fox tails.
The body that should have been damaged was enveloped in blue flames, and was still healing. It was too tough, no matter how much, but her Haki had decreased. It seemed that she couldn't heal indefinitely.
"Human-Beast Form, is it? No matter what you show—"
"—It's not the same."
"!?"
Her reaction was a moment late, and although Komurasaki blocked Maraptonoka's fist, she was blown away.
Even though her Haki had decreased, her physical abilities were terrifyingly high. The Human-Beast Form of a Zoan type allowed for a balance of the techniques of the human form and the physical strength of the beast form. There was no way it would be weak.
"It seems you're still faster, but you're not superior in every aspect."
While being blown away, she regained her posture and met Maraptonoka, who had jumped at her, head-on.
The two attacks, clad in Haki like armor, didn't make full contact, and Komurasaki, who had added Conqueror's Haki, won, and this time, she blew Maraptonoka away.
She chased after her and unleashed sword strikes, but Maraptonoka concentrated on defense and tried to hold on, blocking Komurasaki's blades.
"If this goes on, it can't be helped, and we'll have no choice but to die together."
If even a fatal wound would heal, she could take even somewhat reckless attacks and move to counterattack.
Of course, it wasn't that she was reckless, aiming for a mutual kill in earnest, but that she had a chance of winning.
No matter how strong she was, Haki was finite. Since she started using the two swords, the speed of consumption had increased many times over. It wasn't that she couldn't control it, it was just that there was a lot of waste—but in this situation, that waste would be fatal.
The wounds healed, and the flames she wore changed from blue to crimson.
Wearing flames of scorching heat that could burn all things, she swung her claws to tear Komurasaki's body.
"It's a strategy based on not being defeated by one or two cuts...!"
"Yes. I don't like pain, but I can't say that!!"
Clang!
She blocked Maraptonoka's claws with "Enma" and cut her body with "Muramasa." But her body, clad in Haki like armor, couldn't be easily cut if she saved Haki, and as a result, it was immediately regenerated and Komurasaki's Haki decreased.
Certainly, a long-term battle was disadvantageous. If she used "Enma" and "Shunrai," the consumption would be less, but that would reduce the damage she could inflict by penetrating Maraptonoka's Haki.
In the end, if the damage didn't accumulate, it was the same.
"...Then, I have no choice but to use my trump card as well."
She repelled Maraptonoka's attack and created a certain distance.
Komurasaki wondered what she intended to do without showing any signs of concern, she held up "Enma" to the sky.
—The world changed around Komurasaki.
—The dark clouds that had spread in the sky narrowed, fell from the sky like a cage, and lightning swirled from the ground to the sky.
"Jakumetsu Muho—Lightning, cover the world."
—The secret technique that wounded Kanata and was recognized by her as "full-fledged" was deployed.