"This should work, but it'll take a long time to study."
Ebony Maw knelt on one knee and responded.
"And, my lord, having your bloodline alone doesn't guarantee strength—it depends on the individual's potential."
He continued.
"Yeah, I know. Forget it. The idea of mass-producing my blood makes me sick."
Thanos thought for a moment before replying, clearly disturbed by the memory.
"But, we can select elite warriors, replicate their bloodlines, and see if we can mass-produce them."
Still seeing value in the idea, Thanos instructed Ebony Maw to proceed with the project.
Naturally, Ebony Maw accepted the task.
. . .
Goku: I don't really get this whole 'bloodline evolution' stuff, but these so-called Domain Lords sound insanely strong—able to destroy a planet with a flick of their hand. That's crazy! No need to charge up a Kamehameha like I do. Sounds amazing. I'd love to spar with one!
Vegeta: Hmph. That's nothing. A Super Saiyan could do that easily. That level of power doesn't impress me.
Vegeta: These are just the limits of low-class lifeforms. They get a tiny taste of our starting strength and think they've reached the top. Pathetic.
Naruto: When you put it like that… doesn't sound too impressive, huh.
Tsunade: Hey! Naruto! Don't sell others short like that!
Goku: Don't say that. As long as you're willing to train with your life on the line, you can always get stronger. I don't believe this Domain Lord level is the limit. There's always more!
Mei Terumi: Maybe with this new bloodline and the Cosmic Phantom Beast Fist training, they could reach a level we can't even imagine.
Gohan: And they can regenerate and come back to life too—just like Uncle Piccolo.
Piccolo: We both have core cells, but I get the feeling it's not quite the same.
Tsunade: So, Jiraiya… are you going to use it?
Jiraiya: Well… I'm a little worried. What if my evolution turns me into some kind of weird creature?
Loki: Heh. That could happen. Just look at the Hulk—he's basically a monster.
Banner: Hey! That's totally different, okay!?
Odin: Honestly, no one really knows what might happen with forced bloodline evolution. You better think it through carefully.
Jiraiya: Uh...
Jiraiya stared at the syringe in his hand, visibly hesitant.
What if injecting this stuff turns him into some grotesque creature?
That was hard to accept.
But the power it promised… that was even harder to ignore.
Ever since Sea Serpent and Earth Dragon appeared, he'd been on edge.
The scale of their battles could bring unprecedented devastation.
Even worse, he felt powerless to stop it.
He desperately needed strength!
And then there were still those C-virus monsters to deal with!
Thinking about all that, the hesitation in Jiraiya's eyes faded, replaced by determination.
Orochimaru: If you're not going to use it, why not give it to me? I think it has incredible research value. Transcending human limits—how fascinating.
Jiraiya: Shut it! Like hell I'd ever give it to you!
After snapping at Orochimaru, Jiraiya took a deep breath and made his decision.
He injected himself right there on the spot.
As the colorful serum entered his body…
Jiraiya stared anxiously at himself, waiting to see what would happen.
The next second, a surge of heat burst through his body.
It felt like every cell in his body was being incinerated—an unbearable sensation.
"Ughhh! This hurts like hell! Is this… what evolution feels like?!"
He doubled over, groaning in agony, as if invisible hands were tearing his organs apart.
It felt like death was right around the corner.
He collapsed on the ground like a trembling insect, curled up in pain.
"Damn it… I should've found a safer place to do this..."
Jiraiya regretted his impulsiveness.
He'd acted without thinking, forgetting the risks.
Good thing this was Mount Myōboku—if he'd done this elsewhere, things could've been way worse.
"Hey! Jiraiya, what's going on!?"
"You okay!?"
Fukasaku and Shima rushed to his side.
"No time to explain... just… protect me..."
Jiraiya squeezed out the words before being consumed by pain again.
Fukasaku and Shima were completely bewildered but did as he asked, guarding him closely.
"What the heck is wrong with him?" Shima asked, worry etched all over her face.
"I don't know. We'll have to wait and ask him later." Fukasaku sighed.
Jiraiya: AHHHH!! IT HURTS! AAAHHHHHHH!!
Naruto: Ah! Pervy Sage! Are you okay!?
Tsunade: He probably can't even think about responding right now. Is this… the agony that comes with evolution?
Banner: Sounds about right. When I first turned into the Hulk, it was torture. Doesn't really hurt anymore though.
A: He's not gonna… die before he even finishes evolving, right?
Naruto: No way! Pervy Sage may be a perv, but he's not gonna die that easy!
Jiraiya: If you're going to praise me, don't insult me at the same time!
Tsunade: So this is when you suddenly find the strength to talk!?
Luffy: Hope he's okay...
Daigo: Hang in there, Jiraiya-sensei!
As everyone chattered anxiously, the screen lit up again with a new announcement.
[Now predicting the next containment breach—Torment Sloth.]
A photo appeared on screen.
It showed a television set, with a sloth sitting on the couch in the middle of a program.
It looked… unnervingly eerie.
[Torment Sloth isn't a creature from reality. It only exists in non-live broadcast media, like a character on a TV show.]
[Most viewers would dismiss it as a prop or costume, never realizing how horrifying it truly is.]
[Torment Sloth is a memetic humanoid figure, believed to be someone in a sloth costume. Those who view it experience effects between 40–100 hours after exposure. They begin to lose cognitive function and decision-making abilities. Every 24 hours, there's a brief 150-second pause in these effects, though the timing is random.]
(End of Chapter)
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