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Although many of them wanted to stop the Golden Lion and rush toward Marineford, they knew it was futile.
After all, the Golden Lion was a Lion-Lion Fruit user, capable of flight and absurd speed.
They simply couldn't catch up with him.
"What do we do now?"
A pirate looked anxiously at his comrades.
They understood very well—if Golden Lion really attacked Marine Headquarters alone…
He would almost certainly die.
"No, we have to save Admiral Shiki!"
"How are we supposed to save him? Even if we follow him to Marineford, what difference would it make?"
Marineford wasn't just guarded by a handful of Vice Admirals—it was the heart of the World Government's power, home to the strongest Admirals, Sengoku, Garp, and the elite force of the Marines.
Even with the Golden Lion's overwhelming power, charging into that hornet's nest was suicide.
"Wait! What about that monster Ayr? Didn't he establish a commission agency in the New World? We could offer Devil Fruits and ask him to rescue Admiral Shiki!"
"Would Ayr really go to Marineford for anyone else?"
"Still, we have to try. If we don't, Shiki will be killed for sure."
"You're right. We've gathered several Devil Fruits recently—take them all to DeRosta!"
After a heated discussion, the Flying Sky Pirates unanimously decided to head toward Ayr's territory.
They would use the Devil Fruits as payment to request Ayr's aid in rescuing the Golden Lion.
---
Meanwhile, Grand Line – Somewhere at Sea
A Marine battleship was cruising through the misty waters.
Onboard, three high-ranking Marines sat around a table in the central command cabin, sharing a quiet meal.
Suddenly, a Marine officer rushed in.
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki! We've arrived at the Future Kingdom of Baldimore!"
"Finally," Akainu muttered, rising from his seat as molten heat pulsed beneath his skin.
Aokiji yawned. "Huh? All this for a scientist?"
"He's not just any scientist, Kuzan," Akainu said with a grim frown. "According to World Government intelligence, Dr. Vegapunk has developed an artificial Devil Fruit… and he's working with that New World menace, Ayr."
The Future Kingdom of Baldimore—once known as a hub of scientific genius—was now flagged as a red-zone threat by the World Government.
Vegapunk, originally arrested in the canon timeline for researching the blueprint of life, had diverged. In this world, he instead focused on lineage factor manipulation, the true key behind Devil Fruits.
And he had apparently succeeded in replicating them artificially.
Even worse, Ayr's subordinates had been sighted near Baldimore.
This connection was enough for the World Government to brand Vegapunk a traitor and potential threat to world order.
Hence, the unprecedented decision to send three Vice Admirals—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—together on this mission.
"Heh… so Ayr's been hoarding Devil Fruits all this time to build an army of empowered followers?" Kizaru murmured, brushing his chin thoughtfully.
"Doesn't matter what he plans," Akainu growled. "Our mission is to bring Vegapunk back—dead or alive."
"Let's get it over with," Aokiji said lazily. "Roger's execution is around the corner. We'll be busy soon."
The three Vice Admirals disembarked, accompanied by a large unit of elite Marines. They headed toward a concealed experimental base nestled in the rocky terrain of Baldimore.
"Sakazuki-san, this is the facility where Vegapunk has been conducting his research," a Marine officer reported.
"I see," Akainu muttered, clenching his fist.
"Great Eruption!"
A wave of molten magma surged from his arm, its blistering heat warping the air. It surged forward, melting the steel laboratory door in an instant.
CRASH—!!
"Who goes there?!"
Several armed figures rushed out of the smoke-filled corridor.
They were Ayr's men—assigned to protect Vegapunk—and every one of them had a bounty exceeding one billion Berries.
"Sakazuki?! Borsalino?! Kuzan?!"
"Tch! Why the hell are those monsters here?!"
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"
Despite their immense bounties, none of Ayr's men underestimated the Vice Admirals. Even back when they were "just" Vice Admirals, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji possessed combat strength comparable to Yonko Commanders.
Kizaru tilted his head. "Oh? So Vegapunk really is tied to that monster Ayr."
"Cut them down," Akainu ordered with chilling calm.
The battle broke out immediately.
Though powerful, Ayr's subordinates were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the combined might of the Marine elites and the three elemental monsters.
Fire, ice, and light clashed with Haki and Devil Fruit techniques.
The air crackled with power.
Within minutes, almost all of Ayr's men lay dead, their bodies shattered by magma, frozen by ice, or sliced apart by photons of light.
Only one survivor escaped—heavily wounded but alive.
The Vice Admirals didn't bother chasing him.
Their goal wasn't to hunt pirates—it was to secure Vegapunk.
---
Inside the Lab
The walls of the lab were filled with diagrams of Devil Fruits, detailed analysis of Zoan transformation rates, and charts about lineage factors.
Vegapunk sat calmly at his desk, scribbling notes beside a massive tank that housed a swirling artificial Devil Fruit core.
He didn't flinch as heavy boots echoed down the hall behind him.
He already knew they were coming.
The moment he heard the battle outside, he realized it was over.
Escape was impossible.
"You're under arrest, Dr. Vegapunk," a Marine said as he approached with Seastone shackles.
Vegapunk didn't resist.
He held out his wrists and smiled faintly as the cold metal clicked around them.
He looked directly at Akainu, who towered over him like a living volcano.
"Before you take me," Vegapunk said, "I think it's only fair I offer you a warning."
Akainu narrowed his eyes.
"I am an essential partner in Ayr's Devil Fruit operations. If you arrest me… you're going to be in very big trouble."
The three Vice Admirals exchanged silent glances.
They knew Ayr wouldn't take this lightly.
Over the years, Vegapunk had manufactured dozens of artificial Devil Fruits for Ayr's growing forces.
If Ayr truly viewed him as a strategic asset…
Then war might be coming.
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