Back to the point—
What could these materials ultimately be fused into?
High above the world, the frigid wind did nothing to affect Orin. Compared to flying in an airplane, this was even steadier and faster. He stood upon the clouds, gazing down at the world below.
At such heights, the cold was biting, and at times, he could even understand Imu's perspective.
When a mere gesture of your finger could erase an entire nation, wiping out millions of lives in an instant—at that level, one was no longer human.
A little arrogance, a little hubris…
Calling oneself a god wasn't all that incomprehensible.
Though Orin possessed such a lofty view of the world, his nature made it impossible for him to truly detach from it. In fact, he rather enjoyed being part of it—
Especially spending time with those he liked, doing all sorts of interesting things, like a player controlling a grand game, deciding the course of the world's future.
Gradually, a thought took shape in his mind.
Why…
Did the final boss have to be Imu?
Of course, it was just an immature idea. Even if it didn't work out in the end, it wouldn't matter.
...
New World, Egghead Island.
With a sharp, ringing cry, Orin descended.
Compared to before, the island seemed to have changed once again—everything radiated an even stronger sense of advanced technology.
The moment Orin landed, Vegapunk sensed his presence and rushed out of the lab in excitement.
"You're back, Orin!!!"
"Dr. Vegapunk."
The last time Orin vanished from Egghead Island, he had traveled back into the past, and when he returned, it was somewhere out at sea.
This was the first time they had met again since then.
The two walked together toward Vegapunk's laboratory, and along the way, Vegapunk couldn't stop asking questions about Orin's trip to the past.
"It was a success. I really did return to the two years of the God Valley War—and changed quite a few things. But when I came back, nothing here seemed to have changed."
"I see… just as I suspected. So it truly became a parallel world, huh."
Sitting inside the lab, Orin lounged on a chair with a cup of tea in hand, watching Vegapunk jotting down notes as he spoke. Clearly, he was recording every word.
Orin didn't mind—after all, that was just how scientific maniacs were.
He strolled across the spacious laboratory, seeing all sorts of strange instruments and samples, most of which he didn't recognize.
But when his gaze fell upon several large glass cylinders resembling water tanks, he finally broke Vegapunk's train of thought.
"You should have the bloodline factors of my subordinates, the Shichibukai, recorded here, right?"
He knew about this.
In fact, every Shichibukai who joined the World Government went through that exact process.
Orin didn't oppose it—his authority was no lower than that of the Elders anyway.
"Yes, including the latest additions—Jinbe and Boa Hancock. Their samples have been recorded too."
Vegapunk stuck out his tongue, glancing curiously at Orin, who was resting his chin on his hand, lost in thought. He couldn't guess what Orin was thinking.
"How's the progress?"
Over the years, Orin had poured a fortune into Vegapunk's research, in addition to the government's funding.
Given that the theory had been proposed over a decade ago, he didn't believe Vegapunk hadn't made any progress.
"Well…"
Vegapunk scratched his head, clearly not expecting the question.
"You mean the [Seraphim] project, right? There's been some preliminary experimentation—but it's still far from complete."
Since they were artificial beings, there were far too many flaws to fix.
Helplessly, Vegapunk led Orin to another lab.
Inside were several large, sphere-like structures.
According to Vegapunk, these were the embryos of the first-generation prototypes. A perfect result was still at least ten years away.
"That's fine. I'm not in a hurry."
Orin glanced around the room, which looked like something straight out of a sci-fi movie—biological weapons being grown in transparent tanks. Not fully understanding, he didn't ask further.
Instead, he sat down at the table and gestured for Vegapunk to do the same.
"I've got some materials here. I wonder if you can, like with the Seraphim project, create a fused product from them. Of course, I'm not in a rush. Name your price—I'll cover whatever you need, as long as it's done within ten years."
Vegapunk's eyes immediately lit up, his tongue sticking out as his mouth hung open in excitement.
"Materials?"
Orin's earlier question about the Seraphim made him instinctively assume that Orin had finally agreed to his ten-year-old proposal—to provide his own bloodline factor.
The Seraphim project already involved extracting green blood and replicating Devil Fruits one-to-one.
Now, if they could include that of the Lunarian race… and a young Orin who had eaten the Warp-Warp Fruit?
In his mind, the image of "Seraphim Orin" began to form—
A handsome boy, bare-chested, dressed in military pants and boots, carrying a black spear. White hair, tanned skin, and black flaming wings spread behind his back.
Such a Seraphim would be the greatest, most perfect creation in Vegapunk's entire career—
Even surpassing the "Mother Flame" weapon the World Government demanded of him!
Not to mention the endless funding it would bring...
But Orin's next words doused that dream like a bucket of cold water.
"No, I'm not making a Seraphim of myself."
He turned his head, shattering Vegapunk's fantasy.
"I see…"
Vegapunk looked down, disappointed. But then—
Orin's next words made his head snap up, eyes bloodshot, heart pounding like thunder.
"But… what about a Seraphim of Joy Boy? Are you interested?"
"Nani!!!"
Clatter—
The pen and paper in Vegapunk's hands dropped to the floor. He didn't even bother picking them up, instead glancing nervously around the lab walls.
Orin understood his concern. With a light snap of his fingers—
Papalala—
Every surveillance device in the room instantly went dead.
In a blink, Orin, now clad in a black cloak, sat across from him at the experimental table, one leg crossed over the other, resting his chin on his hands with a faint, knowing smile.
Another snap of his fingers—
Several objects appeared atop the table.
Samples of Ancient Giant blood, the Nika Fruit, the Dark-Dark Fruit…
Truth was, anything Orin wanted, he could get. Even the four Road Poneglyphs of the future—
If he wished, he could "speedrun" One Piece itself, gather all four in a single day, and become Pirate King.
That was the power of dimensional superiority.
Vegapunk stared at the items before him, recognizing each one instantly. Having read the archives of Ohara and possessing a brain that was practically a living library, there was little he didn't know.
The moment his gaze fell on the Nika Fruit and Dark-Dark Fruit, cold sweat streamed down his back.
And when he recalled Orin's words earlier—
"Orin-san, just what… are you planning to do?"