Blinding red lights flashed along the corridor, alarms blaring nonstop. Amid frantic footsteps came two teams of guards in hazmat suits, holding spray weapons.
"Who are you?! Stop right there or we'll shoot!" The leader aimed his gun at Leno, his voice muffled through the gas mask.
Leno didn't bother replying—his eyes flashed sharply.
"Buzz~" Both squads collapsed instantly. Leno activated his Observation Haki and walked calmly deeper into the facility.
"Doffy, save me! Someone broke into the lab—hurry, come save me!" A man in a white coat with an unnervingly flamboyant appearance was screaming into a Den Den Mushi.
He had just seen through the monitors how that masked man knocked everyone out in an instant. There was no way he could handle this alone.
"Fuffuffuffuffu… Don't panic, Caesar Clown. Tell me, how many are they, and why are they breaking into the lab?"
"One! Just one! A masked man, insanely strong—he took down the guards in a blink! Don't ask—Doffy, just get here quick!" Caesar babbled in panic.
"Caesar, don't be scared. You're my man. No one dares to harm you. Just see what he's here for." Donquixote Doflamingo spoke calmly. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea recognized by the World Government, even the Marines wouldn't dare move against him, let alone anyone else.
"Right, right… you're a Warlord. I'm under a Warlord. He wouldn't dare—"
"Oh dear, how terrifying, a Warlord of the Sea!" The barely-calm Caesar instantly trembled, and the Den Den Mushi in his hand fell to the ground with a "thump."
"You—you—you…" Caesar stammered incoherently.
"Fuffuffuffu… Friend, why have you broken into my laboratory?" Doflamingo's voice came through the fallen Den Den Mushi.
"Oh, Doffy, I'm just here to get a Devil Fruit. The one Vegapunk left behind. It should still be here, right?"
"That failed Devil Fruit?! What do you want with it?" Caesar asked, coming back to his senses.
Leno turned his gaze on Caesar, and a red gleam flashed in his eyes. Caesar froze on the spot.
"Doffy~~~!" Caesar looked desperately at the Den Den Mushi.
"Doffy, think carefully before you answer me—will you give it or not? You wouldn't want your precious lab to be destroyed, would you?" Lightning crackled in Leno's palm.
"You brat… are you threatening me?!" Doflamingo's veins bulged as he gripped the Den Den Mushi.
"Correct."
Moments passed in tense silence.
"Caesar. Go give it to him." Doflamingo sounded frustrated yet resigned. Reinforcements couldn't arrive in time, and besides—it was a failed Devil Fruit. Giving it away cost nothing. Still, being threatened like this boiled his blood.
Since becoming king of Dressrosa, no one had dared defy him. And now, this unknown punk had the nerve to threaten him straight out. It was infuriating.
Soon, Caesar returned holding a glass container. Inside lay a pink Devil Fruit, its surface faintly covered with scales.
Zoan-Type: Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Azure Dragon Form (Artificial). Leno's eyes blazed with desire at the sight.
He waved and stored the fruit away, then turned to leave.
"Well then, a pleasant cooperation, Doffy. Goodbye."
"Leave your name, brat."
"I am God of Thunder." Leno paused. Lightning flared around him, and the Den Den Mushi shattered into pieces.
Far away in Dressrosa, atop the royal plateau in the palace—
Doflamingo crushed the Den Den Mushi in his grip.
"God of Thunder…! Fuffuffuffuffu…" His suppressed laughter echoed through the hall.
"Hey, hey, Doffy, what happened?"
"Nothing… just an annoying brat."
Leaving Punk Hazard behind, Leno eagerly took out the Devil Fruit. Although Zoan artificial Devil Fruits rarely awakened, they still offered real boosts to defense, regeneration, and physique.
He took a big bite.
"Ugh~" The taste assaulted every nerve.
"Rooaaar!" With a thunderous roar, Leno's body swelled into a hundred-meter-long pink… little dragon? Orange flames swirled beneath his feet as he soared upward, then shifted into hybrid form. Lightning instantly wrapped around his draconic frame.
He could use both powers at once. This… this was incredible.
Opening his status panel:
Leno:
Armament Haki: Advanced
Observation Haki: Advanced
Conqueror's Haki: Intermediate
Advanced Physical Techniques
Advanced Swordsmanship
Devil Fruit Abilities:
Rumble-Rumble Fruit (No Side Effects) Azure Dragon Fruit (Artificial) (No Side Effects) —
Inventory: Gold, Berries, Wind Rift, Sandai Kitetsu, Clothing, Food…
"Huh? Also no side effects? So… every Devil Fruit I eat just… ignores the 'one fruit' rule? What a massive surprise!" Leno had worried consuming another fruit might nullify the Rumble-Rumble's immunity. But no—the Azure Dragon Fruit had "defected" too. 'This… is perfect.'
In hybrid form, Leno stood over three meters tall. He glanced down at his pink scale-covered body and gave a satisfied nod. Drawing Wind Rift, he swung a slash.
"Whoosh!" The slash ripped across the sea, splitting the surface into a long gash that slowly closed.
Clenching his fist, he nodded. "Good. My strength and physique have risen at least thirty percent."
Taking out another Eternal Log Pose, Leno turned into a massive dragon and flew down a new route.
—
Water 7 — Franky Family
"Boss! Boss, bad news!" A burly man in steel briefs and mesh shoes tumbled into Franky's workshop.
"What is it, Zambai? Don't make such a fuss," said Franky, legs crossed, sipping cola.
"If he's coming, let him come. What's he here for?"
"I'm here to ask for your help building a ship." Iceburg entered, holding a blueprint.
"Take a look first."
"Ohhh! Such precise structure… such brilliant design!" Franky gasped.
"This ship is a bit much for me alone. I need your help."
"Suuuupeeer~! Leave it to me—Super Franky!!" Franky, wearing only briefs, struck his signature bizarre pose with a loud yell.
The Square Sisters, who had somehow slipped in, copied his pose beside him.
"Super~, Super~ Franky!" ×2
Iceburg watched their display in deadpan silence. The little white mouse on his shoulder clutched its belly and rolled around laughing.
The air fell into dead silence, awkwardness thick as fog…
"Gather your tools. Come to my office." Iceburg turned to leave.
"That stupid 'Burg, what's the rush…" Franky muttered.
"Stupid Burg, stupid Burg!" ×2
The Square Sisters echoed after him in chorus.