The first beetle had been a triumph, but Tessal quickly discovered it was far from perfect. Its legs locked after too many steps, its gears jammed at the worst times, and more than once it simply collapsed in a pathetic heap of scrap.
But Tessal never stopped. Every failure taught him something new. Piece by piece, the prototype became sturdier, its shell reinforced, its legs more balanced. He even managed to add a simple mechanism that released a puff of thick smoke when triggered—an ability that made Ace laugh and cough at the same time, while Sabo called it "a clever little escape trick."
That small success lit a fire in him. Tessal no longer wanted just one beetle. He wanted an entire swarm.
Over the months that followed, his workshop filled with half-finished shells and scattered sketches. Slowly, new models emerged:
The Bullet Hopper, a grasshopper-shaped insect that launched itself forward with a sharp, explosive kick.
The Screeching Cricket, which let out an ear-splitting metallic chirp when wound, enough to startle or disorient enemies.
The Bee Shooters, buzzing little terrors that could fire needle-sized darts from their abdomens.
The Trapper Spiders, nimble constructs that carried coils of thin wire to ensnare foes.
And his proudest creation so far, the Iron Shield Beetle, a broad-bodied insect that could lock its shell tight and form a barrier strong enough to block a strike.
By the end of a year, Tessal had built more than just tools—he had built an arsenal. Ace grumbled about being his "unwilling test dummy," and Sabo teased him constantly, but even they couldn't deny the usefulness of his mechanical swarm.
One afternoon, Tessal carried a small case filled with his latest model as he made his way to Dadan's hideout. He wanted Ace's opinion on the newest bug—though he suspected Ace would just try to smash it. But when he arrived, his steps faltered.
There, in front of the shack, stood a tall, broad-shouldered man with a Marine's coat draped over his back—Vice Admiral Garp himself. And beside him, clinging with wide-eyed curiosity to Ace's side, was a small boy with a straw hat much too big for his head.
Tessal's hand tightened on the case of insects. For the first time in months, it wasn't gears or designs that filled his thoughts. It was a simple, startling question.
Who is that kid?