"Doctor, just what kind of monster have you created?"
Big Mom stared at the Pure Titan she had pounded out of shape, a strange light flickering in her eyes.
Even reduced to that ghastly state, the giant still bristled with feral vigor—
And its wounds were knitting at an eerie speed.
Aside from its dull mind, that fearless, death-defying posture perfectly matched the giant warriors she had always envisioned.
"The weak point is the nape. Other than that, no matter how grievous the wound, it can recover."
"Its body can replenish energy from light to power its activity. There's no need to feed it."
"So these modified giants are far more active by day; at night they fall into slumber."
"As for the downside—the intellect is low. The transformation essentially 'rebuilds' the brain."
"Man-eating is its instinct, which aligns with its function as a bioweapon."
"Mamamama—if it could obey a few simple commands, it would be the perfect bioweapon."
"Dr. Hughes, when you call it a half-finished product, you're troubled by making the giants follow orders, aren't you?"
"No. The issue is how long they survive after giantification."
"With the current drug, the transformed giants are still unstable. Their bodies could collapse at any time."
"With a perfected formula, an adult giant, in theory, could continue existing indefinitely—as long as it's exposed to sunlight."
"Continuing to exist… forever… Isn't that immortality?" Big Mom let out another wild cackle.
"Doctor, don't tell me you can already develop an elixir of eternal youth?" Big Mom's eyes went wide.
If true, then she—Big Mom—would be a queen in more than name.
Shiki, Whitebeard, even that dear little brother of hers, Kaido…
Once age withered them, they'd be fossils of a bygone era—
While she would sail on, forever at her peak.
Big Mom drifted into visions of that glorious future.
Hearing her shout, the rest of the Charlotte family felt their hearts blaze hot as well.
Could science really go that far?
Before today, they would have doubted—mocked, even.
Now, they had absolute faith in Hughes.
If giants could be achieved, could immortality really be that far behind?
Besides, didn't the Doctor just explain that a giant could theoretically persist forever?
Giants lived longer than humans, but even they only had a few centuries.
A hundred years and "forever" are two very different concepts.
If the Charlotte family obtained an elixir of immortality, Mama would certainly become Pirate King!
Even "King of the World" might not be impossible.
Then the Charlotte family would become a royal house to rival the Celestial Dragons.
They hadn't expected Dr. Hughes's research to be this profound—almost divine.
Apologies—yes, they had raised their voices earlier.
Hughes ignored the flattery from the others.
These people could really dream—did they think he was a wish-granting machine?
"Linlin, you're joking. I want immortality too."
"To make a body like a giantified one, you'd need invasive human modification. At that point, whether it's still a 'human' is questionable."
"I have, however, heard of a comparatively reliable path to immortality."
"That would be the power of the Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit)—its ultimate move, the so-called 'Immortality Surgery.'"
"I see. If you have any other methods of extending lifespan, don't keep them to yourself. On that front, the Charlotte family will spare no effort." With her immortality plan deflated, Big Mom's mood dipped a little.
Hughes, meanwhile, fell to pondering other ways this world might achieve longevity.
Beyond the Immortality Surgery, there was Pure Gold, which could suppress aging; the Gyaku Gyaku no Mi (Reverse-Reverse Fruit), which could make one's age regress…
And a certain legend: that an elixir of immortality could be brewed from the bones of the Thousand-Year Dragon. Who knew if it was true?
"I've heard of a creature called the Thousand-Year Dragon. They say its bones can be used to make an immortality elixir."
"If you're interested, Linlin, I can research it—but I'd need a specimen of a Thousand-Year Dragon first."
"Such a rare beast—the Thousand-Year Dragon. I want it!"
"Perospero, use the family's intelligence network to search for the Thousand-Year Dragon."
"As you command, Mama!" Perospero answered at once.
Poor Perospero—whenever something came up, he was always the first one Big Mom called.
"Back to the main topic. I do have a few ideas for making giants obey simple commands."
"First: modify the body and implant a control chip. But that's a massive investment—and very troublesome."
"The other idea came to me after I arrived in Totto Land and saw those wondrous animated furnishings and foods."
"Linlin, I want to ask: can your Soru Soru no Mi (Soul-Soul Fruit) turn a giant directly into a homie?"
"Eh? That shouldn't be possible."
"The Soul-Soul Fruit can only insert souls into inanimate objects. It can't be used on human corpses—or on anyone besides me."
"Is that 'can't,' or 'never tried'?"
"Living bodies already have souls."
"That would cause a conflict of souls—so it won't work."
"What if we increase the amount of soul we inject?"
"Suppress the body's original soul—or even devour it."
"You can treat this giant as a dead thing. Although a soul exists within, it cannot properly control this body that no longer fits it."
"If your power can manage that, then these giants will obey your every command. Your orders will be the edge of their blades."
"Then I'll try!" Persuaded by Hughes, countless motes of soul-light bloomed in Big Mom's hand and poured into the giant.
As if merging with an object, the souls met no rejection.
"Mamamama…" Seeing this, Big Mom grew excited and increased the amount she injected.
As the souls flowed in, the Pure Titan—until now thrashing on the ground—grew still.
Moments later, the giant that had only ever roared spoke a single word that made everyone stiffen in shock: "Mama!"
And with that—the Giant Homie had arrived!
(End of Chapter)
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