Chapter 191: The Essence of Devil Fruits?
As Vegapunk said.
In the distant past, MADS once aspired to explore the limits of science.
Although scientists had different personalities, research concepts, and even disliked each other, most knew one thing.
In this world, the most worthwhile "Research Topic No. 1" is always Devil Fruits.
These "Treasures of the Sea" have unimaginable power, a unique "Cycle System" in the world, and an incomprehensible origin.
So they pursued the source of Devil Fruits, visiting various ancient kingdoms.
Until in the ruins of that kingdom, they discovered the "Tree Root" in Vegapunk's hand now.
Or rather, using another name...
"Blueprint of Life—after studying its characteristics, we called it that."
Vegapunk's voice carried reminiscence.
As if the discovery of this root was vividly before his eyes.
"When we first noticed it, we thought it was just a fossil... if not for other things nearby, we would have almost skipped it."
"But after research, we found it to be an incredible creation."
He stated all currently known intel about this root.
"It looks like a root, but actually... it is 'Everything'."
What is everything?
As the name implies...
"Humans, beasts, fish... all biological gene structures exist in this root."
"Besides that, structural formulas of inorganic matter and gases are also merged within."
"It's like a template of the 'Blueprint of Life'. Even as just a segment of root, the power contained within is incredible."
Speaking of this, fanaticism flashed in Vegapunk's eyes.
"Not boasting, but this old man considers the MADS we formed back then the best scientific research team in the world."
"But even with all of us researching it frantically, analyzing its composition... ultimately, we couldn't truly understand one ten-thousandth of its profundity!"
"And finally..."
Speaking here, his voice became trembling and hoarse.
Even a genius like him, storing indescribable memories and knowledge, couldn't forget that day.
On that day, they glimpsed the deepest thing hidden in the root.
"That was the same structural formula as Devil Fruits, but clearer... that is 'Lineage Factor'."
That was the first time this term truly surfaced.
Lineage didn't refer to human lineage.
But the lineage of "Devil Fruits", its belonging, the foundation of the world's existence.
"This old man's colleagues achieved huge breakthroughs in their respective research directions after discovering lineage factors."
He enumerated them like family treasures: "Judge discovered the significance of lineage factors in genetic modification; Queen discovered energy conversion and vitality change/extension; Caesar studied contents related to fruit abilities."
"Buckingham was the doctor of Rocks Pirates before, but even without understanding science, researching with us allowed her medical skills to break through."
"And finally, we cloned the first 'Artificial Human'—flawless, possessing fruit abilities, even gaining extremely slow aging due to modified genes, a perfect experimental result!"
Needless to say, Star Lord knew who he was talking about.
MADS' Artificial Human No. 1 was Queen of the Pleasure District "Stussy".
But what surprised Star Lord slightly was "Buckingham" in Vegapunk's words.
Her full name was "Buckingham Stussy", a member of the former Rocks Pirates and the clone prototype of Stussy.
According to Star Lord's knowledge, Buckingham was originally a "Freeloader" in MADS—simply put, mooching off them.
But now, her actual identity seemed to be a doctor, and she indeed leeched some MADS experiments.
Of course, what impressed Star Lord most.
Was this Buckingham being the mother of his teacher Zephyr's enemy "Edward Weevil".
Of course, hearing Vegapunk's words now.
Star Lord became more suspicious of this mother and son's actual identity.
Of course, these clearly weren't important now.
Importantly...
"So, what about you?"
At this moment, Star Lord's star-flowing gaze seemed to look at Vegapunk. "Your colleagues gained something... what did you discover from lineage factors?"
Naturally—if even others discovered something in the root, Vegapunk must have too.
Hearing this, Vegapunk scratched his huge head.
"This old man is a bit different from other colleagues specializing in one item."
"This old man is greedy and more curious."
He said.
But this clearly wasn't self-deprecating.
On the contrary.
For a scientist—curiosity is a necessity of science; greed is a catalyst for inspiration.
Only scientists curious about everything and greedy for all knowledge can climb the highest peak of science.
So...
"This old man knows a little bit of everything."
Vegapunk's words were modest.
But now, Star Lord could keenly realize.
The "Little Bit" Vegapunk mentioned wasn't compared to other colleagues.
He was comparing with the world.
To the world, his knowledge was but a drop in the ocean.
To others...
Dr. Vegapunk was already on the highest peak.
That was why Vegapunk didn't care about Caesar's previous research.
Cloning technology, life form modification, genetic technology, energy technology—from the root, he had huge discoveries, being number one in the world in every technology.
But among all discoveries, what he cared about most...
"Is the Essence of Devil Fruits."
Vegapunk looked at Star Lord, stating the core part of his research conclusion these years.
"There is a certain energy in this root. This old man currently cannot accurately cognize it, but it is one of the sources of Devil Fruit birth—"
"—This old man used it to create that 'Azure Dragon Fruit · Model: Crimson Dragon'."
"So this old man calls it 'Lineage Factor Source Energy'."
"With it, this old man can confirm the essence of Devil Fruits is not the 'Fruit' seen on the surface. Its essence should be something more conceptual, only the corresponding lineage factor sequence resides in the fruit."
This was the part he confirmed.
He verified it through research means.
Facts proved even without eating fruits, items modified by lineage factors could gain Zoan fruit abilities—animals' lineage factors were relatively simple.
This meant the "Fruit" of Devil Fruit itself wasn't the key; it was just a carrier of power.
Vegapunk even vaguely touched the pulse; he felt he might realize what that "Concept" was in a year or two at most.
But clearly.
Star Lord realized it now.
Because at this moment, he recalled the mural on the Abyss.
On the mural, everyone prayed to that massive tree—so from that tree, everything in the world began to "Derive".
Besides that, he remembered in the original story, Vegapunk five years later seemed to have captured the essence of that concept.
"Desire." (Negai/Wish)
Star Lord said softly.
"...De... Desire?"
Vegapunk, who hadn't pushed research to this step yet, froze.
"Desire? Desire... Right! Desire!"
His voice was hoarse, repeating Star Lord's word again and again, then jumped up instantly as if burned: "Right! It's desire—perfect! Flawless explanation!"
"The essence of Devil Fruits is the 'Desire' of life forms, and Lineage Factor Source Energy is the condensation of 'Desire'?"
In this moment, his gaze at Star Lord was extremely ardent, almost reverent.
"As expected of you, Lord Star Lord... your understanding of lineage factors is truly pinnacle, too exquisite! Can't be wrong! Can't be wrong!"
He was dancing with joy again.
Star Lord: "..."
Speaking the original author's answer in front of the original author, and being admired by the original author—who to reason with?
Of course, he had no time to think much now.
Because he was almost certain.
The source of this root in Vegapunk's hand was the tree in the mural.
Of course, judging by the tree size in the mural, this root wasn't a root at all, at most a tiny crumb of that tree.
But even so...
"Can you hand it to me for a look?"
Star Lord tried to ask calmly.
"Of course, this is why this old man brought you here."
Vegapunk froze, then realized he had been hugging the box due to shock.
He walked to Star Lord hurriedly, handing over the root.
Just as he said, bringing Star Lord here was to show him this branch.
He believed with The Zodiac's knowledge of lineage factors, maybe they could find more in this branch—
In fact, Star Lord proposing Devil Fruit essence is "Desire" just now was already a huge discovery, making Vegapunk's mind surge with inspiration.
He even wished to return to his lab immediately to start research.
"Don't worry about damaging the root. This old man conducted many experiments; the root itself is indestructible, even harder than Poneglyphs... !?"
Before Vegapunk finished, he saw an incredible scene.
His eyes almost popped out on the spot, long tongue straightened instantly, face flushed red.
Because now, right in front of him.
He clearly saw—the moment Star Lord's hand touched that root.
VMMM!
That root began to turn into flying ash instantly like sand.
In just an instant.
It disappeared in Star Lord's hand.
"Di... Disappeared!?"
Vegapunk bounced to Star Lord on small legs, looking at Star Lord's empty hand incredulously.
"In... Incredible, how did you do it!?"
While he exclaimed.
Star Lord looked at his hand silently.
Under the mask, Roy could clearly see the changes in the Fruit Encyclopedia.
[Analyzed 'Source of Lineage Factor']
[Lineage Factor Development — 19.92 → 34.81%]
Yes.
Just the moment he touched this branch, the prompt from Fruit Encyclopedia came, then the branch dissipated directly.
This situation wasn't unfamiliar to Roy.
When he obtained real Devil Fruits and analyzed them, the fruits would dissipate directly too.
So now, Roy naturally understood roughly what happened.
"If the tree in the mural is truly the source of all Devil Fruits, its body naturally contains partial 'Lineage Factors' of theoretically all Devil Fruits."
"So, it naturally can accelerate the Fruit Encyclopedia analysis progress extremely fast!"
Thinking of this, Roy was instantly moved.
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