"What is that kid trying to do? One wrong step and he'll turn into a mist of blood. He's insane."
Kureha closed the door of her treehouse and listened to the storm raging outside, muttering quietly to herself.
Would the sea give the answer—or would the wind?
No. A man truly lost should find his own path.
Sharn walked through the blizzard, his mind working faster than ever. He realized that he had been too limited in his thinking. He had always believed that, as a mutant, he could rely on the Swallow–Swallow Fruit to consume a fourth Devil Fruit and reach the limits of human evolution. But he had forgotten something crucial.
Vegapunk had once fused Devil Fruits with weapons—granting life to the inanimate. That meant vitality was not exclusive to living beings.
If Sharn could use the Paw–Paw Fruit to neutralize danger and the Swallow–Swallow Fruit to merge powers, he could extend that principle to his own organs. Every organ, every limb—even his brain—could become a vessel for new power.
He thought of "returning life"—the technique that could give vitality even to hair. If that was possible, then why not to organs?
He smiled faintly. "I understand now. That's the key—the same principle Vegapunk used to let weapons merge with bloodline factors."
Through his heightened Observation Haki, Sharn could feel every part of his body, each organ pulsing with its own rhythm. "Bear was remodeled by Vegapunk on the Five Elders' orders, made into the prototype for the Pacifista, then developed into the Seraphim," he murmured. "Then I'll become something beyond angels—the true creator."
He imagined what he would become once his entire body was reforged—how terrifyingly powerful he would be. Would all the demons within him begin to fight each other then? The thought only made him grin.
"There's still the Rumble–Rumble Fruit in my Swallow–Swallow space," he thought. His powers already included lightning from his fur and thunder from his dragon form. If he added the Rumble Fruit, his body would become a living storm.
"Which organ should hold lightning?" His three hearts were already occupied. He laughed. "A man's kidneys can't be weak. Let thunder forge an invincible kidney."
Time to set sail.
He had hoped to meet Hiluluk, the foolish yet admirable doctor, but that meeting would have to wait. This voyage, he decided, would be the beginning of his transformation.
He already had proof that such impossible things could be done.
Vegapunk had merged fruits with weapons.
Wapol, the Swallow–Swallow Fruit user, had fused metal and animals into living alloy beasts.
The Seraphim could inject or withdraw bloodline-factor serums to control their abilities.
With these examples before him, how could he fail?
By the time they reached Alabasta, Sharn swore he would master organ fusion.
Back at the port, Drum Kingdom was bursting with life. The merchants laughed, taverns overflowed, and every shopkeeper celebrated the fortune they had made trading with Sharn's crew. None of them could have imagined that doing business with a "tyrant" would make them rich overnight.
When the archaeological ship finished loading supplies, Sharn appeared at the docks.
"Settle the bill," he ordered.
A massive chest of silver coins hit the counter. Every dish, every repair, every barrel—paid in full.
"Crew," he called, "we're heading for Alabasta."
Once on board, Sharn returned to his cabin. Steam rose around him as he trained in silence. Using the Paw–Paw Fruit, he expelled the limits of his own life force, then used the Swallow–Swallow Fruit to merge the Rumble–Rumble Fruit with his kidney.
"I will remake myself into the perfect being," he said quietly.
At that moment, his vision had already surpassed even Vegapunk's.
At the stern, Kaido took a long drink of rum. "The liquor here isn't bad," he muttered. His hands ached for battle. The last CP0 agents they'd fought had been far too weak. "Two more months and we'll reach the New World. Let's hope nothing gets in our way."
The thought of crossing into that sea of monsters made him grin wildly.
After a day of sailing, the cold gave way to scorching heat.
"Alabasta isn't far now," said Olvia. Using her Weapon–Weapon Fruit powers, she had crafted a long-range rifle with an integrated telescope. Her marksmanship improved by the day.
Soon, the archaeological ship reached the desert kingdom. The air was thick with the scent of spices. Even before Crocodile's time, Alabasta was a land of oases and prosperity.
"This rice and spiced roast meat are perfect," Sharn said as he devoured plate after plate. He needed the strength before venturing into the desert—and before testing his new experiment.
While Sharn ate and pondered how to perfect his "Thunder Kidney," the next table over was buzzing with talk of pirates and danger.
Meanwhile, far away in Drum Kingdom, the king returned days later accompanied by a Marine vice admiral—and three men in white suits. They were CP0, the Five Elders' personal agents.
At their center stood a masked man known only as the Chameleon—the strongest member of CP0.
He spoke into a Den-Den Mushi, his mask flickering between faces. "Everything proceeds as planned. Fail again, and you'll be erased."
The voice on the other end belonged to a man stationed in Alabasta—the leader of CP9.
"I should have died at the Grand Line's entrance," the man said coldly. "But this time, I'll finish the job."
He was the strongest of CP9 in that era, the counterpart to Rob Lucci in later years. He had survived the last battle because he had been sent to the New World on a special mission.
Now CP0 and CP9 had joined forces.
The Five Elders would not allow another pirate with Rocks' ambition to enter the New World.
At that same time, Sharn's ship docked at Alabasta's harbor. The scent of spice and sand filled the air. He smiled, picking up his fork again. "The people here really know how to cook."
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