Vegapunk cowered behind Sentomaru, his usual confidence replaced with fear. Listening to Sentomaru issue instructions in an orderly manner gave him some comfort. At least for the moment, Vegapunk felt his life was not in immediate danger.
Relaxing slightly, he let out a frustrated sigh and began complaining.
"Damn it! They just had to invade when Borsalino isn't around. If it weren't for Sentomaru, a genius scientist like me would be in serious trouble."
He muttered as he nervously paced back and forth, his frustration directed at the absent Admiral Kizaru.
"That idiot Borsalino picked the worst time to go on a mission! If my research equipment gets damaged, I'll be furious! He better come back soon!"
Before Vegapunk could continue his tirade, Sentomaru's expression suddenly shifted. His tone, previously calm and composed, grew tense and urgent as he barked into the Den Den Mushi.
"First Squadron, respond! First Squadron, what's going on over there? Report immediately!"
Despite repeated calls, there was no answer from the other end. Sentomaru frowned, his unease growing with each passing second. Vegapunk, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, fell silent and exchanged a worried glance with him.
Then, without warning, the laboratory door—crafted with advanced technology and stronger than steel—was violently torn apart. It wasn't simply forced open; it was ripped as though it were mere paper. A massive chunk of the door fell away, exposing a gaping hole in its center.
Sentomaru immediately grabbed his massive axe, its blade gleaming menacingly, and assumed a defensive stance. His sharp eyes focused on the now-broken doorway. Despite his nerves, his voice remained steady as he addressed Vegapunk.
"Doctor, use the safe passage and get out of here. I'll hold them off."
"Sentomaru…" Vegapunk hesitated, concern etched on his face. He wanted to stay, to help in some way, but deep down, he knew he was powerless against whoever had breached their defenses.
"I understand," Vegapunk finally said, clenching his fists. "Hold on. I'll get reinforcements as quickly as I can!"
With that, the scientist gritted his teeth and turned toward the back door, determined to escape.
Before he could leave, a calm and steady voice echoed from beyond the shattered doorway.
"Leaving so soon, Vegapunk? Don't you want to catch up with an old friend first?"
Vegapunk froze mid-step. His heart skipped a beat as the voice registered. Slowly, he turned around, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Through the ruined doorway, a figure clad in a dark green cloak stepped into the laboratory. The man moved with an air of confidence, his face obscured by the hood of his cloak.
Sentomaru tensed, his grip on the axe tightening. Although he had no idea who the intruder was, the man's aura alone sent chills down his spine. His instincts screamed that this was no ordinary enemy.
As the man took another step forward, he spoke again, his tone calm but firm.
"Long time no see, Vegapunk."
Hearing this, Vegapunk's jaw dropped in shock. He scrutinized the figure closely, and recognition dawned on him.
"Y-You're… Dragon?!" Vegapunk stammered. "Why… Why is the most wanted criminal in the world here? On a government-controlled island, no less!"
The mysterious figure reached up and removed his hood, revealing a face that had graced countless wanted posters and struck fear into the hearts of World Government officials.
Monkey D. Dragon—the leader of the Revolutionary Army.
Sentomaru's entire body tensed further. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead as he stared at the infamous revolutionary. It wasn't fear of battle that unnerved him—it was the sheer pressure radiating from Dragon's presence. Standing before him, Sentomaru couldn't help but feel insignificant.
Dragon offered Sentomaru a polite nod before shifting his gaze to Vegapunk. For a moment, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Vegapunk… What happened to your head?" Dragon asked, his tone laced with genuine curiosity. "Don't tell me you finally decided to get rid of it."
The scientist chuckled awkwardly, patting the top of his now-normal-sized head.
"Well, it was a bit of a nuisance, so I made some adjustments," Vegapunk replied, though his playful tone quickly shifted. "Hey, wait a minute! I didn't just throw it away like trash! My genius brain is still the foundation of my work!"
He let out an exaggerated roar of indignation before calming down and continuing.
"Anyway, it's not as simple as it looks. I developed a new system to store all my knowledge and information. My brain, or rather the data from it, is now housed in the Punk Records. With it, I can access my research from anywhere."
Dragon listened intently, his expression unreadable as Vegapunk launched into a detailed explanation of his invention. Despite the urgency of the situation, the revolutionary leader seemed genuinely interested in the scientist's work.
"That's incredible," Dragon finally said, his voice tinged with admiration. "Separating your mind from your body and linking it to a central hub… It sounds like something out of a fantasy tale. But you've made it a reality."
...
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