Sengoku let out a long, weary sigh. "Go now."
He pointed at Garp with a stern look. "And don't forget what I said, you scatterbrain."
Garp crossed his arms with a frown. "You're underestimating me, Sengoku!"
Bang!
Sengoku's palm slammed down on the desk, rattling everything on it. His eyes widened in anger. "Go now!"
* * *
New World, Punk Hazard.
Since Marine Headquarters didn't have the proper equipment for detailed measurement, Enel had decided to bring Bullet directly to Vegapunk.
After understanding the situation, the scientist became intrigued. "So, the amplification factor of the fruit's ability far exceeds the expected multiple. I see. Come with me."
He pushed open a door and led them through a long corridor, finally stopping in front of a somewhat aged laboratory. Opening the door, he said, "These are some of my older instruments. They've been sitting idle for a while, but they'll do the job."
He guided them to a large balance scale surrounded by a pile of metal weights. Picking up a small one, he handed it to Bullet. "Hmm...let's start simple. Try doubling it first."
Bullet gave a nod and took the weight.
Buzz…
A faint hum filled the air as a glowing ring enveloped the weight, and its size instantly grew to several times the original. Vegapunk nodded with interest. "It's true. The increase is far beyond double."
After placing the enlarged weight on the scale, the numbers spiked sharply.
The scientist motioned for Bullet to retract his power, then instructed, "Now, make it twice as large again."
Bullet looked a bit puzzled but followed the order.
The hum returned as the weight expanded several times more. Vegapunk raised an eyebrow. "Put it on the scale."
The balance creaked, if it might snap under the weight, yet the reading still didn't seem right.
Vegapunk asked Bullet to withdraw his ability again. "Once more, just double."
Bullet obeyed, but when he set the weight back on the scale, the results were different from before. The difference was small, only visible in the last two digits, but it was enough to notice.
Enel's brows furrowed as he watched, lost in thought.
Vegapunk noticed and smiled faintly. "Have you figured out the reason?"
Enel hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Because of the fruit?"
Vegapunk agreed. "Exactly. Devil Fruit consumes the user's stamina. The mechanism behind this conversion is still a mystery, but the core lies there. For ordinary people, their physical limits set how far they can multiply. But for someone like Bullet, who has immense physical strength, it also raises the fruit's upper limit. His powerful body allows for greater output."
He grabbed a cup, filled it with water, and found a small cap about the size of a thumb. Putting it on the table, he continued, "Take this for example."
He carefully poured the water from above. As soon as it filled the tiny cap, the excess spilled out.
"See this? That's how it works. Humans can't be as precise as machines. When Bullet activates his power, the amplification follows his intent, but his stamina output is too high. That part can't be controlled. Unless he could instantly calculate an object's weight, size, and potential power the moment he touches it, and then amplify it accordingly, which is unnecessary anyway. A fruit's power should be used in one's own way."
Bullet seemed thoughtful. Control, huh...
Enel's Observation Haki swept across the entire island and through the laboratory. After confirming there was nothing unusual, he spoke calmly. "I see. Then there's no need to modify that thing, right?"
Vegapunk nodded. "That's right. There's no need. Even output has its limits. Based on Bullet's physique, let's say he could lift all of Punk Hazard, amplifying it five or ten times would be possible. But fifty or a hundred times? Impossible. His stamina wouldn't keep up. If the island's mass multiplied that much, he'd collapse instantly. And with that weapon's current power, if pushed to its maximum, would drain all his energy in one shot. So there's no need to worry about it going out of control."
He paused, then added, "Still, he should come back regularly for tests and fine adjustments. Bullet's in his prime now, and his physical strength is still growing fast."
Enel breathed a sigh of relief. "Good. I was worried it might hit the planet's core by accident. And blow up the whole thing."
Vegapunk chuckled and shook his head at that. "There's no weapon that strong. Even Pluton's main cannon, capable of wiping out islands and piercing the Red Line, only does so horizontally. The visible part of the Red Line above the sea alone is several thousand meters high, and beneath the ocean, it's another ten thousand deep. A weapon that could vertically pierce all that? Our technology would need to advance by unimaginable leaps. Even ten thousand years from now, it might still not be possible. We, born on this planet, are far too small compared to it, or the universe itself. That's one of the things that keeps us humble. Limits exist. Strength is fine, but it always has boundaries."
He glanced at them thoughtfully. "Sakazuki and I have made countless theoretical assumptions and simulated many outcomes. Most are within reasonable range. The worst cases end in mutual destruction, nothing more. The future, however, is still in our hands."
Enel drew in a deep breath. "I understand."
The mood had turned heavy, so he shook his head to clear it. "Alright then, let's leave it at that. I'll take Bullet to study missile designs."
Vegapunk smiled. "Let's go. I've got nothing pressing at the moment. By the way, Sakazuki mentioned he's been working on a new type of bomb?"
Enel grinned. "Yeah, that's right. It's meant for dealing with pirates. Indiscriminate attack, a bit cruel. Uncle Sakazuki calls it a cluster bomb..."
The three of them walked out of the lab together, their voices fading into the distance.
* * *
South Blue, Mogro Island.
At the port, a pirate ship was docked.
The Foxy Pirates. Captain "Silver Fox" Foxy, user of the Slow-Slow Fruit.
Bounty: 13 million berries. Threat level: low.
He loved challenging other pirate crews to Davy Back Fight games and had an ongoing winning streak of 472 matches. By making a peculiar hand gesture, he could fire purple beams of light, an unknown type of particle, that slowed the motion of anything it struck, whether solid, liquid, or gas, without altering its energy.
After confirming the Jolly Roger on the ship, Carlo slowly closed the folder in his hands.
"That's the one."
A faint sound echoed.
Whoosh!
He vanished from sight.
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