NOVEL NEXT Chapter 124: CHAPTER 124
Vinsmoke Judge, the ruthless king of Germa 66, stood resolutely in his laboratory. To achieve his dream of reviving Germa's glory and conquering the North Blue, he had committed unspeakable acts. He even experimented on his pregnant wife, Sora, injecting her with a serum designed to alter the genetic makeup of their unborn children.
This wasn't a simple, acquired modification—it was a genetic engineering breakthrough that altered the bloodline factor of his children while still in the womb. The result? A biologically enhanced exoskeleton, increased strength, and suppressed emotions. These modifications created ideal soldiers: emotionless killing machines.
But the experiment wasn't flawless. Among the four children subjected to these changes, Sanji was the sole failure, or so Judge believed. Unlike his siblings, Sanji retained his humanity and emotions. Disappointed, Judge cast him aside as a failure, locking him in a dungeon and treating him with utter contempt.
If Judge had known that Sanji's emotional resilience would later make him the most successful of all his creations, what would his reaction have been?
Judge led his children—Ichi, Niji, Yonji, and their elder sister Reiju—to inspect Germa 66's clone army. These soldiers were bred in growth chambers, designed to be obedient, emotionless, and utterly loyal. Their minds were devoid of fear, even in the face of death.
Standing on the balcony overlooking the training grounds, Judge gazed upon his legion of clones with pride. His ambition burned brighter than ever.
"The war between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Navy has weakened the North Blue's defenses," Judge mused. "The time is ripe to strike."
Despite Germa's status as a World Government-affiliated kingdom, Judge scoffed at the idea of repercussions.
"The World Government?" Judge sneered. "Nothing but a facade to placate the masses. The Celestial Dragons manipulate it to serve their whims. The so-called 'World Conference' is a joke—any resolution that threatens their interests is nullified. True power lies in strength, not in hollow votes."
With a wave of his hand, Judge gave the order: "Prepare for battle. We will expand Germa's territory. Begin the attack!"
The Germa Kingdom launched a surprise assault on a neighboring nation, catching it completely unprepared. Chaos engulfed the North Blue as flames of war spread across its seas.
Meanwhile, in the Flower Country of the West Blue, a land once rife with conflict, the situation couldn't have been more different. Under Alastor's rule, the warring factions were pacified, and a series of revolutionary reforms were implemented. These reforms improved the lives of the ordinary people, bringing prosperity and stability.
Inside a small roadside tavern, a blind man sat quietly, listening to the chatter around him.
"The war at Marineford is over, but the chaos it unleashed has only begun," the man said, his voice heavy with grief.
"The Great Pirate Era that Roger started has reached its peak, thanks to Whitebeard's final words. The Navy shelters the corruption of the Warlords, the World Government serves only the Celestial Dragons, and nations wage endless wars for resources. What a sorrowful world."
This man, Issho—better known as Fujitora—stood up, his cane sword tapping against the ground.
"Perhaps this country, with its new system, is a glimpse of what the world could be. But there's much more to be done."
Chinjao, seated nearby, had been observing the blind man. He recognized that there was more to him than met the eye.
"Leaving already?" Chinjao asked.
Fujitora nodded. "This country is beautiful now. One day, I will return to see it again."
After he departed, Chinjao's son Boo approached him with suspicion. "Old man, we should've stopped him. What if he's planning something? He seemed too interested in Lord Alastor's reforms."
Chinjao frowned. "Stop him? Do you think I'm capable of stopping a man like that? He may be blind, but his strength is leagues above ours."
"That blind guy, strong? You're joking!" Boo scoffed, rubbing his head where Chinjao had struck him.
Later, Boo complained to his brother, Sai, who relayed the story to Alastor aboard their submarine.
Alastor's expression changed when he heard the name of the blind man. "Wait a moment. What was his name?"
"They called him Issho," Lao G replied, laughing at the unusual name.
Alastor's eyes narrowed. "So it really is Fujitora."
Fujitora, a man of unparalleled integrity and conviction, stood in stark contrast to the World Government's corrupt ideals. Alastor admired his sense of justice, which aligned more with protecting the common people than serving the Celestial Dragons.
"I hope he doesn't end up joining the Navy like in the original story," Alastor muttered to himself. "They'll never help him achieve his vision of justice."
His thoughts were interrupted as their submarine surfaced near Punk Hazard.
Punk Hazard was transformed into a wasteland of death by Caesar Clown's gas weapon, Smiley. The island remained shrouded in a toxic mist, a deadly reminder of Caesar's twisted experiments.
As they approached the island, Alastor showed no concern for the poisonous gas lingering in the air. Unlike his companions, who donned gas masks for protection, Alastor strode forward unbothered. The gas posed no threat to him.
"Poisonous gas operates by targeting the nervous system, causing bodily malfunctions and cellular death," Alastor explained casually. "It's effective against most, but it means nothing to me. My body's defenses—internal and external—are absolute."
Rebecca and Trafalgar Law followed closely behind as Alastor led the way. Outside the ruins of the research facility, they encountered a peculiar group—survivors with animal-like lower bodies. These were the victims of Caesar's cruel experiments, their bodies altered in grotesque ways.
When they saw Alastor, their faces contorted in fear. But when their eyes fell on Trafalgar Law, their expressions softened with gratitude. They remembered the surgeon's powers saving them from the agony of the gas.
A moment later, a striking woman emerged from the facility. She wore a purple dress adorned with a single rose, her elegant demeanor contrasting sharply with the desolate surroundings. Her brown eyes lit up when they landed on Alastor.
"Ah, you're back!" Viola exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and relief.
"Auntie!" Rebecca called out, rushing to her side.
Viola, the former princess of Dressrosa, greeted her niece warmly. Soon, however, she turned her attention to Alastor.
"Rebecca told me about your actions during the war at Marineford," Viola said, her tone half-admiring, half-scolding. "You're far too bold to challenge the Navy's headquarters like that!"
Alastor dismissed her concern with a small smile. "Bold or not, I achieved what I set out to do. Now, take me to Caesar. His time is up."
Viola hesitated. "You plan to confront him now? What about Monet? She's still here, and you'll risk provoking Doflamingo."
"It doesn't matter," Alastor replied, striding into the facility without another word.
Viola lingered, her gaze following Alastor. There was something different about him—an air of unshakable confidence, strength, and authority. It wasn't just his power that had grown, but something deeper, something that made her feel both secure and compelled to follow him.
The research facility was vast, filled with the remnants of experiments and data left behind by Vegapunk and his team. When Caesar's gas spread across the island, the World Government evacuated quickly, leaving behind a treasure trove of classified information.
Alastor paused, his eyes catching a thick volume labeled "Introduction to Bloodline Factors." Picking it up, he flipped through the pages with increasing interest.
"Can you even understand that?" Viola asked skeptically.
She had skimmed some of the books herself, but the advanced scientific language had left her bewildered. Vegapunk's genius, rumored to be centuries ahead of the world, was incomprehensible to most.
Trafalgar Law stepped closer, glancing at the book. As a surgeon, his understanding of anatomy was advanced, but even he found the concepts staggering.
"Bloodline factors... something smaller than cells? Vegapunk really has touched the realm of gods," Law muttered, awestruck.
Alastor closed the book, a knowing smile on his face. "It's not as mystical as it sounds. Bloodline factors are simply the genetic material of living organisms. Once you master this, replicating Devil Fruits, creating clones, or even engineering artificial organs becomes possible."
Both Viola and Law stared at him, their shock palpable.
Rebecca's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Brother Alastor is amazing! You know everything!"
Alastor chuckled, patting Law's shoulder. "Knowledge like this is crucial, especially for someone with the Ope Ope no Mi. Don't think your fruit makes you omnipotent—study hard."
Law was left speechless, both humbled and inspired, as Alastor walked away. Viola watched him leave, shaking her head in disbelief. "He's not just powerful—he's a genius too. Is there anything he can't do?"
Alastor smirked to himself as he exited. This isn't genius, he thought. It's just basic knowledge from my old world. The education in this world is truly lacking.
In the heart of the facility, a woman with long green hair and an icy demeanor was seated, reading a newspaper. Monet's gaze lingered on an article about the war at Marineford, her expression calm until her eyes landed on the bounty poster at the bottom of the page.
She counted the zeros on the bounty, her pupils dilating in shock.
"1.5 billion berries… That's his bounty now?"
Monet's hands trembled slightly as she stared at the poster of Alastor.
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