One Piece: Waves of Destiny

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"What are you working on now?!"

Vegapunk's voice rang sharply behind Caesar.

Caesar flinched, immediately spinning around while clumsily hiding the reagent bottle behind his back.

"Nothing! I... I wasn't doing anything suspicious," Caesar stammered, eyes darting as he struggled to come up with an excuse. His mind was racing, desperately trying to concoct a plausible explanation that Vegapunk might believe.

But Vegapunk—the undisputed genius scientist of the century, a man 500 years ahead of his time—saw through Caesar's ploy in an instant.

Without hesitation, Vegapunk declared, "You're fired, Caesar. Pack your belongings and leave this island immediately."

The words cut like a blade. Vegapunk didn't even wait for a reply; he simply turned and walked away, leaving Caesar behind as though he were no more significant than a broken tool.

Vegapunk's dismissive attitude ignited years of pent-up resentment in Caesar. The anger that had been festering within him finally erupted.

"Vegapunk! You're only firing me because you're afraid!" Caesar screamed, his face twisted with rage. His eyes turned bloodshot as he continued, "Afraid that I'll surpass you! That's why you're pushing me out of the research team!"

With his back hunched and his fists clenched, Caesar's voice turned manic as he let out his trademark laugh. "Shurorororo! Just wait, Vegapunk! I'll make you regret this. Before I leave, I'll leave you and your entire scientific force with a little... surprise!"

His eerie laughter echoed throughout the lab as he feverishly worked. Caesar began mass-producing the gas bomb, a weapon of destruction that would annihilate everything on Punk Hazard.

"Today, the Navy's sending White Dove here to oversee the scientific division, huh?" Caesar mumbled to himself with twisted glee. "If I can take down a Marine Admiral with my gas bomb… oh, just imagine the headlines!"

He cackled again, picturing pirates from across the Grand Line clamoring for his weapons. "They'll revere me! The great Caesar Clown! A genius far above Vegapunk!"

Meanwhile, aboard a Marine warship cruising toward Punk Hazard, Roja lay lazily on a sun lounger, basking in the sunlight.

"Train your abilities, Perona," Roja said with his eyes closed. "If you develop your Ghost-Ghost Fruit properly, you'll be a tremendous asset to me."

"Hmph!" Perona pouted as she floated nearby in her astral form. A mischievous gleam flickered in her eyes as she conjured a Negative Ghost and sent it flying toward Roja.

Unfortunately for her, Roja remained unfazed. With his advanced Observation Haki, he had sensed her movements long before she acted.

"This won't work on me," Roja said, effortlessly dodging her attack.

Perona grumbled under her breath, realizing her prank had failed. After a brief but stern "stick and carrot" lecture from Roja, she finally submitted.

"Yes, Captain," she muttered, her tone resentful yet obedient.

The warship continued at full speed, slicing through the waves, and soon arrived at Punk Hazard's waters.

On the island, Caesar stood near the port, eagerly waiting. He had already set his trap—gas bombs primed to detonate at his signal. The sheer thought of Roja stepping into his trap sent shivers of excitement through Caesar's spine.

"Shurorororo... Just a little longer. Once White Dove lands, everything will go up in smoke!"

But his confidence wavered for a brief moment when he saw Roja's warship approach. The figure of Roja leaping onto the dock immediately sent a chill down Caesar's back.

From afar, Roja's keen Observation Haki locked onto Caesar's presence. Though Caesar was trying to hide, his malice and killing intent were far too "loud" for Roja to ignore.

"Interesting…" Roja muttered to himself, a faint smirk forming on his lips.

Perona, floating alongside him, blinked in confusion. "What's wrong, Captain?"

"Nothing," Roja replied casually. "I just stumbled across something amusing."

Since their encounter, Perona had been behaving herself. The days of defiance were gone, and she now referred to Roja respectfully as "Captain."

At that moment, a familiar system prompt echoed in Roja's mind:

[Ding! Congratulations, host. You've unlocked the ability: Spiritual Summoning.]

[Spiritual Summoning allows the user to form contracts with any creature. Once contracted, the summoned entity can appear instantly, regardless of location, and will obey absolutely.]

A grin tugged at Roja's lips as he processed the new ability. "This could come in handy," he mused, already thinking ahead. "If I send a clone to Fish-Man Island and make a pact with a Sea Dragon…"

"Captain, are you listening?" Perona interrupted, snapping him back to reality. "My body is still on the ship. Is that okay?"

"Relax," Roja said nonchalantly. "I left a phantom to guard it."

Hearing this, Perona visibly relaxed. She floated alongside Roja as they walked toward the laboratory of the scientific division.

Inside the lab, the Marine scientific troops stood in formation, waiting for Roja's arrival. At the front of the ranks stood Sentomaru, Vegapunk's loyal bodyguard and the captain of the scientific forces.

"Salute!" Sentomaru barked.

The troops responded in unison, their movements crisp and precise.

Roja stepped forward, his calm gaze sweeping over the assembled troops. Stopping before Sentomaru, Roja said…

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