Enel felt a bit helpless:
"My subordinate at HQ, for some reason, wants to go undercover."
"That kid's personality is too soft."
"His combat power... is hard to describe."
"I'll go prepare some defensive items for him."
Vegapunk nodded:
"Is that so..."
"Wait a moment."
He then turned and walked towards his private laboratory.
A moment later, he emerged carrying a sword and handed it to Enel:
"Take this."
"The weapons I research here are too advanced and dangerous to just hand out."
"But this one is fine and convenient to carry around."
Enel took the long sword and weighed it:
"This... is there anything special about it?"
"That kid isn't much of a swordsman either."
Vegapunk smiled:
"This is a sword that has eaten a Devil Fruit."
"Although progress on Pacifistas has been slow, it's not without results."
"This is one of the research outcomes for Bloodline Elements."
"The technology to make objects eat Devil Fruits."
Vegapunk reached out and took the sword from Enel's hand:
"Vankelefried."
*Roar*
An elephant's trumpeting sound emanated from the sword.
The sword in Vegapunk's hand gradually grew, transforming into a giant elephant.
Its front two legs touched the ground, while its tail remained as the sword's hilt, extending infinitely, held in Vegapunk's hand.
The original trunk became a proportionally long, enormous saber.
As Vegapunk swung it, the massive elephant body seemed weightless, slashing left and right.
Vegapunk noticed Enel's confusion:
"Because the sword's own weight is all that."
"So even after transforming into an elephant, the beast form's weight doesn't change."
"Compared to an ordinary elephant."
"It possesses incredible speed and iron-like defense."
"And by gripping the hilt, you can communicate with it telepathically."
"The tip of the blade can become an elephant's head, and extend infinitely."
"It can also."
He said, releasing his grip on the sword's hilt.
As Vegapunk let go, the hilt fell to the ground and slowly morphed into the rear two legs.
A war beast, entirely white, with a massive saber for a trunk, was fully revealed.
Enel's eyes sparkled:
"Cool!"
Vegapunk smiled:
"Like this."
"Transforming into its full beast form."
"If your subordinate isn't skilled with a sword, this should be no problem for escaping."
"This sword, while not top-tier, is still considered a Fine Grade Sword, its hardness is guaranteed."
"I've named this elephant 'Vankelefried'."
"When you use it, just call its name, and it appears, right 'Vankelefried'?"
*Roar*
The white elephant affectionately nudged Vegapunk.
Enel's face lit up with excitement:
"Vankelefried, come here!"
The white elephant hesitated slightly. Vegapunk petted it:
"From now on, you will obey his commands. He will help you find a new master."
"And embark on adventures on the sea."
Hearing "adventure," the white elephant became excited, nodded, and walked over to Enel.
It placed its tail on Enel's hand, then slowly transformed back into a long sword.
Enel swung it, feeling its normal weight:
"Vankelefried!"
As Enel willed it, an elephant head formed at the tip of the blade, the trunk-saber incredibly sharp, and the blade extending infinitely in all directions.
Enel chuckled:
"Awesome."
"Come back, Vankelefried."
*Roar*
The elephant head let out a joyful cry and transformed back into its sword form.
"Thank you, Teacher."
"Haha, with this, things will be much easier."
"I've thought of another plan."
"I'll go to Research Sector Three and have a chat with that kid Caesar."
"The equipment is already connected, please take a look first, Teacher!"
He said, then ran out. Vegapunk shook his head:
"Go ahead, but absolutely do not use your abilities."
Enel's voice drifted from afar:
"Got....it....!"
It wasn't for nothing that Vegapunk warned him. Enel, for some reason, found Caesar's human experiments displeasing.
However, the two of them had a common interest: researching weapons of mass destruction.
Enel believed in overwhelming firepower, while Caesar believed in killing everything with bacteria.
Despite their different approaches, they could still learn from each other and have a conversation.
But once, their argument escalated into a real fire.
As their emotions flared, a few sparks of lightning flashed from Enel's body, and tragedy struck.
As everyone knows... Caesar ate the Gas-Gas Fruit and became a Gas Human.
He was essentially a walking gas tank, always surrounded by gas.
At close range, a spark of lightning.
*Crack—*
*BOOM!!!!!!!*
Half of Research Sector Three was blown away, and Caesar didn't wake up for over half a month.
From then on... Caesar trembled whenever he saw Enel.
This wasn't just scary... it was terrifyingly awful. His abilities were completely countered, a death sentence.
For the first time in his life, Caesar regretted eating a Devil Fruit...
----
Punk Hazard, Research Sector Three.
The moment Enel arrived, the entire research institute's alarm blared.
Enel, about to step into the institute, stopped with a dark look on his face.
He watched as people in protective suits rushed out, blocking the entrance to Research Sector Three:
"Hey, hey... isn't this a bit exaggerated."
"I didn't do it on purpose last time."
"Who knew Caesar couldn't even control his own abilities, releasing gas everywhere."
"Otherwise, so much wouldn't have been destroyed."
A somewhat hoarse and sharp voice rang out:
"Bastard!"
"It was you who couldn't control yourself!"
"What are you doing here again, Enel!!!"
Then, Caesar Clown, a bit shorter than Enel but still taller than most researchers, walked out.
Enel grinned:
"Caesar, do you have any poisons that can take down strong opponents?"
"Give me some, and the antidote too."
This was a sudden thought for Enel.
Vankelefried's original form was a sword. Would a sword get poisoned? No.
If he encountered danger, he could just throw a gas bomb.
Then, Vankelefried would transform into an elephant, scoop up Rocinante, and flee, perfect.
He had to admit, Caesar's poisons were quite effective.
Caesar waved his hand impatiently:
"No, no."
"Quick..."
*Sizzle—*
The sound of electricity suddenly crackled from Enel's body.
He emanated a dangerous aura:
"Oh?"
"You were going to say..."
"Quickly what?"
"Caesar."
Caesar swallowed hard, that damned guy...
"N-nothing."
"I'll... get it now..."
----
Grand Line, first half.
Alabasta, Rainland.
Inside the casino 'Rain Dinners,' which already bore the semblance of its future scale.
Crocodile, the big boss, looked grimly at the ringing Den Den Mushi.
It was a call from Sakazuki...