Chapter 556: The Seraphim's Power
The Seraphim Project had finally reached a milestone.
When eight young Kaidos stepped out of their cultivation cylinders naked and dripping wet, Brett admitted that the sight was equal parts eyeful and genuinely impressive.
Present to witness the moment were his good friends Tesoro and Jinbei, King Neptune, his teacher Rayleigh, and his sparring partner Shanks.
"Well, that's quite a sight."
Rayleigh tugged at his beard and clicked his tongue, staring at the eight figures lined up before him. Kaido had still been building his name when they were sailing the seas, but there had never been any question about the man's strength. Even among the monsters of the Rocks Pirates he had stood out unmistakably.
And now eight of him had been produced at once.
"This is what science can do? Remarkable."
Shanks could not stop himself from voicing his amazement either. Eight Kaidos was an alarming thing to contemplate, but eight Kaidos standing on your side was something else entirely.
"But what's with the wings on their backs and the flames behind their heads?"
He pressed his lips together, a thought forming. "Don't tell me —"
He had arrived at a disturbing guess.
"That's exactly what you're thinking."
Vegapunk snapped his fingers with great satisfaction. "In addition to Kaido's Lineage Factor, I incorporated the bloodline of the Lunarian Clan."
Even Rayleigh and Shanks drew a sharp breath at that.
Kaido's Lineage Factor alone was already something to fear. And on top of that, Lunarian bloodline?
Both men had long since learned the full truth of things. They knew precisely what the Lunarian Clan's racial gifts entailed.
Stack the two together and the physical capabilities of these replicas might actually exceed the original Kaido himself.
Vegapunk had built something genuinely terrifying.
"Wonderful."
Jinbei broke into a broad, delighted smile. "Our chances in the coming war just improved by another margin."
Shanks and Rayleigh both nodded, finding no reason to disagree.
If they were on your side, stronger was always better.
"So then, Brett."
Lilith, Vegapunk's evil satellite, grinned over at him with a look that was honestly a little aggravating. She seemed almost eager to watch him get in trouble. "We should test their strength, shouldn't we?"
"That's a fair idea."
Brett gave a small nod.
They had gone to this much effort. Of course they should check the results. He trusted Vegapunk's abilities entirely, but what if something had fallen short? If all that work had produced a disappointing outcome, that would be its own kind of problem.
"Excellent."
Lilith's grin took on a quality that, to be frank, looked like it was asking to be wiped off. She seemed to be hoping Brett would embarrass himself. "Let us show you the full power of our greatest masterpiece."
Brett shrugged. "Then let's go up."
They obviously could not fight on New Fish-Man Island. The settlement had only just been built. Starting a battle there would reduce the whole thing to rubble in an instant. It had to be in the air.
Shortly afterward, high above the island, Brett generated another temporary platform of flame clouds.
Everyone who wanted to watch had come along.
"Let's see it then."
Rayleigh smiled pleasantly, watching Brett take position across from the eight Kaidos. "What does the finest product of scientific genius actually look like in a fight."
"Finest product of scientific genius?" Vegapunk shook his head. "I'm still far behind. Over these past eight hundred years, too much knowledge has been lost. Technology that the sea has long since forgotten." The old man, usually somewhat scatterbrained, sounded genuinely wistful. "At minimum, I'm nowhere near capable of building something like Pluton. Or the weapon Imu carries."
"That is precisely why we must win this war."
Shakka's voice was measured.
The knowledge the Bircans had spread across the world eight hundred years ago had far surpassed anything the current era possessed. But when Imu built the World Government, when the Blank Century swallowed everything, most of that knowledge had vanished with it. Knowledge that should have benefited the entire world. Knowledge that should have made this world far better than it was.
Which was exactly why Imu had to be defeated and his World Government brought down.
"Save the familiar speeches for later."
Tesoro rubbed his hands together, visibly thrilled. "The strongest man of the current era versus the strongest product of current science. Don't you think that's worth enjoying?"
In a certain sense, this was a clash at the summit.
Not far away, the corner of Brett's mouth curved slightly.
Eight young Kaidos stood in a line before him. Honestly, the visual impact was considerable.
Not one-on-one. One against eight.
Even Lilith did not believe any single Seraphim possessed power that surpassed Brett, which was why the numbers had been set where they were.
"I'm ready, Doctor."
Brett rolled his neck. "Tell them to move."
"As you wish."
Shakka gave a quiet nod.
The next instant, all eight Seraphim raised their heads simultaneously.
Then, as if teleporting, they appeared around Brett all at once, surrounding him completely.
Eight jet-black kanabos came crashing down on him at the same moment.
Replicas of Kaido naturally carried the same weapon Kaido did.
"That speed."
Tesoro stared, momentarily unable to speak.
He could not even track it. What kind of physical ability did these things have?
Though —
"A little slow."
A quiet laugh came from above.
Brett had somehow already jumped into the air, slipping the simultaneous strike from eight iron clubs without apparent effort.
"Absurdly fast."
Even Rayleigh had to acknowledge it.
His student's most remarkable quality had never been his attack or his defense. Speed was where Brett stood apart from everyone else.
"Then we'll speed up too."
Lilith shouted from the sidelines.
Almost simultaneously, the flames behind every Seraphim's head went out. Their wings beat once.
And they appeared before Brett again.
"Now that is fast."
Even Shanks had to say it. "So that's what the Lunarian bloodline does."
When the flame went out, the nigh-impenetrable defense vanished. What replaced it was speed that matched the wind itself.
"Then let's test the strength."
Brett smiled, held his ground, and braced.
Thoom.
The next instant, the cloud platform beneath him was punched through. Far below, the ocean surface erupted in a massive bloom of spray.
Brett had been driven into the sea.
Then —
Crack.
With a sound like crackling electricity, before the spray had even fully risen, Brett was already back in the sky.
The onlookers only felt the rush of wind reaching them afterward.
"Not bad at all."
Brett gave his unhurried assessment. "That strength. It's not far behind the real Kaido."
In terms of raw physical output, certainly. But even so, on the strength and speed of their bodies alone, these Seraphim already surpassed the vast majority of the Seven Warlords. That was not in question.
"Now —"
Brett reappeared in front of one of the Seraphim with a light laugh.
He raised his fist.
The Seraphim had enough intelligence to register what was coming. A flash of alarm crossed its face and the flame behind its head ignited instantly.
Then Brett's fist landed square on its chest.
Boom.
That Kaido went flying.
Then it beat its wings and came back.
"Remarkable defense."
Brett said it with genuine appreciation.
That punch had carried Haki behind it. Not a full-power blow by any means, but not something just anyone could absorb either.
The Seraphim in its defensive state had come through it essentially unharmed.
Without exaggeration, in terms of raw defensive capability these things surpassed both the original Kaido and Jack. Compared to Charlotte Linlin they would hold their own, and might actually have the edge.
Remarkable. Truly remarkable.
Each of these eight Seraphim likely had the power to decisively defeat any of the Seven Warlords with the sole exception of Mihawk.
They had no Haki yet, but —
"Don't think that's everything, Brett."
Lilith was shouting with badly concealed impatience. "The Seraphim haven't shown their real strength yet. Come on, show him. Use your abilities."
Yes. Every one of the Seraphim was a Devil Fruit user.