Dole retrieved a Den Den Mushi and dialed Impel Down. She instructed the new Warden, Domir, to prepare the necessary death row inmates for the Conqueror's Haki transplant experiment immediately.
To save time, Rosen opened a direct passage to Impel Down via his black cavity.
Moments later, several death row inmates were transported into the office. Dole wasted no time dragging them to the adjacent laboratory. She opened a preservation container and removed the frozen corpse of Charlotte Katakuri.
"Haki Space!"
Dole activated the awakened power of her Op-Op Fruit, opening an invisible sphere that enveloped Katakuri and a test subject. She drew the black blade Shusui—which she had confiscated from Gecko Moria—from her waist and thrust it through the air from a distance.
Sizzle.
A thunderous, overwhelming roar erupted—a signature of Conqueror's Haki. A heart-shaped substance, crackling with black and red lightning, slowly emerged from Katakuri's frozen corpse.
Just as Dole began the experiment, Hana—nestled in Rosen's arms—suddenly sat up. Her clear, autumn-colored eyes fixed intently on him.
"Transplanting all three forms of Haki…" Her voice was sweet as honey, eyes alluring. "Is this the gift you were preparing for me?"
"Didn't you always say Haki was repulsive?" Rosen countered calmly.
"Now, I don't hate it anymore."
Hearing this, a sweet warmth flooded Hana's chest. She hadn't expected Rosen to remember her aversion to Haki, let alone the reason behind it.
The experiment continued in the adjacent room.
"The Red-Haired Pirates' incursion into the Judge Forbidden Zone served as a wake-up call," Rosen said, his voice low. "If you and Kyokotsu had possessed Haki back then, your hearts wouldn't have been pierced by Haki-infused bullets."
The memory of Hana and Kyokotsu lying pierced on the deck caused a subtle killing intent to flash deep within Rosen's eyes. Hana sensed it, and the sweetness in her heart intensified.
"I entrusted the Judge Forbidden Zone to you," she whispered, burying her head against his chest and taking his hand, placing it over the fully healed scar on her body. "Even if it gets riddled with holes again, I will defend it."
She spoke softly, but her tone carried unwavering resolve. "I would endure it willingly, over and over again."
"Me too," Kyokotsu chimed in, swinging his legs from his seat beside Rosen. His childish voice held undeniable determination.
Rosen remained silent. He simply held Hana with one arm and rested his other hand on Kyokotsu's head, gently stroking his hair.
Rosen possessed the world's strongest Observation Haki, allowing him to perceive the emotions, thoughts, and memories of his materialized Zanpakutō directly. He knew their loyalty intimately. If the Marines revered him as a god-king, his Zanpakutō revered him as their supreme master. Rosen cherished them all.
Click.
The tranquil silence of the office was broken by the sound of the laboratory door opening. Dole entered, her expression shifting with suppressed excitement.
"Success," Dole reported. "Just as you theorized, Admiral Rosen. Devil Fruits are abilities rooted in the idealistic. Without violating their essence, the upper limit of a fruit's power depends entirely on the user's will and strength."
She recounted the procedure. "After awakening the Op-Op Fruit, I separated the bloodline factor of Conqueror's Haki from Katakuri's body, much like separating a mind from its vessel. It worked. However, separating the Haki bloodline required far more exertion than severing the mind. Because Katakuri was frozen post-mortem, the Haki within him decayed slowly. He retained approximately seventy percent of his original potency."
Dole continued, "The test subject retained fifty percent of that Conqueror's Haki after the transplant. Crucially, this Haki does not vanish upon use; it recovers over time. After confirming the success, I eliminated the pirate and transplanted the bloodline factor into my own body. The process was seamless, with zero rejection. I even feel… born with the qualities of a king."
Rosen's eyes brightened. Hana, still in his arms, wore a breathtaking smile.
"I wonder," Hana mused, her eyes sparkling with anticipation, "can this be applied to a Zanpakutō?"
If successful, they could transplant Haki bloodline factors into materialized Zanpakutō, granting them the ability to use and cultivate Haki.
"Hana, take Kyokotsu and collect your gifts," Rosen said, patting Hana's shoulder and ruffling Kyokotsu's hair.
While the experiment had only been conducted on humans so far, Devil Fruits were not bound by physical science but by the user's will and imagination. If humans could acquire Haki this way, materialized Zanpakutō should be no different. The only limitation would be the user's strength—and Dole was more than capable.
"I entrust this to you, Miss Dole," Hana said, rising gracefully.
"I will do my utmost," Dole replied. "The Admiral has treated me well. Since you are his Zanpakutō, I will ensure you grow stronger."
Rosen accompanied Hana and Kyokotsu into the laboratory. Rows of preservation containers lined the walls, with two corpses lying on the operating tables: Charlotte Katakuri and a pirate from the Big Mom Pirates.
"Miss Dole," Hana said, her eyes scanning the room. "The bodies of the pirates who invaded the Judge Forbidden Zone are here as well, correct?"
"They are," Dole nodded, understanding Hana's intent. "However, this procedure is designated for Ben Beckman." The lab preserved only the corpses of pirates who possessed Conqueror's Haki in life.
"That is fine," Hana smiled, though a sinister, murderous aura radiated from her. "Please transplant Ben Beckman's Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki into me."
"Understood," Dole thought to herself. This Zanpakutō holds a grudge.
"You fired a Haki-imbued shot at me in the Forbidden Zone," Hana hissed, her gaze like a knife fixed on Beckman's corpse. "Taking your three forms of Haki is merely retribution."
Kyokotsu stepped forward, giving the corpse a cold, silent glare before taking Hana's hand, waiting patiently.
"I see," Dole observed. "They are not two separate entities, but a pair."
If the experiment succeeded, both Hana and Kyokotsu would gain access to all three forms of Haki.
"Let's begin," Rosen signaled from the doorway.
He wasn't worried. Even if complications arose, he could reverse them instantly. His Six Flowers of the Shield could negate the negative effects of a failed experiment, restoring Katen Kyokotsu to their pre-operation state. In many ways, that defensive ability was more terrifying than any offensive power.
"Relax and do not resist," Dole instructed. "However, if you feel any discomfort, tell me immediately. I will sever the bloodline factors instantly."
Hana nodded. Kyokotsu remained silent, simply gripping Hana's hand tighter.
Dole didn't hesitate. She activated the Op-Op Fruit, enveloping Hana, Kyokotsu, and Beckman's corpse in an invisible spherical space. Drawing Shusui, she thrust the blade forward from a distance.
WHOOSH.
A thunderous roar filled the laboratory—Conqueror's Haki.
Hana's eyes narrowed. She recognized that sound instantly. During the battle in the Judge Zone, when Garp, Shanks, and Beckman unleashed their Haki, it had roared like thunder. Now, that power would be hers.
The transplant had begun.
—-
Enjoying the story? You can read 3-5 chapters ahead right now on Patreon!
New chapters drop there much earlier than Web Novel.
Join P@treon & Read Ahead → https://[email protected]/c/Ren_Saga
Thank you for your support! ❤️