"Found it!"
After scrolling through the list for a good while, Ryuuto finally found what he was looking for.
[Lineage Factor - Sea King! 10,000 Reputation]
The description below read: A genetic technology stolen from Vegapunk, the fruit of a mad scientist's crazed research. A lunatic who struggled his whole life trying to become a Sea King, perhaps he was on the wrong path from the very beginning.
[Why not try it on your pet goldfish!]
"It even comes with a little summary. From this description alone, it's clear this thing is probably not fully developed," Ryuuto thought to himself.
However, the final suggestion hinted at the Lineage Factor's proper use.
"Alright, I've made my decision!"
He mentally confirmed the exchange. His reputation instantly decreased by 10,000, and a syringe-like vial of Lineage Factor appeared in his inventory.
With a soft thought, he retrieved it. A flash of green light flickered, and a syringe materialized in his hand.
The syringe was as thick as an arm, and the liquid inside was a yellowish-green. Within the fluid, red tendrils swam about, appearing and disappearing like bolts of lightning.
"So this is the Lineage Factor? Incredible!"
As the pinnacle of genetic technology in the world of One Piece, the Lineage Factor originated with Vegapunk. It not only proved formidable in creating high-tier combatants but could also be used to create artificial Devil Fruits.
Vegapunk himself used the Lineage Factor to research and create the Seraphim, all of whom possessed extraordinary combat strength. The Germa 66 army used gene-editing technology to create super-soldiers like Sanji.
Caesar, on the other hand, went further and further down the path of artificial Devil Fruits, creating a pile of SMILE fruits. But due to his imperfect techniques, he produced a mountain of failures.
Regardless, the Lineage Factor held immense potential.
Holding the vial of [Lineage Factor - Sea King], Ryuuto turned his gaze to Momoo.
As a Sea Beast, Momoo was only forty meters long, not even reaching the minimum length of a small Sea King.
Beyond small Sea Kings were medium, large, and colossal ones.
Small Sea Kings ranged from 50 to 200 meters, medium ones from 200 to 500, and large ones from 500 to 5,000 meters. As for the colossal Sea Kings, they were over 5,000 meters long.
"Momoo, do you want to get stronger?" Ryuuto asked, looking into Momoo's innocent, wide eyes.
"Moo? Moo!" Momoo stared blankly for a second before nodding his massive head vigorously.
"It seems you have the heart of a warrior too, Momoo!"
Ryuuto chuckled and leaped onto Momoo's head.
"This vial of Lineage Factor can help you evolve into a Sea King, making you stronger and stronger," Ryuuto explained, showing the syringe to Momoo.
"Moo! Moo!" Momoo's eyes widened, and he bellowed at Ryuuto. His meaning was clear: Use it on me now, I want to be stronger!
Momoo had his own ambitions. The incident at Reverse Mountain had made him realize there were countless creatures in the sea far more powerful than him.
Then, in Alabasta, the power of the Marine warships made him feel his own weakness. His strength was respectable in the East Blue, but it was nothing in the Grand Line.
Momoo's desire to become stronger had never been so intense.
Now that Ryuuto was offering him a chance, how could he possibly let it go?
"Alright, Momoo, hold still while I inject this."
Understanding Momoo's eagerness, Ryuuto knelt and pressed the syringe into the sea beast's hide.
As the fluid flowed into him, Momoo felt a domineering energy coursing through his body.
Whoosh!
Ryuuto leaped back onto the ship. Momoo was now thrashing his head in agony.
His once-dopey face was now a mask of struggle.
"A bit aggressive, isn't it?" Ryuuto muttered.
Nami and Vivi had also noticed Momoo's strange behavior.
"Captain, what's wrong with Momoo? Ah!"
Before Ryuuto could answer Nami's question, Momoo's struggles in the water sent a massive wave crashing over the deck of the Soaring Dragon, drenching both her and Vivi where they stood.
"You two, get back!"
Seeing that Momoo was likely undergoing a metamorphosis, Ryuuto called out to Nami and blew a gust of wind at the sails.
The sail, emblazoned with a starry pattern, instantly billowed. Ryuuto then took the helm and steered the ship away from Momoo, putting distance between them.
The domineering energy continued to ravage Momoo's body, tearing it apart and repairing it in a brutal cycle. Strands of blood were already seeping from his skin.
But Momoo could feel himself growing stronger.
As the energy surged through him—first through his flesh, then his veins, and finally to his heart—he endured the intense pain, reveling in his own transformation.
A low hum vibrated from Momoo's body, as if something had just shattered.
His eyes sharpened, and he threw his head back, letting out a roar that shook the heavens.
"ROAR!"
The sound was like thunder, like the cry of some ancient creature.
"Looks like the transformation is complete," Ryuuto said, watching Momoo's changes from the deck, visibly pleased.
"That was 10,000 reputation well spent," Ryuuto said softly, observing Momoo's other changes.
Following the roar, the horns on Momoo's head grew longer, and intricate patterns began to appear on their surface.
His entire body became sleeker, and black, lightning-like markings spread across his hide.
His formerly goofy face had also changed, becoming more elongated. Combined with his sharp eyes and the black lightning patterns, he now looked incredibly intimidating.
"Whoa, so cool! Momoo looks completely different! Captain, was this your doing? I feel like he's gotten way stronger!" Nami said, staring intently at Ryuuto's profile.
"That's right. Momoo is evolving into a Sea King," Ryuuto explained to the curious Nami and Vivi.
As Momoo reveled in the explosive power coursing through him, his stomach let out a loud gurgle. A wave of hunger washed over him.
"ROAR!" With another great cry, he dove deep, disappearing beneath the waves.
"It seems this transformation is going to take a while."
Seeing this, Ryuuto called over to Nami and Vivi, and they began to set sail.
He would let Momoo hunt on his own to gather the energy needed for his transformation.
Right now, Momoo was only forty meters long. Ryuuto was quite curious to see how large he would eventually become under the influence of the Lineage Factor and a massive amount of food.
A breeze blew from the shore, kicking up fine grains of sand and carrying them to the sails of the Soaring Dragon. Under the sparkling sunlight dancing on the sea, the ship officially set forth.
"Nami, you take the helm!"
Handing the wheel to Nami, Ryuuto leaped up to the mast.
From his perch, he controlled the winds while keeping a sharp eye on the movements of the sea.