On Onigashima, everyone was under immense pressure and facing enormous challenges.
They had to stand together and face the hardship as one.
Only then would they have a chance of finding their place in this world, where danger and opportunity existed side by side.
Kaido stood off to the side with his arms folded, steady as a towering mountain.
His hawk-sharp eyes swept slowly over everyone present, cold as two beams of icy light.
Wherever his gaze passed, people felt an invisible pressure settle over them.
The Beasts Pirates had suffered an unprecedented blow. Their casualties were severe, and blood had stained large stretches of ground red.
Yet Kaido, standing before them all, showed no trace of regret on his face.
In his eyes, the world of pirates had always been this cruel and unforgiving, full of life, death, and endless cycles of slaughter.
Today, one might fight for ideals and glory. Tomorrow, one might already be lying in a pool of blood. Only those who survived battle after battle by luck and strength truly had the right to keep moving forward and chase their dreams.
That law of survival, where the strong devoured the weak, had long since been branded deep into his heart.
In the midst of that oppressive silence, a researcher approached with trembling steps.
His forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and his hands shook slightly from extreme fear.
Holding a test tube with utmost care, he said in a trembling voice, "Lord Kaido, your blood sample…"
Kaido raised his head slightly, his eyes showing a trace of contempt and arrogance.
With a sharp flick of his hand, his claws instantly sliced open his thick wrist.
Dark-red blood flowed out like a spring, dripping into the transparent test tube.
As the blood entered, one could even faintly hear a soft sizzling sound, as if some mysterious, violent energy were surging and roaring inside it, ready to break free and wreak havoc at any moment.
The researcher's throat moved involuntarily as he swallowed hard.
His eyes were filled with awe and terror.
With extreme caution, he handled the precious sample and sealed it properly.
Unconsciously, he murmured, "The blood of the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon…"
It was as if what he held was not ordinary blood, but the most precious treasure in the world.
On the other side, Big Mom laughed loudly and slapped the table, shaking the instruments throughout the laboratory.
Her bold laughter echoed like thunder through the space, making everyone present tremble.
"Mamamama! My children are already on their way!"
She grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, as though she wanted to devour the entire world.
Her words were full of confidence and dominance, making it impossible for anyone to ignore her presence.
"Once they arrive, you can draw as much as you want from the Biscuit-Biscuit Fruit, the Heat-Heat Fruit, the Memo-Memo Fruit… all of it!"
Her voice carried unquestionable resolve, as if she could already see those precious abilities being gathered into her grasp one by one.
Marco of the Whitebeard Pirates raised an eyebrow and cut in, "Hey, Linlin, you aren't planning to use this chance to collect our blood information too, are you?"
His words carried a hint of caution.
Clearly, he had begun to suspect Big Mom's intentions.
However, Big Mom simply glared at him without the slightest concern.
"Enough nonsense!"
Her tone was filled with disdain and arrogance, as though Marco's question was not even worth considering.
"If I wanted to pull something behind your backs, do you think I'd need a method like this?"
Her words carried absolute pride and confidence, as if she already stood at the peak of the world and no longer needed any petty tricks to achieve her goals.
At the center of the laboratory, Ron stood tall and straight.
His gaze was like a deep, cold pool as it slowly swept over the busy crowd around him.
At that moment, he gave off a unique presence, one that no one could easily ignore.
His voice was low and calm, like hidden undercurrents beneath a quiet lake.
Yet it carried a strange power, causing everyone who had been focused on their work to stop unconsciously and turn toward him at the same time.
"Today's goal is simple."
Ron raised his head slightly, his gaze firm and focused as he said each word clearly.
"We complete as much of the Devil Fruit encyclopedia as possible."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand.
His slender fingers rested lightly on an exceptionally thick tome.
The book seemed to carry endless secrets and power.
On its cover, the gilded words Devil Fruit Research Records shone brightly beneath the laboratory lights, giving off a mysterious, alluring glow, as if whispering legends about Devil Fruits.
"Whether it's Zoan-types with all kinds of strange transformations, Paramecia-types with extraordinary abilities, or Logia-types that can control natural elements, the blood of every ability user is a priceless treasure. It is crucial to our research."
Ron paused for a moment.
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, revealing a faint smile that was almost impossible to notice.
Yet within that smile was a trace of cold severity.
"Of course, if anyone tries to hide anything and refuses to cooperate with our work…"
He did not finish the sentence.
But the unspoken words hung over everyone's head like the sword of Damocles, making every person present clearly feel that invisible yet overwhelming pressure.
The air seemed to freeze.
Tension spread throughout the laboratory.
"Hmph. Anyone who dares hide something gets killed on the spot!"
Beside him, Kaido suddenly swung his fist and roared.
His voice rang out like a great bell, breaking the brief silence and jolting everyone out of that oppressive atmosphere.
Following that roar, the laboratory immediately returned to its usual busy pace.
The researchers moved quickly. Some skillfully drew blood samples from ability users and carefully placed them into special containers.
Others focused completely on recording data, refusing to miss even the smallest detail.
Still others concentrated on analyzing the samples, trying to uncover more secrets about Devil Fruits.
Everyone understood the importance of the task and cooperated with all their strength.
The entire laboratory was filled with a tense but orderly rhythm of work.
Before long, the children of the Big Mom Pirates arrived one after another on the strange, ominous land of Onigashima, each carrying their own complicated emotions.