Watching this astonishingly transformed Slime, Meiser and the others were completely stunned.
"What in the world... is that thing?" Sanji exclaimed, staring at the Slime that had taken on an animal shape. "A frog?"
"It's a lizard, isn't it?" Zoro said, stroking his chin.
"Lizards don't look like that," Meiser replied, also stroking his chin. "It's a salamander."
Compared to a lizard, it looked more like one of those incredibly tenacious salamanders.
"Salamander?"
"What's that?"
A hint of confusion appeared in Zoro's eyes. How had he never heard of such a creature?
"It's a creature with extremely strong vitality," Meiser explained. "It won't die even if it suffers a fatal injury."
"Huh?!"
"That's so exaggerated?!"
Brook's eyes were full of astonishment. Could there really be such an incredible creature in this world?
It won't die even from a fatal injury?
"Can this creature split itself?" Zoro asked curiously.
"Normally, no," Meiser said, stroking his chin. "Salamanders don't have the ability to reproduce by splitting."
"They're also oviparous, similar to lizards."
If I'm not mistaken, that's how it is.
"Similar to lizards..."
Sanji glanced at the giant salamander and said, "Then what's the deal with those living Slimes it spat out?"
Those things were clearly alive.
No one answered this time, because they weren't sure either.
However, Meiser did notice something on the creature—that strange light unique to Devil Fruit Ability Users!
He just didn't know if this was a creation of an Ability User or the Ability User itself.
At that moment, the salamander in the distance spat out an enormous blob of venom, aiming directly at the group on the shore!
Seeing this, Sanji's expression changed. "Run!"
With that, everyone immediately dashed forward, successfully dodging the massive venom blob.
After reaching a safe distance, Brook looked back at the venom that had been hurled their way. "What on earth is that..."
It's so disgusting!
"Stop spacing out, let's get out of here quickly."
"Right!"
Meanwhile, on the other side.
In order to capture Caesar Clown, Luffy and the others headed to the front of the research facility, planning to enter through the main gate to catch Caesar.
What Luffy and the others didn't expect was that as soon as they arrived at the battlefield between the G-5 Branch Marines and the Centaur Unit, Caesar appeared on his own!
"Shurororororo~"
Standing above the wreckage of a warship, Caesar laughed heartily as he looked down at the Poisonous Slimes below. "What a delightful sight~"
"Shurororororo~"
"Who is this guy?"
Luffy pointed at Caesar and said, "Why do I feel like punching him?"
This feeling is so strange.
"No idea," Perona beside him shook her head. "I don't know him either."
During these two years, she often kept up with the newspapers, but she hadn't recognized who he was.
"What about Robin?"
"I don't know him either." Nico Robin frowned and said, "But I suspect this guy might be our target."
As soon as Nico Robin finished speaking, a Half-Goat Person nearby shouted.
"Master, why have you come out? It's dangerous here!"
"That's right, these Marines from the G-5 Branch are all thugs. Leave them to us!"
Hearing their words, Nico Robin fell silent for a moment before saying, "It seems this guy is that Caesar, Caesar Clown."
As soon as she said this, Luffy's expression immediately changed.
No wonder he had felt like punching this guy earlier—he was the bastard who experimented on children!
"So you're Caesar!" Luffy shouted.
"Shurororororo~"
"That's right!" Caesar said with a smirk. "Straw Hat Crew and everyone from the G-5 Branch, I am the world's greatest scientist, Caesar Clown!"
"Shurororororo~"
"World's greatest scientist?"
After staring at the man who was laughing maniacally for a while, Franky said, "I seem to remember the world's greatest scientist is Vegapunk."
As soon as he said this, Caesar's face immediately darkened.
Then, he angrily said, "What does that Vegapunk amount to? He doesn't deserve to be called the world's greatest scientist!"
"Only I!"
"Caesar Clown has that right!"
By the end, a twisted smile had reappeared on Caesar's face.
Clearly, he was jealous of Vegapunk.
Franky didn't pay attention to Caesar's words and instead said to his companions, "It seems this guy has a grudge against Vegapunk."
"Isn't that obvious?" Perona said.
That much was clear from his attitude.
Nico Robin narrowed her eyes. Rather than a grudge, she was more inclined to believe this man was simply jealous.
After all... when he was saying those things earlier, there was jealousy in his eyes.
"Hmph, what do you know?"
Hearing the Straw Hat Crew's words, Caesar snorted and said, "The relationship between me and him isn't that simple."
"Forget it, there's no point telling you all this. You wouldn't understand anyway."
Shaking his head, Caesar turned his gaze toward the distant volcanic area, his eyes gradually growing fervent.
"Just wait!!" Caesar spread his arms and said, "Once that kid brings all the Clones over here, you'll understand just how terrifying the chemical explosion that happened on Punk Hazard four years ago was..."
"That is the Death Realm where no one can survive!"
"And I... have named this weapon that can threaten the entire island: Death Realm!"
"How about it, isn't it interesting~"
"Shurororororo~"
As if he could see some amusing scene, Caesar suddenly burst into laughter.
Then, he floated into the air and shouted, "Feel it well, all of you!"
"Use your lives to experience, to understand the power of a weapon capable of destroying an entire island!"
"You'll soon understand just how great Caesar Clown, the world's number one scientist developing this weapon, truly is!"
"Shurororororo~"
Watching Caesar's maniacal laughter, Franky and the others fell silent.
This guy was exactly as they imagined—a mad scientist.
"A weapon that can destroy an entire island..." Perona frowned. "That's too cruel."
Though they didn't know what kind of weapon he was using, any weapon capable of destroying an island must be terrifyingly powerful!
What kind of opponent had they stumbled upon so inexplicably?
Meanwhile, Nico Robin couldn't help but think of the weapon known as the Dark King.
That thing was also a weapon that could easily destroy an island!
Only, the Dark King used cannons, while this guy used some kind of chemical explosive weapon...
Wait, could it be that the chemical experiment Brownbeard mentioned was actually set off by this guy?!
As if she had realized something, Nico Robin said, "It seems he's kept all those people in the dark."
Deliberately causing an explosion, then returning here some time later, purifying the island's poison gas with the demeanor of a savior, making the survivors believe he was their rescuer.
That must be why Brownbeard and the others were willing to treat him like a god.
Hah, what a despicable guy.
Thinking this, Nico Robin was about to say something, but before she could speak, she saw Luffy rush right up to Caesar's face.
"Huh?"
"!!"
Seeing Luffy inexplicably grab him, Caesar was stunned.
How could the other party grab him?
Could it be... this person knows Haki?
"Got you," Luffy grinned.
"Not good, Straw Hat Boy has caught the master!" shouted one of Caesar's soldiers.
"That bastard!"
"Hurry, rescue the master!"
"Right!"
With that, they quickly charged toward the wreckage of the warship, clearly intending to save Caesar.
But before they could take more than a few steps, Franky and the others blocked their way.
"Can't let you disturb Luffy!" Franky grinned. "Perfect timing, let me test out the strength of Sanji's body."
With that, Franky kicked out.
"Thud!"
The heavy leather shoe struck the enemy's abdomen, sending them flying toward the distant wreckage.
"Whoosh~"
"Boom!!"
"Huh?"
"This strong?!"
Franky was somewhat surprised—Sanji's body was even more formidable than he had imagined.
The obstructed enemies, seeing this, let out furious roars.
"Damn it, take them down!"
"That won't do."
Nico Robin raised her hands and said, "We can't fall here~"
"Twenty-Four-Petal Blossom!"
"Clutch!"
"Crack crack crack~"
Numerous arms appeared on the enemies' bodies, squeezing them until their bones creaked, and they finally collapsed with their eyes rolled back.
Perona's attack was even more direct. Without hesitation, she summoned a large number of Negative Spirits and used them to assault these enemies.
"Negative Swarm!"
"Buzz~"
"I... I wish I were a paramecium."
"If there's a next life, I'd rather be a stink bug."
"I'm not even as good as a salted fish..."
"Hahahahaha~"
"Now you know my power, you fools!" Perona, hovering in mid-air, said with her hands on her hips, "I'm not someone to be trifled with!"
"Hahahahaha~"
Clearly, Perona was quite pleased with her results.
"Hey!"
"What's wrong with you?"
Some of the centaurs who hadn't been attacked immediately showed shocked expressions, clearly not understanding what had just happened.
"You guys are pretty capable~"
Luffy grinned, tightening his grip on Caesar at the same time, which snapped the stunned Caesar back to reality.
"Bastard!!"
Once he regained his senses, Caesar glared angrily at Luffy and said, "Get your filthy hands off me!"
"No way!" Luffy replied without hesitation.
"Damn it..."
"It's great to know Haki." Franky, who had taken a moment to glance at the situation above, sighed with admiration. "You can easily grab a Logia-type body."
Hearing Franky's words, a hint of envy flickered in Perona's eyes.
She had always wanted to learn Armament Haki, but her talent was simply too limited, so...
Sigh.
"I wonder if I'll ever be able to learn Haki..."
"Keep trying," Franky said. "Maybe one day it'll just click."
Perona smiled bitterly at his words. If she could really learn it, she would have mastered it during those two years.
Franky didn't dwell on it either; he was just trying to offer some comfort.
Then, Franky said, "Let's take care of these guys. Leave Caesar to Luffy. With his current strength, he can definitely defeat him easily."
"Not necessarily," Nico Robin said with a frown.
"What do you mean?"
"Armament Haki can indeed grab the fluid body of a Logia-type, but it can't restrict the Ability User themselves," Nico Robin explained. "And we still don't know exactly how the Gas-Gas Fruit works, so..."
Though she didn't finish her sentence, Franky and Perona understood her meaning.
Without knowing the specifics of the Gas-Gas Fruit, they had no idea what kind of moves this guy might pull.
At that thought, both of their expressions grew more alert.
If Luffy ran into trouble, they would need to provide support immediately.
Just then, Luffy launched an attack on Caesar.
"Gomu Gomu no Bell!"
Luffy, having concentrated Armament Haki in his forehead, swung his head forward without hesitation, intending to use the rebound force to knock Caesar out!
Seeing this, Caesar immediately dispersed the parts of his body that weren't being touched by Luffy, narrowly dodging the attack.
"Don't get too full of yourself, you bastard!"
Caesar shouted, "Gas Lasso!"
In the next moment, pale pink smoke erupted from Caesar's body, winding its way up Luffy's neck toward his head and quickly encircling it completely!
"What the hell is this?!" Luffy exclaimed. "I can't shake it off!"
As he spoke, Luffy tried again, but he still couldn't dislodge the gas.
The gas clung to him like glue, impossible to shake off!
"Of course you can't shake it off!" Caesar sneered. "Because this is a lasso made of my gas!"
"As long as I don't cancel it, it will never disappear!"
"Shurororororo~"
"Straw Hat Boy, just wait to be poisoned to death by my gas!"
His poison gas was truly terrifying, capable of easily killing anyone!
So... even this pirate with a bounty of 500 million Berries would absolutely not escape his poisonous attack—shurororororo~
Though it was a pity he couldn't kill him with that weapon, he couldn't let this guy continue to cause trouble either. Caesar thought to himself: So, let's just finish him off here.
As for the experiment...
Using the Straw Hat Pirates and the Marines from the G-5 Branch for the experiment would work just as well!
By then... the people of the underworld would clearly understand just how terrifying the power of his weapon was~
Shurororororo~
Shurororororo!!