He had never seen every member of the Rolan Pirates make a move on the Marineford battlefield before.
In fact, because of Bartholomew Kuma, he barely paid any attention to the Rolan Pirates during the war.
He knew that Trafalgar D. Water Law was considered among the weaker members of the crew.
But even someone like him,
With a single, casual slash, had cut down the giant shark that had left him completely helpless, striking from high in the sky.
That alone proved how terrifying the overall strength of the Rolan Pirates truly was.
At that moment, he felt fortunate about the captain's earlier decision to merge the Revolutionary Army into Peach Garden.
What he did not realize was that Law's attack just now had already pushed close to his limit.
Top-tier Armament Haki combined with the awakened Ope-Ope no Mi made the strike appear effortless.
Even so, Rolan gave his crewmate a brief glance.
Law's strength had already surpassed what he displayed in the original timeline when he fought alongside Kid against Big Mom.
He had stepped into the threshold of Emperor-level power.
The ship cut through the sea, advancing toward the island.
Falling ice, drifting snow, and surging waves painted the surrounding waters in a strange and mysterious light.
"Let's move. Egghead Island is ahead. Let's see what else shows up."
As Rolan spoke, he pushed the ship forward at greater speed.
The earlier encounter with the mechanical shark confirmed they had entered the waters surrounding Egghead Island,
But they were still several kilometers away from the main island.
The ship surged forward rapidly and soon reached its destination.
No more mechanical sea beasts appeared along the way.
What stood before them now was unlike anything they had ever seen.
The entire island was enclosed within a massive hollow eggshell.
Its smooth surface reflected sunlight with a faint blue glow.
Through the transparent sections, lush greenery and flowing machinery could be seen coexisting seamlessly.
Nature and advanced technology blended perfectly, forming a balanced and almost surreal environment.
The surrounding waters were clear, with the occasional mechanical sea creature gliding across the surface.
Emporio Ivankov stared at the island in astonishment.
"So this is Egghead Island? It really does look like a giant egg."
Law's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Anyone can tell at a glance. This has to be Vegapunk's work."
Rolan gave a slight nod.
As expected of Vegapunk.
The eggshell structure regulated the island's climate and shielded it from natural disasters.
Even Observation Haki couldn't fully penetrate it.
With a flick of his hand, Rolan stored the ship away.
"ROOM."
Law activated his ability, instantly transporting the three of them inside the eggshell.
Inside, the weather was completely different.
Though the outside sky was overcast, the interior was bright and sunny.
As they stepped further in, orderly yet scattered buildings came into view.
A dense tropical forest covered much of the island, its lush greenery alive with birdsong and insect noise.
It felt like a paradise isolated from the rest of the world.
At the edge of the forest stretched a wide beach of golden sand, shimmering under the sunlight.
Most structures across the island had a streamlined design, their surfaces made from an unknown metallic material that reflected dazzling light.
They looked nothing like anything in the pirate world.
The entire island felt as though it belonged to the future.
At the center stood a massive spiraling structure that reached into the clouds, resembling a colossal technological fortress.
That was Vegapunk's laboratory.
"What an incredible place," Ivankov muttered, completely absorbed.
Law exhaled slowly.
"A genius whose technology is centuries ahead… this scale is unbelievable."
But as he continued observing, something felt wrong.
"This island is huge… but there isn't a single person in sight. Could it be that Vegapunk prefers isolation? He should be inside that central structure, right?"
Rolan activated his enhanced Observation Haki, scanning the entire island.
His expression shifted slightly.
"There are no living people here. Not even in the laboratory layer."
Law's expression turned serious.
"Did Vegapunk leave before we arrived? Maybe he knew we were coming."
Ivankov's face tensed immediately.
"What? He's not here? Are you sure? Could he have turned himself into a machine?"
His voice carried clear urgency.
If Vegapunk couldn't be found, then Kuma's consciousness might never return.
He refused to accept that outcome.
Law spoke again, thinking aloud.
"Could he have modified himself completely? Maybe that's why we can't detect him, like those mechanical sea beasts outside."
Rolan shook his head.
"No. Vegapunk's greatest asset is his mind. His intelligence is what allowed him to decipher the lost technology of the Ancient Kingdom."
"It's impossible for him to discard that by fully converting into a machine."
"He's simply not here."
Ivankov froze for a moment before stepping closer.
"Then we have to find him, quickly. Otherwise Kuma…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
He didn't need to.
"Let's check the laboratory first," Rolan said.
With a wave of his hand, he propelled the three of them upward at high speed.
Reaching the dome of the laboratory, he used electromagnetic force to melt an opening.
They entered the upper layer together.
But the moment they stepped inside,
All three of them stopped.
The scene before them left them completely stunned.
...