The second half of the Grand Line.
Rocajás Island.
After shaking off those gargantuan Sea Kings, Ren couldn't wait a moment longer to open the container holding the Pure Gold. However, since he wasn't yet certain if the Bonbori fish could still track the radiance of the gold through some deep-sea instinct, he decided to find a light-proof location before cracking it open.
This was exactly why Ren's crew had landed on this small, secluded island.
The group traversed past the local town and headed deep into the mountains. Ren manually carved out a cavern, stepped inside, and sealed the entrance completely behind them. Once he was sure not a single photon could leak out, he produced the container.
The vessel remained sealed for the moment, the Pure Gold's brilliance suppressed by a mysterious liquid, emitting only a faint, eerie green glow. The light reflected off everyone's faces, illuminating a row of "innocent" and greedy smiles.
"Hehehe~ Let's get it started!"
"Do it!"
CRACK!
As the container shattered, a burst of golden radiance broke free from its shackles. In an instant, the entire cavern was dyed a lush, vibrant gold. The light bathed Ren's body, and he immediately felt a wave of warmth wash over him. Every cell in his body seemed to cheer; his very life force felt as if it were undergoing an evolution!
"Haa... Haa..."
Hina and the others looked at Ren with bizarre expressions.
"The light feels great and all, but can the Captain stop making that creeped-out 'ahao' face? It's disgusting," Olga remarked, launching a verbal assault.
But Ren had no time to spare for her sarcasm. The moment the golden light touched him, the God Genes within his body began to boil, joyfully devouring the energy radiated by the Pure Gold.
Seeing that Ren was occupied, the others turned their attention to the "Golden Egg" before them.
"We just need to make rings like the one I had before," Olga suggested.
"But wouldn't that be inconvenient? We're fighters," Bonney noted. "If it breaks during a battle, wouldn't that be a massive loss?"
"Relax, the Captain already told me what to do." Law smirked. He looked at the group and said, "Decide where you want the Pure Gold placed in your bodies. I'll use the Op-Op Fruit to make the gold a part of you. Unless someone digs it out of you, you'll never lose it!"
Everyone's eyes lit up. Over the next few minutes, Law used his surgical abilities to implant fragments of the Pure Gold into each crew member.
By the time Ren's God Genes were finally "sated" and he snapped back to reality, he found everyone staring at him.
"What are you looking at me for? Hurry up and divide the gold! Whatever's left is mine!"
"That's way too greedy!!"
"Hmph!"
Ren stood up and looked at the Pure Gold, which now had several small pits missing from its surface. "You guys already finished... and you didn't even wait for the Captain!"
The group rolled their eyes. Law covered his face, sounding helpless. "You were the only one left. Hurry up and finish so we can head to Egghead."
"Yeah! Egghead! Egghead!" Bonney pushed Ren with her small hands, urging him to wrap it up so they could resume sailing.
Ren sighed and eventually had Law place a fragment of Pure Gold near his liver. Looking at the remaining lump of gold—which still radiated enough light to blind a man—the group faced a new dilemma.
"This is what happens when someone smashes the container," Hina muttered.
Several dark gazes landed on Ren, but he didn't show a hint of guilt. He reached into a bag, pulled out a thick quilt, and wrapped the Pure Gold tightly. The golden glow vanished instantly.
BOOM!
Ren punched through the rocks sealing the cave. The group acted as if nothing had happened, casually strolling back to their ship and leaving the island behind. As the distance grew, everyone felt they would remember this nameless island for the rest of their lives.
"Wait, what was the name of that island again?"
On the ship.
"By the way, how do you plan to handle the leftover gold?" Hina asked.
"I'm putting it in my room so I can admire it 24/7, obviously!" Ren replied without missing a beat.
Fine. Since everyone already had their "dose" of immortality, they didn't care about the remainder. The ship sailed across the sea, and accompanied by a leisurely breeze, everyone felt an unprecedented sense of relief.
On the way to Wano, Ren closed his eyes and allowed his consciousness to enter the Brotherhood Space.
Ninja Ren had reappeared in the space, currently deep in conversation with Scientist Ren. Seeing Pirate Ren arrive, both broke into grins.
"You're finally here," Ninja Ren said. "How's it going? Still training Luffy?"
Pirate Ren shook his head. "Luffy left a while ago. I've already secured the Pure Gold."
"You actually got it! Quick, show me the research data!"
The three bumped fists. A massive influx of data regarding the metallurgy and biological effects of Pure Gold flooded their collective mind. Ninja Ren was already itching to leave, likely to try and replicate it back in Konoha. Surprisingly, Scientist Ren—usually the most proactive—seemed utterly uninterested.
Facing their curious looks, Scientist Ren shrugged. "I've been working my ass off against the 'Zombie Brother' world since I was ten. I've finally stabilized things these past two years. Right now, I just want to be a mindless, mobile artillery platform for a while~!"
"..."
They wanted to roast him, but since he was them, it felt too normal. Ren was never a fan of overworking himself, after all.
Having received the memories, Ninja Ren left immediately to start his replication experiments. Scientist Ren followed shortly after, claiming he'd try it too—eventually, once the "soil" of his current life needed a break from "tilling."
Just as they left, Hollow Ren appeared before Pirate Ren.
"Yo! Why are you here today? Weren't you hunting Pure Gold?"
"I already got it!" Pirate Ren grinned. "The brothers on my ship are all equipped now. We've got eternal life!"
Hollow Ren nodded calmly. Lifespan was something he never worried about; as a Vasto Lorde, unless he decided he was done with existence, he couldn't really think of a way to die of old age.
Ren's consciousness returned to the ship. Sailing the sea was often boring, but with two "kids" on board, there was plenty of entertainment. He stepped out of his cabin only to see two pink-haired and blonde-haired beauties standing in his line of sight.
"Captain! I look way better in my 'grown-up' form, don't I?"
"Clearly I'm the prettier one!"
Ren looked at the two "brats" expressionlessly. He raised his hands and gave each of them a swift knock on the head, instantly making them obedient.
Olga squeezed out a single crystalline tear, acting like a jilted woman. "Why are you hitting me?! We played so happily last night, and today you're heartless! You're a total scumbag!"
Bonney was more direct, reaching out to try and turn Ren into a "baby" so she could spank him. But Ren saw right through the troublemaker's plan, nimbly dodging her small hands and pinching her springy cheeks instead, making her squeal.
Ignoring the duo, Ren looked at the sea ahead. It was filled with violent whirlpools and chaotic currents. Even their sturdy ship couldn't safely navigate such treacherous waters; one wrong move and they'd be dragged to the bottom.
Hina had already ordered the ship to halt, looking at the whirlpools with anxiety.
"What's the matter, my little darling?" Ren asked with a grin.
Hina turned around, ignoring the sulking Olga and Bonney behind him. "The Permanent Pointer brought us to this sea, but I think you'll have to fly us the rest of the way."
"What? Oh, is that all?"
Ren transformed into his Asura form, summoned the crimson flame-clouds, and lifted the ship. They soared into the sky, heading toward the horizon.
They are flying toward Wano! Should Ren land the ship directly in the Flower Capital to challenge Kaido immediately, or should he sneak into the outskirts to investigate the secret of Pluton first?