Temporary Laboratory
Dragon hadn't expected that before Saint Michael's corpse even made it to the operating table, Darren would already be lying on it.
The black-haired youth reclined on the pristine experimental bed, upper body bare, riddled with tubes and electrodes. Wires snaked from his body to several bulky instruments nearby.
They were life-monitoring systems Queen used to track his test subjects' vitals and biochemical reactions when injecting them with viruses. Backed by the Beasts Pirates' resources and Queen's world-class expertise, the equipment was cutting-edge.
Yet right now, the Overalls Fatso's usual clownish smirk was gone, replaced by an unnerving severity.
He stared at the rapidly fluctuating bar graphs and jagged line charts glowing red on the displays, muttering under his breath:
"This is insane… completely insane…"
"Your biomagnetic field is absolutely wrecked… Cellular decay is accelerating far beyond normal due to extreme metabolic overload… What the hell did you do to yourself?"
His tone was numb with disbelief, a sheen of cold sweat gathering on his forehead.
Hearing that, Dragon swung his head toward Darren, shocked. He'd known Darren was badly injured—but this level of catastrophe? Then again, with Darren, when were his injuries ever not catastrophic?
"It's nothing," Darren said, cigar between his teeth, voice infuriatingly calm. "I just spun up my body's biomagnetic field with my Devil Fruit."
As the user of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit, no one understood his own condition better than he did.
"Magnetic Field Rotation" was essentially an unorthodox path to Awakening.
Normally, a Paramecia Awakening spread outward, altering the environment.
Darren, obsessed with overwhelming close-quarters power, had stubbornly gone the opposite way—not radiating his magnetic field, but crushing it inward to drive the rotation of his own biomagnetic field.
Compared to Thunder Armor, it was a far more brutal and efficient way to "activate" the body. The boost in combat power vastly surpassed Thunder Armor's… and so did the aftereffects.
Under that high-frequency rotation, Darren's strength, speed, and regeneration had soared. The price was staggering—an equally massive acceleration of cellular apoptosis.
If he hadn't tempered his body to near-indestructibility, he would have collapsed the moment he forced the Magnetic Field Rotation into motion, torn apart by the very power he unleashed.
As for now…
The disruption to his internal magnetic field wouldn't fade quickly. It would linger for some time.
As for the side effects—weakening vitality, a shortened lifespan—those barely registered in his calculations.
If he failed to topple the World Government and annihilate the Gorosei, he'd die sooner or later anyway.
Without a life worth living, what meaning did a long lifespan have?
"You're a complete lunatic."
Queen drew in a deep breath, staring at Darren like he was some nightmare specimen.
"The biomagnetic field is the most mysterious energy in the human body. Even Vegapunk wouldn't dare poke at it casually… and you just bet your life on it."
He shook his head, briefly at a loss for words.
Then a thought clicked.
So that's why Boss Kaido hadn't swung the kanabo the moment he saw Darren. Instead he'd ordered Queen to treat him.
Kaido must have seen how critical this guy's condition really was.
"But there's at least one bit of good news…"
Queen pulled out a cigar of his own, bit it, lit it, and exhaled slowly.
"Given your ridiculous physique—and the fact you've clearly mastered some Giant-level strength… your lifespan is probably going to be much longer than a normal human's."
Darren nodded.
That, at least, was a silver lining.
He hadn't expected the "Giant's Body" he'd cultivated to actually grant him traits unique to the Giants.
The Giant race was one of the most extraordinary peoples on the seas, hailed as the ultimate warriors of the Grand Line.
Their lifespans were astounding. A healthy Giant warrior's life was easily three centuries or more—far beyond human.
"Hey, hey, hey! You're not seriously thinking about how many more times you can use that 'Magnetic Field Rotation,' are you?" Dragon blurted anxiously, catching the thoughtful look on Darren's face. "Even if you live longer than normal humans, look at the state you're in after this round. This isn't something to mess around with!"
"Relax. I know my limits," Darren replied with a faint smile. He turned his gaze to Queen. "Any progress on your virus research lately?"
Queen: "..."
Right. He hadn't listened to a single word.
He's barely stabilized and he's already thinking about viruses again.
"While I admire your suicidal work ethic, I regret to inform you there's been no breakthrough," Queen grumbled. He turned, stomped into the supply room, and came back with several vials and ampoules.
"Don't worry, you won't die just yet."
"Since Boss Kaido ordered it, I'll treat your injuries. But I can't do anything about the lifespan you already burned away."
As he spoke, he began injecting mixtures from the vials into the tubes feeding into Darren's body, his hands moving with practiced ease.
"You—?!" Dragon started, alarmed. He rushed forward to stop him, but Darren raised a hand.
"It's fine. Don't panic… This isn't the first time he's drugged me."
Queen stared at him like he was an idiot, expression twisted with contempt, as if to say:
If poison could kill this monster, why would I bother researching viruses?
Dragon looked between the two of them, their casual back-and-forth leaving him completely speechless.
The whole scene felt unreal.
Enemies who should have been fighting to the death—and here one of them was on the table being examined and treated by the other.
The strangest part was the occasional glint of murder in both their eyes.
Especially Queen—the "Plague Queen." That urge to stab someone? Impossible to hide.
"These are just some high-grade nutritional supplements, hemostatic agents, and… a few anti-inflammatories. Not that I think you really need them," Queen said impatiently.
"If you don't trust me, you can have a real doctor check them later."
Darren grabbed the tablets, tossed them into his mouth, and swallowed with a grin.
"I trust your judgment," he said. "As far as I'm concerned, you're the most brilliant scientist I've ever met."
Queen froze for a heartbeat, caught off guard by the praise.
"Tch." He curled his lip.
"Even if you flatter me like that, I won't be happy… MUHAHAHAHA!!"
Dragon fell silent.
To be continued...