Calm Belt.
The World Government's secret research base, codename: "Hive."
Location: Top Secret.
This was a lush, green spring island, roughly the size of a medium-sized island. Countless ancient, sky-high trees with thick leaves formed a vast forest, and several towering mountains stood tall on the island.
Perhaps because it was in the Calm Belt, the island had a rich variety of birds and beasts. Still, the World Government had used a large amount of manpower and resources to construct a complete port and various facilities. They even hollowed out a large mountain in the center of the island to build a sturdy secret base.
In Experiment Base 1, located inside the mountain, a dozen people in white lab coats were bustling about, checking and operating various complex machines.
"Are the machines and equipment ready?"
A middle-aged man with square black-rimmed glasses, a slicked-back hairstyle, and a white lab coat walked in. He stood expressionlessly in front of a window, looking through the transparent glass at the empty experimental area below.
Below was a platform of about five hundred square meters with smooth metal walls surrounding it.
Lying in the middle of the platform was a man in white prison clothes. Even with his eyes closed, his figure was tall and burly, about three meters high. His hands and feet were bound with thick Seastone chains.
"Ganshi-san, the machines are all ready. We're just waiting for your order!"
A subordinate came over and said in a low voice.
"Good. Invite our guest from the World Government in!"
The man named Ganshi grinned, a look of fanaticism on his handsome face. He said loudly, "Even though that guy Vegapunk came up with the theory of Lineage Factor, I'm the man who has pushed Devil Fruit research to its limits! Let those incompetent World Government officials see that my artificial Devil Fruit users are the most formidable biological weapons! Vegapunk? Caesar Clown? They're nothing! I am the greatest scientist!"
A short while later, a man in a white suit and black tie walked into the main control room.
He was well-built, about two meters tall, and wore a white coat. His face was covered by a Noh mask, pale as paper, with an expression that was half-smiling, half-frowning, giving off a strangely unsettling feeling.
"Ganshi-san, my name is David. I'm from the CP0. It's a pleasure to meet you!" The man said with a clear voice as he stood beside Ganshi.
Ganshi glanced at him and said without a hint of politeness, "Since you're here, let's start the experiment, and send me what I need as soon as possible!"
"That's for the best. No one wants to waste time," David said with a shrug. "I'll make sure to record the results of this experiment truthfully. If it satisfies the Gorosei, you'll have what you need within a week!"
"That's all I needed to hear!"
Ganshi nodded in satisfaction and announced loudly, "This test subject is my greatest creation. His name is Alux, codename 'Ant King,' designation '13,' and he possesses the abilities of the Zoan-type artificial Devil Fruit: Ant-Ant Fruit!"
"Hey, let's begin!"
"Understood, Ganshi-san!"
The subordinate bowed respectfully and then waved to the others behind him.
Beep!
An experimenter in front of the main console reached out and pressed the blue start button.
Creeeeak—!
The next second, the metal wall in front of them split down the middle, slowly opening into a dark, ten-meter-high doorway. A team of people emerged from the door, including a lab-coated staff member and ten base guards in black suits armed with high-caliber pistols.
The eleven people surrounded the test subject, Alux. Four of the base guards took out keys and unlocked the Seastone chains on his hands and feet, while the staff member with the lab coat held a syringe filled with an antidote to the anesthetic and injected it into his neck.
Click! Click! Click! Click!
With four clicks, the Seastone chains on Alux's hands and feet were undone, just as the staff member finished injecting the antidote.
The eleven people then scattered like frightened birds, quickly gathering their things and running back toward the door.
But just then, Alux opened his eyes and showed a sinister smile. "Hey, why are you running?" he said slowly.
As soon as he spoke, Alux vanished from his spot and appeared like a ghost in the middle of the group of eleven people. His hands grabbed the necks of two base guards.
"What?!"
"Too slow!"
Alux roared, and his arms bulged with power. The two base guards, completely helpless, were sent flying over ten meters away by the immense force, smashing heavily against the sturdy metal wall.
Bang!
With a dull thud, the two base guards were splattered against the wall, turning into a shapeless pile of bloody, mangled flesh.
"What?!"
"He's awake!"
"You've got to be kidding! We gave him a massive dose of anesthetic!"
"It was enough to knock out a dinosaur for a whole day! Even the 'Ant King' would need a full minute to wake up!"
"..."
The sudden change in events caused everyone in the main control room to turn pale, utterly bewildered. The team on the experimental platform panicked, completely at a loss.
"Shoot him! Shoot him dead!"
One person screamed in terror, subconsciously raising his large-caliber pistol.
But the next moment, Alux was in front of him. A chaotic gust of wind created by his incredible speed stirred the man's hair and clothes.
Bang!
Alux showed a cruel smile and threw a punch at the man's chest. The terrifying force was like a cannonball, literally blowing the man apart.
His upper body was turned into a cloud of blood and flesh, splattering in every direction.
"Aaaahhh!"
"Monster! He's a monster!"
"..."
The horrifying and bloody sight sent a shockwave through the others. The remaining eight people were almost driven mad with fear. The base guards instinctively raised their weapons and fired at Alux.
"Sweet!"
Alux stuck out his tongue and licked the blood from his face, a more insane and vicious grin spreading across his face.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The continuous, loud gunshots sounded like popping corn. The hot lead bullets flew everywhere but couldn't stop Alux's rampage.
In the ten-meter-high control room, Ganshi, David, and the others watched as Alux's speed was as fast as lightning; not even the gunpowder-propelled bullets could keep up with him. His strength was monstrous, able to kill a man with a single punch. In a matter of seconds, he had slaughtered everyone on the experimental platform.
"You bastard!"
Ganshi's eyes widened in fury, and he roared in rage. "He was faking it! He was faking it the whole time!"
"Close the door!"
"Release all the test subjects now!"
"Don't let him escape the experimental area!"
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