The Vault of the Mother Flame
The room was cold, sterile — a vault within a vault. The Mother Flame reactor floated in a suspension field, rotating slowly like a miniature sun.
Its surface was etched with strange, almost living patterns of light. Every pulse of its glow sent a vibration through the floor and into Vegito's bones.
Lilith keyed in a sequence on a holographic panel. "It's locked to my biometrics. I'll disable the failsafes, but the moment we move it, sensors across Egghead will know. The Government will throw everything at us."
Vegito grinned, tail flicking lazily. "Good. Let's give them a show."
Vegito's Plan
Robin stepped forward. "Where will we take it?"
Vegito tapped his temple. "My Realm. Hidden in a sector only I can open. Not even the system shop AI can access it without my say-so."
Lilith arched a brow. "A private dimension? Well, aren't you full of surprises."
Reiju smirked. "You haven't even seen the daycare yet."
Lilith blinked. "…The what?"
The Lift
Lilith deactivated the suspension field. The Mother Flame descended onto a grav-lift platform that hummed as it hovered inches above the floor.
Carrot and Wanda flanked it on either side, tails twitching. "Feels like guarding a giant glowing carrot," Carrot whispered.
"No biting it," Wanda said without looking at her.
Vegito placed a hand on the reactor — and with a thought, it vanished into the Realm. The room instantly felt emptier, quieter.
Lilith's eyes widened. "That… wasn't teleportation. That was removal from reality."
Vegito winked. "Exactly."
The Alarm and Counterstrike
Sirens blared across the Labo-Phase. Automated defense turrets popped up from the floor. Overhead, drones swarmed into formation.
From the docks, Marine and CP0 reinforcements poured in — this time with two Seraphim: one resembling Boa Hancock, the other Jinbei.
Nami cursed. "We don't have time for another full fight!"
Vegito cracked his knuckles. "We won't need it."
Battle at the Dock
Kuina & Tashigi: Duel the Hancock-Seraphim in perfect sync, one blocking the petrification strikes while the other countered.
Carrot & Wanda: Lightning blitz against the Jinbei-Seraphim, forcing it to defend against speed it couldn't match.
Reiju & Bell-mère: Covered the retreat with poison mists and precise rifle shots at weapon hands.
Vegito: Walked straight through the Marine line, flicking soldiers into unconsciousness like flies.
One Seraphim tried to flank the crew — until Boa herself stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "Pretender."
The Seraphim froze under her gaze. In a twist of irony, the original Boa turned it to stone with a smile.
Vegapunk Lilith's Decision
By the time the last Marine unit retreated, Lilith was staring at the Embrace like a child seeing the ocean for the first time.
"You're serious about that Realm offer?" she asked quietly.
Vegito smirked. "Serious enough to give you unrestricted lab space, tech from a thousand worlds, and zero Government oversight."
Lilith tilted her head, calculating. "…I'll need an assistant."
Robin smiled. "We have several."
"No," Lilith said, smirking back. "I mean two dozen. And full robotics production rights."
Vegito's grin widened. "Done."
Boarding the Heaven's Embrace
As Lilith stepped aboard, her eyes roamed over the deck, the runes carved into the hull, the subtle hum of the ship's dimensional core.
"This isn't shipbuilding," she murmured. "This is art."
Nami crossed her arms. "Don't fall in love with it too much. It's taken."
Lilith chuckled. "Relax. I'm more into engines than captains."
Reiju coughed. "Give it a week."
Government Meltdown – Cutaway
Marine HQ – Sengoku's Office
Reports piled high on Sengoku's desk. He pinched the bridge of his nose as the latest Den Den Mushi transmission came through:
"Egghead's vault compromised. Mother Flame missing. Lilith Vegapunk defected with Captain Vegito."
Sengoku didn't even yell this time. He just reached for the bottle in his drawer.
"Garp," he muttered, "if this man shows up in Marineford, I'm retiring early."
Holy Land – Pangaea Castle
The Five Elders sat in silence, the news sinking in.
Saint Marcus Mars's fingers dug into the arm of his chair. "We cannot allow the Mother Flame to be hidden from us."
Imu's voice was a whisper from the shadows. "Then burn the sea until you find it. But remember… Vegito is not an opponent you face. He is an obstacle you remove by erasing everything around him."
Back on the Embrace
Night fell as the ship cut away from Egghead's shimmering skyline.
Lilith stood at the bow beside Vegito. "You've just painted a target the size of Red Line on your back."
Vegito shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time. Won't be the last."
She smirked. "Then let's make the target worth the effort."
Closing Scene
The Heaven's Embrace sailed under a sky full of stars, the stolen Mother Flame hidden away in the Realm, untouchable. The crew laughed and argued over dinner, Mink tails flicked in contentment, and Lilith's mind whirred with endless blueprints.
Ahead, the New World waited — and somewhere, the Government plotted.
But for now, Vegito just leaned back in his chair, smiling. "On to the next headache."
[World State Updated]
Crew: Lilith Vegapunk officially recruited; access to advanced science tech secured.
World Government: Egghead breach confirmed; Mother Flame missing; CP0 twice humiliated.
Foreshadowing: Imu begins mobilizing a counterstrike that will target Vegito's allies across the seas.
Next Destination: Deciding the Mother Flame's hiding place — and the next offensive move.