New World, Wano Country.
Onigashima.
"What?! You're going to try Magnetic Field Rotation again?!"
In the makeshift laboratory, Queen's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. His jaw dropped so far it was a miracle it stayed attached. He stared at Darren as if looking at a certified lunatic, completely at a loss for words.
"Relax, I'm not planning on beating you up," Darren said lazily, reclining on the sofa with a lit cigar between his teeth, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
Queen's face flushed bright red. "I'm not afraid of that!" he snapped. He hesitated, his fat face twitching with conflict, then ground his teeth and added, "I mean… aren't you just trying to get yourself killed?"
Dragon, seated off to the side with a cigarette in hand, couldn't help rolling his eyes.
Darren chuckled and clapped Queen's shoulder. "Don't worry," he said. "I've got no intention of dying so soon… not before I crush the Gorosei, at least. I'll control the Magnetic Field Rotation's speed and frequency, keep it at the bare minimum."
Queen pursed his lips, but that last sentence clearly hooked his attention.
"If you can control the speed and frequency of the Magnetic Field Rotation, keep it at a low level…"
He stroked his chubby chin, brow furrowing as his mind turned.
"Then even if cellular apoptosis is triggered, it should stay within a manageable range. Even if it shortens your lifespan, the reduction probably won't be too severe."
"It's not impossible… but why would you want to do that?"
He tugged at his overalls and fixed Darren with a genuinely baffled look.
Even madness, in his opinion, needed a reason.
Darren didn't answer directly. Instead, his tone turned mildly curious as he posed a question of his own.
"From your professional perspective—as a genius scientist specializing in human modification and biological research—what's the fundamental condition for a living organism to grow stronger?"
"Even if you flatter me like that, I won't be especially pleased!" Queen puffed out his round belly, but his chest swelled with pride all the same.
"Still, since you're asking so sincerely, I'll enlighten you."
"This world is filled with countless creatures and races, but based on my research, the core principle behind all 'growth'—whether for the mighty or the weak—can be summed up in two words."
He raised his mechanical arm and extended two shining metal claws.
"Adaptation."
"Adaptation…"
Queen's words jolted Dragon. He'd been half ready to tune the fat man out, but his expression gradually grew serious as he sank into thought.
"Exactly! Adaptation!"
Now in his element, Queen's eyes shone with confidence. His usual clownish unreliability vanished, replaced by the sharp focus of a true expert. He puffed out his chest and lifted his chin.
"Under constant external stimuli, organisms are forced to adapt to changes and pressure from the environment. That's how they grow stronger."
"This is the fundamental principle of evolution."
"Marine life evolved lungs to adapt to living on land…"
"Animals evolved thicker coats to endure frigid climates…"
"Some races, to survive in harsh environments, evolved extraordinary physiques—or even wings for flight."
As he spoke, an image flashed through Dragon's mind: "Wildfire" King.
Pale hair, black wings, the strange flames blazing from his body—that near-extinct Lunarian race that had once thrived upon the Red Line.
The Lunarians possessed physical abilities far beyond ordinary humans. Legend claimed they could survive in any natural environment—a race truly favored by the heavens.
"And what about those who can't adapt?" Dragon asked suddenly.
Queen gave him a look that screamed, "You're an idiot; I'm not dignifying that with an answer."
Darren dragged a palm down his face, completely speechless.
Dragon's expression froze. He realized the stupidity of the question the moment it left his mouth.
Those who couldn't adapt… were eliminated.
An individual that couldn't adapt died.
A species that couldn't adapt went extinct.
Nature's laws were brutal, but they were simple.
"Theoretically, as long as an organism keeps adapting to change, it can grow stronger without end, maybe even surpass its genetic limits…"
Queen trailed off mid-sentence.
He suddenly went rigid, eyes widening as his pupils shrank.
"Wait… don't tell me—!"
He snapped his head toward Darren, staring as if he'd just seen a ghost.
Darren smiled and exhaled a curl of smoke. "Yeah."
"I was thinking—if I maintain Magnetic Field Rotation at a low frequency, and keep adapting to that pressure over time… maybe I can grow even stronger. To the point that one day…"
Queen, still stunned, finished for him in a daze.
"…you could reach that terrifying state even without activating Magnetic Field Rotation—just in your normal condition."
Darren nodded, his smile turning wry, then shook his head.
"Maybe. It's just a little theory of mine. Whether it works in practice is another question."
"That's why I need a scientist who's an expert in biology to help me. Not some small-time tinkerer, either. I need one of the very best—no, the absolute top-tier scientists in the world."
"Enough."
Overalls Fatso suddenly cut him off.
His expression hardened completely as he stared Darren down, his voice low and firm.
"I'll do it."
Dragon stared at Queen's solemn face, the sheer confidence blazing in his eyes. A vein throbbed on Dragon's forehead as black lines of exasperation seemed to etch themselves across it.
He didn't even know where to begin criticizing this.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not doing this to help you…" Queen scoffed, folding his arms with a disdainful snort. "I just can't stand the thought of such a magnificent experiment being ruined by some third-rate hack."
"Besides," he added, lips curling into a smug grin, "other than yours truly, there isn't a single scientist on this sea who meets your absurd standards."
"Vegapunk… Caesar… Vinsmoke Judge…" Dragon muttered under his breath.
Queen's face went still for a beat. Then he cut Dragon a scornful glare and snorted.
"Speaking of which, why are you still here? Onigashima doesn't welcome freeloading deadbeats like you."
Dragon shot to his feet, livid, teeth grinding audibly.
"What did you just say, Fatty?! When have I ever freeloaded off you?!"
Queen fired right back, "Isn't it obvious? Or did you actually contribute anything to taking down the Commander of the Knights of God?"
Dragon's face flushed bright red. He abruptly turned to Darren, furious.
"Hey, Darren! You're not really going to let this guy experiment on you, are you? He's the enemy! What if he uses this chance to turn on you—"
BOOM.
A suffocating aura suddenly erupted from Queen's body.
Overwhelming fury and murderous intent surged outward like a tidal wave, cutting Dragon's protest off in an instant.
Dragon's pupils shrank.
He stared as Queen's massive frame swelled into his Brachiosaurus form, crimson light burning in his eyes.
It wasn't Conqueror's Haki, but the sheer intensity of Queen's will made even Dragon's heart clench.
This was an aura of absolute resolve—someone prepared to stake his life at any moment.
"Hey, Tattooed Man," Queen rasped, voice low and hoarse, eyes burning red.
"You can call me treacherous, call me cunning. You can mock me for using high-tech weapons and viruses to kill my enemies…"
"But."
His face went cold and impassive.
"You will never question my resolve… as a scientist."
To be continued...