While John continued training every day, the growing attention surrounding his inventions on Karakuri Island made him think more seriously about leaving.
He had already begun collecting large amounts of iron sand, enough for him to create different metal constructs that he would disassemble after each use.
He made a habit of breaking them down so that none of the scrap materials went to waste, since even low grade metal could be repurposed into something useful.
Over time he realized that this method not only kept his laboratory clean, but also allowed him to experiment without worrying about unnecessary consumption of the island's limited resources.
These resources had started to dwindle, something both he and Vegapunk had noticed. Even Vegapunk had been considering leaving, although he remained conflicted.
His mother was still on the island, and he understood that if he left without making preparations, there would be no one to care for her, especially now that she was getting older. This single issue had been enough to keep him rooted in place despite his ambitions.
One night, as John worked on an engine in his room, he heard a knock on the door. Without looking up, he used his Devil Fruit ability to unlock it.
"John, are you there?" Vegapunk asked as he entered.
"What is it?" John replied, turning his eyes toward him. The tools around him continued assembling themselves, moving with mechanical precision due to the preset instructions he had embedded within his control.
The motions were so flawless that it appeared the tools understood what needed to be done without him monitoring them.
Vegapunk hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have you ever considered leaving here?"
John glanced at him, immediately picking up the real emotions behind the question. This was the first time he had ever seen Vegapunk struggle to make a decision. It surprised him more than he expected.
"You are having trouble deciding. That is not something I am used to seeing from you," John said calmly.
Vegapunk gave a small smile. "Nothing gets past you. So, what is your answer?"
John only needed a moment to think. He already knew his answer long before Vegapunk asked. His current project was even designed with the future in mind.
"Of course I have considered it. In fact, everything I am building now is meant to be used when I eventually leave the island," John said. "The natural resources here are running out, and I do not want to sound ungrateful, but staying here would limit my ability to create new projects. If I remain too attached, that kind of sentiment will only get in the way of scientific progress."
His bluntness clearly irritated Vegapunk.
"You bastard, do you not have a heart at all?" Vegapunk asked, frowning.
John laughed before gesturing toward a metal box on the table. It was almost complete, only a few screws missing. He moved his fingers slightly, and the tools finished the assembly on their own, causing Vegapunk to stare in confusion.
"I call this one Orianna. She is the solution to your worries," John said. He summoned a concentrated sphere of lightning into his hands and placed it inside the opening of the box. The moment he did, the box began to shift and unfold, expanding piece by piece. What formed resembled a feminine figure, inspired by the character Orianna from the game League of Legends.
"I programmed her to take care of your mother. I do not want anything to happen to her either. She can protect her, follow commands, and learn from whatever your mother teaches her. I also added different medical and medicinal knowledge so that she can produce basic treatments if anything goes wrong," John explained.
Vegapunk inspected Orianna closely, tapping her shoulder with curiosity. "You used our alloy here. How were you able to lift it with your Devil Fruit abilities? We specifically made sure it could not be affected by magnetism."
John looked at him like he had forgotten something obvious. "My fruit has awakened. I can assign magnetic properties to anything now. Even something without natural magnetism can be turned into a magnet. If I wanted to, I could even make you magnetic."
Vegapunk blinked, then laughed as he remembered. They spent the rest of the night discussing Orianna's capabilities, and Vegapunk even planned several upgrades of his own. John encouraged him to add whatever personal touches he wanted.
The next week was dedicated entirely to upgrading Orianna. They gave her the ability to speak, a feature Vegapunk was surprised John added so easily. When Orianna was complete, both of them began preparing for their departure.
Orianna's design included a large clock key on her back. She could remove it and use it as a weapon if needed, and it also acted as an antenna capable of blocking Den Den Mushi signals.
Her charging port consisted of two conductor coils, allowing her to absorb electricity generated from the waves that traveled through the sewage system.
Every part of Vegapunk's home was connected to the island's network, and nothing was wasted. Their lack of resources had forced them to innovate in ways no one else would have considered.
John, Vegapunk, and Orianna walked toward the living room where Vegapunk's mother often sat in the massaging chair John had made for her. She was getting older, and the chair had become a great help to relieve the aches in her joints.
"Mother, we have something to discuss with you," Vegapunk said gently. His mother rested with her eyes closed, enjoying the massage. John noticed Orianna subtly copying Vegapunk's concerned expression, and he found it impressive that her behavioral learning was already functioning.
He thought to himself, wondering if under the right circumstances, Orianna might eventually develop something close to a spirit of her own. His mind drifted to the idea of ancient automatons, like the Iron Giant linked to Joyboy, something even Vegapunk had yet to fully understand.
Vegapunk began speaking with his mother, and John joined him to support the conversation.
"I have nothing but gratitude for you. My being alive is entirely thanks to your kindness. But I also know that you have always understood that Vegapunk and I would leave eventually," John said.
Vegapunk's mother opened her eyes and smiled warmly, confirming what he said without needing any words. The three of them continued talking, and they introduced Orianna to her. She immediately took a liking to the robot.
They shared a warm meal afterward, and both John and Vegapunk cherished the moment, knowing it would be their last meal with the woman who had taken such good care of them. Orianna watched closely and learned the cooking process as well.
After the meal, John and Vegapunk began final preparations. Vegapunk wanted to leave by the end of the week before his hesitation grew stronger. John spent the week checking every invention he had running on the island, ensuring none of them would malfunction once he left.
A few days later, the two stood at the shore, each on their own vessel. Vegapunk boarded a high tech galleon capable of operating itself, equipped with weapons and filtration systems they had built together. John boarded his submarine, which also served as his mobile laboratory. He had repurposed it so that none of his research would remain on the island for the World Government to find.
Vegapunk's mother and Orianna stood at the shore, waving at them. John and Vegapunk waved back until their ships finally drifted apart.
When the moment came to set sail, both of them felt ready for their own adventures, letting fate decide if they would ever meet again.