Chapter Sixty-Eight: Transformation (Asking for recommendation votes, asking for monthly votes. Today is Buffon's birthday—there will be extra updates.)

Everyone else aboard the Juventus wore expressions of shock. Reiju had already donned her battle suit, preparing to join Buffon in the confrontation. But Saul pulled Reiju into his massive arms and spoke seriously, "It's alright. Captain Buffon has a way."

He had witnessed Buffon's outrageous maneuver of propelling the ship with water spheres before, so he had no worries.

Buffon, seeing Mihawk's audacious handling of his vessel, was so astonished he nearly wanted to give a thumbs-up on the spot. However, the most pressing matter was how to deal with Mihawk's strongest strike.

Buffon turned his back to the sea, his body covered in Armament Haki, flames igniting around him. With a powerful thrust, he leapt into the air, arching backward, his right leg snapping straight in a swift motion.

A crescent-shaped black slash, wreathed in fire, shot directly toward Mihawk's green slash. The next moment, a thunderous explosion erupted.

The tremendous force sent giant waves crashing against the Juventus, forcibly shifting it several nautical miles across the surface. Saul, Sarong, and Lili—the three giants—rushed to the tilting side of the ship, working together to hold it down, preventing the Juventus from capsizing.

Looking back at the sea where the two slashes collided, a massive crater had been blasted into the continental shelf beneath the waves. In an instant, the seawater rushed back, forming a gigantic swirling current.

Fortunately, the Juventus had been shifted several nautical miles away; otherwise, it would have been caught in the vortex.

Buffon had returned to the deck by now. He glanced at the damaged gunwale and the gaping hole in the deck, shaking his head in resignation.

At that moment, Lili, now in her miniaturized form, leapt onto Buffon's shoulder, excitedly asking, "Captain Buffon, what was that move just now called? How is it so powerful?"

Buffon looked calmly at the still-spinning vortex and replied, "Goalkeeper's Secret Technique: Overhead Kick..."

Reiju once again lost control of her expression. She flew from Saul's hands to Buffon's side and softly asked, "Captain Buffon, are you getting used to the power of fire?"

Buffon nodded silently, then instructed the crew to begin cleaning up the aftermath.

With the power of the Stitch-Stitch Fruit, which could mend anything, Buffon quickly patched up the damaged gunwale and the hole in the deck.

However, the fruit's stitches couldn't withstand prolonged contact with seawater, so it was far from a permanent solution.

"It seems we need a proper shipwright," Buffon muttered to himself, then entered the cabin and locked himself in the laboratory.

Vivi stood on the deck like a wooden doll, gazing at the distant sea as it gradually calmed, then at the newly repaired ship. Questions spun in her mind like the vortex, unable to settle.

"I must make Captain Buffon agree to help me. With him, the Straw Hats, and convincing Koza, peace can be restored to Alabasta," Vivi clenched her fists determinedly.

The battle with Mihawk ended evenly, but Buffon knew that without the support of the Flame-Flame Fruit, his final strike would have been much weaker.

Mihawk's slash relied solely on his own power, without any fruit enhancements. Thus, Buffon's overall strength might be superior, but in terms of pure ability, Mihawk still outmatched him slightly.

So, Buffon resolved to begin experimenting with the lineage factor modification technology he acquired from Judge, aiming to enhance himself further and test the integration of fruit abilities.

Since Caesar had developed artificial Devil Fruits based on Vegapunk's research, the principle was proven. Buffon decided to undertake a bold experiment on himself.

He first combined the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Flame-Flame Fruit into a new Dark Flame Fruit, freeing up a slot.

He then called Lili, took some blood from her, stitched up her wound, and copied the Mini-Mini Fruit ability.

After Lili left, Buffon tested each synthesized fruit power, discovering some bizarre abilities.

For example, the Silent Bomb Fruit acted like a silenced explosive—seemingly of little use in this world of pirates. The Ritual Fruit summoned tangible souls when candles were lit, but its practical value appeared limited. The Lightweight Fruit was even harder to describe...

As for the Dark Flame Fruit, it was stranger still—burning away until nothing remained.

Fortunately, it had a decomposition function, which Buffon considered a backup fruit ability.

"It seems developing Paramecia-type fruits is the right path," Buffon muttered, then began work on the lineage factor modification.

He had prepared all the materials needed for the experiment before setting sail, so he began at once.

Using the technology stitched from Judge, it took Buffon over an hour to prepare the necessary solution, which he further improved with his advanced medical knowledge.

He did not follow Judge's method exactly; with the Hormone Fruit in hand, he added some personal tweaks and included the "factor" extracted from Lili's blood.

He left the lab to instruct Baggio to stand guard; if he didn't emerge within 24 hours, Reiju would intervene to end the process.

With everything arranged, Buffon lay in the pool, inserted the needles, and began the modification.

The experience was markedly different from his previous time on Judge's ship. As the solution entered his body, Buffon felt the change—his blood flow slowed, but his cellular metabolism accelerated.

"So this is the key to lineage factor modification?" Buffon mused, drifting into a deep sleep within ten minutes.

He awoke twelve hours later.

Opening his eyes, Buffon sensed the state of his body, feeling a wild power surging through every cell and drop of blood.

But now, the solution in his body had lost its effect.

"Perhaps I increased the dosage," Buffon thought, rising from the pool.

He dressed and exited the lab, where Baggio and Reiju awaited him.

Seeing Buffon, Reiju asked with concern, "Captain Buffon, was your experiment successful?"

Buffon nodded, and a ball of black flame appeared in his hand.

Reiju stared at the black fire, something beyond her comprehension, too shocked to speak.

Yet the lineage factor modification was not wholly successful. Buffon felt the terrifying regenerative power, but the Mini-Mini Fruit's ability was not absorbed by his body.

He wasn't discouraged, though; if he succeeded on the first try, wouldn't that make him superior to Vegapunk?

Ignoring Reiju's astonished gaze, Buffon drew Autumn Water from Baggio's belt—wanting to test his regenerative power.

But the idea of self-harm felt odd, so he handed the blade back, saying seriously, "Try your Eight-Sword Execution on me—don't hold back."

Baggio took Autumn Water, nodded, shifted the blade to his right hand, and built up power.

He swung from left to right in a horizontal slash.

After the strike, Baggio sheathed his blade and left without a word.

Reiju looked at Buffon's right forearm, used to block, bearing only a faint white mark; the slash hadn't even broken the skin.

Buffon lamented internally, "I didn't use Haki or Iron Body—why is it so hard to test my recovery?"

Reiju, returning to herself, trembled as she asked, "Captain Buffon, was your experiment for lineage factor enhancement?"

Buffon nodded, offering no further explanation.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell my father?" Reiju stammered, almost incoherent.

Buffon turned, saying seriously, "What if I told you I could help you become stronger and free you from your father's control?"

He wasn't speaking aimlessly; after his own experience, he realized that lineage factor modification was rooted in the blood.

In theory, if Reiju's blood were completely replaced, she could escape her father's absolute control.

With that, Buffon walked away, leaving Reiju at a loss.

"Is it true? Can it really be done..." Two hot tears slid down Reiju's cheeks, uncertain if from joy or something else...