“Wow—”

  “That’s so cool!!!”

  “This is awesome, it really transforms!”

  “Dad, I want to try too!”

  …

  In that instant, the gathered teenagers couldn’t hide the glow in their eyes, bursting with excitement. One after another, they turned to El expectantly, longing evident on their faces.

  “All of these are tailor-made for each of you…” El said with a smile, gesturing to those differently colored and sized ‘cans.’ “Just follow the numbering and get yours!!”

  “Oohh—”

  “This one’s mine!”

  “I’m the sixth child, so that ‘006’ is definitely mine!”

  “Frey, you took the wrong one… That’s ‘004’—mine. Yours is ‘007!’”

  “Oh, s-sorry, Willie-nii, my mistake…”

  A lively group of youths of various builds bustled about, seizing their respective “Shape-Memory armors” and pressing the activation switch.

  Whoosh… whoosh…

  Brilliant light fred. Each seemingly ordinary “can” transformed on the spot. Like a fluid sheet of metal, it spread around each user, taking shape as a color-coordinated, size-appropriate, and stylish combat suit that covered them from head to toe—gloves, boots, attire, cape, visor… all snug and precisely fitted.

  The girls looked fierce and heroic, the boys cool and confident.

  “This armor is fantastic!” Sif marveled, both surprised and delighted. Her suit was a teal-blue color, with a rge “2” on the cape and a phoenix emblem. She radiated an imposing, valiant air.

  “This specialized combat suit was forged from a Shape-Memory alloy, giving it immunity to ordinary bdes, guns, and cannon fire. Its defensive power is extremely high…,” expined Ryan, brimming with pride. “It also has exceptional esticity. Even if a Zoan user transforms into a hybrid beast form, it won’t get damaged!”

  He continued, “The visor is a specially designed combat goggle that significantly enhances dynamic vision. Combined with Observation Haki, its effect is outstanding!

  “Moreover, each suit supports flight, and the boots have a special buoyancy mechanism enabling the wearer to stand directly on seawater. Even if a Devil Fruit user were to fall into the ocean, the suit could automatically lift them back to the surface…

  “In addition, these suits each come with different capabilities: some can discharge electricity, others can enhance fmes, or even grant invisibility. They also feature our most advanced ser system, capable of firing multiple ser bsts in quick succession to annihite enemies!”

  “Really?”

  “Enhanced vision?”

  “Seems to be working for real!”

  “And you’re saying it can fire ser cannons, too?”

  “You science folks are amazing, Uncle Ryan!”

  “That’s so cool…”

  As Ryan spoke, Thor, Sif, Willie, Eden, Ares, and the rest couldn’t help but break out in stars and sparkles, exciming in excitement. Even Dal, who was normally more composed, appeared visibly thrilled, studying his own suit with quiet delight.

  “Hurray for Dad!!”

  Sif’s eyes curved into half-moons as she happily threw her arms around El, nuzzling him with enthusiasm. She hadn’t expected her father to have prepared such a huge surprise for them all. Clearly, these Shape-Memory armors had been commissioned well in advance by El to be tailored specifically to each child of the Kukulkan family.

  “So, are we done accusing Dad of favoritism?” El asked with a grin.

  “Don’t be so petty, Dad…” Sif blushed, pouting coyly. “I was just saying stuff without thinking!”

  “No, I truly have to be ‘unfair’ this time…” El shook his head lightly, then spoke with a smile: “There’s an additional piece of gear only Thor, with his Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, can operate!”

  “Huh?”

  “There’s more equipment?”

  “And it requires the Rumble-Rumble Fruit? What is it?”

  All at once, curiosity lit up every face. Thor’s eyes shone, and he asked eagerly, “Father, so there’s yet another present? What is it?”

  “Come with me,” El replied, smiling.

  He led them out of the b, boarding a high-speed transporter designed for giant-sized passengers. They navigated a rge tunnel with multiple twists and turns, rushing to the far end. When the transport finally stopped, El and his children disembarked at the tunnel’s terminus—an isnd guarded by a heavily armed detail of soldiers.

  “El-sama—”

  “Your Highnesses—”

  Upon seeing El arrive with all the royal children, the soldiers were simultaneously shocked and overjoyed, saluting them enthusiastically.

  “This is the Science Isnd?” Thor, Sif, Dal, and the others gnced around at the futuristic equipment with surprise.

  Science Isnd didn’t originally exist within Totnd’s waters; it was a rge artificial isle shaped by Saul, the Stone-Stone Fruit user, serving publicly as one of the science division’s research bases. The underground b’s exits linked to multiple isnds, each protected behind multiple massive alloy gates. Should any passage be destroyed and seawater flood in, the deeper channels could be sealed immediately, ensuring the b wouldn’t be submerged—likewise an effective safeguard against strong invaders. The system even included powerful, airtight ser defenses capable of instantly annihiting unauthorized intruders. The entrance to each tunnel was guarded by a rge contingent of troops, a comprehensive surveilnce network, and specialized life sensors. Any unregistered trespasser would trigger arms and face a swarm of local soldiers and strong fighters.

  “Come with me,” El said with a faint smile.

  Soon, he guided his curious children into a rge open-air factory. There, an enormous, futuristic, and profoundly mysterious ark y before them.

  “Woooow—!”

  “What is that…?”

  “A colossal warship!”

  “A ship built for Giants, maybe?”

  “There are no sails… must be running on electric power?”

  Thor, Dal, Sif, and the others couldn’t help feeling astonished. Enormous cannons and state-of-the-art ser artillery lined the vessel, which stretched at least 700 or 800 meters in length, and some 300 or 400 meters wide—retively modest for giant-sized beings, but unbelievably massive by standard human measures. It was truly a behemoth.

  “Ark ‘Admonition’…” El folded his arms, turning to Thor, who appeared visibly excited, and smiled. “This is a flying ark—its energy demand is enormous, so for now only you, with your Logia Rumble-Rumble Fruit, can power it!”

  “I suppose Eden, who’s copied the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, might do it too, but this is our research team’s very first prototype. Whether to build more depends on how it performs in actual combat.

  “Of course, it’s not only Thor. Sif and Willie, for instance, can each produce extremely high-temperature fmes for extended periods, with minimal stamina drain… so our research team will eventually make a craft powered by fire, too, which will help if you’re commanding troops in the future.”

  At least the others were Lunarians, so running a ship via fire wasn’t impossible—but powering such a colossal flying vessel with fmes would be taxing, and there was currently no need. Once Dr. Vegapunk and the research team developed newer forms of energy, these warships would likely become obsolete anyway.

  Bleam