One Piece: Scientist Simulator

"Am I really that terrifying?" Edie murmured, staring at Perona's unconscious form sprawled on the floor. For a brief moment, even he felt a twinge of exasperation. The girl had fainted out of sheer fright.

Shaking his head, Edie lifted Perona carefully and placed her on the bed. His movements were clinical, devoid of malice. Rolling up his sleeves, he retrieved a syringe and swiftly drew a sample of her blood.

The Ghost-Ghost Fruit fascinated him. Its ability to manipulate spirits and emotions aligned with mysteries he sought to unravel, even if Perona herself wasn't the focus of his current plans.

Edie withdrew a small glass vial of clear liquid from his coat, uncapped it, and introduced a drop of the girl's blood into the solution. Giving it a light shake, he watched as the liquid shifted from transparent to light red before transforming into a luminous sea blue.

"Blue Blood," he muttered, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. This revolutionary substance, based on the principles of Green Blood, allowed anyone injected with it to temporarily wield the powers of a Devil Fruit without altering their bloodline factors.

The next step was the integration. Edie opened a Blank Ring, a device designed to store and channel Blue Blood. Injecting the glowing liquid into its reservoir, he sealed the ring, its metallic surface now pulsating faintly with power.

He admired his creation briefly before naming it: Ghost Ring.

Testing the Ghost Ring

"Weiyang," Edie called out casually.

From the open window, a figure descended with angelic grace, kneeling reverently before him. It was Weiyang, one of the Earthly Branches and a clone modeled after Sengoku.

"Heavenly Father, your orders?"

"Don't resist."

Edie activated the Ghost Ring. A translucent, ethereal ghost manifested in his palm, its features faintly resembling Perona's Negative Ghost. It darted toward Weiyang, phasing through his chest effortlessly.

The once-proud warrior trembled, collapsing onto both knees. His hands pressed against the floor as despair consumed him.

"I'm so sorry… for having an afro," Weiyang whimpered.

Edie raised a brow, amused. "How peculiar."

The effect lasted mere seconds before Weiyang regained his composure, his face flushed with embarrassment. But before he could speak, Edie unleashed another ghost.

"Not again…" Weiyang muttered, gritting his teeth as the phantom invaded him.

The cycle repeated. For every ghost that struck, Weiyang's mind was plunged into a spiral of exaggerated guilt and absurd self-loathing. From lamenting his wings' size to wishing he were a sardine, the effects grew more absurd with each iteration.

After dozens of tests, Edie finally deactivated the Ghost Ring. Weiyang, drenched in cold sweat, trembled as he rose to his feet.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Edie said nonchalantly. "This ability has potential."

Still pale, Weiyang bowed deeply. "What are your next orders, Heavenly Father?"

"Stand guard outside. If Absalom returns, bring him to me immediately."

"Yes, Heavenly Father." Weiyang flew out of the window, visibly relieved to escape further torment.

Perona's Awkward Awakening

Time passed before Perona's eyelids fluttered open. She blinked at the familiar surroundings—her princess bed, stuffed bear, and ornate curtains.

"Huh… it was just a dream," she sighed, sitting up. "What a ridiculous nightmare. Why would Dr. Edie be here of all places?"

Her stomach growled, pulling her out of her thoughts. Wandering toward the dining hall, she froze in shock.

A group of zombies bustled around, serving dishes like obedient waitstaff. At the center of the table, the supposed figment of her nightmare—Edie—sat, elegantly cutting into his breakfast.

"You're awake," Edie said without looking up, his tone casual.

Perona stammered incoherently, her wide eyes darting between Edie and the zombies. "I… I'm still dreaming, right?"

"Dreaming?" Edie chuckled. "The blood extraction is done, so you've nothing to fear. Sit and eat some breakfast."

Her legs felt like jelly as she hesitated, her fear warring with the loud protests of her stomach. Finally, hunger won, and she cautiously took a seat at the table.

"You stupid zombies!" she snapped, regaining some of her confidence. "Where's my dessert? I don't eat leftovers!"

"Yes, Lady Perona!" the zombies chorused, rushing to fetch cakes and sweets.

As Perona nibbled on a slice of cake, her eyes remained fixed on Edie. The initial terror had given way to wary curiosity. He seemed oddly relaxed, even friendly.

"Calm down," she thought to herself. "If he wanted to hurt me, he'd have done it already."

But as she pieced together the fragmented memories of her supposed "dream," realization struck.

"That… wasn't a dream," she whispered, her fork clattering onto the plate.

Edie glanced at her and smiled knowingly. "It's good that you're catching on."

Perona gulped. Sitting across from her was no mere scientist—he was a devil in human form.

The castle dining hall, usually filled with eerie silence, had transformed into a hub of activity. Zombies, typically sluggish and clumsy, moved with surprising efficiency, bringing out platters of food to the long, gothic-style table. Edie, seated with impeccable posture, casually sipped tea from a fine porcelain cup. Across from him sat Perona, fidgeting nervously with her fork as she picked at her pancakes.

"So," Edie began, setting his teacup down with a soft clink, "how long have you been living here?"

Perona glanced up, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Why do you care?"

Edie smiled faintly. "Let's call it idle curiosity. Thriller Bark is quite the unique abode. Living here with all these... colorful zombies must have its moments."

Perona huffed, crossing her arms. "It's not so bad. Lord Moria keeps things interesting. And these zombies, as lazy as they are, are loyal!" She shot a pointed glare at a nearby zombie struggling to balance a stack of dishes.

"Interesting word: 'loyal,'" Edie mused, cutting into his omelet with precision. "Though, from what I've seen, it seems their diligence improves when someone else is in charge."

Her cheeks puffed up indignantly. "T-they're just having an off day!"

"Ah, of course," Edie said, humor dancing in his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, observing her over the rim of his glasses. "So, tell me, what exactly do you do around here? Aside from ordering the undead around and dressing like a gothic doll, of course."

"I do plenty!" Perona shot back, her voice rising. "I look after the castle, keep things organized, and—"

"Terrify anyone who dares to enter," Edie interrupted smoothly. "I've heard rumors of your Negative Ghosts."

Perona smirked, her confidence returning. "Yeah! My ghosts are unbeatable. Anyone who gets hit by one ends up wallowing in despair!"

Edie raised an eyebrow. "Unbeatable, you say? Tell me, why didn't they work on me?"

The smirk vanished, replaced by a pout. "That… That's because you're a freak! Normal people would've been groveling in seconds!"

"Flattery will get you nowhere," Edie quipped, his tone amused.

Perona stabbed her pancake aggressively, muttering under her breath. "Stupid mad scientist…"

The two fell into a brief silence, broken only by the clatter of dishes as the zombies cleared the table.

Edie finally spoke again, his tone more serious. "Moria has taken quite the risk leaving Thriller Bark undefended. Are you sure Absalom and the others will return soon?"

Perona hesitated, her fork pausing mid-air. "I… think so. Moria-sama wouldn't just abandon us. He's probably out celebrating becoming a Shichibukai."

"Or maybe an accident happened?," Edie said, his voice low. He folded his hands, resting his chin on them as he studied her. "Power always comes at a cost, Perona. I'm sure Moria is well aware of that."

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, unsure how to respond.

Edie leaned back, offering a more relaxed smile. "In any case, I suppose I'll stick around until your esteemed lord and his entourage return. Consider it… a precautionary measure."

"You're really staying?" Perona asked, incredulous.

"Of course." He gestured toward the plate of pastries a zombie had just placed on the table. "The food here is surprisingly good. Compliments to the chef, by the way."

The zombie chef saluted awkwardly, its head wobbling dangerously on its neck.

Perona sighed, slumping in her chair. "Fine, but don't cause any trouble. If you mess up the castle, Moria-sama will—"

"—be far too busy dealing with other problems to care," Edie finished for her, his smile turning sharper.

Perona didn't know whether to feel reassured or more nervous. All she could do was hope Moria and Absalom would return soon—before this strange man made her life even more complicated.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Thriller Bark seemed to come alive with eerie energy, shadows lengthening and the castle's ominous ambiance growing thicker. Suddenly, a thunderous BOOM shattered the quiet, echoing across the massive floating island.

Perona jumped to her feet, the book she had been reading tumbling to the floor. Her wide eyes darted toward the sound as she barked out an order. "What happened? Hey, you—go outside and check it out!" she demanded, pointing at a nearby zombie.

Before the zombie could shuffle toward the door, Edie, still seated at the dining table, spoke with calm assurance. "No need for that. Seems my luck's in today—Moria is back."

Moments later, the dining hall doors were flung open, and Perona's worst fears were confirmed. Gekko Moria, her beloved captain, stumbled in, blood dripping from a gash on his forehead. Beside him, Absalom limped heavily, his face swollen and bruised.

Perona gasped, rushing forward. "Lord Moria! What happened to you?"

But before she could reach him, Weiyang, the stern and imposing Sengoku clone, shoved Absalom to his knees with a single, forceful kick. "You will kneel before the Heavenly Father," Weiyang commanded, his voice devoid of emotion.

Absalom gritted his teeth but dared not resist. He knelt, glaring at the cold floor. "Yeah, sure, love the view from down here," he muttered bitterly.

Edie, still sitting at the head of the table, regarded the scene with mild amusement. "Absalom," he said, his tone deceptively gentle, "the floor is indeed pretty cold this time of the year. No need to remain kneeling."

Absalom raised his head, shooting Edie a wry grin. "Oh, you're too kind, Doctor. My knees adore the chill."

Edie chuckled softly, motioning for Weiyang to proceed. The clone stepped forward, pulling out a syringe, and drew blood from Absalom's arm.

"Hey, hey, what's this about?" Absalom protested weakly, though he didn't dare move.

Ignoring him, Edie methodically repeated the process he had used earlier with Perona, crafting a new ability ring infused with the power of the Transparent-Transparent Fruit. As Edie slipped the freshly made [Transparent Ring] onto his finger, he vanished completely.

The room fell silent.

"My ability…?!" Absalom stammered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

Moria's eyes widened as he processed what he had just witnessed. "Impossible," he muttered. "You... replicated a Devil Fruit's power?!"

A voice, disembodied and calm, echoed from nowhere. "Weiyang, can you locate me?"

Weiyang immediately activated his Observation Haki, his eyes narrowing. Moments later, he shook his head. "Heavenly Father, your presence is completely undetectable. Neither Haki nor sight reveals your location."

Moria's jaw tightened as Edie slowly reappeared before him, his figure materializing as though a veil had been lifted. "When did you move?!" Moria blurted, his voice tinged with fear.

Edie's smile was cold and clinical. "This combination of Observation Haki invisibility and the Transparent Ring ensures true invisibility. Not even an Admiral would sense me unless I wanted them to."

Moria swallowed hard, his earlier bravado fading. "Why are you here, Doctor?"

"To talk, of course," Edie replied, his tone conversational but underlined with menace. "I heard you've been busy. A new Shichibukai title, I see?"

Moria hesitated before nodding. "Yes… I just claimed the position yesterday. The World Government summoned me and the other Warlords of the Sea to Marineford to deal with someone. I suspect they mean you."

Edie laughed softly, the sound sending chills through the room. "Is that so? Then perhaps I should accompany you."

Moria's mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at Edie, utterly dumbfounded.

"You're… coming to Marineford?"

"Indeed," Edie said, rising gracefully from his seat. His eyes gleamed with cold determination. "If the Marines want to meet me so badly, I'll make it worth their while."

The tension in the room was suffocating. Even Perona, usually quick with a snide remark, remained silent, her wide eyes fixed on Edie.

For the first time in a long while, Gekko Moria felt truly terrified—not of the Marines, not of the World Government, but of the enigmatic and terrifying force that had entered his domain.

January 1, 1510, marked a new year, yet the tension within Marineford's conference room felt anything but festive. Seated around the long table draped in pristine white were the six assembled Warlords of the Sea, each emanating a presence that could silence a storm.

Doflamingo, ever the provocateur, leaned back with his trademark grin, his boots arrogantly resting atop the table. "Fufufufu... My first Shichibukai meeting. Such an honor. You're all seniors here—please, guide me well." His words carried a mock humility that only deepened the condescension in his tone.

Hawkeye Mihawk sat in stoic silence, Black Blade Yoru resting at his side. He cut his steak with deliberate precision, ignoring the others entirely. Across from him, Crocodile exhaled a cloud of smoke from two lit cigars, his expression a blend of irritation and disdain.

"Put your legs down, Doflamingo," Crocodile growled, his golden hook tapping ominously against the table. "I'm trying to eat."

Doflamingo chuckled, his grin widening. "Fufufu... Sand Crocodile, you're the elder here, aren't you? A little patience with us newcomers wouldn't hurt."

Crocodile's scowl deepened. "Do you have a death wish?"

The room grew tense as their heated exchange threatened to boil over. Doflamingo's laughter echoed. "Come now, you wouldn't dare kill me in front of the Marines, would you? Fufufu~."

Before the confrontation could escalate further, one of the ten Vice Admirals stationed in the room interjected sharply. "This is Marineford! Control yourselves, pirates!"

Doflamingo's fingers twitched subtly. In an instant, the Vice Admiral's body jerked unnaturally, his sword drawn against his will. To the horror of everyone present, the blade swung in a clean arc toward Crocodile's neck.

"Stop, Doflamingo!" the Vice Admiral cried out, his voice trembling as his body betrayed him.

Crocodile's head rolled across the floor with an audible thud. But instead of panic, an eerie calm settled over the room as the severed head dissolved into a cascade of sand. Moments later, Crocodile's body reformed, whole and unscathed.

"You've got guts, Joker," Crocodile hissed, the room filling with a swirling wind of grit and sand as he prepared to retaliate.

Just then, a melodic yet mocking voice echoed from outside. "Ladies and gentlemen, the illustrious Gekko Moria has arrived!"

All eyes turned to the massive doors as they creaked open, revealing the towering figure of Moria. His rotund form, fiery hairstyle, and stitched grin were impossible to miss.

"Hehehehe! Am I late? Did I miss the fun?" Moria chuckled as he sauntered in, his bulbous shadow stretching ominously across the floor. Spotting Crocodile's severed head dissolving nearby, he couldn't resist a jab. "Crocodile, dead already? I always knew you were weak, but this is a new low."

Crocodile's face darkened, his patience evaporating. Without hesitation, he lunged at Doflamingo, his golden hook gleaming as it aimed for the flamboyant Warlord.

Doflamingo merely laughed, stepping onto his chair to evade the attack. "Fufufu… Don't be so sensitive, Sandman."

Dust and sand stirred, landing on the food of the other Warlords, who collectively scowled in annoyance. Just as chaos was about to erupt, the heavy doors swung open once more.

"Enough!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku's commanding voice filled the room, his stern presence halting the brewing melee. "Scum of the sea, control yourselves." He paused, adjusting his glasses, then forced a strained smile. "My apologies for the rough greeting. Welcome, "Heroes" of the sea. Now that everyone is—"

Before he could finish, a voice, smooth yet chilling, cut through the room.

"Now that everyone is here, let's begin."

All eyes snapped to the head of the table, where a man dressed in immaculate white sat cross-legged. He had appeared out of thin air, as if the very fabric of reality had bent to his will.

"Edie…" Crocodile's cigar fell from his mouth, his voice barely above a whisper.

The other Warlords wore expressions ranging from disbelief to terror. Only Moria and Doflamingo seemed unfazed, though their curiosity was palpable.

Edie's sharp gaze swept across the room. "A table of kings? Let's see you prove it. Kneel."

BOOM!

The air grew thick, charged with an oppressive force as streaks of red lightning crackled through the room. Conqueror's Haki, divided into seven precise threads, struck each Warlord like a tidal wave.

Edie then leaned forward, his smile sharp enough to cut. "Good. Now that I have your attention, let's talk."