7 Forward
Traveling on the dangerous seas of the Grand Line with no land insight is a medium size wooden ship.
Although it is said that the many power houses and natural disasters is what makes traveling the Grand Line dangerous, that does not apply to the passengers of this ship, because on this ship is the Wrath of Nature himself, who is literally a force or nature. Not to mention his new 'friend' that can communicate with aquatic animals.
"It's strange though, you said that the trident was next to you when you woke up on the island, isn't that weird to you? I like to think that I'm not a curious person, but losing consciousness after being thrown into the sea, and miraculously waking up alive with only an unfamiliar trident next to me would definitely make we curious about its origins"
Sitting on the bowstring, with the sea wind blowing against his long black hair, Ephon couldn't help but speak his thoughts out loud.
"I don't care about these.. Buh-UUuurrrp! Fine details, Awww.. this is life, E! How much longer is it gonna take?"
Diana who was in her common sprawled out posture half a sleep on the focsle of the ship, waved her wrist at Ephon telling him not to care about the matter even while lettering a belch out.
Although her change in behavior surprised Ephon at first, he was already numb to her antics by now, he'd even started to wonder if it was because of her behavior that made her adoptive mother try to kill her.
"No! We're about two weeks away from the calm belts. You can take this time and familiarize yourself with Observation Haki, this form of Haki does not have requirements for physical strength, but that doesn't mean that it's easy to learn, that's why I told you to take it seriously. Observation Haki is known to be the most basic form of Haki. It grants heightened senses akin to a sixth sense, and even grants the power of precognition to a certain extent. I'm been trying to train my Haki to the precognition level for years , but I've been stuck at the last step, so take it seriously"
Seeing that Diana was being lazy, Ephon reminded her about her training, although he always told everyone he doesn't like trouble and would rather live a simple and stable life, he has never stopped training.
He knows that in order to live the way you want freely you need to have power and money, but in the World of One Piece, you need overwhelming Power to deter others.
"Why does this lady have to train? aren't you going to protect me? Don't tell me.. You lied to me!"
Although those words came out of her mouth, not to mention the clear sarcasm in her voice, her body's action also betrayed her words as she got up and blindfolded herself.
Seeing her actions, Ephon jumped down from the bowsprit, and as he walked to her, a five feet long wood about the size of his finger came out of his hands.
"Don't try anything funny, I.. this lady still hasn't forgiven you for kissing me, aww yuck! Just thinking about it makes me angry" as she heard the footsteps coming towards her, Diana couldn't help but complain to Ephon about their little incident, but her red cheeks and provocative smile told a different story from her words.
"You.. are one weird woman, but I like that about you, I don't know why, anyways back on topic, get rid of your crazy fantasies, I'm only training you to awaken your observation haki" Ephon was stomp by her antics, but he couldn't but smile, maybe he's really attracted to her personality.
"Don't worry E, this lady already read the basics about haki and the marine six styles, I want become strong too, strong enough to protect myself so that I don't become your weakness, strong enough to protect you and our family" Diana smiling faced immediately became serious, she would never want to disappoint the one that makes her feel warmth.
…
Calm Belts
Black Bay
"There, there and here, we're gonna form a triangular border with these three islands, and all the island within that triangle is our territory, we are bordering the first half of the Grand Line, and the South Blue, so although we're close to the Sabaody Archipelago, we don't have to worry about those powerhouses with advanced Haki and weird devil fruits breaking into our territory, it'll probably happen once in a while "
Although Lola's voice was not loud, everyone in the room surrounding the table heard her words. On the table was a map drawn by Lola herself and a map they got from the World Government.
What they were doing in this meeting, is assigning guards to the three islands that make up their territory's border. Ephon did this by copying what the Navy did with Marinefored, Enies Lobby and Impel Down.
The difference being that Marineford would be replaced with Ephon's birth Island Jarilo, and Impel down would be an Island rich in the resource iron, with the cliche name 'Iron Island', and Enies Lobby would be an Island called Black Bay, this island is actually a normal island that experiences summer all year round, with good terrain, and hot spring, they plan to make this island their living quarters for most of the members.
Although Lola said that the islands within the triangle are within their territory, she knows that only four of the islands within the triangle are important to them. Two of them are considered to be important because of the work the scientists are working on, the third one is because of its richness in the resource coal, and the last and most important one in Lola's opinion, is Rocky shores Island, an island surrounded by Sea Stones. This is one of the reasons that prompted Ephon to make his territory in this specific part of the calm belts.
"What are you guys still doing here?"
As everyone hurried out of the room, Lola could only shake her head. She knows that her being a member of Nature's Family made the deal Ephon made with the World Government more difficult.
As a Lunarian she had been running from the world government for as long as she could remember, and knowing that at least within the scope of their territory she wouldn't have to worry about her safety, made her extremely grateful, so she volunteer to make sure that their territory is in perfect condition at all times to show them her thanks.
The thing is, the one that truly invited her to join the Family was Nolan, not Ephon, when she first saw Ephon who came to recruit her she immediately attacked him.
At that time Ephon was only thirteen years old, whiles she was eighteen, so although Ephon won the fight after they fought for an entire day, she was able to escape by flying away, and it was Nolan who came to meet her afterwards and, long story short, she joined the family.
Thinking about when she first heard Ephon's plans and ideas Lola couldn't help herself from calling him a monster, this guy Ephon's brain is really incredible. She still doesn't understand how he came up with the idea of long and short distance communication by tapping into the electromagnetic waves granting it video, voice and message features. Like how can you even think of these kinds of things, but Ephon seems to do just that.
That alone is revolutionary, not to mention the automatic weapons with reinforced bullets, electric engine fueled by water, and according to him when that is invented then they can invent vehicles that can move on land and water.
If those scientists didn't clarify that these things were possible then they wouldn't believe it, but just from seeing the shock faces of those scientists after seeing some of the inventions plans, they know that this guy Ephon was right again.
But she was most looking forward to the sea train idea, although the scientist said that they would need time to verify the feasibility and resources needed to make it, she had already believed it was possible.
"Sister Lola, Brother Ephon is here, and he's with a w.. Woman" a young man came into the room interrupting Lola from her thoughts.
"I see! You can go" looking at the youth strangely Lola really felt that something was wrong with this guy's brain.
…
"This is my home, well technically it's 'our' home" moonwalking through the air whilst carrying Diana on his back, Ephon introduced his home to her.
"E! Are you sure they'll accept me?" But Diana was thinking about another matter, so she asked Ephon with a nervous expression.
"You! the fake princess, incoherent speaking Diana has become nervous, I can't believe I'll witness this day"
Ephon actually knew that she was nervous on their way here, especially as they got closer but he wouldn't miss this opportunity, he knows that once she gets used to being around the family she'll revert back to her previous self with no care in the world.
"Hmph! Who's nervous? I just care about your face, if I act like a country bumpkin around your family, they'll look down on you. You should be grateful to this lady" It seems that Diana knew Epphon's plan and quickly retorted.
"Look! Exactly what I'm talking about, you're incorrectly speaking in third person, you know what.. never mind" Ephon finally landed in front of a huge two story building, stretching fifty feet in width.
"What is third person!? This lady can speak how this lady wants to speak, I don't care about the opinions of others"
Hearing that, It seems that Diana truly didn't care about others opinion, but saying that while fixing her black hair and clothes made it hard for Ephon to believe it. Not to mention her trembling hands and legs.
…
"He brought a woman into his territory personally, according to our investigation, she's from the West Sea, her name is Eve D. Diana, she and her foster mother left to go to sea to fish about two years ago, and neither of them returned. But according to our investigation, Ephon brought her back from the New World, that's all the information we have for now"
Far away, outside of the triangular territory of the Nature's Family group, a tall lean man with a weird white mask on his face reported to someone on a Den Den Mushi.
If Ephon was here, he would immediately recognize him as Cp0, he knew that the WG would never let their guards down around him, so he wouldn't be angry if he knew that Cp0 had investigated Diana.
"Good job" was all the voice on the other side of the phone said.
…
Although Diana said that she wasn't nervous, she knew that she actually was nervous and that Ephon probably knew that she was too, but after finally meeting Lola, Diana realized that she was thinking too much.
Lola warmly welcomed her and introduced her to all the members that were there. She also realized that Lola truly thought of Ephon as a brother, she even talked to the members that were scattered on the Grand Line at various Nature's Provider building branches.
Time moved on slowly and It didn't take long for her to adapt, she's already twenty years old, after seeing Lola strength one time when some big pirates from the new world broke into their territory, her fighting spirit rose sharply, so she started a monster training with Ephon personally, from the Navy six styles to swordman training, and that's how she found out she had a talent for swordsmanship, because it took her only one year to get to the iron cutting realm as they call it.
But she wasn't too happy because Lola had told her that her physique will limit her strength. It wasn't until Ephon found out about her worries, and told her that it won't be a problem for her with a mischievous gaze that she put aside her thoughts.
During that time Ephon gave the Aroma flower to a team of scientists to research, and with the help of biological and environmental research team, they managed to turn it into a black liquid elixir that can be consumed to have the maximum effect of fifty extra years of life.
After finding out that she can live an extra fifty years, Diana told Ephon that she wanted to spend more time with him before they think about having kids. Ephon was taken aback, but eventually agreed, he never forgot that he has the lifespan of a Giant and the woman that bears his child would also be granted the same lifespan. Another shocking news was the discovery that Diana can breathe in water.
Well it's not a discovery since Diana already knew she had this ability, but she thought that she was just a better swimmer than other people so she never thought that it was important.
Ephon couldn't really say anything about that, but he started to pay more attention to Diana and her weirdnesses to see if she had any other special ability that she might be to dumb to realize is a 'special' ability.
Time wouldn't stop for anyone, and in the year 1430, some of Ephon's so called 'original' inventions became reality, the first being the automatic gun with reinforced bullets, this was the easiest because there were already similar weapon models, they simply made adjustments and enhancements.
The Sea stones were also ready for processing but this was Ephon's secret weapon, in case he ever had to go to war with the Navy and World government. Not only can he take over a market like Kaidou did in Canon, but he can restrain his enemies at the same time.
But for most of his advanced weapons, Ephon refused to sell publicly, at least not until they had better weapons that far surpassed what was being sold. And they had an iron mine so they weren't dependent on anyone for the main components of the weapon.
The next invention was the electric engine that runs on water, this was a surprise to Ephon but he quickly accepted it, because he remembered that in this world where giant ships can run on coca cola, anything is possible.
It was also around 1430 that the biological research team started researching genetics under the order of Ephon. The reason is kind of funny, Ephon realized that Nolan who's height had peaked at eight feet was in a relationship with Lola who was fourteen feet tall, not to mention her Lanarian blood and characteristics.
But after realizing what was going on between the two, he wondered if they had a child, would the child retain the full Lunarian genes like Lola or would it be weakened because of Nolan.
That's when Ephon remembered how humans in his last life, would selectively cross breed dogs, for various reasons, withers to enhance their strength, looks and size, and that's actually when he remembered the Lineage Factor that was discovered by Dr. Vegapunk in the future. But he knew that those kinds of research would take time, a long time, unlike other inventions.
