69 Full-Body Cell Transplantation

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A month had later on Punk Hazard.

Brontes slowly opened his eyes to find himself lying on a brightly lit operating table, unable to move. A deep, bone-chilling cold had settled throughout his body.

It felt as though his blood had turned to ice, and even his brain felt the freeze, like the shock of gulping down ice water that chills you to your very core.

"Why do I feel so cold?" Brontes whispered in a low voice.

"You're awake. That's good. Don't be alarmed; your body is actually doing fine. It's just that it's reached its limit. But you're lucky." Dr. Vegapunk, who was sitting beside him, reassured him: "During the operation, we found some diseased cells in your body."

"Diseased cells? What are those?" Brontes asked, furrowing his brow in confusion. This was the first time he had heard such a term.

Dr. Vegapunk explained patiently: "It's quite simple in fact. If you hadn't had this operation, there's a chance that in five years, your body would have begun to weaken. Sometimes, even the might of a giant can't stand up to the ravages of illness and time." He paused, his tone growing more serious: "Just like a healthy person might suddenly die from a mosquito bite that transmits a deadly disease, your strong body could have been brought down by a small, unhealthy spot that could lead to a deadly, irreversible sickness. If those cells had spread, your body would have eventually given out, and no surgeon, no matter how skilled, would have been able to save you."

"Cancer, isn't it?" Brontes asked, his voice steady but his chest tight and his heart pounding rapidly.

"Yes, that's right. However are very lucky just like I said, you were in the hands of the world's finest surgeons. They're leaders in their fields, and while they can't raise the dead, their expertise is so renowned that even the World Government holds them in high regard. They helped me with my research on lineage factors, and during your operation, we found and removed a small cluster of those diseased cells. After we transplanted cells from Kaido into you, the unhealthy spot vanished entirely." Dr. Vegapunk explained, a smile on his face.

"It looks like I owe you a big one." Brontes said, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

"It's good that you recognize that. Next time, bring me some strong liquor. We have plenty of fine drinks here, but I have a preference for the stronger stuff. On a cold winter's day, there's nothing better than a glass of strong drink." Dr. Vegapunk said, still smiling.

"I understand. Once I return to base, I'll make sure someone brings you the strong drinks you like." Brontes promised with a nod.

"Okay, it's decided. I'll be here waiting to hear the good news from you. Right now, you should take it easy and not move around too much. And I've figured out why those tattoos suddenly showed up on your left hand."

"They're because of Kaido's special cells. This could have happened by chance, or it might just be something that normally happens. Don't stress about it; it could actually turn out to be a good thing for you in the end." Dr. Vegapunk explained, then he gave Brontes a mask and said: "Take this. If you ever feel like you need to cover up the tattoos on your face, this mask will do the job."

Brontes suddenly felt uneasy and asked: "Is there something wrong with my face?"

"It's nothing too serious. It's just that after the full-body cell transplant, your face looks quite different." Dr. Vegapunk replied with a hint of mystery in his smile.

"So, what? I look horrible now?" Brontes was on the verge of tears. He might not show it often, but he's actually really proud of his good looks.

"No, not horrible. Just... different." Dr. Vegapunk chuckled as he saw Brontes's disastrous face. He then walked over to get a mirror and placed it in front of Brontes.

Brontes couldn't pick up the mirror since he had just had surgery, but he could still see his reflection.

When he saw himself, a smile of satisfaction spread across his face, and he said Dr. Vegapunk: "It's just a few extra tattoos, and moreover, I think they actually look pretty cool."

"If you're happy with it, that's great. But I still think you should wear the mask. We can't let others find out about my research. And you can't show any flaws either. The World Government is always keeping an eye on me, hoping I'll discover a way to make them immortal." Dr. Vegapunk said seriously, he paused slightly before continuing:

"But there's no such thing as living forever. However, your life might be much longer now. You could live for two or three hundred years, maybe."

"What?!"

Brontes couldn't believe what he was hearing. Living for two or three hundred years was something only legendary creatures could have such long lifespan, how could that be possible for him?

"You heard me correctly. Even though I'm not sure what kind of being Kaido is, your body's metabolism is now like that of a baby's, and it won't age the same way. It's as if you're starting life all over again. When your cells do finally start to age, you could indeed live for a couple of centuries." Dr. Vegapunk continued to explain.

"If the World Nobles get wind of this, they'd do anything to make you give up the secrets of Kaido's cell transplant." Brontes said with a serious voice.

"That's exactly why they want me to study lineage factors. I was originally interested in the Ope-Ope Fruit because it seems to change cells too, but they won't let me research it. They just say they'll let me have a look when they find it." Dr. Vegapunk said with a sneer.

"They'll never actually let you study it." Brontes said, shaking his head as he put on the mask.

"Okay, just make sure you get plenty of rest. Your body needs time to get used to these new cells. This isn't like before when it was just an arm; this time, every organ in your body has received cell transplants. It's as if your entire body has been rebuilt."

"Even your brain will benefit from the transformed blood. You might find that your intelligence could match mine someday." Dr. Vegapunk said, his smile hinting at the exciting possibility.

"Hahaha! That's only going to happen if you give me your Devil Fruit." Brontes laughed in response.

"That fruit is unique to me." Dr. Vegapunk replied with a gentle shake of his head before he left the room.

As Brontes watched Dr. Vegapunk walk away, he couldn't help but smile.

Dr. Vegapunk was a Devil Fruit user, but his powers weren't meant for fighting. However, if they were used in battle, they would be incredibly powerful.

The Brain-Brain Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, was as mysterious as the Luck-Luck Fruit, Hobby-Hobby Fruit, and Soul-Soul Fruit.

It was a legendary fruit that bestowed immense intelligence, and its full, terrifying potential could only be realized in the hands of a true genius like Dr. Vegapunk.

His intellect wasn't just five hundred years ahead of the world as a figure of speech; he truly had the ability to revolutionize the world and propel it into the future.

It wasn't until the following day that Roy felt his body could start to adjust, but he still wasn't able to move.

Dr. Vegapunk had explained that his body was still getting used to Kaido's cells. The transplant was extensive, involving a complete cellular overhaul, as if all his blood and organs had been replaced.

This required a period of adaptation, the length of which would depend on Roy's own recovering capabilities.

Dr. Vegapunk had estimated that it could take anywhere from a week to a month. Once fully adapted, Brontes would be able to use his new body without any restrictions.

Fortunately, Brontes had no plans to engage in any battles during this recovery period.

After three days, Dr. Vegapunk gave him the green light to start walking, and so he left Punk Hazard.

As the highest-ranking officer of the SSG, Brontes knew that staying in such a sensitive location for an extended period could raise suspicions with the World Government.

Not wanting to draw unnecessary attention, he departed immediately after the three days were up.

Brontes returned to the G-1 Base to continue his recovery, always wearing a mask.

Garp noticed something was different about him but chose not to ask. As long as Brontes was doing well, that was all that mattered to him.