Chapter 96: Paradox and Awakening!

As the newly revived 66 and 77 opened their eyes, Edie's calm voice greeted them.

"..."

66 blinked, her memory ending at the moment she'd entered the resurrection lab, with no recollection of the immortality procedure itself.

"Has the operation started yet?" 77 asked, equally puzzled.

"It's finished. You both did wonderfully." Edie led them up from the underground laboratory to a bright sitting room above. Black tea was served, and as they sipped, Edie watched as 66 took a long look at her hands. There was no wristband monitoring device, no visible difference from before—just the absence of the green band, the only outward sign of change.

After some contemplation, 66 broke the silence. "So… am I really still the same, Heavenly Father? Or… am I just a copy?"

"It's strange," she continued thoughtfully. "Without any memory of death, it feels unreal."

Edie nodded with a smile. "A question worth pondering." He could see them struggling with the paradox and decided to illustrate it with a story. " Picture this, There once was a pirate ship from East Blue," he began. "The ship faced harsh seas, and every time it took damage, the talented shipwrights replaced each plank with the finest new wood. Eventually, even the keel was swapped out, yet the ship continued its journey toward the Final Island. By the time they neared the end, every single piece of the ship had been replaced."

He paused, looking at 66 and 77. "So… was it still the same ship?"

The two stared at him, processing the story. "The spirit born within the ship—was it still the same?" Edie asked.

This ancient paradox, known as the Ship of Theseus, had no definitive answer, only perspectives. After a moment of thought, 66 spoke up. "It's still the same ship, Father. Its appearance and journey haven't changed."

"No," countered 77, "it's different. Those new planks haven't been through the same adventures. It only looks the same."

Their opposing conclusions, Edie knew, reflected their individuality. Though they shared identical genetic and memory blueprints, each clone had evolved their own thoughts, shaped by subtle nuances of personality and experience.

Smiling, Edie answered, "Both of you are right—there's no single answer. Consider this: every seven years, nearly all the cells in a human body are replaced. And yet, don't we still feel like the same person?" He took a sip of tea. "In truth, this is only partially accurate; some cells, like nerve cells, remain with us for life. But even so, the essence of what makes us 'us' remains intact, doesn't it?"

66 and 77 pondered this deeply, each considering the implications.

"Think about it as you move forward," Edie continued. "Reflect on what changes and what stays the same. The gift of thought, of deep contemplation, is what makes us truly human."

"Yes, because we have a Father to guide us," 77 nodded earnestly.

Edie's gaze softened. "I'm glad to see you both here, alive and well."

They exchanged a look of excitement and gratitude. "We'll get to see Doctor Kureha and Chopper again!"

"And continue to learn and improve!" 66 beamed, a glint of eagerness lighting her eyes.

Edie watched them, pleased but silent. They didn't know yet that they would repeat this procedure many times. Others, like Toki, now bore the gift of immortality, and someday Hancock, Momousagi, Whitebeard, and a handful of other friends may join them. And these two, he thought, will assist in surgeries that may erase them once more, leaving them without even the memory of death.

With a sigh, he mused to himself, I suppose this is my final kindness to them. He rose and slipped away, leaving 66 and 77 to their bright imaginings of the future.

But his own immortality led him to deeper questions. Turning back to the lab, Edie cast his thoughts toward new research, eager to test the bounds of eternal life and to uncover the mysteries that still lay hidden.

The next day, after a full series of tests, Edie understood two key things about his newfound immortality.

First, his immortal cells would grow along with him, meaning he could still increase his physical strength. Second, these cells granted longevity by stopping cellular aging, not by making him invulnerable in a literal sense. With immortality, Edie found life slowing down; in the past, he spent every waking moment in the lab, but now, with boundless time, he felt no need to push himself as intensely.

Taking a rare pause, he decided to spend time with the people in his life. First was Hancock, then Momousagi, and finally, Toki and her daughter, Hiyori. At thirteen, Hiyori had become quite skilled at music and dance, showing great enthusiasm as she practiced, keen to share her talents.

In a guest room, Hiyori approached him with a hopeful smile. "Sir Edie, may I play a song for you?" she asked, eyes bright with excitement.

Edie agreed, watching as Hiyori performed, her mother Toki by her side. Although he had no deep interest in music, he found the performance pleasant, noting the skill and effort in each note. When she finished, Hiyori offered a final dance, and Edie watched with quiet satisfaction, moved by her dedication.

After the performance, Hiyori approached him, breathing lightly, her gaze full of anticipation. "Master Edie, how was my dancing?"

"You have great talent, Hiyori. You play and dance beautifully," he replied, ruffling her hair. She lit up, pleased with his praise, and then stepped closer, tilting her head up shyly.

"Master Edie, can I ask a small favor?"

"What is it?" he asked.

"Well… since you're always in the lab, and it can be days without seeing you," she began, almost hesitant, "could you come by more often?"

Surprised, Edie chuckled. "Alright," he agreed. "But in return, you'll have to keep practicing. If you like, I can find you a teacher to learn other instruments."

"Really?" Hiyori's eyes sparkled. "I'd love to learn more! My mother only knows the shamisen, but I've heard of a grand instrument called the piano. Could I learn it?"

"Of course," Edie nodded, amused by her enthusiasm. "I'll find you the best music and dance instructors."

He ruffled her emerald-green hair, seeing a growing fondness in her eyes. By now, Hiyori viewed him as a father figure, a notion that pleased him despite its irony; in a way, he was her guardian. Toki, seated nearby with her shamisen, looked on with a gentle smile, content as she watched their exchange.

After spending a little more time with Toki and Hiyori, Edie eventually rose, knowing he still had pressing matters to attend to. Though he had promised to visit more often, work awaited him, and certain plans couldn't be delayed.

"Chenlong," he called, summoning his clone. "Prepare yourself. We're going to Wanokuni."

In the New World—Wanokuni. Years had passed since the clash between the Beasts Pirates and Whitebeard's crew. Now, Edie returned to familiar ground, bypassing his former Institute that Caesar now resides in and headed straight for Kaido's mansion.

King greeted him upon arrival, and news of Edie's visit quickly reached Kaido. Wasting no time, Kaido arrived from Onigashima, his presence more formidable than ever. Now, he was beginning to resemble the towering figure who would one day lead the great Onigashima War.

"It's been too long, Edie," Kaido said, grinning, and then, noticing Chenlong, immediately proposed a duel. "Chenlong! Let's see if you're up for a challenge!"

Chenlong looked to Edie, awaiting approval. Edie laughed, glancing between Kaido and his clone. "Do you think you can defeat yourself, little Guy?" he teased.

"Absolutely!" Kaido laughed, radiating confidence. "I'm not the same man I was back then."

Edie waved a hand dismissively. "Hold your battle plans for now," he said. "I didn't come here for that. Today, I'm here to help you solve the riddle of Zoan ability awakenings."

As Edie finished speaking, Chenlong brought out a Devil Fruit and placed it in front of Kaido. King was taken aback, recognizing it immediately. "This... this is my Pteranodon fruit… Zoan, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Type, Pteranodon Form."

"Yes, it's a perfect clone made from your bloodline factors," Edie nodded.

Kaido's initial eagerness to spar with Chenlong vanished as he settled down, crossing his legs with a grin. "So, you've given me two options: an ordinary Perfected Artificial Zoan Devil Fruit, or the awakening of a Zoan ability?"

Edie nodded. "Exactly. You chose the path of awakening."

"Then why bring this fruit out now?" Kaido asked, taking a swig from a wine bottle and laughing. "Are there suddenly two of each Zoan fruit in this world?"

Edie chuckled. "If you want, I could even give you a replica of the Azure Dragon Fruit—but I'd advise you to wait."

Kaido's eyes widened, and a look of contemplation crossed his face. What's made Edie so generous all of a sudden? Then, as if struck by revelation, his face lit up. Could it be… Yamato! Had his daughter somehow softened Edie? Perhaps even managed to charm him into a union?

"Oh, Yamato! It seems my faith in you wasn't misplaced!" Kaido thought joyfully, his expression becoming warmly paternal as he gazed at Edie. "Edie, we're family now. Let's make sure to stay close from here on out."

Edie blinked in confusion. "Family…?"

He quickly caught on and shook his head, laughing to himself. Kaido, you're delusional if you think I'd marry into your family to 'keep you close'. Trying to bring the discussion back on track, he cleared his throat. "You've misunderstood. What I mean is… well, let me explain it like this. You know that a Zoan's Devil Fruit contains a will of its own, right?"

"I've heard as much," Kaido replied. "But what's your point?"

"Zoan awakening is linked to the will of the fruit," Edie said, holding up the Pteranodon fruit. "Now, imagine this: if a person were to eat two of the exact same Zoan fruit… what do you think would happen?"

Both Kaido and King widened their eyes, stunned.

"A double Zoan will… could it force the user into an awakened state?" King muttered, processing the implications. Then, concern dawned on his face. "Wait! But if anyone eats two Devil Fruits, doesn't that lead to death?"

Edie smirked. "Why assume that?"

Kaido narrowed his eyes. "I know, because I've experienced it. The Marines captured me several times in the past and tried everything to kill me—even feeding me a second Devil Fruit."

This surprised Edie. "So, what happened?"

"Nothing!" Kaido said confidently, his Haki radiating. "I was too strong, and my Azure Dragon fruit was too dominant. The second fruit caused pain, sure, but it quickly vanished. Perhaps the 'dragon' within me consumed any intruding presence that dared to enter."

Edie raised an eyebrow, bemused. "That's certainly an interesting theory." He nodded, half-amused. "Though it's more likely that the sheer power of your bloodline factor was beyond what the second fruit could handle, so it failed to make any real impact."

"In other words, ordinary people don't possess your bloodline's strength. For them, a second fruit would destabilize their bloodline factors and kill them outright."

Edie had witnessed many bloodline factor collapses, mostly through simulations. The deaths had varied, but each one was fatal. "But," Edie added, tossing the Pteranodon fruit to King, "that only applies to consuming two different Devil Fruits. Eating two identical ones? It's an entirely different story."

No precedent existed for this—the technology to replicate Devil Fruits had only recently been perfected. Vegapunk had managed to clone the Azure Dragon Fruit in the future, but Edie had been the first to crack the full mystery behind Zoan awakenings.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Kaido asked, hesitantly eyeing King. "If this goes wrong, King could die! Have you tested this?"

Edie nodded, meeting King's gaze with a challenging smile. "The path to awakening is now open, but it's your choice whether to step forward."

King stared at the fruit, his expression resolute. He hadn't imagined he would consume the same fruit twice, but he was unafraid. "Don't underestimate me, doctor!"

With determined resolve, King swallowed the Pteranodon fruit. Immediately, pain erupted through his body, his face contorting as he dropped to his knees.

"Ughhh!"