Chapter 314: Nen Beast (Part 2)

"Talk about luck. But I must say, the relationship between Fitz and Simmons has been through quite a lot of ups and downs."

Thankfully, both Red Queen and White Queen had some data on Coulson and his team; otherwise, if Simmons had shown up on the alien planet, she might have either starved or been killed by the base's automated defense systems.

"But Simmons is really tough. She survived on this planet for several days before finding this place." According to White Queen's records, Simmons was discovered in a state of extreme exhaustion. If White Queen hadn't scanned and found her, she might have quietly disappeared on this alien planet.

The sandstorms on this planet are notoriously fierce, and the daily storms are enough to bury any trace of life.

"Simmons probably made it here because of that stone. Maybe I should set up a few satellites around this alien planet, though they might not be of much use. Well, it's better than nothing."

The harsh environment of the alien planet was the reason Daniel Davis hadn't previously deployed satellites there. However, Simmons' arrival made him realize that he shouldn't have skimped on such measures.

"Should I go see her? From White Queen's surveillance, it seems Simmons was unconscious when she was found. She likely doesn't know the secrets of this place and probably just thinks someone lives here."

Initially, when Simmons woke up, she yelled at the cameras, demanding to see someone. But as time passed and no one appeared, she eventually calmed down.

"Forget it. Keeping things secret is more important." After a brief moment of thought, Daniel Davis decided not to meet Simmons. Instead, he released gas into Simmons' isolation chamber, putting her to sleep as she yelled.

White Queen had informed Daniel Davis that Simmons had been stranded on the alien planet for quite some time, and Fitz, Coulson, and the others were likely very worried about her. Daniel Davis decided to send her back to Earth immediately.

As for Simmons' memory of the alien planet, Daniel Davis, after some consideration, decided against tampering with it. The *Obliviate* spell could erase specific memories—Hermione had used it on her parents to ensure their safety. However, while this spell was effective, it wasn't without side effects. For someone like Simmons, even minor side effects could have significant consequences.

Fitz, for example, had suffered severe brain damage due to oxygen deprivation caused by Ward, leading to long-term cognitive impairment.

If Simmons were a stranger, Daniel Davis wouldn't have cared, but since he knew her, he decided against altering her memory.

"A long-lasting smartphone... It's only slightly inferior to the one I use with Stark." Entering Simmons' isolation chamber, Daniel Davis immediately picked up the SHIELD-issued smartphone that had fallen to the side.

It wasn't until he became genuinely wealthy that Daniel Davis understood what kind of phones the truly rich used. For his pre-crossing self, Simmons' phone would have been a marvel—a device with nearly a month of battery life, solar charging, and perfect for binge-watching shows.

"Impressive. In just a few days, she managed to gather all this information. She even left messages for Fitz. With feelings this strong, why aren't they together already? Oh, right. Fitz was about to confess when Simmons was taken by the stone. These two seem to keep missing each other, constantly searching for one another."

After briefly skimming through the contents on Simmons' phone, Daniel Davis set it aside. He then performed a series of hand signs, opened a *Sling Ring* portal, and stepped into New York with Simmons.

The moment Daniel Davis and Simmons crossed into New York, alarms blared in a hidden, snow-covered base, startling everyone inside.

"It's Simmons' signal!" Fitz was the first to respond, rushing out with an expression of both excitement and exhaustion.

"Where is she?" someone asked urgently.

"New York." Fitz's hands moved quickly over the console, pinpointing the exact location on the large screen in front of them.

"Have you found Simmons? Contact May and have them head there immediately," Coulson ordered as he hurried over.

"I'm going too." Fitz grabbed a tablet and headed towards the underground hangar.

"Bobbi, Lance, take a team with you and go with them." Coulson didn't stop Fitz, but instead ordered two field agents to accompany him.

Fitz might have overlooked potential dangers in his excitement, but Coulson wouldn't. He made sure Fitz had backup, and he also informed Melinda May.

"The signal just appeared out of nowhere. There could be danger. Wait until Fitz and the others arrive and act together."

"Understood."

May responded with her usual calm tone before ending the call.

"Did they find Simmons?" On the Quinjet, Skye's face lit up with excitement as she heard the news.

"They only found the signal. We don't know if Simmons is actually there. It could be a trap. Coulson wants us to wait for Fitz and the others before acting."

"There's no need for that. Let's go now, May. Even if it's an ambush, I can handle it."

"I figured you'd say that. Hold on tight."

"Looks like she's awakened. Coulson must be really busy lately." In a nondescript hotel room, Daniel Davis, hidden in the Mirror Dimension, watched as May and Skye stormed into Simmons' room. Seeing that she was merely asleep, they both visibly relaxed before leaving quietly.

Daniel Davis knew all about SHIELD's phones. Just like his own, they came with tracking devices.

"Eye of Agamotto, open." Back on the alien planet, Daniel Davis prepared to use the Time Stone to peer into the future. This was his first time using the Time Stone in this manner.

"So this is what it's like to glimpse the future... No wonder Doctor Strange was so jittery after seeing over 14 million possible outcomes." A few moments later, Daniel Davis took several deep breaths, exhausted by the effort.

Even a brief glimpse into the future had left him more drained than his battle with Kizaru and the CP0 agents.

"My clones can't eat Devil Fruits, but my Nen can." The Time Stone's glimpse into the future had reassured Daniel Davis. He had previously considered having his *Akan's Form* clone consume a Devil Fruit, but now he could dismiss that idea.

"I can use Nen, but should I have it consume this artificial Dragon-Dragon Fruit made by Vegapunk, or should I find a Zoan Mythical type instead?" Now that he knew his Nen could consume Devil Fruits, Daniel Davis hesitated.

"Forget it. I'll use this one. After all, it was made by Vegapunk, not some cheap imitation by Caesar. Vegapunk was the first to discover the lineage factor and create artificial Devil Fruits. He even contributed to Judge Vinsmoke's transformation of his four sons. The Devil Fruits he made should be just as good as the originals. Plus, it's a dragon! Even if it doesn't enhance my strength, it'll make for a great Nen Beast."

If the artificial Zoan Devil Fruit hadn't been a dragon, Daniel Davis wouldn't have hesitated to replace it with a Mythical Zoan Fruit, like Marco's Phoenix Fruit, which granted near-limitless regeneration.

But a dragon was different. Even a small one like Momonosuke could fly and control clouds after eating this artificial Devil Fruit, so Daniel Davis could only imagine what he could do.

"Taking down Kaido would be interesting, but it's hard to say if I can manage that right now. Unfortunately, even the Time Stone can't predict the potential of this artificial Devil Fruit."

The Time Stone was powerful but not omnipotent. It could only foresee the future within the Marvel universe. Once outside that timeline, its usefulness diminished.

For example, it could predict Daniel Davis's next actions, but if he left the Marvel timeline, that prediction would become irrelevant.

Once Daniel Davis made up his mind, he quickly set up his equipment and released his Nen to fuse with the Devil Fruit.

"So that's how it works... But why is it pink?" After completing the process, Daniel Davis was slightly disappointed to see that his newly formed dragon, barely a meter long, was pink.

With a word, the pink dragon dispersed into the air. Even after fusing with the Devil Fruit, it was still his Nen, which he could summon or disperse at will. The creation of his Nen Beast was now complete.

"I guess I'm a dragon rider now." A few hours later, Daniel Davis was lounging on the pink dragon, soaring through the sky. Mastering the Devil Fruit's abilities had been quick; just as the CP9 agents had quickly grasped their fruits' powers after eating them, Daniel Davis had quickly learned to fly on his dragon.

As time passed, he would likely be able to control storms, summon lightning, and more.

"Perhaps this is the only truly successful artificial Zoan Devil Fruit." Soaring through the clouds, Daniel Davis pondered this possibility. After all, Vegapunk was a genius 500 years ahead of his time. Caesar had likely dismissed this fruit because it was made by Vegapunk, whom he considered a rival.

Caesar liked to think his scientific prowess rivaled Vegapunk's, believing he simply lacked the resources. But in truth, the gap between them was vast.

"For now, I'll have to wait until my Ope Ope no Mi awakens before I can fully develop the potential of this fruit." After flying around for a while, Daniel Davis had the dragon take him back, then dispersed it.

"My Ope Ope no Mi still hasn't awakened. Could it be that my physical condition isn't strong enough?" His battle with Kizaru had given Daniel Davis a better understanding of his own strength, but the fact that his

 Devil Fruit hadn't awakened puzzled him. At his current level, he should have achieved awakening.

Katakuri and Doflamingo had already awakened their Devil Fruits, and even stronger figures like admirals and Yonko had long since done so. Unable to think of any other reason, Daniel Davis concluded that his physical condition might be the issue.

He had been able to fight Kizaru by combining various abilities—martial arts, Nen, and more. If he had relied solely on his physical prowess, Kizaru would have overwhelmed him.

The physical condition of top-tier fighters in the One Piece world, especially admirals and Yonko, was terrifying. They could cause massive destruction with just their physical strength.

Daniel Davis had refrained from giving Devil Fruits to people in other worlds mainly because of this. He had several Devil Fruits in his possession, including Crocodile's Suna Suna no Mi, but he had never used them.

In the One Piece world, he couldn't find anyone trustworthy or suitable to give them to, and in the Marvel universe, it would be a waste. Even Captain America couldn't fully harness the power of a Logia fruit like the Suna Suna no Mi.

Stark was another example. Unless Daniel Davis was willing to take them to the One Piece world and have them live there for several years, or continually supply them with Sea King meat to boost their physical condition, they wouldn't be able to handle the power of a Devil Fruit.

But neither option was feasible.

Of course, there were individuals with naturally strong bodies, like Thor and Loki. As Asgardians, their physical condition was formidable.

Thor, as the God of Thunder, would be an excellent candidate for the Goro Goro no Mi (Rumble-Rumble Fruit). If he consumed it, his power would skyrocket, possibly allowing him to break free from his dependence on Mjolnir and become the true God of Thunder.

But Daniel Davis had never seriously considered this option. He only thought of it after giving the fruit to Aida.

He was always inclined to prioritize his own people. Though Thor was an ally, he wasn't part of Daniel Davis's inner circle. People like Aida and Robin were his true confidants.

"It's been a while since I was here." Stepping off the Quinjet at the Avengers compound, Daniel Davis looked around at the vast, luxurious complex with a touch of nostalgia. Thanks to Carter and Cap's insistence, Stark hadn't plastered his name all over the place.

Stark had funded the entire compound. Although Daniel Davis had the means to contribute, he opted not to, considering the long-term implications. With Carter around, the relationship between the Avengers and the government was far smoother than in the movies.

Moreover, the tension between Stark and Cap had eased significantly, making the Sokovia Accords unlikely to come to pass.

Stark had given up his vendetta against Bucky, provided Bucky stayed out of sight. Although Daniel Davis hadn't found Bucky during the Insight Plan battle, it seemed Cap had managed to meet with him.

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