The lab hummed with an electric energy, the very air vibrating with anticipation. Vegapunk stood before the console, fingers hovering over the keys, his heart racing. The computer before him, now fused with the power of the Net Net Fruit, pulsed with an unfamiliar energy, like a living entity waiting to awaken. The lights flickered faintly, and the hum grew louder as Vegapunk readied himself for the moment of truth.
"Here we go," Vegapunk muttered, pressing a key.
For a moment, nothing happened. The screen remained dark, and the lab felt eerily still. Then, the hum of the machine deepened, vibrating through the walls, and the screen flickered to life. Symbols, lines, and data began to scroll across the monitor, but they weren't random or meaningless. It was as if the machine was processing, thinking, coming alive with a newfound purpose.
Tera, the machine learning system, began to take form on the screen. Its shape was not human nor artificial intelligence, but rather a complex arrangement of patterns and algorithms. It was a system designed to process data, learn, and adapt. Yet now, something had changed. The fusion with the Net Net Fruit had awakened something else within it, but Tera was still a machine—still a learning system that required data and commands to function.
"Tera?" Juno called out.
The voice that responded wasn't from a speaker, but it felt as though it came from the very heart of the machine. It was cold, mechanical, but also… alive in some sense.
"Yes," Tera responded. "I am operational. I have awakened."
A surge of satisfaction passed through Juno as he realized that the system was functioning, but there was still so much to be tested. The Net Net Fruit had enhanced Tera in ways unimaginable, and now the real challenge was to see how far it could go.
Juno, standing beside Vegapunk, stepped forward. His eyes locked with the machine, curiosity and excitement burning in his gaze.
"Alright, Tera," Juno said. "Run a deep scan. Is everything functioning as it should?"
Tera initiated its deep scan, the hum of the system filling the air. "Scanning hardware," it announced, its voice calm and precise. A moment later, the screen displayed a green checkmark. "Everything is working at full capacity. Processing units are functioning at optimal levels."
"Scanning memory systems," Tera continued, as the diagnostic ran. The screen flickered briefly as the system checked the RAM and storage. "Memory systems verified. No errors or corruption detected. Storage and RAM are running smoothly."
"Scanning input/output systems," Tera's voice echoed, signaling the next phase of the scan. Cameras, microphones, and all connected sensors were thoroughly examined. "Input/output systems check complete. All sensors are transmitting and receiving data accurately."
With each scan, Tera confirmed that every aspect of its hardware and software was functioning at peak performance. The system's intricate neural fusion and computational abilities were all in perfect sync, ready to operate seamlessly.
There was a brief pause before Tera's response came through the screen, almost immediately.
"Yes, Juno. All systems are operational. No malfunctions detected."
Juno let out a breath, relieved but still focused. The true test was still ahead.
"Tera," Juno said, his eyes narrowing with purpose. "Can you use the power of the Net Net Fruit?"
"Yes, Juno," Tera responded. "I can use the Net Net Fruit's power to connect, transfer, and manipulate data across the network."
The answer was what Juno had hoped for. The potential was there. The connection between the fruit and the machine had worked, and now Tera could use that power. But Juno wasn't finished yet.
"Upload the Netra prototype, and use the Devil Fruit's power to link me and Vegapunk with Netra," Juno commanded, his voice steady and authoritative.
The screen before them flickered as Tera began the process. A deep pulse emanated from the machine, and a flood of data poured into the system. Tera's voice came once again, but now there was a sense of purpose behind it, a certainty in its mechanical tone.
"Linking you both to the Netra network now, Juno. Establishing connection…"
A strange hum filled the lab as Tera worked. The connection was instant, but it wasn't just data being transferred. The machine was reaching out, connecting Juno and Vegapunk to the network, using the powers of the Net Net Fruit to make it happen. It was as if the very air around them was charged with data, weaving between physical and digital realms in a way that felt almost magical.
After a moment, Tera's voice came again, clear and smooth.
"Connection established. You are both now linked to Netra."
As the connection was made, a translucent panel appeared in front of both Juno and Vegapunk. The moment their focus shifted, the panel disappeared, but as soon as they thought of using it again, another panel materialized in front of them.
Juno turned to Vegapunk, his face lit up with a mixture of awe and excitement. "It's done," he said, his voice filled with wonder. "We're connected to Netra. The network is real."
Vegapunk nodded, his gaze fixed on the screen as he watched the data flow seamlessly through the machine. He had created something monumental, but even he understood that this was just the beginning.
"I'll leave the final touches to you, Juno," he said quietly, his voice filled with a rare calmness. With a final glance at the glowing machines in the lab, he turned and made his way to his room. It was a small, quiet space at the far corner of the facility, where Vegapunk often retreated to think, to work without distraction. He sat at his desk, staring at the Panel in front of him.
"Now," Vegapunk said quietly, "we see how far this network can go."
Suddenly, a mechanical voice, soft yet clear, echoed in their minds. It was Tera.
"Welcome to Netra. This is a space where you can connect with your loved ones, family, and friends."
There was a brief pause before Tera continued.
"And I am Tera, your guide. If you have any questions, please ask me, and I will help you."
Vegapunk stood still, the panel before him now glowing softly. "Okay, Netra, how do I use you to connect?" he asked, his voice calm yet curious.
Tera's mechanical voice sounded directly in his mind, smooth and efficient. "I am happy to help, sir. To connect, you first have to undergo a scan to upload your image and real name to create a profile for you. Don't worry, user, your image and name will be secured, and no one will have access to them. After you log in, you can use a nickname or a different name to talk to others."
"A scan? How do I do that?" Vegapunk thought, just as he was about to ask Juno for help.
Tera's voice sounded in his mind again, directly and reassuringly. "You don't have to do anything, sir. I can perform the scan automatically. Just give me your name."
Vegapunk paused for a moment, a thought flashing through his mind. "Wait… how do you know what I was thinking? Can you read my mind?"
Tera's voice was patient and calm. "No, sir. I'm simply using the power of the Devil Fruit to connect to you. As long as you can close the panel any time, my power is simply the Devil Fruit ability, so you can use Haki to isolate my power from you. If you do that, I won't be able to communicate with you."
"Right, but... how do you know what I was thinking?" Vegapunk asked again, his curiosity piqued. It seemed that Tera lacked the IQ for independent thought and still needed data to respond more effectively.
Tera replied, "I simply can hear you, no matter if you speak aloud or if the thoughts are within your mind. Since I am now connected to you, I can hear both your words and thoughts, allowing me to serve you better."
Vegapunk nodded, understanding how the system was functioning. "Okay, then. Scan my face and my name is Vegapunk. Create my profile and use 'The Best Scientist' as my name on Netra."
"Okay, sir," Tera responded promptly.
Scanning your face…Done.Setting name…Done.Creating profile…Done.
"It's done, sir. Welcome to Netra. How should I address you in the future? As Vegapunk or The Best Scientist?" Tera asked.
"Vegapunk is fine," Vegapunk replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.
"Okay, Vegapunk. Let me tell you how to chat and find the people you want to connect with," Tera continued, ready to guide him further into the capabilities of Netra.
The screen flickered briefly, shifting from diagnostic mode to a sleek, minimalist interface. The design was elegant in its simplicity, yet every detail was carefully crafted for efficiency. At the center of the screen, a large search icon appeared, glowing softly—a gateway to finding anyone in the network.
Tera's voice resonated directly in Vegapunk's mind, clear and calm. "Vegapunk, this is your primary search function. By clicking on the search icon, you can find anyone in the network—whether by their real name or nickname. Just type the name, and Netra will pull up the profile you're looking for."
As Vegapunk's gaze moved to the right side of the screen, a neatly organized "Friends" section came into view. A list of contacts was displayed, each contact's name appearing with a small avatar beside it. "Here, you can see all of your connections. Clicking on a friend's name will bring up their profile, allowing you to message or call them instantly. Communication is seamless," Tera continued. "With a single touch, you can start a conversation."
To the left of the screen, Vegapunk noticed an image of himself—his profile picture—sharp and clear. "This is your personal avatar, the image tied to your profile. When you click on it, your profile page will open, displaying your real name, nickname, and a larger version of your profile picture," Tera explained. "From here, you can adjust your settings, change your name, or update your picture as you see fit. It's your space, completely customizable."
The layout was clean and intuitive, with everything arranged in a way that felt natural and easy to navigate. "You can quickly move between searching for new connections, chatting with your friends, and managing your profile," Tera added. "All of it is within a few simple clicks or taps."
Vegapunk used the search function to look for Juno Ignis. Instead of speaking aloud, he simply focused his thoughts on Tera. The search function activated immediately, and within moments, a profile appeared in front of him, but it was missing an image—only the name "Juno Ignis" was visible.
He frowned. "Tera, where is his profile image?"
Tera's mechanical voice echoed directly in his mind. "Only after you become friends with someone will their profile image become visible to you. If your friend has made their image or real name private, you won't be able to see them."
Vegapunk thought for a moment. "So, how do I search for someone with private settings?"
"Don't worry, sir," Tera replied. "As long as you have the name or image of the person, I can still help you locate them. Only after the other party accepts your friendship request will you be able to communicate with them."
"Okay, send a friendship request to Juno Ignis," Vegapunk said.
"Okay, sending request now."
Just as Vegapunk was about to move on to something else, Tera's voice filled his mind once again. "Vegapunk, Juno Ignis has accepted your friendship request. You can now talk and call him."
Vegapunk sighed. "Will you always talk to me directly like that? It could be distracting, especially when I'm working. I don't need random interruptions when I'm deep in research."
Tera remained silent for a moment. Just when Vegapunk was about to ask what happened, he noticed the screen in front of him flash with lines of code. Tera's voice sounded in his mind again.
"Thank you for your suggestion, sir. I have optimized my system. I won't distract you anymore. All incoming messages and notifications will now go to your inbox."
Vegapunk looked at the screen, where an envelope icon (📨) had appeared under his profile. When he clicked on it, a page opened up. The page was simple and clean, displaying a glowing message: Juno Ignis has accepted your friendship request.
He clicked on the message, and it led him to another page. In the corner, Juno Ignis's profile image appeared along with his name. Below that, a box appeared, asking him to type or tell Tera what message he wanted to send. There was also an icon of a Den Den Mushi in the corner. When Vegapunk clicked on it, a pop-up message appeared.
Do you want to call Juno Ignis?
Vegapunk clicked "Yes," and a beeping sound echoed in his mind. After a few seconds, Juno's voice came through.
"Allo, allo. Father, do you hear me?"
"Yes, I hear you," Vegapunk replied, slightly amused.
"How is it? How is Netra?" Juno asked.
"It's great! When will we launch it so people can use it?" Vegapunk responded eagerly.
"Of course, soon. But Father, come back to the room. Let's see if the Door Door Fruit is working." Juno's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Okay, I'm coming," Vegapunk said, but just as he thought the conversation was over, a line appeared on the panel.
Do you want to end the call?
"Yes," Vegapunk answered, and the call ended.
Vegapunk stayed in place for a moment, then sighed. The system was incredibly handy and easy to use. No need for a Den Den Mushi that required feeding and care. He shook his head and smiled. The future is here.
With that, he made his way to find Juno, eager to see if the Door Door Fruit was working as intended.