one piece: gene extraction and fusion system

On the massive deck of the Baratie restaurant, fear gripped the hearts of many as their gazes fixed on the ship approaching from afar. Though the vessel bore signs of heavy damage, its black panther-shaped bow and pirate flags marked with an hourglass insignia sent shivers down their spines.

This was the ship of the Krieg Pirates.

The massive dreadnought battleship Sabre, with its towering three decks, was the pride of the Krieg Pirates.

In the East Blue, the name Krieg carried weight even among some nobles. With a bounty of 17 million, Krieg was considered a "big pirate" in these calmer seas. The Krieg Pirates had built a fearsome reputation that spread throughout the region.

But no one expected to see them here.

"Damn it, we have to get out of here! This place is as good as ransacked now that the Krieg Pirates are here!"

"They might even kill us all!"

"We can't stay here—run!"

Panic spread like wildfire through the crowd.

In the midst of the chaos, an orange-haired girl shot a worried glance at the green-haired man beside her. "Hey, Zoro! Where's Luffy? We need to find him and get out of here. These are the Krieg Pirates! If we stick around, we'll be in serious trouble."

The man, Roronoa Zoro, a swordsman with three swords strapped to his waist, didn't respond immediately. Instead, his eyes were locked on the pirate ship—but not the dreadnought itself.

No. His attention was fixed on a small boat trailing silently behind it.

"That man…" Zoro's voice was low, his eyes blazing with excitement and disbelief. His fighting spirit ignited like a raging fire.

"What man? What are you talking about?" Nami frowned, following Zoro's gaze. Her eyes landed on the small boat.

Seated there, legs crossed, was a lone man. His golden eyes were razor-sharp, exuding an aura of nobility and overwhelming presence.

"Who is that?" Nami asked in confusion.

"The world's strongest swordsman—Hawkeye!" Zoro's voice was heavy with awe as his hand instinctively brushed the hilt of his sword.

"The world's strongest?!" Nami's eyes widened in horror. She didn't know this "Hawkeye," but anyone crowned with such a title was bound to be terrifying.

At the Baratie, some guests bolted in fear. Others, more knowledgeable, froze as their eyes widened at the sight of Hawkeye.

The rest, paralyzed with dread, could only watch helplessly.

Just then, the dreadnought battleship Sabre stopped short of the restaurant.

On its deck, Admiral Krieg—known far and wide—looked utterly broken. His once-proud figure was reduced to a trembling mess as he glared at Hawkeye, shouting in a mixture of fear and rage.

"You bastard! What the hell do you want from me?! You've been following us since we entered the Grand Line! You destroyed my fleet! Why—WHY are you still chasing us?!"

Krieg's ambitions had crumbled the moment he entered the Grand Line. He'd thought to claim glory there… only to encounter the man on that small boat.

One swing.

One sword swing was all it took to reduce his grand fleet to this single surviving vessel.

The memory of that slash haunted Krieg's dreams. His pride shattered, he fled to the East Blue like a beaten dog.

"That man…"

On the other side of Baratie, Zeff's pupils contracted as he spotted Hawkeye.

"How… how could a man of his caliber appear in a backwater like the East Blue?" Zeff murmured in disbelief.

As a former Grand Line pirate himself, Zeff's perspective was far broader than most. He understood the scale of power possessed by someone like Hawkeye.

In a place like the East Blue, such strength was akin to a force of nature—inescapable and devastating.

"Boss, do you know him?" a chef asked nervously, noticing Zeff's rare expression of shock.

"Yeah…" Zeff's tone turned grim. "That man is one of the strongest in the world."

As all eyes turned to Hawkeye, he slowly stood on his small boat and spoke with chilling calm.

"Just killing time. Now… let's bring this to an end."

His hand reached for the hilt of the massive black blade strapped to his back.

"Kill time?!" Krieg screamed, unable to believe his ears. "You destroyed my entire fleet—my men! You ruined me! And you say it was to kill time?!"

Fear gave way to blinding anger. Krieg pulled out a revolver and fired at Hawkeye in desperation.

"Go to hell, you bastard!!"

"Boring."

Hawkeye's golden eyes didn't even flicker. With a single fluid motion, he drew his black blade and swung lightly.

Clink!

The bullet split in two, harmlessly falling into the sea.

Then, without a word, Hawkeye swung again.

A crescent-shaped green slash roared through the air with a sound like tearing silk.

The sea itself parted in its wake.

When the slash struck the Sabre, the massive dreadnought shuddered… and split cleanly in half.

The East Blue's most feared ship sank beneath the waves in seconds.

"It's truly boring here," Hawkeye muttered, sheathing his blade before leaping lightly onto Baratie's deck.

Zoro stepped forward, eyes blazing.

"Hawkeye! The world's strongest swordsman!" he said firmly. "I am Roronoa Zoro. Please… fight me!"

He drew all three swords, assuming his signature combat stance, his gaze burning with determination.

"Zoro! What are you doing?!" Nami cried out in panic, her body trembling as she watched.

Nearby, a young man with a long nose nearly fainted from fear.

Hawkeye raised an eyebrow at the sight of Zoro's three-sword style.

But then he turned slightly, looking back at the sea.

"You're late," he said coolly.

"Huh? Who's he talking to?" muttered a confused chef.

Apart from Krieg's wrecked ship and the floating corpses of his men, the sea behind them seemed empty.

Even Zeff frowned, unsure what Hawkeye meant.

Then, a calm voice answered, carrying across the water.

"No, I've been here for a while. I was just surprised to see you wasting your time like this."

In the next instant, two figures appeared before Hawkeye—a man and a woman.

The man was tall and striking, with black hair and a commanding presence.

The woman had long sky-blue hair and a delicate, otherworldly beauty.

It was Mio and Lilith.

Behind them, a massive ship slowly emerged into view. Its towering black frame and metallic sheen exuded an aura of menace and authority.

"The New World is far from here," Hawkeye said. "Sometimes, you need something to keep yourself entertained."

"True," Mio replied with a faint smile. Then his sharp eyes settled on Zoro. "Aren't you going to accept his challenge?"

Hawkeye turned back to Zoro, shaking his head.

"To still stand firm after seeing my slash… your courage is admirable. Very well, I'll humor you."

Hawkeye reached for the tiny dagger hanging from his neck.

"Come."

Zoro's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean by that?!"

"You're too weak. I don't have a smaller blade on me," Hawkeye said calmly.

"Damn you! Don't underestimate me!" Zoro roared, charging forward with a fierce triple slash.

Hawkeye deflected it with ease, his tiny dagger parrying all three blades.

Then he countered. A flash of steel, and a wound opened across Zoro's chest. Blood spilled instantly.

Mio watched from the sidelines with mild interest. His Observation Haki swept across the Baratie, noting familiar figures from the original story—Luffy, Nami, Zoro, Usopp, and Sanji.

"So they're all here," Mio murmured.

Even without Arlong's presence, Nami was part of the crew. The butterfly effects of his arrival were there, but not as drastic as he'd expected.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd gasped.

"That ship… it's enormous!"

All eyes turned to the massive black vessel approaching. Its presence alone radiated oppressive power.

Atop its mast, a pirate flag fluttered ominously in the breeze.

"It's… him."

Zeff's face went pale as he recognized the flag. Fear tightened his throat.

"Boss, do you know that crew?" a chef asked, alarmed by Zeff's rare display of dread.

"Prepare fine wine and the best food we have," Zeff said solemnly. "Make sure nothing goes wrong. If that man is displeased, none of us will leave here alive."