one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 228: The Strong Clash of Swordsmen

"It's terrifying," Marco muttered in a low voice.

What was most terrifying wasn't just the power the Black Crow Pirates already possessed—it was the fact that they had only emerged on the seas just over a year ago. And in such a short time, they had grown to this extent.

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Their potential... might even surpass the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Give them a few more years..." Marco couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air. It was simply unimaginable.

Even now, the number of strong individuals within the Black Crow Pirates was alarming. If they were given more time, there might come a day when no force in the New World could match them.

As they continued forward, Whitebeard's gaze subtly swept over several individuals before finally settling on one figure—Qiongqi.

"Young people nowadays are really something..." Whitebeard mused internally. Just from Qiongqi's aura, he could sense that the man might not be weaker than himself. And from what he had gathered, Qiongqi had only recently joined the Black Crow Pirates. Yet, despite this, the rest of the crew wasn't weak either. With someone like Qiongqi among them, the Black Crow Pirates were a real force to be reckoned with. It even made Whitebeard feel a sense of caution.

As he pondered, Qiongqi led Whitebeard and his group to an open area just outside the castle at the heart of Crow Island. Tables had already been set up, laden with wine, roasted meats, and a wide array of aromatic delicacies.

Mio sat by the bonfire, casually drinking from a bottle of whiskey. He took hearty gulps, followed by mouthfuls of meat, chewing and swallowing contentedly.

Beside him sat Lilith, Mashi, and other familiar faces from the Black Crow Pirates.

As Whitebeard arrived, Mio tilted his head slightly to gaze at the towering six-meter-tall figure and grinned. "It's honestly exciting to finally meet you, Whitebeard."

"Gurarara! Why's that?" Whitebeard laughed heartily. He gripped his naginata, Kusunokiri, and with a firm thrust, planted it into the ground before sitting across from Mio. His sharp eyes locked onto the newcomer who had shaken the seas with his monstrous reputation.

A powerful aura.

Rebellious eyes.

And a notorious reputation.

This was no ordinary pirate. Mio wasn't one of those so-called free spirits chasing dreams—he was the real deal. Ambitious, patient, powerful, and ruthless. He would do whatever it took to achieve his goals.

"Meeting the man called the strongest in the world... Of course it's exciting," Mio replied slowly.

"Is that so?" Whitebeard chuckled. "But I think it's more than that. You're not just excited—you want to fight me, don't you?"

"I won't lie. The idea crossed my mind." Mio smirked. The Black Crow Pirates were still lacking a defining, top-tier battle, and now that Whitebeard was here, the opportunity was too perfect to ignore.

"Gurarara! I came to drink, not fight... but if you want a taste, I don't mind sparring with you." Whitebeard wasn't the type to shy away from battle, nor did he ever fear defeat. That was his pride as a pirate.

After all, he had come here to see for himself just how strong this so-called "monster of the new age" truly was.

Mio picked up a massive bowl filled with wine—one clearly prepared for Whitebeard—and casually tossed it toward him.

Whitebeard raised his hand and caught it. He was surprised by the sheer weight and force behind it, but his arm didn't move an inch. Instead, he grinned and took a deep swig. "Good wine."

Mio didn't reply. Instead, he raised his voice and shouted, "Brothers! Let's have a party!"

Cheers erupted across the island.

Bonfires blazed.

Pirates laughed and drank freely.

The battle could wait. Right now, it was time to drink.

Though the Whitebeard Pirates didn't bring a huge force ashore, there were still several hundred members present. And seeing as the Black Crow Pirates showed no hostility, they joined in the festivities without hesitation.

Still, many couldn't help discussing the strength of the Black Crow.

"I really want to challenge that woman," said Vista, known as Flower Sword, now a notable figure in the Whitebeard Pirates. His eyes were locked on Erica, burning with fighting spirit.

As a fellow swordsman, Vista could feel a sharp sword intent emanating from Erica—strong and deadly. It stirred his competitive instincts. He longed to challenge her.

After all, testing oneself against powerful swordsmen was one of the fastest ways to grow stronger.

But now wasn't the time. A direct challenge could easily be seen as provocation.

So, he suppressed the urge for now.

Still, Erica seemed to sense it. Her brows furrowed slightly as she turned her head toward Vista.

"What's wrong?" Mio asked, noticing the subtle change in Erica's expression.

"It's nothing," Erica replied, then added, "That man... he wanted to challenge me. I could feel his sword intent. Only when a swordsman wishes to duel does that intent manifest so vividly."

"Oh?" Mio followed her gaze toward Vista and chuckled.

Vista, huh?

In the original timeline, Vista was the captain of the Fifth Division of the Whitebeard Pirates—Flower Sword Vista. But Mio suspected that Erica might already be stronger than him.

Whitebeard, still sitting nearby, overheard their conversation and spoke up. "That young lady seems very strong. If possible, I hope she'll accept his challenge. This isn't meant as provocation—just a duel between swordsmen. I hope you understand that, kid."

He knew that initiating a fight right after arriving on someone else's turf could easily be mistaken for hostility, and spark a full-scale battle between the two groups.

Whitebeard wasn't afraid of that outcome—but it was unnecessary.

One simple explanation was all it took to avoid conflict. If a misunderstanding led to war, his sons would suffer—especially against a crew like the Black Crow Pirates, where several monstrous auras loomed.

Besides Qiongqi, Whitebeard had also sensed another formidable presence on the island.

He believed it to be the crow known as "Black Evil" from the Black Crow Pirates.

As a father figure to his crew, Whitebeard understood his sons very well.

Especially someone like Vista.

"What do you think?" Mio turned to Erica.

Erica nodded coolly and stood. "Alright. But... he's not my match."

Her words brimmed with confidence.

"Gurarara! You're an interesting little lady," Whitebeard laughed. "How about joining me instead? Become my daughter."

But the moment his words fell—

Erica's eyes turned razor-sharp. As though he had touched her reverse scale, she drew her twin blades in a flash and slashed at Whitebeard without hesitation.