one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 241: Shadows Beneath the Surface

The Black Glory sailed smoothly through the sea.

In the waters near the New World and the country of Wano, two pirate ships approached each other. Not far from them lay a lone island, untouched by conflict—until now.

Taros stood proudly at the bow of his ship, a savage grin stretched across his face, his eyes flashing with excitement. "Kaido! Do you have the courage to fight me?"

"Hm?" On the ship opposite, the enormous and burly Kaido raised his head. A brutal aura surged from his body, his eyes locking onto Taros with primal aggression.

Before Kaido could even reply, a figure burst forth from his crew, roaring as they charged toward Taros. "You're just a rookie from the first half of the Grand Line! Who gave you the guts to challenge Lord Kaido?!"

With that cry, a ferocious impact surged toward Taros.

But Taros only smirked cruelly, raising his hand and catching the attacker by the neck mid-air. With a sharp twist—crack!—the pirate's neck snapped like a twig.

The body fell limply to the deck.

Watching the scene unfold, Kaido chuckled darkly. "Come over."

There was no need for further words.

Kaido never shied away from a challenge.

Rumble—

Thunder roared across the sky.

Moments later, the surrounding sea violently shook.

Waves crashed in every direction as the clash of titans began. The vibration spread from the ocean to the nearby island, where an intense battle erupted—violent collisions, shockwaves, and destruction echoed continuously.

Three Days Later

At the Entrance to the New World

After entering the New World, leaving it was no easy task. There were only two viable routes: the first was via the World Government's official path, safe but restricted. The second was to return the way one came—through Fishman Island, via the treacherous sea currents of the Calm Belt and undersea tunnel.

To the average pirate, the second path was suicide.

But to the Black Crow crew, danger was a trivial matter.

Still, entering Fishman Island from the New World required a coating—a protective layer to allow ships to travel underwater. freewēbnoveℓ.com

(Author's note: I honestly don't know how they return from the New World either. Is it through the doldrums again?)

At this moment, on the Black Glory...

Mio sat under the sunlight, reading a freshly printed newspaper. He grinned when he saw the headline.

[Shocking Battle! Rising Beast Pirate Taros Challenges Kaido Near Wano!]

The article detailed how the two pirate powerhouses had clashed, shocking the world once again. The outcome of the battle remained unknown—but what was confirmed was the complete destruction of the island where the fight occurred.

Both Kaido and Taros were reportedly injured.

However, the specifics of the injuries or who emerged victorious remained a mystery.

Still, Mio wasn't worried about Taros.

With Taros's unique abilities, Mio knew he wouldn't die so easily.

"This should boost his reputation quite a bit. Take this opportunity and rise, Taros... don't let me down," Mio muttered, eyes gleaming with anticipation.

He folded the newspaper and looked out at the Black Glory.

The ship was docked at a small island near the entrance to the New World, undergoing its underwater coating process.

Contrary to popular belief, coating artisans weren't exclusive to the Sabaody Archipelago. Skilled craftsmen existed even in the New World. Under the Black Crow's name, all the artisans on this island were now working together to coat the Black Glory.

Just then...

Mio's gaze shifted.

He sensed something.

Far away, barely visible, a figure stood still—so perfectly blended into the environment that they would be imperceptible to anyone else.

But Mio saw them clearly.

He had seen this figure once before—long ago, when he had only just arrived in this world. Seeing them again here, now, sent a chill down his spine.

"This person... is terrifying!"

Mio's instincts screamed in warning.

This figure exuded an overwhelming presence. Even without confrontation, Mio could tell he wasn't yet strong enough to stand against them. This person was extremely dangerous.

The figure, now identified as a woman, stared back at Mio with serene, sharp eyes.

Then, she spoke.

Her voice was soft—almost like a whisper carried by the wind—but Mio heard it clearly.

"What is your ambition?"

She continued to watch him with curiosity. She had sensed a strange aura from Mio long ago—a presence that didn't belong to this world. But now, that foreign aura was gone, replaced with something new. Something... familiar.

It reminded her of a king.

A king who once ruled a mighty kingdom. A king who felt like the true master of the world.

Mio now radiated a similar, albeit much fainter, aura.

"Ambition?" Mio frowned at the odd question, puzzled. But after a moment's thought, he raised his head and replied calmly.

"My ambition cannot be put into words. It will be proven by my actions. One day, the whole world will witness it."

The woman nodded gently.

"I'll wait and see."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Mio silently watched her go.

When she finally disappeared from sight, he stood quietly, deep in thought.

"Who is she?"

He couldn't recall such a figure appearing in the original story. She was far too strong to go unnoticed. His intuition told him she wasn't an enemy—for now. But she was no ordinary person.

"A member of the D clan?"

"Or... from the World Government?" Mio speculated.

He thought about the D clan—the descendants of the Great Kingdom that once ruled the Grand Line and the New World. That kingdom had been overthrown 800 years ago by the twenty kingdoms, forming today's World Government.

Though many D clan members were scattered around the world today, Mio believed there were still powerful individuals who knew their full history.

Then, a more unsettling thought surfaced.

"Could it be... that person?"

Mio's expression turned serious.

"Im?"

It was a terrifying possibility.

But if it really was Im, the mysterious ruler of the World Government, then why had they asked him that question?

Mio couldn't find a satisfying answer.

Still, if it was Im, then Mio had gained a valuable insight: a sense of the threat they posed. Perhaps once he returned to the first half of the Grand Line, he could ask someone like Rayleigh for information.

Shaking his head, Mio dismissed the thoughts.

"No matter what conspiracies exist... as long as I grow stronger, I can crush them all."

At that moment, Bai Feng approached.

"Sir, the coating is complete. We can depart."

"Good." Mio glanced once more in the direction the mysterious woman had vanished, then turned and boarded the ship.

The Black Glory set sail once more.

They released the airbags, allowed the coating bubbles to envelop the vessel, and with Hanba pulling them from beneath the sea, they descended—heading directly for Fishman Island.