The massive sword wave that split the sea in half—clean, effortless, and precise—could only belong to one man.
The World's Greatest Swordsman.
Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk.
He walked toward Red-Haired Shanks, boots clicking against the wooden deck of the Red Force.
The ocean breeze ruffled the tattered ends of his black coat, his yellow eyes sharp enough to pierce the soul.
Shanks sighed and dropped onto the deck cross-legged, a lazy grin on his face.
He knew Mihawk too well—this cold, aloof man wouldn't apologize for cutting down his "test subject."
He'd only come to gloat, or out of curiosity.
"You could've just knocked," Shanks muttered. "What's with the dramatic entrance?"
Mihawk's tone was as calm as still water.
"I heard you expended quite some effort acquiring a Mutant Cell. I came to see it for myself."
Shanks plucked a blade of grass from between the planks and stuck it between his teeth, smirking.
"So you came to laugh at me."
Mihawk glanced toward the mangled corpse of the pirate he had cut in half.
"If that's all the power your prize can offer, then yes—it's a joke."
The truth stung. The Mutant Cell had indeed doubled the pirate's strength—his aura had skyrocketed, enough to make even Lucky Roux step back.
But against Mihawk or Shanks? It wasn't even a warm-up.
Shanks' smirk faded. His expression turned serious.
He spat the grass aside and said evenly:
"You're mistaken, Mihawk. The cell we tested was a low-grade one—the kind Kaido's son-in-law sold to Big Mom. According to my sources, he's created advanced Mutant Cells* too."
Mihawk's eyes narrowed—a rare flicker of surprise.
"Advanced?"
"Yes," Shanks replied. "The higher-grade version can evolve Zoan fruits. Kaido's Ancient Zoans became Mythical Zoans thanks to it. That's how his Six Flying Peers got so strong."
For a brief second, even Mihawk's composure cracked.
He'd heard many absurd tales on the seas, but this one… carried the weight of truth.
An invention capable of rewriting Devil Fruit evolution—that was something beyond imagination.
Mihawk folded his arms, his voice lower now.
"Do you know anything else about this man?"
Shanks shook his head.
"Nothing. He's a ghost. Never shows his face, never leaves Onigashima. Even our intelligence network has no image of him. Just a name: Luo Xing."
Shanks's grin faded into something almost wistful.
"Kaido's lucky. Got himself one hell of a son-in-law."
Beckman exhaled a puff of smoke beside him.
"Anyone capable of inventing something that rivals the Devil Fruits isn't ordinary.
The Navy's got Vegapunk. The Beasts Pirates have Luo Xing. That alone changes the balance of the world."
Even Mihawk nodded slightly. His golden eyes glinted.
"If that's true… then Luo Xing may be more dangerous than Kaido himself."
A moment of silence.
Then, Mihawk turned to leave.
"Where are you going now?" Shanks asked.
"East Blue," Mihawk replied, glancing once at Shanks's empty left sleeve.
"I want to see what kind of monster lives in a sea so weak it took your arm."
The deck went dead quiet.
Shanks's crew froze.
The air turned awkward.
Shanks rubbed his neck, laughing nervously.
"Hah… you really don't need to go that far, old friend. The East Blue's a boring place.
Lots of fish. One of them… bites hard."
Mihawk's lips twitched faintly—half amusement, half disbelief—and without another word, he turned and walked off, his black coat vanishing into the sea breeze.
Shanks let out a long groan.
"You had to bring up the arm, didn't you?"
Marine Headquarters — Marineford
If anyone truly profited from the chaos of the Mutant Cells, it was the World Government and the Marines.
Their spy networks reached everywhere, and unlike pirates, they had the resources to study what they captured.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, and the Three Admirals were gathered.
Sengoku adjusted his glasses, his expression grim.
"We've delivered all the recovered Mutant Cells to Dr. Vegapunk. He's already begun analysis.
His report states he's deciphered their effects… but not their construction."
The words dropped like stones.
"In short," Sengoku continued, "even Vegapunk can't reproduce them."
The room fell silent.
Even Aokiji, lounging in his chair, looked up.
Kizaru stopped polishing his nails.
And Akainu's cigar cracked between his teeth.
"What?" Akainu growled. "You're saying that brat from Kaido's crew made something even Vegapunk can't copy?!"
Sengoku nodded grimly.
"That's exactly what I'm saying."
A heavy pause settled.
Even Garp, usually half-asleep, frowned.
"If that's true, the balance of power's about to collapse," Tsuru said softly. "The Beasts Pirates aren't just muscle anymore. They have science."
Sengoku pressed on.
"And there's more. The Celestial Tribute—the Heavenly Gold—was intercepted again.
Two times now, both by Kaido's pirates."
Everyone stiffened.
The Heavenly Tribute hadn't been touched in eight hundred years of world history.
To rob it once was blasphemy.
To rob it twice was declaration of war.
Akainu slammed his fist down, the desk cracking beneath the impact.
"Those animals! I'll turn Onigashima to ash!"
Sengoku sighed, rubbing his temple.
"The Five Elders are furious. They've demanded a full Admiral be assigned to protect the next Tribute shipment."
His gaze swept across the three Admirals.
"So—who's willing to go?"
Aokiji looked away, uninterested. He had no desire to play bodyguard for the Celestial Dragons.
Kizaru hummed lazily, pretending not to hear as he examined his nails.
Only one man stood.
"Leave it to me," Akainu said coldly. "If Kaido's beasts appear again, I'll burn them to cinders."
Sengoku nodded.
"Very well. There's one final matter."
He pulled out a thin file—stamped with the red insignia of the World Government.
"By order of the Five Elders themselves, a bounty has been issued.
For the Beasts Pirates' so-called 'Consort'—the inventor of the Mutant Cells."
He inhaled deeply and announced:
"Luo Xing — 1.5 Billion Berries."
The office went dead quiet.
Aokiji's brows lifted.
Kizaru finally looked up.
Even Akainu froze for half a heartbeat.
A 1.5 billion bounty… for a man who had never personally been seen in battle.
"That's higher than most Emperors' commanders," Garp muttered.
Sengoku's tone was heavy.
"And well deserved. A mind like his is worth more than a thousand soldiers.
The Government has declared him an 'Extreme Threat to World Order.'"
Outside, gulls wheeled over Marineford's towers, their cries echoing over the sea.
The world was changing again.
And somewhere in Wano's skies, the man called Luo Xing smiled—
as his name spread like wildfire across every sea.
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