one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 249: Asuka’s True Nature

"Should we extract abilities?"

"Extract," Mio replied in his heart.

He wasn't too concerned about the ability itself. As long as it wasn't something useless, he'd be satisfied. Whether the new ability enhanced strength, speed, or another attribute, it was all acceptable.

After all, Mio already had a wealth of abilities.

His passive abilities included War Heart, Kendo, Sound of the Sea King, Endless Life, Ghost Body, and Divine Power. Meanwhile, his active abilities consisted of Replacement, Influence, Dragon Power, Sharingan, and Demon Power.

With all that in mind, Mio wasn't exactly short on options.

"Starting extraction... Extraction successful. Congratulations on obtaining the ability [Super Speed] and one-tenth of the all-around attributes of the creature you cultivated this time!"

As the system announcement echoed in his mind, the results displayed on his panel.

Mio raised his eyebrows slightly, nodded to himself, and muttered, "Not bad at all."

[Super Speed] was a passive ability that enhanced his movement speed. It wasn't game-breaking, but certainly valuable.

And the improvement was immediate. Mio could feel it. His body had become noticeably lighter, and with one quick step, he flashed around the entire room in under a second.

This was far faster than before.

Adding the one-tenth of the creature's overall stats only further improved his physical prowess.

After testing his new abilities and getting a feel for them, Mio looked at Asuka with a grin. "Let's go meet your friends."

"Yes," Asuka nodded calmly and followed him out of the room.

When they arrived on the deck, the others weren't surprised to see Asuka. Mio quickly introduced her to the crew.

"She feels strong," Robin commented after the introduction, her voice laced with curiosity and awe.

"Take that 'feels' part out of it—she is strong," Lilith laughed, rubbing Robin's head affectionately.

"The Navy probably doesn't know we have another powerhouse aboard," Erica added with a bright smile. "If they did, they'd be even more anxious. They already lose sleep over the Black Crow."

After all, the Black Crow pirates hadn't existed long and were already known for their surprising strength. It was a mystery how they kept recruiting such formidable individuals.

And now, another had joined them.

If Fleet Admiral Sengoku found out, he'd likely start growing white hairs from the stress.

Their ship had already departed from Askah Island. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Being remote and secluded, the locals didn't recognize Mio. In fact, after leaving Askah Island, it was likely that no one would ever know the Black Crow pirates had stopped there at all.

Their voyage continued smoothly.

Compared to the chaotic New World, the first half of the Grand Line was far more "peaceful." Under the bright sun, Mio was sparring with Baifeng and Asuka on the deck.

He wanted to become proficient with his upgraded stats and also assess Asuka's strength firsthand.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Powerful impacts echoed across the deck as the three clashed.

Mashi sat to the side, hugging her shoulders tightly. Her nose scrunched up as she muttered, "Sister Asuka is scary..."

"Yeah," Robin nodded in agreement.

She couldn't even look at Asuka's face.

When the battle began, Asuka's expression shifted—twisted with a crazed smile and wild eyes. Her entire demeanor became ferocious, nearly deranged.

And her appearance didn't help. Six additional arms extended from her back, each holding a seven-star sword formed from dark resentment. Her skin had hardened to a metallic level, rivaling the swords themselves.

Asuka's physical stats were nothing to scoff at either. Even more terrifying was that every time her blades wounded her opponent, they absorbed blood to heal themselves—and Asuka too grew stronger with each drop.

It was clear that Asuka was addicted to combat.

Madly so.

If Mio weren't her opponent, anyone else would have likely been covered in blood by now. Asuka wouldn't necessarily kill them outright, but she'd drag them into a never-ending, brutal fight.

Swish—

A small cut appeared on Mio's arm. He had only been using his physical strength, relying purely on his enhanced body. He wasn't surprised.

Asuka, on the other hand, immediately stopped. The madness in her eyes faded into pure concern.

"Sir, are you alright?" she asked, visibly distressed.

"I'm fine. Let's keep going," Mio responded with a light smile.

The battle continued.

It lasted nearly two hours before finally ending.

Mio now had a solid understanding of his enhanced physical attributes.

As he caught his breath, Warwick scratched his head and shuddered at the sight of Asuka returning to her calm state. "That woman is terrifying... Warwick never wants to fight her."

Her insanity during battle had left him genuinely shaken.

It wasn't just her bloodthirst. It was the way she fought—trading blow for blow with no regard for defense. If you stabbed her, she'd stab you back. If one stab wasn't enough, she'd let you stab her again just so she could land another strike.

It was a battle style tailor-made for her abilities.

No matter how often she exchanged wounds, Asuka would always come out on top. Her regenerative powers, combined with her blood-based growth, ensured that.

After the battle, Erica handed Mio a bottle of whiskey. He took a deep swig, exhaled, and said, "From now on, I'll stick to training with Baifeng and Warwick. Forget about sparring with Asuka."

Fighting her wasn't satisfying. She was too concerned about Mio's well-being and ended up holding back.

This caution was naturally tied to her brutal fighting instincts. If she let go, things could spiral out of control fast.

Mio shook his head and turned to look at the sea.

On the distant horizon, a pirate ship slowly came into view.

Mio didn't react much. Instead, he looked at Asuka and asked, "You interested? I assume your ability grows with kills, right?"

"Yes," Asuka replied seriously. "Not only does absorbing blood make me stronger, but I can also absorb fragments of their memories."

"Memory fragments? What kind of memories?" Mio asked, intrigued.

"The essence of their battle experience," Asuka explained plainly.

Mio's eyes widened with shock.

Without hesitation, he issued the order. "That pirate crew is yours. Go."

This ability was monstrous.

From that moment, Mio knew—Asuka's potential was terrifying.

One day, she might become a decisive weapon in his war against the World Government.