East Blue, Windmill Village.
It was spring—life blooming everywhere, flowers in every shade of purple, red, and pink decorating the island.
Inside a small tavern, bursts of laughter and cheerful noise rang out.
"Wow, Shanks, is that true? A whale bigger than an island?!!"
A small boy looked up with wide eyes at the red-haired young man leaning on the bar, a large mug of booze in his right hand, a straw hat on his head, and quickly asked.
The red-haired man in the straw hat took a big gulp of his drink. "Hahahaha, Luffy, it's true. A whale bigger than an island isn't even that special. Let me tell you, there's also a massive elephant that walks through the ocean, known as the 'land walking on the sea.'"
The boy froze for a few seconds, then his pupils widened, and he jumped from his chair in excitement. "A… super elephant!!!"
His eyes sparkled like stars as he turned to the side. "Creed, did you hear that?! The super elephant, the 'land walking on the sea'!!"
"I've decided—one day I'm going to be a pirate like Shanks, sailing the seas freely, using my fists that are faster than bullets!" the boy said with determination, throwing a few playful punches forward.
His adorable display made the pirates in the tavern chuckle and burst into laughter.
"What's so funny? My fists really are as fast as bullets!!" Little Luffy shouted, flustered. "I'm telling the truth!!"
"Yes, yes, little Luffy is right. Come here and use those bullet-speed fists to give my back a massage."
"Hahahaha!"
The tavern roared with laughter again.
…
Off to the side, Creed looked at the many members of the Red-Haired Pirates with a smile. They probably never imagined that the boy playing around with them today would one day turn the whole sea upside down.
Hard to believe it's already been almost five years since I came to this world.
Creed sighed. He wasn't originally from this world—an accident had brought him here, to the familiar seas of One Piece.
Now twelve years old, his identity was Garp's "adopted grandson" and the older brother of five-year-old Luffy.
It was still his own body, but for some unknown reason, when he crossed over, his body reverted to what it was when he was seven years old, and he landed in Windmill Village.
At that time, Garp happened to be returning home, found him, and took him in as his "adopted grandson" and Luffy's older brother.
Full name: Monkey D. Creed.
Five years had passed in a flash.
Like many other transmigrators, he had a system—
A system called [God-Level Extraction].
Its ability was ridiculously overpowered—it could extract abilities from anything he touched.
Touch a cheetah, and he could extract its terrifying explosive speed.
Touch a gorilla, and he could extract its monstrous strength.
[Extracted Abilities]: Cheetah's explosive speed, bull's endurance, gorilla's strength, beginner swordsmanship, entry-level marksmanship
[Pending Abilities]: Crocodile's scales, frog's skin mucus, alcohol tolerance…
[Currently Extracting]: A-rank swordsmanship (20%), A-rank Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) (30%), A-rank Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) (30%), A-rank marksmanship (40%)…
[Overall Strength]: Too weak to be ranked
His beginner swordsmanship was extracted from a Marine standing behind Garp.
…
Looking at the abilities currently being extracted, Creed felt a sharp pang in his liver—it had been over a month, and his A-rank swordsmanship was only at 20%, while the other A-rank abilities were stuck at 30%. At this rate, who knew when they'd be completed.
Extraction speed depended on his own strength—like a computer's hardware: the stronger the hardware, the faster the process.
But right now, his strength was only about that of a veteran Marine…
So the speed was basically at turtle pace.
And to extract an ability, the target had to stay within two meters of him—otherwise, the process would stop.
Another major headache.
Of course, his extraction targets were squad leaders in the Red-Haired Pirates, not the officers.
Everyone here in the tavern was either an officer or a squad leader under one.
It wasn't that he didn't want to extract from the officers—or even Shanks—
The problem was… he couldn't.
[Abilities]: SSS-rank swordsmanship (cannot be extracted), SSS-rank Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) (cannot be extracted), SSS-rank Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) (cannot be extracted), SS-rank Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) (cannot be extracted)
[Overall Strength]: SSS-rank
This was Shanks's profile—only his Observation Haki was SS-rank; everything else was SSS-rank.
When Creed first scanned him, his eyes lit up instantly—but then he saw the "cannot be extracted" note after each one. It was like having the most beautiful woman in the world lying naked before you, only to look down and realize… you're impotent.
It was enough to make him want to die.
The Red-Haired Pirates' officers also had SS-rank or even SSS-rank abilities, with the weakest at S-rank.
Creed's extraction limit right now was A-rank.
Anything above that, he could only stare at helplessly.
And even extracting A-rank abilities was exhausting—five months for A-rank swordsmanship, three months for the others.
Even if he could extract S-rank abilities now, the time required would probably break him.
…
Creed glanced at the Red-Haired Pirates playing with little Luffy. Who would think that the crew under the Yonko Shanks would be so easygoing, without the slightest bit of arrogance?
Over the past month, he and Luffy had become extremely familiar with them.
In the midst of the fun—
Bang—
The tavern's door was violently pushed open, and a group of men walked in.
The laughter inside instantly vanished.
…
(End of Chapter)
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