The rule-breaking fusion ability of the Munch-Munch Fruit had now been thoroughly verified!
This meant that as long as someone could accept foreign biological factors being mixed into their body, it was possible to artificially create dual–Devil Fruit users.
With that, whether it was enchanting alloy weapons or diversifying elite special forces, a completely revolutionary breakthrough had opened up.
Since people could be fused… could Devil Fruits be fused as well?
Regrettably, Tenma tried biologically encoding and recombining two Devil Fruits—and it blew up.
It seemed that even with a cheat-level power, one still couldn't overturn the most fundamental iron law of the pirate world:
one fruit, one ability.
Tenma wasn't too disappointed. After all, this had been within his expectations.
Two days later, that unlucky sound-wave ability user was dragged out once again.
Since dual-core fruits were impossible, Tenma turned his attention to another ultimate application of the Munch-Munch Fruit—
seizing Devil Fruit abilities.
In this world, only two things could achieve that: the Munch-Munch Fruit, and the not-yet-appeared Dark-Dark Fruit.
The former relied on physical-level Digestion and Synthesis. It could produce dual–Devil Fruit users, but once the person was spat out, the abilities vanished as well—there was no permanent plundering.
The latter used gravity, forcibly tearing Devil Fruit power away from both soul and flesh.
Though their mechanisms differed, the underlying logic was strikingly similar.
If the gravitational stripping mechanism of the Dark-Dark Fruit could be understood, then combined with the internal-space restructuring of the Munch-Munch Fruit, it would be entirely possible—just like Blackbeard did in Impel Down—to "enchant" the stripped ability onto a new fruit.
Kompus was filled with utter admiration for Tenma's ideas and immediately got to work.
First experiment: the ability user was lively and intact—transfer failed.
Second experiment: the ability user was beaten half to death before being swallowed. After a series of furious operations inside the internal space—
Kompus opened his mouth and spat out a fruit covered in bizarre patterns.
It worked!
Tenma stared at the reborn fruit, greed flickering in his eyes as his gaze shifted toward the distant seas.
From now on, every powerful Devil Fruit roaming free out there belonged to him.
Then an even more insane thought surfaced—
Big Mom!
That old hag was a walking treasure trove!
Her terrifying Soul-Soul Fruit, and that monstrous biological defense factor known as the "Iron Balloon"!
If her genes were extracted and injected into a mechanical legion forged from memory alloy, then what were the Seraphim—those things cobbled together from Warlord genes in canon—even worth?
…
[Sea Circle Calendar 1509 · July]
Following Tenma's leads, the Shadow Guards latched tightly onto former Navy officer Diez Barrels, pulled off a black-on-black ambush, and successfully intercepted the priceless Op-Op Fruit.
That same month, after intense brainstorming between craftsmen and scientists, the alloy mechanical legion officially entered mass production.
Bloodline-factor encoding for Paramecia types—far more complex than Zoans—was also placed on the agenda.
Recently, Yamato had been running to the labs every day, serving as a human power bank, constantly discharging lightning to assist the research.
…
[Sea Circle Calendar 1509 · August]
The thoroughly brainwashed and conditioned Baby 5 was also added to the research lineup.
Her Arms-Arms Fruit ability was practically tailor-made for this project, providing the research teams with massive amounts of data.
Compared to those esoteric biological studies, the more practical individual combat suit was developed first.
Similar to Germa 66's raid suits, it possessed the toughness of memory alloy—fireproof, smash-proof.
The soles were equipped with hovering jet modules, allowing the wearer not only to sprint at high speed in midair but even to fly.
Taking naval combat into account, the scientists also borrowed Fish-Man Island's coating technology, creating a waterproof mode.
This allowed ability users to flail around underwater for a bit instead of instantly becoming helpless landlubbers.
This was only the prototype.
Once more complex bloodline encodings were perfected, the suit could be further upgraded.
At that point, wearing it would allow even ordinary people to poison, spew fire, release lightning, turn invisible, or even gain enhanced strength.
This wasn't clothing anymore—it was mass-produced superhumans.
Looking at the explosive growth of the tech tree over the past year, Tenma nodded in satisfaction.
This was truly a year of technological eruption for Wano.
As expected—science and technology were the primary productive forces.
…
Late Sea Circle Calendar 1509
Another top-tier swordsman arrived at Wano's shores, drawn by its reputation.
With eyes sharp as an eagle's and hailed as the "Marine Hunter," the genius swordsman Dracule Mihawk cut his way through countless challenges and stepped onto the land of samurai.
Tenma, of course, was extremely familiar with this man.
This was the future World's Greatest Swordsman.
Not only did Tenma refrain from driving him away, he opened the gates wide, allowing Mihawk to challenge Wano's experts freely.
In just one month, Mihawk was like an unsheathed blade, sweeping through Wano's martial world without a single defeat.
Veterans like Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Yasuie, as well as the newly promoted Oniwabanshu candidate Snow Samurai Yaoya—all fell beneath his black blade.
For a time, Mihawk's name echoed throughout Wano.
But his invincible aura was finally shattered.
When he faced Gion (Momousagi)—who had already ascended to the realm of Great Swordsman under Tenma—he tasted defeat for the first time.
A week later, unwilling to accept it, he challenged Koshiro, only to lose once again.
Mihawk was strong, but he was still some distance from the peak—far from the lonely, unrivaled state of his future self. Losing to two already-famous Great Swordsmen was no disgrace.
After watching his two generals take turns "educating" him, Tenma felt the timing was right and finally decided to meet the future Hawkeye in person.
He understood Mihawk too well—a pure sword fanatic who would pay any price to grow stronger. His recent duel with Red-Hair had already shaken the seas.
"So it's finally your turn, the true boss?"
On the dueling platform, Mihawk watched the approaching figure, his pupils shrinking sharply, a tremor in his voice.
He wasn't stupid. Being able to freely challenge masters in such a xenophobic land as Wano meant he had the tacit approval of the supreme ruler before him.
That didn't surprise him.
Those who stand at the peak of swordsmanship never refuse challengers.
What he hadn't expected was that the final boss would personally step onto the stage.
"What? Hands shaking?"
Tenma's teasing voice rang out.
Mihawk instantly drew the Supreme Grade blade Yoru from his back, battle intent blazing in his eyes.
"Of course not! To cross swords with the strongest swordsman of this era is my honor!"
He announced his blade with pride, knowing full well his chances were slim, yet craving that breakthrough at the edge of life and death.
The two previous defeats had already given him new insights. This time, he would use Tenma—the hardest whetstone imaginable—to sharpen his sword intent even further.
"As a swordsman, you're fortunate to wield such a fine blade."
Tenma casually raised a hand. The sword at his waist seemed alive, drawing itself and settling into his palm.
"That is…?"
Mihawk stared at the weapon. He had done his homework—rumors said the Flying General wielded a famed blade named Shidarezura.
This sword bore traces of Shidarezura, yet its aura was entirely different—deeper, more dangerous.
"It once was Shidarezura. Now it's called Black Blade · Akizakura."
"You're the first outsider, besides my subordinates, to see its complete form."
With a light flick of his wrist, Tenma traced a sword flower. Though no sword energy was released, the ground ahead was ripped open as if plowed by invisible blades, fissures plunging endlessly deep.
"Black blade… a new Supreme Grade?"
A storm raged in Mihawk's heart. To his knowledge, no such blade existed among the Twelve Supreme Grades.
"You can consider it the thirteenth," Tenma said calmly.
"In simple terms, my Shidarezura was upgraded."
With the black technology of the Munch-Munch Fruit, Tenma had not only reforged Shidarezura into a black blade, but also retrieved the stolen national treasure Shusui from Moria—collecting the Clear-Clear Fruit along the way.
Using Synthesis, Shusui's devouring nature and Shidarezura's extreme offensive power merged perfectly—
giving birth to this monster blade of peak hardness and destruction: Akizakura.
As for Moria? Tenma had no time for him now. He could rot a little longer.
Mihawk recovered quickly from the shock. After all, Wano's forging techniques were peerless.
What truly stunned him was this—
That blade was black.
Staring at the pitch-black blade, Mihawk's expression turned grave.
He was walking this path himself. Only by tempering a blade through countless battles, bathing it day and night in Armament Haki, achieving unity between man and sword, could a blade be forged into a permanent black blade.
Across history, only a handful had succeeded—Ryuma among them centuries ago.
Even Koshiro and Gion, who had just defeated him, hadn't crossed this threshold.
More terrifying still was the oppressive aura radiating from Akizakura. Even Yoru trembled faintly, as if encountering a natural predator.
Just standing against it felt like facing a mountain.
This—this was the pressure a true World's Greatest Swordsman should have!
"Please enlighten me!"
Hawkeye bowed slightly. Before the words finished, he vanished.
Buzz!
A shrill scream tore through the air as Mihawk closed in instantly, unleashing a razor-sharp slash straight at Tenma's face.
The next second—
Tenma tightened his grip and swung.
No flashy techniques. No complex maneuvers.
Just a simple horizontal cut.
Yet within that plain strike lay despair-inducing power—swordsmanship and Haki perfectly fused!
Whooom—!
As the blade fell, the air seemed sucked dry. A terrifying shockwave erupted like a tsunami, the ground on both sides being flung away like tofu.
Boom!
Mihawk's slash shattered like glass against a hammer.
The overwhelming sword pressure crashed into him.
Gritting his teeth, Mihawk barely blocked—only to be blasted more than ten meters away.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal clashed like a torrential storm.
The battle was completely one-sided. Tenma strolled leisurely, while Mihawk struggled desperately, battered and barely holding on.
Yet within this suffocating exchange, Mihawk's eyes only grew sharper.
This was why he was called Hawkeye—those eyes that could perceive the essence of all things and see through every flaw.
Against Gion and Koshiro, he could see their weaknesses; he had lost only due to inferior raw strength.
As long as there was a flaw, there was hope to surpass.
But now…
On Tenma's body, Hawkeye failed.
Aside from barely tracking his movements, Tenma was like a perfect circle—no weaknesses anywhere!
Clang—!
Another ear-splitting collision.
The earth shattered as Mihawk was smashed straight into a deep crater.
When the dust settled, he crawled out, disheveled.
His iconic wine-red shirt was in tatters, his body covered in fine sword cuts, blood staining his chest.
These weren't direct hits—just wounds from Tenma's overflowing sword pressure.
He had blocked every physical attack, yet was still injured this badly.
What truly crushed him was realizing—
The man before him hadn't even been serious.
It was like an adult indulging a child's game.
"Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!"
Mihawk laughed instead of raging, madness in his voice.
This suffocating despair—this was the pressure he had always dreamed of! Only by crossing this mountain could he glimpse the ultimate realm of swordsmanship!
He tore off his shredded coat and gripped Yoru with both hands.
Since there were no weaknesses, there was no need to look for any!
Attack—just attack!
At that moment, Mihawk's aura skyrocketed. His entire being became a blade piercing the heavens, its edge impossible to look at directly.
"Then let me see just how deep the abyss between me and the strongest in the world truly is!"
With a roar, he unleashed a strike carrying every ounce of his spirit—a heaven-splitting blow descending upon Tenma!
"As you wish."
Tenma's expression remained calm as black-and-red lightning wrapped around Akizakura—Conqueror's Haki unleashed!
BOOM—!
The two supreme blades collided again.
It was as if a nuclear bomb detonated. The shockwave ravaged everything.
Mihawk's so-called unity of man and sword crumbled instantly before absolute power, torn apart like paper.
"Die!!!"
In that instant, Hawkeye received only one message from his senses.
Not a weakness—but a single word screamed by every cell in his body, the primal terror of death.
Wooooom—!
A world-destroying slash brushed past his ear.
Immediately after, a teeth-grinding sound of annihilation echoed behind him.
Mihawk stood frozen. Without turning, he knew the land behind him was likely gone.
Buzz…
His ears rang—temporary deafness from the sonic boom of that strike.
"…I lost."
Mihawk's face was deathly pale as he dropped to one knee, barely supporting himself with Yoru, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
Had that final strike not held back at the last moment, the void behind him would have been his final resting place.
Tenma casually twirled his sword and asked evenly,
"You must have foreseen this outcome before drawing your blade, didn't you?"
Foreseen or not, when reality struck, the helplessness still came like a tide.
Compared to those two legendary figures, Tenma was the one who truly crushed him utterly—leaving not the slightest room for resistance.
Enduring the pain, Mihawk straightened his back as best he could. In those sharp hawk-eyes burned an even fiercer flame.
"World's Greatest Swordsman—you live up to the name. I accept this defeat completely."
He took a deep breath, each word ringing like steel.
"But I won't stop here. I will temper my sword intent without cease, until I am qualified to stand before you again and swing my blade."
Tenma looked at the stubborn man before him, a trace of appreciation in his eyes.
"In such a short time traveling through Wano, you've already broken your bottleneck—one foot into the realm of Great Swordsmen."
He paused, then extended the olive branch he had long prepared.
"You truly are a genius born for the sword. Are you interested in staying in Wano and becoming one of my subordinates?"
Mihawk fell silent.
The offer didn't surprise him. Tenma had tacitly allowed him to challenge masters across Wano, even personally stepping in to guide him—everything had already made the intent clear.
Tenma valued him openly.
But Mihawk was proud by nature, used to solitude. He sailed alone on a coffin boat, became a bounty hunter merely to avoid restraints.
Seeing the hesitation in his eyes, Tenma smiled, striking precisely at his weakness.
"Don't worry. Joining me doesn't mean shackles."
His tone was casual, as if discussing the weather.
"You can remain a lone eagle—go wherever you wish. You don't need to stay in Wano. The seas are yours."
"There's only one condition."
"When Wano needs strength, your sword will answer my call."
It was essentially the Seven Warlords system—only this time, the object of loyalty wasn't the World Government, but Tenma himself.
The terms were generous. To recruit the future greatest swordsman, sacrificing this much freedom was more than worth it.
Seeing Mihawk still weighing the decision, Tenma added fuel to the fire.
"Of course, if the deal fails, friendship remains. If you refuse, I won't force you."
Mihawk raised his head in surprise, clearly not expecting such magnanimity.
But then Tenma's tone shifted, instantly freezing the air.
"However, you also know—Wano has always been a closed country. I am its general. Rules cannot be broken."
"If you refuse, once your injuries heal, I will politely escort you out of the country."
"And you won't be coming back."
Mihawk's expression darkened instantly.
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