One Piece: Awaken The Replication System

New World

Two ships anchored near the shore, their flags unfurled, signaling the arrival of the Hunter's Guild and the Whitebeard Pirates.

The wind swept over the island, stirring clothes and raising dust, as the two groups eyed each other, the tension mounting. Even Hancock, who usually held herself apart from such scenes, now looked focused, brows knit with a rare seriousness.

After all, this was one of the Four Emperors of the New World—the mightiest force in the region, the Whitebeard Pirates. It wasn't a confrontation anyone could take lightly.

Each Whitebeard captain was formidable; underestimating them was a fatal mistake.

"Leno," Marco broke the silence, locking eyes with him, "why did you kill Bagley?"

Territory was one thing, but the loss of Bagley, a longtime member, hit the crew hard.

Leno's gaze was steady as he replied, "Marco, he's gone. What point is there in asking why?"

"In the New World's chaos, killing and being killed are as ordinary as eating and drinking. Anyone on this path has to be prepared for it—wouldn't you say?"

He looked over at Whitebeard. "As an Emperor, aren't you aware of that? Or maybe, you've gotten so used to being respected that you've forgotten the taste of battle and blood?"

Leno's words, though calm, left Marco and the others speechless.

Bagley wasn't a saint, after all, wiping out the island's inhabitants to establish his pirate stronghold. Theft and violence were his survival tools.

The Whitebeard Pirates had simple rules: don't kill crew members, avoid slavery, and stay clear of contraband. So, by their code, Bagley was family.

But New World rules were different. Allies and enemies blurred in the ever-shifting tides of power.

Leno's decision to take the island and kill Bagley? Well, it was fair game.

As long as he could bear the wrath of the Whitebeard Pirates.

After all, Kaido had killed Oden, the former second division commander, and life had gone on. Whitebeard had other family to think about.

The silence grew thicker, the air seeming to stand still.

"Gurarara! You b*****d killed my son, and as his father, I'll avenge him!"

Whitebeard laughed, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit as his cloak flared out behind him.

Leno rolled his shoulders, smiling. "Just what I wanted. It's been too long since my last fight. I'm practically rusting here!"

He gestured toward a flatter stretch of the island. "How about there? No need to damage the ships."

"Fine!" Whitebeard agreed, shrugging off his cloak to reveal his powerful frame.

In an instant, he leapt into the air, each step echoing with the shattering vibrations of his power, crossing hundreds of meters in a single bound.

Ka-Ka-Ka!

As he landed, the air fractured around him. He'd moved with speed akin to Soru. After all, Whitebeard had clashed countless times with Garp and Sengoku, their moves were no mystery to him.

The island's volcanic rock, hardened by the elements, lay beneath Whitebeard's feet as his massive weapon, Murakumogiri, struck the ground with a resounding clang.

Whoosh!

The wind swirled as Leno arrived opposite Whitebeard, his steps light as if he were gliding on air.

"Leno is so handsome!" Hancock's eyes sparkled with admiration, while Luwell looked on with a scoff.

The two warriors faced each other, a hundred meters apart.

Whitebeard, towering at 666 cm, with a body of pure muscle and his distinctive crescent-shaped beard, stood like a mountain. Once a member of the Rocks Pirates, he had fought against Roger, Golden Lion, and legendary Marines like Garp and Sengoku. The name "Whitebeard" was known across the seas, even in songs sung by children.

Despite his "Living Legend" status, he didn't cling to his title of "strongest."

"The strongest in the world! Just doesn't look like your body's holding up too well these days!" Leno's Observation Haki picked up the creaks in Whitebeard's body, like the groaning planks of an old ship—still seaworthy, but on the verge of collapse.

"Gurarara! Even the strongest have one heart, and that heart will someday face death."

Whitebeard's aging body didn't faze him; his strength and courage hadn't faded.

"I won't hold back just because you're feeling weak. If you can't keep up, I'll take your head without a second thought!"

Leno drew his sword.

Its blade glowed a deep golden-black, with intricate purple patterns on each side: a twisting dragon on one and a divine bird with a flowing tail on the other.

"A black sword?" Whitebeard observed, sensing a power akin to Mihawk's weapon in the blade.

The Black Sword was a symbol of true swordsmanship. Not all swords could become black. It required relentless effort, a melding of the swordsman's Haki with the blade until they became inseparable.

Whitebeard could see that Leno hadn't let his skills dull in the past year, his duel with Kaido must have yielded great insights.

"So, you've reached that level even without transforming into that state?"

He was referring to Leno's Sulong form, which had allowed him to match Kaido in a fierce clash. That transformation doubled his strength, but its restrictions and aftermath made it a last resort.

Leno exhaled, glancing at his status panel in his mind.

[Host Name: Leno]

[Age: 20 years]

[Battle Talents: Armament Haki (SSS), Overlord Body (SSS), Observation Haki (SSS), Gluttonous Demon King (SS), Wind's Blessing (SS), Freezing (SS), Sword Master (SS), Conqueror's Haki (SS), Rokushiki (S), Shark Muscle (S), Fish-Men Karate (S)]

[Auxiliary Talents: Beauty (SSS level) Music (SSS), Strong Luck (SS), Pianist (SS), Infectious (SS), Craftsman's Soul (S), Translation (S), Underwater Breathing (S), Gambling (A), Shipwright (A)]

[Strength Evaluation: The strongest hunter in the world, with the might of an Admiral, your time is now—claim the throne!]

Leno gripped his sword in both hands, narrowing his eyes. "It's only going to get worse from here."

In last year's hunter assessment, Leno had gained numerous talents, yet many lacked the strength he sought, so he'd discarded them. However, through his own relentless training and refinement, some of his talents had blossomed. He tapped into his potential, enhancing abilities like Armament and Observation Haki, even developing new techniques. His current strength undoubtedly reached the peak of an Admiral, capable of defeating Kaido without needing the Sulong form.

But that elusive Gluttony Demon King form, with its 100% power increase, remained out of reach. If he could reach that level, the power of Uranus, Pluton, or Poseidon would matter little.

As the breeze swept across the battlefield, Leno and Whitebeard locked eyes. The air grew thick with tension. From a distance, Margaux and Hancock watched with unease.

Suddenly, Whitebeard brandished Murakumogiri, his mighty weapon, and leapt into the air. With a tremendous stomp that cracked the rock beneath him, he swung down at Leno.

The sword's light gleamed white, slashing toward Leno with incredible speed. Its blade, infused with the force of Conqueror's Haki, shattered the space around it like glass. The terrifying power of the Paramecia Tremor-Tremor Fruit—a force so destructive it could level islands—was evident.

Leno met Whitebeard's assault with his own sword, Dragon Sparrow, wrapped in golden Conqueror's Haki. He raised it to intercept.

Boom!

Like a comet colliding with the moon, their Haki-infused weapons clashed, filling the air with a blazing light.

Zzzt...

Electric arcs crackled outward, forming a shockwave that rippled across the island. "Watch out!" Marco called out, as an invisible pressure crushed down, forcing the hearts of the weaker crew members to skip. Many fell, eyes rolling back as they lost consciousness.

"Leno! His Haki... everything about him is magnificent!" Hancock's eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed as she imagined herself in a wedding dress, ready to marry Leno.

"I'm so happy, my beloved!"

Meanwhile, Lucci, Van Augur, and others watched in astonishment. This was the might of the New World's powerhouses. Even a clash of Haki left them struggling to breathe.

The force of the Conqueror's Haki was immense. Black lightning sparked between Leno and Whitebeard, as their wills battled, pushing each other to the limit. As their swords edged closer, their strength surged in waves.

Boom!

A roaring force shot into the sky, twisting the clouds like a tornado. Lightning tore through the heavens as a massive vortex formed above them. Air blasted outward from their collision, whipping up sand and churning the ocean.

Finally, their swords met, and the rock beneath them split, as if cleaved by a terrifying force. Even the nearby ships trembled, wood creaking and cracking.

Marco, watching, gasped. "This... this is the power of two Conquerors clashing?"

Even he felt the vibrations ringing in his ears.

The winds gusted around them, whipping hair and cloaks. Leno pushed harder, his eyes blazing with golden light. The ground beneath him caved, shattered, and burst outward as he pressed Whitebeard back.

Whitebeard staggered, and in a flash, Leno's sword sliced upward, sending a shockwave through the sky. It tore through the clouds, carving a ten-thousand-meter gash overhead.

"Ah! Father!" Margaret and the others shouted, startled by the sheer power. "That slash... it's sharper than even Hawk Eyes'!"

Whitebeard, bracing himself a hundred meters away, took in the spectacle. His gaze shifted to the split clouds, marveling at the sharpness of Leno's attack.

"No wonder Kaido, who loves head-to-head battles, was wary of him."

Conqueror's and Armament Haki swirled around Leno, fusing into something formidable. Whitebeard finally realized the technique Kaido had glimpsed in his duel with Leno.

"Gu ra ra ra!" Whitebeard laughed heartily. "If you and Roger were in the same era, things would have been interesting!"

"Roger?" Leno raised his sword, sending another slash at Whitebeard. "If we had been, there wouldn't be room for the two of us!"

"Gu ra ra! Bold words!"

Whitebeard shattered the slash with a swing, then reached out with one hand. Click! Space cracked as a shockwave formed around his fist, barreling toward Leno.

Leno sprang into the air, narrowly evading the shockwave as it exploded on the rocky ground below, sending chunks of stone scattering. Whitebeard's raw power was undeniable, with each blow containing vibrations that could bypass armor and skin, hitting the body directly.

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+30 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg