ONE PIECE: FRAGMENT EXTRACTION SYSTEM

"Maggie, I'm back!"

In a small tavern in Windmill Village, the door swung open as a sturdy yet youthful figure strode in, his voice ringing through the cozy establishment.

A boy, no older than fifteen or sixteen, yet already approaching 1.8 meters in height, stood in the doorway. He wore a simple white vest and carried a massive wild boar slung effortlessly over his shoulder. The beast, easily weighing two to three hundred kilograms, hung limp, its capture seemingly requiring no visible effort from the young man.

"Leo is back!"

Maggie, a warm and gentle woman with dark blue hair, was wiping down a table when she looked up and smiled at the sight of the returning youth.

"Bring me a beer, the strongest one!"

With a loud thud, Leone tossed the wild boar onto the wooden floor and made his way to the bar, plopping down on a stool.

"Already prepared for you!" Maggie replied cheerfully, retrieving a chilled mug from the small icebox and placing it before him.

"Thanks, Maggie!"

Leone grabbed the mug and took a hearty gulp. Foam and amber liquid trickled down the corner of his mouth, soaking into his vest as he let out a satisfied sigh.

"Ahh! That hits the spot!" He placed the empty mug down with a thud and grinned. "Maggie, your drinks just keep getting better!"

"You just came back from hunting, take a rest," Maggie said kindly.

"Sounds good."

Stretching out on the old but comfortable sofa, Leone let his body relax. As he settled in, a strange, colorful progress bar appeared in his mind—a phenomenon he had grown disturbingly familiar with.

99% Progress.

It was bizarre and incomprehensible.

Despite having been an ordinary Earthling in his previous life, Leone had never encountered anything as strange as this. The progress bar had been with him since the day he awoke in this world. It never faded, never disappeared, always hovering in his mind like a persistent reality.

And the strangest part? He wasn't on Earth anymore. He was in the world of One Piece.

At first, he had refused to believe it. But after encountering Marines, pirates, and hearing rumors about Monkey D. Luffy, the Grand Line, and the New World, there was no denying it any longer.

Especially after recognizing familiar places and faces. Windmill Village—the very village where Luffy was born. The same place where Red-Haired Shanks once laughed and drank, gifting Luffy the legendary straw hat that set his journey into motion.

Three months had passed since Leone woke up in this world. And today marked his 100th day.

Based on his knowledge of One Piece, the timeline he found himself in aligned with the aftermath of the Enies Lobby incident—when Luffy and his crew had just declared war against the World Government.

Next would come the fateful clash between Blackbeard and Portgas D. Ace. Ace's defeat would lead to his imprisonment in Impel Down and, ultimately, his execution at Marineford.

Blackbeard would seize this opportunity to claim Ace as his stepping stone to becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Gekko Moria, the Celestial Dragons, Boa Hancock… Leone vividly remembered the cascade of events that would follow.

With no internet, no phones, and nothing connecting him to his past life, Leone had long since grown numb to his predicament. He had fully adapted to the rhythm of life in this world.

Except for one thing—the progress bar in his mind.

What is this progress bar?

Leone pondered this question almost every day.

It increased by exactly 1% per day, and today, it had reached 99%. Meaning, tomorrow, it would hit 100%.

What happens when it reaches full?

Would it signify his death? Would he be ejected from this world, sent back to Earth? Or was it something far worse?

The possibilities consumed his thoughts.

And then—

BAM!

The tavern door swung open once more.

"Oi! Boss, bring us a dozen beers!"

The door of the bar was shoved open with a bang, and several burly, rough-looking men swaggered inside.

Leone's eyes darkened.

"It's them again."

He recognized this group—they were thugs from Foosha Village.

These men were notorious for bullying the villagers, using brute force to extort money and free drinks. If anyone resisted, they wouldn't hesitate to beat them—some walked away with broken ribs, others never walked again.

Leone had only heard their names before and rarely ran into them. They didn't frequent this bar much; business was slow, and there weren't many people to prey on. Other taverns in the village offered more entertainment.

But tonight, they were here.

"Oi, barkeep! Bring the beer! My throat's drier than the Grand Line!"

There were eight of them. As soon as they sat down, they made themselves comfortable—crossing their legs, lighting cigarettes, and some even propping their dirty boots on the tables.

At the sight of them, the other patrons hurriedly slipped out, unwilling to get involved. Within moments, only Leone and the gang remained in the bar.

"Here's your beer," Maggie, the barmaid, quickly served them, not daring to show any displeasure.

The thugs laughed loudly, their voices echoing through the bar as they downed their drinks. Leone, trying to rest, felt his irritation grow.

"Damn it… these guys…"

After months of training, Leone had built up his strength—he could hunt wild boars on his own now. But against these thugs? He didn't stand a chance.

He'd heard rumors about them. They weren't just common crooks—they were former pirates. Their crew had been annihilated by a much stronger pirate group, forcing them to flee and hide out in Foosha Village. Since the local hunters couldn't overpower them, no one dared to oppose them.

"If only I had a Devil Fruit… I'd teach these bastards a lesson!"

Leone clenched his fists.

Devil Fruits—the legendary treasures of the sea. Eating one granted unimaginable power, but at the cost of losing the ability to swim. If he had a Devil Fruit, these thugs wouldn't even be worth his time.

Just as that thought crossed his mind—

A strange, colorful progress bar appeared in his mind.

100%

"Wha—"

A sudden jolt of electricity coursed through Leone's body. His vision blurred, his muscles tensed, and a mechanical female voice rang in his head:

"System binding complete. Welcome to the Synthesis System—the strongest system in existence!"

Leone's heart pounded.

"W-Who said that?"

He glanced around in alarm, but then his eyes widened in shock.

Inside his mind… a strange furnace had appeared.