"Speaking of Kaoru Tsubasa, who the hell can even learn this?"
Zoro muttered, exasperated, as he watched Kaoru trying to teach them how to use Haki.
"What?" Kaoru blinked, puzzled by Zoro's complaint.
"Didn't I already say it?" Kaoru replied innocently. "Just pull the energy once, and then clang—that's all there is to it."
As he spoke, Kaoru extended his arm and demonstrated, letting a dark coating of Armament Haki gleam faintly across his hand.
"Who on earth can learn that just like that?" Sanji and Usopp groaned, watching the display with a mix of awe and frustration.
"Eh? It's not that hard," Luffy said cheerfully.
As soon as he mimicked Kaoru's gesture—stretching out his hand and focusing his will—a dark metallic sheen covered his fist with a sharp clang.
"I actually did it!" Luffy exclaimed in wonder.
Zoro and the others' faces twisted in disbelief as they stared at the jet-black coating on Luffy's hand.
Kaoru blinked several times. He had only meant it as a joke to tease Zoro and the others, not expecting Luffy to actually pull it off.
After a moment, Kaoru realized the reason—Luffy had grown up being smacked around by Garp, who constantly used Armament Haki. That repeated exposure must have made Luffy instinctively familiar with it.
"You guys should rest here for a few days," Nami said, walking over with a tray of freshly cooked food.
The smell made Luffy's eyes light up instantly. He bolted toward her, practically drooling.
"&&&&@*!" he mumbled with his mouth full.
"No one can understand you when you talk like that," Sanji sighed, stepping closer. "Eat first, talk later."
Luffy swallowed his food with a loud gulp, grinning wide. "Nami, be my navigator!"
"Give up. I'm not becoming a pirate," Nami replied flatly, turning away.
Kaoru didn't say a word. He had a bad feeling deep in his gut—something about the air around the village felt wrong.
"You'd better leave quickly," Nami warned before walking away.
"Miss Nami!" Sanji called out dramatically, about to chase after her.
Kaoru caught him by the collar, holding him back. But before they could argue, the villagers rushed over, warning them that outsiders weren't allowed into the village.
"Boom!"
A sudden explosion tore through the calm.
"Something's wrong—let's check it out!" Kaoru said, taking off into the air in an instant.
"Miss Nami, I'm coming!" Sanji shouted, charging straight into the smoke.
"Tch, lovesick idiot," Zoro muttered, scowling as he followed.
Usopp trailed nervously behind Luffy, clutching his slingshot with trembling hands.
Kaoru soared toward the explosion site. Amid the flames and smoke stood a man cloaked in shadows, his body covered with writhing black matter.
Kaoru's eyes narrowed. "Colonel Mouse…?"
That couldn't be right. Buggy had already killed Arlong—and Colonel Mouse along with him.
"Ittō-ryū: Chaofeng!"
Without hesitation, Kaoru swung his sword, releasing a giant purple flaming bird that snatched the shadowy figure away from the village.
Even if there had to be a fight, it couldn't be within Cocoyasi Village.
"ROAR!"
The shadow exploded midair, obliterating Kaoru's fiery bird in an instant.
"What the hell?" Kaoru's eyes widened. The Colonel Mouse he remembered was a coward who'd hidden behind Arlong's power. Yet this one radiated terrifying strength.
And that black substance—Kaoru had seen something like it before. But where?
"Itto-ryū Iai: Lion's Song!"
"Brisquet Shoot!"
Zoro and Sanji arrived, attacking in perfect sync.
But before their blows could land, the black substance rippled—two massive hands formed out of it, grabbing their throats and hurling them away like rag dolls.
"Dual Blade Style: Absolute Ridge!" Kaoru shouted, slicing through the dark hands with blinding speed.
"Dual Blade Style: Devil's Cage!" He swung again, trapping the mutated Colonel Mouse inside a cage of fiery sword energy.
It wouldn't hold long—mere minutes at best. Kaoru activated his system's scanning ability.
[Name: Colonel Mouse]
[Affiliation: Navy]
[Power Level: Unknown]
[Ability: Power Amplification – Temporarily boosts user's combat level beyond normal limits.]
"This is bad," Kaoru muttered. The man's stats spiked wildly—stronger than before, possibly stronger than Kaoru himself.
"Zoro, Sanji—get back!"
Even before they could move, Luffy leapt forward.
"Gomu Gomu no… Machine Gun!"
Rubber fists rained down like bullets.
"Luffy, stop—!" Kaoru shouted, but it was too late.
A jet of black tar exploded from the Colonel's body, trapping Luffy against a tree.
"Damn it! Zoro, Sanji, free him!" Kaoru barked, charging again.
"Dual Blade Style: Fang Thrust!"
He lunged, transforming his twin blades into a sharp spiraling fang.
The Colonel let out an ear-splitting roar, unleashing a shockwave that shattered Kaoru's energy cage and sent him flying backward.
[Warning: Enemy combat level has greatly increased. The opponent now exceeds the host's level.]
The system's voice rang in Kaoru's mind.
"So he activated Power Amplification…" Kaoru gritted his teeth.
Meanwhile, Zoro and Sanji managed to rip the black sludge off Luffy.
"Sorry, my bad!" Luffy grinned sheepishly.
But before they could catch their breath, the black mass twitched—and took shape.
"Zoro, careful!" Kaoru's sword spirit, Bloodthirsty, warned.
The substance solidified into a humanoid shadow, pulsing with malevolent energy.
"What the hell is that thing?" Sanji muttered, taking his stance.
Kaoru quickly scanned it—its power level was low compared to the Colonel's. He decided to let the others handle it.
He needed to end the main fight fast—if the Colonel reached full strength, the entire village would be wiped out.
"Three Sword Style: Demon Star!"
Drawing all three blades, Kaoru unleashed a tri-star slash that sent the Colonel crashing into the trees.
"Everything to ashes—Ryūjin Jakka!"
Flames roared across Kaoru's swords as he invoked his Shikai form, his power soaring to its peak.
"Three Sword Style: Fire Secret Art—Heavenly Flame Prison Dragon!"
A colossal dragon of fire erupted from his blades, surging toward Colonel Mouse.
The black ooze surged upward, forming a massive barrier.
BOOM!
Flames collided violently, shaking the ground.
From within the inferno, a shadow emerged—wearing dark armor. As the figure appeared, Kaoru felt the Colonel's combat level spike again.
"The Sword of Heaven and Earth—Release!"
Kaoru's aura burst outward, lightning crackling around him. Purple armor enveloped his body as he unleashed the sixth seal of the Heaven and Earth Sword.
"Dual Sword Style—First-Class Strike!"
His power skyrocketed—over one hundred thousand in fighting level.
With a single swing, the black defense shattered like glass.
"Pfft—!"
Colonel Mouse coughed blood before collapsing lifelessly. The armored shadow dissolved into smoke.
"Boom…"
Kaoru fell to one knee, panting heavily. He could barely move.
Even though his energy was immense, his body wasn't trained to withstand the strain. Removing the sixth seal had drained every ounce of strength.
Moments earlier—
"Zoro, Sanji, let's finish this guy!" Luffy shouted.
The trio charged the shadowy clone.
"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!"
"Three Sword Style: 108 Pound Phoenix!"
"Collier Strike!"
Their combined assault tore through the air—but the shadow darted behind them, countering with a whip kick.
"This move—Luffy, it's one of your grandfather's!" Zoro shouted. "Razor and Tempest Kick—the Navy's Six Styles!"
"Pay attention, moss-head!" Sanji yelled, intercepting another blow meant for Zoro.
The shadow leapt back, forming three swords from its limbs.
Zoro's eyes widened. "That's my move—108 Pound Phoenix!"
He grinned fiercely. "Fine, let's see who does it better!"
Their twin sword waves collided, cancelling each other out.
"Zoro, Sanji—let me handle this!" Luffy said.
He crouched low, blood pumping rapidly through his veins. Steam hissed from his skin.
"Gear Second!"
In an instant, he vanished, reappearing in front of the shadow. "Gomu Gomu no Jet Pistol!"
One punch sent the black figure flying.
"So fast…" Sanji muttered in disbelief.
But even Second Gear wasn't enough. The creature regenerated.
"Guess I'll have to try the next one."
Luffy bit his thumb, blowing air into his bones.
"Gear Third!"
His right arm ballooned to giant size.
"What the hell—?" Zoro gawked.
"Gomu Gomu no… Giant Pistol!"
The enormous fist came crashing down, smashing the black figure into a pool of black blood.
As the air drained from his body, Luffy shrank rapidly.
"Luffy!" Sanji leapt forward, catching him before he hit the ground.
"Damn, that was close…" Sanji muttered, cigarette trembling in his lips. Then he froze. "Why the hell are you tiny?!"
"It's fine, just temporary," Luffy squeaked.
Zoro sighed. "And this is the guy we're following into the Grand Line…"
A weak voice cut in. "Hey… maybe worry about me first?"
Kaoru lay flat on the ground, half-dead.
Sanji and Zoro exchanged a look—and ran over, still carrying mini Luffy under one arm.
Marijoa — The Holy Land of Flowers
"Failed again, huh?"
A tall man named Gado muttered as he felt his connection to Colonel Mouse vanish.
That idiot had touched a drop of his blood weeks ago while raiding a pirate cache. When Buggy had killed Arlong, the residue of Gado's blood had clung to the Colonel—allowing him to be controlled remotely.
Gado hadn't cared at first, but then… he had sensed a presence. A power hostile to his own.
So, out of curiosity, he had taken control.
But now that link was gone.
"The strongest in this world shouldn't surpass the Dou level," Gado mused. "Yet that man… his combat level reached one hundred thousand."
He smiled faintly, eyes narrowing. "Kaoru Tsubasa… what are you?"