one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 340: Clash of Titans – Mio vs. Garp

"How about a taste of my Iron Fist of Justice?"

Garp roared, hurling a powerful punch.

Mio also clenched his fist, Armament Haki surging over his hand as the combined forces of the dragon and demon energies wrapped around his body. He launched his fist forward.

Yet, just as the attack was about to connect, Mio's figure vanished—then reappeared on the opposite side and struck at Garp once more.

But Garp's reflexes were nothing short of monstrous. The instant Mio disappeared and reappeared, Garp had already turned and launched a counterattack.

Their fists collided.

In the next moment, both men were blasted backward, crashing into the earth.

Dust flew.

Mio climbed out of the crater he left behind, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with a wide, exhilarated grin. "Old man, your strength isn't half bad."

"Heh, don't underestimate me. I'm not as ancient as you make me sound," Garp replied, rising as well. He, too, had blood at the corner of his lips.

The injuries were caused by the same Ryusakura-enhanced blows.

Mio was impressed. Garp had indeed remained in his prime, untouched by age.

Think of the old legends—Golden Lion, Zephyr, Whitebeard. As the years went on, their strength declined. The gap between their prime and their current selves was vast—especially Zephyr, who, after aging and losing an arm, had fallen below admiral level.

But Garp? Garp was built different.

"Tch. Let's just have a real fight," Mio said with a grin. After witnessing Garp's strength, Mio no longer had the idea of defeating him. It wasn't worth it—not now, at least.

Whether he could or not was one thing. But someone like Garp, who climbed to the top through sheer physical power and Haki, possessed tremendous endurance and recovery. Defeating him would take far too long.

And more importantly—unlike opponents like Sayar, Garp had ways to counter Mio's Replacement ability.

So for now, Mio had no desire to win.

A good fight was enough.

And besides, with his crew on the Black Glory and his own powers, he wasn't worried about safety.

With that in mind, Mio stepped forward and launched himself at Garp again.

Boom.

Boom.

On the island, the collisions intensified.

The powerful tremors caused the entire island to quake. Cracks split the earth, and dust clouds filled the air.

"So strong... he can fight Garp like that..." Gion watched the battle with a serious, complicated gaze.

She had known Mio—Black Crow—was growing fast. But this fast?

In just a few years, he had reached such terrifying heights.

Could she still arrest him?

Gion couldn't help but hesitate.

And the answer came.

No.

She wasn't strong enough. She wasn't even qualified to be his opponent.

"I have to get stronger," Gion murmured to herself, clenching her fists, eyes burning with resolve.

On the battlefield, the combat continued with relentless force.

Each blow shook the island, the ground fracturing under their steps.

At one point, Mio appeared in front of Garp. The two clashed again—fist to fist, blow for blow, their strength nearly equal.

"Kid, you're a real threat. If circumstances were different, I'd drag you back to Impel Down myself!" Garp bellowed, unleashing a powerful punch.

But Mio didn't flinch—he met the blow with one of his own. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Blood trickled from the corners of their mouths again as they staggered back.

Garp stared at Mio with a grave expression. From this man, he saw echoes of the past—just as Whitebeard had once seen Oden, Garp now saw the spirit of the Rocks Pirates.

This was the impression Mio left on him.

Considering Mio's power and the strength of the Black Crow Pirates, Garp couldn't help but compare them to the infamous Rocks Pirates of old.

Looking at the Black Crow crew—Asuka, Shirokaze, Lilith Erica... Every one of them could shake the seas. And they were all still young.

They had time. Time to grow.

Wasn't this the second coming of Rocks?

Garp had once brought down Rocks and earned the title of "Hero of the Marines." He knew exactly how terrifying the threat was back then.

If not for his own limits now, he would have tried to take Mio down and deliver him to the World Government for maximum containment—maybe even lock him up with that person.

If that individual hadn't lost interest in Radluff, the World Government itself might still be in danger.

"Garp," Mio grinned wildly, a savage glint in his eye, "if you really want to catch me, you'd better bring the entire Navy."

As he stepped forward, the earth cracked beneath his feet. In a blink, he reappeared before Garp, launching another blow.

"Every pirate ends up dead in the end—Roger was no different!" Garp roared, meeting him with a fierce punch.

RUMBLE.

They clashed again and separated once more.

"Really? But that was then. Since I came onto the scene, things have changed." Mio's defiant smile was fearless. "The Navy can't take me down. The World Government can't either. And I've got time on my side!"

"You know what? I'm not going to become the next Rocks—I'm going to surpass him!!"

Mio let out a loud, almost maniacal laugh, his battle fervor rising like a storm. His blood was boiling with excitement.

Years ago, a group of pirates gathered on Hachinosu to seize an opportunity for wealth and power. That gathering gave birth to the infamous Rocks Pirates.

They were monsters. Rocks himself, and a crew that included Whitebeard, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, Golden Lion, Silver Axe, Captain John, Wang Zhi, Ba Jin, even Long Bread.

But Mio believed—no, knew—that the Black Crow Pirates had more potential than Rocks ever did.

Back then, Whitebeard and the others were already in their 30s or 40s—already in their prime.

But the Black Crows? None of them had reached their peak yet.

They still had so much room to grow.

That was Mio's confidence. That was the source of his arrogance.

And the Black Glory? More powerful crewmates would appear in the future.

That was Garp's fear—and his warning.

"You won't succeed," Garp said coldly. "This world won't allow a second Rocks to rise."