Two days had passed since Mio and his companions arrived at Cazorla Island.
Out on the open sea, not far from the island's shores, two pirate ships drifted closer together.
In this world, even pirates didn't always get along. In fact, more often than not, when pirates encountered each other at sea, it ended in bloodshed. The reason was simple—greed. While some pirates sought freedom or adventure, most would not hesitate to raid their peers if it meant profit.
This time was no different.
Of course, if you asked Mio, he'd say he was completely innocent. He had merely been passing through when one of the ships decided to pick a fight. Naturally, a battle followed.
And just as naturally, it was the other side who paid the price.
Splurt.
Erica, her silver hair fluttering behind her, gracefully sliced her katana through another foe. A flash of silver light was followed by a splash of red, sending another soul to the afterlife.
Warwick, on the other hand, was a monster. His claws tore through flesh and bone like they were paper, every slash a death sentence.
As for Mio, he was calmly facing off against the enemy captain—a burly pirate wielding a spiked mace.
"Bounty: 4.7 million Berries. Bloody Jax," Mio said with a grin, eyeing his opponent.
Jax cracked a savage smile. "Heh. You still dare fight after hearing my name? You've got guts, kid."
Without another word, Jax lunged forward, swinging his mace with tremendous force. The weapon whistled through the air, its heavy head threatening instant death.
But Mio didn't flinch. He raised his blade and met the attack head-on.
Clang!
Sparks erupted as metal collided with metal. For a moment, the two were locked in a contest of strength—but then Mio twisted his blade, knocking the mace off balance and forcing Jax to stumble backward.
The pirate's eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn't expected someone of Mio's build to possess such strength.
"One-Sword Style: Ghost Flash!" Mio muttered coldly.
Before Jax could react, his vision blurred. A sharp sting grazed his neck. The next thing he knew, Mio's silhouette was behind him, and blood was dripping from the katana in Mio's hand.
A moment later, Jax's severed head thudded to the deck.
Ding—!
[Gene Collected: (Pirate) Man]
"Hah, four million Berries," Mio smirked. "If you hadn't attacked me, I might've missed out."
He sheathed his blade with a flick of his wrist.
Jax's lifeless eyes stared blankly at the sky as his head rolled to the side.
Mio bent down, tore off part of the pirate's shirt, and wrapped the head before tying it to his waist. Bounty proof, after all, was important business.
The rest of the ship was already a mess. Bodies littered the deck, most of the enemy pirates already dead or fled. The stench of blood hung heavy in the air.
Erica skipped over, sword still in hand, eyes gleaming as she looked up at her master.
"Master, three escaped. The rest are gone," she reported crisply.
"Well done," Mio praised, reaching out to ruffle her silver hair.
Erica beamed. She leaned into his hand and rubbed her head against his palm, her twin antennae twitching in joy.
Warwick, being a beast, had his limits when it came to comprehension. His body, after all, was still that of a mutated wolf. Erica, on the other hand, possessed a human-like form and the intelligence to match. As a mutant ant, she had adapted quickly, learning faster and acting more naturally around Mio.
"Warwick," Mio called out. "Check the cabin. If there's treasure, grab it. We're heading out soon."
"Warwick got it," the werewolf growled, disappearing below deck.
Mio's eyes drifted toward the horizon. Cazorla Island was now fully visible—a dark green mass growing larger by the second.
His gaze shifted to the head tied at his waist, and he chuckled.
"First stop—cash in the bounty. Then, weapon shopping."
He glanced at the katana in his hand. A small chip had formed near the edge. It wasn't a big deal, but it was a reminder.
Since obtaining the ability [Kendo], Mio had begun imitating the swordsman Zoro from the original One Piece world, practicing daily. Whether it was basic strikes or pushing himself during combat, he fought as often as he could.
And it worked—his strength had improved rapidly.
But without a proper weapon, even a swordsman's talent meant little.
"I hope Cazorla's got something worth buying," Mio muttered, shaking his head.
Just then, Warwick reappeared on the deck, lugging a chest.
Mio's eyes lit up as the wolf dropped the treasure box in front of him. He popped it open—and his smile widened.
Stacks of gold coins, Baileys, and precious trinkets filled the chest to the brim.
"Damn, I'm rich now," Mio said, laughing. "If I exchange the gold, my net worth should be over ten million."
"Master, so much money!" Erica squealed excitedly, peering into the chest.
Mio nodded, grinning at her delight. "Yup. Enough to get you a proper weapon."
"Thank you, Master!" Erica beamed, her cheeks slightly red.
Warwick, meanwhile, stood silently off to the side, staring down at his claws in thought.
Should I… switch to a sword? he wondered seriously.
Mio, of course, had no idea what was going through the werewolf's mind.
With the island growing nearer, Mio began preparing for their arrival.
"Put on your cloaks," he instructed his companions.
While Erica looked mostly human, her antennae and unique cuteness could easily attract unwanted attention. There were Devil Fruit users in the world, of course, but Mio had no intention of letting her stand out.
Both Warwick and Erica nodded, obediently pulling their cloaks over their bodies.
Soon, the ship docked at the island port.
Unsurprisingly, there wasn't a pirate ship in sight. After all, there was a small Marine base stationed on Cazorla Island. Even the most reckless pirate wouldn't casually stroll into a Marine port.
That made it safe enough to leave the ship unattended.
Mio tightened his cloak, checked the wrapped head at his side, and looked to his two companions.
"Let's go."
Today's bounty hunt was complete. But tomorrow? Tomorrow held the promise of blades, upgrades, and perhaps a new step toward legend.