"Did you hear? Fire Fist Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, was captured by the Navy and thrown into Impel Down, the underwater prison!"
"For real? Knowing how protective Whitebeard is of his men, I bet he's going to lead the Whitebeard Pirates to storm Impel Down any time now!"
"Tch! Didn't news just come out recently that Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander, got killed? Did Whitebeard even make a move then?!"
"That's different! That was internal strife within the Whitebeard Pirates, completely different situation!"
"You guys aren't pirates from the Whitebeard crew, nor are you Marines. Why are you so worked up? Just chill like me and enjoy the show with some popcorn, hahahaha!!"
In a tavern on some island in the New World, a bunch of drunks were drinking and excitedly gossiping about this juicy rumor they heard from who-knows-where.
Sitting quietly in a corner, Sero listened with keen interest.
After all, as someone who had transmigrated to this world, Sero knew that this was a major event that was about to shake the entire sea.
[Ding! New mission issued: Rescue Ace during the Summit War. Reward: Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Beast Model, Drunken Sword Immortal Form!]
[Ding! New mission issued: Kill Ace during the Summit War. Reward: Zoan-type Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Beast Model, Twelve-Winged Angel Form!]
Out of nowhere, Sero's head rang with two familiar system chimes. His mission reward system had issued new quests again.
Normally, the system would only issue one quest at a time, so getting two at once surprised Sero.
Even more interestingly, both missions were different approaches to the same event.
Both rewards were Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits, one being the Drunken Sword Immortal, the other the Twelve-Winged Angel.
When he heard the options, Sero's immediate instinct was to choose the Drunken Sword Immortal Form.
Not only because he already loved drinking and swordplay, but also, he had zero interest in becoming a "birdman."
"These two choices don't seem too hard to pick between... The real problem is that completing either of them means getting involved in the Summit War. If I'm not careful, I could get killed."
Ever since arriving in this world, Sero had tried to keep himself uninvolved in major factions, neither a pirate nor a Marine.
At most, to complete system missions, he had captured over a thousand pirates and was considered a bounty hunter by the public.
If it weren't for the reward from that mission, a Mythical Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit, Vermilion Bird Form, he probably would've just stayed a regular, unknown swordsman.
"Chirp chirp chirp!!"
Suddenly, a small fiery red bird that had been sipping from Sero's cup started screeching in agitation.
Its tiny red feathers burst into flame.
"What's wrong, Little Sparrow?"
Sero looked confused.
He immediately expanded his Observation Haki across the entire island but didn't detect any threatening presence.
"Chirp chirp chirp!!"
"What? A powerful and bloodthirsty person is coming here fast by ship?!"
Little Sparrow, having eaten the Mythical Zoan Bird-Bird Fruit: Vermilion Bird Form, had extremely sharp perception, far beyond Sero's own.
After the warning, Sero also detected the presence of a dangerous and powerful person, accompanied by several other strong individuals.
Most likely a formidable pirate crew.
Not unusual in the New World.
But for someone to trigger an early warning from Little Sparrow? That made Sero pay close attention.
Sure enough, after landing, the group headed straight toward the tavern.
"Did we piss off some big-shot pirate recently?"
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
"What do you mean, 'so what if we did'? Burn them all with fire?! Little Sparrow, how can you be so violent? We're law-abiding citizens!"
Sero flicked Little Sparrow on the forehead.
This bird, barely the size of his fist, was incredibly aggressive to anyone besides Sero.
Ever since it ate the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, its temper grew alongside its power.
If Sero hadn't stopped it, those thousand captured pirates would've been incinerated on the spot.
BANG!!!
The tavern doors exploded into splinters from a powerful kick.
Everyone inside was stunned.
"Where is the wretched pirate who dared harm my subordinate? Get out here and die!!"
A haughty and furious female voice echoed through the tavern.
Everyone looked up.
What greeted them was the most graceful and alluring body in the sea… but no head.
Oh, wait, if you looked closer, you'd see the head, just bent completely backwards at a ridiculous 180° angle!
The bizarre pose sent the drunks into roaring laughter, ignoring her deadly tone.
"Where did this dumb woman come from? Hahahaha!"
"Who enters a tavern like that? She's from a circus or something?!"
"Dumb or not, damn, that body! I'll be the one who 'hurt her subordinate', please punish me!"
"Wait a minute… she looks familiar. Isn't she on a wanted poster?"
"Could she be… Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords?!"
The laughter stopped abruptly.
Moments later, the woman raised her head, revealing her full face.
The drunks' pupils widened in disbelief.
No one in the New World could mistake the face of the world's most beautiful woman, Boa Hancock, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
BOOM!!!
A massive wave of Conqueror's Haki burst from Hancock, sweeping across the entire island.
Everyone in the tavern collapsed instantly. Even those outside on the island fell unconscious.
No one could withstand Hancock's overwhelming presence.
"Hm?!"
In her rage, Hancock suddenly noticed something odd—Sero, sitting in the corner like nothing had happened, and Little Sparrow, still casually flapping.
She frowned slightly.
This man had resisted her Conqueror's Haki, which was impressive. But that tiny bird also withstood it?
That didn't seem right.
"Chirp chirp chirp!!!"
"Huh? She hasn't said anything yet, Little Sparrow. Why do you say she's disrespecting you?!"
"Chirp chirp chirp!!!"
"You could tell from her eyes?! Sorry, I haven't even looked past her long legs yet..."
Little Sparrow bared its beak, about to torch Hancock on the spot.
Sero quickly stopped it.
In its fury, Little Sparrow's flames would flow like a waterfall.
If he let it go, the entire island might burn down in minutes.
"So, you're the damn pirate who hurt my subordinate? No wonder you're so cocky, you've got some skill. But to me, killing you is as easy as squashing an ant!"
Hancock snapped out of her brief surprise and returned to a furious state.
Without waiting for a word of explanation from the confused Sero, she launched a fierce flying kick straight at him.
"Ah, seriously..."
Caught off guard, Sero had no choice but to dodge.
Swish!
Using "Soru," one of the Navy's Six Powers, Sero vanished just before the kick landed, taking Little Sparrow with him.
A moment later, the area he had stood in, tables, chairs, and walls. It was blasted to pieces.
The power was like a cannon shell.
"A hot-tempered female pirate, huh?"
Ten meters away, Sero placed Little Sparrow on his right shoulder and slowly drew the katana at his waist.
From his experience capturing a thousand pirates, Sero knew: only after beating them half-dead would a pirate listen to reason.
Of course, some didn't listen even then.
For example, when Sero told them Impel Down had free food and housing, some pirates still didn't believe him, even after getting beaten to death.
[Ding! New mission issued: Conquer Hancock. Reward: Complete Rasengan Skill Set!]
Another surprise mission from the system.
Sero couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
After all, when he started learning swordsmanship, his master told him:
"No women in your heart, draw your blade like a god."
And Sero had vowed never to get involved with women until he became a great swordmaster.
"…Wait a second. I am already a great swordmaster, huh? Well, then it's fine. Though I do want Hancock… no! I mean, I want the full Rasengan skill set…"
No man can say no to spinning orbs.
He exhaled deeply, raised his katana, and pointed it at Hancock in a combat stance.
A sharp, overwhelming sword aura surged forward like a wave of invisible blades.
Startled, Hancock hastily raised her arms to defend