One Piece: Demon's Extract Chapter 35: 35

An urgent call ca from Marine Headquarters, and Sengoku answered it reflexively. Recently, the naval branches around the world had been in frequent communication.

The call ca from Hachinosu. It was Vice Admiral Tokikake.

"What? The Elior Pirates are making a move on Hachinosu?"

"They're wiping out the local powers?"

"Where is Vice Admiral Gion?"

Tokikake replied, "I haven't seen her yet, but… Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what are your orders?"

Sengoku took a deep breath. "Avoid engaging them directly. Be careful and prioritize your safety. If confrontation is unavoidable, don't act alone. Their overall strength surpasses yours and Gion's combined. Don't be reckless."

He clenched his fist. "Damn it... But right now, we don't have the ans to eradicate them. We can only watch them grow."

Sengoku felt a headache pounding in his temples.

Tsuru added "Sengoku, perhaps we shouldn't worry too much. The war will be over in ten days, and Headquarters can regroup. Once we're ready, we can enter the New World and eliminate Elior's crew."

Her words gave Sengoku a glimr of hope. How much stronger can they get in ten, maybe twenty days?

After all, even the youngest of the Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks, took decades to build his empire. Elior, though powerful now, couldn't possibly grow that much in a month... right?

Tsuru's words were ant to reassure, but none of them could imagine how rapidly Elior's strength was evolving—into sothing truly terrifying.

And now, one of their top assets — Vice Admiral Gion — had already run into serious trouble.

...

anwhile, on Hachinosu…

"Please… please, brother, let go… Have rcy…"

"I'll serve you loyally! I swear!"

The one begging was the Blood Spider—a fifty-sothing-year-old pirate, now on his knees before Bullet.

He had lived through the era when Bullet rampaged across the New World. He knew exactly what kind of monster he was facing—and he was terrified.

Desperate, Blood Spider tried to negotiate. "I'm with the Beast Pirates… I have connections…"

But Bullet didn't even blink.

Monts later, the building exploded. Bullet soared into the air, clutching Blood Spider's severed head.

Outside the rubble, corpses littered the ground.

Elsewhere, Shiryu, sword dripping with blood, was cutting down enemies left and right. Behind him, Urouge was tanking hits on purpose — his ability made him stronger the more damage he took.

And then there was Crocodile.

He slamd his palm into the ground.

"Ground Death!"

With a rumble, the earth cracked open. Moisture was drained from everything nearby—turning enemies to dried husks.

In another part of the island, Kriss, leader of one of the four regional factions, was sweating.

"Who the hell does that bastard think he is?!"

Kriss had a bounty of 570 million, but even his towering five-ter fra trembled. Deep down, he was afraid.

...

At the center of it all, in a grand hall within Hachinosu's underground stronghold, a eting was underway.

The top dogs of the New World's underworld had gathered: the Germa 66, Stussy, Morgan, Du Feld — major players who could rival even the World Governnt in influence.

Reiju stood behind her father Judge, alongside her strange, colorful brothers.

Suddenly, the doors swung open.

Elior entered the room, flanked by Law and Weevil.

"Looks like everyone's here. Let introduce myself — I'm Elior"

He casually sat down in an empty seat next to Judge. The room fell silent. Every single person here knew who he was: a young pirate with the power of an admiral, labeled by the World Governnt as a rising threat—on par with the Yonko.

"Oh, right… Almost forgot."

With a smirk, Elior opened the bag Weevil had been carrying and dumped a human head onto the table with a thud.

Gasps echoed through the room.

It was Umit —the Shipping King,, one of the underground emperors who monopolized shipping routes. He hadn't shown up today. Now they knew why.

Elior had taken his seat… by force.

"Hey, sweetheart" Elior said with a grin, looking at Reiju. "How about giving a neck massage? I'm feeling a little stiff."

Reiju froze. The image of Elior casually placing a severed head on the table was still fresh in her mind.

"M-?"

She, who was usually composed and seductive, was now completely shaken.

"Reiju, didn't you hear the man?"

That voice didn't co from Elior. It was Judge—her father.

Even her brothers — Ichiji, Niji, and Yonji — were stunned. Why would their father, Judge, say sothing like that?

But Judge remained composed. As king of the Germa and patriarch of the Vinsmoke family, he understood the value of power.

If offering his daughter could earn the favor of soone like Elior… why not?

In his mind, Elior might be the next Yonko.

And if so, this was a tree worth clinging to with everything he had.