It had been 1 year and 11 months since the Revolutionaries left Swallow Island. During that time, Benimaru continued his training routine but also found time to pursue his science project. He aimed to create a version of the "green blood" used by Vegapunk to replicate Devil Fruits—or perhaps even recreate the SMILE method, but with a 100% success rate and no side effects.
Benimaru also started a business: an alcohol refinery that produced high-quality beverages. The refinery quickly gained popularity, prompting him to develop more premium variations. Using his Devil Fruit abilities, Benimaru accelerated the aging process of alcohol, particularly rum and scotch, by amplifying the necessary chemical reactions, significantly enhancing their flavor. These high-end products sold for over 1,000,000 berries.
Despite the steep price, his alcohol became surprisingly popular. It turned into a luxury product enjoyed by both marines and pirates. Naturally, there were those who tried to exploit or rob his business, but Benimaru eliminated any pirates who posed a threat. He used the profits to fund his experiments and expand his operations. Within a year, his business grew to include everyday-use products and delivery services.
With his booming enterprise and delivery network, Benimaru had enough resources to pursue one of his obsessions: recreating Chemtech, a technology prominent in the League of Legends and Arcane universes. After a year of experimentation, he succeeded.
Benimaru engineered ten new soldiers with Chemtech enhancements, similar to his five cyborgs. Among them, three served as commanders to whom he had granted intelligence; the others could only follow commands. The first commander was Warwick, a wolf–buccaneer hybrid. The second was Urgot, a humanoid with crab-like legs and built-in artillery powered by Chemtech. The third was Renata, a buccaneer clone equipped with a weapon that released a gas inducing uncontrollable rage in those who inhaled it, causing them to attack anyone nearby, friend or foe.
As Benimaru's business empire expanded, these Chemtech soldiers were tasked with protecting his products during transportation across various regions.
Not only did Benimaru's business grow, but his strength also increased, starting with his mastery of martial arts. As he deepened his understanding, Benimaru began developing physical abilities of his own. He successfully recreated the assassination techniques of Killua Zoldyck, including the use of claws and the move known as The Snake Awakens.
Benimaru's Haki training also progressed significantly. His Observation Haki awakened, allowing him to see more than 30 seconds into the future—an ability considered impossible. However, thanks to the Essence of Self, his capabilities were pushed beyond normal limits. He could even erase his presence using Observation Haki. Meanwhile, his Armament Haki had reached a level where he could perform both emission and internal destruction techniques. Benimaru believed he was capable of replicating Garp's Galaxy Impact purely through his mastery of Armament Haki.
However, Benimaru was concerned about his Conqueror's Haki. Unlike Observation and Armament, Conqueror's Haki could not be trained; it had to be awakened. Though he had yet to unlock it, Benimaru was confident he possessed the potential. The Essence of Self had given him the highest talent of his race, and as a half-Celestial Dragon and bearer of the Will of D, he was destined to awaken it—he just didn't know when. His impatience began to grow.
As for his weapon, Benimaru decided that, given how advanced his Observation Haki had become, it would be a waste not to utilize a firearm, at least as one of his weapons. So, he created a sniper rifle. But it wasn't just any sniper; it was modeled after Jhin's Blood Moon gun from an alternate world. The rifle had a sleek, deep-purple design and could fire only four shots per reload. Each bullet was uniquely crafted: upon contact, it would immediately explode, releasing a special chemical compound. This compound would alter the target's DNA, transforming their body into a rose-like plant structure, fragile and volatile. Once transformed, the slightest touch would cause them to detonate violently.
His research into Green Blood, however, was not progressing well. Despite having access to Vegapunk's notes, the documents were incomplete and lacked the most critical components of the experiment. This made Benimaru conclude that it was now time to leave the Swallow Island; his business was being handled by Wolf and Renata, and he made it so that Renata is a smart woman, capable of cruelty, and would listen to Wolf.
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Benimaru stood at the summit of the mountain they always climbed, gazing out at the horizon and the breathtaking view of Swallow Island. He couldn't help but reflect on everything he had experienced. The past two years had passed in the blink of an eye, yet they were filled with unforgettable memories—especially with the five people who had taken him in. He remembered his deep discussions with Law about medicine, how they exchanged insights and worked together to improve various treatments. He smiled at the thought of the friendly banter with Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin—moments he would treasure forever.
"A lot has happened in these past two years... but I think it's time for me to pursue everything I've ever wanted," Benimaru thought. "I'll create my own pirate crew—and we'll become the strongest crew to ever exist. Stronger even than the legendary crew of Joyboy."
He recalled the theory that Joyboy had once been a pirate, whose crew included members of every known race—possibly even including Imu. As soon as Benimaru finished his declaration, a powerful aura surged from his body. It was pure will—undeniable, overwhelming, and absolute. The air around him cracked with pressure as the sky darkened; storm clouds formed rapidly above, unleashing a sudden tempest over the entire island.
Benimaru knew exactly what this meant.
His Conqueror's Haki had awakened.
"Finally..." he thought, observing the destruction around him—the trees bent under the pressure, rocks split apart, and birds fled the skies. "I kept wondering when it would appear. Turns out, I just had to begin my journey."
The scene reminded him of the stories—of the moment Shanks unleashed his Haki on Whitebeard's ship. And now, Benimaru had taken the first true step toward his destiny.