Skill Tree Chronicles: One Piece

[You've reached Water 7 and earned 5 skill points!]

Shen Yuan stared at the five-point skill bonus and burst into ecstatic laughter.

These five points were enough to break through the level cap!

He rapidly distributed them — his speed increased in a flash!

[Speedy Body: 100/100 (When using speed-enhancing skills, movement speed is fully boosted, and stamina consumption during long-distance travel is halved.)]

[Breakthrough mission completed! Current level cap raised to 100!]

[Stage reward received: Ability Absorption (Enables the user to absorb Devil Fruits and convert them into skills. This function will occupy the five free skill slots unlocked after level 80.)]

"Damn it!"

With a loud curse, Shen Yuan shook off Kalifa, who had just been clinging to his arm, leaving her momentarily stunned.

"What the hell?!"

"What the hell?!"

Right now, Shen Yuan was filled with deep regret.

The Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi) — that was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!

Why did he have to act so noble and hand it over to a crewmate?

Damn it all!

He had to get the Dark-Dark Fruit (Yami Yami no Mi) next!

If the gods block me, I'll slay the gods. If the Buddha stands in my way, I'll kill the Buddha! That's what I said!

Fueled by this resolve, Shen Yuan surged ahead, leaving everyone behind.

Everyone else: ?

"Master… have you been acting a little strange lately?" Tashigi asked in a concerned tone.

"Definitely. Like he's mentally unwell," Rayleigh muttered.

Qiong and Enel muttered inwardly: You dare say that out loud? If we said it, our next month of training would be compressed into a single day!

Shaking off his disappointment, Shen Yuan rushed straight toward Water 7's shipyard, planning to use the three or four tons of gold in his possession to build an unparalleled warship!

He marched swiftly through the city, step by step, until he neared the shipyard—

Only to see two kids quarreling at a distance!

"Hey, little brats! Come here, Uncle's got some candy for you!"

Shen Yuan grinned as he waved them over.

Franky and Iceburg looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

"Is this guy… a human trafficker?" Iceburg muttered.

But Franky, ever the reckless one, swaggered over to Shen Yuan.

"Are you a human trafficker, you bastard?! If you mess with us—"

Before he could finish, Shen Yuan knocked him out with a swift chop to the neck.

"Hey kid, come here. Uncle's got some candy for you."

Iceburg trembled. He dared not move.

Run? — I wouldn't dare.

"S-sir, what can I do for you?"

He didn't dare say more — he had seen the greed glimmering in Shen Yuan's eyes.

"Take me to Tom."

Hearing that name, Iceburg instantly sobered up. He glanced at the unconscious Franky and shuddered.

"This way, sir."

One by one, Shen Yuan's companions followed Iceburg through the shipyard, heading straight for the room where Tom — the legendary shipwright — resided.

Franky groggily awoke at the door, confused.

"Wha… what happened to me?"

Then, suddenly, it hit him!

"That bastard knocked me out!"

Furious and humiliated, Franky jumped to his feet and began searching wildly.

"I'm gonna clobber that guy when I find him!"

Meanwhile, the culprit — Shen Yuan — was already seated in front of Tom, legs up on the table, arms crossed with a cocky grin.

"May I ask your name, sir?"

"Surname Shen, given name Yuan."

Tom nodded. "I'm Tom. What brings you here?"

Shen Yuan didn't immediately bring up Pluton. Instead, he gestured to Qiong beside him.

CLANG!

A massive sack of golden bell fragments landed on the table, gleaming brilliantly under the lights.

"Check the weight. We want to build a ship capable of sailing the entire world."

Tom showed no extreme reaction — but beside him, Iceburg was buzzing with excitement!

"Sir, you said you want to build a ship? Then Franky…"

Mid-sentence, Iceburg stopped himself, realizing what he almost revealed.

Tom raised an eyebrow. "Hmm?"

"N-nothing, sir," Iceburg said with a forced smile.

"I'll take your commission. But it might take a long time—"

"No worries. But I do have something else I need to talk to Mr. Tom about."

Tom gave Iceburg a glance and motioned for him to leave the office temporarily.

Shen Yuan also signaled to Tashigi, and soon the room emptied.

"Now then… ready to talk?" Tom asked.

Shen Yuan shook his head. "Not yet. We've got company."

Tom was confused — then suddenly…

BANG!

With a single explosive motion, Shen Yuan smashed the wall behind him with his bare hand.

From the rubble, he yanked out a CP6 agent by the neck and slammed him onto the ground!

Blood spurted out, painting the floor red.

"Gh—!"

With a faint groan, the agent writhed in pain.

Shen Yuan lifted him again, his eyes cold.

"Why did the World Government send you here?"

The agent gritted his teeth and stayed silent.

"Enel, Tashigi — get in here. Sweep the surrounding area for more agents. If you find any, cripple them. Got it?"

The door creaked open, and Enel and Tashigi entered. They froze upon seeing the bloodied CP agent writhing beneath Shen Yuan's grip.

"Enel, ever killed someone before?"

Enel trembled.

The day has come.

Tom looked unsettled — the speed and brutality of the scene had burned itself into his memory.

"You… you criminal! By killing me, are you declaring war on the World Government?!"

Shen Yuan grinned.

"Everyone who's said that to me… has been dead for exactly seven days."

"Huh? What's the seventh day?"

The agent stared back defiantly, saying nothing.

If I die, I die for the mission!

"What a tough nut."

With a sigh, Shen Yuan unsheathed Tashigi's Shigure and plunged it straight into the agent's waist!

"ARGHHHH!!"

A blood-curdling scream erupted from the office, instantly drawing the attention of shipwrights nearby.

They rushed to Tom's office—

Only to find Iceburg standing at the door, drenched in cold sweat, watching through the peephole.

"Mr. Iceburg, what's going on?"

He turned to them with a pale face and motioned, "Shh… Quiet."

The others grew more curious and clustered behind him.

Shen Yuan, aware of the commotion outside, turned to Tom.

Tom nodded and went out to calm the crowd.

The outside quieted — but inside…

"ARGH!"

"AAAGHH!"

"STOP!!"

One scream after another rang out — gut-wrenching and unrelenting.

The pain!

The agony!

The torment!

Right now, Tom's office had become an execution chamber.

The CP agent was embedded in the wall — his waist and abdomen shredded with dozens of bloody cuts!