Skill Tree Chronicles: One Piece

Zeffa smiled bitterly and forced himself to stand.

"You're strong. I couldn't even push you to reveal your full power."

Shen Yuan gave a helpless smile.

Tch!

Can't you tell I haven't even gotten serious?

Full strength?

I didn't even use Haki!

Despite that, Shen Yuan still nodded politely.

"Following someone like you, I'm sure they'll accomplish great things."

Having said this, Zeffar turned and waved Smoker and Tina over.

"These two are my most promising students. I'd like to ask you to guide them for a while—just a little training. What do you think?"

Shen Yuan closed his eyes and thought to himself.

I'm already exhausted, and now you want to saddle me with two burdens?

Eventually, he shook his head.

"I'll be moving independently from now on. If you force them on me, I won't have time to look after them."

Zeffa paused, surprised. "Where are you going?"

"That's a secret for now. You'll know when the time comes, Admiral Zeffar."

Seeing that Shen Yuan wasn't willing to say more, Zeffar didn't push.

"Smoker, he's your master. It's your decision whether to stay or go. I'll speak to Marine HQ on your behalf."

Smoker felt a chill at Shen Yuan's calm but steely gaze.

After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head.

"I'm a Marine."

Zeffar nodded, then turned to Tina.

She thought for a moment and came to the same conclusion.

Honestly, after what Shen Yuan just said, who'd want to become his student?

Tina raised her hand and asked curiously, "How old are you anyway?"

At this point, Shen Yuan had weathered countless battles. He no longer looked like a teenager at all.

"Fourteen."

Tina froze, stunned into silence.

Even Zeffar looked shocked, unwilling to accept it.

"That's that. If anyone comes looking for me later—"

He turned back to Smoker.

"—just tell them to keep training. I've got important business."

Smoker nodded, a rare smile on his face.

"Tom! Build the ship right! No shortcuts!"

Tom was munching on popcorn he'd just managed to snatch.

Hearing this, he choked and started coughing violently!

Shen Yuan's voice faded as he launched into the air with Geppo.

Zeffar looked out across the ruined battlefield and sighed.

Such overwhelming power—and not added to the Marines?

Had he joined, he'd be an admiral—no, maybe even fleet admiral someday!

Zeffar shook his head and began directing the cleanup while staring into the distance, deep in thought.

---

At the port of Water 7, Tashigi and her group finally arrived—only to find Shen Yuan already gone!

"Where's the captain?" Tashigi asked.

Smoker brightened when he saw her.

"Tashigi! You're safe?"

"I'm fine. Where's our captain?"

Smoker's expression darkened. He pointed out toward the sea.

"He left a while ago."

"How?" Tashigi blinked.

"He flew off."

The moment he said it, silence fell over everyone.

Smoker added, "He said to tell you to keep training in Water 7. No slacking."

Everyone nodded, expressions serious.

Zeffar raised an eyebrow.

"How do you all normally train?"

Everyone turned to look at him.

Qiong stepped forward gloomily. "Like this… and this… and this…" Her voice was miserable, showing clear dislike for their brutal regimen.

Zeffar suddenly understood.

Isn't this just Garp's training style? But there were a few tweaks here and there…

---

New World – the second half of the Grand Line. A pirate's true paradise.

Moby Dick.

"Alright, got it."

Marco hung up the Den Den Mushi, unable to contain his excitement.

"Why're you so cheerful, Marco?" asked Jozu, his body glistening like black diamond armor.

"Shen Yuan just called. He's coming here today."

Vista strolled up, curious.

"I've heard he's a master swordsman. Think he'll spar with me?"

Jozu nodded. "And his close combat skills are top-notch. I'd like to test him too."

Marco gave them both a weird look.

You two realize I can't even beat him, right?

"Well, talk to him when he arrives."

With that, Marco soared into the sky, scanning the horizon.

At that moment, Whitebeard stepped out of his cabin, holding the massive Murakumogiri.

Everyone stared, confused, as their captain walked out with a strange glint in his eye.

"Gurararara! So you've come!"

Whitebeard suddenly raised his weapon. The quake force rippled across the blade as he swung toward the sky!

Fwoooosh!

A terrifying shock-infused slash tore through the air!

"Is that how you greet someone, old man?" Shen Yuan's voice called out.

He drew Tuntian to block the attack!

BOOM!

The seismic pressure made Shen Yuan's wrist numb, but he still managed to shatter the slash with his blade!

Shing!

The wave split in two and shot off into the distance.

Tuntian immediately countered, slashing back toward Whitebeard!

"Gurararara!"

Whitebeard met the strike head-on. As their blades clashed, shockwaves burst out in ripples around them.

The very sky tore open above them!

"Ready for this, brat?"

"Of course. You are the strongest man in the world."

Whitebeard laughed as he increased the quake force in his body. The deck groaned under the pressure.

Shen Yuan smiled, and the eerie ghost aura from Tuntian slowly enveloped the blade. Dark mist climbed upward, clashing with the quake force.

BOOM!

An enormous explosion echoed as the sky repaired itself—nature restored.

Whitebeard set Murakumogiri down, beaming at Shen Yuan.

"Gurararara! You're one dangerous brat!"

Everyone around them was stunned!

Especially Vista!

Even if ten of us worked together, we couldn't take that hit!

Shen Yuan landed lightly on the deck.

He sheathed Tuntian, scanning the stunned crew.

> [Location: Moby Dick reached. Skill points +5 obtained!]

"Old man, I came to talk cooperation."

Whitebeard laughed again and gestured inside.

"Then come in and talk!"

Shen Yuan didn't hesitate and followed Whitebeard into the captain's quarters.

The rest of the crew stood frozen outside.

What's going on?

Whitebeard raised a massive mug—large enough for Tashigi and Kalifa to take a bath in—and took a swig.

"So, brat, which island are we targeting?"

Shen Yuan accepted a similar mug.

"I want to start a war."

Whitebeard blinked, confused.

"To occupy Kaido's territories and track down a specific Devil Fruit.

If I'm lucky, I might even find some top-grade swords."

"…That's not war. That's invasion, brat!"

Still, Whitebeard's mind churned.

His grand pirate family was complete. He himself was growing older.

He, the world's strongest man, felt a new fire spark within.

"What exactly are you planning?"

"I'll pick some of your men, train them, and then hit Kaido's nearby islands. Collect treasure, build strength."

Whitebeard didn't hesitate.

"Pick whoever you want. My sons respect strength more than anything."

"Good. But before that, there's something I need to do first."

Whitebeard raised an eyebrow.

"What is it?"

"…Destroy Enies Lobby."

Whitebeard paused.

"…Destroy Enies Lobby?"