Skill Tree Chronicles: One Piece

Early morning—

As the first rays of sunlight bathed the deck of the Moby Dick, it signaled a familiar routine: time for everyone to be alert and ready.

"Is the deputy captain still asleep?"

"Yeah! Still out cold?"

Marco didn't answer. He just stood silently in front of Shen Yuan's cabin door, arms folded.

(If you guys keep yelling like that, even the dead might wake up…), Marco muttered inwardly.

"Hmm—Hmm!"

With a long stretch, Shen Yuan pushed Kalifa aside lazily and reached for the cigar on the table.

"Hah… Huuu."

Inside, puffs of smoke lazily drifted into the air.

Outside, a group of crew members were collectively on the verge of collapse, veins bulging from their foreheads in silent fury.

"BANG BANG BANG!"

"Brother Shen? You there?! Are you awake?!"

Shen Yuan froze mid-puff. His expression darkened immediately.

"Hello? Brother Shen?! I'm coming in if you don't answer!"

And with that, Marco opened the door—

He shouldn't have.

Because what he saw next was… unforgettable.

There, beside Shen Yuan, Kalifa and Tashigi lay under a quilt, their upper bodies only barely covered, both glaring daggers at Shen Yuan.

"No smoking in the morning!" Kalifa snapped.

Marco froze, then quietly closed the door like a man who had seen too much.

"Marco, is the deputy captain still sleeping?"

"…He just finished breakfast," Marco said bitterly, lips twitching.

"…Just finished breakfast?"

Later—

Everyone had gathered on a nearby island, chatting listlessly and waiting for instructions.

Suddenly, three figures approached from the distance.

It was Shen Yuan with Kalifa and Tashigi at his sides.

"Tashigi, Kalifa—return to your divisions. Everyone else: form up in ranks!"

His voice boomed across the field.

Instantly, everyone stood upright and scrambled into rough formation.

Shen Yuan took one look at the uneven lines and two thick veins popped up on his forehead.

"Disband."

They looked around, confused—but scattered anyway.

"Line up again! Tall ones in front, taller ones in back!"

Again, they hesitated—but obeyed.

More than five minutes passed.

"…Disband."

This time, no one even dared to question it.

Marco, ever the quick thinker, raised his voice: "No talking! Just line up by height!"

Instantly, everyone zipped into a perfect formation.

"…Did I say assemble? Marco, you're first. Go stand to the side. You're on observation duty."

Marco's face twitched—but he followed orders.

"This first training… is about military discipline."

Lighting another cigar in front of everyone, Shen Yuan's eyes swept over the group.

"You must learn to obey. Absolute obedience to commands. Do you understand?"

"Understood!" everyone shouted.

"Speak up!"

"UNDERSTOOD!!"

"Louder! I want the clouds above to hear it!"

"UUUUNDERSTOOD!!!"

Though they shouted, most of the crew still wore confused expressions.

Shen Yuan smirked slightly.

"I know you're wondering why this matters.

But think—why do pirates suffer so many casualties in every war?

Because pirates are undisciplined. They're wild, unrestrained.

That's fine when it's one person. Or even ten.

But what happens when there are hundreds?"

The mood shifted. Everyone started to reflect.

"You must obey orders to survive as a force.

If I say go east, you don't go west. If I say beat the dog, you don't chase a sea king. Got it?"

"YES, SIR!"

Shen Yuan exhaled smoke.

"Each of you has different gifts.

Marco and Jozu are built for my Iron Fist combat style.

But Enel, Jean, and Crocodile? You're Devil Fruit users—you're more suited to awakening coordination combat and elemental synergy."

Marco couldn't help smirking. He glanced sideways at Vista with mockery in his eyes.

Vista held back a glare and focused on memorizing every word.

Everyone's eyes started to shine.

"Now—step one: Focus Training."

Shen Yuan spoke with slow gravity.

"Focus is equivalent to perseverance. It's the core of all breakthrough."

He glanced toward Enel and Jean.

"Enel—step out. Demonstrate."

Enel nodded, stepping forward with confidence.

He dropped into a solid horse stance, forearms behind his back, legs firmly spread.

"This is the horse stance. Looks simple, but don't underestimate it.

Everyone—ready yourselves!"

People began to mimic him.

"I didn't say start!"

Shen Yuan shouted.

"Horse stance until sundown. If I catch anyone slacking…

I'll beat you like your father owed me money."

From the side, Whitebeard's forehead veins twitched violently.

"Brat! What did you just say?!"

But Shen Yuan ignored him.

"Marco, Jozu, Enel, Crocodile, Jean—stand aside. You've passed this level."

They stepped out wordlessly.

"Tashigi, Kalifa, Vista—step up behind me."

The three of them stood proudly behind him.

"Good. Now listen.

Old man! Watch them. Anyone moves? Beat 'em! No mercy."

Whitebeard's face darkened to charcoal.

(…So I'm not your dad, huh?!)

Turning back, Shen Yuan addressed the team behind him.

"You're my elites.

Whitebeard Pirates' awakened core.

So your training will be hell.

From now on—you train as if you intend to kill me. Understand?!"

"UNDERSTOOD!!"

They responded with burning resolve.

"Then let's begin!"

"…Begin what?"

"THIS!"

A sudden explosion of force!

Marco was sent flying by a single punch!

"What the—?! Are we fighting now?!"

"Petal Rose—Arc Wheel Dance!"

"One-Sword Style—Black Light Rain!"

"Fang Tian—Burning Sky!"

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A flurry of attacks converged on Shen Yuan—yet none struck true.

His form flickered. He evaded every blow like mist parting around steel.

WHIP—

A roundhouse kick landed squarely on Enel's face!

Enel flipped in the air, recovering quickly and gripping his halberd again.

Clang! Clang!

The battlefield rang with metal and momentum.

Whitebeard couldn't help peeking over his shoulder.

"Don't look, old man! Eyes on the rookies!"

Face darkening in embarrassment, Whitebeard turned back.

"…Tch. Then don't show off."

Marco struggled to his feet, breathing hard.

He could feel it.

Just as Shen Yuan said—you couldn't even touch him without genuine killing intent.

Understanding this, everyone rose again.

And again.

Fall—rise. Fall—rise.

One by one, they dropped. Until finally, no one could rise again.

Except—

Qiong.

Trembling, she reached into her pocket, pulled out a vial of glowing green liquid, and chugged it.

She looked up, eyes sparkling:

"Master… one more round?"

Shen Yuan looked at the potion and raised an eyebrow in interest.

"Not bad. Your medical instincts are excellent.

You should study medicine more deeply in the future."

Before she could respond—

Like a tiger!

Like a hungry wolf!

Like a cheetah unleashed!

A single fist thundered toward her.

"THUNDER—JUDGEMENT!!"

BOOM!!!