Skill Tree Chronicles: One Piece

"Boom—!"

A towering emerald-blue pillar of flame tore through the defensive line that Holdem and his subordinates had desperately formed!

Masses of Beast Pirates were instantly reduced to ashes, and the flame didn't weaken—it surged, engulfing the rest in a wave of annihilation!

> "Phoenix Prominence—Eternal Azure Flame: Zero Degree."

As Marco spoke, the color of the blue flames intensified—growing colder, not hotter.

Those ignited didn't just burn—they froze, unable to move as the ethereal fire spread through them.

> "Hahahaha! Witness the evolution of my regeneration into devastation!"

---

Joz suddenly charged forward like a living comet!

Blue crystalline diamond armor expanded over his body. Then came the black shimmer of Armament Haki, layered over the diamond structure.

At this point, Joz resembled a sentient meteorite, crashing through pirates, traps, and barriers without pausing for breath!

In a panic, Holdem dropped the Den Den Mushi clutched in his hand.

> "W-What the hell?! They crushed all our traps with just two attacks!"

Holdem scrambled for the Den Den Mushi—but a bolt of lightning struck, crushing it underfoot.

> "Weaklings," came the cold voice, "don't deserve communication rights."

It was Enel, descending with a gleam of electromagnetic arrogance in his eyes.

Holdem sneered at the sight of the childlike face.

> "Tch! Cocky brat—let me show you what it means to be a Zoan Awakened Beast!"

He activated the lion head on his abdomen. A blast of blazing Hellfire surged outward, fueled by the Zoan Model: SMILF Hell-Lion.

But Enel didn't flinch.

He stepped forward, then vanished—his speed boosted by Logia-level Awakening, the air around him distorting with voltage.

A cold flash.

> "Pshht!"

Holdem froze. His hands, which had just triggered the lion's flames, trembled—then dropped lifelessly.

> "W-What…?" he choked, "You… you little bastard… You… you cut me before I even saw you move…"

Enel's expression was unreadable. His weapon—the Fang Tian Huaji, a halberd wreathed in black lightning—crackled as it gathered Advanced Armament Haki.

> "Jealousy of the strong… is the last sound the defeated ever make. Fentian Execution."

The halberd swung.

A whirlwind tore through the battlefield—silent, fast, and absolute.

---

Holdem's last moments came without pain. Only darkness descended as the world faded from his eyes.

> "Was I… beheaded?"

He died with disbelief frozen on his face.

---

> "What a madman… what a monster…"

From the treeline, a figure resembling a giant monkey emerged—charging Enel.

> "Too slow."

But before the monkey Zoan user's blade could connect, a twin-sword clash blocked the attack.

> "Clang!"

Vista, captain of the 5th Division, stood firm.

> "Enel—go. Your mission takes priority."

Enel nodded, saying nothing, and darted off.

Vista examined the monkey-like figure with curiosity.

> "After hearing Shen Yuan's explanation of humans' evolutionary roots…"

He muttered aloud.

> "Weren't humans once monkeys? So… you devolved?"

The Gifted Monkey Zoan user, a SMILE-enhanced fighter, turned black with rage.

> "Bastard! I'll show you what de-evolution looks like!"

He stretched his limbs unnaturally—like someone who had consumed the Ancient Zoan: Saru Saru no Mi – Straight Ape Form.

> "Arm Spear!"

Two lengthy arms shot forward like spears!

Vista sidestepped casually, not even unsheathing both swords yet.

Still deep in thought:

> "Mom… I found a bug in the Zoan tree…"

> "If his Devil Fruit Awakening only gives him extra rubbery limbs… what's the point?"

The more confused Vista looked, the more humiliated the monkey Zoan became!

> "Don't look at me like a display mascot!"

> "Leg Cannon!"

The monkey spun—his long legs launching a furious kick.

Vista dodged, and the attack hit a nearby Beast Pirate, sending him flying.

> "Ow! Who the hell hit me!?"

The monkey seethed. The man in front of him was treating this like a joke!

Then came Marco's voice, sharp and alert:

> "Vista! Reinforcements approaching!"

Snapping out of it, Vista finally unsheathed both blades.

> "Rose Style—Petal Guillotine."

One flick.

The monkey's limbs fell away in clean arcs.

> "Aaaaaaah!"

The Gifted fell, writhing.

Vista crouched beside him.

> "Don't worry—I'll dissect your 'power tree' later."

He turned.

> "Rose Petal Technique—Sword Rain!"

Petals erupted into the air, slashing through the ranks of Beast Pirates like falling guillotines.

---

Meanwhile, Jack the Drought was rushing toward Border Island.

Speed and Sheepshead flanked him, equally frantic.

> "Boss Jack! Holdem is dead! Border Island has fallen!"

Jack's face darkened, lips curled in frustration.

> "What do you expect me to do—fly there?"

But he realized something crucial.

> "Crap. I haven't reported to Kaido yet."

He pulled out his Den Den Mushi.

---

> "Hello?"

Kaido's slurred voice echoed.

Jack gritted his teeth.

> "Lord Kaido. Whitebeard's forces just took Border Island."

> "PFFFFFT!!!"

Kaido choked on his sake.

Rage erupted.

The drunken calm was gone. He grabbed his kanabo and smashed it into the nearest subordinates.

> "That damned old man! He's instigating a war between Yonkō?! Does he want the New World to collapse?!"

Another swing. A portion of Onigashima's inner cavern collapsed under the force.

---

> "Jack, where are you now?" Kaido growled.

> "Halfway to Border Island."

Kaido's rage cooled. He was drunk—but not foolish.

> "I'll send King to assist. If it's too much… retreat."

Jack's heart warmed slightly.

> "Understood."

Kaido exhaled.

> "At least they haven't reached our SMILE labs yet. As long as that's intact…"

He turned to his trembling underlings.

> "Notify the Tobi Roppo. All except Black Maria—Border Island needs backup!"

They scurried off.

Kaido returned to his seat—and poured more sake.

> "If we lose the factory, everything falls apart…"

---

But Kaido had another move to make.

He picked up a special Mama-shaped Den Den Mushi.

> "Worororo! Lingling, you gluttonous hag—you busy?"

Big Mom's voice rasped through, muffled with cake:

> "What do you want, Kaido?! Don't waste my time!"

> "Big score. Whitebeard's attacking me. If someone strikes his Moby Dick from the other side… we can split his territories."

Silence.

Kaido grinned.

> "Lingling? We strike from both ends. A clean sweep!"

More silence.

> "Ling—"

> "Well, well, well! Sorry, dropped my cake. What was that again?"

Kaido darkened.

He repeated the plan.

> "Well then! I'll consider it. Just don't die before I decide!"

> "Lingling—hurry up! If you take too long, Wano's ruins will be all that's left!"

> "Mmm hmm~! I'll get back to you. Don't get stomped before dessert!"