Skill Tree Chronicles: One Piece

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After finishing the sukiyaki, Shen Yuan returned along the same path.

He took his time walking, pausing often.

Not because he was sightseeing—but because he was listening. Listening for rumors, whispers, and movements of the other Kozuki retainers.

Wandering like a drifter through the ruins of Wano's oppressed lands, Shen Yuan muttered as he walked, eyes half-lidded.

"Is this destiny pulling the strings… or am I just circling fate's drain?"

And then, as if to answer his thought—

A silhouette cut through the dust, charging directly toward him with wild force.

"Mm?"

Shen Yuan squinted slightly. As the figure drew close, its features sharpened into clarity.

"...Yamato?"

A tall young warrior wearing a sleeveless, white kimono with blue flame-like patterns, and twin diamond crests on the chest. The unmistakable red horns curled from her head, and that fierce gaze—

Even if this was the Yamato of several years ago, the blood of an Oni still flowed through her veins.

"Unreal," Shen Yuan muttered coldly. "A blind cat runs into a dead mouse."

The woman rushing him was no ordinary opponent.

It was Kaido's child—Yamato, self-proclaimed inheritor of Oden's will.

"I'm not in the mood—scram! I haven't eaten all day!" Yamato barked, swinging a fist.

But before her strike could land—

Crack!

Shen Yuan's fist, cloaked in the burning essence of Candlelight Flame (Skill Branch: Fire Awakening Tier 1), smashed straight into Yamato's cheek.

"Urgh!"

The Oni girl's body flew back like a cannonball, landing heavily in the dust, coughing up blood.

"Cough—!"

Yamato pushed herself up, grimacing as she wiped blood from her mouth. Then her eyes locked onto him—and widened in horror.

"Wait… y-you're Shen Yuan?! The man who defeated my father—Kaido?!"

"Hm?"

Shen Yuan's voice was quiet, but even the silence around him seemed to tremble.

"I've heard enough of that nonsense," he said flatly.

Yamato's fists clenched. "I'm Kozuki Oden! I have to—!"

Boom!

A second punch, wreathed in solar fire, slammed into her chest.

The impact forced her body into the stone quarry gates, splinters and dust flying in all directions.

"Urghhh!!"

She forced herself up again, eyes wild. Her speed spiked.

With a burst of wind and strength befitting an Oni, she sprang into the air and launched a flying kick straight toward Shen Yuan's head!

"RAHH—!!"

But Shen Yuan casually turned, caught her ankle midair, and slammed her into the earth like a ragdoll.

Boom!

The ground cracked beneath her. Prisoners and jailers gathered, eyes widening.

"What's going on?!"

"Isn't that Lord Yamato?!"

"What Kozuki Oden?" Shen Yuan muttered. "That fool's been dead for years."

Yamato grit her teeth. These cursed Sea Prism Stone shackles were weighing her down!

"You're thinking it's the cuffs, aren't you?"

Shen Yuan stepped forward, and gravity surged from his palm—Dark Matter Field (Skill Tree: Gravity Awakening Tier 1) activated.

The shackles were instantly disintegrated into black dust.

Boom.

"I'll give you one chance," Shen Yuan said. "Make me feel threatened… and I'll acknowledge you as Oden."

Yamato's eyes burned with fury.

"Bring me my kanabō!" she roared.

Several jailers, trembling, carried over the spiked iron club that once belonged to Kaido himself—Takeru.

"You arrogant bastard!" Yamato snarled. "Even if you defeated that monster, I'll still make you kneel!"

She rushed forward, and red lightning flickered—Conqueror's Haki!

"Raimei Hakke!!" (Thunder Bagua)

The spiked club tore through the air, leaving a scarlet arc behind.

Boom!

A shockwave blasted outward, hurling dust and prisoners alike to the ground.

But when the smoke cleared—

Shen Yuan was still standing. Arms crossed. Unmoved.

"Is that it?"

Yamato growled.

"I'll show you my true form!"

White mist surged around her, as her Mythical Zoan Fruit – Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Okuchi no Makami activated.

White fur exploded across her body, her features elongating—beastman form!

The surrounding jailers turned pale.

"Beast transformation—?! Notify Babanuki at once!"

"Get backup! She's serious!"

Yamato shot into the sky, icy mist flowing from her mouth.

"Namuji Hyōga!" (Glacier Fang)

She brought her club down with all the freezing power of her devil fruit—enough to split a mountain.

Clang!

Shen Yuan drew his blade—Tian Tun, the Heaven-Swallowing Sword.

The strike was parried easily, ice cracking under the heat of his flaming aura.

Before Yamato could recover—

Slash!

A flash of black steel passed her body.

She instinctively summoned an ice-armored shield: "Jingzan!" (Quiet Mountain Armor)

But the black blade pierced through it.

"Guh—!!"

A long, diagonal wound tore across her chest. Blood sprayed again.

"Ughhhh!!"

Her knees hit the ground.

"Still want more?" Shen Yuan asked coldly.

Yamato's eyes dimmed. She knew it. That strike should've killed her.

But the Makami's divine stamina kept her barely conscious—hanging by a thread.

"Kaido's child wants to kill Kaido?" Shen Yuan scoffed. "What a farce."

He sheathed Tian Tun, disgusted.

"You're not worth my time."

Then his hands came together.

"Awakening Skill Tree – Abyssal Manifestation: Tier 2: Devil's Aura."

A black wind burst outward.

It wasn't just Haki.

It was something worse. More primal. More unnatural.

Everyone nearby felt it in their soul.

"Learn from this."

BOOM!

In the blink of an eye, Shen Yuan appeared in front of her again and delivered a roundhouse kick like a scythe!

Yamato's transformed state was instantly shattered—she was launched into the quarry wall, where she crumpled, unconscious.

> [Battle Complete: Defeated Plot Character – Yamato. Skill Points +2 obtained.]

Shen Yuan glanced at the spectators.

"If you don't check on her soon, she might not make it."

And with that, he vanished.

Only then did Babanuki arrive, wide-eyed and sweating.

"Get medical staff! Hurry!"

"Sir! Yamato-sama is gravely wounded!" the doctor reported. "A deep gash runs from the abdomen to the neck. If not for the resilience of the Mythical Zoan, she'd be dead already."

"She's clinging to life by the power of her Devil Fruit," the medic added gravely. "Immediate surgery is required to stabilize her."

Everyone turned to look at the injury.

A single, horrifying wound stretched from her stomach to her collarbone—bone visible.

Gasps echoed through the crowd.

A little higher—and…

Babanuki shut his eyes, fists trembling. Not in grief—but in fear.

If Yamato died here, in the quarry, under his watch—

It would be his head next.

"Prepare the operating room. Sew that wound shut now!"

JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED 30+ CHAPTERS.

Currently at CHAPTER 100 on Patreon.

Two members on my patreon get a free book each month. A lucky draw,it can be you.

Five chapters every two days on Patreon.

One chapter everyday on webnovel.

patreon.com/FrancisMW

"I look forward to welcoming you as member"

ENJOY THE BENEFITS.