CHAPTER 20
"This…"
Kalifa was stunned—what lay before her eyes resembled a nightmare from hell.
The man drenched in blood slowly turned his head, eyes glowing like burning embers—no, not just red… they were the hue of awakened hatred, like a beast unchained.
"You…"
Before she could scream, Shen Yuan took a step forward, swiftly covering Kalifa's mouth and dragging her into the cabin. At the same time, Silvers Rayleigh reached out and gently shut the door behind them with a click.
"Slap!"
A sharp sound echoed—Kalifa had just been slapped awake. Her dazed expression focused, realization setting in like thunderclaps in her mind.
"They… they're all dead…"
Before her stood Shen Yuan, staring silently at her. Her black fishnet stockings, crimson lips, loosely tousled hair, and exquisitely defined face—what man wouldn't be momentarily stirred?
"…A rare beauty indeed," he muttered under his breath, but his voice lacked any trace of lust—only a calm, deadly clarity.
Kalifa, unusually for her, didn't retort with her trademark "Unforgivable!"—instead, she stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
"Smoker. Tie her up. Toss the others into the sea. Then we head ashore."
> [System Prompt: You have slain story-critical characters: Blueno, Kaku, Jabra, Rob Lucci, and Kalifa. Your level has risen to 78. +25 Skill Points Earned.]
"What a windfall," Shen Yuan whispered, and his thoughts opened up the interface instinctively.
---
[SYSTEM PANEL – AWAKENING TREE ACTIVATED]
Name: Shen Yuan
Age: 14
Faction: Independent (False CP9 Identity – Rob Lucci)
Bounty: 530,000,000 Berries
Title: God of Death
Skills:
Rokushiki – Navy Six Powers (lv1)
Sword Mastery (MAX)
Physical Enhancement (MAX)
Agility Enhancement (lv1)
Strength Enhancement (lv15)
Speed Enhancement (lv1)
Armament Haki (MAX)
Observation Haki (MAX)
Conqueror's Haki (MAX)
---
[Passive Traits]
Immortal Vajra Physique – 100/100
> Vastly enhanced body durability. Accelerated regeneration. Limb regeneration. Immune to fatal trauma barring soul destruction.
Demigod Might – 100/100
> Amplifies all attacks with divine force. When in combat, "Death God Mode" activates: attacks affect body and soul. Reaches final form at max level.
Speed: 63.9 / 100
Agility: 60.5 / 100
Level: 78 / 80 (Next Tier Unlocks at 80 – God of Death Awakening)
---
With the current power of the Immortal Vajra Body, Shen Yuan felt invincible. At this moment, even if Kaido himself appeared—
He may not win…
But he wouldn't die.
He'd escape intact.
And that's enough.
He stepped onto the icy terrain of Drum Island. The snowstorm had eased, revealing a solemn man ahead—Dalton, the former royal guard and Zoan Devil Fruit user.
"Who are you looking for?" Dalton asked with his usual vigilance.
"I represent the World Government. I'm here to investigate the whereabouts of the Baku Baku no Mi (Swallow-Swallow Fruit). I require your cooperation."
Dalton hesitated, caught off guard by the official tone. Still, recognizing Rayleigh and sensing that these were people far beyond his station, he nodded reluctantly.
"…Follow me."
They made their way toward the palace. Shen Yuan, fully confident in his level 78 strength, maxed-out Haki, and awakened soul-based damage capability, carried the air of someone ready to dismantle kingdoms.
His mind whispered:
> "Those who stand in my path—die."
At the palace gates, Dalton gestured solemnly.
"The second prince, the one who ingested the Swallow-Swallow Fruit, is inside."
"…Understood."
Dalton backed away cautiously. God of Death Shen Yuan, bounty 530 million, and King of Hell Rayleigh, bounty 1 billion—were these men really here on "official" World Government business?
Doesn't matter, Dalton thought. This isn't my war.
He remembered being blasted away by Lucci before, trying to stand up to someone so beyond his tier… not worth it.
As Shen Yuan's group entered the palace, the guards barely raised an eyebrow. One muttered, "Things have been unstable lately…"
"Two princes vying for the throne, and now the World Government's here."
"Just stay quiet and do your job."
Meanwhile, in nearby towns, rumors were exploding like wildfire:
> "Did you hear? CP9 fought among themselves for the Devil Fruit!"
"No—world nobles are killing Drum Kingdom royalty to steal the throne!"
"Someone said the World Government's launching a Buster Call on the country!"
"...Is that real?"
Back inside the palace, the old king sat beside his eldest son—ugly and sniveling—who was whispering some sort of complaint.
The king glanced at Shen Yuan's crew and frowned.
"You are… CP agents? What business do you have here?"
"I am Rob Lucci," Shen Yuan lied fluidly. "CP0 class. Hand over all Devil Fruits, starting with the Swallow-Swallow Fruit. Consider it compensation for the Heavenly Tribute Shortage."
The king's expression changed instantly. "We delivered the heavenly gold on time!"
"Not my concern."
Tashigi flinched at how cold and bureaucratic that sounded. Despite her strength, this all felt wrong.
"You're being unreasonable!" she snapped.
Without a word, Shen Yuan took a step—and launched a Rokuogan-enhanced whip-kick straight into the eldest prince's ribs!
"Boom!"
The prince screamed, flung into a marble pillar and crashing through it with a sickening crunch.
Shen Yuan straightened his collar.
"…Let's make this quick."
The old king trembled. But finally—resigned—he called his guards.
Moments later, a cart was rolled in, covered in a velvet cloth.
Underneath were several Devil Fruits, some fresh, some older.
Shen Yuan's expression didn't change.
"There's still one missing."
A flamboyant, arrogant voice suddenly rang out:
"Who dares summon the great Valpo, future king of the seas!"
Shen Yuan turned to see a lean, well-dressed man with flamboyant features—a face that even the most desperate barmaid wouldn't compliment.
The moment Valpo locked eyes with Shen Yuan, his confidence wavered.
"Oi, I… I'm leav—"
Snap! Owl from CP9 had him in a tight lock.
"Zababa! Sir! Criminal captured!"
Shen Yuan walked up calmly.
"On behalf of the highest authority—the World Government—I execute the user of the Swallow-Swallow Fruit, Valpo."
No hesitation. No monologue.
He raised his leg and struck.
Crack!
Valpo collapsed, spitting blood. On his knees, gasping.
The old king looked away. He knew his son's sins. Arrogance. Exploitation. Tyranny. But still—a father is a father.
Then Smoker came forward, pushing another cart, this one lined with even rarer Devil Fruits.
Shen Yuan glanced once—confirmed.
He raised his fist—and brought it down.
Valpo's skull shattered.
He died, instantly. Without glory. Without redemption.
The Awakening Tree in Shen Yuan's mind surged.
> [Skill Tree Branch Unlocked: Death Execution Path – Soul Annihilation]
"Those who die under your hand cannot reincarnate unless restored by divine relics."
He stood tall.
The tyrants fell.
The Devil Fruit was his.
And the system whispered:
> "Level 79… reached."
"One step from Godhood."