Chapter 10: Experience Summary

The air was thick with the gentle, moist scent of the sea—warm, comforting, almost intoxicating.

Half-asleep, Trace felt the bed swaying slightly beneath him, like a ship gently rocking on the waves.

"Quit messing around…"

Still with his eyes shut and brows furrowed, he instinctively stretched out his hand on the wide bed, trying to pull someone into his arms.

Wait—!

That's not right!

Didn't I just slice Kaido in half?

Trace jolted awake from his steamy dream, heart pounding.

Gone was the dark abyss from before—his brown eyes now reflected the unfamiliar sight of deep mahogany walls surrounding him.

He propped himself up.

His peripheral vision caught the white bandages wrapped tightly around every inch of his exposed skin—not a single finger was left uncovered.

The room was small, clean, and efficient. Wooden walls all around, the scent of seawater faintly mixed with antiseptic in the air. Not unpleasant.

Warm, golden sunlight streamed in from a large square window, casting rays so thick they looked almost solid. Outside, all he could see was endless blue.

Someone rescued me…

In just an instant, Trace deduced the obvious.

Judging from the gentle swaying of the bed, he was likely still on a ship.

Marines.

He arrived at his second conclusion—and for once, he actually felt safe. A wave of relief washed over him as he slumped back onto the bed. His nerves, taut for days, finally began to relax.

It was only now that he registered the aching pain radiating through his entire body—and the sharp hunger gnawing at his insides.

He's in pain, and also starving.

But not as badly as he expected.

The hunger, at least, was very real.

Suppressing the sour gurgle of his stomach, Trace lifted his bandaged hands and flexed his fingers a few times.

Right hand: all good.

Left hand: good too.

"I remember Kaido pounding me into the mountain with that damn spiked club…

"Even if I didn't get every bone shattered or every muscle torn, I should've been half-dead, right?

"So how come it just feels like I missed a few meals?

"Wait… how long was I out?"

No one was around to answer his question.

Instead of getting up immediately, Trace's mind drifted back to the events on that zombie-infested island. He summoned the translucent status screen in front of him.

A flood of new messages popped up—so many, it was overwhelming.

---

[You used E-rank item "Tanjiro Kamado's Special Rice Ball" on Demon Girl and Demon Boy.]

[You used E-rank item "Nezuko's Bamboo Muzzle" on Demon Girl and Demon Boy.]

[Your F-rank item "Gas Mask" was completely destroyed during combat!]

[Your E+ item "Nichirin Blade (Beast Breathing)" was lost in battle!]

[You mastered "Beast Breathing: Total Concentration"! F-rank ability "Beast Breathing" upgraded to F+!]

[You were defeated in battle against A-rank enemy "Kaido." No Victory Bait obtained.]

[You have successfully left the Zombie Island. Summarizing experience… The following were gained]:

[You slew numerous low-level zombies and gained F-rank Trait: "Zombie Slayer."]

[Effect: Slightly increased damage to undead-type enemies.]

[Evaluation: Previously took a full swing to kill one. Now you only need seven-eighths of your strength!]

[You caused a massive explosion and gained F-rank Trait: "Flames to the Sky."]

[Effect: Slight increase to influence. +1 point to Leadership (F-rank boost).]

[Evaluation: Pyromaniac-level at best.]

[You survived four grueling days and nights. E-rank Trait "Tenacity" upgraded. +2 points to Endurance (E-rank boost).]

[You rescued a slit-mouthed demon girl and a half-brained demon boy. Gained D-rank Trait: "Friend of Freaks."]

[Effect: Easier to befriend creepy-looking lifeforms.]

[Evaluation: "Your weirdness… is my favorite thing."]

[You fought a Yonko and lived to tell the tale. Gained C-rank Trait: "Fearless Spirit" and C-rank Trait: "The Emperor's Defeated Opponent."]

Trait:

[Fearless Spirit (C-rank)]

Effects:

[1. +1 to Leadership (C-rank boost)]

[2. +1 to hidden Mental attribute; Immune to all C- and below mental effects (e.g., intimidation, fear, killing intent).]

[Evaluation: "Though still young, already roars with the might to slay oxen and tigers."]

Trait:

[The Emperor's Defeated Opponent (C-rank)]

Effects:

[1. Increased influence. +1 to Leadership (C-rank boost)]

[2. Your name is starting to spread through the Grand Line; certain parties are now paying attention.]

[Evaluation: "We failed to pierce the enemy's armor."]

---

It was a lot to process.

Trace closed the message flood and opened his status panel.

[Name: Trace]

[Strength: F+]

[Endurance: E+]

[Agility: F+]

[Influence: C+]

[Haki: Locked]

[Luck: D (buffed)]

Innate Traits:

[Visitor from the Beyond (EX)]

[Primal Body (EX)]

[Tenacity (E)]

Skills:

[Fishing (EX)]

[Fearless Spirit (C)]

[Heightened Hearing (E)]

[Beast Breathing: Total Concentration (F+)]

Info Traits:

[The Emperor's Defeated Opponent (C)]

[Friend of Freaks (D)]

[Zombie Slayer (F)]

[Flames to the Sky (F)]

Item Traits:

[Victory Bait (0)]

[Overall Rating: D]

---

"Except for Haki and Luck, everything's gone up across the board. Biggest jump was Leadership! Strength and Agility probably increased naturally, so they're slower.

"'Tenacity' boosted my Endurance. Got a new combat trait 'Fearless Spirit.' 'Beast Breathing' even got an upgrade!

"Picked up four new info traits: 'The Emperor's Defeated Opponent,' 'Friend of Freaks,' 'Zombie Slayer,' and 'Flames to the Sky!'

"Overall rank went from F to D!"

Trace's eyes lit up as he scanned the interface. But the biggest revelation?

He'd figured out a consistent way to gain traits!

The system said it outright: Summarize your experiences to condense traits!

"Whew…"

Trace exhaled deeply, a true sense of relief in his chest. He was no longer just a fishing-obsessed nobody who relied solely on bait and luck.

"Come to think of it, getting hammered by Kaido turned out to be… profitable?

"That 'Defeated by the Emperor' trait is weird, though…

"Wasn't that how some Shichibukai were recruited?

"Crocodile got one arm lopped off by Whitebeard. Moria lost his whole crew in Wano and became a shell of his former self.

"Eh, whatever. Not important right now."

Closing the panel, he rubbed his grumbling stomach.

No doubt about it—he survived thanks to the EX-rank [Primal Body]!

Crack, pop.

Trace got out of bed and rolled his aching neck. He stepped toward the door.

"Man, this EX trait fished from a Devil Fruit is the real deal! No seawater weakness, either!

"It's like I've got a protagonist-tier regeneration trait.

"No matter how brutal the fight, just sleep it off and I'm good to go!"

He started humming as he walked.

He was mid-verse when the door opened on its own.

A fresh sea breeze drifted in with the figure of a young woman.

She wore a crisp Marine cap, pale pink hair cascading down her shoulders, a clean and flawless face adorned with sharp dark eyes. Her figure—curved and firm under her white Marine uniform—was matched only by her long, flawless legs beneath her shorts.

Trace's singing halted on the spot. He blinked toward the door, recognizing her… but not entirely sure.

Thankfully, she spoke first—her voice soft and charming.

"Oh? You're awake? Tashigi is glad! Teacher Zephyr said to bring you to him the moment you were up."

"Hello, Miss Tashigi," Trace said politely, feigning confusion. "But… Teacher Zephyr?"

"Teacher Zephyr is the chief instructor of the Marine recruit training camp—and a former Admiral," Tashigi said proudly, her admiration for Zephyr radiating from every word. "Also, he's the one who brought you here."

Trace's eyes lowered slightly, flickering with thought.

So Zephyr didn't bring me here just as an injured castaway…

He brought me here… to join the training camp?