[Mission Complete: Defeat Plot Character Miss Golden Week — Level Up to 40!]
The moment Shen Yuan's level reached 40, a crisp system notification flashed in front of him:
[Conqueror's Haki: Limit Seal Lifted — Awakening Node Unlocked!]
No hesitation.
Shen Yuan immediately funneled both newly acquired skill points into Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant—
A vast and overwhelming aura exploded outward like a raging tempest!
The pitch-black wave of Haoshoku Haki surged out, expanding outward from Shen Yuan's body. Watching from a distance, even the seasoned veteran Rayleigh, known as the Dark King, couldn't help but be taken aback.
"So young… yet already able to manifest it to this extent…" he muttered in awe.
Shen Yuan flexed his fist. Black lightning crackled wildly around his body, interlaced with streaks of white — the distinct visual of a high-level Conqueror's Haki infusion.
"Haki infusion… He reached the advanced stage in one go?" Rayleigh thought to himself. "This is innate talent. No—this is domination incarnate."
Unable to contain the violent momentum welling up in him, Shen Yuan suddenly slammed his fist toward the ground.
BOOM!!!
The earth trembled violently as shockwaves rippled through the surrounding structures. It was like an earthquake had struck!
Behind him, Smoker and Tashigi struggled to remain upright, forced to brace against buildings to keep from collapsing.
Nearby, Daz Bonis (Mr. 1) broke into a cold sweat as he witnessed the sheer destruction from a single strike.
"He caused a quake… with just one punch?" Bonis gritted his teeth. "How many of those can I even take?"
But retreat was not in his nature.
With a metallic hum, Bonis activated the power of his Supā Supā no Mi (Dice-Dice Fruit), turning both arms into long, gleaming blades.
"Let's see how sharp your Haki really is!"
He charged in.
CRACK!
A single punch — casual, unhurried — sent Bonis flying, embedding him head-first into the ground like a vegetable sprout.
"Okama Kenpo — Reminiscence of Summer!"
Bon Clay (Mr. 2) leapt into the air with an elegant kick, but Shen Yuan moved as if he had seen it coming moments in advance. With preternatural precision, he reached out, grabbed Bon Clay mid-air by the collar, pulled back, and slammed him into the earth next to Bonis.
"Matching pair of spring onions. Perfect symmetry," Shen Yuan commented wryly.
Miss Doublefinger (Paula) had initially turned to flee, but froze mid-step.
Her legs were trembling uncontrollably.
The oppressive Conqueror's Haki had her completely locked in place.
"Move, dammit—MOVE!" she screamed inwardly, but her body wouldn't listen.
Desperate, she activated her Toge Toge no Mi (Spike-Spike Fruit), growing thick, thorny spikes along her arms to shield herself.
She'd learned from the others' mistakes.
But Shen Yuan advanced unrelentingly.
Paula's eyes tracked his movements, but her body failed to react in time.
THUD!
His fist landed cleanly against her spiked arms. Pain shot through her limbs like fire. She bit down hard to keep from screaming.
He reached to grab her collar again—but paused.
"...Are you wearing a full-body suit under that dress?"
Instead, he seized her neck and, with one arm, hurled her overhead in a graceful arc.
CRASH! She landed right next to Bon Clay.
"Now that's gender equality. Everyone gets planted."
[Plot Characters Daz Bonis, Bon Clay, and Paula Defeated — Level Up to 43!]
Shen Yuan once again invested all newly gained points into Conqueror's Haki.
[Conqueror's Haki: Level 5 — Advanced Tier node unlocked.]
He glanced over at the trio planted in the ground, then turned to see a small figure trembling in the distance.
Miss Christmas.
"Hey, rodent," he called out, "Go fetch your manager."
The mole-woman blinked, stunned. The two locked eyes for a full ten seconds.
Then, in a flash, she dug into the ground and disappeared.
Not far away, only Mr. 4 (Babe) remained — a hulking man with a dachshund beside him.
"Man, I was so focused on the others I forgot you existed," Shen Yuan muttered.
Mr. 4 had just arrived to witness an apocalyptic scene: Rayleigh drinking calmly, Smoker holding a restrained Miss Golden Week, and three comrades buried head-first.
"I ain't dumb," Mr. 4 said slowly, raising his bat. "I know I ain't winning this."
"Sables Slicer!"
A sudden sand blade burst out from beneath Shen Yuan—Crocodile had arrived.
Shen Yuan tilted his body slightly, avoiding the attack, and in the same breath blitzed forward.
Mr. 4 didn't even have time to raise his bat.
BAM!
He was flattened.
And behind him, Crocodile finally stepped into the clearing.
Venom dripped from his golden hook. He locked eyes with Shen Yuan, but couldn't help glancing at the half-dozen defeated Baroque agents.
"The 530 million bounty rookie — 'Shinigami' Shen Yuan," Crocodile said grimly. "What is your objective? Why come to my Rainbase?"
Shen Yuan yawned. "I came for sightseeing. As soon as I landed, your people attacked me. I don't even know what's going on. Didn't dare ask."
Golden Week, still tied up, almost coughed blood in rage.
"You're still playing the victim card!?"
Shen Yuan pulled out Tianxun, his black blade crackling with energy.
"Finally. Someone slightly interesting."
His gaze sharpened, lips curling into a grin. Murderous aura flooded the battlefield.
BOOM!
Conqueror's Haki surged again — Crocodile barely had time to raise a sand wall before the first slash came flying, black and white lightning trailing behind it.
"Desert Spada—!"
Too slow.
The shockwave blasted him backward, breaking his stance.
Another slash — this time even more violent.
He raised another sand barrier, only to be met with a punch that came faster than sound.
CRACK!
Shen Yuan's fist shattered the golden hook. Crocodile screamed.
"Still… too weak," Shen Yuan muttered.
With a spinning kick, he released another blackened Haki slash, which tore through the sandstorm defenses.
"I swear, did you eat the Quick-Slash Fruit or something?"
Crocodile was now panicking. His movements were erratic, aimless—like a sandstorm without a core. He couldn't find Shen Yuan, couldn't focus his powers.
Rayleigh quietly sipped his drink, watching.
Smoker, watching Shen Yuan's reckless attacks, murmured: "That's not fighting. That's domination."
Tashigi, on the other hand, was trembling—with admiration.
She gripped her sword tightly.
"I want to catch up to him…!"
From the sky—
BAM!
A punch struck Crocodile straight on the head. Eyes rolling back, he collapsed instantly.
Shen Yuan casually lifted him and dropped him beside the others.
[Plot Character Crocodile Defeated — Level Up to 46!]
"Next."
He turned just in time to see Miss Christmas trying to dig away.
"Oh? Want me to plant you first or beat you half-dead then plant you?"
She froze.
And without resistance, walked forward like a zombie.
BAM!
Unsurprisingly, she went down with one punch.
[Plot Characters Mr. 4 and Miss Christmas Defeated — Level Up to 48!]
[Skill Points +5 — Conqueror's Haki Upgraded to Level 10: Awakening Tier Unlocked!]
Shen Yuan wiped his palms. "Tsk, what a bunch of trash. Wasting my time like this."
Then he turned to Smoker.
"Oi, Navy guy. Go loot all their stuff and store it in my 'ten-year holding account,' capiche?"
Smoker's veins bulged.
"I'm a Marine officer, damn it!!"