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System Rewards
Kael sat at the helm of the Crimson Raiju, watching the sun dip beneath the horizon, casting shades of crimson across the sky. Carmen was below deck, busy preparing a hearty meal for the crew.
The scent of her cooking wafted through the ship, teasing each crew member's nose. The tension in the air had softened with the promise of food. Kael finally allowed himself a moment of peace as he browsed his system rewards.
The first item he grabbed was the random ship upgrade token. He clenched it in his palm, watching it dissolve into a soft glow. The token was integrated into the Crimson Raiju, enveloping the ship in dazzling light. The transformation was instantaneous.
Kael grinned, already imagining the chaos that would come with the ship's new weapon.
[System Notification: Mythic Ether Cannons Installed]
The ship's new Mythic Ether Cannons were now part of the Crimson Raiju's arsenal. These cannons, powered by ancient, forgotten technology from the void century.
They could harness the ambient energy of the sea, sky, and even the stars. The energy projectiles ranged from destructive blasts to gravity-warping projectiles that distorted space itself.
They could fire Elemental Charges of lightning, fire, or ice, all depending on the energy absorbed by the ship. However, there was a limitation: the cannons could only be used twice a month.
Kael felt his heart race with excitement. With these new powerful cannons for his growing, powerful crew.
Next, Kael checked the Devil Fruits the system had rewarded him with. The first fruit to appear was the Chuubou Chuubou no Mi, the Kitchen-Kitchen Fruit. It was a Paramecia-type that allowed the user to create kitchens and transform objects into food with the desired taste, nutrients, and texture. The food would give buffs to allies and debuffs to enemies. It is a more advanced version of the Kuku Kuku no Mi eaten by Streusen. Kael laughed to himself. It would be perfect for their cook.
The second fruit was the Meta Meta no Mi, a Logia-type that allowed the user to transform into, create, and manipulate liquid metal. Kael could already imagine the destructive potential of this fruit in the hands of a crew member.
The last fruit Kael checked was the Mythical Zoan Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Fenrir, the Thunder Wolf. The fruit granted the user the ability to transform into a wolf hybrid or full wolf form, with abilities tied to lightning and storms. A creature from Elbaf mythology, this fruit was a fitting treasure for a crew born from chaos.
Kael now had five Devil Fruits and the Advanced Haki manual. His smile grew wider. The power was within reach; all they needed now was the right people to wield it.
Dinner with the Crew
Later that evening, as the crew gathered around the table, Carmen set a steaming plate in front of each of them. The scent of seasoned meat and freshly baked bread filled the air, and Kael's stomach growled in response. He didn't wait for the first bite.
"Alright," Kael said, leaning forward, "we've got some interesting new tools on board." He explained the Mythic Ether Cannons and the Devil Fruits they had acquired.
"The Chuubou Chuubou no Mi is for our cook," Kael said, his eyes glinting. "Carmen, this one's yours."
Smoothie's eyes narrowed as Kael handed Carmen the fruit. "Wait, you think she'll be able to handle this?"
Carmen took the Chuubou Chuubou no Mi with a smirk. "I'm more than capable of handling whatever power you throw at me."
She bit into the fruit, and immediately her face twisted. "Why didn't you guys tell me that it tastes like shit?"
Carmen asked, her voice still full of mock anger and surprise.
Kael, Yamato, and Smoothie all burst into laughter. "Power never comes easy," Kael joked between chuckles.
As the laughter died down, Kael brought up the Advanced Haki manual. "We have an Advanced Haki manual that we can practice along with the Rokushiki techniques."
Yamato, leaning back in her chair, grinned. "That's exactly what we need, even though Smoothie and I have already mastered advanced Haki."
Kael's eyes gleamed. "It's time for us to level up."
Base Expansion — Moonfang Isle
After dinner, the crew retreated to their rooms on the Crimson Raiju. Kael took a moment to look through the new Base Functions unlocked by the system.
[System Update: Base Functionality Online]
Available Functions:
Vault Expansion
Defensive Fortifications
Dockyard Upgrades
Training Arena: Level II
"Time to make this island into a fortress," Kael muttered to himself. He stood on the shoreline, feeling the first fingers of sunlight brush across Moonfang's jagged cliffs.
He felt the surge of his will as he focused on the system, commanding the earth itself.
With a rumble, stone walls rose from the earth, shaping into Stormward Cannons along the cliffs, their barrels gleaming black as midnight.
Oni-ward totems were hammered into place, their etched seals glowing faintly.
The Vault's core chamber, a subterranean vault beneath the mountain, was now sealed off and charted with shimmering system lines.
[Base Level Up: Tier I Stronghold Established]
Current Defenses:
Stormward Cannons x12
Oni-Bound Seals x6
Barracks and Infirmary
Vault Access Unlocked
"Not bad," Yamato admitted, watching from the arena ledge. "But it needs a proper test."
The Training Arena — Rokushiki Trials
By noon, the crew gathered in the Training Arena, an open plateau ringed by jagged stones and storm-touched trees.
Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the spectral form of the old swordsman, stood before them.
"Rokushiki's six techniques," Kozaburo growled, his eyes burning with ancient fire. "If you can't master these, Paradise will eat you alive."
Kael's eyes gleamed with anticipation. The six techniques of Geppo, Soru, Tekkai, Shigan, Rankyaku, and Kami-e were essential to survival in the New World.
One by one, the crew attempted them.
Yamato grasped Geppo naturally, leaping with bursts of thunder beneath her feet.
Smoothie's Soru left afterimages in the air, her great blade trailing streaks of water.
Even Carmen surprised them all, planting a boot in a Cipher Pol dummy's throat using a makeshift Tekkai.
Richie, the battle lion, executed a feral version of Rankyaku, his paw's shockwave splitting a tree in half.
"Good," Kael growled, his voice thick with pride. "We forge soldiers, not drifters."
Moonfang Shoreline — Dusk
As the crew finished their training, a breeze shifted across the island, and a lone figure emerged from the mist. Tall, dark-haired, with eyes like molten gold, she approached the gates of Moonfang Isle.
Dracula Mihawk, the strongest swordswoman alive, the daughter of Silvers Rayleigh and Shakky, stood before them.
She slung her blade across her back, her presence like a storm waiting to break.
She looked up toward the rising storm clouds. "So... Kael D. Raen," she murmured, lips curling into a smirk. "Let's see if your storm is worthy of my steel."
With a crack of lightning, the storm ignited the sky.