Liam Ross stepped out of Vice Admiral Kuzan's office and let out a slow breath. The crisp sea breeze drifting through the corridor could not wash away the helpless smile tugging at his lips. Orders from above were not something a newly appointed Ensign could reject, so he could only accept them quietly.
He spent the next hour wrapping up loose tasks. First, he headed to the personnel department to officially hand over his administrative duties. Then he made his way to logistics, where he found Jennings and Jabibo, the only real friends he had made during his year stationed at Marineford. Life in the headquarters moved fast and left little space for deeper connections, so the small bonds he had formed mattered more than he expected.
Since he would be leaving at dawn for the special training camp, Liam insisted on treating them. His voice was cheerful, almost playful, when he told them the plan.
"Tonight. Portside bar. Do not be late. I am buying."
Jennings laughed. "If you are paying, I am showing up even if the sky collapses."
Jabibo grinned. "I am not missing free drinks. Count me in."
With that settled, Liam returned to his small luxury dorm room, one he had only moved into three weeks prior. He barely had time to appreciate how comfortable it was, and now he was already preparing to leave again. Such was military life.
The moment he closed the door, he sat cross-legged on the bed and opened his system inventory.
Inside were three rewards:
• The Lucky Gift Pack
• The Devil Fruit Mystery Box
• The Mysterious Chest
He examined all three with anticipation before focusing on the Lucky Gift Pack. He had opened both the fruit blind box and the mysterious chest before, but the Lucky Pack carried a different charm. Pure randomness. Pure chaos. Pure possibility.
"System, open the Lucky Gift Pack."
Instantly, a crisp chime filled his mind.
"Ding. Congratulations to the host for opening the Lucky Gift Pack.
You have received:
Ten million Berries.
Ten cups of instant noodles in assorted flavors.
One combat suit resistant to fire and water.
Usopp Early-Stage Marksmanship Fusion Card.
Three basic experience cards.
Two intermediate experience cards.
One advanced experience card."
Liam's eye twitched.
Ten cups of instant noodles?
Ten million Berries?
Usopp's early marksmanship?
He rubbed his temples.
Sure, money was always useful. Food was at least edible. But Usopp's early marksmanship was hardly something worth celebrating. The man was incredible later in his journey, but in his early days he was... well, enthusiastic. That was the best way to put it.
And the so-called fire-and-water-proof combat suit?
He had been expecting something slick and high-tech like the suits Germa 66 used, elegant and intimidating in equal measure. Instead, what appeared in his hands was a rough black cloak-coat hybrid made with questionable craftsmanship. The fabric felt like it had been stitched together by someone with a grudge.
He stared at it in silence.
"Fantastic," he muttered. "I look forward to wearing this while being mocked by children."
Fortunately, the experience cards salvaged his mood. Without hesitation, he used every card on his Clone Fruit.
Clone Fruit: 250 → 480 experience points. Grade: Excellent.
Not bad at all.
Luck really was a mysterious force.
Next came the Mysterious Chest.
He selected it, and with a burst of violet light the chains cracked apart and the lid swung open. A golden card floated out slowly, shimmering like a tiny sun.
"Ding. Congratulations to the host for obtaining a Skill Card.
Would you like to use it?"
A thrill shot through Liam's chest.
Yes. Finally something worthwhile.
"Use it."
The card dissolved into countless golden particles that streamed directly into his mind. His vision blurred. His senses dimmed. And then he saw it.
A world of white.
A lone swordsman in snow-white robes stood surrounded by countless twisted demon-shaped creatures. His presence was calm, resolute, unshakable. In one fluid motion, he placed his hand on the hilt of his blade.
Time seemed to pause.
The sword left its sheath.
A single flash of radiant light tore through the world, so bright it drowned out everything else. When the brilliance faded, the surrounding demons shattered silently, collapsing into nothing.
Liam exhaled sharply as reality rushed back to him.
"That was... insane."
He quickly opened his system panel.
Iaijutsu: A supreme sword technique born from countless hours of drawing and resheathing the blade. True mastery relies on unifying intention with the sword. Proficiency: 0 out of 100.
Odd.
There was no experience bar, only proficiency.
"System, what is the difference between proficiency and experience?"
"Answer: This skill cannot be improved using experience points. It must be trained manually to increase proficiency."
Liam fell silent.
So the system was forcing him to work hard. No shortcuts. No grinding fruit experience cards. No easy wins.
A hundred proficiency.
That did not sound too bad.
Probably.
Despite his complaints, he felt a pulse of excitement. The power he saw in that vision was breathtaking. Even if it required sweat, blood, and sore muscles, it would be worth it.
Only one reward remained unclaimed: the Devil Fruit Mystery Box.
His first box had given him the Earth Fruit.
His second had given him the Clone Fruit.
The Magnet Fruit had come later as a lucky surprise.
Now he stood on the edge of acquiring his fourth fruit.
Would it be a Logia?
A Paramecia?
A Zoan?
If he had a wish, it would be for the Rumble Fruit. The raw destructive power of lightning was unparalleled.
He clasped his hands together.
"Heavenly beings, guardians of fate, anyone listening out there. I am willing to sacrifice my most treasured magazine collection if you grant me the Rumble Fruit. Amen."
After a moment of solemn silence, he nodded.
"System, open the fruit blind box."
A burst of rainbow light filled the room.
When it faded, a strange devil fruit hovered above his palm. It was shaped like a light pink peach, but the interior spiraled like a pig's brain, eerie and unsettling.
Liam frowned.
He had seen this somewhere before.
Then the system's voice rang in his mind.
He froze.
His eyes widened.
His jaw dropped.
And the first word that escaped his mouth was pure disbelief.
"What... the hell?"
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