One Piece: Path to Power

[2354 Words - Thick chapter]

[Early notice - bit of an info-filled chapter but it needs to be said] ​​

[Author: *DOUBLE UPLOAD*]

[Readers: Nani?!]

[Author-kun: I want this training + rebirth arc to end fast to get into the juicier story.]

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--- The Following Morning ----------------

The voices of the trees wake me up and ensure that the coast is clear.

I take a deep breath and remember my mother's words to keep me going.

Though I had resolved myself to reach the top, it just isn't that simple.

The world of One Piece is fraught with dangers and absurdly powerful individuals.

I then hear a voice in my head.

[Congratulations Host, you have been deemed worthy of the System Quest.]

"Hmm? What does that even mean?", I ask.

[After the System awakened, it was seen that Host had become complacent with his second chance. The host was given a task by The Supreme Lord but the System was asked to hide it, waiting to bestow it if the Host was ready. That condition has now been met.]

"Why hide it?"

[The Supreme One believes that unless one truly commits to a cause, then and only then can they ever hope to accomplish it. The Lord himself was forced on a quest by his own Father which has scarred the Lord ever since.]

[This also went to show when the first host selected died before fulfilling the quest.]

My eyebrows furrow a bit as I ask with some hesitation, "Someone else came to this world?"

[Indeed. Another Host was selected long ago but ended up failing near the end by betrayal. The original host though hoped to save this world and petitioned the Lord to send another host, that being you.]

[Thus The Lord gave you time to gather the resolve yourself that aligns with the quest and sent me as your guide.]

"...I see. So what's the quest?" I ask.

[The quest "Path to Power" has been bestowed upon Host.]

Following its words, a blue screen appearing in my head.

--------------

[Path to Power - Quest given by the Supreme Lord, Nanabane-sama, specifically for you. You are to overthrow the powers of this world and reach the apex of all beings belonging to this realm.]

[This cannot be done alone, you are to gather a total of 7 to stand beside you.]

[7 there shall be, no more, no less.]

[Upon completion, you shall be granted a Grand Reward.]

[Time Limit: For as long as your resolve remains]

[Penalty: You will forever be destined to a life of the weak and end up being used by the strong]

[Final Remarks: You have your goal. The 'Path to Power' is long and arduous, gather those you can rely upon for the chaotic seas before you. The System shall aid you, but you must hold the conviction to reach the apex. Good luck, child.]

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Reading over the quest I can't help but sigh lightly.

I had decided to no longer be the one who is stepped on simply due to weakness.

And now that has become my purpose.

"What's with the '7 there shall be'? What's wrong with having more or fewer hands to help me with my task?" I ask the System.

[Host should stop applying logic upon the Supreme. Lord Nanabane-sama was the seventh one of the 9 Supreme Beings. He alone survived the road to supremacy. The number 7, though it may be illogical, will grant Host many powers some consider to be unnatural.]

[This includes things like luck and fate.]

[But in reality, the truth is that those with power can do whatever they wish, no matter how petty and absurd it may be.]

"Haaaah, yeah whatever." I shake my head in resignation.

'Well now that I have the final goal, I need to set the journey.' I conclude.

After thinking for a while, I reach a resolution.

'I shall train till I am 12-13ish on this Island, preparing my body and perhaps eating a Devil Fruit. Afterward, I shall sail out to wherever the sea takes me.'

Finished with my thoughts I question out loud, "It's just you and me now. Do you have a name?"

[System is unnamed. The host can bestow a name upon me.]

"Host this, Host that. Just call me Damien."

[Affirmative... Damien.]

"As for your name... wait, are you male or female?"

[Either work, Damien.]

"Well, in that case, you shall be a female."

"As for your name... how about Eve?" I offer.

[Please Damien, do not insult me with such a primitive and stereotypical name.] she rejects immediately.

"Woah okay, sheesh. I just remember reading about it in a fanfic... Well, how about Siri?" I ask her.

[Please do not insult me further by granting the name of the primitive AI from that abomination you humans call an iPhone.]

"...I suppose I too would find that offensive. Alright, what about... Sibyl? From Sibylla, meaning 'prophetess' in Greek."

[...]

[Please refer to me as Sibyl from now on, Damien.]

"Ha good. It's nice to have you by my side, Sibyl." I say with a smile.

[Likewise, Damien.]

[A/N: There won't be a super sassy, yandere, or future waifu System. It's more or less to help him keep calm in times of darkness and loneliness... after all, isolation is the root cause for despair]

"Sibyl, tell me more about what you can do."

[I can display yours and anyone else's statistics based on certain algorithms by accessing the 'Book of Man.']

"Knowing that this is One Piece, can you display power levels and skills and whatnot?" I ask her.

[Indeed, I have altered the layout for you.]

"Show me my stats then," I tell her.

[Coming up...]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Einar D. Damien]

[Age: 7]

[Height: 5'3]

[Status: Slightly malnourished]

[Strength: Paradise Pirate [Level 2] (Damien ≈ Buggy - I'll add this little thing for reference]

[Devil Fruit: None]

[Skills: Disease Immunity, Rapid Regeneration (I), Increased Vitality, Enhanced Senses, Nature Talk (I)]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

"Hmm, so the ERROR was removed and the complications became skills. Nice." I nod.

[Indeed, since the 'Curse of the Sea' does not affect you, it does not count as a Devil Fruit.]

"What about the power scaling? How does it work?" I ask her as I glance back to the (Strength) part."

[I have scaled the world's fighters based on your memory of the world. The levels are as follows: ]

[Paradise Pirate [Level 1-5] -> Yonko Crew Apprentice Pirate -> Yonko Crew Pirate -> Quasi Yonko Commander -> Yonko Commander (Low-Mid-High-Top tiers) -> Quasi Yonko -> Yonko (Low-Mid-High-Top tiers) and finally Beyond Yonko.]

(A/N: Check AUX chapters for more info, I also scaled some One Piece characters on the scale as a reference)

"That is quite a lot... well I guess the journey has just begun."

"Alright, what else you got for me?" I ask her.

[Hmm, I can store inanimate objects into the {Inventory}, I can save all locations you have been to in the {Map}. I can also display available quests and missions found in the {Quest Log} and also further give access to a {Shop}.] Sibyl concludes.

"Woah! Nice. Tell me more about quests." I ask her.

[Essentially put you can gain System Points to buy objects to help you on your journey. These objects are only linked to this World's store. So no Sharingan Bloodline or Senzu Beans.]

[A/N: I don't intend to overly focus on the Store. It's more for incentives like healing solutions, log poses, and support-type things. MAYBE skills but that later on]

"Interesting. Well can I pick my quests or is there more to it?"

[The quests are basic and pre-written. Usually awarded after surpassing strength stages. The harder the quest, the better the rewards.]

"Can you list a few for reference?" I ask Sibyl.

[Sure.]

A screen pops up to my face.

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Quest Log]

[Strength Index]

[Reach Paradise Pirate [Level 1/2/3/4/5] - Rewards: 500✔/700✔/1000/1400/1900 in System Points]

...

-----

[Haki Index]

[Learn the Colour of Observations - Rewards: ...]

...

-----

[Other]

[Create your own Crew - Rewards: Blessed-Crew Gift Pack]

[Path to Power: Reach the peak with a crew of 7 - Rewards ???]

[Reach Yonko Commander Phase - Rewards: Fishmen Bloodline (Grow gills to breathe underwater, fruit users may survive underwater but will not be able to move)]

[Reach the Peak of the Yonko Commander Phase - Rewards: (Underwater Maneuverability) Skill]

...

[Eat a Devil Fruit - Rewards: 3000 SP, Seastone Pendant (Helps to slowly build immunity to seastone)]

[Breath your first breathe - Rewards: Beginner Gift Pack (COMPLETED)]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

"Hmm," I go over the quests, nodding at the rewards and whatnot.

Looking at the last one, I can't help but exclaim, "Can I claim the rewards for the completed quests now?"

[Indeed, here it comes Damien.]

[2 Quests Complete - Rewards: 1200 SP, Beginner Gift Pack x1]

[Rewards sent to {Inventory}.] Sibyl tells me.

"Then go ahead and open my inventory!" I say with some excitement.

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

[Inventory]

[(Beginner Gift Pack x1), (Dust Bunnies x7)]

>=-=----[]---<>---[]---=-=<

Ignoring the latter item, I ask Sibyl: "Claim the Beginner gift pack please!"

[Acknowledged.]

[Congratulations, you have received the following: (Map of Surroundings), (Log Pose x3), (Mimic Fruit Ability Token x3), (2000 SP), (200 000 ?), (Filtered Devil Fruit), (Fruit Sensor (I) - Skill), (Healing Solutions x15), (Persona (I) - Skill)]

Many things flooded my inventory as I studied my earnings.

My eyes shined at a few: "Sibyl, explain the ones I'm sure you know I want to be explained."

[Affirmative, Damien.]

[Map of Surroundings - Shows all land and sea area within 20 km in all directions of the user at any given time]

[Mimic Fruit Ability Token - Permanently mimics ONE type of SUPPORT ability from any devil fruit. Cannot be used to damage or fight enemies. You must have either the fruit itself in hand or the blood of the fruit user of the desired fruit to mimic the ability. ONE TIME USE]

[Filtered Devil Fruit - Will randomize one of the 3 types of Devil Fruits. Can filter subsequent parameters to gain a desired type of fruit. System will generate a list of matching fruits from which the user can choose from. ONE TIME USE]

[Skill: Fruit Sensor (I) - Will alert the user if devil fruits are present within x meters of radius. Only displays uneaten fruits. UPGRADEABLE]

[Skill: Persona (I) - Changes appearance to a desired state. Can be seen through by certain flaws when at lower levels. Can be seen through with spiritual sight. Can be seen through from anyone with higher Observation's Haki. UPGRADEABLE]

-----

"HOLY DAMN! That's quite the haul, Sibyl!" I exclaim as I go over the descriptions.

[Congratulations Damien. I am happy for you.] she said in a rather sarcastic tone.

Ignoring said tone, I end up thinking,

'The map will come in use later on, the mimic fruit ability is once again something for a later date. As for the devil fruit...'

"Why can't I choose the Devil Fruit Type?" I ask her.

[Another one of the petty and absurd actions by the Lord. Nanabane-sama likes to add elements of luck into his blessings.] She explained without a single change in her tone.

"Fine, I'll choose that at a later date. As for the skills, they seem quite useful."

"The SP I gained.. they might be of use now."

"Sibyl, can I use my SP to upgrade my skills?"

[Indeed, most skills have tiers for which can increase through leveling up. These cost SP]

"I see. List my Skills then."

[Will do.]

[Skills: Disease Immunity, ⬆Rapid Regeneration (I), Increased Vitality {+}, Enhanced Senses, ⬆Nature Talk (I), ⬆Persona (I), ⬆Fruit Sensor (I)]

[Those marked with a ⬆ are upgradeable]

[Those marked with a {+} are evolvable]

[Tier (I) -> (II) Upgrade Cost: 100 SP]

[Tier (II) -> (III) Upgrade Cost: 500 SP]

[Tier (III) -> (IV) Upgrade Cost: 1000 SP]

...

[Each Skill can be upgraded a maximum of 5 times]

[First Skill Evolution requires 1000 SP and 5 times for the next evolution]

[The following Skills have Upgrades Available: ]

[Rapid Regeneration (I) -> (II): Your cells work very fast and can heal injuries vastly quicker than other humans. Upgrading will increase the speed of regeneration further]

[Nature Talk (I) -> (II): Allows you to converse with nature. Nature can provide simple directions to what you seek and quick shelter when desired. Upgrading will allow you to mildly control nature to your will]

[Persona (I) -> (II): Changes appearance to a desired state. Can be seen through when one focuses on environmental effects or length and movement of shadow. Can be seen through from anyone with higher Observation's Haki. Upgrading will increase the degree of mimicking an appearance. Your heartbeat, shadow, and voice will match the person]

[Fruit Sensor (I) -> (II): Will alert the user if devil fruits are present within 10 meters of radius. Only displays uneaten fruits. Upgrading will increase the radius up to 50 meters]

[{Evolution} | Increased Vitality -> Superhuman Vitality: Affects physical output and internal input. Increased strength and stamina (both physical and sexual) to the peak of a normal human. When upgraded it will further increase these to superhuman level]

[Current Balance: 3200 SP]

-----

"Well damn. Looking at the stuff available... I'd say I should worry about my current situation. Therefore I need environmental and physical advantages. I can't just let Lerone and his posse get away with what they did to mom." I make my choice.

"Sibyl, Evolve my (Increased Vitality) and upgrade my (Nature Talk) to level 3," I inform her.

[Acknowledged.]

[Skill (Increased Vitality) has evolved to (Superhuman Vitality) --- 1000 SP Deducted]

[Skill (Nature Talk - I) has upgraded to (Nature Talk - III) --- 100+500 SP Deducted]

[Remaining balance: 1600 SP]

As soon as I heard the notification I felt my body change. My strength noticeably increased, my heartbeat slowed down a bit, my body felt more comfortable.

As for nature, I could hear more. The leaves, the grass, the flowers, they were all whispering, chatting among themselves. I felt like I could influence them a bit as well.

.

.

"Hey, Damien!"

"How's it going pal."

"Sorry about your mother. I'm sure she's proud!"

"Hang in there, young one."

"The Sun rises, the moon hides. the sun sets, the moon appears. The day continues. Do not grow sad for another day has come."

...

I smiled at the talking flowers and trees as I felt the rush of energy.

'It feels... warm. The same warmth I felt when I was with mom... it's quite nice.'

I wave my hand and the bark that had closed around me opened once again as the morning sun shined upon my youthful face.

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[The following is excluded from word count]

Author's Corner:

Yo!

Bit of an info-filled chapter, but it is important. Future skill upgrades will be shorter, I just wanted you all to know how it looks.

Check out AUX chapters.

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