[You've reached Little Garden – Skill Points +5!]
Shen Yuan tapped on the Haki Skill Tree, and immediately, his Busoshoku Haki surged to Level 15.
The moment he stepped onto the ancient soil of Little Garden, the system reward had arrived as promised.
Excellent.
Shen Yuan and his crew officially entered the legendary island.
It was a land of ancient wilderness and forgotten time. According to the records, two giants had been dueling here for a century, neither willing to yield.
"Even in the face of intruders, those two remain composed. Giants really are different—solid, steady, and proud."
Shen Yuan smiled, drew the Tuntian Sword (Heaven-Swallowing Blade), and executed a wide slash.
Slash—!
A massive swath of jungle was cleaved in two.
"Still hiding? You're real good at pretending to be invisible."
The black energy rippled violently along the blade of Tianyan, spilling out in a wave that stunned the birds, beasts, and insects nearby.
"Black Light Burial!"
A compressed black-light slash tore through the jungle, cutting toward the distant mountains like a beam of death.
Whoosh—!
Just before the energy wave struck the mountain range, two colossal shadows surged up to meet it.
One wielded a massive sword, the other a gigantic axe.
Dongli and Brogy, the legendary giant warriors of Little Garden, moved in unison to intercept the blow. With a combined roar, they deflected the black slash skyward!
Whoosh—!
The slash dissolved into the clouds.
Even so, the giants stood breathing heavily, warily watching the small figures before them.
"Attack me with your strongest move. Don't hold back!"
Shen Yuan raised his sword, and his voice echoed across the land like thunder.
'Blue Ogre' Dongli and 'Red Ogre' Brogy glanced at each other and nodded solemnly.
They lifted their weapons high, the very air bending around their immense forms.
Even Rayleigh's expression shifted.
"This… That's Hakoku Sovereignty…!"
A legendary dual-technique only used when two giants strike in unison. Even Garp wouldn't dare take it head-on.
And this kid… was actually going to face it?
Shen Yuan shifted his stance, muscles taut, sword gripped with both hands.
The air around him warped as the power of Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki spiraled into black and white arcs. The clash of energies warped space with sheer intensity.
"Let's begin!"
"Prepare yourselves, warrior!"
Dongli and Brogy brought down their weapons with a thunderous roar.
"HAAAKOKU SOVEREIGNTY!"
BOOOOOOM—!
The overwhelming energy carved through the forest like a divine punishment, targeting Shen Yuan without mercy!
Clang!!
Shen Yuan met the attack with his blade.
"What?!" Rayleigh's pupils contracted in disbelief.
"Kid! That's the Hakoku Sovereignty! You can't block it!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Shen Yuan was blasted backward, staggering dozens of meters, blood trickling down his lips.
"Enough!"
Wiping away the blood with a free hand, Shen Yuan sheathed Tuntian, then sidestepped the incoming destructive wave of force.
BOOM——!
The destructive energy slammed into the shoreline, sending waves surging into the sky. The entire coast was swallowed by water and broken timber.
Crash!
Shen Yuan landed heavily on the ground, glancing at his physical stats in the system.
He was now at peak condition.
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Perfect. This is what I've been waiting for."
In a flash, he appeared before the giants.
"Rankyaku!"
A black air blade surged toward Dongli.
Simultaneously, Tuntian pierced toward Brogy's chest like a comet.
Pfft!
A scar tore across Brogy's chest. He coughed up blood.
"Dongli! Watch out! That brat's strikes carry something unnatural! His attacks bypass brute strength!"
Brogy's organs shuddered as if under shockwaves.
"Grahhh!"
Dongli swung his sword to deflect the Rankyaku, but Shen Yuan's small frame was already closing in.
Compared to them, he looked like a house cat challenging two mammoths.
Boom!
A devastating punch struck Dongli square in the jaw, knocking his massive body off-balance.
"Rankyaku – Gale Bloom!"
A follow-up kick lacerated his chest. Blood burst forth. Dongli swayed.
Crash!
Dongli collapsed, unconscious.
At this moment, Shen Yuan's physical attributes hit their maximum threshold.
He quickly opened his system panel.
---
[Physique: Self-Healing Body – 100/100]
("Body regenerates from damage. Upon maxing out, this form begins to transform…")
---
"An immortal body?" Shen Yuan muttered, a mix of sarcasm and awe.
Brogy, panting against a cliff wall, stared in disbelief.
"What a fearsome warrior…"
"I apologize for disturbing you both, but I came here with a request."
Brogy looked puzzled but nodded.
"Have you ever heard of a giant woman named… Charlotte Linlin?"
Brogy frowned and pondered.
"…Never mind," Shen Yuan waved it off. "Senior, would you be willing to teach me your technique—Hakoku Sovereignty?"
"In return, I can teach you how to master Busoshoku Haki."
"The hardening technique you used earlier?"
Brogy suddenly perked up, waving his massive hand with excitement.
"Ororororo! Hakoku is a technique for two, but if one's talent is high enough… it can be wielded solo!"
"…Go on."
Shen Yuan listened attentively.
"This move focuses your strength into a single weapon, and at the moment of release, you add another burst of power to launch it forward…"
Shen Yuan nodded, absorbing every word.
Drawing Tuntian, he focused.
A black mist coalesced on the blade. It deepened into a shadowy hue—like midnight.
The aura condensed until it couldn't shrink further.
"Buzz…"
Tuntian shot forward, releasing an arc-shaped slash like a baseball swing, the extra force launching it even further.
BOOOOM!
The resulting impact tore through the landscape, leaving a deep trench in its wake.
"Marvelous!" Brogy roared in amazement. "That might even be stronger than our combined Hakoku!"
Shen Yuan exhaled and sheathed the sword.
"I understand the basics now."
He raised his fist. Armament Haki wrapped it in shimmering black. Then, arcs of black and white lightning danced across the surface.
A wave of pressure rolled out, sending the nearby wildlife into panicked retreat.
"This is advanced Busoshoku Haki… and the lightning is from my Haoshoku Haki."
"'Haō-shoku'…" Brogy repeated, wide-eyed. "There was once a man… here on this island. Mustache like a broom, sword at his side. He used the same power."
"…Who else but Roger would have a mustache like that?" Shen Yuan muttered to himself.
---
[Defeated story characters Dongli and Brogy – Level Up: Lv.50!]
Two skill points were added to the Haki Skill Tree.
Busoshoku Haki: Level 17
Shen Yuan was a little surprised by the delayed reward, but shrugged it off.
"Doesn't matter."
And then, with patience and clarity, he began to explain everything to the two giants—
The logic behind Haki awakening,
How to train each form,
The step-by-step system he'd cultivated,
And the road beyond what even most pirates or marines had ever touched.