Blood. The scent of it clung to the polished halls of Mary Geoise, sinking into the velvet carpets and gold-threaded curtains. The corpses of the Holy Land guards lay in grotesque stillness, their pristine white cloaks now drenched scarlet. And in the middle of it all stood Figarland Shamrock, reborn, awakened, and smirking.
Cerberus, the sword that growled with hunger, pulsed faintly at his side, its veins glowing a deeper shade of crimson with each corpse it consumed. Satisfaction dripped from its aura like venom.
[Cerberus Satisfaction: 10%] [Evolution Progress: 10%] [Devour Aura: Active]
Shamrock turned from the massacre and walked slowly down the hall, boots splashing through puddles of blood. His coat swayed behind him like the cloak of a demon king.
"Now they will whisper," he muttered. "They will fear."
Mary Geoise was not prepared.
News spread quickly among the inner circle of the Celestial Dragons. Not a single servant or marine moved against him. The bodies of the slain guards were quietly removed. The surviving nobles watched from behind thick curtains, trembling.
But no one dared speak.
Not yet.
He returned to his quarters. The system's interface still hovered invisibly before his eyes.
[Skill Compilation Available: Combine lesser entries into advanced skills?]
He selected yes.
[Sword Technique: Crescent Arc Lv.1 + Holy Guard Swordsmanship Lv.2 = Sword Style: Moon Reaver Lv.1] [Physical Endurance Lv.2 + Reflex Enhancement Lv.3 = Combat Resilience Lv.2] [Internal Haki Channeling Lv.1 upgraded to Haki Infusion Lv.1]
[New Abilities Acquired. Skill Map Updated. Cerberus Bond Strengthened.]
His hands clenched into fists. Power. Pure, refined power, flowed through him like liquid fire.
"So this is what you offer me, world... and what I will take from you."
A knock echoed at the chamber door. He turned slowly.
"Who?"
"It is Saint Harold, of the Roswald Line. He... wishes to pay respects."
Shamrock's eyes narrowed.
Pay respects?
The door opened.
A portly man in a pearl-encrusted robe entered, followed by two trembling servants. His nose was high, his tone sniveling. "Sir Shamrock! News of your... decisive actions reached my ears. Most inspiring. Most righteous."
Shamrock remained silent, one hand resting on Cerberus' hilt.
Harold swallowed. "Might I... be of service to you in these turbulent times? I have a private fleet. Hidden assets. Loyal men."
Shamrock's gaze pierced him.
Above his head, entries floated into view.
[Entry Detected: Secret Armory - Grand Line Location] [Entry Detected: Devil Fruit Storage - 3 Fruits] [Entry Detected: Coercive Diplomacy Lv.2]
Valuable. But cowardly.
He considered.
"Your offer pleases me," Shamrock said at last. "Leave the map. And the keys."
Harold fumbled to comply, sweat pouring from his brow. He placed a velvet pouch on the table and bowed.
"Of course! I will return soon with a more formal tribute!"
As soon as the man left, Shamrock whispered to the sword.
"He will be useful. For now."
The map inside the pouch detailed the location of a secluded fortress off the coast of Sabaody. More importantly—a hidden chamber containing three unassigned Devil Fruits.
He chuckled.
"Wealth. Weapons. And bait."
He needed more power. He needed more blood. And he knew exactly who to visit next.
Shanks.
The man who once called him brother. Who turned his back on him. Who sold him out to the Elders to secure his own position among the Yonko.
Cerberus trembled with anticipation.
[Hunger Rising: 15%] [Preferred Target: High Haki Signature Detected in West Blue - Possible: Red Hair Pirates]
Shamrock nodded slowly.
"I'll pay him a visit. And feed him to you bone by bone."
He turned toward the window and gazed out over the Holy Land.
Beneath him, the world scurried like insects. Pirates, marines, revolutionaries, warlords.
It didn't matter.
He would rise above them all.
He would not be a character in someone else's story.
He would become the storm that swallowed the seas.