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20.55% One Piece: Path to Power / Chapter 33: [33] No Rest for the Wicked

Chapitre 33: [33] No Rest for the Wicked

[2350 words]

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[Skull Rock]

"Shakky-nee, you're here as well," Damien greeted. 

The short-haired woman nodded in reply. 

It was a rather cheerful greeting compared to the sickly grim nature of the Captain's Quarters housed in the giant mountain that was Skull Rock.

The two pirates were already used to the stench of death and despair; Rocks was also present, boringly gulping alcohol in the dimly lit room.

.

"Damien-chan, I'm here to fill you in on the main target of the Captain," she said. "That is, the remaining top pirates. All of these have one thing in common: they can be found in the Government's World Threat Index."

She took a quick puff of her cigar and continued, "These are mainly Pryde D. Sol the 'Sin of Pride', Thaddeus 'Medulla' Enigma, 'Fallen Angel' Herja, 'Mad King' Gol D. Roger."

She paused for a second, "Though there are two others on that list they aren't a major threat to the Captain as they prefer to venture the seas alone."

Damien wrote the names down in his mind for future reference.

Rocks still looked bored—an indication for Shakky to resume her explanation. And she did: "Naturally, they all need to die."

These words brought a smile to Xebec's face.

"From these two, you've met Roger, the man who's already sailed much of the New World on his rather small crew—an impressive feat," she said. 

"The other two of the highest importance are the Overlords."

The woman then further elaborated.

"Overlord: Thaddeus 'Medulla' Enigma."

"Eater of the Mind-Mind Fruit, a Paramecia-type ability that allows Enigma to control others' minds entirely. He can also use mental-type attacks that can erode your sanity. There is no defense from this attack besides having an indomitable mind found in Supreme Kings."

She went on to say, "He is also known as the 'Pirate Professor'." 

"Using his astute mental faculties to master and comprehend the science of our world. His research is a priceless commodity in the Underworld, even the World Government wants to get their hands on it!"

She continued, "The biggest threat from this man is that he can control all his subordinates. As in there is no betrayal, no infiltration, no spying. Due to this, he can stay true to his name: an Enigma!"

Shakky then switched to the tog dog of the New World. "Overlord: Pryde D. Sol."

The woman narrowed her eyes as if recalling a hazy figure. "He ate an incredible fruit… a Paramecia which goes strikingly well with his arrogant personality as the 'Sin of Pride'."

The woman sighed, helplessly shrugging, "He rarely makes a move himself, allowing him to remain in a shroud of mystery, all I know is that with his ability, he can greatly superimpose his strength to reach absurd levels."

Rocks' face warped into one that was of slight interest, "Hmm, that fruit is indeed a little interesting; he can be left for last."

The Captain's words left Damien quite curious.

Shakky saw the look and smiled, "Many missions will be sent out to the higher-ups of our crew, each given a pirate group to take down."

These were an alarm to Damien, enough to make him both question his strength and also feel a tremor of excitement to duel stronger foes. 

'Though I probably won't be given a great threat, right? Maybe one of the weaker ones…'

Damien's thought process was interrupted by the grizzly voice of Rocks.

"Xahaha! I can see through your little thoughts, brat. You're right, your target won't be that impressive, just go and take down that Enigma guy."

"..."

The young pirate paused to think, he knew that though Rocks seemed to put on an air of recklessness, he was highly intelligent.

Rocks answered his thoughts as if reading his mind. 

"Hah, that brain guy is the weakest of them all, overly reliant on his Devil Fruit and letting his Haki dwindle; useless trash," he spat out in disgust.

Shakky nodded by the side. "Enigma's fruit has allowed him to gather a fully brainwashed army of around 50,000 soldiers across hundreds of ships, within his territory of the Mind Sea," she said.

Damien took in the info and aired his thoughts, "In other words… Enigma's greatest strength is also his greatest weakness."

Shakky beamed a smile while Rocks broke out in a crazed laugh.

"Xahahaha! That's right; just kill him first and all his little toys will fall apart."

Alas, Damien was left with a few thoughts and decided to convey them.

"I'll do it, but I need some time to train."

Rocks gazed at the young pirate before him. Damien's sharp eyes showed him everything he needed to know and it all boiled down to a reply of a manic laugh.

"Xahahaha! Looks like that fire inside of you still burns bright… very well, you have half a year to depart to sea," he said in his usual hoarse voice. "Take Kaido and your new division mate as well, it's best they don't fall behind."

The captain's tone quickly grew bored, waving his subordinates away.

Damien and Shakky took the cue and began their long walk down the long spiraling staircase.

.

"Shakky-nee, I need a favour," Damien asked.

"Whatever you need, Damien-chan. Well, maybe not the naughty-naughty~" she charmingly whispered.

Damien was already immune to her teasing and paid it no mind. "My Observation Haki… I feel like I'm very close to seeing something far beyond my senses."

Shakky hummed by the side as if telling him to go on.

"From what I can see, your strongest suit lies in Observation, I hope you can help me reach that next step."

Shakky smiled at the youthful pirate, "Oh, just that? No problemo~ I don't have much to do here anyway, plus I do have some ideas that can help you with that. Though it won't be painless…"

Damien nodded thankfully. He didn't like asking for handouts, if Shakky needed help in the future, he would surely aid her. 

"This is less complicated training than I thought," Damien muttered as he stood in the forest surrounded by tall trees.

He was blindfolded.

His ears were clogged with cotton.

His nose was stuffed the same.

His skin was doused with some special sap that numbed his nerves.

Even his taste was lost from the numbing sensations.

All his senses were forcefully shut down!

Damien stood in the center of a clearing, surrounded by lush forest. He even stopped exercising his Voice of All Living Things. It felt suffocating to be deprived of all your senses, enough to make even the most resolute go mad!

*Bang*

It wasn't a sound he could hear, rather he could feel.

A bullet came rushing down the side and towards his lower chest. It was an easy dodge as they skidded past his body.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang* 

Dozens of bullets soon shot out from all directions, and the difficulty greatly increased.

Damien's eyebrows furrowed as he felt the changes in the air around him with his Haki. 'They aren't all traveling at the same speed?' he thought.

His rather tall body moved in quick steps, swishing through the air.

Damien moved incredibly fast, his body disappearing and reappearing in many different locations.

Yet the bullets still hit him in many places, displaying their magical nature.

'It stings…'

Damien groaned as he grabbed his bleeding arm.

'Piercing round?' he thought to himself.

Another alert went off in his head and he felt heat coming.

Boom!

Damien jumped up last second as the tree behind him exploded into innumerable pieces, leaving a mess behind.

Another flame quickly tingled his senses, not giving him a moment of rest.

Damien danced through the forest as a fire began to build up in his wake.

Tens of minutes passed as Damien jumped from tree to tree, fully spanning his Observation to see as much as possible.

The layout of the forest was already 'visible' in his mind. 

Yet the bullets that shot toward him only got faster. Whether they were explosive, piercing, or incendiary rounds, they all came. Some even mixed in as a single bullet!

.

'I got the hang of it–'

Damien's thought process was abruptly halted as he felt a small window open behind him.

Boom!

An explosion rattled his back as a magically appearing bullet made its debut. Damien couldn't even think as ten more such portals opened up around him.

Boom! *Bang!* Kaboom!

Explosions chained through the forest as the young pirate was overwhelmed with the hot projectiles.

'Too much chaos… I can't see anything!'

Damien's Observation couldn't keep up with the portals that opened up only a few odd inches from his body. Beyond that, the cover of fire and heat made it impossible to even grab a footing.

.

"Ufufu~ We're only just getting started," Shakky muttered from a small hill, overlooking the spectacle below.

One hand grasping a cigar, the other, a pistol.

The weapon was spit-firing rounds into the air, the bullets ranged from a variety of colours, though every one of them was covered in a purple bubble.

As the bullets left the gun, they were encircled with a purple portal, warping them from the hill and right onto Damien's core. It was quite the training.

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[The Following Day]

Damien woke up after an eight-hour snooze. 

*Crack* 

His joints cracked from the movements, a satisfying wake-up stretch. The young pirate threw on his usual attire and peered out his balcony. 

A dull smell of blood remained from the earlier debacle with him becoming a Division Commander. 

"Fourth Division Commander," he muttered. "Not much of a division…"

Damien let out a chuckle at the thought of the numbers at his disposal. Recalling the current overlay of the Rocks Pirates. 

Whitebeard's D-1 had 600 troops.

Shiki's D-2 had 5400 troops.

Charlotte Linlin's D-3 had 4700 troops.

Damien's D-4 had 2 personnel. 

Silver Axe's D-5 had 2000 troops.

D-6 had 4300 troops.

D-7 had 5000 troops.

Captain John's D-8 has 5000 troops. 

Shakky's D-9 had 50 personnel. 

.

Silver Axe had already assumed full control over his Division, much to Rocks' satisfaction. 

Even the non-commander-led divisions, the sixth and seventh, had a huge number of fresh meat sent in.

Rocks didn't have any outstanding pirates there as of now. Rather he threw some recruits into a single group, hoping a powerful pirate would appear, if not, then they could die for all he cared.

Kaido remained a plausible choice but required more training.

Speaking of hierarchy, there was one in terms of the entire crew as well. It wasn't created by any one person but rather circulated by the pirates of Hachinosu themselves.

ROCKS PIRATES GRAND FLEET:

1) The Supreme Leader of the Rocks Pirates – Rocks D. Xebec.

2) The Three Titans – Whitebeard, Shiki, Charlotte Linlin.

3) The Four Tragedies – Captain John, Shakuyaku, Damien, Silver Axe.

4) The Ruins – Kaido, Shiki's Commanders.

5) The Fiends – Elite Infantry.

6) The Forsaken – Mid-Level Foot-soldiers.

7) The Condemned – Low-Level Foot-soldiers.

OTHER:

i) The Ravens – Shakky's Informant Network.

ii) The Rogues – Shakky's Surveillance Force (Overlook the pirates in the crew, finding traitors or other nuisances).

.

The hierarchy was put together for a defined structure. And mostly because it was the basis used to provide homes at Hachinosu. 

The Condemned lived at the shore while the Fiends only lived at the very edge of the main pirate city. Mainly so that if the Navy or an opposing pirate fleet comes, these pirates would become literal cannon fodders. 

The amusing thing was Kaido's position. 

Damien had a good laugh every morning just thinking about the brooding giant who was determined to keep destroying things till he too became a Tragedy. 

.

"Yo, Indra," Damien casually greeted. "Looks like you're here bright and early."

The man in question was standing down below, his dark eyes peering at his now-Commander. He didn't reply, just nodded in return. 

The Sin Incarnate felt quite comfortable having a pirate near him at Hachinosu who wasn't constantly howling and fighting. However, there was a topic he wanted to visit.

"Show me your weapon."

Indra unsheathed his blade without hesitation and handed it to Damien, who had appeared only a few meters in front of him. 

The commanding pirate glanced at the blade. "Hmm, it's well-honed but awfully fragile…" Just by exercising a little strength on the blade, it was creaking. 

*Stab*

Damien stuck the blade into the red soil beneath him, much to Indra's confusion. 

He then reached into his regal coat and pulled out another sheathed blade. 

It was a mischievous blade, dark and stormy at first glance. The sword was held in Damien's hands gaining Indra's attention. 

"I won this weapon off of a loser in West Blue years ago," Damien enlightened him. 

Shing!

The blade sliced the air as it was unleashed from its cover. 

"One of the 21 Great Grade Swords: Kyōran."

The morning sun reflected off the blade, seemingly letting out a soft hum from its purple design. 

[Kyōran Image (in Discord)]

Indra was captivated by the weapon in his commander's hands, a certain part of him wanting to reach out. Damien didn't put on airs, casually throwing it away. 

"Take it," he said. "I don't need my only subordinate to walk around with such a brittle weapon."

Indra's hand tightly held the weapon and scabbard, feeling his new sword. The swordsman lowered his head, "I won't let you down."

Damien's eyes scanned the pirate with new interest. 

He saw it. A gleam of ambition passed through Indra's eyes as he held the new treasured blade. 

It was a thirst for strength and power. That's what Damien needed. A sharp sword at his disposal. 

Time began to run on without stopping. 

Damien continued his training day-in-and-day-out under the continuous hail of teleporting bullets. Slowly but surely, beginning to 'see' where they would appear next.

It would begin as a small window, expanding further and further. And like that, months went on by.

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner.

Bit of a set-up chapter, not just for the coming arc but future arcs down the line.

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q


Chapitre 34: [34] Mission Impossible

[2230 words]

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[Half a Year Later]

[At a Well-Developed Island, Paradise Sea]

Tall buildings with glass windows and concrete structures; a wealthy land. Flying a banner that signified a Kingdom under the World Government!

Not just that, there was a Marine Branch stationed on the island as well, showcasing its significance to the seas.

A young woman wearing a purple cloak and hood could be seen hidden in the shadows of a building. She was currently going around, checking the conditions of the land; scouting the entire island under the veil of the shadows.

Her fruit power was indeed perfect for her job.

"I am finally back home," she muttered with a soft sigh. Looking up into the endless night, taken away by its serene beauty. 

The girl reached out with her hands as if trying to grasp, "There's so much freedom in the skies. I hope I can soar through them someday."

Her eyes drifted further, reaching the bright rock far, far away. "Now that I recall, he said there are even pirates on the moon," she muttered, her thoughts flying around.

Waking up from her reverie, she gazed at the island she once called home. 

"Everything is so… different."

Her tone was that of reluctance with an air of nostalgia. 

The people were living in decent conditions, but not living happily. They lacked the vibrance that would be otherwise present in such a bustling Kingdom; the colourful city was seemingly gray.

"To think those smiles and laughs I heard while growing up could become so void and silent," The anger carved deep in the words was apparent. 

Her people had their happiness stolen. She could not fix that. She lost her 'princess' attitude a long time ago. The only thing left was desperation for vengeance. 

Hunting down pirates to pay for the aid of someone worse to aid in her revenge was the original goal. Yet along the way, she met someone who gave her another option. 

Rather than resigning from her hopes by blindingly trusting an Underworld Emperor, she instead was shown tools and tactics to complete her objectives.

Beyond the aid given to her, she also felt something else—the comfort of having a companion. Though she knew the pirate who helped her had his reasons, it was a lost sensation which was blanketed under a sheet of gloom and darkness. 

A small smile stretched on her visage recalling her tough training on the island at the bottom of the ocean.

The Sin Incarnate had become an anchor in her mind. One that could either keep her afloat or one that could pull her into the endless abyss.

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[Pirate Paradise of Hachinosu, The New World]

Shing!

A sharp hum went off as a dark sword slashed through the air.

Clang!

However, it met an immovable object; one tough enough to let out the sound of a gong, as if a thick metal was hitting a far sturdier and denser one.

Yet the odd thing was that the obstruction was no metal… rather, an arm!

"A sharp blade won't make up for a dull attack like that, Indra."

Damien's casual words and appearance were quite the contrast to that of Indra, who was breathing heavily and covered in sweat.

*Bang* *Clang* *Dumm*

The sword went on an onslaught of attacks while beads of sweat fell over the soil below.

Damien continued to use his forearm as a shield, meeting every slash with his open skin. Minutes went on.

Indra retreated a few steps.

"Your skin is tougher than any metal I've come across, Commander," he said with some disappointment.

Yet this dismay was overtaken with surprise.

The thought of Damien taking all his hits with just his skin, in addition to not even an ounce of Armament Haki! 'Whatever is below the skin is tougher than diamonds!' Indra exclaimed.

.

Damien was quite satisfied.

It was the result of his newly attained {Black Bones (II)}.

Having seeped his Haki into the outer two layers of every bone in his body over the past six months was quite an accomplishment.

Unfortunately, the duration for further upgrades required more and more. The harder the skin, the harder the attacks and training need to be to help the Haki seep in further. 

.

Indra's eyes sharpened as he regained his breathing.

*Fwwizz*

A quick screech of the air and he was now tens of meters in the sky, popping through the air.

His dark demeanour contrasted with the coming attack as torrents of air began to wrap around his body. The wind superimposed upon one another as they began to form the shape of a giant peacock in the air, spreading its glorious wings.

.

"One Sword Style: Beautiful Death!"

.

The surrounding region was overtaken by the colourful dawn of the attack as it charged upon its opponent.

[Image of the Attack (in Discord)]

Damien leaked a small smile as he felt the cuts of the attack. They were scrapping and shredding away at his body before the attack even got near him; a combination of chaotic and concentrated winds.

The attack took seconds to befall the younger pirate, who simply raised out a single arm in return.

*Purrup* Crimson energy began to swarm over the palm, gathering into a swirling, almost gaseous state.

*Szzz*

The air sizzled as the red particles shot out in a wide net-like formation. The pulverizing energy immediately transformed into a large barrier.

.

"Devoured Space."

.

The energy had compacted and set in place and began to devour and eat up the free space in front of it, much like a hungry beast. 

*Skkkkr* *Kururu*

The air beyond was turned into a pure void, free of any disturbances.

Indra's attack hit the shield and unlike its spectacular appearance, it made no sound. Rather, all the sound waves were eaten up and left a deafening silence!

Damien's defense easily outplayed the attack as it began to fizzle away, devoured into nothing.

[Devoured Space Image (in Discord)]

Indra seemed to expect this result as he abandoned the move and reappeared behind Damien's towering figure.

"Ugh!"

Yet before he could even take advantage of the position, his body was shot away from a sweeping kick, drilling into a faraway tree.

Boom!

The pirate went through three tough trees before finally coming to a stop.

*Cough* *Cough*

The dark-skinned man let out some dull coughs mixed with some blood. 'He countered my hit before I could even think it through… As always, he has an incredible Observation Haki.' 

Damien walked up to his fallen comrade, offering a hand. "Let's call it a day," he said while pulling Indra to his feet.

The two stood face to face. 

The Sin Incarnate had grown quite a lot under the extraordinary diet of highly nutritious Sea King feasts daily. An inch shy of 11 feet in height (3.3 meters)!

Damien glanced at his sole subordinate's pensive look. "Rest up, it's almost time to take down the Overlord."

[Later]

Damien was in the main eatery of the island, with empty seats within a small radius of him.

It had become a tradition for the pirates to give space to the 'Sin Incarnate' as his previous actions of liquifying some newer recruits some months back. Damien appreciated the silence; giving him time to peacefully eat his meal. 

"…"

"WORORO! I'm ready, Damien, let's sail!"

It didn't take much to know which loudmouth the words were coming from.

Damien sighed, his quiet meal disrupted: "What do you think you're doing, Kaido?"

The ginormous pirate was overly giddy, ready to go on an adventure. Though his adventure was filled with blood and desire for the slaughter of stronger foes.

"You think we can just sail on in with a single little boat into the territory of an Overlord?"

Kaido pondered, or so it seemed.

"Hmm… Enigma has a few more brain-controlled slaves than my club can keep up with, I say we fly in and behead him before any of his armies can react!"

Damien paused.

Kaido's words had degrees of feasibility, even aligning with what the red-eyed pirate already had in mind. 

"Maybe so, but you keep looking at an Overlord as if he was some lamb to be slaughtered," Damien said, rolling his eyes. "Beyond that, it is no easy task to outmaneuver a man known to be the most intelligent among the seas. If anything, the simpler the plan, the higher its chance of success."

Kaido scratched his head. "Whatever…"

Damien paid no mind to the Hundred-Beast.

He cleaned up his table, unlike practically all pirates on this island, he was taught etiquette by his mother. 

In doing so, it gave him a moment to reach a plausible option: "But there is someone who can help us with the flying part…"

[A Little While Later]

"Let me get this straight, you want me to fly you brats up and into the very center of that bastard Enigma's merry little castle?"

The man talking was naturally the notorious Golden Lion Shiki!

Damien and Kaido stood side by side, though widely different in height.

Shiki leaned in a little, looking at the two young pirates with some interest. "You take me as some kind of public transport?" he questioned with a thunderous voice, sending golden strands of Haki out.

Kaido raised his hand, appearing to say something rather obtrusive.

"Well if you want, we can tip you Enigma's gold, "Damien interrupted, almost as if he saw a foul result coming. 

Shiki hummed at the words, narrowing his eyes.

"It's not a bad thought, running a Division as large as mine can be a costly thing…" His eyes then gleamed a dangerous gold. "Alright kid, you got yourself a deal."

Damien smirked at the words, unsurprised by them, and promised, "Don't worry, I always keep my word."

Shiki just grunted in response while spitting out, "We leave tomorrow morning."

He then flew away, leaving behind a golden streak.

.

Kaido seemed displeased: "Oye, Damien, don't go around making compromises for what you want, it's not what a pirate does!"

"I'll use force when I'm strong enough to take more than a single hit from him," Damien glared at the hulking fellow beside him. "You should do the same or one day your thick skin won't hold up."

The words had merit.

Damien had seen the strength of the Golden Lion in the past few months.

The Float-Float Fruit was an absurdly powerful Devil Fruit that gave its user the ability to telekinetically move any non-living thing that they had once come in contact with.

A single attack by the man could render most dead; trying to hold off dozens of falling landmasses from the sky and most could only imagine what Shiki could do when he was pissed. 

Add in a masterful two-sword style combat specialist and it's quite the disaster; his bounty was even higher than Whitebeard's!

"..."

Kaido knew this too, but his war-born desire to use his fists rather than his words always took over his thoughts, forcing him to walk away without a reply.

.

Damien began to ready himself for the coming mission: an Overlord, though considered the weakest of the three, would naturally be no pushover.

"The greater the difficulty, the greater the rewards, anime taught me that much," Damien muttered under his breath.

His eyes were currently matching in colour of the setting sun, unconsciously unleashing some Haki in the thought of the imminent clash.

Some nearby pirates shuddered as their backs turned cold and ran to the sides, avoiding the walking monster.

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[Marineford]

While the Sin Incarnate was wrapping up his training and preparing to leave for his new mission, a storm was currently blowing around the main Marine base of operations.

Thousands of marines were running around as countless cannons and weapons were loaded on huge battleships.

They were under a new order to expand their naval fleet to combat the growing chaos that ensued in the New World.

However, another problem had emerged, much to the Five Elders' displeasure.

[Fleet Admiral's Office]

Currently, there are five marines seated.

The Fleet Admiral sat at his desk.

The seats in front of him were taken by three people. Admiral Basara and Admiral Sengoku sat with serious expressions, their arms crossed across their chests. There was also the third Admiral who was seated by the side with a steaming cup of tea.

A soft breeze swarmed in and filled the room with a fresh scent.

.

They were talking about how to move forward with the orders of the Five Elders.

Garp was also there, but he was in his own world, munching on his endless supply of rice crackers.

*Bang!* At that time, the doors blew open as a Vice Admiral ran in with a very solemn expression. "F-Fleet Admiral!" he yelled in salute.

"What is it?" Kong asked.

"U-Um… I come bearing the words from the Marine Criminal Intelligence Service!"

His words drew the attention of the five monsters seated in the office.

The Vice Admiral gulped as he finished his report, though his voice only grew heavier upon every word.

"Director Hakuchō's top informants have confirmed that the 'Evil Spirit' Charlotte Linlin has set up a meeting with the Overlord Thaddeus Enigma in three days!"

"..."

"What!?"

To Be Continued…

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Author's Corner.

Marine Criminal Investigative Service was introduced near the end of Wano. 

In the anime, they called it the "Naval Bureau of Investigation" which I thought sounded like a cheap version of the FBI so I kept the manga name. You may see it as MCIS later on. 

Images are available on Discord alongside other niche details: https://discord.gg/aJHHHPvb6q


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