Chapter 4: Skill Tree
As the Marine ship cut through the tranquil waters of the East Blue, Noctis D. Stryfe reclined in a deck chair at the bow, his posture one of casual indifference. A hapless Marine stood beside him, awkwardly holding an umbrella to shield the unusual captain from the sun's rays, while another hovered nearby, a pitcher of cold beer at the ready.
Noct's eyes were closed, his face tilted towards the gentle sea breeze, but his mind was far from idle. Beneath the veneer of relaxation, his thoughts raced, processing the events that had led him to this moment – a rookie pirate commandeering a Marine vessel, his destination the famed floating restaurant, Baratie.
The Marines exchanged uneasy glances, their whispers carried on the wind. Tales of Devil Fruit users, those mythical beings endowed with extraordinary powers, had long been the stuff of legend among the seas. And now, here they were, unwitting crewmates to one such enigma.
Noct cracked an eye open, his gaze falling upon a young female Marine who had been staring at him with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he caught her eye. "You know," he drawled, his voice low and teasing, "if you keep staring at me like that, I might just have to come over there and give you a closer look."
The female Marine's face flushed a deep crimson, her eyes widening in embarrassment at being caught. She quickly averted her gaze, focusing intently on the deck beneath her feet.
Noct chuckled, sitting up and stretching his arms above his head. "Relax, sweetheart," he said, his grin turning mischievous. "I don't bite." He paused, his eyes glinting with playful mirth. "Well, not unless you ask nicely, that is."
The female Marine's blush deepened, if that were even possible, and she quickly busied herself with some mundane task, desperately trying to avoid Noct's gaze. The other Marines shifted uncomfortably, torn between amusement and disapproval at their captain's brazen flirtation.
As the Marines sputtered and stammered, Noct's attention turned inward, his gaze focused on the shimmering interface that only he could see. The system, a mysterious guide on his journey, presented a newly unlocked skill tree, a web of potential paths to power.
[Devil Fruit Skill Tree]
Higan (Active)
- Fire bullet-like projectiles of flame from fingertips
- Consumes 20 stamina per use
- Current Level: 1 (10/100 EXP)
Logia Body (Passive)
- Transform physical form into living fire
- Grants immunity to most conventional attacks
- Current Level: 1 (0/100 EXP)
[Locked Skills]
Kagero (Active)
- Shoot a stream of fire from the palm of the hand
- Consumes 30 stamina per use
- Requires Higan Level 3
Enjomo (Active)
- Create a circle of fire around a selected area, preventing anyone from entering or leaving
- Consumes 50 stamina per use
- Requires Kagero Level 5
Hiken (Active)
- Turn fist into flames and launch it as a dense column of fire
- Consumes 75 stamina per use
- Requires Enjomo Level 7
Enkai (Active)
- Amass a large amount of flames around the body in preparation for an attack
- Consumes 60 stamina per use
- Requires Hiken Level 5
Hibashira (Active)
- Shoot collected flames from Enkai straight upward or downward
- Consumes 80 stamina per use
- Requires Enkai Level 3
Hotarubi (Active)
- Create many small, glowing fireballs that float around an enemy
- Consumes 40 stamina per use
- Requires Kagero Level 7
Hidaruma (Active)
- Send the fireballs from Hotarubi flying into the target all at once
- Consumes 60 stamina per use
- Requires Hotarubi Level 3
Shinka: Shiranui (Active)
- Hurl long lances made out of fire that burn and pierce opponents
- Consumes 90 stamina per use
- Requires Hibashira Level 5
Jujika (Active)
- Place index fingers together in a cross shape and launch a cross-shaped column of fire
- Consumes 70 stamina per use
- Requires Shinka: Shiranui Level 3
Dai Enkai: Entei (Active)
- Create a large, spiraling fire and turn it into a gigantic fireball resembling the sun
- Consumes 150 stamina per use
- Requires Enkai Level 7 and Hiken Level 10
Kyokaen (Active)
- Release a wall of fire to block an attack
- Consumes 50 stamina per use
- Requires Logia Body Level 5
Noct's fingers danced through the air, manipulating the ethereal display. Each node represented a tantalizing possibility, a way to harness and master the flames that now coursed through his veins. The Mera Mera no Mi, the Devil Fruit that had granted him the ability to become fire itself, offered a wealth of choices.
Two skills stood out, their icons pulsing with an inviting glow. 'Higan', the technique he had used to dispatch the Marines, allowed him to fire bullet-like projectiles of flame from his fingertips. 'Logia Body', a passive ability, granted him the power to transform his physical form into living fire, rendering him immune to most conventional attacks.
But the rest of the skill tree remained locked, tantalizing him with the promise of even greater power. Skills like 'Kagero', which would allow him to shoot streams of fire from his palms, and 'Enjomo', which would create circles of flame to trap his enemies, beckoned to him from beyond the veil of his current abilities.
And then there were the truly legendary techniques, like 'Hiken', the signature attack of Portgas D. Ace himself, and 'Dai Enkai: Entei', which promised to create a massive fireball resembling the sun, capable of obliterating anything in its path.
But to unlock these skills, he would need to master the abilities he already possessed, to grind out the experience points and push his limits to new heights.
A mischievous glint entered his eye as he glanced at the Marines, still awkwardly attending to their duties. With a flick of his wrist, Noct summoned a small orb of flame, letting it dance across his fingertips. The Marines watched, their eyes wide with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
Suddenly, Noct extended one of his arms forward, his hand in a loose fist. He positioned his thumb and fingers to resemble the shape of a handgun, with the thumb acting as the hammer and the index finger as the barrel. As he bent his thumb down, mimicking the action of pulling a trigger, a burst of flame erupted from his fingertip, streaking towards the open sky.
The Marines ducked instinctively, their cries of alarm mingling with the roar of the flames. Noct grinned, a rush of exhilaration coursing through him as he felt the skill respond to his will.
A chime sounded, a new prompt appearing in his interface:
[Skill Experience Gained]
Higan: 10 EXP
Noct's grin widened. So, this was the key to mastering his abilities – practice and repetition, the art of "grinding" as he had known it in the games of his past life. Each use of a skill, each successful application, would bring him one step closer to unlocking its full potential.
But as the rush of power faded, Noct felt the familiar tug of exhaustion, a reminder of the toll his abilities took on his stamina. He knew that relying solely on his Devil Fruit powers would be a dangerous gamble, a path that could leave him vulnerable in the heat of battle.
His mind turned to the tales of the great pirates, the legends whose names echoed through the annals of history. They had all wielded weapons, tools of combat that complemented their unique abilities. If he was to survive in this world, to unravel the mysteries of his past and forge a future of his own making, he would need a weapon of his own.
The weight of his decision settled upon him like a mantle, a reminder of the responsibilities that came with power. He knew that the path he chose, the skills he honed, would shape not only his own destiny but the fate of those he encountered along the way.
As he contemplated the possibilities, a flicker of movement caught his eye. One of the Marines, a young man with a shock of red hair and a nervous demeanor, approached hesitantly, a tray laden with an assortment of snacks in his hands.
"S-sir," the Marine stammered, his voice trembling slightly as he held out the tray. "I thought you might be hungry. It's a long journey to Baratie, after all."
Noct raised an eyebrow, surprised by the gesture. He had expected fear, even resentment, from his unwilling crew, not acts of kindness. He reached out, plucking a small pastry from the tray with a nod of thanks, his fingers brushing against the Marine's as he did so.
The young man flinched, his eyes widening as he felt the unnatural heat that radiated from Noct's skin. It was a reminder of the power that lurked beneath the surface, the flames that could consume everything in their path.
But there was something else in the Marine's gaze, a flicker of curiosity, even fascination. It was as if he saw beyond the Devil Fruit user, beyond the pirate, to the man beneath.
Noct took a bite of the pastry, savoring the sweet, buttery flavor as it melted on his tongue. He looked out over the bow of the ship, his eyes fixed on the horizon, on the distant shape of Baratie that grew larger with each passing moment.
"Tell me," he said, his voice low and thoughtful. "What do you know of Baratie? What secrets does it hold?"
The Marine hesitated, caught off guard by the question. "I... I don't know much," he admitted, his voice still tinged with nervousness. "Only that it's a famous restaurant, a place where the greatest chefs in the East Blue gather to ply their trade."
Noct nodded, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. "I've heard rumors," he said, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "They say that Baratie will feed anyone, regardless of their allegiance or wealth. Pirates, Marines, even those without a single Beli to their name."
The Marine's eyes widened, surprise etched across his features. "Really?" he asked, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
Noct grinned, nodding. "And that's not all," he continued, his voice dropping to a whisper. "They say that the head chef, Zeff, was once a pirate himself. A fearsome warrior who sailed the Grand Line in his youth."
The Marine swallowed, his eyes darting nervously to the side. "A Grand Line pirate?" he repeated, his voice trembling slightly.
Noct leaned back, his gaze distant as memories of the One Piece storyline flashed through his mind. He remembered the tales of Sanji, the chivalrous cook who had joined the Straw Hat Pirates, and his mentor, the legendary Red Leg Zeff.
A thrill of excitement coursed through him at the thought of meeting one of the main characters from the manga in person. To see Sanji's incredible fighting style, to taste the dishes born from his unparalleled culinary skills – it was a dream come true for any fan of the series.
"I wonder," Noct mused, his voice barely above a whisper. "If we'll have the chance to meet him. Sanji, the Straw Hat Pirates' cook."
The Marine looked confused, his brow furrowing. "Sanji?" he asked, the name unfamiliar to him.
Noct shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Never mind," he said, waving off the question. "Just the musings of a pirate with too much time on his hands."
He turned back to the Marine, his gaze intense. "What's your name, kid?"
The young man blinked, surprised by the question. "M-Marcus, sir. Marcus Reeves."
Noct nodded, committing the name to memory. "Well, Marcus Reeves, it seems we have an interesting journey ahead of us. Keep your eyes open and your wits sharp. You never know what surprises Baratie might hold."
With that, he turned back to the horizon, his mind already racing with the possibilities that lay ahead. The skill tree, the challenges that awaited him, the secrets of Baratie – all of it swirled together in a maelstrom of potential and danger.
For in the end, that was what he was – a pirate, a seeker of fortune and glory, a man who would let nothing stand in the way of his dreams. And as the first glimpse of Baratie appeared on the horizon, a glittering jewel amidst the vast expanse of the East Blue, Noct felt a thrill of anticipation course through his veins.