"I've also gained quite a few life skills."
Shirogai sipped his milk tea, speaking lazily to himself.
"Among the greatest gains, the most significant was the Peak-level [Medical Skill] I learned from Crocus."
Out on the Grand Line, illness was often deadlier than swords. Even a legend like Gol D. Roger, or a force of nature like Whitebeard, had succumbed to illness eventually.
With Peak-level [Medical Skill], as long as someone still had breath in their lungs, there was a way to bring them back. Whether they took that breath and collapsed for good or walked out alive was the only uncertainty. Terrifying plagues, bizarre unknown diseases, even ancient ailments long lost to history—none of them posed a threat now.
"And that's not all," he muttered, glancing through his system's log. "[Poneglyph Reading Methods], perfect-level [Spy Techniques], [Acting Skills], [Hypnosis], [Drawing], [Sculpting], and even master-level [Dancing]. I'm basically an all-purpose genius."
Leaning back against a crate, he looked up at the sea of stars above him and sighed.
"If I went back to Earth with these life skills, I'd dominate any industry. Imagine becoming a private detective using perfect-level spy techniques, catching cheating spouses in 4K. Or heading to a film set and becoming a star thanks to perfect acting. Even as a licensed therapist—my hypnosis could fix minds, or at least get people to explore their fantasies..."
He trailed off, eyes clouding over briefly.
"But there's no going back. Not unless that workaholic of an author draws another Cross Cross Fruit or something ridiculous."
For a few seconds, he mourned the unfinished games, the anime he'd never finish, and his silver rank that would never hit gold.
Then he shook it off.
"When in Rome, do as the pirates do," he grinned. "A Null like me lives in the moment."
He frowned suddenly, opening his system and reviewing his combat skills with disapproval.
"Seriously, why are these so few? Is it because the first half of the Grand Line is so weak? There's barely anyone worth copying."
Aside from the divine-level [Haki God] skill he gained from the two Giant, Droggy and Brogy, and Mr. 2 Bon Clay's perfect-level [Human-Demon Fist], there wasn't much else.
"These guys are far too specialized. They've gotten away with relying on Devil Fruit powers alone because the competition here is so weak. Pirates and Marines both lack real fighting techniques. It's no wonder this part of the Grand Line is called 'Paradise'—compared to the New World, it really is."
He chuckled dryly.
"No wonder the big names in the New World look down on Paradise Pirates. A kingdom like Alabasta almost got toppled by a mid-tier Devil Fruit user, and no one could stop it. In the Four Emperors' territories, stepping on someone's candy could get your entire crew wiped out."
He stared thoughtfully at the sky.
"Most of those cocky newcomers don't make it past their first New World encounter. Those that survive? Either they submit to the Four Emperors, join the World Government and become Warlords, or get crushed."
"Crocodile and Gekko Moriah chose the third option... the Warlords."
He smirked, a glint in his eye.
"I can't wait to fight those monsters. Kaido, Big Mom, Shanks... I want all their combat skills."
Imagining it, he could barely contain his excitement.
"Learning [Indestructible Physique] from Kaido. [Iron Balloon] from Big Mom. [Divine Departure] from Shanks. That's what I'm here for."
He chuckled, already picturing the chaos.
"Test my toughness against Kaido and Big Mom, and go head-to-head with Shanks' Conqueror's Haki. Yeah, that's the thrill I came for."
Snapping back to reality, he scrolled again through the system.
"The perfect-level [Assassination Technique] from Miss Doublefinger... but nothing from the others. It really is only Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji the system rates. Pell, Mr. 1—total background noise."
His current battle skill set included:Master-level [Observation Haki]Master-level [Armament Haki]Master-level [Haki Infusion]Perfect-level [Six Styles]Perfect-level [Sniping Skill]Perfect-level [Weapon Mastery]"Most Four Emperors probably sit at master level Armament Haki. But to go beyond that... that's rare."
He thought of Shanks again. No Devil Fruit, yet he stood tall among gods.
"If I get peak-level [Armament Haki] from him, would the system evolve it further?"
The thought alone made his blood boil.
"I'd intimidate the whole world with it."
Then his eyes darkened.
"I haven't unlocked the special trait yet... but soon, I'll meet a guy who has it—Marshall D. Teach."
Frowning, he thought back to Alabasta.
"Not being able to use multiple Devil Fruits at the same time is my biggest flaw. In that fight, I had to switch rapidly between the Sand-Sand Fruit, Whisper-Whisper Fruit, and Smoke Fruit. The mental strain nearly broke me."
"Blackbeard's abnormal body might be the key to removing that limit."
But he couldn't be certain yet.
"In this world, special physiques are rare. Apart from Sanji's modified exoskeleton, only a few bloodlines have real advantages."
He listed them off mentally.
"The Lunarians—flame bodies and extreme durability. The Fish-Men—insane wrist strength and underwater agility. The Minks—electricity and Sulong transformation."
Then he sighed again.
"Even the Giants didn't give me anything special. System says they're just big, not special."
"Guess size isn't everything."
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