Eternal Kingdom, Sixth-Level Island.
At the heart of this island lay the bustling and vibrant Central Island Square.
This was the renowned registration site for the Grand Pirate Tournament, the very lifeblood of the island, drawing countless pirates with dreams and ambitions.
The scorching sunlight poured down like a golden torrent.
Filtered by the refraction barriers at the edges of the floating islands, the intense light transformed into countless golden specks that scattered across the lively plaza.
High above the square, a massive hundred-meter-tall holographic projection rotated slowly. It resembled a colossal wheel of dreams, radiating dazzling light and shadows.
The ever-shifting patterns of light enveloped the registration area as if alive.
BOOM!
Just as everyone was immersed in this fantastical spectacle, an earth-shattering roar suddenly erupted from the speakers.
In an instant, the holographic display exploded like a powder keg, unleashing a blinding crimson blaze.
The flames surged outward like a tidal wave, spreading with overwhelming force.
Amid the raging inferno, Admiral Akainu's figure gradually emerged clearly from the searing magma.
With Akainu's appearance, a searing magma torrent surged like a frenzied behemoth, swiftly and overwhelmingly engulfing the entire virtual island.
The intense heat made the surrounding air seem to ignite, twisting into bizarre shapes.
Yet, this was far from over.
Amidst the gasps of the crowd, the scene abruptly shifted to Admiral Aokiji's stern figure standing upon a vast, boundless sea.
He tilted his head slightly and exhaled a breath of freezing air, instantly plunging the entire ocean into a deathly silence.
Crack... crack...
The once turbulent sea surface was instantly frozen, forming a massive, crystalline ice field.
Sharp icicles, gleaming under the sunlight, reflected piercing blue rays, resembling countless sharp swords thrusting toward the sky.
Then, the final breathtaking scene unfolded.
Admiral Kizaru's agile figure transformed into a dazzling photon, instantly flashing into view.
Zzzt!
His golden beams, like flames from the sun's core, pierced through over a dozen virtual warships with unstoppable momentum.
Under this powerful assault, the warships instantly turned to dust, and the resulting shockwave rippled outward.
"Behold, all you Pirates!"
On the floating host platform, the golden-masked emcee suddenly spread his arms wide.
The amplifying Den Den Mushi beneath his feet seemed to come to life, operating at full capacity to amplify his voice to a deafening level.
The immense sound waves surged like a raging tsunami, crashing outward in waves, causing even the sturdy tiles of the plaza to tremble faintly under the intense vibrations.
At that moment, three Devil Fruits, encased in exquisitely ornate crystal covers, slowly rose from the mysterious underground mechanisms.
Bathed in holographic light, they resembled three dazzling stars, rotating gently and exuding an irresistible allure.
The crimson Magma-Magma Fruit: Its surface flowed with molten lava patterns like rushing rivers, seemingly narrating the immense destructive power it contained.
The ice-blue Ice-Ice Fruit: Continuously forming crystalline frost flowers, each petal like a blade of cold, sending chills down the viewer's spine.
The golden Glint-Glint Fruit: Emitting a particle-like halo, mysterious, bright, and enticing.
"The ultimate prize of this tournament!"
The emcee deliberately drew out his words, his voice dripping with temptation and mystery.
Suddenly, he snapped his fingers with a sharp, crisp sound.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
In an instant, twelve celebratory cannons roared simultaneously, the deafening noise threatening to shake the entire island.
At the same time, a torrent of colorful streamers and delicate flower petals poured down like a storm, transforming the plaza into a dreamlike wonderland.
"The Champion shall choose one of the Admiral-level Devil Fruits!!"
The entire plaza erupted instantly, as if a powder keg had been ignited.
"OOOOHHHH!!!"
The massive sound waves surged like turbulent tides, nearly toppling the floating island's railings.
Thousands of pirates, their eyes gleaming with greed and fervor, surged forward recklessly, each one desperate to obtain the coveted Devil Fruit.
The Eternal Kingdom guards maintaining order sprang into action immediately, their expressions stern and movements swift.
Glowing blue Cloud Dial air walls swiftly rose from the ground, dividing the chaotic crowd into orderly queues.
These invisible barriers stood like formidable walls, blocking the frenzied onslaught of the pirates.
"Silence!"
A voice like muffled thunder suddenly boomed, as if delivering judgment from the deepest depths of hell.
Everyone looked up to see Izo's towering figure hovering above the crowd using Sky Walk, having appeared there unnoticed.
Crackle...
Countless arcs of electricity crackled around him, spreading out like furious serpents baring their fangs.
Instantly, pupils contracted involuntarily across the crowd, faces paling with terror.
Confronted by this overwhelming deterrent power, the chaotic scene immediately calmed.
Everyone clearly understood—this was the power of the Thunder-Thunder Fruit!
Being struck by that lightning would bring unimaginable consequences, and no one dared cause further trouble amidst the chaos.
In the middle of the third queue, Sasaki, clad in a gray cloak, gripped the registration form tightly.
Beneath his metal jaw mask, his previously calm eyes had narrowed into dangerous pinpricks, betraying the shock and unease deep within.
"So it's really true..." his hoarse voice echoed inside the mask, carrying undeniable astonishment.
The hand holding the pen showed bulging veins from excessive force, revealing his inner turmoil.
The fake name "Saber-Toothed Tiger Pirates" on the registration form was smeared by ink, spreading across the pristine paper.
"Hey, are you registering or not!" an impatient voice snapped beside Sasaki, breaking his brief daze.
"Ah?? Yes! Yes! Yes!" Sasaki responded frantically.
He hastily grabbed another pen, scrambling to rewrite the fake name with trembling, crooked handwriting.
Twenty meters to the left, Black Maria, disguised as a courtesan, lightly tapped her chin with a long smoking pipe.
Her six-meter-tall frame stood out conspicuously among the crowd, her sharp eyes scanning everything around her.
Yet everyone's attention was captivated by the tantalizing prizes, nobody noticing the peculiar, predatory expression hidden beneath her ornate attire.
When the hologram of the Magma Fruit lit up again, her crimson tongue slowly licked the corner of her lips.
The motion was full of craving, as if she could already see herself possessing this powerful Devil Fruit.
"It really is the Magma Fruit..." she purred.
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