At the super live broadcast venue.
At this moment, the massive projection screen was already surrounded by crowds. Even off-duty marines and merchants who had traveled from afar were squeezing their way in.
The air was thick with the smell of beer, roasted meat, and adrenaline.
"Ladies and gentlemen! And you gamblers who've already lost your shirts!!"
From the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi came Chief Rehn's piercing, hyper-energized roar.
The screen switched to the main commentary stage. Rehn, dressed in his diamond-studded tailcoat, held a pure gold baton, pointing at the ten scoreboards behind him, all still displaying "0." His expression was both smug and unhinged.
"The competition has been going on for a full six hours! That's half a day already!"
"But! Please look at the big screen!"
Rehn swung his arm dramatically. "So far, across all ten zones, among more than thirty thousand participants, there has not been a single person who has obtained even one [Renzo Gold Token]!!"
"Whaaat?!!"
The entire crowd erupted in shock.
"How is that possible?! That's thirty thousand people!"
"I heard some zones have practically scraped the ground bare!"
"Chief Rehn, where did you even hide the tokens? You didn't forget to place them, did you?!"
Facing the doubts, Rehn adjusted his monocle and gave a smile brimming with intellectual superiority.
"Didn't place them? How shallow!"
"This was personally 'guided' by Lord Renzo, and designed by my genius brain, introducing the 'Dynamic Efficiency Treasure Mechanism'!"
Rehn turned to the camera, explaining with mock solemnity:
"Ordinary treasure hiding? That's child's play! Static and inefficient!"
"But true treasure must be 'caught' with both strength and luck!"
"Every single [Renzo Gold Token] is not stationary!"
"They are mounted on 'supersonic micro-flying devices' specially developed by our G-5 research division, cough, with inspiration from Dr. Vegapunk, and equipped with a 'killing intent detection' system!"
"In other words…"
Rehn grinned like a devil.
"The moment a contestant releases killing intent, the token will escape at supersonic speed! If you want to catch it, you must either be faster than sound, or learn to suppress all presence like Lord Renzo, achieving a state of 'oneness with nature'… or rather, supreme laziness!"
"This is the ultimate test of EFFICIENCY!!"
The audience: "..."
'This was insane.'
'Completely insane.'
'No wonder no one had gotten one after half a day!'
'This wasn't a competition, it was psychological torture!'
Just as the audience was still reeling from Rehn's twisted design, the screen suddenly flickered.
"Ohhh! Look! Zone Two! Codename: Mist Stone Forest!"
Rehn's voice shot up several octaves. "Finally, someone has locked onto a Gold Token!!"
...
Zone Two, Mist Stone Forest
A natural labyrinth formed by countless bizarre rock pillars towering over a hundred meters high, perpetually shrouded in dense white fog.
But now, deep within this silent stone forest, earth-shaking explosions erupted!
BOOOOM!!!
A streak of golden light darted wildly through the forest, so fast it left only afterimages.
That was the legendary Gold Token!
Behind it, two terrifying figures pursued relentlessly from opposite sides!
"That's mine!! Get lost, you big brute!!"
On the left, a sinister man in a dark green robe, wielding dual hook swords, ran along the rock walls as if walking on flat ground.
He was one of the tournament's seeded contestants, "Desert Venom Fang" Garon!
A formidable figure who once fought for the position of Warlord of the Sea against "Sand Crocodile" Crocodile. They battled for three days and nights in the desert, and Garon lost by only a single move.
Despite the loss, his mastery of "Flowing Sand Hook Techniques" and dual Haki made him a force to be reckoned with in the New World.
"Hmph! If you want the token, ask my fists first!!"
On the right, a giant like a moving fortress charged forward, each step shattering the rocky ground.
"Iron Fist" Balger!
A pure martial artist and renowned bounty hunter of the New World. With nothing but his Haki-coated fists, he once crushed a pirate captain worth 300 million berries.
Both men were locked onto the same fleeing Gold Token!
"Die!!"
Garon's eyes flashed as he lashed out.
"Flowing Sand, Flying Serpent Hooks!!"
His hook swords extended and curved like living venomous snakes, bypassing obstacles to strike at both the token, and sneakily at Balger's eyes!
"Tricks like that won't work!!"
Balger didn't even look.
"Armament, Tekkai!!"
CLANG!!
The hooks struck his eyelids, yes, his eyelids, and produced a metallic clash without leaving a single mark!
"What?!"
"Get down here!!"
Balger grabbed the chain and yanked hard,
BOOM!!
Garon was ripped off the wall and hurled downward like a kite!
"Not that easy!!"
Midair, Garon twisted his body unnaturally, using the force to accelerate toward Balger!
"Sandstorm, Spiral Slash!!"
He spun into a deadly cyclone, hooks aimed at Balger's throat!
"Good!!"
Balger stepped forward instead of retreating.
"Crushing Cannon!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
The collision detonated like a bomb, shockwaves flattening dozens of massive stone pillars.
Back at the broadcast venue
"Holy crap!!!"
"This is insane!"
"Is Balger even human?!"
"Garon's technique is incredible too!"
The crowd roared, waving betting slips wildly.
"Balger! Smash him! I bet 10,000 berries on you!"
"Garon! Slice him up! Technique wins!!"
Back to the battlefield
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two had fully engaged.
Meanwhile, the Gold Token hovered safely above, avoiding them entirely.
"Damn it! Why are you fighting me instead of chasing it?!"
"Because once I beat you, it's mine!!"
"Then die!!"
"Mirage, Seven Kills!!"
Garon split into seven figures, attacking from all directions!
"Flashy nonsense!!"
Balger stomped.
"Ultimate, Earthquake Smash!!"
The ground erupted, debris levitating under his Haki.
"Full-Area Shot Blast!!"
Rocks rained like bullets, destroying all illusions!
"Got you!!"
Balger charged and punched!
"Not happening!!"
Garon countered, locking his arm and wrapping his legs around Balger's neck.
"Viper Strangle!!"
CRACK!
BOOM!
Both took heavy damage, but neither let go.
Then, the Gold Token slowly descended.
Hovering just above them.
Mocking them.
"Mine!!"
"NO, MINE!!"
They both leapt, almost touching it,
Then, ZZZZZTTTTT!!!
Electric shock exploded from the token!
"AAAAAAGH!!!"
Both were blasted to the ground, twitching violently.
Everyone watching went silent.
Then, Rehn spoke calmly, "Oh right, I forgot to mention."
"Each token is equipped with an anti-touch electric defense system."
"To obtain it, you must not only be fast, but also… shock-resistant."
"This is G-5's surprise!!"
The crowd exploded with laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
"That's evil!!"
"RIP those two guys!!"
On the high platform, Renzo took a sip of cola.
"Yeah… that's better."
"If they can't handle a little electricity…"
"How are they supposed to handle my problems later?"
....
30 Chapter, [email protected]/DaoistJinzu