"Bzzzt… bzzzt…"
Second Zone, Misty Stone Forest.
The two top-tier fighters who had seemed invincible just moments ago were now lying on the ground like two charred logs, smoke rising from their bodies. The air even carried a faint smell of grilled meat.
"Cough… cough…"
"Iron Fist" Balger was the first to move.
His once imposing crew cut had turned into a full-blown afro, and as he exhaled a puff of black smoke, his fingers twitched slightly.
On the other side, "Desert Venom Fang" Garon also struggled to his feet.
His dark green robe had been blasted into rags, and his once sinister, snake-like aura now made him look more like a mud eel that had just been struck by lightning.
"Damn it…"
Garon gritted his teeth, his voice hoarse. "That damn commentator… he actually put high-voltage electricity on the token?!"
"Despicable! Shameless!"
Balger slammed the ground angrily, but his still-numb muscles made the punch soft and limp, almost like a weak tap.
Meanwhile, the culprit, the [Renzo Gold Token], was floating five meters above their heads, flickering with golden light as if silently mocking them: Come on, touch me again.
"Unforgivable… I'll tear it apart!"
Balger roared, fury overtaking the numbness in his body.
As a renowned bounty hunter in the New World, when had he ever suffered such a cheap trick?
"Don't be reckless, you dumb ox."
Garon took a deep breath, forcing his Haki to circulate and dispel the numbness in his muscles. His gaze turned colder as he locked onto Balger.
"That thing isn't going anywhere. But before we take it… let's settle our score."
The electric shock hadn't done much damage, but it was humiliating, and it had broken their deadlock.
Now both understood: unless they dealt with each other, neither would claim the token in peace.
"Just what I wanted!"
Balger grinned viciously. His muscles bulged again, Armament Haki coating his arms, turning them into something like hardened granite.
"That last hit didn't shatter your bones? Lucky you! This next punch will send you home!"
"Tank Charge!!"
With a roar, Balger surged forward like a heavy war machine.
"Foolish brute!"
Garon sneered, his body twisting unnaturally as he slid along the ground like a boneless serpent, narrowly dodging the charge. His twin hooks shot out like venomous fangs toward Balger's lower back!
"Useless!!"
Balger didn't even turn. The muscles on his back hardened instantly.
"Iron Body: Steelback Beast!!"
Clang!!
Sparks flew as the hooks struck his back.
But this time, Garon didn't press the attack. Using the recoil, he bounced backward like a spring, instantly widening the distance by dozens of meters.
"Hm?" Balger paused.
Garon stood atop a tall rock, looking down with a mocking smile.
"Balger, your skin is thick and your strength is great. But in this maze… you can't catch me."
"If we keep fighting, even until nightfall, there'll be no winner. Don't forget, there's only one token here, but nine more across the islands."
Balger frowned and stopped.
Hot-tempered as he was, he wasn't stupid. Their strength was evenly matched.
Garon couldn't break his defense, and he couldn't catch Garon's movement.
If they kept fighting, both would lose, and someone else would reap the reward.
"Hmph!"
Balger snorted.
"Your luck's good, skinny rat. I won't waste time on a slippery bastard like you."
He glanced at the token, reluctant, but decisive.
"It's yours. But don't get cocky. In the finals, I'll crush every bone in your body!"
With that, he turned and charged away, smashing through stone walls as he headed toward another zone.
If this one was a stalemate, he'd just take someone else's!
That was the confidence of the strong.
Watching him leave, Garon finally relaxed slightly.
"Hmph. Wise choice."
He turned, eyes burning as he stared at the floating token.
Finally… As long as he got this, he would advance.
He could become one of Renzo's direct subordinates, maybe even a cadre.
Bzzzt…
The token sensed his approach. Its electric current surged again, blue-white arcs crackling across its surface.
"Hmph. Trivial trick."
Garon raised his right hand.
Buzz!
His entire arm turned pitch black.
He couldn't cover his whole body, but concentrating it in one arm gave him enough defense.
"Come… here!!"
His eyes flashed. He moved like lightning, grabbing the token without hesitation!
BOOM!!
The moment his hand touched it, a terrifying surge of electricity exploded outward!
BZZZZT!!
The current surged through his body. Even with Haki blocking it, the numbness and pain made his veins bulge.
"Stay… still!!"
Garon roared, tightening his grip and pushing his Haki to the limit!
The black Haki suppressed the violent current, and finally, after a few seconds… the token gave in.
The electric arcs faded. The flying device stopped struggling and lay obediently in his palm.
"Beep!"
A crisp notification rang out.
....
Live Broadcast Plaza
A golden highlight frame popped up on the giant screen.
Garon stood there holding the token, his hair messy, but his dominance unmistakable.
"Someone got it!!"
"It's 'Desert Venom Fang' Garon!"
"Tanking high voltage with Haki, what a beast!"
"The first Gold Token is claimed!!"
The crowd erupted.
Gamblers waved tickets, some cheering wildly, others collapsing in despair.
Champagne popped, whistles blew, screams filled the air.
On the commentary stage, Rehn jumped onto the table.
"Ladies and gentlemen!!"
"Let us congratulate Garon! With strength, cunning, uh, brilliance, and powerful Haki, he has conquered the first Gold Token!!"
Cheers reached their peak.
But just as everyone thought Garon had secured victory…
Rehn's voice turned eerie.
"But…"
"My dear audience… and naive contestants…"
"Who told you… that getting the token means you've won?"
Silence fell instantly.
Even Garon froze on screen.
Rehn adjusted his glasses and raised three fingers.
"The match lasts three days."
"Seventy-two hours."
"Getting the token… is only the beginning."
"This is not a treasure hunt."
"It is a survival game."
Snap.
On screen, the token in Garon's hand suddenly shot out a blazing red beam into the sky!
Piercing the clouds!
"What?!"
Garon's face changed drastically.
Rehn's voice echoed like a devil's whisper:
"Once captured, the token switches from stealth mode… to display mode!"
"It continuously emits a signal beam visible within a 50-nautical-mile radius!"
"It tells everyone: I'm here. Come take me."
"And only those still holding a token when time ends… will advance."
"In other words…"
Rehn leaned toward the camera and made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Congratulations, Garon."
"For the next two and a half days…"
"You are no longer the hunter."
"You are the most dazzling… most desirable…"
"Prey."
BOOM!!!
The audience exploded again, this time in shock.
"This is insane!"
"This isn't a tournament, it's survival of the fittest!"
"The token's a death sentence!"
"Garon's screwed!"
On screen, Garon's face turned ashen.
He stared at the blazing red token in his hand.
For the first time, it felt like a burning hot potato.
Across the Misty Stone Forest, thousands of contestants stopped.
They looked up.
At the red beam piercing the fog.
Their once aimless eyes now burned with greed, bloodlust, and frenzy.
No need to search anymore.
The target… was right there.
"Heh… over there?"
"Kill him, the token is mine!"
"Move!!"
In an instant, all killing intent in the zone converged on a single point.
The hunt… had begun.
....
30 Chapter, [email protected]/DaoistJinzu