G-5 Branch, VIP Holographic Viewing Hall.
"KYAAAAAA!!!"
A wave of screams loud enough to shatter glass instantly flooded the entire VIP room.
If not for the soundproofing, built to 'Renzo-sama's nap standards', this noise might have reached Marineford.
On the massive high-definition screen, the broadcast was locked onto the Third Zone, "Scorched Earth" Volcano Island.
Within this hellish landscape of rolling black smoke and flowing lava, a streak of dazzling silver shot across like a meteor.
"Look! Look! Rear Admiral Shelby looked this way!"
"Oh my god! He's sweating, and even that looks handsome!"
"Not even a speck of dust on his cape! What elegance is this?!"
A group of noble ladies and wealthy young women, dressed in luxurious gowns, had completely abandoned their composure. They waved fan merch printed with Shelby's face, sold at outrageous prices by Rehn, and screamed wildly.
At the commentator's desk, Rehn held a solid gold microphone, wearing a "this is guaranteed profit" smile as he passionately narrated:
"Ladies! Please control your blood pressure! Right now, Rear Admiral Shelby is showing us, in this inferno, what true 'brutal aesthetics' looks like!"
"Look! That symbol of advancement, the [Renzo Gold Token], is fleeing within the high-temperature steam ahead!"
"And surrounding Rear Admiral Shelby are five New World criminals, each with bounties exceeding ten million!"
"In the face of such a desperate situation, what will our 'Silver Light' do?!"
.....
Third Zone, Scorched Earth Island
Heat.
Extreme heat.
The air reeked of sulfur, and the ground was hot enough to fry eggs.
"...Haa."
Shelby stood atop a protruding black volcanic rock and gently exhaled.
Unlike the others, who were panting miserably, he maintained his innate elegance.
With a gloved hand, he adjusted a strand of silver hair that had been disturbed by the heatwave.
"What a… crude place."
He frowned slightly, glancing at the faint volcanic ash on his expensive custom leather shoes with visible disdain.
"This kind of environment is truly unsuitable for an artist like me to perform."
"Cut the crap, pretty boy!"
Across from him, five sweating, ferocious pirates surrounded him.
The leader, a burly man, swung two glowing-red chainsaws, his face full of rage.
"Move aside! That token is mine!"
"A pampered marine brat like you should go back home and drink milk! This is a battlefield for real men!"
"Real men?"
Shelby chuckled softly, his tone laced with three parts disdain and seven parts narcissism.
"Crudeness and filth are not masculinity."
He slowly drew the sword at his waist.
It was a slender rapier, its blade reflecting not red from the flames, but a cold, pure silver glow.
A famous blade, "Moonlit Beauty."
"A true strong man maintains composure and grace at all times."
Shelby spun the sword elegantly.
"Since you're all so eager to die…"
"I'll grant you… a magnificent curtain call."
"Kill him!!"
The five pirates roared as they attacked simultaneously!
Chainsaws, warhammers, poison darts, five deadly weapons, coated in Armament Haki, sealed off all escape routes!
"Too slow."
Shelby's gaze sharpened.
His body moved. No, he didn't move. He flickered.
"Secret Sword: Silver Waltz."
SHING!!!
A streak of silver light burst forth against the dark volcanic backdrop!
Like a full moon slicing through the night!
The pirates couldn't even see his movements.
All they saw was a silver afterimage, like an elegant dancer weaving, spinning, and leaping through their formation.
Clang clang clang clang clang!
A series of rapid metallic collisions rang out.
Then, Slash!
All five pirates froze.
Their weapons shattered at the same instant.
Blood spurted from their wrists, ankles, and chests, non-lethal points, per the rules.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
They collapsed simultaneously, screaming in agony.
Shelby was already ten meters behind them.
With his back turned, he sheathed "Moonlit Beauty."
Click.
He adjusted his tie, even pulling out a small mirror to check himself.
"Perfect."
He smiled charmingly at his reflection.
"Not even my hair is out of place."
"KYAAAAAA!!!"
In the VIP hall, noblewomen fainted from sheer excitement.
"Reward him! Ten million Beli!!"
At that moment, Whoosh, zzzzt
The hovering [Renzo Gold Token], sensing the battle had ended, activated its cheeky escape protocol and shot toward the volcano crater.
"Trying to run?"
Shelby turned, smirking confidently.
"On this stage, nothing can escape my 'Silver Light.'"
"Soru!"
BOOM!
The rock beneath his feet shattered.
He vanished, reappearing instantly mid-air!
So fast even the token's sensors couldn't react!
"Got you."
His gloved hand gracefully grabbed the token.
ZZZT!!!
The built-in high-voltage shock erupted!
But, Shelby didn't even flinch.
Buzz
A flowing layer of advanced Armament Haki coated his hand, perfectly isolating the current.
"This level of trick won't work on me."
"Beep!!"
The moment the token was captured, a massive red beam shot into the sky!
"I'm here! Come take me!" broadcast across the island!
But Shelby didn't panic.
Instead, he raised the token like a trophy.
Bathed in red light, his silver figure became even more dazzling, more untouchable!
"Come!"
He declared loudly to both hidden observers and the surveillance Den Den Mushi above:
"Want this token?"
"Then come… dance beneath my blade!!"
At this moment, Shelby's aura peaked!
He was the king of this scorched land.
The center of all attention.
G-5's perfect idol!
Rehn slammed the desk in excitement:
"Good! Perfect! That pose is professional! Merch sales are secured!"
However, just as everyone cheered… just as Shelby basked in his glory…
"...Whoosh."
A wind blew across the volcanic island.
But something was wrong.
It wasn't hot.
It carried… the scent of soil.
Of plants.
A cool breeze… on a volcano?
Shelby's smile froze.
His instincts screamed danger.
"...What?"
He stopped posing instantly, eyes scanning the surroundings.
"The temperature… is dropping?"
Then, Crack… crack…
The volcanic rocks began making strange noises.
And then, a scene that stunned the entire world unfolded.
Behind Shelby, from solid rock, a green sprout broke through.
Then another, and another, and countless more.
"Rustle!!!
Plants began growing wildly!
In seconds, the barren black land transformed into a lush jungle!
Flowers bloomed, vines writhed, giant trees erupted from the ground!
Even lava… was drained of heat, turned into nutrients!
"What… is this?!"
Shelby's pupils shrank.
This wasn't a volcano anymore.
It had become a forest and within it, a suffocating, terrifying aura.
More domineering than any pirate he had faced.
More arrogant.
"...Hmph."
A deep, magnetic, lazy voice echoed from within the forest.
"So noisy."
"Could you hand over that token?"
"Who's there?!"
Shelby spun around, sword drawn, staring into the forest.
For the first time, cold sweat formed.
Because even with Observation Haki,
He sensed nothing.
The presence… was the forest itself.
"Who am I?"
The voice laughed softly.
"Lahahaha…"
A chilling sound.
"I won't let this be your stage, brat."
Rustle
The trees parted.
A green, vibrant yet deadly aura locked onto Shelby like a physical force.
Like being targeted by a prehistoric beast.
Even his sword trembled.
This pressure… this presence…
Even Rehn never made him feel this way!
"Who… are you…?"
Shelby gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to step back.
The camera zoomed in on Shelby's terrified face…
And behind him, the ever-expanding, devouring… bizarre forest.
....
30 Chapter, [email protected]/DaoistJinzu