Third Competition Zone, Scorched Earth Volcano Island.
The heat distorted the air, but at this moment, an utterly out-of-place coolness, carrying the scent of damp soil, forcefully tore open a rift within this inferno.
Shelby gripped his blade, Moonlit Beauty, cold sweat already seeping into his palm.
Before him, that dense forest, which had appeared out of nowhere, was devouring the surrounding lava and black rock at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Towering trees surged skyward, thick vines coiled like giant pythons, and flowers bloomed eerily amidst sulfurous smoke.
This wasn't just vegetation.
This was… a living "disaster."
Crack, crack.
Accompanied by the crisp sound of branches snapping underfoot, a tall man with a bare upper body, black curly hair, and sunglasses slowly stepped out from the deep green shadows.
An unlit cigarette hung from his lips, and across his back was a massive tattoo reading "Death River Heart." His wild, decadent, yet explosively powerful aura stood in stark contrast to Shelby's refined aristocratic elegance.
"Ara… Aramaki?!"
In the live broadcast room, a sharp-eyed intelligence broker cried out in shock.
"That rising monster who's made a name recently! A Logia-type user said to possess the power of a one-man army!"
"He's here too?! And he's also after the Dark-Dark Fruit?!"
G-5 Broadcast Control Room
"Ohohoho!!!"
Rehn leapt onto the table, nearly crushing his pure gold microphone, his chubby face twisted into a fanatical grin as if everything had gone exactly as planned.
"Viewers! Open your eyes wide!"
"Though I hate to admit it, aside from my lord Renzo, this sea occasionally produces a few so-called 'monsters'!"
He pointed at the lazy-looking curly-haired man on the screen and roared:
"Aramaki! User of the Logia-type Woods-Woods Fruit!"
"He is one of the S-class top-seeded contestants of this tournament!"
"And one of the strongest contenders for the Dark-Dark Fruit!!"
"Faced with a monster of this level, our poor, handsome, and beloved-by-rich-ladies Rear Admiral Shelby…"
Rehn smirked mischievously and shrugged at the camera.
"…is about to experience the most 'inelegant' day of his life!"
.....
"Lah hah hah… So this is the Gold Token?"
Aramaki glanced at the glowing token clenched in Shelby's hand, a hint of disdain curling at his lips.
"Doesn't look like much. But since it's part of the rules set by that Haiiroyo, I guess I'll play along."
He didn't rush to attack. Instead, he lazily scratched his chest.
"Hey, you silver-haired pretty boy over there."
"Hand it over."
"This kind of thing, something only the strong deserve, being in your hands… is a waste."
"What… did you say?!"
Shelby's handsome face twisted instantly.
'Pretty boy?'
'A waste?'
Since childhood, as a prodigy swordsman, he had never suffered such an insult!
"You arrogant bastard! Don't think having a special Devil Fruit makes you invincible!"
"I am a Rear Admiral of G-5! An elite under Lord Renzo!"
"Elite?"
Aramaki let out a scoff and flicked his finger.
Whoosh
A sharp wooden spike shot like a bullet toward Shelby's feet, embedding deep into the rock.
"In the face of absolute power, titles… are just a fig leaf for the weak."
"You're dead!!"
Shelby exploded in rage!
With a powerful step, his body turned into a streak of silver light, moving at extreme speed!
"Secret Sword: Silver Light Falling Blade!!"
His rapier carved countless silver trajectories in the air, his proud high-speed swordsmanship, each strike coated in Armament Haki, capable of slicing steel!
Clang clang clang clang!!
A storm of slashes rang out!
But then, a suffocating scene unfolded.
Aramaki didn't move a single step.
He simply raised one hand casually. Countless iron-hard branches burst from his palm, weaving into an impenetrable wooden shield.
Shelby's blade, capable of cutting through metal, only chipped off splinters!
Worse, the severed branches regenerated instantly at a terrifying speed!
"H-how is that possible?!"
Shelby's pupils shrank.
'My sword… couldn't cut through wood?!'
"Too light."
Aramaki's voice came from behind the shield, dripping with mockery.
"Your sword feels soft, like you're scratching an itch."
"So this is a G-5 'elite'? What a disappointment."
"Shut up!!"
Humiliated and enraged, Shelby retreated a step, pouring all his Haki into his blade. The elegant rapier now radiated blinding light!
"This is my strongest attack! Let's see you block this!!"
"Ultimate Art: Galaxy Starburst, Piercing Strike!!"
He and his sword became one, a silver comet streaking forward with unstoppable force, aiming straight for Aramaki's heart!
This strike could pierce even a stone giant!
But, "Forest Manifestation: Forbidden Verdant Prison."
Aramaki spoke calmly.
Rumble!!
The ground split apart!
Five massive, ancient tree-like fingers erupted from below!
They didn't block the attack; instead, with brute, unreasonable force, they slammed down like swatting a fly!
"What?!"
Shelby, midair, had nowhere to dodge.
BAM!!!
A thunderous impact.
The silver comet was smashed straight into the ground.
Dust billowed. Rocks scattered.
"AAAAAHHH!!!"
In the live broadcast room, the noble ladies screamed in despair.
"Rear Admiral Shelby!!!"
"Not his face! His hair!!!"
As the dust cleared, a massive handprint crater appeared.
At the bottom lay Shelby, battered and broken.
His expensive white suit was torn and filthy. His carefully styled silver hair now resembled a bird's nest.
Worst of all, a swollen wound marred his once-proud face.
"Cough… pfft…"
He spat blood, trying to rise, but countless thin vines had already wrapped around his limbs, draining his strength!
"So this is… the gap…"
Despair filled his eyes.
He hadn't even touched his opponent.
His strongest attack… was a joke before the overwhelming force called "nature."
"Lah hah hah…"
Aramaki strolled to the edge of the crater, looking down at him.
He didn't kill him, but that gaze hurt more than death.
"Too weak."
He shook his head.
"If it were that 'Hawk-Eye' or that 'Thunder God', maybe I'd take it seriously."
"But you…"
He extended a hand. Vines slipped into Shelby's coat and pulled out the glowing Gold Token.
"This belongs to me now."
"No… that's mine…"
Shelby reached out weakly, but his hand fell.
"Scram."
With a flick of his hand, a wave of vines surged, flinging Shelby and his sword out of the forest, crashing onto distant volcanic rock.
"Take your failure somewhere else and cry."
"This is a stage for the strong."
.....
Live Broadcast Plaza
After a deathly silence, an explosive uproar erupted.
"So strong! That Aramaki!"
"A complete stomp! Total domination!"
"Rear Admiral Shelby lost miserably… he couldn't even fight back!"
Rehn, standing at the commentary desk, rubbed his hands excitedly.
"This is the cruelty of reality, dear viewers!"
"In the face of absolute power, looks mean nothing! Elegance means nothing!"
"Only those like Aramaki, who can reshape the environment and dominate the battlefield, have the right to approach the throne!"
"However…"
Rehn suddenly smiled 'kindly.'
"Don't feel too bad for Rear Admiral Shelby."
"Sure, he lost badly. His face is swollen, his clothes are torn, but he's alive!"
"And!"
He pointed at the screen.
"Look! He hasn't given up!"
"That is the spirit of G-5! As long as there's breath left, you fight for another chance!"
"There are still other Gold Tokens on this island! If he can snatch even a scrap from those beasts, he still has hope!"
"Let's give a round of applause for this resilient, slightly pig-faced but still handsome, Rear Admiral!!!"
Clap clap clap!!!
The crowd burst into applause.
Even his fans, tears in their eyes, cheered:
"Rear Admiral Shelby! Get up!"
"You're the best!"
"Go find another Gold Token!!"
...
Third Zone, Outer Area
Leaning on his sword, Shelby limped across the scorching rocks.
His body hurt. His heart hurt more.
This was the worst defeat of his life.
The humiliation of being ignored, treated like an insect, gnawed at him like poison.
"Aramaki…"
Tears streamed down his face, but he didn't wipe them away.
"I'm too weak…"
"But I can't go back like this!"
"If I do… how can I face Lord Renzo?!"
He looked toward the erupting volcano in the distance.
Other signal beams still flickered.
"I… haven't lost yet!"
Taking a deep breath, his eyes hardened with resolve.
He tore off his sleeve and bound Moonlit Beauty tightly to his hand.
"As long as I can get a Gold Token…"
"As long as I survive…"
"One day… I'll repay today's humiliation… a hundredfold!!"
Dragging his battered body, he charged once more into the brutal battlefield.
Renzo watched the screen, setting down his cola.
"…Hmm."
He nodded slightly.
"His strength is lacking, but his mindset isn't bad."
"After this, he should improve."
"Rehn."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Make a note on that Aramaki."
Renzo said lazily, "Damage to public property, turning a volcano island into a forest. Disrupting ecological balance."
"When he gets his prize money… deduct half."
"Pfft!"
Rehn almost burst out laughing.
"As you command, my lord! That reason is perfect!"
"Now that's what I call efficient management!!"
....
30 Chapter, [email protected]/DaoistJinzu