As time passed, the Tournament grew increasingly intense.
Across the ten deserted islands serving as arenas, every second was filled with pursuits, ambushes, and fierce battles.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions, roars, and the clash of weapons intertwined through countless surveillance Den Den Mushi, forming a symphony of the strong that shook every spectator's ears.
Yet in the sixth competition zone, code-named "Swamp", the situation felt… eerily quiet.
This was a paradise for venomous insects and ferocious beasts, where every step could sink into a deadly bog.
Most contestants moved cautiously, afraid of alerting the giant swamp crocodiles lurking in the shadows.
However, within this perilous rainforest, there was one figure walking with unusual… steadiness.
"Tap, tap, tap."
Wooden sandals stepped rhythmically on the slick, decaying leaves.
The blind old man who had been quietly eating noodles at the opening banquet, Issho, was now leaning on his cane-sword, strolling through the swamp as if he were walking in his own backyard.
Though his light purple yukata was dotted with mud, it remained tidy.
His eyes were closed, his expression calm and peaceful, occasionally tilting his head to listen to the rustling leaves.
"Oh my… the road here is quite difficult to walk."
Issho sighed, probing the ground ahead with his cane.
"But the air is rather humid… good for growing mushrooms."
In the livestream, the audience was stunned.
"What is this old guy doing? Sightseeing?"
"He's blind, right? Walking around here like that, isn't he asking to die?"
"Look behind him! Something's following him!"
On screen, several sinister-looking contestants were sneaking up through the bushes behind Issho.
They had formed a temporary "hunting squad," specifically targeting lone, easy-looking prey.
"Heh heh… a blind man," said the one-eyed pirate leader, grinning as he held a poison-coated dagger.
"What luck. Let's kill the old guy first and see if he's carrying anything valuable, like that gold token…"
"Move!"
They exchanged glances and attacked simultaneously!
Daggers, spears, and meteor hammers whistled through the air, striking toward the defenseless blind man from behind!
"Die, old man!"
However, just as the weapons were about to touch Issho's clothes, "…Hmm?"
He stopped walking.
He slightly tilted his head, as if his closed eyes could "see" everything behind him.
"Young men…"
His voice was deep and gentle, like an elder offering advice.
"Attacking from behind… is not the way of a warrior."
"Shut up and die!!"
The dagger was already inches from his back!
"Sigh…"
Issho let out a soft sigh.
"In that case…"
He did not draw his sword. He didn't even turn around.
He simply… pressed his cane lightly against the ground.
Thud.
A soft sound.
The next moment,
"Gravity Blade: Press Road!!"
BOOM!!
An indescribably terrifying invisible pressure descended from the sky without warning!
The pirates mid-leap felt as if a mountain had suddenly slammed onto their backs!
Crack! Crack!
The sound of bones shattering under immense force!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
They didn't even have time to scream before being crushed straight into the muddy ground!
Even the earth beneath them collapsed, forming a ten-meter-wide crater!
Mud splashed everywhere!
The pirates were flattened like flies, embedded at the bottom, eyes rolled back, foaming at the mouth, completely unconscious.
Silence.
The entire venue fell deathly quiet again.
In the livestream, countless jaws dropped.
Rehn even spat out a mouthful of cocoa milk in shock.
"W-What kind of ability is that?!"
"Gravity?! That blind man… he's a Devil Fruit user?!"
"And so strong! He one-shot five pirates worth over tens of millions each?!"
On screen, Issho still stood there, leaning on his cane.
He gently shook his head, as if lamenting the recklessness of youth.
"Young people these days… too hot-headed."
"Calming down a bit is good for your health."
With that, he ignored the "specimens" in the pit and continued walking at his unhurried pace toward the deeper forest.
There, a red beam of light, the signal of a gold token, was flashing.
…
Renzo was lying on a soft couch, enjoying a massage.
Hearing Rehn's shocked commentary, he lazily opened one eye and glanced at the sixth zone's screen.
When he saw the blind man in the purple yukata wielding terrifying gravity powers, Renzo's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Oh… it's him."
Renzo murmured.
"My lord! You know him?"
Rehn immediately leaned in, holding Issho's file.
"This guy named 'Issho' listed his occupation as 'unemployed' on his registration form. Who knew he was a hidden monster? This gravity ability… it's perfect for large-scale clearing!"
"More than just a tool."
Renzo closed his eyes again and said calmly,
"That blind man… is top-tier 'labor.'"
In the original story, this man would later be recruited through the World Draft and promoted directly to Admiral, "Fujitora"!
The terrifying ability to pull meteors from space, combined with masterful swordsmanship, easily top-tier commander-level power.
"Rehn."
"Yes, my lord!"
"Keep a close eye on that blind man."
Renzo tapped the armrest lightly.
"If he gets a gold token and advances to the finals…"
"I'll assign him a… very suitable position."
"A suitable position?"
Rehn's eyes spun. "My lord, do you want him as a combat captain? Or…"
"No."
Renzo shook his head, smiling the way he did when thinking of a clever way to slack off.
"Don't you think… his ability is perfect for moving things and cleaning?"
"…Huh?!"
Rehn and Ain froze.
'Moving things?
'Cleaning?'
'Using a top-tier powerhouse who controls gravity for that?!'
"Think about it," Renzo said matter-of-factly. "If G-5 expands or needs to move heavy stuff, like a golden ship... we'd need cranes and workers... So troublesome."
"With him, just a wave of his hand and tens of thousands of tons float up. Efficient."
"And…"
Renzo pointed at the screen where pirates were crushed into the mud.
"Look how neatly he compresses trash."
"He can handle garbage disposal and road leveling at the base too."
"This is… making the best use of resources."
"…."
Ain adjusted her glasses, feeling her worldview collapse once again.
'Was this Lord Renzo's method of employing talent?'
'Using such a strong combatant as a crane and road roller?'
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!"
Rehn gave a thumbs-up with admiration.
"As expected of Lord Renzo! This 'reduction' approach to talent utilization is the pinnacle of efficiency!"
"I understand!"
…..
Back to the sixth zone.
Issho, unaware he had already been designated as a "moving worker," followed the sound and aura to the source of the red beam.
A chaotic melee was unfolding there.
Dozens of pirates and bounty hunters were fighting fiercely over a gold token hovering above the swamp.
"Get lost! It's mine!"
"Anyone who tries to take it dies!"
Blood stained the muddy water. Severed limbs lay scattered everywhere.
Issho stood at the edge of the battlefield, his unseen eyes seeming to carry a hint of sorrow.
"Another… meaningless slaughter?"
He sighed.
"For a piece of gold… is it worth it?"
"Oy, blind man! Stay out of this!"
A bloodthirsty pirate charged at him with a blade. "You want the token too? Die!"
"Sigh…"
Issho shook his head.
He slowly drew his cane-sword.
This time, he wouldn't just suppress with gravity.
"If you cannot stop…"
"Then allow me… to help you 'calm down.'"
"Fierce Tiger!!"
"ROAR!!"
With a single slash, a horizontal wave of gravity surged forward like a ferocious tiger unleashed, sweeping across the entire battlefield!
The dozens of pirates, along with trees and mud, were blasted away instantly!
Rumble!!
A vacuum zone dozens of meters wide appeared in the swamp!
All "noise" vanished in an instant.
The gold token floated alone in the air.
Issho sheathed his sword.
Stepping on air, using gravity to Renzotate, he calmly walked toward the token.
"So this is… the so-called 'pass'?"
He reached out and gently grasped it.
Crackle!
High-voltage electricity burst forth.
"Oh?"
Issho frowned slightly. "It's electrified? Interesting."
"Armament Haki."
Black Haki coated his hand, effortlessly blocking the current.
"Beep!"
Issho showed no excitement. He simply tucked it into his robe, then turned toward the smoking battlefield.
"Everyone."
He bowed slightly to the groaning pirates on the ground.
"If anyone is still dissatisfied… or wishes to take this token…"
"I… am willing to oblige."
"However, next time…"
His cane-sword slid slightly from its sheath, revealing a faint purple gravity aura.
"…it may be a bit… 'heavier.'"
Silence filled the air.
'Who would dare challenge him?'
'Who would dare steal from a monster that cleared the field in one strike?'
"Seems… no one will."
Issho smiled kindly.
"In that case… I shall take my leave."
"Hopefully… I can still make it in time for dinner."
Leaning on his cane, under countless gazes of awe and fear, he slowly disappeared into the mist.
....
30 Chapter, [email protected]/DaoistJinzu