Chapter 88: Roy: How Strong Am I? I Have No Idea
At the Fresh-Fresh Department Store in Marineford.
The owner, Granny Kara, smiled as she looked at the lively crowd.
"Just like Captain... Hiccup! Another one!"
"Go get it yourself! Don't bother Granny Kara!"
"Captain was so amazing today! That fist style... Phew! Did you see it? Captain Bastille's mask was shattered! They say he woke up in the infirmary and said Captain will definitely become an Admiral!"
"Admiral! Admiral!"
The Detention Unit soldiers were sprawled on the floor, mostly blackout drunk.
To be precise, only one Marine in the small shop could still be considered conscious.
"Hiccup... Hina, I think I drank too much!"
"Yeah, me too!"
"What are you talking about? How can a guy drinking cola be drunk?"
Yes, that was Roy, who was struggling to drink with Hina.
Roy's expression was miserable.
"They said Smoker was paying..."
He gritted his teeth.
"Isn't that because you hit him too hard today? Smoker-kun is still in the infirmary... But he said you can charge it to his account."
Hina looked slightly tipsy.
Roy: "..."
No. Smoker-kun had a cast on his arm, and even the cigars on his clothes were all smashed. Roy couldn't bring himself to ask him to pay in that condition.
"But still, Hina heard it from Smoker-kun a while ago—it's just... frustrating."
Hina continued drunkenly, her voice holding a touch of frustration.
Roy quickly comforted the drunkard. "It's not entirely your fault that you were eliminated... You almost beat that 'White Wing Knight' Hasmod, didn't you?"
He knew that Hina's Island Number 5 was one of the relatively weaker islands, yet the fighting was the most intense.
The final winner was the 'White Wing Knight' Hasmod, whom Roy had seen in the information booklet, but it was a pyrrhic victory.
After being pierced in the arm and abdomen by Hina's three black pillars, Hasmod surprisingly got back up and kept fighting. Hina, unable to react in time, was blasted off the island by the massive hammer in his hand.
"Who said that?"
Hina glared at Roy. "Hina knows her own strength. Even with all the training, reaching the final test would have been tough."
"I mean you—how much strength did you hide before? Your speed of improvement is too fast!"
She grabbed Roy's collar with one hand, pulling off her wine-red sunglasses with the other. "How strong are you now? Hina hiccup... I feel like you're as strong as Vice Admiral Gion!"
She had naturally witnessed Roy's punch earlier and heard about the events on Island Number 7 after waking up in the medical ship.
What happened on Island Number 7 wasn't even a fight—Roy's performance was an overwhelming display of dominance, just like 'Momousagi' Gion on Island Number 1.
"I've been meaning to ask: doesn't wearing wine-red sunglasses at night make it hard to see?"
Roy, whose collar was being grabbed, decided not to argue with a drunkard and answered casually.
"..."
Hina didn't answer.
When Roy looked over, he realized the entire department store had fallen silent.
Upon closer inspection, everyone—the Detention Unit soldiers and Hina—had fallen asleep.
Roy: "..."
After reluctantly paying the bill and painstakingly delivering the drunken mess back to their respective dorms.
Unable to sleep, Roy took a cup of cola to the roof of the dorm building.
Gulp.
As the cola went down, Roy recalled Hina's question.
How strong is he?
He couldn't even answer that himself.
He was strong; there was no doubt about that.
But exactly how strong, Roy wasn't entirely sure.
The reason was simple.
He had never truly fought with his full power.
Limited by the need to hide his identity, he always had to suppress himself in previous battles.
His strongest defeated opponent to date was only 'Lizard King' Hanafuda. The Warlord might have once had the strength to contend with Kaido and was still a powerful figure, but he was definitely not among the strongest in the world.
But things were a bit different now.
With the Human-Human Fruit, he could use his power relatively freely.
And with his four Zodiac clones working to earn Berries, his strength was increasing almost every moment.
So, let alone Hina.
Roy was even curious himself about what he was capable of now.
"...What am I thinking!?"
But soon, he laughed and shook his head.
As he spoke to himself...
On the distant coast, the first ray of dawn broke, illuminating the last giant artificial island in the sea.
The island was covered with a towering forest.
This was the location of the final test, named... 'Duel Island'.
Three days later.
On the coast far from the Demonstration Islands.
The number of spectators was the same as three days ago, if not more.
"They're here!!!"
"After three days of rest, the final test of the Tri-Force Demonstration is about to begin! The venue is 'Duel Island'!"
"The nine victors from the second round will be sent into the island's forest from nine separate entrances. The specific test content will be announced by Fleet Admiral Sengoku, but before that..."
The commentator was still passionate.
"Let's introduce the nine participants!"
As he spoke, nine large banners were pulled up.
"Victor of Island Number 1: Vice Admiral 'Momousagi' Gion!"
"Victor of Island Number 2: Vice Admiral 'Great Sword' Harmo!"
"Victor of Island Number 3: Guernica!"
"Victor of Island Number 4: 'Vile Tongue' Sora!"
"Victor of Island Number 5: 'White Wing Knight' Hasmod!"
"Victor of Island Number 7: 'Marine Supernova' Roy Amos!"
With each participant announced, the corresponding square erupted in cheers.
When Roy was announced, the cheers were almost deafening—Roy's performance three days ago was so stunning that it even surpassed the previously most popular 'Momousagi' Gion.
If one paid close attention now, they would notice.
On the high platform where the Marine leaders were seated, one seat next to the three Admirals was empty.
It was Zephyr's seat.
On the other side...
"I didn't notice it before, but this island is huge... I heard these artificial islands were funded by the 'God of Fortune.' Truly worthy of the King of Loan Sharks—he's loaded."
Roy stood on a warship, marveling at the entrance to Duel Island.
He glanced around the island. He could see the other relatively closer participants within his line of sight.
"'Vile Tongue' Sora, 'White Wing Knight' Hasmod, and that Giant Vice Admiral... Hmm?"
Roy quickly noticed a distant warship.
It was far from the island's coast and had the letters 'SSG' painted on it.
"A Science Unit warship... I didn't hear about anyone from the Science Unit being among the nine participants?"
Roy was puzzled. "Did they prepare it specifically for island repairs after the intense fighting?"
As he was wondering...
WHOOP!
A massive horn blared.
Roy saw a screen and a giant loudspeaker rise from the top of the island.
The screen displayed the number 9 and a countdown: 3:00:00.
"Nine participants. I will now announce the rules for the final test."
Sengoku's voice came clearly through the loudspeaker, as straightforward as ever.
"There is a three-hour countdown on the screen—the person who endures for three hours without being defeated will be the final winner of this Demonstration."
The test sounded simple, as usual.
But clearly, after the first test.
No one would believe his words now.
Gulp.
Countless people swallowed, looking toward the quiet forest on Duel Island.
"What exactly is in that forest?"
☆☆☆
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