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“Wicked Tongue” Sora, a top-ten seed in the tournament rankings, was considered the Holy Land Guard Army’s trump card in this competition.
“Marine Supernova” Roy had already attracted considerable attention, and his reputation had soared after his performances in the first two trials.
Most people expected a spectacular battle between the two.
But in reality, it was anything but.
“…”
Outside the arena, the audience stared wide-eyed at the images faithfully relayed by the live-streaming Den Den Mushi.
On the battlefield, eyewitness ‘White-Winged Knight’ Hasmod was completely speechless.
Right before him, the place where Sora had been standing was now reduced to a massive trench. The trench extended far into the distance, revealing an entire stretch of forest that had been pierced straight through.
Every tree and trunk in its path, along with the enormous rocks embedded in the ground beneath them, had been effortlessly smashed to pieces.
“Buzz!”
At that moment, the swamp binding Hasmod began to revert to its original form, signifying that Sora’s “Reverse Devil Fruit” had lost its effect.
“Wh-what terrifying power!?”
“With just one punch, he sent Sora flying…”
Hasmod swallowed hard. “And at such close range, yet he didn’t injure me at all… What incredible control over his strength!”
He looked at the figure standing not far away. For a moment, with sunlight filtering down from above, the silhouette appeared tall and imposing.
“Still a bit off, but I’ve already touched the vital point.”
Roy clenched his fist. His brain, enhanced by the Human-Human Fruit, rapidly evaluated the outcome of that punch. However, he did not dwell on it for long. Soon, he shifted his gaze toward Hasmod.
As he had said earlier, the reason he attacked Sora was not only because of his wicked words, but also because…
“Hasmod.”
He walked up to the knight, who was still dazed, and snapped his fingers with a smile.
“You heard what I said earlier, right?”
“Hah… You saved me. I’ll repay the favor. Whatever you want to ask, go ahead.” Hasmod nodded, still breathing heavily.
He had indeed heard Roy’s words; the other party seemed to have some questions for him.
“I’m quite curious about the ‘Sky Guard attack’ incident you mentioned earlier.” Roy did not bother to hide his intentions and asked directly. “Can you describe the attacker’s appearance and abilities?”
“…”
Hearing this question, Hasmod instinctively clenched his teeth. The events of that day had become a nightmare that had haunted him for the past three years.
He naturally remembered the man’s appearance.
“He had long earlobes, a bare upper body, and four drums behind his back. He should also be a Skypiean. He referred to the Four Seas as the ‘Blue Sea’ and claimed to come from the ‘White Sea.’” Hasmod spoke in a deep voice. “That’s how Skypieans uniquely refer to the surface world.”
“Besides that, the guy had a Logia-type Devil Fruit. He could control lightning!”
Hearing this, Roy was certain.
“No mistake… it’s Enel.”
He silently spoke the name in his heart:
Enel… the ruler of the “Kingdom of God” in Skypiea in the original storyline, a man who called himself a god. He was cruel and ruthless; he had personally destroyed his own homeland, another Sky Island called Birka.
But that wasn’t the key point.
What mattered most was that Roy knew the ancient city of Shandora stood within the Kingdom of God.
It was a city built of gold… the true “City of Gold.”
For Roy, its significance required no further explanation.
Yet, Roy had never gone to Skypiea. The reason was simple: Enel’s ability was unique.
He was the user of one of the top-tier Logia Devil Fruits, the Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder-Thunder Fruit), granting him control over thunder and the ability to transform into lightning.
Due to the unique nature of the fruit, he could use and maintain a special form of Observation Haki, known as “Mantra” (Heart Network), which covered the entire island of Skypiea.
Anyone who set foot on the island would be instantly detected.
With this ability, he could launch lightning strikes from beyond visual range. At maximum power, he could destroy the entire island. When necessary, he could incarnate as lightning and appear anywhere on the island.
This meant that the Roy of that time had almost no chance of infiltrating Skypiea undetected. The moment he attempted to approach Shandora, he would be struck by lightning from beyond sight.
Thus, for a long time after arriving in this world, despite greatly coveting Skypiea, he never attempted to seize it. It was only after he obtained the Slice-Slice Fruit a few months ago that the situation began to change.
The appearance of the four clones… Youji (Rooster), Shinryu, Inoshi, and Zishu… and the tremendous enhancement that followed convinced him that he was already capable of defeating Enel.
In truth, he had already begun making plans regarding Skypiea.
However, due to Enel’s unique abilities, Roy had to ensure a one-hit kill. Otherwise, given Enel’s obsession with gold, if he realized he was outmatched, he might adopt an “if I can’t have it, I’ll destroy it” mindset and use his power to obliterate all of Skypiea, including Shandora.
With Enel’s abilities, even Roy would find it extremely difficult to stop him. That was why Roy had been trying to devise a meticulous plan.
But now, he suddenly realized… All those plans might have been useless.
Because…
“Enel attacked the Sky Guard three years ago, was captured, and then taken away by the World Government.”
Roy’s brows knitted tightly together.
Since arriving in this world, the plot had never deviated so drastically from what he originally knew. Three years ago was supposed to be when Enel destroyed Birka and went to the Kingdom of God.
Now, however, he was learning that Enel never went to the Kingdom of God and that his whereabouts were uncertain.
Why had such a change occurred?
Roy didn’t know. But without a doubt, he cared deeply about it.
He quickly asked Hasmod a few more questions and learned something even stranger.
“That guy brought a very ancient-looking box with him. It had some incomprehensible patterns on it. When he arrived at Western Sky Peak, he demanded that we offer up all our gold and materials so he could use whatever was inside the box to build his ‘Ark.’”
At this point, Hasmod’s expression turned uglier. It was precisely because of this absurd demand that the Sky Guard had fought him back then.
Hearing this, Roy’s frown deepened.
“Gold… Gold isn’t the key.”
He thought to himself. Enel had always been obsessed with gold, even using it for decoration.
The real key was…
“Ark.”
Those two words immediately reminded Roy of something else Enel possessed in the original storyline:
Ark Maxim.
It was an extremely special ship powered by Enel’s Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder-Thunder Fruit).
The ship was built in the “Kingdom of God.” It was the only vessel in the pirate world that could freely fly and generate thunderclouds and control lightning. Most ridiculously of all, it could travel beyond the atmosphere to the moon.
Additionally, ancient murals on the moon and depictions of giants show similar ships to Ark Maxim.
“Now that I think about it, that ship was clearly unreasonable. Even with the power of the Goro Goro no Mi, it doesn’t make sense that something like that could be created…”
Combining this with what Hasmod had just said, Roy formed a hypothesis.
The box that Enel carried when he attacked Western Sky Peak might have contained the true core of Ark Maxim, the crucial component that made the ship extraordinary and capable of functioning as a “spacecraft.”
Naturally, what Roy cared about wasn’t Ark Maxim’s core.
What he truly cared about was…
“Why didn’t Enel remain in the Kingdom of God? What happened to the ‘City of Gold,’ Shandora?”
Those were his greatest concerns.
“No, I need to send the clones up immediately to confirm Shandora’s condition…”
But just as Roy reached that conclusion…
“Shing!”
A massive slash suddenly tore out from within the forest. The giant trees around them were instantly cut in half, their cuts as smooth as mirrors.
Roy: “?”
He had no time to think further. Golden ripples surged around his body. He raised both hands and blocked the slash, blasting it away!
Hasmod, however, was not so fortunate.
He had just been about to ask Roy if he knew something when the shockwave from the slash sent him flying far into the distance. He vanished from sight.
Roy had no time to worry about the White-Winged Knight. He simply turned his gaze toward where the slash had come from.
“Apologies.” A graceful figure dressed in a pink Marine uniform stepped out from the forest. Amidst the swirling wood chips, she held her famed blade, Konpira, which was already coated in Busoshoku (Armament Haki).
She was Vice Admiral “Momousagi” Gion.
At that moment, her appearance perfectly embodied the origin of her epithet.
“Boom!”
Dark, flame-like clouds coiled around her slender body. Two long rabbit ears stood upright on her head. Fine fur covered her body, and her legs had transformed into the powerful, reverse-jointed limbs of a rabbit.
It was clearly…
Rabbit-Rabbit Fruit: Snow Rabbit Model · Devil Fruit Awakening.
“A Zoan-type Devil Fruit Awakening…” Roy was inwardly astonished. “As expected of an Admiral Candidate.”
While he was thinking…
“I was pursuing a contestant named Guernica just now. He seemed to be deliberately luring me here to you. The earlier slash was not aimed at you. My apologies.” Gion spoke to Roy calmly.
“I see…” Roy nodded at last.
‘No wonder. Zephyr had told Roy about Vice Admiral Gion’s personality. She was absolutely not the kind of person who would launch a sneak attack.’
“However…”
At that moment, Gion flicked Konpira upward; its blade was light, cold, and sharp.
“That man called Guernica is very strong, but he keeps dodging and refusing to truly fight. I joined this Martial Exercise to find worthy opponents to hone my swordsmanship. Roy, you’re strong, too.”
As she spoke, her smile bloomed like a flower, yet her battle intent burned like fire.
“How about a round?”
Roy: “… ”
‘Right… Zephyr-sensei had mentioned that, although she appeared gentle and elegant, she was obsessed with swordsmanship.’
“Guernica…” Roy gritted his teeth slightly.
“What a despicable move.” Just as he muttered that, atop a massive tree deep within the forest…
“Have I successfully diverted her attention?”
Guernica, dressed in a white suit and wearing a ceremonial hat, stood with his arms folded, his wristbands visible. His mask-like white face remained expressionless.
Luring Gion into fighting Roy so he could shake off the dangerous Admiral Candidate was beneath a fighter of his caliber, but Guernica did not care.
He was a CP0 agent. He executed orders… nothing more.
The order he received for the Three-Forces Military Exercise was simple:
“Obtain the highest ranking possible. Preserve the government’s prestige.”
“Those two are probably the strongest competitors in this competition. Once they determine a winner, I should be able to… hm?”
But just as he was thinking this, Guernica seemed to sense something and abruptly looked in a direction beyond the island.
For the first time, shock appeared on his mask-like white face.
Not just him, either.
“…” ×2
Below, Gion, who had been about to make her move, paused, her gaze shifting in the same direction. Roy, whose five senses had been greatly sharpened by his Devil Fruit, did the same.
All of them could feel it… a crushing pressure and overwhelming sense of danger sweeping across the entire forest.
Most crucially, Roy’s brows furrowed deeply, yet his eyes were filled with disbelief.
This aura, this oppressive presence… was not at all unfamiliar to him.
At the same time, at the edge of the island, aboard the battleship Roy had noticed earlier bearing the “Special Science Group (SSG)” insignia… A tall figure stepped out from the ship’s cabin.
“Thud!” “Thud!” “Thud!”
Even the steel-forged deck of the battleship dented under his footsteps.
“Please be careful. Smash is only undergoing its first test. Don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, yes! You still need time to adapt, and your body is already…”
Beside him, two members of the Science Unit in white lab coats chattered anxiously.
“Enough already, you two!” The man standing between them barked in a low voice.
“I know my own body better than anyone!” He looked up at the countdown timer above the island.
“That brat Roy is probably getting impatient.”
Roy would recognize his tone instantly.
Yes.
Purple hair. A massive, muscular frame. Dark skin.
He was standing on the battleship deck was none other than “Black Arm” Zephyr.
But there was something different.
His right arm, once severed and long gone, had now been replaced.
In its place was an enormous, terrifying metal mechanical arm. It was the special Seastone arm that the Marine Science Unit had crafted for him.
Its name…
Smash.
“Click.”
Zephyr clenched his new fist.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt something like this. In that case…”
The corner of his mouth curled upward. For a moment, his smile looked almost ferocious.
“Just like you said, let’s start with one strike. Get used to it!”
As the words fell, Zephyr’s body leapt high into the air.
“Bang!”
His towering form soared above the entire Martial Exercise Island, spinning downward.
“Clack!” “Clack!” “Clack!”
The gigantic mechanical arm lifted high. Terrifying Ryuo (Flowing Sakura) instantly enveloped it. He roared, his voice and the sound of his fist echoing across the forest below.
“Black Body Style Secret Art – Meteor Collapse!”
The punch fell.
In the next instant…
“BOOM!”
It sounded like a meteor had crashed into the sea.
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 15 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395