On stage, curled up and submerged in water, the mermaid had a slender figure, long flowing golden hair, and a delicately beautiful face. From a distance, she looked like she had stepped straight out of a fairy tale, dreamlike and ethereal.
The audience was already on the verge of madness from her beauty. If not for the Celestial Dragons seated in the front row, the entire hall might've erupted into chaos by now.
"Next, "
Taking a deep breath, the host saw the restless crowd below and couldn't help but feel a bit excited himself.
"Let the bidding begin!"
His voice boomed through the microphone, echoing throughout the auction hall.
The audience was filled with frenzy, people's expressions wild. Some were already unable to hold back their shouts. The Celestial Dragons in the front row, meanwhile, looked on with disdain.
No matter how high the bids from these mere mortals, the item would belong to them in the end. No one dares to compete with the Celestial Dragons. No one ever has.
Just as everyone tensed, ready to make their offers, ready to go mad for the mermaid on stage,
Suddenly,
BOOM!
A deafening crash echoed through the hall. From the back of the venue, the twin revolving iron doors were blasted inward, crashing heavily into the rear rows of empty seats. Blinding light streamed into the room, forcing many to squint.
The frenzied atmosphere froze in an instant. Everyone turned, stunned, toward the shattered entrance.
As their eyes adjusted to the light, they saw five figures standing at the threshold.
"Who… are they?"
The host stared dumbfounded at the entrance. In all his years, he had never witnessed someone crash an auction like this.
"TAP… TAP… TAP…"
Footsteps echoed clearly through the silent hall, making everyone focus on the approaching figure.
Clad in samurai-like armor, with waist-length black hair and a cold, emotionless expression, the man exuded a suffocating pressure that weighed on the entire hall.
"I heard… that the Celestial Dragons are here."
After four steps, the man came to a halt. Arms crossed, his icy gaze swept over the hall, as if searching for something.
"Come out."
Dominating. Arrogant. Disdainful of all.
That was the feeling that gripped everyone's hearts, leaving them breathless and stunned.
"He… He's here for the Celestial Dragons!"
"My god, that murderous aura, what does he want?"
"Is he… picking a fight with the Celestial Dragons?"
Whispers spread through the audience as their shock deepened.
To see someone openly call out the Celestial Dragons like this, it was something none of them had ever seen in their lives.
Instinctively, everyone's eyes turned toward the front row.
Four Celestial Dragons sat side by side. At first glance, they still appeared calm and composed.
Madara followed their gazes, and locked eyes on them.
"So it's them?"
With a powerful leap, he suddenly soared forward, rapidly weaving through the tightly packed seating. In just ten seconds, he flipped midair and landed squarely in front of the four Celestial Dragons.
"You're the Celestial Dragons?"
Seeing them up close, Madara frowned.
They are just four ordinary people? Their physical condition was even weaker than the average human.
"Y-You! Who are you to shout our names out loud?!"
Faced with Madara's oppressive bloodlust, the Celestial Dragons were visibly trembling, yet they forced themselves to yell with false bravado.
"This is our first meeting," Madara said coldly, his gaze sharpening.
But already, his eyes were brimming with killing intent.
"But unexpectedly… I despise you all."
As he spoke, Madara's right hand trembled slightly. In the next instant, the short blade at his waist was unsheathed with a sharp motion, and then slashed in a single swift arc.
"Splat!"
The flash of the blade was brilliant and swift. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, it had already returned to its sheath.
At that moment, everyone in the hall froze in horror, eyes wide, bodies trembling, expressions filled with terror.
"Crack!"
The crisp sound of bursting bubbles rang out, four times in a row.
Bright red blood slowly trickled down from the necks of the seated Celestial Dragons, soaking into their expensive clothes and dripping onto the floor, quickly forming a small stream.
"D-Dead! They're dead!!" The host screamed in terror. "The Celestial Dragons have been killed!!"
The hall was in complete shock. Even some of the pirates in the audience could only gape at the standing figure, dumbfounded. It was unbelievable, someone had come specifically to find the Celestial Dragons… and beheaded them all with a single strike!
Who was this man, to have the audacity to commit such an act?
"Weaker than chicks. Not even worth the effort. Disappointing."
Looking coldly down at the four Celestial Dragons, Madara spoke indifferently, voicing his honest disappointment.
At the entrance, Ace stood with his mouth hanging open, speechless.
So clean. So decisive. No hesitation.
That was his master.
And it shocked him to the core, yet deep inside, he felt he had just learned something important.
"A man… should be like Master. Fearless. Unstoppable across the seas!"
Watching Madara carry out this act, Ace's heart pounded with excitement.
"Quick! Notify the Marines! This is a catastrophe!"
In the corner, the Celestial Dragons' guards, wearing suits and glasses, were drenched in cold sweat, their voices shaking.
"Also, don't let him leave! If we can capture him, even better! This man must die! He's dead for sure!"
Teams of black-suited guards immediately surged out from both sides of the auction hall, charging toward Madara.
Seeing this, Ace sprinted forward.
"Master, leave them to me!"
With a shout, he was engulfed in scorching flames as he launched himself into the fray.
Madara's eyes flickered, watching the scene coldly.
"They say the Celestial Dragons are powerful. But after testing them… they're not even worth plucking. I, Uchiha Madara, will wait here… for all the so-called 'experts' of this world."
His icy voice echoed across the hall, sending another shockwave through everyone present.
"Is he insane? He killed the Celestial Dragons and isn't even trying to run?"
"When the Marines arrive, he's dead for sure!"
"A maniac, he's a total lunatic!"
"We need to leave, if the Marines show up, we're all screwed!"
"And Fire Fist Ace… he's involved with that guy? He's finished!"
Pirates hidden throughout the audience quickly stood and prepared to escape. Their eyes looking at Madara were filled with disbelief, as if staring at a true madman.
The Celestial Dragon guards weren't even close to Ace's level, he easily wiped them all out by himself.
Soon after, Madara, Ace, and the three Qin Lin generals regrouped and prepared to leave.
"P-Please… help me!"
Just then, a weak voice called out from the stage, the mermaid girl inside the tank.
Ace looked over in surprise, leapt onto the stage, and carried her out from the glass tank.
"Master, I think there's a bomb around her neck."
Madara said nothing. He simply reached out, and with a light pinch, the collar bomb crumbled into pieces.
This scene left the host, hiding nearby, covering his mouth in shock.
The news spread like wildfire. At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku (Warring States) was already pale with rage.
"BANG!"
He slammed his fist onto the desk.
"What did you just say?! The Celestial Dragons were killed? FOUR of them?!"
(End of Chapter)
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