Chapter 281: The Winner of Block A
"Alright! The contestants are now entering the ring one after another! Let me continue to bring you all the passionate commentary!"
Gatz had already run up to the announcer's stage, his passionate voice radiating through the broadcast Den Den Mushi.
The fighting ring was crowded with ferocious-looking people. Apart from the outside entrants, there were also many gladiators who were already part of the Corrida Colosseum.
They were uniformly equipped with swords and shields, wearing light, revealing armor.
The atmosphere on the field was tense. Everyone was warily eyeing their surroundings.
Clang!!
As all the contestants walked onto the ring, the iron gates at the passage slammed shut.
"The Block A competition now begins!!"
"Whoa!!"
The announcer's declaration and the crowd's cheers directly lifted the curtain on this slaughter.
A massive brawl began!
"A bunch of amateurs! Let me show you the strength of us professional gladiators!"
At the edge of the ring, a gladiator with a cape on his shoulder revealed a sinister grin. He held a round shield and charged directly at a contestant who had registered from the outside.
Bang!
The round shield hit squarely. The opponent, caught off guard, was sent flying out of the ring and landed in the water with a splash.
"The first one is out! Don't think it's over just because you've fallen into the water!"
The announcer shouted, "A little reminder for everyone: the water is filled with a large number of fierce and bloodthirsty fighting fish that will viciously tear apart anyone who falls in."
"Hahaha, don't underestimate us who have been fighting here for years."
The gladiator smiled proudly. He raised his sword and was about to plunge into the chaotic fight in the ring.
"How arrogant. Then let me test your strength," Fish-Man Hack said, pushing off the ground and charging out.
Arriving in front of the gladiator, he spread his legs into a half-squat, his right fist clenched at his waist.
"Fish-Man Karate: Senmai Gawara Seiken!"
Bang!
A heavy fist struck him squarely in the abdomen. A look of pain immediately appeared on the gladiator's face.
Hack followed up with a leap, a whip kick viciously striking the opponent's face and sending him flying out.
Landing on the ground, Hack took a firm horse stance, "Meeting with fists should be the way of friendship!"
"It's the Fish-Man Karate master, Hyakudan Hack!"
Seeing Hack's brilliant move, the host Gatz immediately shouted to introduce him to the audience.
"The generous prize of this competition has attracted many powerhouses from the New World! Next, let me introduce the popular contestants on the field one by one!"
"Apart from the Fish-Man Karate master Hack, there is also the A-class war criminal from the 'Dias Naval Battle', 'The Slasher' Suleiman!"
As his voice fell, the screen above the ring immediately showed a curly-haired man wearing a tall, furry hat, holding a sword in one hand and standing straight with the other behind his back.
"I have only ever killed for my own country."
A cold glint flashed on Suleiman's sword, as cold as his eyes.
"And there's also the grand fleet admiral, 'The Adventurer' Orlumbus, also known as the Cunning Killer!"
The screen's image changed again to a burly, bare-chested man, wielding a long whip and viciously lashing the enemies around him.
Just then, a green-haired man wearing a bull mask and a green shirt appeared on the screen, slowly approaching Orlumbus step by step.
On the cruel battlefield splattered with blood, Ryokugyu's leisurely stroll seemed extremely strange, immediately attracting the attention of all the spectators.
"—Oh! Is this contestant named Shirakawa challenging Admiral Orlumbus!?"
"Let's see what happens!"
Gatz was indeed an experienced host, knowing well how to stir up the audience's passion.
Although the two on the field had not yet made any contact, his commentary had already filled Orlumbus's eyes with the smell of gunpowder as he looked at the green-haired man.
"So sneaky. Are you afraid to show your face?"
"'The Adventurer' Orlumbus, Admiral of the Yonta Maria Grand Fleet, nicknamed the Cunning Killer," Ryokugyu's gaze was cold.
A brown vine extended from his sleeve, swimming like a living creature.
"Hahaha, so I do have a bit of a reputation."
Orlumbus laughed loudly, while at the same time, a thought crossed his mind.
Why does this person talk like a Marine?
Thinking of the law that forbade Marines and police from entering the Corrida Colosseum, combined with the other's mask, he immediately seemed to guess something and smiled playfully, "Don't tell me you're..."
Slap!
Before he could finish, the rough vine shot out, cracking the air!
Orlumbus was instantly shocked and immediately whipped out his long whip, which tightly entangled with the vine.
However, just as he exerted force to pull the opponent over, the long whip seemed to be pressed down by a mountain and wouldn't move at all.
"How could this be...!"
Orlumbus's pupils shrank in panic. The strength he had always been proud of was like that of a child before the other.
"Trash."
A corner of Ryokugyu's mouth lifted into a cold smile. He waved his arm, and a wave seemed to ripple through the vine, transmitting Ryokugyu's strength to the end of the other's long whip.
The next moment, a bizarre scene appeared before the crowd.
Orlumbus, who was several times larger, was sent flying directly into the air.
"Go to hell!"
With a shout from Ryokugyu, his other hand whipped out a brown vine, viciously lashing the figure in the air.
"Uwaah!!"
A bloody mark appeared. Orlumbus let out a wail, and his entire person flew out like a cannonball, smashing into the wall of the spectator stands.
His eyes rolled back as he fainted, and his body slid down into the water like a pile of mud.
With a series of splashes, the brutal fighting fish with their scarlet, ferocious eyes swarmed up.
"A one-shot! The infamous admiral was instantly defeated by the unknown contestant Shirakawa!"
Gatz roared, saliva flying everywhere. "A dark horse! The first dark horse of this competition is born!"
"Everyone, look!"
"Many people have already set their sights on this warrior!"
Amidst Gatz's exaggerated expressions and voice, many people's attention was drawn to Ryokugyu.
Two vines swung out like a storm, reaping the surrounding opponents like a strong wind sweeping away fallen leaves.
After sending a challenger flying with one punch, Hack turned to look at Ryokugyu. "That guy is very strong."
"Hey, want to team up?"
Suleiman's tone was flat and cold. "Let's get him out first, then we'll fight for the final spot."
When a contestant far stronger than the others appeared in the field, most of those who were not confident of defeating him would naturally think of this strategy.
Not just Suleiman, but almost everyone on the field was looking at Ryokugyu with apprehension, and there was a faint trend of surrounding him in the center of the ring.
"Contestant Shirakawa is already surrounded! As expected, a lone show-off is too eye-catching. Will it evolve into a siege? Let's wait and see!" Gatz shouted excitedly.
Faced with Suleiman's invitation, Hack, however, shook his head and said:
"If I can't win with my own strength, it just means I have no fate with those two Devil Fruits."
"Heh heh, just a bunch of people who are greedy for Devil Fruits, acting so high and mighty."
A bounty hunter contestant sneered with disdain, then his gaze hardened as he rushed towards Hack. "Since you won't cooperate, then you should get out first and not get in the way!"
"I will accept all challenges."
Hack's body sank into a stance to meet the enemy, his arms by his waist, concentrating all his strength.
However, just as he was about to punch...
"All of you, get out of the way! Trash!"
Several vines whistled and flew over rapidly, lashing down at both Hack and the bounty hunter.
"To actually take on everyone as an enemy!"
Gatz's face was filled with disbelief. He hurriedly shouted, "Is contestant Shirakawa being arrogant, or is he confident!"
Slap!
That unknown bounty hunter was sent flying out directly.
"Fish-Man Karate Ogi!"
Hack quickly changed direction, his blackened Armament Haki dyeing his fist, which was wreathed in airflow, as he pierced straight out!
"Oni Gawara Seiken!!"
Bang!!
The fist struck the vine, and an impact exploded. A wave of air spread out from him as the center.
The vine stopped. Hack's legs scraped along the ground, sliding back several meters. He gritted his teeth and barely managed to steady himself, secretly shocked:
"A casual whip from him actually has such great strength."
"Oh?" Ryokugyu's interested gaze rested on Hack for a second. "A bit of skill, but still far from enough."
The end of the extended vine suddenly forked, splitting into five branches like an arm and fingers, which swam rapidly and tightly bound the panicked Hack.
"This is... a Devil Fruit user?!"
"That's right. I am a Vine Man who ate the Vine-Vine Fruit. My whole body can turn into branches," Ryokugyu said proudly, having already thought of this excuse.
It could both match his ability's performance and prevent people from discovering his identity.
At this moment.
Suleiman took the opportunity to charge at Ryokugyu, his sword flashing with a cold glint as it went straight for his head!
"Decapitating Slash!"
"Insect."
Ryokugyu sneered with disdain. His arm transformed into a giant hammer of coiled wooden strips, which was covered in pitch-black Armament Haki.
"Coming here to die!"
Clang—Clang!!
The giant hammer smashed down. The longsword, before Suleiman's disbelieving eyes, instantly shattered, the blades flying everywhere!
What terrifying Haki!
The giant hammer's momentum did not decrease, and it crashed down with the force of a thousand jun!
Bang!!
Suleiman felt as if he had run into a towering mountain, and his entire face was instantly disfigured.
His body, amidst flying broken teeth and blood, was sent out of the ring, crashing heavily into the wall of the spectator stands!
"Suleiman has also been instantly defeated!"
"Contestant Shirakawa is unstoppable!"
"Who else can stop his advance!"
Gatz, in his excitement, was spitting everywhere. His roar echoed throughout the arena, boiling the audience's passion.
It seems it's Ryokugyu without a doubt.
In the contestant resting hall in the back, Reiner sat leaning against the outer wall, watching Ryokugyu's display of power in the ring.
He had glanced at the registration list outside. The awkward name 'Shirakawa Shinju' had aroused his suspicion.
He remembered Ryokugyu's tattoos. Looking down below, although he was wearing a mask and his shirt covered his body tattoos, his performance was undoubtedly Ryokugyu's.
"That guy is pretty strong," Zoro's expression was a little regretful. "Unfortunately, I'm in the fourth block."
"Block A is already decided. As long as you win your block, you'll eventually meet in the end," Reiner said with a smile.
He was in Block B, which was the next match. He had just asked around. Bartolomeo, 'Destruction Cannon' Ideo, Hajrudin the giant, and others were in it.
It was a little different from his vague impression, but the blocks were randomly assigned before the competition anyway. Once the number of contestants changed, the block assignments would naturally be different from the original story.
Fortunately, he, Luffy, and Zoro were in B, C, and D respectively, not in the same match. If nothing unexpected happened, they should all be able to win.
He didn't know what expression Diamante would have in the finals.
"You're in Block D too, Zoro?"
Just then, Luffy, wearing a golden helmet, came back. Behind him was a girl with a fine figure.
She wore a green cloak and a pink ponytail, and a three-point golden leather armor, her fair jade skin exposed without any attempt to hide it.
"She's Rebecca. A friend I just met."
Luffy patted the girl's shoulder and said with a cheerful laugh, "She's super nice. She even treated me to meat just now."
"It was just a little grilled meat. I'm the one who should be thanking Lucy for helping me just now."
Rebecca smiled and waved. "Hello, my name is Rebecca. I'm a gladiator at the Corrida Colosseum."
"My name is Alan."
Reiner replied, briefly sizing up this down-and-out princess.
Her attire was a bit too revealing. He didn't have any strange thoughts, but to avoid any misunderstanding, he still looked away.
"Roa," Zoro said briefly, introducing himself.
"Roa?"
Rebecca was puzzled. "Didn't Lucy just call you Zoro?"
"Ah, that...!"
"You heard wrong!"
Luffy's hands flapped about. He turned his face away and said with a guilty conscience, "I just called him Noah."
"It's Roa," Zoro said, a vein popping on his forehead, a little speechless.
"Ah, it's Roa."
"Heh heh heh, it's alright."
Rebecca seemed to have figured something out. She covered her mouth and said with a charming smile:
"For this competition, many outsiders have come and registered under hidden identities to win the Devil Fruit. After all, not everyone likes to be exposed to the public."
"So that's how it is. Phew~~, that scared me."
Luffy let out a long sigh of relief, then stood firm and smiled at Rebecca. "My name is Luffy. They are Rei—"
"I didn't ask you to introduce yourself, you idiot!"
Bang!!
Before Luffy could finish, Zoro viciously kicked him away.
"Sumimasen~~" a weak voice came from Luffy, who was now embedded in the wall.
Rebecca took a step back with a sheepish smile and couldn't help but size up the green-haired swordsman before her again.
Zoro?
Thinking of what Luffy had just called himself, Rebecca's delicate body trembled. She suddenly thought of something, and in her panic, she couldn't help but speak out.
"Don't tell me you're the Straw Hat...!"
Halfway through, Rebecca hurriedly covered her own mouth.
After looking around and making sure no one was there, she let out a sigh of relief. Then she looked at the last person.
Blond hair, blue shirt...
Could he be the legendary Black Snake Reiner?
Looking at those emotionless eyes, Rebecca swallowed and subconsciously took a step back.
He's rumored to be a ruthless character. He's not going to kill me to silence me, is he?
"Looks like we've been discovered after all."
Zoro held his forehead and sighed helplessly. "As expected, we can't count on this idiot to keep his identity hidden."
—Pop!
Luffy pulled his head out of the wall and said with an unconcerned, cheerful laugh, "It's fine! She won't tell the Marines about us, right, Rebecca?"
"Absolutely not!"
Rebecca, with lingering fear, quickly waved her hands. "Just now, Lucy helped me with the other gladiators. I won't repay kindness with enmity."
"It was nothing. Who told them to bully you? Besides, you've already treated me to grilled meat."
Luffy smiled and patted her shoulder. "We're even now, right?"
"Mm!" Rebecca nodded repeatedly.
Then, the few of them chatted for a bit.
Rebecca had been introducing the bronze statue of Kyros in the arena to Luffy.
Someone had jumped out and said some disrespectful things about Rebecca, which led to a conflict. Luffy had directly stepped in, and had almost been expelled from the arena by the soldiers as a result.
Rebecca had treated Luffy to some food to express her gratitude.
Anyone who treats him to a meal is a good person.
Luffy, holding this belief, had made his first friend in Dressrosa and had conveniently brought her over to introduce her to Reiner and Zoro.
While the few of them were chatting, the battle in the ring had already ended.
From beginning to end, it had only been a few minutes.
The winner was, without any suspense, only Ryokugyu, who was still standing in the field.
"It's my turn next."
Reiner chuckled, jumped down from the wall, and waved goodbye to the three of them. "You guys chat first. I'll be back soon."
(End of chapter)
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