Chapter 388: Rugal Departs
This battle was well worth the price, whether for the entrance tickets or the broadcasting fees.
Regardless of the outcome, the ultimate beneficiary was the Kronos Kingdom.
Even after the battle ended, the departing audience continued to discuss animatedly.
Compared to the great battles between those Top-tier Monsters that lasted for days and nights, a battle of this degree was undoubtedly more enjoyable.
In the eyes of many, if these two young Monsters were to establish a Martial Arts Dojo, countless people would want to join.
At the Marine Elite Training Camp, the venue was silent.
What did they feel?
It was the gap.
Compared to Rugal and Goenitz's body technique battle, their own efforts seemed like child's play.
They were still learning the Marine Six Styles, while others' body technique attainments had already formed their own system.
Forming a system sounds simple, but how many can truly achieve it?
Forming a system is like an indestructible, airtight wall.
Even Borsalino and the others beside Kyle had solemn expressions.
Regardless, this battle brought some shock to their hearts.
From their perspective, both Rugal and Goenitz's body techniques were like a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, filled with killing intent everywhere.
Upon careful reflection, one would feel a chill and their scalp would tingle.
Every move was aimed at killing the opponent.
The changes in situation and the counters to techniques were full of combat wisdom.
It wasn't just the application of the body and the collision of strength.
The intensity of the battle goes without saying.
Whether injured or with fractured bones, neither of them cried out once.
What they considered serious injuries did not affect the battle at all.
Thinking of Goenitz's various moves and abilities, anyone who encountered him would find it very troublesome.
Zephyr watched very seriously.
What he cared about more was the rhythm.
Both Goenitz and Rugal had their own combat rhythm during the battle.
As long as they gained the advantage with one move, what followed would be a gale-like barrage of consecutive moves.
Each was linked to the next, completely trapping the opponent in their own combat rhythm.
The opponent could only passively defend, finding it difficult to resist.
Some of the combat skills contained within were even beyond his own.
This also required extremely high combat wisdom.
In the past years, the strongest person he had seen in the domain of technique was "Pluto" Hades.
Being in Hades' domain was a great mountain that countless Fighter Factions, including Zephyr himself, found difficult to cross.
Battle is often simple.
The further one progresses, human movements shed complexity and gradually simplify, becoming pure.
However, this does not mean the application of technique can be ignored.
Some tiny gaps often determine the final outcome.
From this battle, Goenitz was clearly superior.
Goenitz, who possessed his own combat system, was undoubtedly more perfect.
Of course, the advantage brought by Devil Fruit Ability cannot be ignored.
However, once Goenitz obtained a Devil Fruit, he would inevitably have to divert energy to develop the Devil Fruit Ability, unavoidably slowing down compared to Rugal in body training.
The result is everything.
Body technique cannot be improved solely through body training; it requires continuous battle experience to progress.
Similarly, this also requires talent.
Having Monster-level body talent does not mean one's body technique will be powerful.
Those so-called force exertion techniques, using minimal strength to unleash maximum destructive power, are merely very basic elements of body technique and are not considered profound.
Kyle knows very well that a true body technique Strongman needs to think during battle.
There is a widely accepted but incorrect fallacy on the Great Sea today: many people believe that a Strongman who fights with fists and kicks without relying on Devil Fruit Ability or being a Swordsman is a body technique Strongman.
This is true when Haki is present.
But what if there is no Haki?
Even being battle-hardened does not mean one possesses extremely high body technique attainment.
Rugal lost, but he lost with honor.
Some of his inner knots were untied.
Through this battle, he saw Goenitz's depth and clearly recognized that Goenitz was not insurmountable.
Under the Sky Arena's powerful medical capabilities, Rugal's injuries had recovered by more than half by just the second day.
In a Villa on Paros Island, Goenitz and Rugal, who had just fought a great battle, were surprisingly both inside.
Besides the two of them, there were also several other members who were present at the founding of Sound Nest.
Ignis's figure appeared out of thin air, solidifying from nothingness, a smile on his face as he looked at everyone.
He then turned his gaze to Rugal.
"Rugal, what do you think?
Do you want to eat a Devil Fruit?"
Ignis suggested.
Rugal's defeat this time was largely due to the gap in Devil Fruits.
If Rugal wanted a good Devil Fruit, he would find a way to get one.
Of course, it all depended on Rugal's own wishes.
"I don't need one.
There aren't many Devil Fruits suitable for me, and besides, body technique alone is enough for me."
"If possible, help me get a portion of Monster Blood."
Rugal shook his head and refused.
He didn't like becoming a cannot swim.
If there wasn't a truly suitable Devil Fruit Ability, it was better not to pursue such a thing.
In comparison, Monster Blood, which has no side effects and can enhance strength, was clearly more in line with Rugal's wishes.
"I will keep an eye out."
Ignis knew that Rugal wasn't unwilling to eat a Devil Fruit.
Even if he became a cannot swim, as long as it was a Devil Fruit suitable for his combat system and could enhance his combatant strength, Rugal wouldn't refuse.
Such Devil Fruits are few in number, but they are not nonexistent.
As for the request for Monster Blood, it is a rare commodity on the Great Sea today.
In the Underworld, it even has a bounty of 700 million Beli per portion.
Even Ignis only had one portion, which was needed for the two Doctors to research.
At least until something was researched, it was impossible to give it to Rugal.
However, Rugal was not in a hurry.
With Ignis's ability, if he wanted to, he could get anything.
At worst, he could become a thief.
The development of a Faction consumes a lot of money.
The Merchant Guild and industries controlled by Sound Nest currently have a profit of around 500 to 600 million Beli annually, which is decent, but this profit needs to be continuously invested in industry expansion.
Some small Factions secretly controlled and supported by Ignis currently bring in only a few hundred million Beli in revenue annually combined.
Basically, Ignis is funding most of it himself.
The 1.5 billion Beli obtained from killing Vegapunk and the several billion Beli from auctioning Vegapunk's brain, to be honest, won't last long.
To develop faster, it is unavoidable to invest more funds.
Moreover, there are now two more big spenders burning through funds.
Even by betting on the outcome through the Casino, due to Goenitz and Rugal's amazing performance, the odds were not high, and the possibility of making a huge profit was not great.
Besides, how could the house possibly lose money?
The Kronos Kingdom has a dedicated research team for the Sky Arena.
To raise 20 billion Beli and obtain their own Base Camp, they would need to use some unconventional methods.
For example, Ignis has his sights set on the World Government's Heavenly Tribute this year, as well as some wealthy merchants, and even Kingdom Treasuries.
"Then, let's begin the operation.
Become the King of Underground Fighting, Rugal."
"If things develop well, maybe we can even hold a Fighting Tournament, just like the Sword Tournament."
Currently, Sound Nest's development is very smooth, and Ignis seems somewhat relaxed.
Rugal is undoubtedly an important link in Ignis's faction map.
He needs Rugal to occupy a place in the Underworld.
The title "King of Underground Fighting" even made Rugal feel his blood boil a little.
The primary target is to choose a suitable Island as a Base Camp and establish a Death Fighting Arena.
After ruling the entire Island, the fame of the Death Fighting Arena will spread, and they will become familiar with the operating model of the fighting arena.
At that time, Rugal will establish more Death Fighting Arenas on other suitable Islands in the New World.
As the Faction develops and grows stronger, this will extend not only to the New World but also to the Four Seas.
The development direction has basically been planned.
How long it will take to reach that degree still depends on Rugal's own ability.
At the very least, he needs to possess the great strength to subdue the various Underworld Forces, a strength that makes people dare not offend him.
Of course, Rugal also has his own advantage, which is that he comes with massive attention.
By utilizing the advantage of news media promotion, the Death Fighting Arena established by Rugal will definitely attract a lot of attention.
In the afternoon, Rugal took some of the Subordinates he had recruited and boarded a giant ship, leaving Paros Island.
His target was an Island of Chaos in the New World Center, filled with Pirates and a large number of Underworld Forces, where the situation was incredibly chaotic, and no Strongman had appeared to re-establish order.
Therefore, it was chosen by Rugal as his future Base Camp.
(end of chapter)