The clamor on Entertainment Island surged like a tidal wave, relentlessly crashing against everyone's eardrums.
At the grand entrance of the casino, embedded gems shimmered with an irresistible allure under the dazzling lights, attracting countless pirates and adventurers like moths to a flame.
Yet, amidst this lively scene, Eustass "Captain" Kid stood out distinctly.
He stood among the crowd, the surrounding noise seeming irrelevant to him.
His bored gaze swept through the people, searching for something—anything—more interesting than mere gambling.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing scream shattered the festive atmosphere, instantly capturing Kid's attention.
Following the sound, he saw an open patch of ground not far away where two pirate crews were engrossed in an exceptionally brutal game.
The rules were simple yet cruel: the losing side had to watch helplessly as the winners arbitrarily selected and took away one of their crew members as a slave.
This naked life-and-death struggle seemed to freeze the surrounding air.
However, the sheer cruelty of the game made Kid's lips curl upward almost involuntarily.
By now, the outcome had been decided.
The losing side bowed their heads in resignation.
One of the crew members was being dragged away by several burly men using cold, heavy chains.
His fingernails scraped desperately against the hard ground, producing a harsh grating sound.
As he was hauled off, he left behind a trail of shocking bloodstains—the vivid red glaring starkly under the neon lights, sending a chill down anyone's spine.
Kid watched the scene, unconsciously licking his lips as he caught the scent of blood in the air.
His fingers tapped rhythmically against his belt, producing sharp clangs that echoed clearly in the momentary silence.
"Interesting…"
Just as he stepped forward to get a closer look, a shadow eclipsed him.
Kid instinctively looked up, his brow furrowing slightly.
He saw a massive frame towering before him like an iron fortress, the man's bronze skin covered in menacing scars.
Douglas Bullet.
Bullet looked down at Kid with a condescending sneer, the corners of his mouth twisted in contempt.
His solid pectoral muscles rose and fell with each breath.
"What's the point of such a childish game?" Bullet scoffed, his voice deep and raspy. "How about a real fight with me?"
As he spoke, he slowly rolled his neck, the thick joints of his vertebrae emitting a disturbing series of cracks.
Kid's crimson pupils abruptly contracted.
A flicker of caution and seriousness, flashed in his eyes.
Yet, a wild grin spread across his lips. He showed no fear in the face of the challenge.
He noticed that as Bullet spoke, droplets of saliva sprayed into the space between them, and those beast-like eyes were fixed intently on his carotid artery.
Kid met Bullet's gaze steadily, his own eyes unwavering and resolute.
Bullet let out a sinister chuckle, pleased with Kid's reaction.
"And the wager… will be your blood. How about it?"
The words were like a stone thrown into still water, instantly stirring up violent waves.
Kid's pupils contracted sharply as he thought to himself: This guy… he's a monster.
By now, the pirates who had been watching the slave game had already retreated dozens of meters, terrified by the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Fear was written all over their faces as they dreaded being caught in the crossfire between these two formidable figures.
After all, neither of them was someone to be trifled with—the dangerous aura they exuded was enough to suffocate a normal man.
The intense standoff drew the attention of other pirates from all directions.
They watched with keen interest, eyes gleaming with excitement like vultures waiting for prey to tear each other apart.
Hearing no immediate response, Bullet grinned widely, his smile full of mockery.
"What's wrong? Scared?"
He deliberately ground the cobblestones embedded in the ground under his boot heel, sending fragments flying like bullets onto Kid's cloak.
The provocation couldn't have been more obvious.
"Afraid?"
Kid suddenly burst into laughter, the sound mingling with a metallic resonance that seemed to vibrate through the very air.
"I'm the man who'll become the Pirate King!" Kid roared, each word striking like a hammer against the crowd's eardrums.
The crowd exchanged glances, snorting disdainfully.
"Another fools who wants to be the Pirate King."
"Looks like one of those Supernovas making waves lately."
"Heh, once this trading event is over, let's report this kid. I hear the Marines have been cracking down hard on Supernovas recently!"
"Haha, good idea."
It was unclear whether Kid heard them, but his wide coat began flapping violently without any wind.
As it billowed, ordinary metal objects around the plaza trembled fiercely, as if summoned by a magnetic king.
The usually placid metal tools transformed into restless beasts, rattling to break free at any moment.
The air between the two men seemed to solidify. Even falling leaves hovered eerily three feet above the ground, as if time had stopped.
The surrounding noise faded, leaving only the tense atmosphere of their standoff.
"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Kid let out another scornful laugh, his crimson pupils blazing with a fervent battle spirit.
He was no reckless brute driven solely by impulse; beneath that wild exterior lay a calm, calculating mind.
Tilting his head slightly, he grinned arrogantly, his eyes radiating condescension.
"Hey, old man, what's so great about your ability? If it's too trashy, I can't be bothered playing with you."
Bullet showed no displeasure at the insult.
Instead, he cracked a smile.
That smile exuded absolute confidence and dominance—he was long accustomed to the bravado of rookies.
Suddenly, Bullet stomped hard.
BOOM!
The entire island seemed to shudder from the force. The ground instantly fractured, deep cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb.
Under the tremendous impact, rubble, metal fragments, and collapsed debris broke free from the earth, surging toward him.
"Fusion!"
In the blink of an eye, these chaotic materials were deftly assembled by invisible hands, coalescing into a stone giant dozens of meters tall!
The colossal figure blotted out the sky, its massive form gleaming with a cold luster like an ancient war beast from primordial times.
Bullet's voice boomed from within the titan.
"Is this 'trashy' enough for you, brat?!"