Seeing that Luffy had made his decision, Meiser said nothing more.
Then, turning his gaze toward the tournament ring, he said, "There aren't many people left now. It should be over soon."
"Is that so?"
Hearing this, Luffy showed a look of anticipation and said, "Then it'll be my turn soon. I wonder if the guys in Block C are strong."
As if reading Luffy's thoughts, Meiser chuckled and said, "There are quite a few formidable fighters in Block C."
"Oh?"
"You know about them?"
Luffy immediately wore an inquisitive look. How did Meiser seem to know everything?
"Yeah, I do," Meiser nodded.
Just now, when his Clones were investigating the situation around here, they had seen quite a few Block C contestants.
Then, Meiser continued, "Judging by their presence, there are many skilled fighters in Block C. But the strongest one is still that old man who chased you around trying to beat you up earlier."
At least, that was how it seemed from his presence.
"Huh?"
Luffy's face instantly fell, and he groaned, "He's in Block C too...?"
Just thinking about that old man gave Luffy a headache.
Why was he so unlucky?
Right at that moment, the announcer's voice echoed across the arena.
"Just what in the world is Bartolomeo doing?!"
Looking at Bartolomeo, who had his back turned to him, the announcer was utterly dumbfounded. Was this bastard... taking a leak?
"He really does whatever he pleases," Meiser murmured upon seeing this, his expression turning somewhat speechless. He clearly hadn't expected the guy to pull a stunt like that.
Then, Meiser shifted his gaze to Hack, who was walking toward Bartolomeo.
Was this guy planning to make a move on Bartolomeo?
"A competition like this is no place for you to fool around!" Hack glared at Bartolomeo and shouted, "Allow me to send you packing!"
"Fish-Man Karate: Four Thousand Tile True Punch!!"
With that roar, Hack charged swiftly toward Bartolomeo.
Sensing the movement behind him, Bartolomeo's expression instantly changed.
"Hey, don't attack at a time like this!"
His face looked as panicked as could be.
Yet the moment Hack drew near, Bartolomeo's expression shifted completely.
"Heh... fooled ya!"
As he spoke, Bartolomeo activated the power of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, creating a transparent barrier behind him.
The next instant—
Smack!
"Aaargh!!"
Fracturing his bones upon slamming into the barrier, Hack immediately collapsed to his knees with a scream of agony, clearly stripped of all fighting ability.
"?"
"!!"
Taking in the entire scene, the announcer exclaimed in shock, "Why is the one who fell Hack?!"
"Just what did that bastard Bartolomeo do?!"
"What in the world just happened?"
Luffy was also looking at Bartolomeo with a face full of confusion, completely unable to see how he had defeated that Fish-man.
"I'm not sure."
Not having activated his Sharingan just then, Meiser hadn't seen what had happened either.
After pondering for a moment, Meiser continued, "Though I suspect he's probably a Devil Fruit Ability User."
Otherwise, there was no explaining what had just occurred.
"A Devil Fruit Ability User...?"
Prompted by Meiser's reminder, Luffy realized it as well, then asked curiously, "What kind of ability is it?"
"We'll know in a bit." Having activated his Sharingan, Meiser pushed up his sunglasses and said, "This time, I'll see it clearly."
Seeing Meiser say so, Luffy kept quiet.
Afterward, both turned their eyes back toward the ring, intending to see just what Bartolomeo was doing.
"Twenty-four contestants left, huh?"
Catching the announcer's words, Bartolomeo grinned maliciously. "Then allow me to finish off all of you."
"Let me finish you off first!" Bellamy roared from not far away.
With that, he used his Devil Fruit Ability to turn his legs into springs, instantly rocketing toward Bartolomeo.
"Die!"
Bang!
"Wha...?!"
Feeling the recoil surging through his fist, Bellamy's face changed drastically.
Just what kind of ability did this guy have?
With that thought, Bellamy was thrown backward through the air, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Th-this... how is this possible?!"
Seeing Bellamy collapse, the announcer's face was plastered with utter shock.
"Why is it the attacking Bellamy who went down?!"
"What on earth did that bastard Bartolomeo do?!"
It had been the same with Hack earlier, and now it was happening to Bellamy too.
Just what had this Bartolomeo done?
"I see."
Having clearly seen Bartolomeo's actions this time, Meiser said with keen interest, "To think such a Devil Fruit Ability exists."
"What did you see?"
"A barrier."
"A barrier?"
Several question marks popped up over Luffy's head. What was that?
Perhaps noticing Luffy's confusion, Meiser explained, "This Bartolomeo's ability seems to allow him to conjure a transparent barrier akin to glass. That thing appears to have astonishing defensive power."
After saying that, Meiser paused before continuing, "At least, that's how it looks for now."
He just didn't know whether that thing could withstand an attack imbued with Armament Haki.
"Oh!"
"I get it now!!"
Luffy showed an expression of sudden realization. No wonder neither Bellamy nor that Fish-man could harm the guy; it was because of that barrier.
"Damn it..."
Struggling to climb up from the ground, veins bulged on Bellamy's face.
"I don't have time to fool around here."
To become an officer of the Donquixote Family, to gain Doflamingo's recognition, he had to win this match with flying colors!
Bearing that conviction, Bellamy turned his legs into springs once more, then charged crazily toward Bartolomeo like a madman.
At this moment, Bellamy displayed his true mad-dog nature!
"Go to hell!"
As he yelled, Bellamy's arm also transformed into a spring, ready to unleash even greater force!
"Spring Death Knock!"
Boom!
An unimaginably heavy blow blasted toward Bartolomeo's face, carrying momentum that looked ready to crush him to death.
Unfortunately... he still could not breach Bartolomeo's barrier.
Bang!
"Wha...?!"
Feeling the violent recoil travel back through his fist, a flicker of sheer horror surfaced in Bellamy's eyes.
How was it like this again?
With that frantic thought, Bellamy coughed up blood from the shockwave and went flying backward.
"Pfft... cough, cough."
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth with great difficulty, Bellamy looked up at Bartolomeo and gasped, "Just what kind of Ability User is this bastard...?"
"Hehahahaha!"
Looking at Bellamy, who was still struggling to stand, Bartolomeo burst into loud laughter.
"Still not planning to give up?"
"I have a reason I can't give up!" Bellamy gritted his teeth.
This was his only chance in this lifetime to join the Donquixote Family, so... even if it killed him, he had to take down the bastard in front of him!
At that thought, a surge of strength rose in Bellamy's body once more, allowing him to stand back up.
"Hey, Bellamy!"
Watching this unfold, Luffy shouted at the top of his lungs, "Cheer up! You can do it!"
"Cheer...?"
Glancing toward Luffy, who was cheering him on, Bellamy froze completely.
This guy who had once been his enemy... why was he cheering for him?
Weren't they foes?
At this moment, Bellamy felt as if he had been struck by an internal shockwave.
After a brief silence, Bellamy lowered his head and muttered, "Damn Straw Hat Boy..."
"Hm?"
Catching that specific keyword, Bartolomeo's gaze instantly turned razor-sharp.
"What did you just say about Straw Hat?"
If this bastard dared insult Straw Hat-senpai, he wouldn't mind sending him on his way to the afterlife right now.
However, Bellamy completely ignored Bartolomeo, crouching down to begin gathering power once more.
Even a former rival was cheering him on; what reason did he have to give up?
He... absolutely had to crush this guy!
Driven by that thought, Bellamy began condensing his inner strength, intending to crush Bartolomeo with an even more powerful strike!
Seeing this, Bartolomeo furrowed his brows. "Refusing to answer, huh...? Guess I'll just have to beat him senseless first."
"I didn't expect you to cheer for that guy," Meiser said, rubbing his chin as he sat on the windowsill. "Didn't you say he was an enemy?"
"He was indeed an opponent back then, but that's all in the past," Luffy replied.
He could feel that this guy, Bellamy, had truly changed.
"Is that so?"
Meiser nodded, dropping the matter.
After all, if Luffy didn't mind, what else could he say?
Right at that moment, Meiser sensed a shift in the atmosphere on the ring, drawing his gaze involuntarily toward Fighting King Elizabello II.
"This feeling is..."
Watching Fighting King Elizabello II assume a striking stance, Meiser showed a look of keen interest and said, "Could it be that he's about to throw that punch?"
He was genuinely curious about just how powerful this attack, rumored to be capable of defeating the Four Emperors, truly was.
If it really was as exaggerated as the legends claimed, their current spot would be within its attack range too.
Thinking of this, Meiser warned, "Luffy, be careful."
"Huh?"
Still watching Bellamy, Luffy blinked in surprise, then asked in confusion, "Careful about what?"
"That guy called Fighting King Elizabello II is about to make his move."
Hearing Meiser's explanation, Luffy subconsciously looked toward Elizabello, immediately noticing something off.
This man was looking rather formidable at the moment.
"Although I don't know whether that rumor is true, I think it's best if we don't let him throw that punch!" a gladiator shouted.
"That's right, take him down!"
"Yeah!!"
The surviving contestants roared in unison, then charged together toward Elizabello.
Seeing this, Elizabello sneered in his heart: Only now do you realize you should attack me?
Too late!
The moment they chose to defend themselves, their defeat had already been decided!
With a cold snort, Elizabello unleashed his attack without hesitation.
"King's Punch!"
Hum—
BOOM!
The next moment, an unimaginably terrifying blast erupted from Elizabello's fist, blowing away all the gladiators before him in the blink of an eye!
Seeing this spectacle face-to-face, the audience showed expressions of sheer horror, fleeing in all directions like madmen.
If they got hit by that, they would die too!
Paying no mind to the crowd's reaction, Bartolomeo stared intently at the rapidly approaching attack, thinking to himself: Is this that so-called King's Punch?
An attack reputed to defeat the Four Emperors?
While he didn't know how powerful the technique truly was, he had no interest in withstanding it with his bare body.
With that thought, Bartolomeo released the power of his barrier, enclosing himself completely in protection.
This way, he would be safe.
Bellamy, on the other hand, glared furiously at Elizabello, overwhelmed with vexation.
Had he known the man could unleash such horrifying power, he would have dealt with him earlier.
With that final thought, Bellamy took a direct hit from the King's Punch, losing consciousness on the spot.
The next instant—
BOOM!!
The terrifying force smashed heavily against Bartolomeo's barrier, instantly triggering a massive, frightening shockwave that kicked up a colossal cloud of smoke and dust!
"Fighting King Elizabello II has wiped out all his enemies with a single punch!!"
The announcer looked at the devastated ring in absolute shock, exclaiming, "Th-this... what terrifying destructive power!"
Was this truly that fearsome attack said to be capable of defeating the Four Emperors?
It was indeed frightening!
"What an insanely strong punch," Luffy remarked, staring at the ring with a stunned expression. "I've never seen such a heavy blow."
Now he actually believed what Cabbage had said; this guy's fist could definitely shatter a fortress.
Hearing Luffy's words, Meiser glanced sideways at this still-stunned idiot and asked, "You're saying you've never seen a punch that heavy?"
"Did you forget your grandfather?"
As he spoke, Meiser subconsciously touched the spot where old man Garp had pummeled him back then.
That punch had been absurdly heavy.
If he hadn't possessed an Undying Body, he would have been killed on the spot.
"My grandpa?"
Luffy paused, then scrunched up his face and admitted, "Guess that's true."
Thinking about it carefully, his grandfather's fist was indeed far more formidable.
Yeah, in every single way.
Meiser smiled at the response, then shifted his gaze toward the arena demolished by Fighting King Elizabello II, thinking to himself: Seems that rumor was indeed somewhat exaggerated.
Though the punch was plenty powerful, defeating the Four Emperors with it was virtually impossible.
After all, he had participated in the Summit War and knew all too well how horrifying the destructive power of people at that tier was.
If nothing else, a casual punch from old man Whitebeard packed more force than this guy's fully charged attack.
As for the other Four Emperors?
Though Meiser had only ever seen Blackbeard, he didn't believe Blackbeard could be brought down by an attack of this caliber either; otherwise, he wouldn't be worthy of holding that position.
Therefore, the claim that Fighting King Elizabello II could topple the Four Emperors with this single move was complete and utter nonsense!
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