"No weaknesses? Hiss—how the hell did Klein turn into a monster at both martial arts and swordsmanship in just a year?"
"Maaan!! Klein's gotta be a monster wearing human skin!"
"Tch—who doesn't know Klein's weakness is money?!"
"Exactly, that guy's a total money-grubber!!"
"But… in combat, Klein really doesn't seem to have any weak spots. How can he be good at literally everything?!"
"Damn it!!"
"He's just a student, but way too damn strong!!"
"..."
Dozens of eyes locked onto Klein, each filled with mixed emotions—envy, awe, jealousy, admiration, and pure disbelief…
Klein relished the attention in silence. 'Hahaha—You think I spent all that money for nothing?'
'If you knew how much I've spent, it'd scare you to death!'
'I'm almost one billion Berries deep at this point!!'
'If I'm not strong, then who the hell is?'
'The "Hexagonal Warrior" title ain't just for show!'
'Call me the Berry Warrior, alright?'
This was the high life.
Klein felt like he was strutting around the newbie village decked out in maxed-out premium gear.
And the newbies?
They knew the truth...
This man was a whale.
The significance of spending money in a game? Right here. This is what it looks like—being flashy in front of others!
Top-up supremacy, baby! Show them the gap between you and the peasants!
Bow before me!
Gaze in awe at my name on the leaderboards and my overpowered gear!
PvP? Promotions? Team battles? Heh. Prepare to get stomped so hard you'll question your life decisions!!
Jieh jieh jieh jieh—
Amid the crowd...
"A man without weaknesses..." Sengoku was deeply shaken. "Swordsmanship, martial arts, Rokushiki—he's completely dominating us."
He was stunned.
Back then, he figured Klein was maybe one street ahead of them. But now?
He was already an entire Grand Line ahead!!
Just one year!
Still feel like writing poetry now?
Suddenly, a booming voice shouted in his ear, "Bro! I always believed you'd win!!"
"My big bro is invincible!!"
…???
Sengoku jolted like he'd been struck by lightning.
That voice—Garp.
Gritting his teeth, Sengoku snapped, "Garp, you bastard! Didn't you just say you hoped Klein would fail the exam?!"
This traitorous bastard! How dare you switch sides now?!
"Who said that?" Garp feigned ignorance. "I've always supported my bro. Don't you slander me!"
"The only one who hasn't supported Klein from the beginning is you!"
"..." Sengoku's face darkened until it looked like storm clouds were gathering. His burning gaze could've turned Garp to ash.
I believed in you, dammit!
Looking into your eyes, I see it now—Garp really is a lunatic!
You clearly stood with me before, hoping Klein would lose the exam, and now you're yelling loud enough for Klein to hear from across the field?
My ears are ringing!
Garp raised both fists and cheered with all his might:"Bro!! You got this!!! You're definitely gonna win!!"
Traitor!!
Sengoku clutched his ears, nostrils flaring like a steaming kettle.
And just beside him, Zephyr had fully transformed into Klein's little fanboy, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"Bro!! Go go go!!"
"You're gonna work miracles!!"
"I believe in you! You can beat Kong!!"
If my brother believes I can be a hero, then I—his little brother—should believe in him with everything I've got!
Sengoku's face was now fully shrouded in darkness.
Why was the world so damn noisy?! His mood was shot, like his heart had been placed directly on a burning stove.
Yet…
The weather in Marineford changed as unpredictably as ever. It had been clear skies just moments ago, and now it was… still clear skies.
Instructor Carter was also yelling himself hoarse:"Open your damn eyes and take a good look! Klein is my most outstanding student!"
"He got this strong thanks to my meticulous training, my tireless efforts!"
"..." Admiral Rampaging Bear twitched at the mouth. "Didn't you bet two hundred million Berries on Kong?"
Carter folded his arms with a mysterious air, wearing a sage-like expression: "And? You think you get it?"
"No one understands my hardships! I was applying pressure! Pressure creates growth!"
"Klein's progress is all thanks to me! I deserve the credit!"
"..."
"I see." Rampaging Bear looked like he'd had a great revelation.
Yep. You're a moron.
Oharden couldn't even look at Rampaging Bear anymore. "Klein's strength defies logic. Maybe... he was already a monster even before entering the Marine Academy."
"Before enrollment?" Carter's face twitched. Already a monster before he enrolled?
If he'd hidden his true power that well… then how horrifying is this guy?
...Silver coins, maybe?
That's evil-level deception!
"To grow this much in just one year… He's not even human," Oharden muttered in awe.
Carter's face flickered with suspicion. This guy only has eyes for money. Probably not. But if not…
Then Klein's talent is downright terrifying!
On the field—
Klein was feeling fantastic.
But Kong… not so much.
As a Marine HQ Vice Admiral and an official exam proctor for a student who's only been enrolled for a year...
He'd been knocked away twice, fought for over half an hour, and still hadn't landed a hit!
What kind of New World nonsense is this?
"There has to be a weakness. I just haven't found it yet," Kong narrowed his eyes.
The 'crisis of faith' was officially over.
Klein's physique is too strong. That means I have to use that move.
Time to spin.
Spinning top mode, activate!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Within seconds, Kong's right leg—from shin to foot—turned red-hot like a branding iron.
Orange flames burst to life around it.
"Demonic Flame Kick!"
Seeing this, Klein's eyes bulged nearly out of his skull."Huh—?!"
"Yo, are you serious right now, bro? Wielding a blade in front of Guan Gong!?"1
Demonic Flame Kick?!
Klein immediately thought of Instructor Carter.That guy definitely sold it to Kong!!
And at that moment, his heart bloomed with joy.
A fake runs into the real deal!!
Kong, fully convinced that the Demonic Flame Kick's heat, plus his power and Haki, would finally break through Klein's defenses, launched forward.
"Demonic Flame Kick!"
With his left foot pushing off, Kong rocketed forward, his flaming right leg aimed right at Klein's torso.
But Klein met the attack head-on, raising his leg in response—his foot instantly engulfed in blazing fire.
And this fire?
Was hotter. Wilder.
His right leg shone brightly—glowing like…
Like Admiral Kizaru's future Laser Kick.
"Half-Cooked Exploding Kick!"
Half-Cooked Exploding Kick
"What?!" Kong's face twisted in disbelief, eyes wide as saucers."You… you know Demonic Flame Kick too?!"
At this point, there was no pulling back. His leg was already committed. Too late to stop!
BOOM—!
Their feet collided, flames and energy bursting outward in a brilliant blast.
Like fireworks blooming across the battlefield.
"Puah—!" Kong shot backward like a meteor, crashing into the ground with a thunderous impact.
Stones flew. Dust erupted.
Klein, hands in pockets, tapped the ground lightly with his toes, letting the flames on his leg fizzle out.
"Real sorry, man—"
"I'm the one who sold you that Demonic Flame Kick!"
Ayyy—
Of all the things to use, you chose that?
What a generous instructor you've got—throwing money around, planting spies and all.
Amid the dust cloud, Kong coughed up another huge mouthful of blood, his face twisted in gloom.
"That damn instructor betrayed me!"
"PUAH—!!"
His lungs were burning—his insides on fire—he couldn't suppress the rising fury, and ended up vomiting blood again.