Chapter 41: Making an Entrance
A momentary silence fell over the arena.
Many who had been confident and observing for some time couldn't help but step back, because this brute named House was simply too strong.
Judging by his displayed strength, he was at least close to the level of a Marine branch rear admiral, and a master of the most solid combat fundamentals.
His strategy was straightforward—rush in hard.
As long as opponents couldn't break through his defense, House would crush them completely.
"Anyone else care to try?"
House stood in the center of the arena, his eyes calmly scanning his surroundings, radiating an aura of overwhelming strength.
He was determined to obtain this Devil Fruit—a Zoan-type, no less.
With this Devil Fruit, he would have a strong chance of joining the Beast Pirates and securing a prestigious position.
After spending so long in the New World, House knew that without powerful backing, it would be nearly impossible to survive in this chaotic realm—he could easily make a deadly enemy at any moment.
Kaido, the King of Beasts, was known throughout the world as a madman, so naturally House felt most secure under the protection of such a formidable leader.
Of course, the Whitebeard Pirates would have worked too, but he couldn't find a way in, so he had to settle for second best.
House's voice echoed through the arena, but no one responded for a long time.
"Is the match over already?"
"How could it be! There are still plenty of people in the VIP section who haven't entered the ring yet. They're just observing, not wanting to reveal themselves too early. In tournament fights like this, the earlier you enter, the easier it is to become a target."
Spectators murmured among themselves, their eyes flickering toward the stage.
Bell frowned slightly. Although House was quite capable, he hadn't quite met expectations, yet no one was stepping forward to challenge him.
At that moment, a figure suddenly leaped from the VIP seats, somehow gaining momentum twice while airborne, and landed on the stage as gracefully as a swallow. This composed and elegant display was truly captivating.
"Step aside. I don't want to kill you," he said calmly, his tone filled with unquestionable authority.
In an instant, the entire audience erupted in excitement.
"I can't believe Captain Silver Sword is actually making a move! He's a powerful pirate with a 190 million berry bounty!"
"I heard that a few months ago, the Silver Sword Pirates got caught in a massive storm and suffered heavy losses. Captain Reynard's reputation has been somewhat tarnished since then."
"Tsk, looks like he's planning to use this as an opportunity to join the Beast Pirates. Only the Yonko have the resources and manpower to help him rebuild his crew."
Everyone gazed at "Silver Sword" Reynard with deep reverence.
House's expression changed dramatically.
He clearly hadn't expected to face such a formidable opponent, but this Devil Fruit was crucial to his future plans. He couldn't retreat—and he didn't want to!
"Please!" he called out, bowing respectfully while clenching his fists.
"Come on, then." Reynard placed one hand behind his back, the other raised casually.
Seeing this dismissive gesture, House was furious.
While the man before him was incredibly famous—a captain who had fought his way from the Grand Line to the New World—House was also a master who had dominated his own region. How could he tolerate such blatant disrespect?
He roared, stomping hard on the ground. His figure shot forward like a bullet, fingers clenched into a fist imbued with Armament Haki, swinging straight at Captain Silver Sword.
His punch roared through the air like an avalanche, creating a terrifying rending sound.
Watching the incoming strike, Reynard didn't dodge or even attempt to draw his sword. When the fist drew close, he simply clenched his right hand and struck back.
His punch was silent, yet it arrived first.
Crack!
The two fists collided, sending House flying backward like a ragdoll, blood spraying from his mouth as he crashed heavily onto the ground far away.
With one blow, the difference in strength was crystal clear!
House, a pure martial arts specialist, was no match for this swordsman even when the latter didn't use his blade!
Anyone with decent judgment could see the stark difference between the two fighters.
The entire audience fell silent, expressions of astonishment clearly visible on their faces.
In their opinion, with Reynard's entrance, the match was essentially decided—there would be no further changes.
"Want to go another round?" Reynard asked calmly, retracting his fist and standing with his hands behind his back.
House's face was dark and conflicted.
As a strong physical practitioner, he wouldn't be seriously injured by a single punch.
However, the power displayed in Reynard's strike was terrifying. He had been knocked away without his opponent even drawing a sword. If Reynard had used his blade, wouldn't it be...
"Fine. I surrender." He lowered his head and left the stage dejectedly.
On the platform, Barkley, the Beast Pirates executive, witnessed this and ordered his subordinates to recruit House.
House's fighting style was very compatible with the Beast Pirates' approach—even more so than Silver Sword Reynard's.
However, this was an official tournament, and he couldn't break the rules, so he could only recruit privately afterward.
"Congratulations on recruiting two excellent fighters in a row," Stussy giggled, her voice naturally charming and melodious.
Barkley smiled upon hearing this. He was stationed on this island, and whenever he encountered suitable talent, he would attempt recruitment.
In reality, the Yonko crews in the New World operated more like warlords ruling territories than traditional pirate groups.
They recruited subordinates, ran businesses, divided spheres of influence, and even secretly conducted research.
Meanwhile, Reynard stood calmly in the arena, his expression relaxed, clearly unconvinced that anyone would dare challenge him.
He stared intently at the Devil Fruit on the platform, secretly clenching his fists.
After suffering a major setback, his original grand ambitions in the New World had long since faded, and his determination to focus purely on swordsmanship had been abandoned. As long as his strength could be enhanced, the Devil Fruit he once rejected and the need to rely on others seemed insignificant now.
"Rhodes, it's your turn," Koala whispered from the VIP section, surveying the situation. "If you defeat Reynard, no one else will dare challenge you, avoiding a prolonged battle royale."
Momousagi glanced at Koala with mild surprise, as her tone clearly showed confidence in Rhodes' victory over Reynard.
She had initially considered lowering her expectations, thinking Reynard might be too much for someone so young.
But now something seemed different—Rhodes appeared even more formidable than she had imagined!
"Mm." Rhodes nodded gently.
Just when everyone thought the tournament was over, he suddenly leaped into the arena, then walked slowly to the center, facing Reynard directly.
"Are you sure you want to challenge me?" Looking at the young face before him, Reynard couldn't help but appear puzzled, pointing at himself in disbelief.
A person's reputation precedes them like a shadow.
Captain Silver Sword had fought his way to the New World, slaying Navy commodores and defeating rear admirals. He had traversed countless dangerous territories and weathered innumerable storms, earning a truly fearsome reputation.
He hadn't expected to be challenged by someone so young—perhaps not even half his age.
"You heard correctly. I'm challenging you," Rhodes said expressionlessly.
His age had always been a disadvantage, so it was natural for people to doubt him.
The main issue was that Rhodes maintained a normal build—perhaps even slightly lean—which didn't give the impression of overwhelming physical power.
(End of Chapter)
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