Martial Ball Game: Victory in Three Seconds

"The Straw Hat crew won the first round!"

"You have the right to choose a crew member from the Fox Pirates, or take their pirate flag..."

"A bet's a bet, "the Fox Pirates' announcer declared loudly.

"So, who will the Straw Hat crew's captain choose?"

'Oh, could it be me?'

A tall, thin, energetic young man was startled. Could it be that the person opposite him was attracted to his good looks?

'So their initial goal was...'

'Oh no! The one in the Straw Hat is looking this way.'

A middle-aged man with a receding hairline lowered his eyes, lamenting that his 'radiance' could never be concealed.

'I'm not mentally prepared yet...'

Even the beautiful magician crossed her arms over her chest, looking 'so scared'.

"I'm so cute~~ You're so annoying~~"

You guys...

Roman looked up at the sky helplessly. What was on the Golden Merry? — The future King of the Pirates and his crew! It wasn't a place where just anyone could set foot.

"Of course—"

Hoohoo~~

A beautiful White Horse was led over and handed over by Luffy to an old man.

"Uncle, 'Shirley' has waited for you for ten years. You can't let her get hurt again."

"Thank you, thank you."

The old man, sobbing uncontrollably, clutched his White Horse. Luffy's conflict with the Luffy Fox Pirates stemmed from Fox stealing the old man's beloved horse, which he had waited ten years for. Although Roman was astonished that someone could survive on stilts for ten years...

Oh well, the world is full of wonders.

However, the reason Luffy dared to play the 'Davy Back Fight' game with his opponent is, of course, because Luffy has absolute confidence in the others!

"Alright, it's our turn to go on stage."

Roman stretched his shoulders, Zoro silently put down his wine bottle, and Sanji patted his suit and stepped forward.

"Second match: Martial Arts Ball Game!"

"The rules of the martial arts ball game are very simple: just throw the ball into the goal."

"But because it's a ball game, weapons are not allowed."

A vast grassland had been set up as the playing field, and the so-called goalposts were simply two lifebuoys. But the ball—

"What you call a ball is actually a person!"

"Who will be the ball?"

When asked about the Fox Pirates, Zoro pointed behind him without hesitation.

"He."

Snap,

A sphere was placed on Sanji's head, instantly enraging him.

"You're the one who's the ball, you Green Algae Head!"

"Whatever, let's start the match quickly." Roman stretched his limbs; he had no habit of 'going easy' or 'joking around,' he just hoped his opponent would be a bit sturdy...

"They've appeared! The champion team of the martial arts ball tournament!"

Three masked Masira, each one taller than the last, walked into the arena, making Roman nod in satisfaction.

He's so strong, he shouldn't have to worry about being killed by himself. —If the opponent knew Roman's 'dark' thoughts, they would definitely wisely choose to forfeit the match.

"Leading the pack is the sprint monster 'Hamburger',"

A three-meter-tall Masira;

"Next up was the 'pickle' impact machine,"

An eight-meter-tall Masira;

"Finally, the 'Fish Giant' Big Bread, a hybrid of Fish-Man and giant, makes its appearance!"

A 15-meter- Masira... well, a half-giant.

"Um."

Although they were three big guys,... in terms of their gait and presence, they were just big guys. To be more precise, they were big guys who had worked out.

It's certainly ruthless to bully normal 'humans', but:

"You,"

Looking at the two behind him still arguing back and forth, Roman rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"Aren't you two going to—"

"No," X2

Zoro and Sanji both waved their hands, looking completely disheartened.

"I thought I had some decent opponents. Roman, you can play by yourself."

?

So you guys were just using me as a figurehead...?

"Hehe, it seems your crew is quite confident~~"

Luffy responded to Fox's probing with an air of nonchalance.

"Of course, Roman alone is enough, Skull Splitter."

??

Fox knelt down instantly, hugging himself and weeping.

He said I had Skull Splitter...

"Boss, cheer up!"

The beautiful magician quickly comforted her sensitive captain.

Faced with Fox Luffy rallied. However: In that case, don't blame me for being impolite!

"Listen up, you men!"

As the three-on-three players from both sides stood on the court, Fox put one hand on his hip and pointed to the sky.

"I'll order a 'Monster Hamburger'!"

?!

As Fox finished speaking, his pirate crew was utterly shocked, as if they had heard something terrifying! The Straw Hat crew, while looking bewildered, however:

"If it's Roman, it doesn't matter what methods they use."

"Well, I'm starting to sympathize with Mr. Roman's opponent."

Let me pause for three seconds to mourn for them.

········

"Then, let the competition begin!"

With a command given, the referee abruptly turned to the other side and began blowing his whistle.

Without hesitation, the three members of the Fox Pirates pulled out a giant metal rod, a large longsword, a huge iron pot, and more from the audience seats...

?!

"Hey, hey, hey, this is blatant fouling, isn't it?"

When confronted by Nami, the referee, who had turned and whistled, simply gave her a look that said, "I can't see it, I just can't see it."

"Fufufufu, sometimes the referee doesn't see it."

??

"Oh well, never mind."

In this situation, Nami could only wave her hand helplessly, and then:

"Roman, take care of them!"

"Hmm, Nami still cares about people, doesn't she?" Roman nodded, preparing to respond.

"I've bet a million Beli on you!"

To retract my previous statement, Nami is still Nami.

But--

Thinking that having weapons gives you an advantage? Foolish!

Unlike others, Roman's 'weapons' were only manufactured when needed. Therefore:

Speed!

The competition begins! In a flash, Roman charged forward, his body making a rustling sound as he rapidly began creating paper wrappers!

With each step he took, his size increased dramatically! By the time he reached the Masira "Hamburger" at the top, he was already taller than the other gorilla, which is what is known as "Admiral's height".

Faced with Roman, who seemed to have used a 'human-to-giant' technique, Masira Burger immediately stomped his foot hard, and with a loud bang, he actually stomped two deep holes in the grass. He then used the force to swing his stick at Roman with all his might!

The 'pickles' behind him spun rapidly, transforming into a Big Saber wheel that flanked him from the side.

The last Fish Giant, 'Big Bread,' followed closely behind, wielding two house-sized metal pots with a goofy expression. The three coordinated quite well, but:

"This is so boring,"

No wonder Zoro and Sanji didn't want to fight; they're just three guys with brute force.

The very first second!

Roman first moved nimbly, his whole body suddenly 'blurring' for a moment. It was as if he had turned into a piece of paper, or like seaweed in a storm, allowing the metal rod that the Masira 'hamburger' was about to drop to nothing.

At the same time, the fist clenched at his waist flashed! It struck out and then retracted in an instant, and more than a dozen large and small blood flowers burst out on the Masira 'Hamburger' opposite him, and he fell backward.

The second!

Facing the spinning blades, Roman neither dodged nor evaded, but instead opened his arms and charged forward, letting the opponent's twin blades slash at his chest! Amidst the futile sparks, Roman suddenly brought his palms together!

Thud!

With a dull thud, the giant Masira "Jiangcai," having taken a hit from the "Double Peaks Piercing Ears" attack, collapsed to the side, blood streaming from its mouth and nose, its eyes rolling back. What followed was:

The third second!

Faced with the Fish Giant -shaped "Big Bread" that was hurling its iron pot—or rather, a steel wall the size of a house— Roman didn't use any clever techniques to deflect or dodge; instead, he simply threw a punch at it.

Fist against steel! Head against head! Force against force!

Boom!!

With a deafening, thunderous roar that shook the ears and sent shivers down the spines of the surrounding spectators, the air exploded and tore apart like a machine gun, centered on the impact of a fist against Iron Wall! Roman remained motionless in his punching stance, while the massive 'Big Bread' stumbled backward.

As the Fish Giant named 'Big Bread' crashed to the ground, a series of cracking sounds rang out from his attacking right arm. It was clear he had been fractured by the immense force!

Snap,

With each step forward, the paper that was created like an avalanche expanded 'Roman's' height to a giant of ten meters!

Stepping forward, five pillar-like fingers grabbed the still-struggling 'Big Bread's' face, even though the other's skin was covered in slippery mucus! Like a inferior version of the 'Slippery-Slippery Fruit', as Roman's huge hand closed, the paper's unique absorbency quickly absorbed the mucus from his skin, and then he slammed the other's head hard into the ground!

Boom—

The massive, fifteen-meter-tall body shuddered suddenly, then returned to calm.

"Goal! Goal!"

Roman, maintaining his 'giant' stance, stood up and looked at the referee beside him.

"Why aren't you blowing the whistle yet?"

"Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!"

Facing the referee who was so frightened that he sat down on the ground, Roman lifted his leg and took a step towards him.

Boom!

Amidst the tremors, the giant 'Roman' shoe landed heavily beside the referee, creating a 'graveyard' large enough for the opponent to lie down in.

"Um?"

"Score! Score!!"

The Straw Hat crew won!

With the referee's desperate pronouncement, driven by an intense will to survive, the Straw Hat crew easily won the second match.

"Really," Nami sighed.

"The moment Roman makes a move, the atmosphere immediately changes."

As for whether Roman could win? She never even considered it—

P. S.: Hmm, subscriptions have dropped a bit these past two days... Is it my fault or the transitional plot... Anyway, please subscribe!