Beating Kuzan to Tears?

When Kong said that, Zephyr seemed to understand as well.

Indeed, red eyes could not be hidden forever, though he also thought the Sharingan looked beautiful.

If he were an ordinary person, people would definitely be curious. Those eyes might even attract perverted collectors or Celestial Dragons. But Mu Chen was now a Marine, so the odds of that happening were greatly reduced.

Kong continued.

Actually, Zefa, you understand too. If people learned about the red eyes and their special abilities, the consequences might be very different.

Mythical beasts were simply too rare. The Celestial Dragons might set their sights on Mu Chen's Blood Sharingan; taking it away for research or collection was entirely possible.

At that point, Kong paused, and Sengoku added, "They might even, most likely, make Mu Chen a slave. Of course, not that kind of slave. They would probably have Mu Chen join the CP organization."

Hearing this, everyone understood. The CP organization was nominally under the World Government, meaning the Celestial Dragons. But as you all knew, the CP organization was essentially nothing more than the Celestial Dragons' slaves!

The Marines might be the Celestial Dragons' dogs, but the Marines could not cease to exist, since they were needed to maintain order on the seas. But if the CP organization became useless, it could simply die!

Meanwhile, Ice Time! Kuzan took a deep breath and blew toward Mu Chen. The moisture in the air rapidly condensed, engulfing Mu Chen from all directions. Under everyone's watchful eyes, Mu Chen was instantly frozen into a massive ice sculpture!

What?

Everyone had just been saying that Mu Chen was quite strong, but now Kuzan had frozen him into an ice sculpture. Jia Ji was the most heartbroken of all, and he could not help crying. "Where's my money?"

"Mu Chen, you've disappointed me too much! If I'd known, I wouldn't have opened the betting pool."

"Jia Ji, don't cry. It's fine. You can pay it back slowly."

Wu Shu smiled as he comforted Jia Ji from the side.

"Wu Shu, you hedged your bets on both sides. I've never seen anyone like you. Investments carry risks; you can't put everything into one pool."

"No matter who wins, I won't lose. If Mu Chen wins, I'll even earn more. You don't understand. Besides, your betting pool was a complete failure."

"It's over." Kuzan slowly turned around, intending to leave. Yet even now, he had not sensed anything special about Mu Chen's eyes. Weren't they supposed to make people fall into illusions?

Why had he felt nothing?

Or did it simply not work on him?

Still, since he had won, he did not want to dwell on it too much. He would let Mu Chen grow a little more first.

"Looks like Kuzan is going to win!"

"Yeah, looks that way. I said we should bet on Kuzan. Looks like we won't get to see it after all."

Kong was somewhat disappointed. After all, his original goal had been to witness the power of the Sharingan, but Mu Chen had already been frozen into an ice sculpture. There was no opportunity left.

"Don't be so hasty," Zefa said slowly.

At that moment, Mu Chen's huge ice sculpture actually began to melt slowly, with wisps of vapor drifting off it.

Not only that, a faint green vapor appeared around Mu Chen's body within the ice sculpture, leaving everyone puzzled.

"Hm?" Kuzan also sensed a change in Mu Chen's ice sculpture behind him.

What?

"Quick, look! Why is Mu Chen's ice sculpture melting?"

"Look at Mu Chen inside the ice! Is he giving off green light?"

Everyone watched the gradually melting ice sculpture, their eyes fixed firmly on the Eight Gates.

Third Gate: Life Gate, open!

Mu Chen had officially opened the third gate of the Eight Gates.

With the third gate open, green energy appeared around Mu Chen's body. His skin turned slightly red, and the veins on his face became even more pronounced.

Those who saw this became even more confused. What was going on?

"Interesting. It seems we underestimated Mu Chen. The secrets on him are not limited to his eyes," Sengoku teased from the side.

With a boom, the ice surrounding Mu Chen instantly shattered into fragments.

"Kuzan, come on. Let's continue."

Mu Chen provocatively curled a finger at Kuzan. This was his first time opening the third gate of the Eight Gates. He could feel that his strength and speed had increased by more than double compared to the second gate. This was also the final safe stage of the Eight Gates, and he wanted to see just how strong he could become.

"I knew you wouldn't lose so easily!"

Kuzan laughed when he saw Mu Chen's condition.

Having fought this far, Kuzan had not yet had his fill. And Mu Chen now appeared even stronger, especially with the green energy radiating around him. One glance was enough to tell it was extraordinary, not to mention that Mu Chen's entire body had turned somewhat red.

"Then let's go!"

Mu Chen instantly shot forward like a cannonball, so fast that he stomped a massive crater into the ground.

"So fast!"

Even Kuzan was startled by Mu Chen's speed. Moreover, Mu Chen's fist was already coated in pitch-black Armament Haki, and in the next second, it arrived right in front of Kuzan.

With a deafening bang, Kuzan flew away like an arrow loosed from its bow, smashing a huge crater into a distant wall. Kuzan possessed the Ice-Ice Fruit, a Logia-type Devil Fruit, so all physical attacks should have been ineffective. But this clearly showed that Armament Haki had taken effect, sending Kuzan flying!

What?

"No way! Mu Chen is that strong? He actually sent Kuzan flying?"

The many Marines could not believe their eyes. This scene was truly shocking. Hadn't Mu Chen just been frozen into an ice sculpture?

This reversal was truly beyond anyone's expectations.

"I knew it! Mu Chen, you really are the strongest! As expected of my brother!"