You're the Challenger

Kalifa stood behind the examiner, still wearing her usual cold expression, but her heart was already in turmoil as she looked at Beiyuan Heng with complicated emotions in her eyes.

When she saw that Beiyuan Heng's Doriki was 850, she already knew that he and she were simply not on the same level.

But now, seeing Jabra, who was considerably stronger than her, defeated so effortlessly by Beiyuan Heng, she could not help but feel shocked.

Although she still believed Rob Lucci was the strongest genius, she could not help worrying about Lucci.

Still, thinking that they would become companions afterward, she felt somewhat fortunate, Kalifa thought.

After all, with a teammate like that, completing missions would be much easier.

Rob Lucci's group was Group Four.

As expected, Lucci took first place in his group.

Owl, who was in the same group as him, took second place.

The other members of the former CP9 team also successfully claimed the top two spots in their respective groups.

Jabra was lucky as well. Near the end of the hour, he woke from his coma and successfully passed the second assessment.

Laskey appeared atop the tower together with Kaku and Kumadori from Group Eight.

Looking at the eight people standing on top of the tower, Laskey smiled. "Congratulations. This generation's CP9 team has officially been established!"

Everyone's faces lit up with joy at his words.

Even Lucci had a faint smile on his face.

He had trained so hard precisely to join CP9 and put his "dark justice" into practice.

The only person present with no expression on his face was Beiyuan Heng.

So he had joined CP9 just like that?

He was supposed to defeat Lucci and take his title as the strongest in eight hundred years!

"Next is the third assessment."

Laskey changed the subject. "The assessment will consist of fighting one another."

"The results of the battles will determine how the government allocates resources to you."

"Those ranked higher will receive priority access to the World Government's resources, including but not limited to Devil Fruits and techniques that surpass the Six Powers..."

At those words, everyone looked at one another, their eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Especially those whose strengths were close.

Kaku and Jabra's gazes collided, practically sparking.

The two already disliked each other, and now they were competing for resources. They wished they could start fighting immediately.

Kalifa, on the other hand, did not care much.

Among these people, she was among the weakest. High rankings were not something she could hope for.

Besides, her father was Laskey, a veteran CP9 agent. He lacked neither connections nor resources.

Seeing the fresh blood of CP9 all eager to fight, Laskey smiled in satisfaction and said:

"The first-place winners of each group will draw lots to determine the order of battle and decide the top four. The second-place winners will do the same."

"No wonder he told me to get first place in my group whenever possible. So that was why."

Beiyuan Heng thought, Second place means you're directly excluded from the top four.

But drawing lots like this is a bit troublesome...

Just as Laskey was about to begin the drawing, a calm voice interrupted him.

"Sir, the CP9 division has always let strength do the talking."

Beiyuan Heng stepped forward, his gaze slowly sweeping over the members of the former CP9 team before finally settling on the figure dressed entirely in a black suit.

"As the one ranked first in Doriki, my opponent should naturally be Lucci, who ranks second in Doriki."

As soon as he said that, everyone showed expressions of knowing expectation.

From the very beginning, Beiyuan Heng had never hidden his fighting spirit toward Rob Lucci.

Now, the two geniuses were finally facing each other!

Kalifa's eyes lit up as she watched the man who had repeatedly shocked her.

Laskey was not surprised by the request either.

Rather, he could hardly wait to watch this fight himself.

"Ahem, since that's the case..."

Laskey looked at Rob Lucci, asking for his opinion.

"I have no objections."

Lucci's voice rang out, answering Beiyuan Heng's challenge.

"Then you two can directly decide first and second place."

"Any objections?"

Laskey looked toward the others.

Other than Jabra, Kaku and Bruno both nodded in agreement.

Seeing that, Jabra reluctantly nodded as well.

He had originally planned to wait until the two of them crippled each other, then step in and seize first place...

Atop the tower.

Beiyuan Heng and Rob Lucci stood facing each other.

"Go, Lucci! Defeat this guy!"

"Show this brat what you're made of, chapapa!"

"I can't wait to see you beat this kid flat, yoiyoi!"

Even the taciturn Bruno looked at Lucci with anticipation.

Though Rob Lucci was somewhat aloof, these people had grown up and trained alongside him since childhood. They were already companions in his heart.

He nodded to them in acknowledgment of their expectations.

Lucci's pigeon, Hattori, sensed that things were not looking good and flew onto Kaku's head.

At the same time, it spoke in a human voice:

"Don't worry. Lucci will win."

Jabra, who had been defeated by Beiyuan Heng, was instead cheering for Beiyuan Heng.

"Beiyuan Heng, teach Lucci a lesson! Don't hold back!"

Kalifa also watched Beiyuan Heng with a complicated look in her eyes.

In the center of the tower, their gazes collided, and invisible sparks erupted where their eyes met.

Beiyuan Heng stared at Lucci with blazing eyes, as if the other man carried endless treasure on him.

As long as he defeated him, the title of CP9's strongest genius in eight hundred years would fall to him.

A title like that should be worth generating a blue trait.

Rob Lucci's eyes, meanwhile, were filled with fighting spirit and excitement.

It had been a long time since he had encountered an opponent stronger than him, or even one on his level.

Joining CP9 was not only to carry out his dark justice, but also to seek out more powerful opponents!

"Then, begin!"

The moment the words fell, Lucci moved like a hunting cheetah. With the sound of air tearing apart, he crossed dozens of meters in an instant and pounced at Beiyuan Heng.

Beiyuan Heng refused to be outdone. His figure blurred in an instant as well, crashing head-on into the charging Lucci.

Boom!

Their figures vanished and reappeared repeatedly. Each collision rang out like muffled thunder, making the onlookers' stomachs cramp.

Even the aftershocks from their clashes made them feel physically unwell.

The sheer force behind both sides was obvious.

On the battlefield, Lucci felt the immense force carried by the other man's fist and was greatly startled.

This guy's strength was far too great, even for someone who had trained since childhood.

After exchanging more than ten moves, Lucci was forced to use Iron Body first to block the damage.

A powerful gust of fist wind swept over. As fist met hand, a crisp metallic ring sounded. Lucci felt as though his Iron Body had slammed into an iron warship, sending him sliding back dozens of meters.

"That's... my Iron Body: Wolf Fang Fist!"

Jabra saw Beiyuan Heng's move from below and stomped his foot in frustration.

He had only used it once. How had the other man learned it already?!

Lucci recognized the move as well. Though shocked, he immediately changed his approach.

Another fierce gust came sweeping over, and more than a dozen blue slashing waves flew toward Lucci.

Paper Arts!

With no time to use Soru to evade, Lucci's body became like paper. Following the flow of the air, he dodged all the slashes.

Every movement in their battle displayed solid fundamentals, masterful use of the Six Powers, and powerful combat instincts.

After another exchange between Shigan and Iron Body, Lucci retreated slightly, frowning as he watched his opponent.

Beiyuan Heng remained calm, his voice steady.

"Lucci, you're the challenger."

In his mind, the color of [Six Powers Mastery (Green)] continued deepening, with a hint of blue beginning to form within it.