You're the Challenger

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

The moment she saw that Beiyuan Heng's Doriki was 850, she knew he was on a completely different level from her.

But seeing Jabra, who was far stronger than her, defeated by Beiyuan Heng so effortlessly still left her deeply shaken.

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

Still, thinking about how they would become teammates afterward, she felt somewhat fortunate. Kalifa thought.

After all, having a teammate like that would make missions much easier to complete.

Rob Lucci's group was the fourth group.

As expected, Lucci took first place in his group.

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

The other members of the original CP9 team also successfully took 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 alongside Kaku and Kumadori from the eighth group.

Looking at the eight people standing atop the tower, Laskey smiled. "Congratulations. The CP9 team of this generation has officially been formed!"

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

Even Lucci had the faintest smile on his face.

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

The only person present who remained expressionless was Beiyuan Heng.

So I've 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 shifted the topic. "The assessment will consist of battles between yourselves."

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

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

Everyone looked at one another, their eyes brimming with fighting spirit.

Especially those whose strengths were close.

Sparks practically flew when Kaku and Jabra's gazes met.

The two had never liked each other to begin with, and now they were competing for resources. They could not wait to fight right then and there.

Kalifa was not particularly concerned.

Among these people, she was one of 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 this fresh blood of CP9 eager to try themselves, Laskey smiled in satisfaction and said,

"The first-place finishers from each group will draw lots to determine the order of battle and decide the top four. The second-place finishers 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, If you're second, you have no chance at the top four at all.

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

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

"Sir, the CP9 department has always spoken through strength."

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

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

As soon as those words fell, everyone wore expressions of complete understanding.

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

Now, the two geniuses were finally facing each other!

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

Laskey was not surprised by the request either.

Rather, he could not wait to see this battle himself.

"Ahem. Since that is the case..."

Laskey looked toward Rob Lucci, asking for his opinion.

"I have no objections."

Lucci's voice rang out in response to Beiyuan Heng's challenge.

"Then the two of you can directly determine first and second place."

"Does anyone have an objection?"

Laskey looked at the others.

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

Seeing that, Jabra reluctantly nodded as well.

He had originally wanted to wait for the two of them to wound each other badly before stepping in to 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've got, chapapa!"

"I can't wait to watch you beat this brat flat, yoiyoi!"

Even the taciturn Bruno looked at Lucci with expectation in his eyes.

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

He nodded to them in response to their expectations.

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

Then it spoke in a human voice.

"Don't worry. Lucci will win."

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

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

Kalifa also watched Beiyuan Heng with a complicated gaze.

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

Beiyuan Heng looked at Lucci with blazing eyes, as though the man before him possessed endless treasure.

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

A title like that should be worthy of generating a blue trait.

Rob Lucci's eyes, meanwhile, were filled with battle intent and excitement.

It had been a long time since he had encountered an opponent who surpassed him, or was even on his level.

Joining CP9 was not only to put his Dark Justice into practice, but also to seek out more strong opponents!

"Then, the battle begins!"

The instant 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 lunged fiercely at Beiyuan Heng.

Beiyuan Heng refused to be outdone. His figure blurred in the same instant as he charged straight at the oncoming Lucci.

Boom!

Their figures vanished and reappeared without end. Every collision rang out like muffled thunder, making the spectators nearby feel their stomachs cramp.

Even the aftershocks from their collisions alone made them feel physical discomfort.

The sheer force behind both sides was obvious.

On the battlefield, Lucci felt the immense force transmitted through his opponent's fist and was astonished.

This guy's strength is ridiculous. Even if he had trained since childhood, isn't this far too powerful?

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

A powerful gust of fist wind came rushing in. As fist and hand collided, a clear metallic ring echoed out. Lucci felt as though his Iron Body-like physique had crashed 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 feet in agitation.

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

Lucci recognized the move as well. While surprised, he immediately changed his approach.

Another fierce gust swept over. More than a dozen blue slashing waves cut toward Lucci.

Paper Arts!

With no time to use Soru to evade, Lucci's body became as flexible as paper. Following the currents of the air, he avoided all of the dozen-plus slashes.

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

After another exchange of Shigan and Iron Body, Lucci's figure retreated slightly. His brow furrowed as he watched his opponent.

Beiyuan Heng remained calm, his voice even.

"Lucci, you're the challenger."

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