Boom...
Bang, bang, bang...
Pow, pow, pow...
As the sounds of fighting and shouting rang out across Golden Crow Island, countless people surged along the four Cloud Bridges linking earth and sky, eyes bloodshot as they raced toward the Martial Arts Tournament arena above.
The gap between them soon became clear.
A few schemers planned to conserve their strength and swoop in at the end, but most wanted to reach the islands first, find the flags hidden across the four islands, secure a ranking, and claim the Poneglyph.
On the Cloud Bridge leading to the burning Flame Island, a group headed by Ace, captain of the Spade Pirates, quickly pulled ahead of everyone else.
Ace wore a confident smile, while his crewmates shouted excitedly behind him.
"First place is ours!"
But just then, a dark figure swept past the crowd and appeared before them.
It was a young man in a black suit and hat, with burn scars on his face and an iron staff in his hand.
After overtaking them, he ran shoulder to shoulder with their captain, Ace, along the Cloud Bridge.
"Looks like we're thinking the same thing, Mr. Ace, son of Pirate King Roger!"
Startled to hear his name, Ace glanced at the young man who had caught up with him. Then his expression turned intrigued.
"Looks like I've got a tough rival. Now this is getting interesting. What's your name?"
"Sabo. My name's Sabo, and that Devil Fruit is mine!"
With that, Sabo suddenly accelerated past Ace. Ace smiled faintly and sped up after him.
In an instant, the two left everyone else behind...
On the Cloud Bridge leading to Lightning Island, which blazed with lightning, Buggy ran with his companions.
Perhaps his plan to borrow someone else's influence had worked. Everyone around them