Training ground
Tens of thousands of soldiers from Hachinosu sat around the stands, with the families of Hachinosu's core officers and senior combatants in the front row.
Everyone's face was filled with barely suppressed anticipation.
Today, they will witness the clash between the two most powerful pirate crews in the New World.
In the center of the training ground, the Roy Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates stood on either side.
On the left, Bullet stood with his arms crossed, his aura White Tiger Model concealed, while the Roy Pirates ' officers lined up behind him.
Tesoro hovered in mid-air, golden arcs of electricity crackling around him.
Hawk Eyes, leaning on his Black Blade Yoru, closed his eyes and meditated, resting in seclusion.
The Red Count sat elegantly.
Crocodile, Kuma, Moria, Kyros, the CP quartet, Savi, Enel, Charon, Pea, Lafitte, Van Augur, and Jesus Burgess —each of them exudes a fierce aura.
Yamato slung his spiked club over his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face.
Hancock crossed her arms, her deep purple eyes burning with fighting spirit.
Luo, Sandersonia, Marigold, Bar, Kazami...
Everyone was ready for battle.
On the right, the entire Red Hair Pirates was also present.
Shanks stood at the front, his right hand resting on Gryphon's sword hilt.
Beckman, a cigarette dangling from his lips, lightly rubbed his finger on the trigger.
Yasopp stroked the barrel of the sniper rifle.
Raqi Lu, unusually, wasn't gnawing on a bone; his fists were clenched.
Limejuice, Monster, Benk Punch, Rockstar --
All the cadres lined up in a row, their imposing presence striking.
Roy and Shanks stepped forward simultaneously and walked to the center of the training ground.
The two exchanged a glance, then simultaneously raised their right hands, unleashing bursts of Conqueror's Haki that soared into the sky.
Dark red arcs of electricity collided in the sky, tearing apart the morning clouds, and sunlight poured down from the cracks, illuminating the entire training ground.
The soldiers in the stands held their breath—it's coming, it's about to begin.
Roy lowered his hand, his voice not loud but clear to everyone:
"A point system is used, with one point awarded for each victory. After the cadre battles, the captains of both sides will have a final showdown."
No lethal force allowed; stop when you've made a point, understand?
Shanks nodded and grinned. "So your officers don't go back and complain after they've claimed their expenses."
Bullet scoffed from behind, "Worry about yourselves."
Shanks didn't reply, turning and walking back to his own side. Roy also retreated to the left, waving to the officers behind him:
Who wants to go first?
Bar scratched his head and took a sheepish step forward:
"Captain, I... I want to try."
Roy glanced at him and nodded. "Go."
Bar walked to the center of the training ground, and with each step he took, the stone slabs beneath his feet vibrated slightly in a resonant manner.
He stood in the center of the field, took a deep breath, and slowly placed his hands on the ground.
The power of the Island-Island Fruit activated instantly, and an invisible wave spread out from Bar's palm, centered on him, and the entire training ground became one with his perception.
Every inch of stone slab, every grain of sand, and every rock buried underground was clearly presented in his perception.
On the Red Hair Pirates' side, before Shanks could even speak, Lucky Roux had already thrown away the meat bone in his hand and walked out with heavy steps.
He was round and plump, looking like a friendly and prosperous cook, but with each step he took, the ground of the training ground would tremble slightly.
When he stood opposite Bar, his harmless demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy, oppressive aura, like that of a mountain.
"Lucky Roux of the Red Hair Pirates."
He grinned.
Please give me your guidance.
" Hachinosu, Bar. Nice to meet you."
Bar stood up straight, his fists clenched, and the ground beneath his feet emitted a deep hum.
Shanks raised his hand and shouted, "Begin!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Raki Loo moved first.
His round body unleashed a speed completely disproportionate to his size, and he charged towards Bar like a cannonball.
His right fist expanded rapidly during the sprint, Armament Haki turned his entire forearm jet black.
With a single punch, the air was compressed, producing a piercing explosion.
Bar did not take the hit head-on.
He took a half step back with his right foot and slammed his hands on the ground.
Under his control, the ground of the training ground suddenly rose up, and a two-meter-thick rock wall rose from the ground, blocking Raki Lu's fist.
boom--!
The rock wall was shattered by a single punch, sending debris flying everywhere.
But after Lucky Roux's fist pierced through the wall, he discovered that Bar was no longer there.
"I'm right here!"
Bar's voice came from behind Raki Lu.
He had somehow moved behind his opponent, pulled a thick stone pillar from the ground with his right arm, and swung it down at Raki Lu.
Laki Lu dodged to the side, and the stone pillar crashed to the ground, sending shards of stone flying.
He threw a backhand punch at Bar's face, Bar once again manipulated the ground to raise a stone wall to block it.
In an instant, the entire training ground was transformed into a battlefield of churning earth and rocks.
Bar's attack methods were completely different from his honest appearance; he was both cunning and difficult to deal with.
Spikes suddenly rose from under Raki Lu's feet, stone walls surged from all directions to restrict his movement, and the ground beneath his feet could turn into soft mud at any moment, causing him to slip and fall.
Lucky Roux, on the other hand, relied on pure strength and thick Armament Haki to break through Baal's defenses layer by layer, shattering each of Bar's defenses.
The two exchanged blows for over a hundred rounds.
Bar's clothes were torn in several places by Raki Lu's punches, and he had a bruise on his left arm. Raki Lu didn't fare any better; his right trousers were ripped by spikes in the ground, and his shoes were covered in stone dust.
Finally, Bar seized the opportunity when Raki Lu took a breath and slammed his hands on the ground.
The entire ground of the training ground suddenly collapsed beneath Raki Lu's feet, causing him to lose his balance and fall forward.
By the time he regained his footing, Bar's massive rock fist was already less than a fist's distance from him.
"I... I won," Bar said with a panting laugh.
Raki Loo paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, patting Bar on the shoulder:
"Well done! Let's fight again next time!" He then turned and walked back to his own camp.
In the first match, the Roy Pirates won.
The Roy Pirates scored the first point.
The Red Hair Pirates zero points.
In the second match, the Red Hair Pirates sent out Yasopp. When this sniper stepped out of the ranks, the entire training ground fell silent.
His fame was immense in the New World — Yasopp, known as "the unerring marksman," never saw an enemy leave alive once he entered his range.
On Roy Pirates' side, Van Augur originally planned to fight, since it should be a sniper versus sniper, but Sandersonia volunteered.
After a moment's hesitation, Roy nodded. A newcomer wanted to prove herself, and Roy was determined to give her a chance.
In the end, Roy still gave one last piece of advice.
"He's a pure ranged attacker; don't give him any distance."