Average

Lu Ye asked Hoffman, who had returned not long ago, "How would this Mountain rank out on the seas?"

"Average."

Hoffman said calmly, "A mixed-blood member of the Ancient Giant Tribe, but he seems to be a dwarf. The records show he's a mere 7.8 meters tall, and his intelligence is substandard.

"His strength and speed are top-tier, but his combat instincts are average, his Armament Haki is average, and there's no record of Observation Haki.

"He can use Soru and Tekkai from the Six Powers. His application of Soru is average, while his Tekkai looks impressive but actually relies mainly on his racial advantage.

"His future prospects are average. Saint Augustus hasn't even let him experience a fight against an evenly matched opponent.

"He was at this level several years ago, and predictably, he'll stay at this level until he dies...

"In summary: very average."

Holding a cup of Bobo milk, Rosy clicked her tongue. "7.8 meters counts as a dwarf?"

Hoffman nodded solemnly.

"His ancestor, Oars the Continent Puller, was seventy meters tall, and Little Oars Jr. of the Whitebeard Pirates is thirty-eight meters tall.

"A height of a mere 7.8 meters is enough to show that his growth was stunted. Besides, he hasn't even grown the horns characteristic of a demon."

Mjosgard rubbed his chin and grinned wickedly. "Everyone, could Polo the Mountain be a female demon? Ewes don't have horns either!"

Doffy and Rosy exchanged glances, then raised their binoculars and looked down-

His indigo face was covered in fierce rolls of flesh, with protruding fangs and dull, dead fish-white eyes. His shoulders were narrow and his waist broad, making him look like a winter melon. He carried a giant blade and killed without blinking.

The two immediately felt a prickling sensation down their backs and shuddered in unison.

Charlos sniffled and muttered, "He's already pretty strong, isn't he? The other slaves are no match for him."

Hoffman inclined his body. "Saint Charlos, if you were the one asking, I would say he was very strong. But since the question came from Saint Longinus, the answer can only be average."

Charlos blinked, looked at Lu Ye's sharply defined eight-pack beneath his floral shirt, then pinched his own round belly. He really wanted to ask Hoffman if he was insulting him.

The Celestial Dragons chatted and laughed at ease in the stands, while attendants in clean, neat little suits stood respectfully at their sides. Below them was an arena splattered with blood, where fighters had gone red-eyed with killing.

It was as though that single railing divided the world into two sharply distinct halves.

Jessica huddled by the edge of the railing, watching the gladiators fight desperately on the round platform in the distance. Her head ached terribly.

This was nothing like the gladiatorial combat she knew!

Those uncles lying motionless over there... they must be dead, right?

If they weren't dead, what about the others who had been chopped in half?

At first they had twitched and cried out in pain. Jessica had even heard a bearded uncle call for his mother. Blood had flowed from them too, but now they were completely still.

Gladiatorial combat wasn't sacred. It was full of death. Daddy said he fought for honor, but what honor was worth dying for?

Hurting other people was a crime!

Jessica couldn't understand it. She was angry that her father had lied to her, but when she saw someone sneak up on Hector, her heart tightened. She anxiously clasped her fingers together and silently prayed that Daddy would come back safe.

She didn't understand the Celestial Dragons behind her either. How could they watch people die without being moved? Had no one taught them kindness?

Rumble!

A huge cloud of dust surged into the air, and a powerful shock wave swept up countless pieces of rubble, radiating outward like an avalanche.

Everyone on the ground who had already run out of strength was blown into the pool surrounding the platform.

Terrifying triangular fins broke the surface with a splash, and sharks with razor-sharp teeth quickly dragged them underwater.

Tap, tap, tap!

Whoosh-

Hector flew backward out of the dust with his shield raised, his heels plowing a groove more than ten meters long into the rocky ground. He barely managed to stop at the edge of the platform.

Just then, a pair of enormous azure hands emerged from the dust and swept it aside. The Mountain's huge head appeared, and he looked at Hector in the distance with a cruel smile.

On the elevated glass platform, the host gripped his microphone and shouted hysterically,

"Magnificent! What a magnificent clash!

"All the losers have been cleared from the stage! Congratulations to Saint Augustus's darling sharks, who get to enjoy another feast today!

"The final battle for the championship is between Polo the Mountain, belonging to Saint Freck, and Hector, belonging to Saint Longinus!

"Brave gladiators, thank your masters for raising you with blood and death!"

The Mountain walked slowly to the center of the platform and casually tossed his long blade aside. It embedded itself in the platform with a clang.

The Mountain said in a muffled voice,

"All the little bugs are dealt with. Now it's finally your turn. Master told me to give you a proper welcome, so I'm going to beat you to death with my fists.

"What about you? Did your master make any arrangements?"

Hector shook his head gently. "No one made any arrangements for me, but I have a reason I must fight. I have to win this one!"

The Mountain scratched his head, his whitish dead fish eyes rolling upward as though he were thinking.

"I don't mind letting you win, but I have to beat you to death. And if I beat you to death, you'll lose... Too complicated. Forget it, I'll think about it after I beat you to death."

Hector tightened his grip on his battered shield. Just that one collision with the Mountain had made him feel as though every bone in his body was about to shatter. He turned his head and spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, which made him feel a little better.

"Come on, big guy. You're my last opponent too!"

Hector shot forward close to the ground. Seething black Armament Haki covered his shield and short axe at the same time, brimming with explosive power.

"Tekkai!"

The Mountain let out a low roar. The muscles of his enormous body swelled and took on a metallic sheen, making him look like a veritable wall of bronze and iron.

Bang!

Hector slammed his shield into the Mountain, knocking him sideways and breaking off half a fang.

Slash!

Hector's short axe struck the Mountain's chest, but the blade sank less than two centimeters before his steel-tough muscles clamped down on it, holding it fast.

Whoosh-

The Mountain roared and swung his enormous palm, bringing it down with a terrifying gust and smashing Hector into the ground.

Boom!

Rubble flew and dust billowed as the ground caved in, forming a huge crater. Hector lay in it covered in blood, unable to move.

"Dead? You're really strong, stronger than you look."

The Mountain stared at Hector beneath his feet and shook his dazed head. He pulled the short axe from his chest and casually tossed it aside. A crimson stream ran down his belly.

The Mountain raised both hands to celebrate his victory. Cheers erupted from the stands, and the host kept repeating that Saint Freck had defeated Saint Longinus.

"Daddy! Daddy! Get up, Daddy..."

Jessica clutched the railing anxiously, tears and snot streaming down her face as she shouted at the top of her lungs.

Shalria's delicate brows drew together, but before she could say anything unpleasant, Lu Ye sprang to his feet, wrapped an arm around Jessica's waist, stepped onto the railing, and leaped-

It was more than fifty meters from the stands to the ground!

At that moment, all Lu Ye and Jessica could hear was the wind rushing past their ears.

Sullivan's pupils contracted as if he had been struck by lightning. Before he could shout anything, the entire Hoffman Squad vanished from where they stood.

Swish, swish, swish!

From the audience's perspective, several puffs of dust suddenly burst into existence in midair, and three tall CP Agents appeared lightly on the ground.

Hoffman held out both palms. Tap-

Holding Jessica in his arms, Lu Ye landed steadily on Hoffman's palms, his floral shirt billowing like a cape.