章 78: Central Island
Central Island – an island said to be located in the very heart of the New World. Whether truth or myth, it was renowned for its grand tournament, the "Central Fighting Tournament", where martial artists from all corners of the globe gathered to prove their strength, to demonstrate the superiority of their fighting styles.
It was, without a doubt, the largest and most prestigious martial arts tournament in the world, attracting fighters from every known land.
And, of course, amongst those gathered, there were inevitably a few pirates.
"This is boring."
A single man voiced his displeasure in the midst of the open-weight division, where fighters of all sizes and styles clashed.
Junshi, the "Six Harmonies Great Spear", a master spearman with fiery red hair tied back in a ponytail, had effortlessly defeated renowned champions with his bare fists.
He had been lured by rumors of the island being a gathering place for the strongest fighters in the world, where martial artists honed their skills and competed for supremacy… But reality, as it often did, fell short of expectations. He hadn't even had the chance to use his signature spear technique.
Having conquered every division and claimed victory, he collected his winnings, looking disappointed, and headed towards his lodging.
They had rented out several high-grade hotels for the entire crew. While expensive, Junshi's tournament winnings had covered all the costs. The fact that there were rooms designed for giants suggested that it was a common occurrence in the New World.
"I'm back," Junshi announced, entering the room.
"Welcome back! You've earned us a fortune again," George said cheerfully, counting stacks of money.
As an unexpected contender, few had bet on Junshi's victory. George, however, confident in his comrade's strength, had wagered a significant sum, resulting in a substantial profit.
They had altered their appearances, changing their clothes and hairstyles to blend in with the civilians, ensuring their identities as pirates remained hidden. It had worked perfectly. Junshi had become the tournament's dark horse, his strength a surprise to everyone.
"The matches were boring. I expected more of a challenge," Junshi said.
"Well, considering who you spar with on a daily basis…" George replied, trailing off. He glanced towards Kanata, who was reading the newspaper.
The front page featured an article about Squard, the "Great Whirlpool Spider", a pirate considered to be from their generation. While they had never met, it seemed he was making a name for himself in the New World.
By ordinary standards, a bounty exceeding 100 million was impressive… But to Kanata and her crew, he was still small fry. Not someone they would consider a rival.
"She knew from the start that this tournament wouldn't be a challenge. Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered participating," Junshi remarked.
"Don't say that. We need you to win and earn us money," George retorted. Not to mention the winnings from his bets.
Kanata, who had visited the casino the previous day, had already been banned for winning too much.
Whether it was cards or roulette, the dealers could manipulate the outcomes to a certain extent, preventing players from consistently winning… However, Kanata's Observation Haki allowed her to see into the future. The dealers were no match for her. She had grown bored after earning a substantial sum, so it wasn't a problem.
"Now that you've finished your business, shall we head to the next island?" George asked.
"That's up to Kanata. I have no further business here."
They had already been on the island for several days. The crew, aside from those on guard duty, were enjoying their time off, exploring the island. While they weren't on a tight schedule, they couldn't afford to stay in one place for too long. It was time to consider leaving.
"We should be almost done with resupplying, and our Log Pose readings should be complete," George said.
He turned to Kanata. "Right?"
Kanata glanced at her Log Pose. "The readings are complete. But we can't leave until we've gathered enough information," she replied.
"Ah, that's right."
"Dragon is currently gathering information from various sources. We won't have to wait long."
They needed to be informed of Shiki and Linlin's movements. As their primary targets, it was only natural to prioritize gathering information about their activities.
She continued reading the newspaper, then suddenly spoke.
"Watch out!"
"What? What do you mean –"
"Found you!"
Before George could finish his question, the hotel entrance exploded, scattering shards of metal and glass. Kanata flicked her wrist, creating a wall of ice to block the debris, then turned to face their unexpected guest.
It was a man with an unusually long head, a distinctive feature Kanata recognized.
He glared at Kanata and Junshi. "Found you, Kanata, Junshi! You will die here!"
"Long time no see, Chinjao. I've heard you've been through a lot," Junshi said calmly.
Don Chinjao.
A pirate who had a contract with the Kano Country in the West Blue, gaining an official position while engaging in piracy. He was the leader of the Happo Navy, with a bounty of 500 million berries.
Kanata, still seated on the sofa, faced Chinjao across the shattered ice wall.
"You dare speak of hardship?! My Kano Country was burdened with an immense debt to the World Government because you killed a Celestial Dragon! We're on the brink of collapse! And it's all because you couldn't abandon your subordinate and defied me!"
"Couldn't abandon my subordinate… You don't disapprove of my actions, do you? But if you think a captain who abandons their crew is worthy of respect, then I find that deeply offensive."
Their Conqueror's Haki clashed and shattered the remaining ice between them.
Kanata stood, facing Chinjao head-on. She dodged his first attack, a powerful punch, with a slight bend of her knees, then, unleashed her Armament Haki and sent him flying out of the hotel.
Junshi stood up and stopped her from pursuing Chinjao. "I'll go."
"…Fine. I'll leave him to you."
Junshi's eyes gleamed with a feral grin as he dashed out of the hotel.
Kanata turned to George, who had instinctively moved to protect her. "Add a generous tip to the hotel bill," she said.
While Chinjao was at fault for the damage, demanding payment from him would be pointless. They had plenty of money. It wasn't worth haggling over.
"What about his subordinates? The Happo Navy?" George asked.
"If they don't attack, leave them alone."
They wouldn't be foolish enough to interfere with Chinjao's rampage, and even if they did, they were no match for Kanata and her crew.
The Happo Navy was a formidable pirate crew, but Chinjao was their only true powerhouse. Feiyun alone could wipe out the rest of them.
Even the strongest pirate crew in the West Blue was just another group of pirates in the New World.
"We're not so weak that we'd lose to them now. We've been through hell to get here. Annihilate them if they attack."
They had survived countless battles to reach the New World. Marine fleets, including Vice Admirals and Admirals. Powerful pirates dominating the New World. They had overcome them all. They wouldn't be defeated so easily.
Ignoring the loud battle between Junshi and Chinjao, Kanata and George relaxed, unfazed by the commotion.
While debris from broken furniture and shattered glass littered the floor, they could simply pay the hotel staff to clean up later. It wasn't a concern.
They waited for Junshi to finish his battle.
Dragon returned while they were chatting. "What happened here?"
"Chinjao of the Happo Navy attacked. An old grudge from before you joined us," George explained.
Their crew had grown significantly. The original members who had journeyed with them from the West Blue were now outnumbered by the newer recruits.
They had gained new comrades and lost others along the way.
Emporio Ivankov's time on their ship felt like a distant memory, even though it wasn't that long ago.
…His face, however, was unforgettable.
"Hmm, I see," Dragon said.
"How did your information gathering go?" Kanata asked.
"Right. As we suspected, the Golden Lion is mobilizing on a large scale. It hasn't been reported in the newspapers, but the information is circulating among the brokers," Dragon replied.
Shiki was trying to keep his movements hidden, but mobilizing a massive fleet was a conspicuous action. It was inevitable that the information would leak to the brokers.
Linlin, on the other hand, was eerily quiet. There were no reports of her activities, neither from the brokers nor the newspapers.
She was undoubtedly plotting something, but for now, her intentions were unclear. They could only assume she was biding her time.
"Hmm, so Shiki's finally serious about taking me down."
"Yes. We're running out of time to strengthen our forces. Our location might still be secret, but it's only a matter of time before he finds us."
Shiki was a meticulous planner. He would have sent his subordinates to gather information from every possible source.
They couldn't stay hidden forever. It was probably better to confront him sooner rather than later.
"Do we have a chance of winning?" Dragon asked.
"At best, ten to twenty percent. I'm confident I can hold my own against Shiki one-on-one, but a fleet is another matter."
Shiki had powerful subordinates as well. Underestimating them would be foolish.
Dragon had been gathering information about them as well.
"There are three particularly powerful executives. Lelampargo the 'White Beast', Lucien the 'Red Cannon', and Apsu the 'Black Bind'."
"What are their bounties?" Kanata asked.
"550 million, 670 million, and 824 million, respectively. They're formidable opponents, judging by the size of their bounties," Dragon replied.
"…Troublesome, indeed."
Linlin also had her advisor, Streusen, and her children, who possessed surprising strength despite their young age. They would undoubtedly become even more powerful in the future.
Roger had his first mate, Rayleigh, and numerous skilled subordinates. Most powerful pirate crews had strong individuals aside from their captains.
This was no longer a problem Kanata could handle alone.
"Dragon, what's your assessment? Do we have a chance?"
"It's difficult to say, considering I've never fought them… but they wouldn't defeat us instantly."
Dragon wasn't claiming to be stronger than Garp or Sengoku. Considering Garp's strength, a man he knew well, they could at least put up a fight.
Junshi and Zen were strong enough to fight as well. They could probably hold off Shiki and his three executives.
The problem was Shiki's fleet.
"The exact number is unknown, but including his subordinate crews, he has over fifty ships."
"We only have three. We're outnumbered," Kanata said.
"Do you think Feiyun can bridge that gap?" George asked.
"No, that's too much to ask. We could fight on the sea if Kanata creates a platform, but I doubt Shiki will allow that."
They had managed to escape from Garp and Sengoku after the World Pirates' annihilation by having Kanata freeze the sea, creating a temporary barrier.
But Shiki wouldn't fall for the same trick twice. Even if they froze the sea, it wouldn't be enough to stop him.
Kanata could control the weather to a certain extent, but it was unclear how effective it would be against Shiki.
If his fleet attacked as a unit, defeating them individually would be difficult.
Their initial plan was falling apart. Shiki's actions were faster than they had anticipated.
"Two new Devil Fruit users aren't enough."
"But we have no choice. We have to find a way to fight them on our terms. Only then will we have a chance."
"…Then, I have a suggestion."
Kanata proposed a plan.
"It deviates from our course to Lodestar Island, but there's a sea near the entrance to the New World where the weather changes unpredictably. We might be able to use it to our advantage to suppress Shiki's abilities and fight his fleet."
The sea was called the "Maubeugemour Sea", also known as the "Grumpy Sea".
Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi was vulnerable to bad weather. The turbulent sea would hinder his abilities, while simultaneously providing the necessary chaos to fight a larger fleet.
It was a dangerous gamble, but a necessary one.
They had to utilize every advantage they could find if they wanted to stand a chance against Shiki.
"We have to strike with everything we have. We'll raid as many Golden Lion Pirate territories as we can on our way there, weakening their numbers and luring them to the Maubeugemour Sea."
"…What if they don't take the bait?" George asked.
"Then we'll lure them to Whole Cake Island, Linlin's territory. While facing both of them at the same time is troublesome, they're not allies. They won't cooperate," Kanata replied.
Their plan was decided.
Their initial strategy of gradually weakening Shiki's forces had been abandoned. They had no choice but to confront him directly.
They couldn't afford to hesitate. They had to utilize every available resource to survive.
"Be prepared. Our battle with Shiki is approaching."
***
Fists, reinforced with Armament Haki, clashed, sending both fighters flying backward.
Relying solely on full-body Armament Haki was a tactic used by the weak. True masters utilized it strategically, reinforcing only the necessary areas, conserving their energy.
In that sense, both Junshi and Chinjao were skilled fighters.
They enhanced their attacks with Armament Haki and defended with it as well. This close-range brawl, their preferred fighting style, had become a war of attrition, neither willing to yield.
"Your skills have improved, Junshi!" Chinjao exclaimed.
"Kuhahaha, being with Kanata ensures I never lack strong opponents. Whether it's Marines or pirates, they all come seeking a challenge!" Junshi replied with a laugh.
One was a 500 million berry bounty.
The other, a 300 million berry bounty.
While there was a difference in their bounties, it was natural considering their positions. Chinjao was a captain, while Junshi was a crew member.
Pirate crews with multiple members exceeding 100 million berries were rare.
"And that little girl… her Haki has grown significantly since our last encounter!"
Chinjao lamented his missed opportunity. If he had managed to recruit a girl with such powerful Haki, the Happo Navy would have been even stronger.
Junshi, however, laughed and shook his head. "She's not someone who would be satisfied with a crew like the Happo Navy. She has the potential to surpass even you."
"Don't be ridiculous! What can a girl who's too soft-hearted to cut down her enemies achieve?!"
Chinjao's attacks intensified. Junshi, dodging his blows, found an opening and slammed his elbow into Chinjao's abdomen.
"Guh?!"
Chinjao's Haki defense had activated just in time, but he was sent flying backward.
Junshi, catching his breath, calmly observed Chinjao as he struggled to his feet. "We're different, you and I. You had to abandon things to survive. I don't believe that's necessary."
"…Idealistic nonsense! You can't survive in this sea without making sacrifices!"
"That's because you were weak." Junshi's words cut deep.
The weak had no right to choose how they lived or died.
Chinjao was strong enough to survive in the New World. But to thrive, to stay at the top, he would have to take risks, risks he wasn't willing to take.
That's why he had chosen to be employed by a nation in the West Blue.
"Focusing on maintaining your organization, avoiding danger, securing a stable income… Pragmatic, but utterly boring."
Junshi found Chinjao's approach to be utterly uninteresting. Stability was essential. Without a steady income, survival itself became a struggle.
But to train simply for the sake of maintaining the status quo, to grow old without ever using his strength… Junshi found that idea abhorrent. He had dedicated his life to honing his skills, to using his power.
– That's why he had left the Happo Navy.
"Joining Kanata was the right decision. It has given me countless opportunities to fight strong opponents."
"You… You mad dog!"
"Call me what you will. But don't think I'm the same man I was back then."
Junshi's Haki flared, enveloping him like armor. He had honed his skills, fighting powerful opponents, constantly training with Kanata, refining his mastery of combat. He had surpassed Chinjao.
The man who was once stronger… Now, who would emerge victorious?
"Let's see what you're made of."
Junshi reached Chinjao in an instant, deflecting his counterattack and aiming a punch at his heart.
But Chinjao wasn't easily defeated. He met Junshi's attack with his most powerful weapon – a headbutt.
"Eight Impact Fist, Secret Technique –Dragon Spinning Nail!!!"
"Seven Apertures Bleeding – Scatter and Die!!!"
Boom!
A headbutt powerful enough to shatter ice continents clashed against a single fist. Their Haki, enhanced to their limits, collided.
– And after a brief struggle, Junshi emerged victorious.
A deafening roar shook the air as Chinjao was sent flying. Junshi's arm throbbed with pain from the impact.
"Haa, haa… Kuhahaha, not bad," Junshi said, catching his breath. His training had paid off.
Chinjao was undeniably strong… But he lacked Junshi's constant growth, his relentless pursuit of strength.
Chinjao's subordinates rushed to his unconscious form, tending to his wounds. Some glared at Junshi with their hands gripping their swords.
Junshi, preparing to fight, unleashed his Haki – then a massive shadow engulfed them.
"What's all the commotion?" a voice asked.
"Feiyun? I was just sparring with the Happo Navy," Junshi replied.
"Hmm…"
She must have been playing at the nearby beach. Feiyun, dressed in a straw hat and swimsuit, was returning to the hotel with a few subordinates.
The Happo Navy, despite their numerical advantage, seemed to realize they were outmatched. They carried Chinjao away, retreating hastily.
"…Aren't you going to pursue them?" Feiyun asked.
"No, I'm satisfied," Junshi replied.
While he hadn't reached the pinnacle of martial arts, his progress was undeniable. He was confident he could become even stronger.
Feiyun, unable to comprehend his satisfaction, tilted her head, puzzled.
クリエイターの想い 
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