Arena Five
"Arena Five: Contestant number 17, 'Makuri,' versus contestant number 22, 'Issho.' Both contestants, please take the stage."
With the shout from the referee captain, a two-meter-tall muscular man jumped onto the arena first.
This was contestant number 17, Makuri.
"Tap! Tap! Tap!"
The sound of a cane hitting the ground followed as a blind middle-aged man appeared, slowly walking up to the stage with the help of his cane.
As he climbed the steps, many in the audience held their breath, worried that the blind man might stumble.
This blind man had a rugged face with an "X" shaped scar on the left side of his forehead. He had short black hair and a beard around his mouth. His tall frame was dressed in a light purple yukata, tied with a dark purple sash.
From his appearance, this blind man seemed quite unremarkable.
Only Chen Ye knew the terror of this blind man!
He was "Issho," who would become a Navy Admiral known as "Fujitora" in the future!
At the age of thirty or forty, Issho was in his prime.
Chen Ye watched Issho's back with a serious expression.
This new recruit assessment had suddenly introduced such a figure, likely to increase the difficulty for the Reincarnators.
"Senior Mondo, is he strong?" Smoker asked quietly beside Chen Ye.
Smoker was intelligent. Seeing the expression on Senior Mondo's face, he could tell that Senior Mondo was wary of the blind man.
Chen Ye nodded, "Very strong!"
Smoker's interest was piqued, and he turned his attention to Arena Five.
On Arena Five.
Contestant number 17, Makuri, saw the blind man walk up and was initially stunned, then burst into laughter.
"Hey! Hey! Old man, did you wander into the wrong place?"
Issho gave a gentle smile and scratched the back of his head, "I don't think I'm lost."
Makuri said, "Hey! Old man, I don't want to bully a blind man. You should just surrender!"
Issho simply shook his head without saying anything further.
"Don't blame me then, old man. I won't hold back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the muscular Makuri charged at Issho like a small tank, raising his massive fist to strike Issho's face.
The spectators below the stage saw this and thought the blind man was in for a beating.
Boom!
The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground echoed.
It was Makuri, who suddenly flew out of the arena.
Everyone around was stunned.
No one had seen what happened. How did the seemingly sure-win Makuri suddenly end up outside the arena?
Below the stage.
Only Chen Ye saw what happened.
His nerve reaction speed was now incredibly high, and his eyes could capture dynamic movements to an astonishing degree, even seeing the trajectory of bullets.
Just now, he saw Issho lightly tap with his cane, and the muscular man flew out...
Issho's attack speed was so fast that ordinary people couldn't see it, and the match ended in an instant!
Chen Ye's eyes flashed with a gleam, deeply impressed by Issho but maintaining a calm expression.
Issho was indeed strong, but he didn't interfere with Chen Ye's plan.
...
On the arena.
Seeing the referee hesitate to announce the result, Issho couldn't help but cough to remind him.
"Ahem!"
Finally, the captain snapped back to reality and quickly shouted, "Contestant number 22, 'Issho,' wins!"
Issho slowly walked off the arena.
The crowd below made way for him, not daring to block his path.
They weren't fools. Although they didn't see clearly what had happened, it made the blind man even more terrifying.
On the observation platform.
The expressions of the three Admirals changed slightly as they watched Issho's back.
While others couldn't see Issho's attack, the Admirals certainly could.
A true expert's skills are evident immediately.
Issho's move was simple—a light, straightforward thrust.
But it was this simplicity that tested one's fundamental skills the most!
With their sharp eyes, the Admirals could tell that Issho was no ordinary person.
"A ra ra! A formidable character has arrived!" Admiral Aokiji spoke for the first time.
Being praised by Aokiji was proof of Issho's strength.
"The new recruits these days are really something!"
Kizaru chimed in with his usual peculiar tone.
It wasn't that he did it intentionally; his voice just naturally sounded strange.
Admiral Akainu didn't speak, but his piercing eyes stayed fixed on Issho.
Beside the Admirals, Sengoku and Garp also watched Issho's back with serious expressions.
Issho's attack might have evaded the ordinary viewers' sight, but it didn't escape the eyes of these experts.
...
The assessment continued.
Due to the large number of new recruits—over 200,000—even with ten arenas, it would take days and nights to complete all assessments.
Chen Ye and Issho became the focus of attention for the big shots on the high platform.
Every time Chen Ye took the stage, he easily defeated his opponents. However, Chen Ye always held back, defeating his opponents without intentionally injuring them.
This was a deliberate "benevolent" persona Chen Ye created!
The purpose was to lower the vigilance of those big shots.
When he achieved a good rank and was to be received by the Celestial Dragon, no one would expect that someone as "benevolent" as him would attempt an assassination!
However.
Chen Ye didn't expect that his "benevolent" persona would earn the favor of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Hero Garp.
In fact, Garp even seriously considered taking him as a disciple!
"Garp, have you really decided?" Sengoku asked on the high platform.
Garp laughed heartily, "Yes! It's rare to find such an interesting young man... Sengoku, you wouldn't oppose, would you?"
"Of course not!" Sengoku laughed too, "With you as a mentor, this 'Mondo' kid is quite lucky."
"But... Garp, you should be patient and wait until the assessment is over before approaching him! If he finds out your intentions prematurely, it might make the young man arrogant."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku couldn't help but remind.
This old friend was good in many ways, but he often acted impulsively and did unreliable things.