“As it stands, that seems to be the case,” Tsuru nodded, then frowned as she warned, “Gion, remember, don’t provoke him unless absolutely necessary. Although nothing happened the first or second time, there’s a limit. From what happened with Tea Dolphin and Akainu, it shows that Nokiyoru’s character is quite resilient.”
“As if I’d go provoke him,” Gion pouted.
“That’s best. This tournament will be another fierce competition. Given your abilities, you may not even make it to the top four. Remember to act within your limits.”
“Hmph, we’ll see about that,” Gion retorted, unhappy with Tsuru’s bluntness.
“Hehe, do as you wish. I trust that those four will show me some respect,” Tsuru shook her head, knowing her quasi-sister well. To defeat those four monsters, Gion had a long way to go.
…
Time flew by, and today, Marineford was particularly excited because it was the day of the grand tournament, heralded as the strongest cohort in the Navy Academy.
Aside from some unimaginable rewards, the winner would have the opportunity to roam the seas freely.
The rewards for this tournament had undergone some changes after repeated discussions among the Navy’s top brass.
The first-place winner would be promoted to Rear Admiral and given a warship befitting their status.
Second, third, and fourth places would be promoted to Commodore and receive independent warships.
Those placing fifth through tenth would graduate from the Navy Academy and be granted the ranks of Lieutenant Commander, Commander, or Captain, along with corresponding privileges.
This was a rare opportunity, and for these rewards alone, Nokiyoru was determined to give it his all, not to mention other prizes like Devil Fruits, weapons, and wealth.
Considering the presence of several monsters among the contestants, the tournament was set on an isolated island not far from Marineford.
Most spectators were Navy officers of at least Ensign rank, while the general public could only watch through Den Den Mushi’s projections.
As the morning sun rose, the tournament grounds were already packed. Even the Admirals, Sengoku, Zephyr, and Fleet Admiral Kong had come to watch.
Seated in the stands, Kong gazed at the rows of youthful, determined faces, feeling a sense of pride.
These individuals represented the Navy’s lifeblood and future backbone. With a constant influx of new strength, Kong believed the Navy would remain the most formidable force on the seas.
Kong was particularly looking forward to this tournament, especially this year, with the emergence of four exceptional individuals.
The audience buzzed with conversation among the spectators and the high-ranking officers, speculating on who would take the top spot.
The only consensus was that the top four would remain unchanged, as everyone believed they would be the four monsters.
Standing quietly in the participant area, Nokiyoru’s eyes burned with determination as he looked at the gathered high-ranking officers. He vowed to take first place.
This tournament was a rare chance to maximize his potential. Nokiyoru believed the Five Elders would be watching through the Den Den Mushi, and if he could prove his worth to them, he would gain more benefits.
Thinking of this, Nokiyoru smiled wickedly, “Maybe it’s time to go all out.”
At that moment, the tournament finally began.
The rules were simple: participants drew lots to determine the order, with fifty contestants.
No intentional killing, no attacking those unable to resist or those who surrender. Otherwise, anything goes.
In other words, the tournament relied entirely on the contestants’ abilities. Famous swords, cunning strategies, Devil Fruits—everything was fair game.
After drawing lots, Nokiyoru found himself in the 23rd round, meaning he would fight third to last.
Elimination was harsh; half the contestants were eliminated in the first round.
However, those eliminated had two more chances to challenge the victors, making it fair.
Thus, the tournament promised to be a fierce battle.
In the first match, Aokiji faced a regular trainee who immediately surrendered, knowing they were not on the same level.
Similarly, Akainu and Kizaru’s opponents also surrendered without a fight. Knowing the situation, Fleet Admiral Kong and the others said nothing about this.
Aside from these three, the other trainees’ battles were intense, with many showing exceptional prowess, such as Gion, and future Vice Admirals like Hina and Onigumo.
Finally, as time passed, it was Nokiyoru’s turn to fight.
Standing calmly in the arena, Nokiyoru looked coldly at Tea Dolphin, who was trembling and pale.
Nokiyoru’s first opponent was Tea Dolphin. Seeing the name on his ticket, Nokiyoru felt particularly excited. He didn’t know if it was due to luck or someone else’s intent, but it didn’t matter. What mattered was that he could now exact his revenge openly.
One calm, the other apprehensive—this contrast drew everyone’s attention, as the feud between Nokiyoru, Tea Dolphin, and Akainu was well-known in Marineford. Given the chance, they wouldn’t hesitate to kill each other.
“What’s going on? Why is Tea Dolphin facing Nokiyoru in the first round?” Kong’s face darkened, suspecting foul play. Was someone trying to eliminate Tea Dolphin?
“This tournament is fair and square. It’s just a matter of bad luck,” Zephyr shrugged.
“Haha, indeed, this should be interesting,” Garp laughed heartily, clearly enjoying the situation.
“Garp, stay alert. I don’t want any deaths in this tournament,” Kong said seriously, causing Garp to frown.
“Fleet Admiral Kong, except for Akainu and Tea Dolphin, I can stop anyone else. You’d better find someone else for the job. I don’t want to be held responsible in the future,” Garp said bluntly, digging his nose.
After a brief, tense silence, Kong turned to Zephyr and Sengoku.
“Fleet Admiral, Nokiyoru is my disciple. To ensure fairness, I can’t intervene,” Zephyr stated firmly.
“Looks like it’s up to me,” Sengoku sighed.
“Hahaha,” Garp laughed uproariously, slapping Sengoku on the back.
“Enough joking around, the match is about to start,” Sengoku said, his face twitching.
In the arena, Nokiyoru looked coldly at Tea Dolphin and said menacingly, “It seems Lady Luck is on my side.”
“Nokiyoru, I admit I’m no match for you, but you won’t touch me,” Tea Dolphin said, his face red with embarrassment, ready to admit defeat.
If he didn’t surrender, he could already foresee his fate. Even if he didn’t die, he would be left half-dead.
He wasn’t a masochist and a wrong move could be fatal. He couldn’t take that risk, especially not with Nokiyoru, the lunatic.
“Are you Thinking of surrendering?” Nokiyoru’s face twisted with malice, his killing intent palpable. “Do you even have the chance?”
As Nokiyoru’s killing intent rose, everyone expressed anticipation. Nokiyoru would break the rules and eliminate Tea Dolphin. The lunatic was true to his name, and many felt an even deeper apprehension toward him.
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