Chapter 261: Amazon Lily, The Martial Arts Tournament Rages On
The moment Smoker defeated Dalmatian with an unprecedented level of suppressive power, the atmosphere of the entire Martial Arts Tournament was fully ignited.
The other Vice Admirals exchanged glances, all silently marking Smoker as a key threat to guard against in the upcoming rounds.
The ambiance on the deserted island continued to escalate with each high-level duel. For the first time, the true strength of the Marines' mid-level echelon was being displayed in such a pure, unfiltered manner.
Arena 4
Yamakaji's blade swung out several arcs of fire, his Armament Haki intertwining with the flames to create massive waves of heat. However, every single offensive was easily dismantled by Tokikake.
"BANG!"
With a fluid spinning roundhouse kick, Tokikake sent Yamakaji flying. The weapon slipped from his grasp, and the waves of heat dissipated instantly.
Yamakaji wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiling bitterly as he raised a hand. "I lost."
Tokikake retracted his leg. Shedding his usual sleazy demeanor, he solemnly reached out a hand to pull him up. "Good fight."
Arena 2
Doberman's longsword danced wildly like a storm. Amidst the clashing Haki, his sword pressure swept the entire arena, carving several deep fissures into the solid rock floor.
"CLANG-CLANG-CLANG—!"
Gion's figure was weightless, her footwork weaving gracefully through the gaps in the storm. Her sword light flickered like moonlight.
She suddenly shouted low, the edge of her blade wrapping in Armament Haki as a cold glint descended abruptly:
"Ittoryu (One Sword Style): MOONLIT SEVERANCE!"
"CRACK—!"
Doberman's katana was knocked into the air. With the tip of her sword resting lightly against his chest, he froze instantly.
He took a deep breath and sighed softly. "I'm still a step behind, it seems."
Gion sheathed her sword, a smile curling her lips. "But you are stronger than before."
Doberman paused for a moment, then nodded in response, the two sharing a mutual smile.
Arena 6
The sword duel between Strawberry and Momonga reached a textbook level of mastery. Sparks flew wildly as their blades collided, drawing wave after wave of cheers from the spectator stands.
"SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!"
After dozens of continuous exchanges, the edge of Momonga's sword rested against the side of Strawberry's neck like lightning. The air solidified.
Strawberry froze for a moment before letting out a hearty laugh, extending his hand. "Good sword!"
Momonga smiled faintly, reaching out to pull him up. The two longtime colleagues looked as if they had returned to their younger days of sparring together.
The emotions of the soldiers in the stands ran incredibly high:
"That was amazing! This is a true duel of Marine honor!"
"They fought with everything they had, yet can still sheathe their swords with a smile. These are our pillars of strength!"
At the judges' table, Zephyr's gaze trembled. Watching match after match, his eyes grew slightly red:
"These guys... they're exactly the same as back then."
Sengoku took a deep breath, agreeing, "Yes. It's as if I can see the days when they all trained together under you."
The evening sun coated the arenas in a layer of golden light. The drawing machine turned once more, and the entire venue held its breath.
"CLACK—DONG!"
On the giant screen, the final matchup of the round appeared: Sentomaru vs. Maynard.
Onigumo received a bye!
"WHOOOAAA—!!!"
The entire venue boiled over instantly!
"Sentomaru is the Science Unit's strongest defense expert! I heard he's even Vegapunk's personal bodyguard!"
"Maynard is a veteran brawler Vice Admiral! His speed and explosive power are top-tier!"
"This is going to be a head-on clash of pure power against power!"
At the judges' table, Kizaru pushed up his sunglasses, smiling meaningfully. "Ooooh scaaary~ This fight might just spark some real fireworks."
Zephyr commented in a low voice, "Maynard's fighting style is fierce and precise, and his tactics are versatile. But Sentomaru's defense and counterattacks are incredibly troublesome. This match... is too close to call."
Sengoku's gaze darkened, a rare sharpness appearing in his expression. "Let us see just how far this generation of Vice Admirals... can truly go."
...
Meanwhile, Calm Belt · Amazon Lily Coastline
The setting sun cast a blood-red afterglow, dyeing the entire surface of the sea in crimson. The waves whispered softly against the sandy beach, and flocks of seabirds swept across the sky.
Marguerite, currently on patrol, walked barefoot on the soft sand. She gripped her longbow tightly, her ears catching every rustle of the wind.
Suddenly—
From the corner of her eye, she spotted two battered figures drifting in the shallows in the distance, utterly motionless.
The seawater washed over their bodies again and again, the trailing blood dyeing the surrounding foam red.
Marguerite's heart jumped. Her fingers immediately nocked an arrow, her alert gaze locking onto the figures ahead.
"Someone drifted into the Calm Belt? Impossible..."
"Even Sea Kings don't dare to approach this place casually!"
She held her breath, approaching silently. When she finally saw their faces clearly, her entire body froze abruptly!
"The Dark King... Rayleigh?! Lady Shakky?!!"
The longbow dropped to the sand with a clatter. Marguerite didn't even bother to pick it up, sprinting forward and dropping to one knee to quickly inspect their injuries.
Shakky's face was as pale as paper. A deep, bone-exposing wound on her left arm was still seeping blood. Her breathing was ragged, but she was still barely conscious.
Rayleigh's condition was even more horrifying. His body was covered in gashes, and on his back, a pitch-black fist imprint had nearly shattered his entire spine. His blood was being diluted into a dark red by the waves, and his life force was as weak and imperceptible as a silken thread!
"Wh... who could have possibly done this?!!"
Marguerite's fingers trembled slightly. She immediately pulled a signal flare from her waist and yanked the safety pin hard.
"FWOOSH—BANG!!!"
A crimson firework tore through the sky of Amazon Lily, bursting into a blazing blossom. The alarm echoed across the entire island!
Within moments, the sound of synchronized footsteps echoed from the jungle.
Kikyo led several Kuja Warriors out of the tree line. Seeing the two dying figures on the beach, her expression changed drastically.
"Wh... what happened here?!"
Marguerite urged frantically, "Sister Kikyo! Hurry! They need medical treatment!!!"
Without a second word, Kikyo hoisted Rayleigh onto her back, signaling the others to carefully lift Shakky.
"I will go report this to the Snake Princess!"
As her voice fell, the group sprinted rapidly toward the royal palace.
...
Deep within the Royal Palace
The palace of Amazon Lily resembled a giant lotus carved from white jade. Waterfalls cascaded all around, and massive coiled snakes quietly guarded this sacred land.
The palace doors slowly opened, and a graceful figure stepped into the corridor of intersecting light and shadow.
It was the Royal Shichibukai, Boa Hancock—universally recognized as the Pirate Empress and the most beautiful woman in the world.
Her jet-black hair cascaded down like silk. The purple royal cape draped over her shoulders accentuated her proud curves. As her bare feet stepped onto the cold jade floor, every step carried a noble, overwhelming pressure.
Those beautiful sapphire eyes, usually filled with arrogance and disdain, now flashed with a rare gravity.
"Dark King Rayleigh... how could he be injured like this?!"
"Hear my command!" Hancock waved her jade-like hand, her cape fluttering lightly in the air.
"Dispatch the best doctors on Amazon Lily immediately. Save Rayleigh and Shakky at all costs."
Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, a trace of unease rippling in her heart:
"The one who could push the 'Dark King' to such a state... is likely only among those few monsters."
Hancock turned abruptly, her gaze turning icy. "Seal all information! No one is to leak a single word of this!"
"The outside world must absolutely not know they are on Amazon Lily."
Kikyo immediately dropped to one knee, bowing her head. "Yes, Hebihime-sama!"
Several hours later, Shakky slowly opened her eyes.
The first things she saw were the unique shell chandeliers and domed canopy netting of Amazon Lily.
By the bed, Marguerite was keeping watch. Seeing her wake, she quickly leaned over. "You're finally awake! Would you like some water?"
Shakky shook her head slightly, gritting her teeth to prop up her upper body. "Where is Rayleigh?!"
Marguerite hurriedly reassured her, "Mr. Rayleigh is right next door. The doctors say he is heavily injured, but... his life is no longer in danger."
Only then did Shakky breathe a sigh of relief, slowly lying back down. However, a deep, heavy gloom flashed through her eyes:
"That guy Roy... he really is ruthless..."
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