The morning sun broke through the horizon as time slipped by quietly.
Over the past three days, most participants in the Marine competition had already been eliminated.
Aside from the final four, the top ten had essentially been confirmed.
Although the event was meant to establish final rankings, only one person could claim first place, and all four remaining contenders wanted that position.
Combined with the personal grudges simmering beneath the surface, the turnout for this final stage was astonishing.
Outside the venue, spectators eagerly placed their bets.
Atticus, Kizaru, Akainu, and Aokiji each had different odds.
Sengoku and the other officials pretended not to see it.
Some veterans even placed bets of several million Berries without shame.
Before the competition even began, tension suffocated the arena.
The last four were monsters, each unmatched in their own right, which only fueled the rising excitement among the crowd.
High on the platform, Sengoku and the other officials took their seats.
Today, the Marines would determine their number one new recruit.
The one who claimed that position would earn honor, power, and wealth.
"Contestants, step forward and draw lots to determine your opponents," the referee announced, holding a sealed box containing four tags.
In truth, only two contestants needed to draw.
With four total fighters, the remaining tag would naturally reveal the matchups.
Still, the procedure had to be followed.
"May I choose my opponent?" Atticus asked, his eyes locking onto Akainu.
He made no effort to hide the killing intent burning within him.
Kizaru and Aokiji, standing between the two, felt suffocated.
Atticus and Akainu alone radiated enough pressure to make them sweat.
The referee wiped cold perspiration from his forehead and glanced nervously at Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"This is a formal competition," Sengoku said, his voice stern as he glared at Atticus.
"We do not break fairness."
He inwardly thought, He isn't even trying to hide it.
Anyone with a brain can see he wants Akainu dead.
"Fine."
Atticus lifted his hands casually, then gave Akainu a mocking smile.
"Dead dog, I'll send you to hell soon enough."
Akainu's expression darkened further.
His face had been tense from the start, but now his rage was barely contained.
"Hmph, anyone can bark.
I heard you have a younger sister.
Don't worry, when you die, I'll make sure she joins you," Akainu said coldly, glaring straight into Atticus's eyes.
The ground beneath Atticus shattered as a wave of scorching heat exploded outward.
Steam rose around him.
His long hair stood on end, his bloodshot eyes burned with ferocity, and his expression twisted into something monstrous.
Each word he spoke carried bone-deep coldness.
"Dead dog... your death is deserved."
Everyone watching felt dread sink into their bones.
Kizaru, Aokiji, and the referee felt as though a wild beast had locked its fangs onto their throats.
On the high platform, Sengoku and the others grew tense.
"Akainu overstepped," Tsuru murmured with a quiet sigh.
"Atticus's inverse scale has always been his sister.
She's the reason he pushes himself to grow stronger.
Akainu's attempt to provoke him only ignited Atticus's brutality further.
His chances of surviving this fight just dropped dramatically."
Garp scratched his nose, the usual humor gone from his face.
"You think Atticus is that dangerous?"
Tsuru shook her head.
"You don't understand him.
If no one provokes him, he fights normally.
But if pushed the wrong way, he'll fight until either he or his opponent stops breathing.
And Akainu threatened the person he cherishes most."
"Is it that serious?" Garp muttered, though his tone now carried caution.
Sengoku spoke gravely.
"Tsuru is right.
Atticus will go as far as needed to kill Akainu.
He doesn't hesitate when he's pushed.
And this is still Atticus before reaching his full potential.
If he were already grown… I don't even want to imagine what he'd become."
He exhaled slowly, unable to ignore the uneasy feeling creeping over him.
"Akainu depends too heavily on his Devil Fruit.
His training isn't as extreme as Atticus's.
And their battle experience isn't even comparable.
Atticus stayed on Beast Island an extra month and a half.
No one knows how much he grew during that time."
Everyone present knew the truth.
Akainu had already been defeated by Atticus twice.
If others hadn't saved him, he might already be buried under a meter of dirt.
The atmosphere crackled inside the arena as whispers filled the streets outside.
At last Atticus reached into the box and drew a tag.
His eyes narrowed as he read it, then lifted his gaze toward Kizaru.
Kizaru felt his heart skip, and his face twitched with discomfort.
"Next," the referee said.
Aokiji stepped forward, selected his tag, then turned calmly toward Akainu.
"Any objections?" the referee asked Akainu and Kizaru.
If either complained, they could draw lots themselves.
But the idea was unthinkable.
None of the four would ever admit inferiority.
There was no need for hesitation.
"Since there are no objections, the competition begins."
The referee raised his arm.
"First match: Atticus versus Kizaru!"
Moments later, Atticus and Kizaru faced each other in the arena.
Kizaru stretched lazily, though his eyes were serious.
"What unfortunate luck.
This match will be troublesome.
But for first place, I suppose I'll have to take this seriously."
Atticus stared at him with calm indifference.
"Kizaru, I'll give you a chance.
If you surrender now, I'll clear what happened between us before.
My target is that dead dog.
I don't plan to waste time on you."
He meant every word.
Kizaru's abilities were troublesome and not easy to deal with.
Atticus wasn't confident about beating him effortlessly, so he hoped Kizaru would back down.
But he didn't expect it.
And as expected, Kizaru sighed.
"I know you aren't trying to provoke me… but I still feel very irritated."
His voice deepened.
"What happened before was my fault, but I still have dignity.
Being cautious around you doesn't mean I fear you.
And today, I want to experience the strength of the man they call a madman."
Atticus smiled, wicked and sharp.
Flames burst from his body, expanding until the entire arena felt like it was submerged in magma.
Heat waves rolled through the air, making the spectators sweat.
"Then you'd better be ready," Atticus said.
"Because I won't hold back."
Kizaru raised his foot slightly.
His entire body began to glow with golden light.
"Atticus, have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
Golden energy crackled around him.
Atticus tilted his head slightly, golden flames dancing across his eyes.
"Perfect.
I've always wanted to find out."
With a sharp sound, Kizaru became a streak of golden light and appeared above Atticus instantly, his right foot charged with lethal radiance.
Atticus jerked his head aside just in time.
A strand of his hair drifted away, sliced clean off.
Behind him, the ground exploded violently as Kizaru's kick missed by only inches.
Atticus raised his arm, his skin turning pitch black as Armament Haki surged across it.
He attempted to grab Kizaru's foot—
But Kizaru had already dissolved into golden light and reappeared far across the arena.