Chapter 465 - 304

Chapter 305: Turmoil in the Waiting Area!The underground waiting area of the Dressrosaarena was a world completely apart from the glamorous hustle and bustle of the spectator stands above.It was a rugged space composed of rock and steel, with simple gas lamps hanging from a high dome, their dim yellow light cutting pillars of light through the humid air.The air was thick with the smell of sweat, rust, blood, and something even more primal... the scent of desire.Zoro, or rather, using the alias "Zoro" at this moment, leaned against a rock wall in a corner, his left hand resting casually on the hilt of the wado ichimonji.He wore a black mask that only revealed his eyes, sharp as an eagle's, as he quietly scanned the entire waiting area.At least two hundred contestants were gathered here.They were of all shapes and sizes, a bizarre collection of individuals.Near the entrance, several giants over three meters tall were provoking one another.One of them, a bald man with a skull tattooed on his face, was pounding his chest with his fists, producing a dull drumming sound."The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is mine!"He roared, saliva flying everywhere."Once I get Whitebeard's power, the first thing I'll do is slaughter that 'Straw Hat Luffy'!""Four Emperors? Bah! I'm the future Pirate King!"A burst of laughter and jeering erupted around him.In another corner, a man as thin as a bamboo pole but carrying two massive battle-axes on his back was eyeing everyone passing by with a cold gaze.His fingers tapped lightly on the axe handles, as if he were calculating something.Zoro's gaze didn't linger on these small fry for long.He looked toward the center of the waiting area.Two people stood there, completely out of place amidst the surrounding clamor.One was a tall man with red spiky hair wearing a leather coat, currently standing against the wall with his arms crossed, looking thoroughly impatient.There was no one within five meters of him; the murderous intent radiating from him was almost tangible, making ordinary people afraid to even approach.Eustass Kid.Bounty: 415 million Berries.And beside him was a masked man holding two rotating scythes.Killer, a combatant of the Kid Pirates, with a bounty of 262 million Berries."Utterly boring."Kid spat, the fingers of his mechanical prosthetic opening and closing with a harsh metallic grinding sound."Setting up a house-playing competition like this just for a fruit... Does that Doflamingo guy really think he's a king?"Killer's voice came through his mask, muffled and strange:"But the Tremor-Tremor Fruit is worth it. Kid, if we get it...""I know."Kid interrupted him, his crimson eyes scanning the entire waiting area before finally settling on Zoro's direction."But more than the fruit... I want to run into a certain bastard wearing a straw hat here."His gaze briefly met Zoro's in mid-air.Kid frowned, seemingly finding the swordsman somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall where he had seen him before.Zoro calmly looked away, appearing as just another ordinary contestant.Just then, a commotion broke out at the entrance of the waiting area."Out of the way! Everyone, get out of the way for this young master!"A blond young man, handsome to the point of being eerie, strode in with his head held high.He wore a magnificent white knight's outfit with a slender rapier at his waist and a cloak embroidered with rose patterns over his shoulders.Most notably, he was followed by a group of female fans with hearts in their eyes, screaming incessantly."Lord Cavendish! Look over here!""Prince Charming! You must win!""Aaaah—!""Pirate Prince" Cavendish, with a bounty of 280 million Berries.He was currently smiling and waving to his fans, his movements as elegant as a stage actor's.But when he turned toward the other contestants in the waiting area, the smile on his face instantly turned into undisguised contempt."A bunch of vulgar brutes."He drew the rapier from his waist and used the tip to gently push aside a large man blocking his path."Are you even worthy of competing on the same stage as this young master? Truly..."Before he could finish, the man he had pushed aside suddenly lashed out!"Pretty boy! You're looking for death!"The man was nearly three meters tall, his muscles bulging, and he threw a punch that whistled through the air!Cavendish didn't even blink.He simply leaned to the side and thrust the tip of his sword out like a venomous snake.Puchi.The sword tip accurately pierced the man's elbow joint.The man's fist fell powerless in mid-air, and he collapsed to his knees, screaming in pain."Crude."Cavendish withdrew his sword and pulled out a silk handkerchief to wipe the blood from the tip."What I hate most are savages like you who only know how to use brute force."He tossed the handkerchief aside, scanned the room, and finally locked onto Kid."Oh? Eustass Kid? You're here too?"Cavendish raised an eyebrow."For the Tremor-Tremor Fruit? Or... do you also want to take this chance to challenge that Straw Hat Kid who's been stealing all the headlines?"Kid sneered, "None of your business.""Heh." A cold light flashed in Cavendish's eyes."To be honest, I'm not that interested in the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. But..."His voice suddenly rose, carrying obvious anger."That Straw Hat Luffy! Why him?! Clearly, I am more handsome! More elegant! My swordsmanship is more exquisite!""Yet the newspapers of the whole world are reporting on him! 'The Fourth Emperor'? 'Head of the Worst Generation'? What a joke!"He gripped his sword hilt, his knuckles turning white."Once I get the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the first thing I'll do is find him! Defeat him in front of the whole world! Let everyone know... who the most dazzling rising star of this era truly is!"The waiting area fell into a dead silence.Everyone looked at Cavendish as if he were a madman.Challenge one of the Four Emperors?And it was that Straw Hat Luffy, who had caused a massive scene at the Marineford War, was rumored to have defeated Kaido, and had a bounty of four billion?Is this guy... out of his mind?The corner of Zoro's mouth under his mask couldn't help but twitch.'That guy Luffy... he really attracts trouble wherever he goes.'While Cavendish was still delivering his "declaration," an even more exaggerated commotion erupted from the other side of the entrance."Out of the way! Everyone, get out of my way! Don't block me from seeing Luffy-senpai—!!!"A young man with a green mohawk and tattoos all over his body charged in like an out-of-control tank.A fanatical fire burned in his eyes, and he held a massive flag.The flag depicted a crudely drawn straw hat skull, with the words "Straw Hat Luffy Fan Club" written crookedly beneath it.Bartolomeo—bounty: 200 million Berries.After rushing into the waiting area, the first thing he did was grab the pirate nearest to him and ask urgently:"Hey! You! Have you seen Luffy-senpai?!""Is he also here for the competition?! Is he?!"The pirate was so scared his face turned pale:"St-Straw Hat Luffy? I haven't... haven't seen him...""Dammit!"Bartolomeo let go of him and clutched his mohawk in frustration."Where on earth is Luffy-senpai... I clearly used my sixth sense and felt he was in Dressrosa..."Just then, a sneer came from nearby."Straw Hat Luffy? That brat who climbed to the rank of Four Emperors by luck?"The speaker was an old pirate with a face full of scars and a missing front tooth."If you ask me, he's just a lucky idiot! At the Marineford War, Whitebeard and the others did the heavy lifting, and he just picked up the scraps!""Defeated Kaido? Who knows if the Marines just made that up to create hype!"The moment those words were spoken.Time seemed to freeze.Bartolomeo slowly turned his head.The fanatical expression on his face vanished. It was replaced by an extremely cold gaze, as if he were looking at a dead man."...What did you,"Bartolomeo said word by word, "just say?"The old pirate felt uneasy under his gaze, but he remained stubborn:"I said Straw Hat Luffy is a—""Barrier: Impact."A transparent barrier suddenly appeared in front of the old pirate and then surged forward at a terrifying speed!The old pirate didn't even have time to scream before he was slammed into the rock wall by the barrier!With a thunderous boom, spider-web cracks appeared on the rock wall; the old pirate was embedded in the wall, foaming at the mouth and unconscious.The waiting area fell into a deathly silence.Bartolomeo withdrew his ability and switched back to his fanatical smile:"Does anyone else want to say bad things about Luffy-senpai? Hmm?"No one dared to answer.He nodded in satisfaction and began searching through the crowd again:"Luffy-senpai... where are you..."Zoro silently looked away.'Luffy's fans... are monsters as well, as expected.'Amidst the chaos, deep in the waiting area, two figures—one old and one young—sat quietly on a stone bench.The elder had white hair and a bald head but kept a thick white beard.He sat with his eyes closed, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.The 12th Leader of the Happo Navy, Chinjo.Bounty: 542 million Berries.And sitting beside him was a steady-looking young man with a topknot.Sai, Chinjo's grandson and the successor to the 13th Leader of the Happo Navy."Grandfather, there are more strong contestants than expected this time."Sai said in a low voice,"Kid, Cavendish, Bartolomeo... none of them will be easy to deal with."Chinjo slowly opened his eyes.His eyes lacked the cloudiness of old age, possessing only a sharpness forged through years of experience."It matters not."Chinjo's voice was deep like a bell,"I am not very interested in the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. But..."He gripped his dragon-head cane."That Kid named Luffy... Garp's grandson... I really want to meet him. To see if he's worthy of the title of 'Four Emperors'."Sai hesitated for a moment but eventually just nodded: "Understood."Zoro took all of this in.Kid, Killer, Cavendish, Bartolomeo, Chinjo, Sai... plus Katakuri and King who might be lurking in the stands, and Admiral Fujitora who could intervene at any time.This gladiatorial tournament was indeed a vortex that could pull the entire world in, just as Law had said.He lightly gripped the hilt of the wado ichimonji.Good.The more strong people there were, the more interesting this battle would be."Block A-1 contestants, prepare!"The broadcast suddenly rang out."The first match is about to begin! Block A-1 contestants, take the field!!"Zoro stood up and walked toward the designated passage.As he passed by Kid, Kid suddenly spoke:"Hey, you, swordsman!!"Zoro stopped in his tracks.Kid stared at him, a searching light flashing in his crimson eyes:"Have we met somewhere before?"Zoro didn't turn back, simply saying flatly:"You have the wrong person."Then, he walked into the passage.Kid watched his back, his brow furrowed."Kid?" Killer asked."...It's nothing."Kid looked away, "I remember you're in A-1 too. Be careful. That guy... is not simple!!""Yeah!!"Killer nodded slightly!...At the end of the passage was a slowly rising iron gate.Beyond the gate were deafening cheers, blinding sunlight, and a coliseum floor covered in sand.Zoro took a deep breath and stepped out.The battle had begun.