021 Ruthlessness, Revealing One’s Worth

“Are you ready?” The referee looked at Xuanye and Tea Boar.

Rumbling… Rumbling… Blistering flames, a terrifying heat, the air itself shimmered. Xuanye immediately unleashed his half-beast form, the wild and violent aura instantly plunging Tea Boar’s heart into an icy abyss.

Before the match had even begun, Xuanye had already assumed a desperate stance, clearly showing he had no intention of letting Tea Boar surrender easily.

“Sengoku, be ready to intervene.” Seeing Xuanye’s posture, Kong’s brow twitched.

“Understood.”

At that moment, the referee finally announced the start.

Boom! The ground exploded, and Xuanye vanished in an instant.

A chilling cold, cold to the bone—no matter how Tea Boar strained his eyes or used his Observation Haki, he could not spot Xuanye’s figure.

“I sur—”

In a flash, Tea Boar’s pupils shrank. A large hand clamped tightly over his face, preventing him from completing the words “I surrender.”

“You won’t have the chance to surrender.” Xuanye’s face was twisted with brutality, his words slow and icy as he gazed at the terror-stricken Tea Boar.

Whoosh! Flames erupted, and a magnificent, divine spear of fire materialized in Xuanye’s right hand, its tip pitch black.

Tea Boar struggled violently, but the large hand pressed down mercilessly on his face, and endless flames burned around him. In the blink of an eye, the scent of roasting flesh filled the arena.

It all happened too quickly. By the time the crowd reacted, Xuanye was already poised to finish Tea Boar off.

The two were not on the same level at all—the gap in strength was a chasm, leaving Tea Boar in utter despair.

“Die.” Clutching Tea Boar tightly, Xuanye thrust the flaming spear straight at Tea Boar’s heart.

“Not good...” The crowd’s hearts skipped a beat, horror dawning on their faces. Xuanye was truly about to kill Tea Boar in front of everyone.

But just then, a figure flashed to Tea Boar’s side—a radiant golden light enveloped him, and a massive golden palm, emanating peace and mercy, struck out powerfully.

“Shock of the Buddha.”

Boom! Thunderous explosions erupted, debris flying everywhere. The golden figure retreated through the air, Tea Boar half-dead in his grasp, then glared angrily at the distant, blood-spitting Xuanye.

Ruthless, far too ruthless—deep wariness flashed in Sengoku’s eyes. At the critical moment, Xuanye had used only half his strength to deflect Sengoku’s attack, while the other half was aimed without hesitation at Tea Boar.

If not for Sengoku’s vast experience, Tea Boar would not be half-dead now, but fully dead.

As for Xuanye, he had suffered no light injuries, but give him half an hour and he would recover most of them.

The blazing flames faded. Xuanye stood, wiped blood from his lips, and calmly regarded the livid Sengoku. “Fleet Admiral Sengoku, wasn’t that a violation of the rules? I never heard that outsiders could interfere during a match.”

“Hmph, you went too far. The rules state that intentional killing is forbidden, and besides, Tea Boar was about to surrender.” Sengoku narrowed his eyes, his expression ugly; after all, to do such a thing under everyone’s gaze was rather humiliating.

“I didn’t kill anyone. It was just a spar, and from start to finish, I only used two moves. And, did he actually surrender? I didn’t hear it.” Xuanye’s face was cold as he stared at the unconscious Tea Boar.

“You…” Sengoku’s face was ashen, at a loss for words.

“That’s enough. Xuanye wins this match. Quickly get Tea Boar to treatment.” With a wave of his hand, Kong interrupted the exchange.

“Wait.” Xuanye frowned and looked straight at Kong, unafraid. “Marshal Kong, is this match rigged? If so, I can simply concede.”

“What do you mean?” Kong’s face darkened.

“Sengoku openly interfered with the match. Does that mean the results have already been decided? Intervening at a crucial moment introduces all sorts of variables. If I weren’t strong enough, I’d have been seriously injured by Sengoku’s shockwave. If Tea Boar had attacked me at that moment, well… I think everyone here knows the outcome.”

Xuanye’s tone was mocking, ignoring Sengoku’s increasingly stormy expression, and instead looked confidently at Kong.

Those who understood the situation thought to themselves, “If you were so easily injured by the shockwave, it wouldn’t be Tea Boar half-dead now, but you, lying there and protesting injustice.”

“What do you want?” Kong did not wish to argue further; after all, there was some fault on their side. As Fleet Admiral, his every word and deed mattered, and the Five Elders were watching this very competition.

“I have only one demand: from now on, no one is to interfere in the matches.” Xuanye extended a finger, his voice firm.

“No deaths in the matches,” Kong replied, his gaze sharp.

“And if both sides have no objection?”

Kong fell silent.

Just then, the golden Den Den Mushi in Kong’s pocket rang. He listened solemnly for a moment.

After a brief pause, Kong’s expression returned to calm, and his voice was steady. “If both sides have no objection, then you may settle it as you see fit.”

“Thank you, Fleet Admiral Kong.” Xuanye’s eyes lit up; he knew the Five Elders had begun to intervene.

The other cadets, hearing Kong’s decision, could only grimace.

“Akainu, are you ready?” Turning slightly, Xuanye made his intentions clear.

A collective realization dawned—everyone wore an expression of “just as expected.” Instinctively, all eyes turned to Akainu, including Garp, Kong, and even the Five Elders hidden in the shadows.

Clenching his fists, Akainu’s face twisted with rage. To be so insulted—his pride could not endure it, and besides, who would triumph in the end was not yet certain.

“What, afraid? Where’s that pride of yours? The courage you had to provoke me?”

“Enough! The outcome is far from decided. Just wait—I’ll make you pay.” Akainu snarled furiously at Xuanye.

“Hmph, we’ll see. Dead dog, I wonder who’ll save you this time.”

A cruel smile curled on Xuanye’s lips as he slowly left the arena.

From the start, Tea Boar had never been Xuanye’s goal. He had anticipated Kong’s intervention, and his actions were calculated to leave Kong speechless before everyone.

Only in this way could he achieve his aim. And Xuanye’s true target had always been Akainu.

Compared to Akainu’s threat, Tea Boar was insignificant.

After the incident, an odd atmosphere lingered among the cadets. Yet most wanted to see the showdown between Xuanye and Akainu.

The tournament would continue over several days. With each round growing more intense and drawn-out, it was impossible to determine the final rankings in a single day; several days would be necessary.

On the Red Line, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the World Government’s highest seat of power—not only home to the nobility, but also the Celestial Dragons and the supreme decision-makers: the Five Elders.

Within a splendid castle, on plain sofas and around an ordinary desk, five elderly men, each with distinct features, sat or stood, watching the day’s naval tournament unfold.

“Interesting. Not only are there three Logia users among the navy, but also an ancient Zoan type not inferior to them.”

A scarred elder observed the scene, intrigued by the young man in the image.

“They have the power, but can we make use of them?” another, sword in hand, remarked coolly.

“Compared to Akainu, I’m more optimistic about this Xuanye fellow.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

“It’s said the Golden Lion kidnapped his sister. That would make him hate pirates. As long as we manipulate things properly and direct his hatred towards pirates, it shouldn’t be impossible.”

“More importantly, the government can offer him much—information, authority.”

“So long as he has attachments, he’ll never escape our grasp.”

“As for Akainu, in the end we can protect him; after all, a loyal dog is hard to come by. And as for their personal grievances—there are few conflicts that power and profit can’t resolve.”

“Well then, let’s watch a while longer.”

“Agreed.”

“Indeed.”

No one knew what the Five Elders discussed or decided that day.

But Xuanye’s goal was achieved—he had finally captured the attention of the Five Elders.