"Shiryu, you should go get some treatment ," Jesus Burgess said, breaking the silence in the room.
Shiryu's injuries were undeniably severe. Aside from the gashes on his shoulders, waist, and abdomen, the wound on his chest was deep and continued to bleed heavily. If left untreated, the risk of serious infection was high. Without saying a word, Shiryu stood up and headed toward the arena's medical team.
Burgess and Van Augur watched him go, both breathing a sigh of relief. They had worried that Shiryu's stubbornness would prevent him from seeking help. While competition was common within the Blackbeard Pirates, they were still crewmates. If Shiryu were sidelined, the overall combat power of the Blackbeard Pirates would be significantly weakened—a situation no one wanted.
"You know, the Straw Hat Pirates are actually terrifying ," Burgess admitted, a hint of genuine fear in his eyes.
"I agree ," Van Augur replied, adjusting his glasses. "I didn't expect them to have someone like Roronoa Zoro in addition to Straw Hat Luffy and that Lightning Swordsman, Carl. It is no wonder the captain considers them a threat."
Even these seasoned pirates had to admit the Straw Hats were powerful. Before Blackbeard betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates, the Straw Hats hadn't even entered the Grand Line. Yet, they had already made a name for themselves. Burgess had initially viewed their rise as a joke, but seeing Zoro's strength convinced him otherwise. He felt lucky they hadn't crossed paths with the Straw Hats earlier in their journey.
"I'm in Group C ," Burgess noted, his expression souring. "And it looks like Straw Hat Luffy is in Group C as well."
"That is a disaster ," Van Augur muttered, leaning back. He knew Burgess had almost no chance of winning against Luffy. Van Augur himself was placed in Group E, though he still didn't know who his opponents would be.
Elsewhere, Katakuri and Perospero of the Big Mom Pirates were equally solemn. Since the Straw Hats had previously defeated Katakuri and Cracker, their crew had been forced to take this rookie group seriously. The fact that Big Mom herself had been bested by Luffy in Water 7 was a source of great frustration for them.
They had assumed only Luffy and Carl possessed such strength, but Zoro's rapid growth had proven them wrong. Combined with "Black Leg" Sanji, who now wielded the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit (Goro Goro no Mi), the Straw Hats' core members were formidable. Katakuri realized that if they faced the Straw Hats in the future, the Big Mom Pirates might not win.
"The Straw Hat Pirates have fully matured," Katakuri judged. "We must be careful. I'm not sure which Emperor they will target first, but I have a feeling they will come for Mother."
Perospero agreed with his logic. Many viewed the Big Mom Pirates as the most vulnerable of the original Yonko, making them a primary target. Given the existing grudge between the two crews, a confrontation seemed inevitable.
While they speculated, the Straw Hats weren't actually planning that far ahead. Their journey was driven by a love for adventure. Luffy rarely spent time calculating which Emperor to fight; he simply faced whoever stood in his way.
As the excitement from Group A died down, Group B was called to the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Following that incredible opening, it is time for Group B!" Gatz's voice boomed.
A diverse group of fighters entered the ring. Gatz began introducing the notable contenders: King Elizabello II of the Prodence Kingdom, his strategist Dagama, the long-leg martial artist Blue Gilly, "Destruction Cannon" Ideo, and Sai and Boo of the Happo Navy. While these fighters were famous throughout the sea, they seemed outmatched by the presence of the royal-tier crews.
"It's my turn ," Sanji said calmly, stepping out of the waiting room with his hands in his pockets.
Luffy and the crew cheered for their chef, but Sanji remained focused. He was secretly listening for a specific voice, hoping Tashigi might cheer for him. To his disappointment, she was busy tending to Zoro's wounds and didn't even look up. Sanji felt a wave of irritation toward the unconscious swordsman.
As Sanji reached the arena floor, the crowd erupted.
"Everyone! Another member of the Straw Hat Pirates is taking the stage!" Gatz shouted. "This is the crew's chef, 'Black Leg' Sanji, with a bounty of 680,000,000 Berries! Let's see what surprises he has for us! "
Sanji ignored the announcer's hype. He scanned the arena, but seeing no beautiful women among the contestants, his interest quickly faded. The other fighters, however, were not so relaxed. They kept a respectful distance from him, just as others had done with Zoro. The knowledge that Sanji was a Logia-type user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—the strongest fruit in its class—filled them with dread.
At that moment, a man with a long tongue and a lollipop cane stepped onto the stage. The contestants gasped and moved even further away.
"Oh my! It is the Minister of Candy from the Big Mom Pirates!" Gatz yelled excitedly. "Another royal contender has arrived! Perospero! This group will surely be as thrilling as the last! "
Sanji watched Perospero with a sharp eye. Though he was confident in his new powers, he knew an officer of a Yonko was a dangerous opponent. Perospero likewise focused on Sanji. To him, everyone else in the ring was garbage; Sanji was the only true threat.
"Group B... begin! "
The gong sounded, and the battle started instantly. Most of the participants ignored the two powerhouses, choosing to fight among themselves to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Sanji and Perospero stood still, watching each other. Neither was in a rush to move; they were both content to let the weaker fighters eliminate one another before their inevitable clash.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse