As the final trace of sunset sank beneath the horizon, the night sky of the New World was adorned with stars and auroras like a dreamlike curtain. The tournament welcomed its first complete night.
But for some arenas, the very concept of "night"… was debatable.
Zone Eight, Evernight.
This was an extremely unusual island.
Not because it was always in darkness, in fact, a strange "moon" hung perpetually in the sky, casting a cold silver glow. But that light only illuminated about ten meters ahead; beyond that was endless, pitch-black darkness.
The real peculiarity lay in its terrain.
The entire island was made up of countless floating rock platforms, layered at different heights and connected in chaotic ways.
Some were as large as football fields; others could barely hold two or three people.
None of them touched the ground. They hovered eerily in midair, linked by swaying vine bridges, fragile stone arches, or sometimes nothing at all but empty space.
Below them stretched a bottomless abyss, where faint howling winds and the unsettling sounds of massive unseen creatures echoed from the void.
Fighting here meant guarding not just against enemies,
But against your own footing.
One misstep… and it was eternal damnation.
At the center of this labyrinth of floating platforms, a glaring red beam shot straight into the "sky," serving as a beacon in the darkness.
That meant one thing, a [Renzo Gold Token] holder was there and he was surrounded.
...
G-5 Live Plaza, Midnight Special Broadcast
Despite the late hour, the plaza was still packed, brightly lit.
Vendors sold hotdogs and coffee, gamblers stared at screens with bloodshot eyes, and noble ladies, wrapped in blankets, insisted on continuing their "binge watch."
"Ladies and gentlemen! Night owls! And all you gamblers who lost money and can't sleep!!"
Rehn's voice remained as energetic as ever. He had changed into a black pajama-style suit with glowing stripes (his self-proclaimed "Midnight Commentary Skin"), holding a cup of hot cocoa.
"Welcome to the Evernight Island special stream! I'm your ever-energetic host, Rehn!"
"The time now is, 1:00 AM! But for the fighters in Zone Eight… the battle has just begun!"
The screen split into multiple angles, showing the central battlefield.
On a floating platform about the size of a basketball court, a tense standoff was unfolding.
At the center, a lean man in a G-5 tactical vest stood with his back against a stone pillar, gripping a glowing red Gold Token.
His name was Falcon.
A lieutenant commander from G-5's reconnaissance unit, known for his exceptional Observation Haki and stealth skills.
By day, he had relied on agility and terrain to secure a token.
But now, He was in a dead end.
At three edges of the platform stood his enemies:
East side: A man in a tattered cloak, face painted, casually playing with three poisoned throwing knives, "Shadow Dancer" Sutherland, top assassin from North Blue, bounty: 150 million.
West side: A nearly 3-meter-tall brute with rock-like skin, carrying a massive chain hammer.
"Rock Mountain" Grove, giant-blood hybrid, bounty: 200 million.
North side (most dangerous): A woman in tight leather, short purple hair, wearing metal claw gauntlets, lazily licking the tips. "Poison Scorpion" Vera, Zoan user, Scorpion Fruit, bounty: 230 million. Her venom could paralyze a Sea King in three seconds.
The three formed a triangle, locking Falcon in place.
Beyond them, in the darkness, dozens of eyes flickered, other contestants lurking like vultures, waiting to steal the spoils.
"Desperation! True desperation!" Rehn slammed the table.
"No matter how strong Falcon's Observation Haki is, he can't dodge three top-tier attackers from three directions at once! Not to mention the hyenas waiting outside!"
"Will this Gold Token change hands right here?!"
"Let's check the odds, Falcon successfully defending is 20 to 1! Wow! The bookmakers have no faith in him!"
Gamblers shouted, "I bet on Rock Mountain! Ten million! One hit and he's pancake meat!"
"No! Poison Scorpion wins, fast and deadly!"
"What about Shadow Dancer? He might steal it!"
Meanwhile, noble ladies clutched handkerchiefs, "Go Falcon! You're kinda handsome, don't die!"
On the platform, tension thickened like iron.
"Kid," Grove rumbled, voice grinding like stone.
"Throw me the token, and I'll spare you. Otherwise, I'll smash you, and this platform, into the abyss."
"Hehe… big guy, don't scare the boy," Sutherland chuckled.
"Hand it to me, handsome. You won't feel a thing. My blades are quick."
Vera said nothing.
She simply stared with vertical pupils, her scorpion tail swaying, glowing faint blue.
Sweat dripped down Falcon's forehead.
His Observation Haki screamed warnings, death from all directions.
No matter which one he resisted, the other two would strike.
And even if he escaped… he glanced at the swaying vine bridges.
Being chased across this terrain by three monsters meant near-certain death.
Just as despair set in, WHOOSH!!
A sudden flare shot up from the abyss below.
'A signal flare? Firework? Illumination round?'
It exploded above the platform with a sharp bang!
Blinding white light flooded the area, forcing everyone to squint.
"What the hell?!"
"Hey! Hey! Pull me up! Someone help me!!"
A panicked voice rang out, along with clanking metal sounds.
At the southern edge, a young man in a loud floral shirt, goggles, and a large backpack dangled awkwardly from a grappling hook, legs flailing in midair like dried meat.
"I can't hold on! Please! Help a brother out! I'll repay you!!"
The sudden, absurd scene shattered the tension.
Even Grove, Sutherland, and Vera froze for a moment.
"Where did this clown come from?" Vera frowned.
"Doesn't matter, kill him first!" Grove raised his hammer.
"Wait!" Sutherland suddenly shouted.
From the man's backpack, a faint glimmer of gold peeked out.
'Another token?!'
In that instant, all three killers' attention shifted.
Just for a fraction of a second.
And that was enough.
"Now!"
Falcon's eyes flashed!
He vanished instantly, not toward any enemy, but toward the edge of the platform!
"Soru!"
He dashed toward a swaying vine bridge connecting to a smaller platform!
"Running?!" they roared.
"Poison Needle Barrage!" Vera fired dozens of venomous needles!
"Rock Spikes!" Grove slammed the ground, raising jagged stone!
"Shadow Bind!" Sutherland's shadow lashed forward!
But Falcon had already predicted everything.
Midair, he twisted three times impossibly, like a swallow darting through gaps, dodging needles, spikes, and shadows.
His foot tapped the vine.
WHOOSH!
He landed safely on a tiny platform barely the size of a round table!
"After him!!" the three roared, rushing for the bridge.
But just then...