As the days passed, the number of pirates flooding into Parage Island and the Battle Pyramid increased at an astonishing rate. With only three days left before the official start of the Swordplay Tournament, the entire island had already reached an unprecedented level of activity.
With such a massive crowd gathered in one place, conflict was inevitable, and in this environment, combat naturally became the most popular form of entertainment. The addition of generous rewards only intensified the enthusiasm, drawing in participants from every corner of the sea.
Swordsmen, independent pirates, and even members of major pirate crews all registered to fight within the Battle Pyramid. The system placed no restrictions on identity, allowing even Marines to participate openly.
As the number of fighters surged, more arenas were gradually unlocked. At this stage, roughly half of the total arenas were now operational, and the competition had already reached a feverish intensity.
Among the most battle-hungry individuals, one had already set a staggering record of one hundred sixty-eight matches in a short span of time. Naturally, such achievements required not only endurance but overwhelming strength.
In terms of profit, the top earner had already accumulated over one hundred million Berries purely through combat rewards. This alone was enough to ignite another wave of excitement across the pyramid.
The point system governing the Battle Pyramid proved to be highly efficient. Victories granted points, while defeats deducted them, ensuring a constant rise and fall among participants.
However, the system was not as simple as a fixed accumulation. If each level required one hundred points, then reaching the top would demand nearly two thousand victories, which was clearly impractical. Instead, each match typically awarded around five points, with particularly popular or intense battles yielding seven or even eight.
At the same time, insufficient points could result in demotion, forcing competitors to continuously prove their strength if they wished to climb higher.
Inside the grand hall on the seventeenth floor, Teach sat among the gathered powerhouses when the door suddenly swung open.
Kaido's massive figure entered without restraint, his presence immediately drawing attention. He looked directly at Teach, his expression carrying a hint of impatience.
To everyone present, it seemed as if Kaido had completely forgotten the incident where he had drunkenly rampaged, only to be restrained by Teach and left bound in Seastone chains for an entire day.
The memory lingered for others, but Kaido himself clearly had no intention of dwelling on it. The only thing he seemed to remember was how much he enjoyed the sake.
"Teach, this is getting boring," Kaido said bluntly, his tone carrying a restless edge. "Let's do something more interesting."
Teach turned his head slightly, a faint smile forming on his face. Around him, Whitebeard, Kozuki Oden, Shiki, Redfield, and Redyat were seated in a circle, engaged in a card game.
Teach casually placed two cards onto the table, glancing at Oden. "My turn. High-level Armament, attack. Oden, I'm targeting you."
Oden's eyes widened as he looked at his hand, clearly dissatisfied. "Why me?"
Teach chuckled softly, clearly amused. "Because your acting is terrible. You're a pirate, aren't you?"
The game they were playing had rapidly spread throughout Parage Island in recent days. Known as "Pirate Kill," it combined character cards, identity roles, and strategic hand cards.
Each character represented a well-known figure from the seas, complete with unique abilities. The system was simple to learn but rich in strategy, which allowed it to spread quickly among pirates and civilians alike.
The rarest cards, particularly those representing the strongest figures, had already become highly sought-after treasures. A single card depicting one of the Four Emperors had reached an outrageous value on the black market, far exceeding its negligible production cost.
Teach had originally introduced the concept as a form of entertainment, but it had quickly evolved into a massive profit stream for the Nightfall Pirates.
Even among powerhouses, the game had found its place as a temporary diversion. For a brief moment, the tension between rival forces eased, replaced by laughter and casual competition.
Of course, everyone understood that this fragile harmony would not last beyond Teach's territory.
Kaido, however, had no interest in such games. He glanced at the table briefly before returning his attention to Teach.
"Let our subordinates fight," he said, his tone carrying a hint of excitement.
The suggestion immediately drew interest. Shiki and the others set aside their cards, their attention shifting fully to Kaido.
Teach narrowed his eyes slightly, sensing the underlying intent. "That doesn't sound like a simple idea."
Kaido grinned. "Of course not. There should be stakes."
His gaze locked onto Teach, clearly targeting something specific.
"That Ancient Zoan you have… the Pig-Gator Fruit. That one will do."
The moment he spoke, the intention became obvious.
Teach had indeed placed that Devil Fruit as a reward within the Battle Pyramid. Though not among the absolute top-tier Ancient Zoans, it was still a powerful carnivorous type, highly desirable for combat.
The system required participants to accumulate a large number of points before they could exchange for such rewards, ensuring that only the strongest could obtain them.
Teach leaned back slightly, completely unbothered. "I don't mind. But can you offer something of equal value?"
His tone carried quiet confidence, making it clear that he did not believe Kaido's crew could easily win.
Kaido paused for a moment, then frowned slightly. Producing an Ancient Zoan of equal worth was not something he was willing to do lightly.
Seeing this, Teach chuckled. "It doesn't have to be the same type. Paramecia or Logia will do. As long as the value matches."
He then continued, outlining the structure of the competition.
Each faction would contribute items of roughly equal value. Their subordinates would fight, and based on the outcome, rewards would be chosen in order of ranking. Even those who lost would still receive something, ensuring minimal loss overall.
The idea immediately gained traction.
Whitebeard casually offered an Ancient Zoan Centipede Fruit along with several additional Devil Fruits, showing little concern over the stakes.
Teach followed by adding the Pig-Gator Fruit along with multiple other abilities.
Shiki's Flying Pirates contributed powerful Paramecia abilities, while Kaido eventually joined in with his own selection, including a Plasma-type fruit.
Each offering raised the value of the competition further, turning what began as a simple idea into a high-stakes clash between the strongest crews on the sea.
The only remaining question was participation.
Kaido initially suggested an age limit of under twenty-five, but the others quickly pointed out the flaw. Teach himself would qualify under such conditions, along with many of his top officers.
After a brief adjustment, the limit was reduced to under nineteen, narrowing the field to the next generation.
It was clear that Kaido had his own candidate in mind, someone he believed could secure victory.
Finally, the format of the competition was decided.
Instead of traditional duels, Teach proposed a free-for-all battle.
All participants would enter the arena simultaneously, fighting without restriction. Ranking would be determined by the order of elimination, with the last one standing earning the highest reward priority.
The idea immediately sparked interest.
Compared to one-on-one battles, a melee would be far more chaotic and unpredictable. Strength alone would not guarantee victory. Strategy, awareness, and timing would all play critical roles.
As the details were finalized, the gathered Emperors and their allies began preparing their candidates.
This was no longer just a game.
It was a clash of the next generation, a preview of the future power structure of the seas, and a spectacle that would shake the entire world once it began.