Chapter 1209: New World’s Welcome Gift

Chinjao isn’t exactly the most good-natured person, although he remembers the kindness to his head, he holds onto hatred just the same.

Back then, Garp’s punch destroyed his proud drill-like head, leaving Chinjao in pain for many years.

As he couldn’t beat Garp, this hatred extended to Garp’s descendants.

As the former pillar of the Happo Navy, Chinjao still possesses the ability to analyze situations.

First, during the Paramount War, the identities of Luffy and Ace as brothers, and of Garp and Luffy as grandfather and grandson, were made public.

Then came the reappearance of Whitebeard’s Quake-Quake Fruit, and the Whitebeard Pirates would never let someone else take the fruit, especially since it ignited the war with Ace.

Luffy’s recent news was that he had formed an alliance with Law at Punk Hazard, making Chinjao think there was a high probability he would encounter Luffy coming to help his brother.

The Happo Navy and the New Giant Soldier Pirates are not as obedient to the Hundred Beasts as the Affiliated Pirate Groups, but ultimately they are forces close to this side. Borrowing the connection with the Hundred Beasts and temporarily allying isn’t a bad idea, though Yamato herself has no interest in this.

“No thanks, let’s rely on our own skills. Just do your best when the time comes, and if you want the fruit, there’s no need to hold back.”

Jokingly, her emergency refuge was to avoid disaster. Even the excuse of the Quake-Quake Fruit wasn’t really sufficient; relying on others would just bring more trouble upon returning.

“You guys go ahead first. I want to stay and have fun for a while, see you later.”

With that, she ended the impromptu team-building session and left with her men, while in the shadows, members of the Donquixote family were also recording all of this.

“Giant Mercenary Hajrudin, the Happo Navy has relations with the Hundred Beasts, cannot be touched.”

The seemingly fair competition was actually filled with black schemes, and even before the match began, undercurrents were already flowing.

Yamato wasn’t in a hurry to head to the Bullfighting Arena. From what she understood, the match was going to last a long time, so she could enjoy this vacation as well.

Refuge it may be, but enjoying a vacation during refuge was also one of her important goals.

“By the way, is anyone interested in participating?”

Yamato glanced at the others behind her, and Robin was the first to express her disinterest, followed by Ulti who said she wasn’t interested in this kind of silly romp.

Upon hearing Ulti’s words, Page One was immediately intrigued.

“Yamato sis, I want to participate.”

“Oh come on, little Pei, you actually like these kiddie things. In that case, I’ll reluctantly join and accompany you, and I’ll take out all the nuisances for you.”

“Uh… I suddenly don’t want to participate anymore…”

An indecisive waver appeared between Ulti and Page One, and from the looks of it, Page One had no chance of shaking off Ulti, ultimately becoming her partner in the ring.

Speed, Mizerka, and Sorlithia also decided to participate in the end. With their young lady in the fray, they couldn’t just stand idly by.

Just as Yamato and her group decided on their plans, Luffy was busy disguising himself to participate, suddenly remembering his purpose here and thinking it wasn’t smart to reveal himself recklessly. So, in front of Ace, he started applying a fake beard to his face.

After a fitting makeover, the gladiator known as Lucy appeared.

“I say, Luffy, what are you doing?”

“Ace, from now on, please call me Lucy. Right now, I’m not Luffy; I’m a gladiator here to help you.”

“Ace, your brother is quite something. But, brother of Ace, this isn’t child’s play, don’t slow us down.”

Watching the child-like Luffy, Marco teased from the side.

“No way, I’ve been training hard these past two years, I can definitely help Ace!”

“Let’s talk about that later. First, let me show you this arena’s opponents. I’ve seen quite a few troublesome ones.”

Calming down the slightly excited Luffy, Ace planned to first go observe some opposition. In the two years, he had matured a lot, and Whitebeard’s death had changed him significantly, making him less reckless than before.

To successfully reclaim that fruit, he intended to be fully prepared.

As they left, in a nearby corner came an excited panting sound. A green-haired, rooster-crowned figure with a flushed face seemed to have seen something incredible.

“Hehehe! Luffy Senpai! It’s Luffy Senpai! He’s finally showed up again, oh yeah!”

Bartolomeo, captain of the Barto Club, an avid fan of Luffy.

The reason he became a fan of Luffy was because he witnessed Luffy’s great deed two years ago at Log Town. Just that one time had deeply captivated him with Luffy.

But unlike the original timeline, after that, news about Luffy became scarce, leading to a decrease in his notoriety, and Bartolomeo became an even rarer fan.

After all, compared to those who had risen to fame, he was a fan of only an obscure little pirate, a situation that only changed after the Paramount War.

“Luffy Senpai is also participating… No way, I must prove myself! Bullfighting Arena, here I come!”

With a stride more defiant than even Doflamingo’s, Bartolomeo rushed toward the Bullfighting Arena, a green blur knocking aside many along the way.

Originally the mob boss of Log Town, with a wicked and ruthless personality, his bounty of 150 million Belly marked him as a Super Rookie, but he carried another notorious name – the most wanted pirate to disappear from the real-time rankings, NO.1.

Bartolomeo has already reached the pinnacle of loathsomeness.

…

Not long after, in the Bullfighting Arena, a large crowd of spectators had already gathered.

“Gentlemen, ladies, and toys in attendance! Today’s grand event will undoubtedly be recorded in history!”

On the arena’s stage, the host, Gatz, was introducing the situation of the match.

This place used to be for sword fighters to spar, but since Doflamingo came into power, it has turned into a place purely for mutual slaughter and attracting public attention, filled with a bloody and violent atmosphere.

Yet, this kind of violence is even more eye-catching.

Everyone says they don’t like violence, but who doesn’t love to watch it, said a fighter from a certain fighting ring.

“For today’s grand spectacle, His Majesty the King offered his treasure! Such a rare treasure is given directly to us! Two years ago, in the Summit War, the deceased former Emperor, the world’s strongest man—Whitebeard Edward Newgate’s! Quake-Quake Fruit! With a mere gesture, he could summon a tsunami, and in anger, he could destroy islands; the strongest Paramecia-type power has once again become a Devil Fruit, and it’s right here!”

With the amplification of the Radio Snail, Gatz’s voice spread throughout the Bullfighting Arena, and each of his words triggered cheers from the audience below.

“Today, under His Majesty’s summons, warriors from the New World have gathered in this arena, along with other self-proclaimed formidable applicants. They will battle in sections, and those who fight their way through will earn the right to challenge! Due to the large number of participants, the rules have changed. There are a total of eight zones, with the top two from each zone advancing to the finals. Ultimately, the champion will be decided among these sixteen people, but before that, there will be elimination rounds!”

…

The host went off stage, and the contestants took the stage. In just a few minutes, the match in Zone A was ready.

“Everyone except yourself is an enemy. Death, falling out of the arena, or losing the ability to fight are all considered failures. Let’s see which two can stand last! As a friendly reminder to newcomers, the waters surrounding the arena are filled with fighting fish waiting for those who fall into the water. Now, the elimination match for 188 people in Zone A officially begins!”

With Gatz’s signal, the slaughter within the arena formally began. Gladiators with rudimentary armor and weapons charged at the enemy beside them without a word.

Within less than a minute of the battle starting, a large number of contestants were killed, and some were directly knocked into the surrounding sea, immediately attracting an attack by the fighting fish.

In the surrounding stands, Luffy, along with Ace and others, were also watching the battle.

“Ace, they don’t seem very strong.”

“The strong ones haven’t made a move yet. Old man’s fruit isn’t something just anyone can covet, and these people who don’t understand their own strength are living examples. Do you see that guy with the scarf, Lu… Lucy?”

“I see him, what’s up, Ace?”

“That guy is the tricky one, Katakuri, son of BIG MOM, and the strongest Commander of the BIG MOM Pirates. Aside from him, there are many tricky ones on top, but they haven’t taken action yet.”

Apart from the monsters from various parts of the New World, Doflamingo also attracted many people with no great strength but extremely ambitious.

At this moment, the stage in Zone A had already divided into several parts, with more than a hundred people in the center in a melee, but those with thoughts of strategy each taking their positions on the edges.

“Fishman Haku took down his opponent in one move! Elizabello II’s legion is being besieged, and it doesn’t look good… Wait… The three brothers from the BIG MOM Pirates are finally making their move!”

Gatz explained energetically, with such urgency in his tone that it was daunting to think he might suffocate from lack of breath.

“Brother Katakuri, aren’t you going to take a look?”

“There’s no need. There’s no opponent worth paying attention to in the arena. I’ve already seen that boring future; the tricky guys are all in the stands, no need to waste time. Daifuku, Owen, take out these guys, but don’t reveal too much.”

“Understood, Brother Katakuri.”

Daifuku was the first to move. He rubbed his hands at his waist, and a Blue Lamp Spirit, wielding a glaive like the Lamp Spirit in Aladdin’s Magic Lamp, emerged from his waist. Seemingly independent, but it was connected to Daifuku by a wisp of light steam.

Daifuku is a Paramecia-type: Puff-Puff Fruit user, essentially a Magic Lamp himself, but unable to grant wishes, only capable of summoning the Lamp Spirit to fight on his behalf.

“Go, Demon Slash!”

On Daifuku’s command, the Lamp Spirit swung its long blade forward, instantly clearing a fan-shaped area in front of him, and all contestants within Daifuku’s attack range were incapacitated with this strike.

Seeing his brother already take action, Owen was not to be outdone. He began to heat his hands, his body gradually turning incredibly red. He is a Paramecia-type: Heat-Heat Fruit user, capable of quickly raising his body temperature and altering the temperature of objects he contacts.

“Hot Wind Fist!”

With a swing out of nowhere, the air suddenly became scorching and then transformed into a burning current sweeping forward. After these two attacks, only a single-digit number of contestants remained on the Zone A stage…