Chapter 97: 97. Top-Level Subordinates

Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari ---------- Adjusting her breathing rhythm slightly, Gion aligned her state of mind and perception with the techniques Alex had taught her. Letting out a focused cry, she drew her sword once more. At that moment, all her energy and aura condensed into a singular, razor-sharp force. Her presence merged seamlessly with the sword, as though she had become one with the blade itself. "One-Sword Style: Shattering Slash!" As her sword flashed from its sheath, an overwhelming momentum engulfed Konpira, enveloping the blade in a radiant, light-blue aura. The concentrated energy surged forward, manifesting as a colossal wave of sword energy that hurtled toward Koshiro with unstoppable might. "To channel all of one's energy into such a finely honed strike... impressive." Koshiro's calm voice carried over the din of the battlefield. "Gion, it seems you've grasped the threshold of a Great Swordsman. From here, it's only a matter of time." But Koshiro didn't hold back. With a swift, precise motion, he countered her strike with equal force, his sword slicing cleanly through the air. Hum! The sword energy radiated outward with devastating intensity, and even the space around the blades seemed to tremble from the collision. Boom! The explosive impact echoed across the Flower Capital, a shockwave of air ripping through the atmosphere as their attacks clashed. The sheer force of the collision obliterated the ground beneath the arena, sending chunks of debris flying in all directions. Under the watchful eyes of countless spectators, the kilometer-wide arena cracked and groaned before splitting entirely in two. The clash had sundered the floating island into two massive halves, leaving a jagged chasm in its wake. As the dust settled, the screen showed Gion and Koshiro standing at opposite ends of the shattered battlefield, each occupying one of the island's severed halves. The two appeared evenly matched, their calm postures contrasting sharply with the destruction they had wrought. However, Gion sheathed Konpira, her expression tinged with acceptance. To her, the battle was already decided. Although she hadn't been particularly interested in the fight at first, this duel had served its purpose—allowing her to test her swordsmanship and measure her progress against Koshiro. Having realized the gap between them, she stepped back, conceding the match. The announcer's voice rang out triumphantly: "The match is over! And what a display it was! Let's hear it for these extraordinary swordsmen!" Cheers and applause erupted once again, shaking the island as the crowd celebrated the breathtaking spectacle. "Unbelievable," Stussy murmured, her eyes narrowing as she observed Koshiro. "Apart from you, General Alex, Wanokuni has such formidable warriors. It's no wonder this land is called the Nation of Warriors." Her tone was complimentary, but her thoughts remained guarded, focused entirely on Koshiro. Back when Gion was with the Marines, she had been hailed as the strongest future swordsman in the organization. Her exceptional talent and prowess in the way of the sword had only solidified after her promotion to Vice Admiral. Few in the Marines could match her skill in swordsmanship, and yet here, in Wanokuni, she had been defeated decisively. Though their clash hadn't been overtly fierce, anyone who understood swordsmanship could see that Gion had been on the back foot from the very beginning. "Isn't that to be expected?" Doflamingo said, his trademark grin returning. "This is the country of the dragon-slaying warrior, after all." Unlike the others, whose reactions were a mix of jealousy and awe, Doflamingo welcomed Wanokuni's display of strength. Aligning with Alex only became more appealing when he saw firsthand the might of the Shogun's warriors. Alex remained silent, a subtle smile playing on his lips. This was exactly the impression he wanted to leave. The arena battles continued, and while the subsequent matches didn't quite reach the intensity of the duel between Wanokuni's top swordsmen, they were no less captivating. Fighters like Derek, along with other pirates who had joined Wanokuni after passing rigorous assessments, demonstrated strength far beyond their previous limits. These were individuals who had honed their skills under Wanokuni's guidance, and the results spoke volumes. Meanwhile, the festival also showcased talents cultivated within Wanokuni itself. Talented swordsmen and physique masters dazzled the audience with their unique techniques and raw potential, each striving to leave their mark on the grandest event of the year. Of particular note were fighters introduced with the title of Shogun Royal Guards—Alex's elite forces. Laffitte, wielding the power of a Mythical Zoan, dominated his matches with a combination of eerie finesse and overwhelming devastation. His strange movements and unpredictable strategies captivated and unnerved the audience. Then there was Black Maria, her already imposing presence magnified by her transformation into an Ancient Zoan, the Rosamygale grauvogeli. Towering at over five meters tall, her abilities and Haki were nothing short of terrifying. Her commanding presence in the ring earned loud cheers from the geisha girls who supported her enthusiastically. Notably absent from the arena were Hancock and Perona. Their absence was a deliberate decision by Alex. They were being groomed as secret weapons—assets he intended to reveal only when their strength reached overwhelming levels. For now, he preferred to keep them in reserve, knowing that the right moment to showcase their abilities would come in time. Alex's vision for the festival extended far beyond this year. He intended to make it an annual event—one that would become the most prestigious competition of the year. This meant there was plenty of time for his promising subordinates to grow and claim their place on the stage in future festivals. Although the competitors in this year's tournament had already been screened for their strength, the event was still far from the monster levels of the Four Emperors' strongest subordinates. Nonetheless, the matches provided an exciting showcase of skill and potential. As the banquet reached its midpoint, the competition was in full swing. The intensity of the battles had captured the attention of the guests so thoroughly that many had forgotten about the banquet's sumptuous food and drink, their eyes glued to the massive screen. By the end of the tournament, Koshiro had emerged as the undisputed victor, his unparalleled swordsmanship earning him first place. With his triumph, the inaugural Fire Ceremony competition came to a close. Morgans, who had tirelessly documented the event, knew that the headlines in the New World—and even the wider world—would be dominated by the festival in the coming days. Among all the participants, Yamato stood out the most. At just thirteen years old, she had showcased prodigious talent and mastery of a top-tier Logia Fruit, a combination that would undoubtedly make her name even more famous than Koshiro's. This also marked the beginning of widespread recognition for Alex's Royal Guard. While fundamentally different from pirates, this elite force would soon stand as a status symbol comparable to the "All-Stars" of Kaido's crew, the "Sweet Commanders" of Big Mom, or the first division captains of other Four Emperors. Morgans left the festival elated, his Den Den Mushi packed with stories. He returned to the World Economy newspaper office immediately, eager to publish the event as the next front-page headline. Stussy also prepared to leave. The competition had given her a deeper understanding of Wanokuni's strength, and she knew she needed to report her findings without delay. Following their lead, the rest of the guests began planning their departures. Before leaving, many of them made a point to approach Doflamingo, expressing goodwill either openly or in subtle gestures. The Donquixote Family basked in this newfound attention, taking great pride in their elevated status. For them, it felt like they were on the cusp of reaching the pinnacle of their influence. Doflamingo, in particular, was riding high on this wave of success. However, when he met Alex the next day in General Castle, his confidence and ambitions were immediately tempered by the sheer weight of what he witnessed.