Back then, that person wanted to use this plate to gain favor with the Beasts Pirates, but unfortunately, he failed. Gaponov knew at the time that carrying this thing might attract new enemies, yet he wasn’t afraid. On the contrary, he even sought to reach a higher level through battle.
However, on the path of facing stronger enemies, today’s leap was a bit too much.
From an ordinary pirate in the New World to a high-ranking officer under an Emperor of the Sea, this skipped too many steps in between.
“Fool, hand it over obediently, and you’ll still have a chance to join the Beasts Pirates. Don’t make the wrong choice.”
The reason Tesoro got involved with the New World Central Fighting Tournament also has to do with its nature. Due to the format of the competition, it attracts Zoan Users and martial artists from the New World every year.
It’s also an opportunity to scout for talent and recruit new members. Kaido had almost fulfilled his vision for his Zoan Army, but for someone aiming to start a war, there’s no such thing as having too many soldiers.
As someone who has just entered the New World, King felt that the person in front of him was a potential recruit. With this plate in hand, joining would undoubtedly benefit him.
“If you have the skills, come and get it yourself! This thing doesn’t have your name on it! You’re one of Kaido’s officers, right? Just wait! I’ll defeat him eventually! Whether it’s the title of Emperor of the Sea or the Pirate King, they’ll both be mine someday!”
Seeing that the other refused, King didn’t bother to continue talking. If it weren’t for the plate, he wouldn’t have even asked in the first place.
But hearing his retort, King’s eyes turned red.
Arceus’ plate, Kaido’s Pirate King ambition—these are the two major targets of the Beasts Pirates. To hit both of King’s nerves so precisely, his ability to provoke King was on par with Queen.
“I have no interest in your dreams. The world doesn’t need a ‘king’ like you, but I’ll fulfill your wish. I happen to need to verify something as well.”
At this moment, the wings on King’s back weren’t those of the Lunarians but the bat-like wings of an Aerodactyl. For Lunarians, their wings were essentially a second pair of arms, and both he and Shayna could manipulate them with ease.
However, their focus was in an entirely different direction. King had far more applications for his wings.
“Imperial Cutting Wings!”
Clang!
With a loud explosion, King appeared behind Gaponov in the blink of an eye, leaving a massive X-shaped crater in the ground. The extraordinary scale of the battle also caught the attention of those nearby.
Compared to King’s fight, their battles seemed like child’s play. Moreover, King also successfully made them stop.
“Am I seeing things…? Isn’t that an officer from the Beasts Pirates?”
“Yeah… it’s him, with a bounty of 976 million Berries—King the Conflagration. Who’s the one fighting him?”
“No idea, probably some rookie. Either way, he’s done for…”
King spends most of his time in Wano Country, but that doesn’t mean he never leaves. Every time he does, he stirs up quite a commotion. As a result, his fearsome reputation has spread far and wide. His towering figure and iconic attire make it easy for pirates in the New World to recognize him at a glance.
Offending an Emperor of the Sea in the New World was unwise. Without the protagonist’s halo, anyone who did this was bound to lose something—maybe a limb or maybe something they cherished. Very few walked away whole.
“Wait, wait, no way… that guy—he took that attack head-on! And he’s unharmed?!”
Though the ground bore the marks of a massive slash, Gaponov hadn’t sustained a single injury. To them, this defied all logic.
Even King was slightly surprised.
“Interesting… you’ve got some skill after all.”
The fact that he remained completely unharmed was all thanks to the plate. King had indeed targeted the plate with his attack. If Gaponov could walk away unscathed from such a strike, it basically confirmed the plate’s identity.
However, King’s slash was not only sharp but also carried tremendous force. While the plate could block the blade, it couldn’t stop the force behind the blow. In other words, Gaponov had used his own body to withstand the power within King’s attack.
“Not bad strength.”
He couldn’t have made it this far relying solely on the plate. To break into the New World, Gaponov must have some skills to rely on—his immense strength being his greatest asset.
But this immense strength wasn’t the result of training—it was the power of his Devil Fruit. He was a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit User, wielding the powers of Strength-Strength Fruit.
The upper limit of this fruit was uncertain, but for now, Gaponov had only unlocked the most basic aspect: immense strength.
His great power served as his spear, and the hard plate became his shield. This was the source of his arrogance.
He believed he possessed the world’s strongest spear and shield, though the shield was too small and could only protect his vital areas. If only it could cover his entire body!
At that moment, he even felt he understood why Kaido sought to forge armor from the plates.
Now that even a high-ranking officer from the Four Emperors couldn’t break through his defense, Gaponov’s confidence swelled to an extreme. Holding the plate aloft and using his brute strength, he rushed forward at an incredible speed.
“Scared? It’s not over yet! Shield Charge!”
The immense strength granted by the Strength-Strength Fruit gave him immense explosive power, causing small tremors in the ground around him. But when the dust settled, King was still the one standing, his blade already piercing through the opponent’s chest from the side.
“I’ve seen plenty of arrogant fools like you. You’ve got a bit of skill, but your journey ends here. There are some things that you cannot touch.”
King’s wings provided him with unmatched agility, and Haki sharpened his senses. A brute force fighter like Gaponov had no chance of landing a hit on him. While King didn’t have the power to break through the plate’s defense, it was easy enough for him to bypass it.
He had a deep understanding of human anatomy; his blade slipped cleanly through the gaps in Gaponov’s ribs, piercing both his lungs and heart.
With a twist of his wrist, the sensation from the hilt confirmed to King that he had already shattered Gaponov’s heart.
The specially crafted blade remained unstained by blood. As Gaponov’s body collapsed to the ground, blood pooled beneath him, while the plate was now firmly in King’s hands.
No one around found this outcome strange. This was what they had expected. A newcomer to the New World who didn’t even know Haki and relied on external tools wouldn’t be able to fight evenly with King. If he had, that would have been confusing.
As King’s gaze swept across the crowd, they quickly ignored their personal conflicts and fled the scene, afraid of getting caught up in trouble. In this way, King indirectly resolved their disputes.
“Once it’s confirmed, I’ll report both of your contributions. Hurry back to Onigashima—I’m heading off first.”
You can read ahead upto 75 chapters on my patreon and I’ve also activated (date to date) subscription model on my patreon.
Become a Patron!