Chapter 423: Sanji Severs His Past, Hawkins' Stance Wavers!

More importantly, these three are clearly standing with Barrett right now, meaning the rumors that Barrett previously joined Gao Wen's group are very likely true!

If merely his subordinate Round Table Knights can easily field four combatants comparable to the Great Generals and Four Emperors, then how far has the leader, Knight Gao Wen, progressed?

Recalling his previous crushing defeat, Kaido subconsciously tightened his grip on the spiked club in his hand!

Zeng—!

The blade slid into its sheath.

The overbearing aura emanating from Redfield slowly receded; his gaze fell upon Barrett and the others, his eyes filled with an indescribable greed.

Like a hunter thirsting for blood!

No!

He was a hunter to begin with, and he truly did thirst for blood.

"Interesting."

Redfield spoke with deep implication, then sat down right there, clearly unwilling to fight here.

Kaido glanced at him and also retracted his frenzied aura.

The tense, sword-drawn atmosphere in the arena vanished completely.

Yet what remained for everyone was only an indescribable sense of oppression and awe.

Facing such monsters, can I really still fight?

The moment this question arose in Kid's heart, he felt a strange sensation, as if he had been humiliated.

He had risen from the South Blue, sweeping all before him, and once believed he was not far from the pinnacle of the world.

But it was not until recently, witnessing the Summit War with his own eyes, that he realized just how childish he had been.

Three months of life-risking bitter cultivation had earned him merely the qualification to stand here.

And that was all there was to it.

He looked around.

Apart from the moribund Moria and the blustering but cowardly Vinsmoke Judge, nearly everyone present radiated a presence that made him feel almost suffocated.

That was the oppressive force brought about by a vast disparity in strength.

At this very moment.

He even found himself envying Hawkins, who did not have to come here, nor witness with his own eyes the colossal chasm, like a heavenly moat, between himself and these monsters!

They simply did not seem like creatures from the same dimension!

Yet at this very moment.

A hearty laugh reached Kid's ears; following the sound, he looked over.

He saw only Straw Hat, completely transformed, hands clasped behind his head, leaning casually against the wall.

"Hee!"

"This is really interesting; after defeating everyone here, and then knocking Knight Gao Wen flying, I'll be able to become the Pirate King, right?!"

What kind of joke are you making?

Fighting against such monsters?

Kid had intended to say exactly that.

But looking at the confidence on Straw Hat's face, and feeling the aura emanating from him—an aura comparable to the monsters present—he felt as if something were stuck in his throat.

"You..."

"Yo~"

"Saxi is ignoring us~"

"Kid!"

The corner of Kid's mouth twitched, and a nameless fury surged in his heart:

"The one who will become the Pirate King is me!"

The words left his mouth.

Kid felt his heart instantly lighten considerably; he looked up at Straw Hat, only to feel even more infuriated, and he pursed his lips:

"Tch—!"

"Ahahahahaha—!"

Straw Hat's laughter echoed through the contestant preparation area.

Judge, sitting in the corner, felt a wave of irritation and unrest, yet dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction.

Although the earlier confrontation was brief, it made him recognize a fact.

Among the contestants present, he was likely the weakest one.

Vinsmoke's prized Raid Suits held no meaning whatsoever against these monsters.

Probably a single strike would be enough for him to be defeated.

This was a difference in dimensions, and Judge, for all his faults, knew how to read the situation.

But what he truly could not accept was that golden-haired figure standing shoulder to shoulder with Barrett, equally powerful and equally dazzling!

"Sanji, he..."

Judge shook his head, his heart churning like a turbulent sea.

He still remembered that during the Water Seven arc two years ago, Sanji had been powerless to resist him; yet in just two short years, how had he reached such a pinnacle on the seas?

What kind of joke is this!

"Impossible!"

"Absolutely impossible!"

Sitting in the corner, Judge stubbornly tightened his grip on the spear in his hand.

I will not be wrong, and I cannot be wrong.

Turmoil churned within Vinsmoke Judge's heart, yet not a single person present noticed him.

The surrounding spectators nearly boiled over at this moment; countless people rose to their feet, gripping the railings and shouting until their voices were hoarse!

"The finals haven't even begun, and these monsters are already unleashing such heavy gunpowder scent!"

"Merely a simple standoff has shaken the entire arena; it is hard to imagine just how intense the upcoming scenes will become!?"

"It is no longer safe in the spectator stands! Even being caught in the aftermath of their battle carries the risk of death!"

"No wonder Britannias requires all spectators present to sign a liability waiver in advance!"

"But, but, but..."

"To witness a battle like this, I have no regrets left in this life!"

Whoosh—!

Cheers surged like waves, lifting the emotions of everyone present without limit!

Seeing this, Zangao directly skipped the warm-up segment:

"Since the audience demands it, we shall skip all meaningless procedures!"

"I will emphasize the rules one last time!"

"The Martial Arts Tournament selects only the strongest; use all your means—ambush, assassination, poisoning, or overwhelming enemies head-on—as long as you are the last one fighting in the arena, you are the victor!"

"Now, for the Round of Sixteen advancing to the Round of Eight, numbers are drawn randomly for one-on-one duels; the first match..."

"Contestant 7 versus Contestant 15!"

"Begin!"

In the distant contestant area, two golden-haired figures, one tall and one short, stepped out from the shadows.

Vinsmoke Judge stood on one side, gripping a war spear in a single hand.

No matter how slim the hope, since he stood here, he had to gamble everything to contend!

Thinking thus, Vinsmoke Judge slowly raised his head to look at his distant opponent, yet his breathing suddenly halted at this moment:

"Sanji..."

"Ah."

Sanji's expression was indifferent; he did not even glance at Vinsmoke Judge, merely turning his head to look at Zangao on the commentator's platform, his brows furrowing slightly:

"Boring fellow."

"I no longer need to use such methods to sever my past.

"After all..."

"I now have only one identity: a member of the Knights of the Round Table, the head chef aboard Gao Wen's ship!"

Swish—!

Sanji pulled open a pitch-black soda can.

A wisp of white smoke flashed by, and Sanji had changed into the Raid Suit Black.

Due to long-term cultivation, Sanji's height was much greater than in the original timeline, exceeding two meters.

His physique had also become much more robust, yet overall he still appeared extremely well-proportioned.

Combined with the Raid Suit Black, this brought forth an incomparably powerful sense of oppression!

In the arena.

The two stood in silent standoff, awaiting the highest signal to commence battle.

Yet the crowd in the spectator stands had already exploded!

"Is that... the Raid Suit Black?"

"And the opponent is the leader of Germa 66, Vinsmoke Judge?!"

"Aren't these characters from a manga?!"

In the spectator stands.

Many hailed from the North Blue; having grown up watching the story of the Warrior of the Sea, Sora, it had practically become a memory for an entire generation.

Naturally, they had not forgotten the main antagonist within it!

"The Warrior of the Sea... is real?!"

In the spectator stands.

Drake and Hawkins exchanged a glance, each seeing in the other's eyes that inexplicable thrill.