Chapter 432: Straw Hat Advances, S-Dragon Enters the Battle!

Fortunately.

Judging by the current outcome, the winner should be me...

Although Straw Hat has awakened the legendary Nika, he still lacks sufficient combat experience and technique.

If given enough time to familiarize himself with his abilities, I would be no match for him.

Ah Jin panted heavily, an uncontrollable hint of joy floating across his face.

As for the so-called Nika and the so-called Sun God, he held them in contempt.

If there is anyone in this world who is a chosen savior, that person must, and can only be, Gao Wen!

It can only be Gao Wen!

Having followed closely by Gao Wen's side and witnessed Gao Wen's actions, Ah Jin's admiration for Gao Wen had reached the level of a near-fanatic.

Before I fall, no one can reach that man, and no one can take his place!

Whoosh—!

Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, Ah Jin felt completely drained, his vision going slightly dark.

That previous move had nearly drained all his stamina and Haki; he was now powerless to fight on.

Paramecia abilities are diverse, and after awakening, they can even dominate the environment, yet they still cannot make up for the gap with Zoan types in close-quarters combat.

Only at this moment.

Did the crowds in the surrounding spectator stands belatedly let out cries of shock.

"I don't want it anymore, I don't want any more hot-blooded battles, Mama, Mama!!!"

A man, with his trouser legs soaked, rose with a deathly pale face and sprinted wildly toward the distance, but after only a few steps, he realized his legs were already useless from fear.

He immediately fell to the ground, trampled by countless figures, and within an instant, he lost all signs of life.

Countless people, gazing at the large missing section on the edge of the Colosseum, only then belatedly realized.

Even sitting in the spectator stands, even though the entire Colosseum was built from special materials, once these monsters went all out, one's safety still could not be guaranteed.

How many unlucky souls had been caught up in Ah Jin's previous move?!

The crowd dared not think about it; they only wanted to leave this place as fast as possible, to flee this battlefield where a slight carelessness meant death.

This place was no different from hell!

"Run!"

"If we stay here, we'll die at any moment!"

Amidst the panic of the crowd.

Ah Jin stood in place, gazing at the distant ruins, and the familiar sound of drums echoed in his ears once more!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The drumbeats grew increasingly urgent, increasingly fast!

At this moment, not only Ah Jin, but even everyone in the contestant stands felt somewhat numb.

"No way?!"

"After taking such an attack head-on, that monster is actually... actually still alive?!"

Moria's expression was filled with terror.

Even when facing Kaido of the Beasts directly in Wano Country years ago, he had never been this shocked.

To be fair.

Although Kaido twenty years ago was strong, he was absolutely more than a notch weaker than Ah Jin at this moment; that previous strike would have been enough to blast the Kaido of back then to death.

"What kind of vitality is this?!"

Just as shocked as Moria was Chinjao, the leader who advanced from the West Blue, his face full of anger:

"Garp's grandson?!"

"Damn it!"

"Another damned monster!"

"I originally wanted to settle my grudge on Garp's junior, damn it!!!"

Chinjao was furious to the extreme, his beard and hair bristling; combined with his massive, corpulent figure, he looked exactly like an angry Buddha.

"However."

"After taking such a hit, even if Garp himself could survive, he would definitely be heavily injured; this is precisely my opportunity!"

With such thoughts, Chinjao felt much better in his heart.

Next, as long as he could advance normally, he would have a chance to be matched against Garp's grandson and resolve his years-old grudge.

It was just that.

Reality would not change according to Chinjao's personal will.

Inside the arena.

Ah Jin's previous cannon shot had nearly completely blasted apart one side of the arena; the gap was a patch of crimson, flowing with molten lava.

Gulp—!

Ripples spread across the ground, and Straw Hat slowly emerged from underground.

"That was close, that was close~"

"I was almost done in!"

Straw Hat wore a smile on his face, but his gaze was no longer as composed as before, as if he had Gao Wen in the bag; instead, it carried immense caution.

In that instant just now, he truly thought he was going to die!

Even having awakened this unknown power, even believing his current self could accomplish anything, even if the encounter on Sabaody Archipelago were to repeat itself, Straw Hat did not believe he would lose.

But facing this man before him, one careless moment would lead to defeat.

No!

It would be death!

This was the strongest opponent he had ever encountered in his entire life!

"You really have something!"

Ah Jin's mouth corners split open in a tragic yet ferocious grin; immediately after, he stumbled, his eyes rolled back white, and he instantly lost consciousness.

That strike just now was his final gamble.

Just as Ah Jin had said, after releasing that strike, both his body and spirit had reached their limits, leaving him powerless to fight on.

Boom—!

Ah Jin collapsed to the ground.

Although Zango on the commentary platform was somewhat stunned, his years of hosting experience allowed him to maintain his professionalism at this moment:

"Martial Arts Tournament Quarterfinals, Fourth Match, the winner is..."

"Monkey D. Luffy!"

The arena fell into complete silence.

Most of the audience were busy fleeing to save their lives, with no time to pay attention to the battle's outcome.

The extremely few fanatics who had cast aside life and death remained in prolonged silence, simply because this result exceeded everyone's expectations.

The Ghost Man Ah Jin, who had originally held an absolute advantage and could even be described as crushing his opponent, had ultimately been defeated.

But there was one point they understood even more clearly.

This was not because the Ghost Man Ah Jin was too weak.

Quite the opposite; Ah Jin was strong, beyond imagination, overwhelmingly powerful.

Even looking across the entire sea, the existences capable of fighting him were almost all emperors and admirals who dominated their respective regions.

The true reason was Straw Hat in that white-haired state...

Too strong!

Strong to the point of almost defying common sense!

The crowd in the contestant seats also fell silent as they watched Straw Hat's figure.

Bright lights flashed repeatedly in Redfield's eyes.

Kaido gripped his spiked club tightly, his expression heavy and contemplative, his gaze complex as he wondered what he was thinking, while only a soaring killing intent suddenly radiated from his body.

Barrett's face even bore an undisguised fighting spirit:

"Another one..."

"An opponent worthy of entertaining me!"

He had originally thought that with Ah Jin's combat power, even in the Martial Arts Tournament, he would steadily secure a spot in the top eight, or even the top four, yet he had crashed out in the round of sixteen.

Straw Hat was already the biggest dark horse of this Martial Arts Tournament.

After leaving the arena.

Straw Hat dispelled his Gear Fifth state, and the side effects struck immediately; in an instant, he appeared as though he had aged several decades, his entire body's skin becoming loose and sagging.

Yet he still clung to Kid's hand, refusing to let go, a silly smile on his face:

"Kid, we are partners now, right?!"

"Right?!"

Kid's mouth twitched; catching a glimpse of Sabo snickering out of the corner of his eye, his old face flushed red, and he could only force himself to say:

"Yes, yes, yes."

"However."

"If you die right now, I can inherit the captain's position; from now on, the One Piece is mine, and the Pirate King is mine too!"

Straw Hat froze, fire spewing from his eyes, furious beyond measure: