Chapter 432: Straw Hat Advances, Dragon Enters the Arena!
Fortunately.
Judging from the current outcome, the winner should be me…
Although Luffy has awakened the legendary Nikka, his battle experience and techniques are still lacking in refinement.
If given enough time to master his abilities, I would not be his match.
Akin, panting heavily, could not suppress a hint of triumph on his face.
He looked down on the so-called Nikka and the so-called Sun God.
If there truly exists a chosen savior of this world, that person must—and can only be—Gao Wen!
Only Gao Wen!
Having followed Gao Wen’s side all this time, witnessing his actions, Akin’s admiration for him had reached near-devout levels.
Before I fall, no one shall reach that man’s side, nor replace his position!
Huh—!
Exhaling a deep breath, Akin felt utterly drained, his vision darkening.
That move had sapped all his strength and Haki; he was now incapable of further combat.
While Paramecia abilities are diverse and can control the environment after awakening, they still cannot bridge the gap in close-quarters combat against Zoan types.
Until now.
Only then did the spectators in the stands finally let out shocked cries.
“I don’t want it anymore! I don’t want any Rexue battles! Mom! Mom!!!”
A man, his pants soaked, rose pale-faced and bolted away—but after a few steps, he realized his legs had gone numb with terror.
He collapsed at once, trampled by countless figures, and died in an instant.
Only now did countless others notice the massive gap missing from the Round Table Arena.
Even seated in the stands, even though the entire arena was built of special materials, one could not guarantee safety if these monsters unleashed their full power.
How many unlucky souls were caught in Akin’s attack?!
No one dared to think about it—they only wanted to flee this place, this battlefield where a single misstep meant death.
This place is no different from hell!
“Run!”
“Stay here, and you’ll die without warning!”
…
Amid the chaos of the crowd.
Akin stood in place, staring at the ruins ahead—then, familiar drumbeats echoed in his ears again!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
The drumbeats grew faster, more frantic!
At this moment, not only Akin, but even the contestants on the stage sat numb.
“No way?!”
“He took that blow head-on—and that monster is… still alive?!”
Moria’s expression was filled with dread.
Even when facing Kaido directly in Wano, he had never been this stunned.
To be fair.
Kaido twenty years ago was strong, but certainly weaker than Akin now—this blow alone would have killed the Kaido of that era.
“What kind of vitality is this?!”
Equally stunned was Qingjiao, the leader from the West Sea, his face flushed with rage:
“Garp’s grandson?!”
“Damn it!”
“Another damn monster!”
“I was going to take my revenge on Garp’s successor—but damn it!!!”
Qingjiao, furious beyond measure, his beard and hair bristling, his massive, bloated frame made him resemble an enraged Buddha.
“But.”
“After taking that blow, even Garp himself might survive—but he’d be severely wounded. This is my chance!”
With this thought, Qingjiao felt somewhat relieved.
As long as he advances normally, he’ll have a chance to face Garp’s grandson and settle his decades-old grudge.
Only—
Reality never bends to Qingjiao’s personal will.
In the arena.
Akin’s previous blast had nearly obliterated one entire side of the arena; the breach glowed red, molten lava flowing through it.
Gloop—!
A ripple spread across the ground as Luffy slowly rose from beneath the earth.
“That was close, close~”
“I almost got killed!”
Luffy wore a smile, but his gaze was no longer calm and confident as before, as if he had already won—now it was filled with grave caution.
In that instant, he truly believed he was going to die!
Even with this unknown power awakened, even believing himself capable of anything—even recreating the events of Sabaody Archipelago—Luffy never thought he’d lose.
But facing this man, one misstep means defeat.
No!
Death!
This is the strongest opponent he has ever faced!
“You’re something else!”
Akin’s lips curled into a grim, grotesque grin—then his foot slipped, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed unconscious.
That blow was his final gambit.
As Akin himself had said, after unleashing it, his body and spirit reached their absolute limits—he could no longer fight.
Thud—!
Akin fell.
Zan Gao, though startled, maintained his professionalism through years of experience:
“Fourth match of the Round Table Arena’s Top 8: the victor…”
“Monkey D. Luffy!”
The arena fell silent.
Most spectators were busy fleeing for their lives, too preoccupied to care about the outcome.
The few who remained—fanatics who had abandoned fear—sat in stunned silence, for this result surpassed all expectations.
The seemingly dominant, even crushing oni Akin had ultimately lost.
But they understood one thing more clearly:
It was not because oni Akin was weak.
Quite the opposite—Akin was strong, unimaginably, absurdly powerful.
Across the seas, those capable of matching him were almost all legendary generals or emperors.
The real reason was the white-haired Luffy…
Too strong!
Stronger than reason could explain!
The contestants on the stage stared at Luffy’s figure in silence.
Ryderfield’s eyes gleamed with fascination.
Kaido gripped his spiked club tightly, his face grim, his gaze complex, lost in thought—yet a surge of murderous intent erupted from him.
Barret’s face bore unmistakable battle lust:
“Another one…”
“A worthy opponent!”
He had assumed Akin’s strength would guarantee him a Top 8 spot, even Top 4—but he was eliminated in the Round of 16.
Luffy had become the biggest dark horse of this Round Table Arena.
After leaving the arena.
Luffy deactivated his Gear Fifth state—the side effects struck instantly; within a second, he aged decades, his skin sagging all over.
Yet he still clung to Kid’s hand, refusing to let go, wearing that foolish grin:
“Kid, we’re partners now, right?!”
“Right?!”
Kid’s lip twitched; his peripheral vision caught Sabo smirking beside him—he flushed, then gritted his teeth and said:
"Yes, yes, yes."
"But."
If you die right now, I’ll inherit the captain’s position— from now on, One Piece is mine, and the Pirate King is mine!
The Straw Hat froze, eyes blazing with fury:
End of Chapter
