G-5 Branch, VIP Holographic Viewing Hall.
"KYAAAAAA!!!"
A wave of screams loud enough to shatter glass instantly flooded the entire VIP room.
If not for the soundproofing, built to 'Renzo-sama's nap standards', this noise might have reached Marineford.
On the massive high-definition screen, the broadcast was locked onto the Third Zone, "Scorched Earth" Volcano Island.
Within this hellish landscape of rolling black smoke and flowing lava, a streak of dazzling silver shot across like a teor.
"Look! Look! Rear Admiral Shelby looked this way!"
"Oh my god! He's sweating, and even that looks handso!"
"Not even a speck of dust on his cape! What elegance is this?!"
A group of noble ladies and wealthy young won, dressed in luxurious gowns, had completely abandoned their composure. They waved fan rch printed with Shelby's face, sold at outrageous prices by Rehn, and scread wildly.
At the comntator's desk, Rehn held a solid gold microphone, wearing a "this is guaranteed profit" smile as he passionately narrated:
"Ladies! Please control your blood pressure! Right now, Rear Admiral Shelby is showing us, in this inferno, what true 'brutal aesthetics' looks like!"
"Look! That symbol of advancent, the [Renzo Gold Token], is fleeing within the high-temperature steam ahead!"
"And surrounding Rear Admiral Shelby are five New World criminals, each with bounties exceeding ten million!"
"In the face of such a desperate situation, what will our 'Silver Light' do?!"
.....
Third Zone, Scorched Earth Island
Heat.
Extre heat.
The air reeked of sulfur, and the ground was hot enough to fry eggs.
"...Haa."
Shelby stood atop a protruding black volcanic rock and gently exhaled.
Unlike the others, who were panting miserably, he maintained his innate elegance.
With a gloved hand, he adjusted a strand of silver hair that had been disturbed by the heatwave.
"What a… crude place."
He frowned slightly, glancing at the faint volcanic ash on his expensive custom leather shoes with visible disdain.
"This kind of environnt is truly unsuitable for an artist like to perform."
"Cut the crap, pretty boy!"
Across from him, five sweating, ferocious pirates surrounded him.
The leader, a burly man, swung two glowing-red chainsaws, his face full of rage.
"Move aside! That token is mine!"
"A pampered marine brat like you should go back ho and drink milk! This is a battlefield for real n!"
"Real n?"
Shelby chuckled softly, his tone laced with three parts disdain and seven parts narcissism.
"Crudeness and filth are not masculinity."
He slowly drew the sword at his waist.
It was a slender rapier, its blade reflecting not red from the flas, but a cold, pure silver glow.
A famous blade, "Moonlit Beauty."
"A true strong man maintains composure and grace at all tis."
Shelby spun the sword elegantly.
"Since you're all so eager to die…"
"I'll grant you… a magnificent curtain call."
"Kill him!!"
The five pirates roared as they attacked simultaneously!
Chainsaws, warhamrs, poison darts, five deadly weapons, coated in Armant Haki, sealed off all escape routes!
"Too slow."
Shelby's gaze sharpened.
His body moved. No, he didn't move. He flickered.
"Secret Sword: Silver Waltz."
SHING!!!
A streak of silver light burst forth against the dark volcanic backdrop!
Like a full moon slicing through the night!
The pirates couldn't even see his movents.
All they saw was a silver afterimage, like an elegant dancer weaving, spinning, and leaping through their formation.
Clang clang clang clang clang!
A series of rapid tallic collisions rang out.
Then, Slash!
All five pirates froze.
Their weapons shattered at the sa instant.
Blood spurted from their wrists, ankles, and chests, non-lethal points, per the rules.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!"
They collapsed simultaneously, screaming in agony.
Shelby was already ten ters behind them.
With his back turned, he sheathed "Moonlit Beauty."
Click.
He adjusted his tie, even pulling out a small mirror to check himself.
"Perfect."
He smiled charmingly at his reflection.
"Not even my hair is out of place."
"KYAAAAAA!!!"
In the VIP hall, noblewon fainted from sheer excitent.
"Reward him! Ten million Beli!!"
At that mont, Whoosh, zzzzt
The hovering [Renzo Gold Token], sensing the battle had ended, activated its cheeky escape protocol and shot toward the volcano crater.
"Trying to run?"
Shelby turned, smirking confidently.
"On this stage, nothing can escape my 'Silver Light.'"
"Soru!"
BOOM!
The rock beneath his feet shattered.
He vanished, reappearing instantly mid-air!
So fast even the token's sensors couldn't react!
"Got you."
His gloved hand gracefully grabbed the token.
ZZZT!!!
The built-in high-voltage shock erupted!
But, Shelby didn't even flinch.
Buzz
A flowing layer of advanced Armant Haki coated his hand, perfectly isolating the current.
"This level of trick won't work on ."
"Beep!!"
The mont the token was captured, a massive red beam shot into the sky!
"I'm here! Co take !" broadcast across the island!
But Shelby didn't panic.
Instead, he raised the token like a trophy.
Bathed in red light, his silver figure beca even more dazzling, more untouchable!
"Co!"
He declared loudly to both hidden observers and the surveillance Den Den Mushi above:
"Want this token?"
"Then co… dance beneath my blade!!"
At this mont, Shelby's aura peaked!
He was the king of this scorched land.
The center of all attention.
G-5's perfect idol!
Rehn slamd the desk in excitent:
"Good! Perfect! That pose is professional! rch sales are secured!"
However, just as everyone cheered… just as Shelby basked in his glory…
"...Whoosh."
A wind blew across the volcanic island.
But sothing was wrong.
It wasn't hot.
It carried… the scent of soil.
Of plants.
A cool breeze… on a volcano?
Shelby's smile froze.
His instincts scread danger.
"...What?"
He stopped posing instantly, eyes scanning the surroundings.
"The temperature… is dropping?"
Then, Crack… crack…
The volcanic rocks began making strange noises.
And then, a scene that stunned the entire world unfolded.
Behind Shelby, from solid rock, a green sprout broke through.
Then another, and another, and countless more.
"Rustle!!!
Plants began growing wildly!
In seconds, the barren black land transford into a lush jungle!
Flowers blood, vines writhed, giant trees erupted from the ground!
Even lava… was drained of heat, turned into nutrients!
"What… is this?!"
Shelby's pupils shrank.
This wasn't a volcano anymore.
It had beco a forest and within it, a suffocating, terrifying aura.
More domineering than any pirate he had faced.
More arrogant.
"...Hmph."
A deep, magnetic, lazy voice echoed from within the forest.
"So noisy."
"Could you hand over that token?"
"Who's there?!"
Shelby spun around, sword drawn, staring into the forest.
For the first ti, cold sweat ford.
Because even with Observation Haki,
He sensed nothing.
The presence… was the forest itself.
"Who am I?"
The voice laughed softly.
"Lahahaha…"
A chilling sound.
"I won't let this be your stage, brat."
Rustle
The trees parted.
A green, vibrant yet deadly aura locked onto Shelby like a physical force.
Like being targeted by a prehistoric beast.
Even his sword trembled.
This pressure… this presence…
Even Rehn never made him feel this way!
"Who… are you…?"
Shelby gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to step back.
The cara zood in on Shelby's terrified face…
And behind him, the ever-expanding, devouring… bizarre forest.
....
30 Chapter, [email protected]/DaoistJinzu
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