One Piece: The user of the Nen-Nen Fruit, who overturned the sea.

Van Augur stood to the side, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Captain, are you... trying to recruit Burgess?"

Roy glanced back at him.

"What's wrong?"

Van Augur shook his head.

"It's nothing."

"I just feel that guy seems... not very bright."

Lafayette couldn't help but laugh.

"Van Auger, what you're saying..."

Van Ace said seriously,

"I'm serious."

"When I was asking around at the pub today, I saw him fighting with someone in the street."

"Just because that person glanced at him, he punched that person and sent him flying."

"Can we recruit someone like that?"

Roy smiled slightly.

"Van Auger, what kind of person do you consider 'smart'?"

Van Augur paused, thought for a moment,

"At least... I can distinguish between advantages and disadvantages, and know when to do what."

Roy nodded.

"you're right."

"Burgess is certainly not a smart person."

"But he has one advantage—"

"A thirst for power."

"And, they are loyal enough."

"As long as you can give him strength, he will follow you wholeheartedly."

Van Augur nodded thoughtfully.

Lafayette chimed in from the side,

"The captain is right."

"People who simply pursue power are actually the easiest to get along with."

"As long as you can always be better than him, he will never betray you."

"That's right."

"Alright, get some rest."

Roy dismissed the two men.

"Tomorrow, let's go see just how strong this 'fighting champion' really is."

"yes!"

The two left the room.

Roy stood by the window, gazing at the fighting arena in the distance.

The night breeze carried the salty, damp scent of the sea.

He closed his eyes, and his Observation Haki quietly unfolded.

Instantly, the entire atmosphere of the fighting island appeared in his mind.

The aura of the strong, the aura of the weak, the aura lurking in the shadows...

One of them is particularly powerful and wild.

That aura was filled with violence and wildness, like that of a wild beast.

Bages.

Roy's lips curled into a faint smile.

He really is a beast.

……

The next morning.

The sun was shining brightly, and the fighting arena was bustling with noise.

The enormous circular arena, large enough to hold tens of thousands of people, was packed to capacity.

The audience waved their betting slips and cheered wildly.

"Burgess! Burgess! Burgess!"

"Ams! Take him down!"

"I bet a million on Burgess! Win it!"

Cheers, shouts, and curses mingled together, creating a deafening roar.

Roy and his two companions sat in the VIP section, overlooking the arena below.

Lafayette looked around and couldn't help but sigh.

"It's so lively."

Van Augur stared at the center of the arena, where two athletes were making their final preparations.

Bages, shirtless, revealed his granite-like muscles.

With a ferocious grin on his face, he clenched his fists and waved them repeatedly at the audience, drawing cheers from them.

Opposite him was a man with unusually thick arms, who must be "Iron Arm" Arms.

His arms were wrapped in heavy protective gear, which made him look quite skilled in defense.

"Captain, who do you think will win?"

"Lafayette asked."

"Burgess".

"That Arms has good defense, but his attack power is insufficient."

"He won't last long against a pure power-type fighter like Burgess."

Before Roy could finish speaking, the match below had already begun.

clang--!!!

With the sound of a gong, the competition officially began!

Ams launched the first attack, pushing off the ground with both legs and charging towards Bages like a cannonball!

His unusually thick arms were raised high, whistling through the air, and slammed down hard on Bages' head!

"Iron Arm and Heavy Hammer!"

The audience erupted in gasps!

This strike was powerful and heavy, enough to shatter rocks!

however--

Bages just grinned, neither dodging nor avoiding, and threw a punch as well!

boom--!!!

Their fists collided with a loud bang!

A violent shockwave spread wildly from the two of them!

Ams's expression changed instantly!

He could feel a sharp pain shooting through his arms!

That power was too strong!

That's ridiculously strong!

Bages grinned maliciously.

"Hahaha! Is that all the strength you've got?!"

Burgess suddenly unleashed his power!

boom--!!!

Ams's body flew backward like a cannonball and slammed hard into the arena wall!

The wall collapsed instantly, sending debris flying everywhere!

Ams was embedded in the rubble, coughing up blood. His arms were deformed and he could no longer lift them!

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence!

Then--

A deafening cheer erupted!

"Burgess! Burgess! Burgess!"

"That's incredible! He sent them flying with just one punch!"

"I bet right! Hahaha!"

The audience went wild!

Burgess stood in the center of the field, fists clenched, and roared at the audience!

That appearance was like that of a wild beast!

In the VIP section, Roy's lips curled into a faint smile.

"interesting."

"Pure physical strength, indeed impressive."

Lafayette and Van Auger exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of seriousness in each other's eyes.

This Bages is indeed strong.

Although it was purely physical strength, that power was enough to crush most opponents.

"Let's go."

Roy stood up.

"It's our turn to step in."

Lafayette was taken aback.

"Captain, you need to...?"

Roy smiled slightly.

"Register for the competition."

"And while I'm at it, I'll stretch my muscles a bit."

……

Registration area for the fighting arena.

Several staff members were busy processing the applicants' information.

"Next!"

A staff member shouted without looking up.

Roy stepped forward,

"Sign up."

The staff member looked up and glanced at him.

She had short blonde hair, a slender figure, and looked quite ordinary, with nothing particularly special about her.

"Name?"

"Jem."

Roy just gave a random name.

The staff member filled out the form, glanced at Roy who didn't look particularly strong, frowned, but didn't ask any further questions.

He had seen plenty of people who wanted to become famous overnight through fighting tournaments.

"age?"

"Twenty-one."

"Profession?"

"Fighter"

The staff quickly filled out the form and handed him a number.

"Here's your number. Go to the rest area and wait."

"We'll call you up on stage in a bit."

Roy took the number plate and turned to leave.

A considerable number of people had already gathered in the rest area.

Some were warming up, some were meditating, and some were talking in hushed tones.

Roy found a corner to sit down, closed his eyes, and pretended to doze off.

Lafayette and Van Auger returned to the VIP seats, waiting to see what would happen.

Soon, the first match began.

A burly man stepped onto the ring and waved his fist at the audience, drawing cheers.

Then, the referee began to announce his opponent.

"Next, please welcome—"

"Fighter, Jem!"

Roy opened his eyes, stood up, and walked towards the ring.

The moment he stepped into the ring, the audience erupted in laughter.

"Hahaha! Who's that kid? He's as skinny as a bamboo pole!"

"Jem? That's such a random name!"

"Are they just here to get themselves killed?"

"I don't think he could withstand even one punch!"

The audience members, looking at Roy's slender figure, began to mock him.

Even his opponent, the burly man, couldn't help but laugh.

"Kid, are you sure you want to fight me?"

The burly man looked down at him.

"With your small frame, I could send you flying with one punch."

"I advise you to admit defeat as soon as possible to avoid getting hurt."

Roy looked at him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Let's begin."