Pirates' Max Level System

Apart from the special case of Tayouya, the subsequent knockout match lists are strictly based on the organizer's unique "random drawing" method. Apart from preventing the favorites to win the championship from meeting in advance and nominating some people to enter the top 32, it is relatively fair.

Among the top 128 players, the proportion of users of armed prosthetics is very high. In the following matches, there will be players with armed prosthetics in almost every other game, which shows the strength of armed prosthetics.

This number was further reduced, and a lot of non-combat and weaker armed prosthetic limbs were defeated in the points competition.

Competitions without acquaintances were a bit boring, especially when half of them were related to semi-finished products like armed prosthetic limbs. Qin Luo could hardly bear to watch them.

Having gained some of the power of the animals their prosthetic limbs belonged to, these people's attributes were enhanced, but their skills were completely lacking. Their fights often went something like this: I push you, you pull me back, punches followed by kicks, and whoever can't get up first loses.

This kind of flesh-and-blood, fist-to-flesh clash always elicits screams time and time again, but for some reason, it always gives Qin Luo a painful feeling of being turn-based. Isn't it just a test of strength? Why not just set up a table and arm wrestle?

This boredom continued until someone appeared.

It is said that ever since Aokiji, the Navy Vice Admiral, changed his identity and sneaked into the martial arts tournament, he seemed to have disappeared out of thin air, and no matter how hard the forces tried to look for him, they couldn't find him.

Qin Luo wondered if the last time he ruthlessly exposed Aokiji's identity had left him with too much psychological trauma, which made him so cautious.

If some accidents had not happened, Aokiji might have made it to the top 16 like Orochimaru.

Aokiji now looked like a burly pirate, wearing a battered pirate captain's hat and a metal pole replacing his right leg. His exposed upper body, aside from fat and black hair, was covered in various scars.

People always end up becoming what they hate. However, the image of a midshipman disguised as a pirate does require some imagination.

The pirate Aokiji pretends to be is no unknown person either. He is a captain of a pirate group who has "retired" from the New World with honor. He has no right leg and no crew, but his powerful close combat skills and domineering aura allow him to live a very carefree life.

But now it seems that the captain's glorious "retirement" was fake, and it was true that he was captured by Aokiji and taken to Impel Down.

Aokiji's exposure was somewhat innocent. He hadn't revealed his fruit ability, nor had he done anything strange. The abilities he used were his own Haki and sleight of hand skills, which he wasn't particularly good at. Aokiji might not even have known he was exposed.

Who would have thought that Aokiji's opponent had been hiding his skills from the start of the auditions to the first round of the knockout round 017. Aokiji was caught off guard by the opponent's sudden outburst, showing a skill that a pirate shouldn't have.

Although many physical techniques in the world of pirates are derived from the Six Styles of the Navy, there is still a huge difference when compared with the real Six Styles of the Navy. It is something that only the high-ranking navy and the main combat forces can master.

"I am absolutely sure that the pirate just now used pure paper painting, the complete version." Taotu said in surprise.

You know, even though everyone above the rank of Ensign can learn the Six Types of the Navy, those are just castrated versions. The Five Elders are very shrewd, and only the higher-ups are qualified to learn the essence of it.

So when Aokiji showed this level of paper painting, even though it was only for a moment, Momotogi, who was familiar with this, recognized it.

Qin Luo's white eyes later confirmed Aokiji's identity. It was hard for Qin Luo not to see such a big piece of ice debris.

Qin Luo sometimes wondered how such a coincidence could happen in the world. Before, he was still struggling with how to let the navy witness Vegapunk being taken away by other forces without any suspicion.

Then Aokiji appeared, which was like a pillow appearing when one was sleepy.

A bold idea emerged in Qin Luo's mind.

Um, Mr. Aokiji, I have a script here, please take it.

Chapter 695: That's a Moving Target

The match ended with Aokiji knocking out his opponent with a single punch.

It was not easy for the man who had hidden his setbacks all the way. His previous forbearance and blueprint for a stunning success were all illusory. He couldn't even force out the power of Aokiji's fruit.

Are you kidding me about the two hidden bosses in the game? But at least I didn't encounter Orochimaru.

Since the actors were not decided and the script was not available, Qin Luo did not immediately flirt with Qingzhi. Others have been so careful to conceal themselves, so it is not too much to give some support and understanding.

Qin Luo was not worried that Aokiji would get lost, because he could recognize the other person's face from hundreds of meters away.

The contestants in the next game are quite interesting, as it is finally the turn of Qin Luo's acquaintance to appear.

Beckman walked up slowly with his hands in his pockets. His expression never changed, and he looked like he was owed millions to everyone he met.

This left Beckman's opponent a bit bewildered. How had he already provoked this powerful opponent before the fight even started? He nervously flapped his bat-like wings, intending to fly into the air first.

While Beckman's opponent was a user of an armed prosthetic limb, his faction was one of the weakest of Vegapunk's "eight major fan clubs." Normally, this faction rallied with another similarly afflicted group in the North Sea, promoting themselves as a mutual aid association.

However, more people would rather call them a mob.

It is conceivable how much resources such a force can obtain from the participating teams.

Once the list of opponents for the top 128 in the knockout stage is finalized, it cannot be changed later, which means that the contestants' future opponents can be predicted.

In order to ensure that the "seed players" of their own forces can definitely enter the top 32, those with relatively weaker strength like Bat Man become discarded pawns and fill some holes.

It's impossible that all powerful dark horses will never encounter users of armed prosthetics. The audience is not stupid, and they will protest if you manipulate too much.

Batman was well aware of the strength Beckman had shown in the auditions and the points competition; he was just trying to put up a symbolic struggle.

"Ahem. Contestant, I understand that you can't wait to start the game, but the ceremony of reconciliation is still necessary." The emcee coughed and madly hinted at someone who had already flown into the air.

Batman's face turned pale, and then he realized that he had forgotten about this.

Before any form of sparring, unless it's a life-or-death duel, both sides will perform a reconciliation ceremony, signifying that the competition isn't about life or death, but rather about superiority. As a formal competition, a reconciliation ceremony is essential for martial arts tournaments.

Amidst roars of laughter, Batman slowly descended. He cupped his fists at Beckman from a distance of ten meters and said, "Please show mercy."

Batman's voice echoed through the video, and this time, not many people laughed at him. The difference in strength between Beckman and Batman was too great.

This can be seen from the odds of both sides.

1.01 to 25, the former is the odds of Beckman winning, the latter is Batman. These odds illustrate a principle: if you bet 1000 Baileys on Beckman, you will win 10 Baileys, but if you bet 1000 Baileys on Batman, you will lose 1000 Baileys.

So, anyone still betting on Batman at this point was buying into a dream. What if there was a one in ten thousand chance that Beckman forfeited due to family matters? But with Beckman taking the court, that one in ten thousand chance was gone, and this match was a sure thing.

Beckman glanced at Batman and ignored his intention. He looked into the distance by himself, not knowing what he was thinking.

Shanks, who was familiar with him, could understand that his vice-captain did not take this round's opponent seriously at all. He should be taking the opportunity of playing to think about the tactics and positioning for the next round.

As for Batman's plea for mercy, Beckman must have been thinking something like this: This is strange. If a moving target gunman begs for mercy, should the gunman miss?

Batman was turned away, feeling a bit embarrassed, annoyed and worried. He quickly asked the emcee if he could proceed. After the emcee nodded, he flew into the air without stopping, releasing ultrasonic waves across the entire stadium.

The game officially began. Beckman withdrew his thoughts, silently drew the rifle from his waist and put it on his shoulder.

His eyes turned and his sight swept over the Batman who was running around in the air. The rifle swung in an arc in Beckman's hand, and the gun hole instantly locked onto the opponent.

Batman was horrified. Only by facing Beckman's gun could he truly feel the suffocating feeling of being stared at by the Grim Reaper. The bitterness in Batman's heart deepened when he realized from the ultrasonic feedback that the gun wasn't just pointed casually, but was truly locked onto him.

Without even the time to smile bitterly, Batman tried to escape the opponent's sniper attack at the fastest speed.

With a "bang", the trigger was pulled and a black bullet shot out from the barrel with a flash of fire.

The opponent's bullets were so fast that Batman tried his best to escape, but in the end, the bullet left a bullet hole on his left wing, which greatly reduced his speed.

Beckman was not satisfied with the shooting result. The rifle held in one hand continued to fire bullets at a frequency of once per second, continuously hitting the Batman.

First the left shoulder, then the right leg, then the other wing. Batman was dominated by bullets, his shaky form dancing a bloody ballet. If Beckman hadn't strictly adhered to the rule of not killing his opponents, the bullet holes would have appeared in Batman's head and heart.

The audience was completely silent, and the emcee couldn't find any good words to explain the match. It was a completely one-sided massacre.

Having been shot four times, Batman no longer had any hope of survival. He ripped his clothes into shreds and threw them into the air. Black dust spread from the shreds, gradually enveloping the arena.

This was Batman's final trump card. He was not a gunman and was not allowed to use props like smoke bombs, so he made his shirt into a smoke bomb and wore it inside, which was also a loophole in the rules of the game.

The black dust sewn into his clothes had a unique characteristic: not only was it low in light transmittance, but it was also extremely durable, lasting for twenty minutes without strong winds. This was enough time for him to dodge the enemy's gunfire and perhaps even counterattack.

No matter how strong a shooter is, he will be at the mercy of others once he becomes blind.

The stadium erupted in curses and calls for the smoke to be cleared. The screens were all black. Was this match even watchable?

Batman ignored the protests from the audience and focused his attention on tracking Beckman's every move with ultrasound. He waited for the smoke to completely envelop the arena; that was when he would strike.

Chapter 696: My Mango in Society

Batman was determined to hide in the black smoke and not come out.

So Beckman, who had not yet been swallowed by the black smoke on the field, became the only focus of everyone.

What did this gentleman do in this situation?

He put down his rifle and tucked it under his arm, while his right hand fumbled in his jacket pocket.

The audience and the host were all wondering what means Beckman had to break the current situation. Did the gunman prepare weapons to deal with smoke bombs in advance?

Infrared heat source sight, automatic locking hook, or some other black technology.

Even Batman hunched his body alertly, ready to dodge Beckman's attack at any time.

Then, in full view of everyone, Beckman took out a cigarette, lit it, and started puffing smoke.

Turtle, you are not willing to let your opponent create the smoke alone, so you want to do something too.

There were gasps from the audience, stunned by Beckman's mysterious maneuver. "Boss, can you please be more serious? We're still in the game." And most importantly, Beckman's actions had brought out the cravings of all the heavy smokers. "Shooter, you're committing a crime."

Phew... now I feel comfortable.

The emcee didn't get much better. When Beckman reached for his cigarette, he choked on his own saliva. During the broadcast, the emcee kept coughing. To divert the awkwardness, the emcee had to force a comment:

"This incident tells us that what a good shooter needs most is calmness. No matter what kind of difficulties you face, you must not be affected by anxiety first."

Okay, okay, I know you're a good liar, but if you don't stop, I'm going to laugh in your face. If I really believed your lies, I'd be a fool. There were some words the audience didn't say, but the disgusted expressions on their faces said it all.

The little farce had no effect on the two people on the field. One was just smoking, and the other was a patient assassin.

The black smoke moved faster than expected and approached Beckman in the blink of an eye.

A good assassin should be calmer at times like this. Batman knew this very well, but he still couldn't help but feel excited.

During the points race, Batman had the terrain to exploit, relying on his bat's ultrasonic navigation and silent flight to always be victorious. He loved places shrouded in darkness, which felt like home.

Any martial arts competition is subject to the so-called three illusions: I can't be seen, I can show off, and I can counterattack.

Because in his own "home court", Batman became so inflated that he suffered from all three major illusions.

Putting aside the last two points, how can Batman be so sure that Beckman "can't see" him?

The cigarette was halfway burned, which was the time when Batman was most emotionally unstable.

A smile played on Beckman's lips. The ultrasound couldn't pick up the change in Beckman's expression, which made Batman miss his only chance to make amends.

Beckman held the rifle horizontally at his shoulder, holding it with both hands, and aimed at a certain point in the black smoke with bated breath.

Batman's heart skipped a beat. The ultrasound showed that the other party was not aiming at him, but why did he feel like he was being targeted?

Beckman stood there, motionless, until the black smoke engulfed the rifle and gradually brought him into range.

The moment Beckman's last feet were wrapped in black smoke, he moved.

The muzzle of the gun was raised suddenly, and three flashes of fire flashed in the darkness. After the bangs of gunfire, everything returned to calm.

After a while, the rustling sound of an object being dragged was heard from the arena, and a man walked out from the black smoke.

It was Beckman. He put the rifle back on his waist and dragged the unconscious Batman with his left hand.

A long trail of blood followed Batman, extending from the smoke until Beckman threw him out of the ring. According to the rules, if Batman lost consciousness and was thrown out of the ring, he would automatically be the loser.

Then, the emcee's voice sounded at the right moment: "The winner of this round is, Ben Beckman."

The audience applauded generously, but they were puzzled: what exactly was released in the smoke? So, those who threw smoke bombs in the ring were orphans, and the organizers should simply disqualify those who dared to throw smoke bombs.

The audience wanted the MC to interview Beckman, but upon closer inspection, there was no sign of Beckman on the ring. He simply walked away without a word.

I am a man of few words in society.

The emcee said his job was too difficult, with so many problematic contestants. Gritting his teeth, he admitted his mistake: "Everyone must be curious about how Beckman aimed at his opponent in the dark."

The emcee pointed out the doubts in everyone's minds, and the audience turned to the commentary desk where the emcee was.

After a while of thinking and gaining enough attention, the emcee said, "Actually, I want to know too."

To avoid public outrage, the MC, after a bit of a joke, quickly added, "A top-tier marksman's aiming methods are definitely more than just vision. There's murderous intent, perception, observation Haki, and so on. From what I know, there are at least five common methods."

"In the match just now, Beckman's method was most likely Observation Haki. Although it was brief, I did feel a burst of momentum. It's also very likely that he sensed murderous intent, but only the two parties involved can confirm this."

The emcee's rich experience helped him escape the crisis of being reported. Although it was just speculation, it made so much sense that the audience bought it.

As to whether this is true or not, only Beckmann himself knows.

As long as Beckman didn't want to say it, no one dared to get the answer from this gentleman. He would probably give you a bullet and then drag your body into the sea.

Whenever reporters thought of Beckman's cold expression, they would automatically imagine that scene, and even the strongest urge to interview him would subside. Therefore, even though they knew that Beckman's interview would go viral, no reporter dared to actually do it.

The first day of the elimination rounds was only okay. Due to the organizers' scheduling, the matches were largely one-sided. If it weren't for one or two "evenly matched" matches, I'm sure many people would have been calling for refunds.

At the same time, this situation also made clear the gap between the top 128 and the top 32. Those who had been lamenting their bad luck and finishing second in their group in the points race had nothing to say anymore. With their strength, even reaching the knockout stage was a stretch, and reaching the top 64 was a stretch.

As for the round of 32 matches, the only way is to buy a ticket and get in. The audience seats are where they belong.