"Get out of the way! Everyone, move!"
Roya sprinted like a madman on the island's beach track, raising dust clouds. He not only left his own team in the dust but was also rapidly overtaking the squads from other seas.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
The officers choked and coughed, and those who knew Roya well could sense something was different.
The way he was brimming with energy, like he had an inexhaustible supply of strength, was far more excited than usual!
Did he get a shot of adrenaline?
Swimming, rock climbing...
Before noon, Roya had completed all the Physical Training, beating his previous personal record by more than half an hour.
Next stop: the inner island forest.
Roya dashed through the woods, encountering many trainees, but he didn't stop, continuing deeper into the island.
"Huh?"
The trainees exchanged puzzled glances.
Seeing the Black Hair, they thought they were about to get a beating. Everyone who'd encountered the Black Hair in the past few days hadn't been spared.
Unexpectedly, the Black Hair didn't even give them a second glance.
Snob.
Before long, Roya stopped.
Ahead was a massive barbed wire fence, covered with high-voltage warnings, skull symbols, and some animal skeletons. It was clear that climbing it was a bad idea.
Following the signposts, Roya quickly found the entrance gate.
"Ding!"
"243 -> 244."
There were over a thousand people in the outer area of the forest, but only two hundred or so in the inner area.
Roya stepped into the inner area.
Nearly ten thousand trainees were participating in the Training Camp, but eighty percent couldn't complete the Physical Training within half a day. The remaining twenty percent were the elites from the various Branches.
And the two hundred trainees in the inner circle were the elite of the elite, ranking in the top ten in their respective G-system Branches.
"Very quiet."
Roya slowed his pace.
The surrounding environment was tranquil. There were no roars of beasts, and even the birds rarely chirped, indicating that the wild animals in this area were well-behaved - or perhaps they had all been eaten.
"Smoke over there!"
A wisp of smoke was quite noticeable in the northwest direction.
He had to be extremely confident to act so boldly here.
I should investigate!
Roya changed direction.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the location of the smoke. In the center of a wide clearing, a muscle-bound man of extraordinary size was roasting a giant wild boar over a fire.
Seeing Roya's arrival, the muscle-bound man merely glanced sideways before focusing his attention back on the roasting meat, his gaze unusually intent.
"It's him."
Ranked 7th in Combat Prowess, Gouka.
No wonder he's so confident.
Roya grinned and sat down cross-legged beside him to wait.
He's hungry!
Soon, the aroma of Roasted Meat filled the air.
Gouka suddenly spoke.
"It's ready."
"Alright!"
Roya responded and didn't stand on ceremony. He tore off a Leg and took a bite, the rich, oily aroma and juices bursting in his mouth.
The flavor was unexpectedly good!
Gouka also began to devour the meat.
Neither of them spoke, focused entirely on eating and savoring the food, and enjoying the food's deliciousness.
In the surrounding forest, several trainees who had been drawn by the smoke arrived and felt a chill when they saw the two men eating.
"Who's that Black Hair guy?"
"He actually accepted Gouka's invitation!"
"Could he be a guy?"
Everyone in this forest knew that Gouka's carefully prepared Roasted Meat was an invitation to duel for the strong.
As for why he did it this way, Gouka himself said that he wanted both sides to be in perfect condition so that the duel would be fair enough.
Of course, his personal love for roasting and cooking was also a factor.
The giant roasted wild boar disappeared at a rate visible to the naked eye. In less than half an hour, only the skeleton remained.
Roya patted his bulging stomach with satisfaction.
"Very delicious, thank you for the treat!"
"Good to hear."
Gouka stood up. Even just one arm was thicker than Roya's waist.
"Ten minutes enough for you?"
"Three minutes is enough."
Roya straightened up. His stomach acid churned faster, rapidly digesting the food in his stomach, and his bulging belly gradually shrank.
No need for further words.
Gouka's fighting spirit was clearly evident.
He hadn't come here just to fill his stomach.
Three minutes later.
The two men simultaneously walked to opposite sides, stopping about ten meters apart, then turned to face each other.
Roya drew his Sword.
Gouka spread his legs apart and held his hands in front of him, palms facing outwards, adopting the most common fighting stance of a martial artist.
"East Blue, Roya!"
"G-3 Fortress, Gouka!"
The two exchanged names.
The next second, their eyes sharpened, and they simultaneously charged toward each other. Without fancy moves, their fists and Blade swung out ferociously!
"Bang!"
The Blade collided with the fist, and the intense force stirred up the surrounding dust, forming a wave that spread outwards!
"He blocked it!"
All the trainees secretly watching tensed up at this moment, their eyes fixed on the two fighters without blinking.
That Black Hair guy was more powerful than they had imagined!
Roya's pupils contracted slightly.
This guy is actually using his fist to take on his Blade head-on, and the feeling of hitting him is like striking rock.
"Haki!"
Haki was wrapped around the other party's fist!
Roya had known for a long time that the trainees who came to participate in the Training Camp were all elites from the various Branches, and there were definitely strong people among them who had mastered Haki.
After all, Haki was relatively rare only in the Four Seas. For the Marines of the Headquarters and the G-system Branches, it wasn't that mysterious, and Haki was a required course for officers.
To become a Vice Admiral in the Headquarters, proficiency in two types of Haki was the most basic requirement.
And not only Haki, but Roya could feel that the other party's fist had been tempered and refined, possessing an extraordinary hardness.
As expected of a top-ten powerhouse!
Gouka was also surprised at this moment. Although it was only a tentative punch, he had originally expected that this punch would be enough to send the other party flying.
He's got some skill, no wonder he dared to accept his duel invitation.
But it's not enough.
Gouka bent his waist to gather strength, and the muscles in his punching arm swelled and grew larger, explosively releasing overwhelming power!
"Fly!"
"..."
Roya's expression changed. An unimaginable force erupted from the other party's fist, and the right hand wielding the Sword was forcibly pushed back. His Body was also sent flying by the force of the impact!
"Iron Body!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!!!"
Instantly, three thick trees were snapped in half!
"Cough!"
Roya coughed up blood and slowly slid down from the shattered tree trunk. After landing, he raised his hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He's completely outmatched!
However, this allowed him to feel the pressure he hadn't felt in a long time. At this moment, all the cells in his Body were trembling with excitement.
Once he defeats this monstrously strong giant, he'll be one step closer to first place!
In the center of the clearing, Gouka raised his fist.
"Drip! Drip!"
The flesh on the back of his fingers was torn open, and white bone was faintly visible in the deepest part. Crimson blood continued to seep out, dripping between his fingers.
At the moment when he used his strength to send Roya flying, Roya's Sword had cut through his Haki and his fist.
He can't let his guard down!
This Black Hair Kid is strong!
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[T/N:
Latest Chapter translated on Patreon - Chapter Access up to Ch 224
Final Total Power Stone Collection : 145 PS
Goal : Reach +50 Total PS = +2 Bonus Chapters next day! 🚀
Here are the novels I'm currently translating:
-> Naruto Paradise: An Evil Uchiha's Rise
-> One Piece: I'm Destined to Be the Son-in-Law King!
-> Young Master, Please Become Hokage!
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]