In a certain sea area in the second half of the Grand Line, a giant elephant as high as 20,000 meters stopped there, and it was raising its long nose to enjoy the kelp and fruits on the 'White Sea' and Sky Island.
And on its back lies an air force base with a vast airport at its core.
At this time, in a high-end apartment in the dormitory area of the base.
Hozumi was chatting with Horobi using a Den-Den Mushi.
"What?"
"Sister Horobi, you're also going to participate in that World Tournament!"
Hozumi looked at the Den-Den Mushi in surprise and said worriedly: "The rules of the preliminary selection seem very dangerous! You better not participate, okay?"
The Den-Den Mushi lowered his eyes, showing the heavy mood of Horobi on the other end.
"I want to represent our world and show the power of Nue to everyone, and I also want to face Biba in a fair battle to close the chapter of our past."
Hozumi fell silent.
She knew that Horobi had accepted Steve Gus, and she could guess that Horobi still had some feelings for her brother.
Now it seems that Horobi has made the decision to close that chapter and embrace her new identity and life.
"But if you want to show Nue's power, Brother Biba would be more suitable, right?" Hozumi asks doubtfully.
In her memory, Biba is also a Nue, and his power must be stronger than Horobi's, but the latter responded with a whisper.
"Biba is no longer a Nue. Not long after he transferred to Cipher Pol, he exchanged two 'White Blood' to regain a normal body on the grounds that the Kabaneri's upper limit was too low, and then requested the Total Cell Enhancement Serum to improve his physique."
"According to what Gus told me, after a few months of intensive training, he has not only learned Serpent Breathing and its corresponding sword technique, but he has also mastered Soru and Rankyaku, and has even begun practicing Busoshoku Haki and Kenbunshoku Haki."
After listening to Horobi, Hozumi covered his mouth in shock and finally showed a helpless expression.
"Brother Biba is truly impressive wherever he is!"
Hozumi's feelings towards Biba are more complex than Horobi's.
She knows that he instilled in her some not very positive ideas and concepts, but he also saved her life, educated her and cared for her during their time together.
"What about you, sister Horobi?"
"Hehe, I'm fine too. Taking advantage of the increase in mental power that Nue gives me, I have already mastered Kenbunshoku Haki, and as for sword technique, I have learned Mist Breathing."
"It's because of the problem of physical fitness that I still can't practice the Rokushiki and Busoshoku Haki."
At the end, the Den-Den Mushi sighed heavily.
Hozumi was confused again. "Why don't you apply for a total cell strengthening serum?"
"Because my merits are not enough to exchange it, and due to the high temperature characteristics of the Kabane Virus, I need to first exchange two doses of White Blood to recover a normal constitution before using it."
Horobi was helpless.
"Well, okay."
Hozumi could only sigh.
"It seems that this time, Brother Biba is determined to participate in the World Tournament, and he will never be satisfied unless he enters the Top Ten."
...
June 1, 1500, of the Age of the Sea Circle.
Today is destined to be a day that will be remembered by future generations as it is the opening day of the qualifiers for the first World Tournament.
That day, the inhabitants of Starfish World had already turned on their video Den-Den Mushi.
Some were at home with their families, waiting quietly, while others gathered in open spaces prepared in each city, enjoying a viewing experience on larger screens.
At the same time, in the Kabane World, Demon Slayer World, and Titan World, there are also dense crowds of people gathered to watch the large-sized virtual screens.
On the other hand, the Yasnaya Islands in the East Blue, Amysiti in the South Blue, Royeia in the West Blue, and Garsas in the North Blue, which had been adapted as the venues for the qualifiers, had been surrounded by dozens of Navy warships.
In addition, there were medical ships with white flags and a red cross, ready for any emergency.
However, the largest number is still the transport ships carrying contestants.
Because the number of people who signed up to participate in each sea area has reached about 10,000, the world government, considering the order and safety issues, stipulates that every 100 contestants board one ship.
In this way, there are as many as one hundred transport ships.
According to the rules of the competition.
Each group of one thousand competitors would arrive at the island in three-day intervals, which equates to about thirty days. This large-scale qualifying round will end and then, on July 1, the official Top 100 Competition will be held on an undisclosed island in the first half of the Grand Line.
...
World of the Titans.
Imu, accompanied by Historia, Stussy, Enel and others, was watching twelve large virtual screens combined together.
In addition to aerial views of the four islands, eight fixed views focused on the competitors that most interested Imu were shown on the screens.
That is, Muzan, Biba and others.
"Muzan really is being extremely cautious." Imu said, looking at the screen where Muzan maintained a standard smile, looking harmless as he stood in the middle of the group of competitors.
Even though his skill and power were quite impressive, he still required a strong hidden protector to watch over him.
However, with his height of 1.7 meters, his slender body and his soft white face, he gave the impression of being easily intimidated.
He watched the robust men nearby, who sometimes looked at him with a mixture of mockery and contempt.
[Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!]
At ten o'clock in the morning, huge fireworks rose above the skies of the four qualifying islands.
"Dear viewers, the first round of qualifiers for the first World Tournament has finally begun. I am your old friend and host of this event, Stella."
At the same time, Stella's pleasant voice began to narrate for the spectators in all worlds.
"We can see that each stage has ten transport ships, carrying a total of one thousand competitors from different directions to the islands."
"According to the rules, during the first two hours on the island, no attacks are allowed between competitors. During this time, they can look for a place to hide, and at noon, the competitions will begin, which will last for three days until only one hundred competitors remain."
"If after three days there are more than one hundred competitors on the island, the top one hundred will be selected based on the number of victories each has."
"In addition, there are some dangerous animals on the islands, such as giant insects, carnivorous plants, ferocious wild beasts, and even demons from the Demon Slayer World, Kabane from the Kabane World, and Pure Titans from the Titan World."
"Therefore, competitors will face challenges not only from other participants, but also from the dangers inherent to the islands."
At that moment, Imu watched in surprise as Muzan, without waiting for the transport ship to reach the beach, jumped straight into the water, disappearing in the splashes.
At the same time, spectators saw several figures from another transport ship in the East Blue area jump straight off the deck and swim at high speed towards Yasnaya Island.
"It's the fishmen!"
"I didn't expect there would be fishmen participating."
In the Sabaody Archipelago, humans, merfolk, and fishmen were mixed together in large numbers, while arguing loudly.
However, some merfolk and fishmen seemed to recognize the figures that appeared briefly in the picture, and all kinds of exclamations emerged.
"It seems to be Arlong and his team?"
"Yeah, that's them! I saw Hatchan and Kuroobi!"
"They are so brave that they dare to participate in such a deadly competition?"
Just as they were talking, Arlong, Hatchan, Kuroobi, Chew and ten nameless fishmen arrived at the beach first.
"Shahahaha!"
"Keep running inland so the world can see the power of the fishmen!"
Arlong, with a big smile showing his sharp teeth, ran with great vigor while holding his serrated knife and laughing defiantly.
When they disappeared into the vegetation, the transport boats finally reached the beach, and the participants rushed to the island.
These participants were much calmer than Arlong.
They were very cautious among themselves and dispersed individually or in small groups.
On the northern beach of Yasnaya Island, a burly man, over two meters tall, dressed in thick iron armor and with a heavy iron spear in his hand, disembarked from the ship.
And surprisingly, nearly a hundred participants followed him peacefully.
"Hehe, Chief Krieg, I can't believe the World Government allowed us to board the ship together. Aren't they afraid that we'll use our numerical advantage to eliminate the lone participants?"
A young man said with a malicious smile.
"Hmph, idiot!"
Krieg, who is only 22 years old this year, walked forward and said disdainfully: "Don't you understand the purpose of this tournament?"
"Uh, what do you mean?"
"The world government wants to use this tournament to filter out the truly strong who can operate alone in another world. They will surely face situations with enemies in large numbers. If they can't handle such situations, they are not truly strong, so they are not concerned about us grouping up."
Krieg walked with a cold gaze through the dense vegetation, noticing the gazes around him, and continued coldly.
"But it is a fact that acting in a group has advantages. The more of us there are, the greater the chance that many of us will pass the selection. So why not do it?"
"Yes! The boss is right!"
The young man nodded excitedly, feeling safer in a large group.
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