On the third day, Hailan continued participating in the Dressrosa arena matches as usual.
Only small-scale matches were typically held, with weak opponents and meagre prize money. After all, this was a poor country, with its annual tribute to the Celestial Dragons being scraped together by the entire population tightening their belts.
If it weren't for the Donquixote family, one of the twenty Celestial Dragon families 800 years ago, the world government might not have bothered with such a country. It would have been more practical to capture and send the populace to East Blue to build bridges.
With the legendary gladiator Kyros retired, the bullfighting arena's business had declined. However, in the past few days, Hailan's swift victories had drawn in a new wave of spectators.
Amidst the audience's near-unanimous cheers, Hailan once again stepped into the bullfighting arena.
"Hopefully, I can encounter some decent opponents today."
Due to Hailan's growing fame in Dressrosa, today's participants weren't the usual struggling gladiators and prisoners but outsiders specifically there to defeat Hailan.
A muscular man was already waiting on the large stone platform.
"So, you're the Hailan everyone's been raving about?"
The man's temper seemed short, and his voice was loud.
"Yeah, that's me."
Hailan, while warming up, asked, "May I ask your name, friend?"
"Who's your friend? Enough with the chatter!"
Amidst the audience's gasps, the two-meter-tall man began to transform. A beastly figure covered in spots with a steel-like tail appeared within three seconds before Hailan.
"An animal-type Devil Fruit user? Looks like a... leopard?"
Before Hailan could express his surprise, the now giant man pounced on him. His fingernails had turned into sharp claws, and he leapt forward with incredible speed, instantly closing the distance.
Hailan felt as if a fierce predator was stalking him. This was a battle-hardened presence unlike anything he'd encountered in the Marine Academy. Neither Smoker nor Shuzo had this kind of intense aura.
You could never call yourself a true warrior without experiencing a real battlefield!
On full alert, Hailan concentrated all his strength and punched forward with his iron-fisted right hand. The collision of their fists felt like two hammers clashing, sending shockwaves that pushed both back.
This leopard man didn't know the Six Powers but was more potent than the wolf-man Jabura. After all, the Six Powers were just a shortcut to enhancing physical strength while formidable fighters abounded in this vast ocean.
"Does this guy know Armament Haki?"
Hailan wondered, massaging his sore right hand.
Armament Haki, derived from one's physical energy, could enhance both defense and attack, acting like invisible armour—hence the name. However, it was unsuitable for those under seventeen, as it could severely deplete a young person's potential, causing more harm than good.
Hailan, though close to seventeen, had not forced himself to learn Armament Haki. Rushing such things would backfire.
Even Cipher Pol agents trained harshly from a young age, focused only on mastering the Six Powers. The World Government wouldn't force them to practice Armament Haki, knowing it would ultimately be detrimental.
"His Armament Haki isn't fully developed," Hailan judged roughly. He then smiled, confusing his opponent.
In a flash, Hailan used Soru to dart to the man's side, leaving only an afterimage on the platform. The muscular man, surprisingly calm in battle despite his temper, swung his steel-like tail towards Hailan, who evaded using Soru again to reappear in front of him.
The leopard man's claws swiped at Hailan, who dodged with another Soru.
After three rapid movements, Hailan's three consecutive punches struck the same spot on the leopard man's back. The sound of bones cracking echoed as the man collapsed, incapacitated.
Cheers erupted from the stands as his companions carried the defeated man away.
In a different world, a spinal injury might be fatal or disabling. But a strong enough physique could mean recovery was still possible in this world.
Soon, another opponent stepped onto the platform—a woman with a cold demeanour. Without a word, she launched a fierce assault on Hailan. Her hair, moving like serpents, attacked swiftly and brutally.
"Looks a bit like the Yamata-no-Orochi from Wano Country," Hailan thought, intrigued by her hair's movements. Meanwhile, outside the arena, Garp, in his floral shirt and shorts, had already found the unlucky leopard man.
"Friend, need some medicine?"
"Who are you?"
The defeated man was already frustrated, and hearing a carefree old man make such a comment only infuriated him further.
"Hey, if you don't want it, just say so. Why get physical?"
The man's companions chased away Garp. He had planned to change his pitch and try again but was interrupted by a phone call.
In the arena, Hailan quickly lost interest in the woman's strange ability and kicked her out of the ring.
As he waited for the next opponent, Garp suddenly appeared beside him.
"Who's that old man? He's so fast!"
"Looks like the real show is about to start!"
Amidst the audience's cheers and expectations, Hailan and Garp didn't start fighting as they had imagined. Instead, they stepped into the air and fled the bullfighting arena.
"That's... Big Mom Pirates' Moonwalk!"
"That's nonsense! It's clearly the Marine's Six Powers' Moonwalk!"
Knowledgeable spectators argued, each side unwilling to yield.
Hailan and Garp had no time to clarify as the Happo Navy had finally arrived at the coast of Dressrosa.