Chapter 454: Kendo Association
At that moment, as War King ceased his subtle provocations, the invisible aura of conflict spreading across the sea began to wane.
However, the relentless artillery fire at the scene showed no signs of stopping.
Once a conflict ignited, it was not easily quelled.
The hot-tempered pirates, in particular, clung to their tradition of retaliation.
Firing at each other while pushing forward became the dominant rhythm of the competition.
"Guhahahaha, dear viewers, you can see it." Morgans announced.
"The scene today is chaotic, and the participants look full of energy and passion."
"It is truly heartwarming."
People watching the live broadcast worldwide heard Morgans' enthusiastic voice and felt exasperated.
Full of energy and passion? The competitors were fighting for their lives!
Morgans spoke as if it were a mere game.
To those watching, it felt like a battlefield.
Lives hung in the balance, fragile and easily lost.
What a perilous conference.
Many viewers felt fortunate not to be participating.
They realized that such a chaotic event, with no binding rules, required participants to risk everything.
"Oh, look! The Magic Pattern Guild's Great Tornado has become the first to break through the headwind layer, completing the headward Journey." Morgans declared.
"Even the stronger winds and wind blades in the final stretch did not hinder them. They passed through effortlessly."
"It is indeed a renowned guild, famed for its wind-type magic patterns."
"Their strength is quite impressive."
As Morgans spoke, the ships still exchanging cannon fire grew anxious.
They began urging their vessels to move faster.
However, some ships, with subpar engines, could not withstand the fierce winds.
Smaller vessels were tossed ten meters by the gusts, flipping over on the sea.
Others, seeing their efforts fail, resorted to approaching rival ships to seize them.
Some, realizing the situation was dire, simply raised their sails, letting the wind carry them away, ready to abandon the competition.
These varied choices plunged the sea into chaos.
None of this fazed Morgans.
His subordinates were also competing in the Phantom Beast Conference.
The rewards were undeniably enticing.
However, his men lacked the strength to hold a significant advantage.
Fortunately, his connections allowed his subordinates to board a Yamata Church ship directly.
Thus, he remained unhurried in the early stages.
"Very well. Next, let me introduce the second stage of the island landing competition." Morgans said.
His voice carried across the chaotic sea, drawing attention even amidst the turmoil.
"As you can see, ahead of the Demon Pattern Guild's Great Tornado lie massive whirlpools, one after another." he explained.
"This area is called the Sea Vortex Layer, also known as the Trial of the Vortex."
"The whirlpools here vary in size. The smallest are tens of meters wide, while the largest…" Morgans paused.
The main broadcast screen shifted to a colossal whirlpool.
Countless currents swirled, plunging deep into its center.
From a distance, it resembled a vast, dark eye.
"This is the largest whirlpool in the Sea Vortex Layer, spanning three thousand meters. A ship caught in it would easily be torn apart."
"There are eight such whirlpools in the vortex layer, scattered randomly across different areas."
"It is worth mentioning that all whirlpools in the Sea Vortex Layer move at a specific speed."
"So, good luck to all the participants."
Hearing Morgans' words, many competitors' faces turned pale.
Moving whirlpools? Was this necessary?
Learning of the next stage's difficulty, some immediately gave up.
The first stage already felt life-threatening, and the second seemed even more dangerous.
They had not even reached Phantom Beast Island or glimpsed the prizes, yet faced such perils.
Not everyone could ignore the risks.
They came for profit, not to gamble their lives.
Of course, some adhered to the belief that greater risks brought greater rewards, pushing forward with renewed effort.
Whoosh! Boom!
"It is truly dangerous, meow!" Pizarro exclaimed.
Watching several cannonballs sliced and exploding in mid-air, Pizarro patted his chest with an exaggerated expression.
He then looked with satisfaction at a green-haired man nearby, dressed in mismatched clothes and wielding a sword.
Clearly, this man had just cut the cannonballs.
Thanks to Pizarro's familiarity with Shiryu, he had always sought a skilled swordsman as a partner.
The man before him, Yake, was someone Pizarro had shamelessly recruited from Wilbur Island during the last kendo tournament.
Yake, nicknamed "Willow Sky." was a formidable swordsman specializing in waterbending-style swordsmanship.
He had a resolute personality, enjoyed drinking, but had a low tolerance for alcohol.
"Fortunately, I have you, Yake, meow."
Hearing Pizarro's quirky suffix, Yake found him oddly endearing.
The thought startled him, and he quickly shook his head.
Was he mad for thinking that?
He then looked at Pizarro with a complicated expression.
Initially, Pizarro had gotten him drunk.
Later, after receiving a fine blade from Pizarro, Yake vaguely agreed to join his crew.
Now, his bounty stood at 411 million Berries.
But what did it mean to be a pirate?
He had originally aspired to be a hunter!
Especially now, he longed to join the Kendo Association to hone his swordsmanship, but that dream was gone.
Thinking of this, Yake could not help but feel like weeping.
The Kendo Association, founded by Medono, the lord of Wilbur Island, was a platform for swordsmanship exchange.
It was a relatively loose civilian organization.
Its establishment stemmed from the continuous kendo tournaments held on the island.
In the second and third tournaments, Medono's granddaughter, Soralin, took second place.
The first was Sword Master Scarlet.
Together, they founded the Sisters Sword Club, dedicated to female swordsmen worldwide.
Backed by strong connections, the Kendo Association grew rapidly, becoming a major force in a short time.
Members received a free notebook on the essence of kendo techniques.
With its open atmosphere aimed at advancing swordsmanship, the association thrived.
Kendo flourished as a result.
The kendo tournaments on Wilbur Island, inheriting the first event's open nature, welcomed all participants.
However, joining the Kendo Association itself had barriers.
Pirates, in particular, were excluded.
This made Yake wish he could travel back and slap his past self for drinking and becoming a pirate.
(End of Chapter)