Kaito looked at Robin helplessly, thinking to himself,
This girl's scheming side is acting up again.
But when he saw that hopeful gleam in her eyes, he finally gave in.
Amid the surprised stares of the crowd, Kaito slowly stood up from his chair and said calmly,
"I'll give it a try."
His voice wasn't loud, yet strangely, no matter how far someone sat from him, it sounded like he was speaking right beside their ear.
All eyes turned to Kaito. But as soon as they got a good look at him, many couldn't help but burst out laughing.
In this country, a strong physique was considered attractive for a man. Kaito, with his delicate and frail appearance, looked like some pretty boy who couldn't take a hit—he wanted to go up on stage and compete?
Sure, the host had just said the fight would stop before it got dangerous, but who could really guarantee that?
Then, noticing the two stunning women beside Kaito—Viola and Robin—they suddenly understood his intention.
So he's trying to show off in front of the beauties, huh?
Can't deny it, those two were jaw-droppingly beautiful—even in a place like Dressrosa, known for its gorgeous women, they were a rare sight.
Thinking about how Kaito was going to make a fool of himself on stage, the onlookers couldn't help but smirk in schadenfreude.
In the ring, Bellamy frowned as he looked at Kaito. The guy's face looked oddly familiar, but he just couldn't remember where he'd seen him before.
The host, standing nearby, was also caught off guard by Kaito's sudden entrance.
Where did this clueless idiot come from? Do you think this is a place to show off, huh?
But since no one else had stepped up, and this guy was willing to make a spectacle of himself, why not let him? At least it'd give the crowd some entertainment.
Worried Kaito might change his mind, the host hurriedly picked up the mic and shouted,
"Then let's welcome this brave warrior to deliver an unforgettable match! Give it up for our new challenger!"
Scattered applause rang out—most of it from women charmed by Kaito's looks. The men, on the other hand, mostly looked like they were watching a trainwreck in slow motion.
Robin and Viola, meanwhile, clapped enthusiastically at the side, trying their best to hype him up.
Kaito smiled at the two women. Then, with a flash, he disappeared—only to reappear right beside the host the next second.
The entire audience was stunned. The distance between the seats and the stage wasn't short, and yet no one had seen how he moved.
In the passageway, a small boy with horns on his head turned pale when he saw Kaito. He muttered,
"No way... this has to be a joke!"
He shook his head hard, stared at Kaito on the stage to make sure he wasn't seeing things, and then turned and bolted toward the royal palace, yelling as he ran,
"This is bad! I have to tell the young master right away!!!"
Back in the ring, even Bellamy was rattled by Kaito's display of speed. He stared at him for a long moment until a familiar face flashed in his mind.
His expression turned comically exaggerated, and just as he was about to speak, the host brought the mic to Kaito's mouth and asked,
"That was an incredible display of speed! Brave warrior, may we have your name?"
Kaito smiled faintly and replied,
"Kage... Danzō."
'Kage? Danzō? What a stupid name! the host thought silently. But he shouted aloud,
"Then—"
He stopped mid-sentence and backed away, leaving the stage to Kaito and Bellamy.
Bellamy swallowed hard, thinking, Kage, Danzō? Is he really the guy I'm thinking of...?
He glanced at Kaito's eyes—just a pair of ordinary black pupils. Judging by his height too, Bellamy suppressed his earlier fear and decided he had been overthinking it.
How could that guy be in a place like this, and why would he hide his identity?
With power like his, what's the point of hiding?
Feeling reassured, Bellamy squared up, glaring viciously at Kaito. That earlier scare had nearly made him piss himself.
Now, he was determined to make up for it. Forget about this being a friendly match—he'd throw that "Danzō" into the water and feed him to the fish!
Kaito yawned, looking completely uninterested. Arms crossed, he acted as if the so-called champion Bellamy wasn't even worth his attention.
Kaito's attitude lit a fire of rage in Bellamy. He changed his mind—he wouldn't just beat this guy. He'd smash him into a bloody pulp!
With a shout, his limbs turned into springs again.
"Spring Hopper!"
He began ricocheting across the ring at breakneck speed, too fast for the naked eye to follow. While jumping around, he even gave Kaito a little commentary,
"Surprised? If you don't stop me, this move will just keep getting stronger. Just wait—you're about to get smashed into paste!"
Kaito nodded along cooperatively, replying casually,
"Got it. Wow, what a terrifying technique. Whatever shall I do?"
"Hmph! Still mouthing off when death is at your door? You think I care about some friendly match? Just die already!"
Feeling the power building in his body was sufficient, Bellamy turned and launched himself straight at Kaito. At that speed, he was confident he could break through steel—let alone a person.
In the stands, Viola's heart leapt to her throat. She could tell Bellamy had gone all out—if that "Danzō" got hit, he was done for.
She hadn't expected Bellamy to be this ruthless. She just wanted to test Kaito's strength in a friendly bout, not get him killed!
Compared to Viola, Robin looked much more composed. She hadn't been worried from the start—That man had taken on two Emperors alone and won. If a punk like Bellamy could even touch his clothes, that'd be a miracle.
But Viola interpreted Robin's calm expression as indifference—like she was waiting for Kaito to die. That ticked her off. What, is this woman looking for a new boyfriend? Is that why she pushed Danzō to go on stage?
As Viola simmered with frustration, Kaito finally moved.
He casually raised his right hand, then slammed it down toward the ground.
BOOM!
The ground beneath him erupted, forming a massive circular crater. Jagged cracks spread all the way to the edge of the ring.
At the center of the crater lay Bellamy—completely unrecognizable, a heap of mangled flesh. Ironically, his prediction came true—just not for Kaito.
Silence.
Everyone was frozen, still processing what had just happened on the ring.
At the edge of the audience, the host's mic slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor.
He stiffly bent down to pick it up, wanting to step onto the ring to announce Kaito's victory—but found his legs rooted to the spot, as if glued to the floor.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo