"Hey! Get out of here right now if you know what's good for you!"
A burly man held his head high, glowering down at the bustling crowd of contestants gathered on the best fishing platform. His voice boomed across the water with contemptuous authority, clearly expecting immediate compliance.
"Seriously? Why's he targeting our spot when there are four other premium locations just like this one over there?" one contestant muttered nervously.
"Damn it, is he going to pull another big scene like he did last year?" another whispered.
"Who is this guy?" asked a confused newcomer.
"You must be from out of town," replied a local fisherman grimly. "That's McGee, the so-called 'Fishing King' who's won the last two championships. He's the heavy favorite again this year."
"We should run! I heard he threw every single contestant from the same fishing spot into the water last year and even broke their fishing rods. Anyone whose equipment got destroyed lost their qualification to compete!"
"Why should we run?" a braver soul protested. "There are so many of us here. If we work together and take him down, won't the championship be ours for the taking?"
The crowd at the fishing platform erupted into heated discussion. Some wanted to flee the scene immediately, while others tried to rally everyone for a coordinated stand. Various conflicting strategies were shouted back and forth, creating a chaotic atmosphere of uncertainty and fear.
"I'll give you exactly one second to clear out," McGee announced coldly, snapping his fingers with the casual menace of a predator issuing an ultimatum to cornered prey. "If you don't leave voluntarily... well, let's just say you won't like the alternative."
Despite the crowd's divided opinions and conflicting strategies, their actions began flowing in the same direction. Some contestants tried to slip past McGee to reach the water's edge, while others decided to attack him directly without hesitation, hoping to overwhelm him through sheer numbers.
McGee failed to react quickly enough to the initial assault and was struck hard by several determined contestants working in coordination. However, he didn't take even a single step backward. Instead, a sneer of pure disdain flashed across his weathered features.
"Don't get too cocky!" he snarled.
He stretched out one massive hand and delivered a devastating blow with astonishing power, instantly sending the people directly in front of him flying through the air and splashing into the lake below. After all, this fishing platform was simply a long, narrow walkway extending into the water—only about two meters wide with no protective barriers on either side.
"Wait! We don't actually want to fight you—" some of the remaining contestants tried to explain, desperately seeking a peaceful resolution.
But McGee proved utterly ruthless, refusing to give them any chance for negotiation or retreat. He relied on his impressive physique to absorb incoming attacks, a crazed smile spreading across his face as he continued swinging his massive hands. One by one, he beat the desperate contestants until they coughed up blood, then systematically swept them all into the water.
"Ha! I never intended to let any of you stay anyway!" McGee declared with vicious satisfaction. "If I wasn't worried about the organizers canceling the entire competition, nobody at any of the other fishing spots would be able to remain standing until the end either!"
After easily crushing all opposition, McGee displayed a thoroughly satisfied smile, his predatory eyes sweeping across the surrounding contestants who stood at distant fishing spots across the water, uncertain about what was happening.
McGee's powerful clearing action was followed by enthusiastic whistles and cheers from portions of the spectator crowd—mixed with shouted encouragement and calls for victory. The cacophony was chaotic but energetic, apparently coming from McGee's dedicated fans or gamblers who had placed money on him to win in the various betting pools surrounding the competition.
In response to this support, McGee raised both arms high above his head and laughed triumphantly, basking in all the attention focused on him as if the championship trophy was already sitting securely in his possession.
However, the voices of contestants at surrounding fishing spots and the ongoing chatter from spectators in the stands suddenly stopped, as if cut off by some invisible force. An unnatural silence settled over the immediate area.
McGee was visibly startled and immediately ceased his celebratory behavior. While he puzzled over this unexpected quiet, he heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching from behind him.
Turning his head, he saw a man who appeared quite short compared to his own imposing frame, walking toward him with leisurely confidence and a completely nonchalant smile on his face.
The newcomer had short, flowing hair and wore a casual Hawaiian shirt paired with flip-flops. He carried an assortment of fishing tools in his left hand while balancing a fishing rod casually on his right shoulder, projecting an aura of complete relaxation and ease.
"Not bad at all!" the stranger said cheerfully. "You actually used violence to clear out the competition. I was just worrying about this place being too crowded, so you've really helped me out tremendously."
He came to a stop directly in front of McGee and looked up with a smile as warm as sunshine. "Thank you so much, big guy. You're incredibly thoughtful."
The person speaking was none other than Jerry. He had walked calmly up to the intimidating McGee and now stood before him without the slightest sign of concern or fear.
Looking down at what appeared to be a relatively small opponent, McGee's mouth twitched slightly before revealing a sinister grin that promised violence.
"Kid! Do you think your life has been too easy so far?" McGee growled menacingly.
"What's the problem? You want to fight me?" Jerry asked with genuine confusion, blinking innocently.
"If that's what you want, then come and hit me!" Jerry added with a casual shrug.
With an enraged roar, McGee swung his massive hand in a violent sideways strike aimed directly at Jerry's head. Among the watching crowd, a kind-hearted woman couldn't help but scream and covered her eyes, unable to bear witnessing such apparent brutality.
After all, McGee's enormous open palm easily covered the entire area from Jerry's chest to the top of his head, suggesting the incoming blow would be devastating.
Brook observed the confrontation leisurely from the sidelines, while Skull was actually cheering enthusiastically—not for McGee, but because he was genuinely excited about what he recognized as the bully's suicidal decision to challenge Jerry.
There was a tremendously loud impact that immediately shocked countless onlookers and drew gasps of surprise from every direction.
"That's impossible!" someone shouted in disbelief.
"McGee's attack was completely blocked!" another spectator cried out.
Jerry had calmly set down his fishing tools with his left hand and extended that same arm to intercept McGee's attacking palm, stopping the blow entirely with what appeared to be minimal effort.
McGee's face turned red with strain and frustration as he attempted to pull his hand back for another attack, but Jerry's comparatively small hand held the giant's massive fist in an iron grip, preventing any movement whatsoever.
The sharp contrast in height and body composition between the two fighters created a dramatic and almost surreal visual impact. Jerry, standing less than two meters tall, was effortlessly controlling a giant who towered over four meters in height.
Jerry's grin widened as he looked up at his trapped opponent. "Hey, you're the one who asked for this."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jerry pulled sharply with his left hand. McGee suddenly felt as though invisible forces were manipulating the muscles in his palm and forearm, causing him to stagger forward involuntarily, completely off-balance.
Jerry smoothly twisted his body, and his strength erupted in a perfectly executed technique. He drove his shoulder into McGee's midsection with his signature Iron Mountain Ram, causing the giant's face to contort with unbearable pain as his eyes became bloodshot from the impact.
Then Jerry reached out with his right hand, positioned his shoulder against his opponent's muscular arm, and executed a flawless over-the-shoulder throw. McGee was lifted completely off his feet and sent tumbling heavily into the lake below.
The massive splash sent water several meters high into the air, creating rolling waves that surged outward in all directions from the point of impact.
The contestants who had been previously pushed into the water by McGee were extremely grateful they had already swum to safety. If they had remained in the immediate area, they would certainly have been caught up in the secondary wave action from McGee's much more dramatic entrance.
At the same time, their eyes filled with sincere gratitude as they looked toward Jerry, who now stood alone and victorious at the fishing platform. Although they had never met him before and Jerry probably hadn't given any thought to making their acquaintance, his decisive action had undoubtedly avenged their humiliation and earned their deep respect.
Jerry watched calmly as the ripples on the water's surface gradually subsided, then observed McGee emerging from the lake, sputtering and disoriented. He spread his hands in an innocent gesture and turned toward the audience with an expression of complete guilelessness.
"Everyone heard that, right?" Jerry called out to the crowd with perfect sincerity. "He specifically requested that I hit him. I was just being polite and accommodating his wishes!"