The festival atmosphere intensified.
The excitement from watching the tournament didn't subside, fueling an all-night revelry. The town buzzed with unprecedented energy, showing no signs of rest.
Morning brought no change.
Today was the main event.
The tournament's highlight began.
The town simmered with fervor from dawn. Matches were set to start that morning. Spectators, fixated on monitors scattered throughout, eagerly awaited the moment.
The town's anticipation was unstoppable.
Amid the indistinguishable crowd of pirates and citizens, the defeated Straw Hat crew watched a monitor. They gathered before a massive portside screen, calm and ready. Nearby sat Keimi and Pappag, who'd closed their shop for the day, alongside Arlong's crew.
Victory meant Alabasta; defeat meant finding another way. Today was critical. Though merely spectators, their bodies itched with restlessness.
Zoro and Sanji barely hid their irritation. Usopp, in contrast, seemed relieved.
"Today's the big day… Luffy and the others will be fine, right?"
"I want to believe so, but after yesterday…" Nami sighed at Usopp's grimace.
They'd been stunned by Ace's strength, but D Block's match haunted them. It was abnormal. The shock surpassed A Block's, where Ace shone. Despite more participants, one fighter defeated a hundred in under five minutes.
Could anyone rival that? Ace seemed the best bet.
Even Luffy's odds were uncertain. The crew's worry was palpable.
"Betting's heating up too. It's gonna be wild," Sanji said. "Silk's group is the issue. Only strong ones remain—well, except Buggy. Staying unscathed seems impossible."
"I just hope nothing bad happens…" Nami murmured.
"No worries, Nami-san. Chopper's tough. He'll protect Silk," Sanji replied.
"Tch, if I were there, I'd cut them down," Zoro growled.
"That's rich, coming from the guy who got lost," Sanji shot back.
"What'd you say?"
Usopp's words made Zoro scowl, but the others ignored it. It was past 9 a.m. Hatterly appeared on the monitor, greeted by a roaring crowd.
"YEAH!!"
The moment arrived. The town erupted, voices thundering skyward, the atmosphere transformed by unleashed desire.
Hatterly stood on a towering stage in the central plaza, basking in the cheers, microphone in hand.
Eight teams, aboard small, swift ships, were ready. But first, the rules.
Today's differed from yesterday's. The main event, the true spectacle, was about to begin. Hatterly, more excited than ever, bellowed:
"Here it is! The main event, Treasure Battle! Now it gets real!"
The crowd roared, fists raised. Even defeated pirates shouted.
The festival truly began today. The pirate extravaganza, with soaring bets, promised more thrills than yesterday. The town trembled with screams.
Hatterly grinned. "Let's explain the rules! Treasure Battle: a fight to seize the treasure!"
The crowd roared louder, urging him on.
"The stage: four small islands around Blue Square—Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, each with unique climates and terrains! Fight for one treasure chest and bring it to your base! Only when the chest is at your base does the retrieval ship move! First to call the ship wins—a game where the treasure-taker triumphs!"
The crowd gasped in awe. An unheard-of game fueled their imagination, their desire to see it uncontainable.
"It's a tournament! Now, let's draw the matchups!"
"Tournament, huh? Depending on the draw, we might face our own…" Usopp muttered.
"With four of our teams, we're bound to clash somewhere," Nami added, both grimacing.
Numbers didn't matter now—only strength did. No interference was possible, so each pair's performance was key. Their anxiety stemmed from this.
Three Straw Hat pairs and one Arlong pair made up half the eight teams. This raised their odds of winning but also of internal conflict. Worrying was futile, yet they couldn't help it.
Zoro and Sanji watched the monitor calmly, while Igaram looked the most anxious.
"Luffy… please protect Vivi-sama," Igaram pleaded.
"Don't worry. She's not just someone to protect," Zoro replied. Igaram nodded faintly, unease lingering.
"The draw's done fairly, but we'll reveal the matchups after they're set! Hang tight!" Hatterly announced.
The committee drew lots, withholding results until finalized. Usopp swallowed hard, nerves fraying.
"Talk about suspense," he muttered.
"Whoa! That monkey from before—and there's another one!?" Usopp yelped.
"Ukkiki! Yo, you lot! Want autographs or photos?" Mashira and Shoujou, the ape-like duo from the prelims, appeared, sitting cross-legged with grins.
They'd clashed in the prelims, handing over a chest to Zoro and Usopp, stealing from Nami and Sanji, only to be defeated by Luffy. No grudges remained, and the Straw Hats held none either.
"Like I said yesterday, are you guys even human?" Sanji asked.
"Obviously! What, we look like apes to you?" Mashira retorted.
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Sanji deadpanned.
"Ape-raised, huh? Flattering!" Shoujou laughed.
"Suspenseful, right?"
"No idea what you're on about, but we ain't clicking," Sanji sighed, exasperated.
They seemed harmless enough to keep around.
Keimi, watching with them, worried about Hachi. She knew he and Arlong were strong and trusted them, but the betting odds were split.
Ace and Kiri were the top favorites, followed by Mr. S and Ms. K, who dominated D Block. The crowd fixated on these pairs.
Losing was fine, but injury wasn't. Keimi, anxious, turned to Nami.
"Nami-chin, will Hachi and the others be okay? Everyone's so strong…"
"I don't care about Arlong's crew," Nami said bluntly. "We can't do anything. Saying 'they'll be fine' is easy, but it's up to them. All we can do is believe."
Keimi nodded, understanding.
"I'll cheer hard for Hachi and Arlong to win!"
"That's the spirit. Better than fretting," Nami replied.
Cheering was better than worrying. Keimi smiled at the monitor, Pappag joining her. Sailing with pirates required such resolve. Last night's banquet revealed Keimi's naivety; someone had to guide her.
Sometimes, things were beyond control. Nami, shaped by her past, kept it to herself.
Sanji, unusually quiet, smoked and stared at the monitor, watching the draw. Without looking at Zoro, he asked, "Who'll win?"
"If Luffy and Kiri were paired, it'd be easier to predict," Zoro said.
"Even with Ace? He's Kiri's nemesis. And that masked guy's a problem."
"Still."
Zoro's arms were crossed, eyes shut, ignoring the monitor. Sanji, cigarette in hand, exhaled and smirked.
"Some loyalty you've got."
He wasn't calm either. Concerns abounded: Luffy and Kiri split, Vivi's unpredictable strength, Ace—a near-stranger after two days—and the mysterious, formidable Mr. S and Ms. K.
Predicting was tough, but staying silent wasn't easy either.
"Luffy aside, I'm worried about Vivi-chan. Even if she's ex-Baroque Works, a pirate's gritty fighting style might throw her," Sanji said.
"Luffy's weak to tricks. Can't even remember paths. A big island, and he'll get lost," Zoro added.
"Look who's talking," Sanji jabbed.
"Shut it."
Zoro scowled; Sanji, cigarette in mouth, glanced at the sea.
"Why didn't Kiri team with Luffy?" Sanji mused.
"To pair with Vivi," Zoro replied.
"To teach her about pirates?"
"She fears Baroque Works. Luffy's saying fair fights won't cut it."
"You think that's all?"
Zoro fell silent. Sanji, unusually pensive, continued.
"No clue how far he's thinking."
The draw concluded. Hatterly reappeared, microphone in hand, announcing the matchups.
"The tournament table's set! Let's review the eight teams!"
Players' faces flashed onscreen, filmed by video Den Den Mushi at sea.
"Top contenders: Ace and Kiri! Whitebeard's commander and a rookie vice-captain! Bounties worlds apart, but Kiri's potential's unknown. Unshaken in the battle royale, how will he sync with Ace?"
"Bunch of deadweight! Ace'll win solo!" a spectator shouted.
"I'm betting big on you!"
"Don't screw it up, paper boy!"
The crowd had zero faith in Kiri. Bets heavily favored Ace—less payout but a safer choice.
"From A Block: Luffy and Vivi! Shockingly, sources say Luffy's Ace's sworn brother! His battle royale performance suggests he's a wildcard!"
"What? Fire Fist's brother?"
"No way! Never heard that!"
"If it's true…"
"Would Ace go easy on his brother?"
The crowd buzzed, skeptical but focused on betting odds. Luffy's relation to Ace was their sole concern.
"From B Block: Silk and Chopper! Devil Fruit users who steadily climbed to victory with teamwork!"
"That wind-making chick?"
"And the gorilla-deer-tanuki thing?"
"Betting on them's a long shot, but the payout'd be huge."
Silk and Chopper's faces appeared. Nami's expression shifted. Watching was harder than fighting. Usopp, sweating, forced a smile.
"Silk…"
"No worries! Half the teams are ours! It's just a game—they won't die!" Usopp said, legs shaking.
"Those are tremors, Usopp," Nami pointed out.
"Warrior's tremors! Man, I wish I was fighting! Snatch the treasure and run—I'd outpace anyone!"
"I get it. I told Keimi to stay strong, so I can't falter either."
Nami steeled herself, as did Zoro, Sanji, and Igaram, who fell silent. Usopp, arms crossed, focused on the monitor.
Win or lose, the outcome was coming. They just had to watch.
"From B Block: the mysterious Mr. 2 Bon Clay, an okama fighter with an unknown partner!"
"Finally, I can cut loose!" Mr. 2 spun on his ship, warming up.
"From C Block: Arlong and Hachi! Rumored to be targeting the Straw Hats for revenge!"
"Hachi, go for it!" Keimi cheered.
"Arlong, win it! We'll expand the shop!" Pappag yelled.
Arlong's crew joined in, the port electric. Nami watched silently.
"Also C Block: the eccentric Smoker-sensei and his disciple!"
"Appapapa, let's see how this plays out…" Apoo, on his ship's railing, watched the monitor, uninterested in joining the shore crowd.
"From D Block: Buggy and Alvida! They led in the cross-country but froze in the battle royale. Show your true strength!"
"Alright, time to shine!" Buggy declared.
"Win, and the treasure's ours," Alvida smirked, both exuding confidence.
"Lastly, the unknowns: Mr. S and Ms. K! They caused D Block's tragedy with overwhelming power. Who can stop them?"
The masked duo stood still on their ship.
With introductions done, anticipation peaked. Hatterly twirled the microphone.
"Here's the tournament table!"
The crowd roared, then fell silent. Hatterly grinned.
"Round 1: Luffy and Vivi vs. Buggy and Alvida!"
"It's Luffy right off the bat!" Usopp's voice trembled.
The screen split, showing both pairs. Luffy and Buggy grinned fiercely, Vivi's eyes burned with resolve, and Alvida smirked faintly.
Usopp shook. The first match featured Luffy's team. With half the teams from their crew, it wasn't surprising but still jarring.
"Round 2: Arlong and Hachi vs. Mr. 2 Bon Clay!"
The Straw Hats and Arlong's crew stirred. If both won, Luffy and Arlong could face off in the semifinals, drawing intense focus.
"Round 3: Ace and Kiri vs. Smoker-sensei and disciple!"
Ace and Kiri were separated from Luffy, avoiding them until the final.
"Round 4: Silk and Chopper vs. Mr. S and Ms. K!"
As feared, Silk and Chopper faced the most dangerous, enigmatic pair. Could they survive?
The tournament table appeared. Winners would advance, leaving one champion.
By chance, the Straw Hats and Arlong's crew were split, but Silk and Chopper faced a daunting foe. Knowing D Block's massacre—fifty teams crushed swiftly—they paled.
"Our opponents… them…" Chopper muttered.
"No easy fight…" Silk said tensely.
Mr. S and Ms. K stood motionless, masks hiding their expressions.
Ace glanced at them, eyes narrowing on one. Kiri noticed.
"Know them?" Kiri asked.
"No, but I can't rule it out," Ace replied, arms crossed, gazing at the sea.
"A dead man appearing before you—could you accept it easily?"
"Nope. Dreamed it often, but it's never happened," Kiri said, dropping the question.
Satisfied with the table, Ace closed his eyes, awaiting the start.
"Let's begin Round 1! The teams head to the battlefield!"
Their ships sped across the sea. Luffy, fists clenched, was eager. Vivi, resolute, stared ahead.
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