Three hours earlier.
G-5 Base, Island of the End.
The moment the countdown hit zero, cannons roared and fireworks exploded across the sky, even in broad daylight.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for your patience!"
Rehn's voice thundered across the arena as he pointed toward the player entrance.
"Now! Let us welcome the 66 warriors who survived the hellish preliminaries and stand here today!!"
A tidal wave of cheers erupted.
The contestants filed out.
In the middle of the group, a flamboyant man in a floral shirt and pink sunglasses swaggered forward.
"Sabo" or rather, "Sassy", waved arrogantly at the crowd, even blowing kisses to screaming noblewomen.
A perfect image of a carefree playboy.
But, to those skilled in Observation Haki, something was off.
His steps were slightly unsteady, his breathing uneven and deep in his eyes, hidden tension.
He was not Sabo.
He was a Revolutionary Army agent, master of disguise,
Codename: "Thousand-Faced Bird."
"Stay calm… just hold on…"
He glanced nervously toward the high platform.
There, Renzo lay lazily, seemingly asleep.
"The Chief of Staff said… as long as I don't actually fight, I can stall however I want… even dance if needed…"
.....
Meanwhile…Deep Underground, G-5 Transport Tunnel.
Silence replaced the chaos above.
Only heavy footsteps echoed.
"Move it! Stay sharp!"
Potts, now in partial beast form, led the escort.
Wings folded. Clawed hands ready. Eyes sharp like an eagle's.
Behind him, fifty elite Hellhound operatives.
And at the center, a levitating transport vehicle.
Inside: 21 crystal containers.
20 held various Devil Fruits.
And at the center, in a separate safe, the Logia, Dark-Dark Fruit.
It radiated an ominous darkness even through reinforced glass.
"Damn… this thing's worth hundreds of billions…"
Potts wiped sweat nervously.
"If anything goes wrong, Steward Rehn will feed me to Sea Kings… Lord Renzo might turn me into a sleeping vegetable…"
The convoy advanced through a 3-kilometer fortified tunnel.
Guarded by infrared sensors, and automated turrets.
Nigh impossible to breach.
Until, "AAAH!!"
A sudden scream echoed ahead.
CLANG! Tools scattered.
"Who's there?!"
Potts instantly reacted, wings flaring, claws coated in Armament Haki.
"Enemy attack! Defensive formation!"
Guns raised, "D-don't shoot! Friendly! Friendly!!"
A young maintenance worker crawled into view.
Grease-stained uniform.
Tools everywhere.
Sparks flying from a welding device.
"Identify yourself!"
Potts remained alert.
"I-I'm maintenance worker #9527! Asa!"
The man stammered, trembling.
"Manager Rehn… he got mad! Said the elevator lighting isn't flashy enough!"
"He ordered me to replace it immediately with stage lighting, or throw me into a blender!"
"I ran too fast… slipped…"
Potts frowned.
Ridiculous? Yes.
But at G-5, completely believable.
Rehn would do that.
Potts examined him closely: No weapons, weak presence, grease smell, and calloused hands
"…Seems fine."
"Get lost. Now."
"No changing lights until we're done!"
"Yes! Thank you, sir!"
The worker scrambled to pick up the tools clumsily and panicked.
A bulb rolled under the transport vehicle.
"You idiot! Stay away from that!"
"Sorry! I'll grab it!"
He lunged forward, blocking the line of sight for a split second.
In that instant, the trembling eyes vanished.
Replaced by something sharp.
Dominant like a dragon.
He was the real Sabo.
For this moment, he had: Studied G-5 workers for two days. Applied real engine oil. Faked calluses. Intercepted internal comms to craft the "lighting" excuse
In a place built on absurdity, the more ridiculous the lie, the more believable it became.
"Only one chance!"
His fingers curled, Dragon Claw.
Armament Haki compressed inward.
No leakage.
Target? Not the bulb.
The safe.
Even with Seastone and glass, his technique, Core Destruction, could shatter the lock instantly.
'Closer. Closer.'
SNAP!
A clawed hand seized his wrist with imminence force like a hydraulic press.
Pain exploded through his arm.
"!!"
Sabo's pupils shrank.
He'd been caught.
"Maintenance worker… Asa, was it?"
Potts' voice turned cold.
"Nice acting."
"Grease, calluses, even your fear… flawless."
He tightened his grip.
Blood seeped.
"But you forgot something."
"I'm a Mythical Zoan, Griffin."
"Creatures like us… can smell danger."
"And…"
He leaned closer.
Golden eyes locked onto Sabo.
"A normal worker…"
"Wouldn't instinctively shift into an attack stance while falling."
"Your body betrayed you."
"…Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army."
BOOM!!!
Sabo dropped the act.
His aura exploded outward.
"No choice, force it!"
"DRAGON CLAW!!"
His wrist burst free.
His other hand struck toward the safe.
'If stealth failed, I'll take it by force.'
"I knew you wouldn't behave!"
Potts roared. Wings burst open. Wind howled.
Instead of guarding, he attacked.
A haki-coated claw slashed toward Sabo's head.
"OPEN FIRE!!"
Gunfire erupted.
Bullets rained in the narrow corridor.
A chaotic clash ignited instantly, all for the most dangerous fruit in existence.
And just as, Sabo's claw neared the safe…
Potts' strike descended… time seemed to freeze.
Because far above,
Beyond walls and distance, a pair of gray eyes watched everything.
Even while "sleeping."
"…The fish took the bait."