The passionate symphony swept through the entire G-5 plaza like a tidal wave.
Spotlights intertwined across the night sky into a massive web of light, illuminating the central stage brighter than daylight itself.
At the end of that radiance, five figures slowly stepped forward like descending gods.
The scars on their bodies were medals of valor.
"Hoo…"
Rehn took a deep breath.
An unprecedented fanaticism burned in his tiny eyes, and the microphone in his hand creaked under his grip.
"Everyone! Open your eyes wide!"
"Standing before you are the final survivors of this hellish trial!"
"The monsters destined to shake the New World in the future!"
"But!"
"Before we award the physical prizes, I must first announce on behalf of Lord Renzo a special appointment powerful enough to make the entire Marine Headquarters tremble!!"
Rehn suddenly turned around and pointed toward the massive G-5 banner behind him.
"From this moment onward, these five winners shall officially be granted the rank of Vice Admiral under G-5 Branch command!!"
The crowd instantly erupted in shock, followed by thunderous applause.
But Rehn didn't stop.
The smile on his face became strangely smug, carrying an infuriating sense of superiority.
"Of course, I know what some people are thinking."
"What's so special about a mere Vice Admiral? Marineford has tons of them!"
"But!"
Rehn raised one finger, his voice suddenly rising.
"The Vice Admirals of G-5 are an entirely different species from those Headquarters Vice Admirals who spend all day in meetings collecting dead salaries!!"
"Listen carefully!"
"The benefits package for a G-5 Vice Admiral is as follows!"
"First!"
"Independent treasury authority with NO upper spending limit!"
"As long as it's for a mission, spend however much you want! Just submit it to finance for reimbursement!"
"Second!"
"You receive your own custom-built private warship and fleet!"
"Not those cheap iron tubs, but luxury cruise liners like the Lullaby, complete with swimming pools, massage rooms, and five-star chefs!"
"Third, and most importantly!"
Rehn paused.
He looked at the Marines below whose eyes were already so bloodshot they looked ready to bleed.
Then he enunciated every word slowly.
"A G-5 Vice Admiral answers to no one except Lord Renzo himself!"
"And as for the year-end bonus profit-sharing ratio…"
Rehn lowered his voice,
Yet through the loudspeakers it spread clearly to every corner of the plaza.
"...it is FIVE TIMES HIGHER than the salary of a Marine Admiral!!!"
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
That sentence detonated across the square like a nuclear bomb.
"Five times?! FIVE TIMES an Admiral's salary?!"
"This world has gone insane!"
"I WANT TO BE A G-5 VICE ADMIRAL TOO!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE A REAR ADMIRAL ANYMORE! I WANT A REMATCH!!!"
The G-5 officers and soldiers below beat their chests in agony, envy practically tearing them apart on a molecular level.
After all, a Marine Admiral already stood at the pinnacle of power and benefits across the seas.
And now Rehn was telling them that being a Vice Admiral here meant living ten thousand times better than workaholics like Akainu?
How was this a promotion?
This was basically ascension into sainthood!
Onstage, Kizaru adjusted his sunglasses, the corner of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
"Maa… Renzo-kun, if you keep doing this… it's going to make my job as Fleet Admiral very difficult~."
Kizaru muttered quietly.
"Everyone's going to want to transfer to your branch. Headquarters will be impossible to manage~."
Renzo merely shrugged lazily.
"That sounds like your problem, Borsalino."
"I just want my guard dogs… to be fed well enough that they bite harder."
...
"Alright! Time to award the spoils!!"
Rehn waved his hand dramatically.
"Fifth place! Krog!!"
Heavy mechanical footsteps echoed through the venue.
Although Krog's mech had been half-destroyed, his aura remained terrifying.
He stepped forward and knelt on one knee, his eyes filled with desire for power.
"Krog!"
Rehn picked up a box engraved with fang patterns from the tray.
"Considering you're already a semi-cyborg with tremendous firepower and defense, Lord Renzo personally selected this for you, "
"Zoan-type Cat-Cat Fruit: Ancient Zoan: Scimitar-Toothed Tiger Form!!"
"ROOOAR!"
The moment the box opened, a savage prehistoric aura burst forth.
"A Scimitar-Toothed Tiger?!"
Krog's electronic eyes instantly glowed red.
An Ancient Zoan Combined with his modified steel body, once transformed, he would become a true living tank with infinite endurance.
Krog trembled as he accepted the fruit and the check worth one billion berries.
"Thank you, Lord Renzo!! Your subordinate is willing to go hell and back for you!!"
"Fourth place! Flame Emperor, Shelby!!"
Silver hair fluttered dramatically.
Though bandages still covered parts of his face, Shelby still walked like a runway supermodel.
He had already changed into a fresh new white suit and looked dazzlingly glamorous.
"Rear Admiral Shelby… ah no, Vice Admiral now."
Rehn smiled at the man who loved the spotlight more than anyone else.
"You already possess the Flame-Flame Fruit, so you obviously can't eat this fruit."
"But Lord Renzo said you can either keep it as a collectible, or use it to train a subordinate."
Rehn handed him a crystal-like shining fruit.
"Paramecia-type Shine-Shine Fruit."
"It allows touched objects to become mirror-smooth and reflect light."
"Not especially powerful in combat, but…"
Rehn grinned maliciously.
"It's perfect for creating dramatic lighting effects during your entrances, or for checking your reflection anytime, anywhere."
"The Shine-Shine Fruit?!"
Shelby's eyes lit up instantly.
Rather than disappointment, he looked as though he had obtained a divine treasure.
"Perfect! This was tailor-made for my beauty!"
He accepted the fruit and check, then elegantly bowed toward Renzo.
"My lord's taste is truly exquisite!"
....
"Third place! Aramaki!!"
"Second place! Issho!!"
The atmosphere instantly became noticeably heavier when those names were announced.
Because these two were simply too strong.
So strong that the other contestants had felt utter despair before them.
Aramaki still carried his arrogant swagger, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he casually strode forward.
Meanwhile, Issho slowly walked with his cane sword, smiling kindly like an ordinary old man.
"Both of your strengths are obvious to all."
Even Rehn spoke more respectfully toward these two monsters.
"Your prize money: one billion berries each."
"As for the Devil Fruits…"
Rehn pointed toward the two remaining fruits radiating overwhelming presence.
"Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Zoan: Baryonyx."
"Zoan-type Dragon-Dragon Fruit: Ancient Zoan: Wind-Rider Pterosaur."
Even in the New World, these were exceptionally rare fruits.
The Marines below practically drooled rivers.
Yet Aramaki and Issho merely glanced at them casually.
"Tch. I already have the Woods-Woods Fruit. This thing's basically decoration."
Aramaki stuffed the Spinosaurus fruit into his pocket like he was tossing away trash.
"But…"
"The one billion berries…"
"And that G-5 Vice Admiral title…"
Behind his sunglasses, Aramaki looked toward Renzo, his grin turning savage.
"That's what I really wanted!"
"No need to obey those World Government pigs…"
"Unlimited money…"
"And endless strong opponents to fight…"
"Lahahaha! This place really suits my tastes!"
Issho, meanwhile, gently picked up the Pterosaur fruit and sighed.
"At my age, I'm no longer greedy for material things."
"But this money…"
Issho pulled out an old dice cup from his robe and shook it.
"It's enough for this old man to lose gloriously at the casinos for quite a while."
"And besides…"
Issho faced Renzo and bowed slightly.
"In this chaotic world, having a place where one only needs to focus on sleeping while receiving a high salary…"
"For a cripple like me, that's already a blessing."
They didn't care about the fruits.
What they cared about, was G-5 itself.
This platform.
This freedom that transcended ordinary rules.
And those ridiculously luxurious benefits.
The audience below looked at the satisfied expressions on the two monsters' faces and nearly died from envy.
This wasn't finding a job.
This was finding a sugar daddy!
....
Finally, the moment arrived.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Heavy drumbeats echoed out.
All the lights in the arena went dark.
Only a single brilliant white spotlight illuminated the end of the red carpet.
There stood a young man in black training clothes.
A black blade rested on his back.
Though wrapped heavily in bandages, he still stood straight as a spear.
"FIRST PLACE!!!!"
Rehn's voice became hoarse and hysterical.
"He is an asura who clawed his way up from the bottom!"
"He is a swordsman who matched gods with a mortal body!"
"He is the undisputed king of this tournament-"
"GHOST SWORD, BLAKE!!!!!"
"WOOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
Applause. Cheers. Screams.
All merged into a storm that swept across the entire G-5 base.
Blake began walking forward step by step.
Each step was steady.
But if one looked carefully, his hands were trembling slightly.
He stopped before Renzo's throne.
There, resting inside a transparent crystal case, floated a Devil Fruit covered in spiral patterns and emanating eerie black smoke.
The Logia-type Dark-Dark Fruit.
Beside it sat a super-check with a face value of: 50,000,000,000.
Enough to purchase an entire small nation.
Blake stopped.
He didn't immediately reach for the rewards.
Instead, he suddenly dropped to one knee before the man seated upon the throne looking down at him.
"Lord Renzo…"
Blake's voice choked with emotion, trembling uncontrollably.
"This subordinate… has not failed your expectations!"
He knew. He understood everything.
Without Renzo's final domain release, without those rules, he would never have stood a chance against monsters like Aramaki and Issho.
Lord Renzo had given him that opportunity.
Within the rules, Renzo had favored the one with the strongest willpower to the greatest extent possible.
This wasn't merely a reward.
It was recognition.
A life-changing act of grace.
"Raise your head."
Renzo spoke calmly.
Blake lifted his head.
Those usually cold eyes were now filled with tears.
"Why are you crying? Ugly as hell."
Renzo clicked his tongue in annoyance and casually tossed the crystal case into Blake's arms.
"Take it."
"You earned this."
"Luck or willpower, victory is victory."
Renzo stood up and walked to the edge of the stage.
With his back facing Blake, his voice carried across the entire plaza with the sea breeze.
"From today onward…"
"You are the owner of this fruit."
"And also the Chief Vice Admiral of my G-5 Branch."
"Don't disappoint me."
Blake clutched the crystal case tightly.
He could feel the overwhelming weight within it.
Fifty billion berries.
The most vicious Devil Fruit.
A status second only to one man.
Things he had never even dared dream about, were now truly in his hands.
"Ugh…"
At that moment, this iron-blooded warrior who could kill without blinking in frozen wastelands and stand calmly within seas of fire, finally broke down.
He buried his face against the crystal case and let out suppressed sobs filled with overwhelming happiness.
"Thank you… thank you, my lord…"
"My life belongs to you from this day onward!!"
"Even if it's hell itself… with a single command from you, I'll carve my way through it for your sake!!!"
Below the stage, none of the Marines mocked the crying champion.
Their eyes held only envy.
Only reverence.
Only fanatical worship toward the man who had granted all of this.
This, was G-5.
This was what it meant to follow the Admiral Haiiroyo, even a stray dog crawling through the mud could become a wolf king ruling the mountains.
Blake knelt atop the stage, embracing his treasures as tears streamed down his face.
And Renzo stood proudly in the wind, cloak fluttering behind him, calmly accepting the worship of tens of thousands.