Chapter 407: Well Now, Academy City?!
Chapter 407: Well Now, Academy City?!
It was clear that even though "Hakoku" could heavily injure powerhouses of the same rank, it wasn't enough to directly defeat or kill them. Perhaps a "Hakoku" unleashed by the combined effort of two Top Experts might be able to.
The subsequent duel was somewhat monotonous.
Saul and Elder Utgard simply exchanged blows with their bare hands, lacking any technical skill. At most, some basic grappling techniques appeared.
The two great Giants didn't evade each other at all; it was purely a matter of one punching the other in the face, then the other kicking back at the abdomen.
Yet, such simple and brutal actions appeared extremely spectacular due to the immense Strength involved.
Every movement they made stirred up surging Air Currents and waves of Sonic Booms, with gale after gale raging incessantly.
The Roars during the Combat, the sounds of flesh colliding, and their scorching body temperatures created an incredibly heated Atmosphere. The endless Snowflakes falling from the Dark Clouds would automatically melt in the air as soon as they approached within a hundred meters of the two combatants.
However, all the spectators understood that the outcome of this duel had already been decided.
In this kind of prolonged war of attrition, it was obvious that Elder Utgard simply couldn't outlast Saul, who was a Zoan User. Furthermore, his Devil Fruit Ability clearly had a restorative effect, making it even more impossible for Utgard to win.
As the person involved, how could Elder Utgard not Understand this principle?
But what did it matter? As a Warrior of Elbaf, he could not surrender. Even if completely exhausted, he had to throw that final punch!
This Situation gave every attack he launched now a somewhat tragic flavor.
This also made King Harald, Elder Yarul, and others outside the Island feel heavy-hearted, watching silently the posture of Elder Utgard fighting desperately.
"So, eating a Zoan Devil Fruit gives the Giant Tribe such a big Advantage..."
A certain Giant Elder murmured to himself.
In fact, they had understood this principle before, but because it involved the pride and honor of the Giant Tribe, they had always avoided discussing it.
The Giants born in the Elbaf Kingdom had always felt that the Giant Tribe was strong enough without Devil Fruits.
Moreover, if they ate a Devil Fruit, would their Strength truly come from the Giant Tribe's Talent, or from a strange Superpower?
Therefore, Dorry, Brogy, and others who had recently joined the Giant God Soldiers refused to eat Devil Fruits. Saul, however, was a Giant Tribe member born Overseas, so he had no such resistance in this regard.
This boring Combat caused Sengoku, Garp, Newgate, Kaido, and others to lose interest. Although they still had their Virtual Screens on, they had started doing their own things.
They were waiting for the third duel...
It was the same for Im. After organizing the ideas regarding the "Combat Power Competition" and the "Summit War," he had them sent to the Five Elders.
Then, he continued with various daily matters.
For example, checking on Enel and Tesoro's Situation, reading various Medicine books, or drawing the Blade of "Enma" to Soul Journey to Hell and battle various Evil Ghosts with strange Abilities.
It's worth mentioning.
Tesoro had already mastered all the Six Powers, and his Armament Haki and Observation Haki were also very proficient.
Although his Gold-Gold Fruit Ability had not yet Awakened, Im was already considering sending him to the Propaganda Department in a few days.
He would be specifically responsible for matters concerning song and dance, film and television, anime, Novels, games, and even gambling and entertainment districts.
He would gradually become a Big Shot in the World's Entertainment Industry, and at the same time, establish another Intelligence System to collect various information from the lower levels for himself.
If Cipher Pol was one official eye, then Tesoro was to create another eye for Im among the populace!
An hour later.
Holy Land Mariejois, within the Room of Authority, the Five Elders had received the Document. After reading it, they remained silent for a long time, because they were once again shocked by Lord Imu's ideas.
"A Multiverse Top 100 Combat Power Competition and the Strongest Summit War, encompassing the World and all Otherworlds – this is truly a brilliant grand Plan!"
Suddenly, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, usually so serious, showed a rare look of Excitement. Seeing the other four looking at him, he said with high spirits:
"Don't you realize yet? The true Value of this Competition lies in its ability to discover the Powerhouses hidden in every corner!"
"Look at the various Rewards Lord Imu has set: high Prize Money, the honor of being in the Top 100, precious Resources, and extremely high Privilege."
"And that Star Gate Pass will definitely attract most of the Experts to appear. Then we can recruit these people!"
Speaking of this, he touched his smooth scalp and sighed sincerely.
"The key is that this Competition is held every four years. From now on, we will at least not lack Talent in terms of Combat Power. Alas, why didn't we think of this method before?"
"Truly worthy of being Lord Imu!"
Upon hearing this, the other four Five Elders nodded thoughtfully. Among them, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter and Saint Jaygarcia Saturn immediately smiled.
The former laughed, "In that case, Cipher Pol can also recruit some Top 100 contestants."
"Right, right, right! Our Impel Down and Ministry of Police Affairs also need high-Combat Power Experts. This Combat Power Competition is indeed a good method!"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn also beamed with Delight, but their words caused Saint Jaygarcia Saturn to frown. Wasn't this trying to snatch people from the Military?
"This Old Man remembers that loyalty is the most important thing for Cipher Pol. Bringing in a large number of personnel from the outside, are you sure nothing will go wrong?"
Then he looked at the latter and said, "Why does Impel Down need so much Combat Power? Magellan, Magellan, Moria, Tarklama, and Muzan Kibutsuji – isn't that enough?"
"What about the Ministry of Police Affairs?"
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn retorted unceremoniously.
Before, he hadn't dared to directly confront the other party much, but now it was different. With the support of the two major forces, Impel Down and the Ministry of Police Affairs, he had the confidence to engage in equal Dialogue.
"This..."
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn opened his mouth, truly unable to speak.
After all, given the scope of the Ministry of Police Affairs' Authority, they indeed needed a large number of Experts to maintain Order in Various Places.
This also made him realize that in terms of introducing Powerhouses, the Ministry of Police Affairs was probably the Military's biggest Opponent, along with the Cipher Pol eyeing them greedily from the side.
While these three were staring at each other.
Saint Topman Warcury and Saint Marcus Mars on the side remained silent. After all, the Political Affairs Department and the Proclamation Government Institute didn't really need Powerhouses.
However, this model of holding a Competition on a World scale seemed worth emulating.
The two exchanged glances with Rapport.
The Political Affairs Department and the Proclamation Government Institute needed Talent related to Administration, finance, and scientific research. Could they also join forces to organize a Competition?
Or rather, an Assessment!
At this moment, Saint Marcus Mars, with both hands in his Pocket, suggested hesitantly:
"Can we, through a series of Assessments, gather high-IQ individuals from various Worlds and our World, then use the best educational resources to cultivate their specialized Professional fields, and finally select the most outstanding individuals through a major exam to transfer into various Departments?"
Saint Topman Warcury frowned, thinking as he spoke:
"Establishing such an Assessment System and Education System is very complex and the Difficulty is considerable, but if it truly succeeds, the World Government will no longer lack Talent, and it will completely win over the hearts of the Otherworlders."
After all, with the fragile Physique of Otherworlders, trying to gain the World Government's favor through military force is truly as hard as ascending to heaven.
But they could strive for the opportunity to come to the World and enter the World Government by studying Knowledge, becoming truly superior individuals, and even enjoying various Other World Resources...
And when the two reported their idea to Im, he said in surprise, "Well now, Academy City?!"
(End of this chapter)