Chapter 16 - Contestants Part 1
{ White Void }
Suddenly, in the vast space filled with white haze, the silhouette of a being began to form. The process was unhurried, seemingly adding to the tension in the atmosphere.
This being was the one responsible for Cain and the other contestants. An entity known as Jester.
Right in front of him was a small, rounded glass containing a swirling black fog. Jester grasped it in his right hand, staring at it intently as if he were prophesizing the future.
"What a pity. I didn't expect almost half of the people I've chosen to die this early. My disappointment is immeasurable, and my day is ruined," he chuckled in amusement.
However, his expression shifted as he suddenly gasped exaggeratedly, covering his mouth in mock shock. He had just received the information regarding the unfortunate demise of his chosen ones.
Some had died at birth due to disease, miscarriage, or neglect—abandoned by parents who refused to care for them. Others had been sold into slavery as children, victims of desperate or incompetent parents drowning in debt. These unfortunate souls met their end in the unstable mines, perished from brutal whippings, starved to death, or were executed after failed escape attempts.
A rare few had fallen due to their own arrogance. These individuals had foolishly flaunted their intelligence, unaware that their minds housed the experience of a past life. Their supposed genius made them targets. Some were poisoned by fearful locals who mistook their abilities for an ill omen. They were sacrificed, deemed a threat too dangerous to be left alive.
Jester shook his head in disappointment, questioning whether the remaining contestants had what it took to succeed in the mission he had given them.
Would any of them rise to become the God of the World by his side?
He honestly wouldn't mind gaining another powerful friend.
"Now, let's see if there are any promising candidates."
Instantly, a small, blue panel materialized before him, causing the glass in his hand to vanish.
The panel displayed numerous letters and numbers. Jester glanced at it for a moment before gasping once again, this time with genuine excitement.
"Isn't that a bit too fast and too overpowered? Scary"
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Top 10 Contestants
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10: Dexter D. Morgan
{ Devil Fruit - Chi Chi no Mi }
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9: Oda Nobunaga
{ No Devil Fruit }
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8: Hanzo Salamander
{ No Devil Fruit }
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7: Marilyn Monroe
{ Devil Fruit - Saīmin Saīmin no Mi }
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6: Ezekiel Eli Cain
{ No Devil Fruit }
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5: Dr. Genus - Ten
{ Devil Fruit - Omoi Omoi no Mi }
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4: Erich Von Tschermak
{ Devil Fruit - Uddo Uddo no Mi }
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3: Hyouhu Kyousuke -
{ Devil Fruit - Tere Tere no Mi }
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2: Gabriel D. Gray
{ Devil Fruit - Kaeru Kaeru no Mi }
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1: Edwin D. Hubble
{ Devil Fruit - Suki Suki no Mi }
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Jester burst into hysterical laughter, muttering under his breath about the inevitable chaos these individuals would bring.
"If they all fought at their peak and mastered their powers, this world might as well be obliterated… But who cares?"
The entity didn't even need to focus on the top ten to know that the others weren't weak either. Some were likely even more unpredictable than he anticipated.
Yet, despite the formidable strength of the third-place contestant, it was clear that the individual in first place far outclassed them. Only the second-place contestant came close in terms of Devil Fruit, Haki, and physical prowess.
"Don't disappoint me, my friends."
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[ Dexter D. Morgan ]
~ North Blue ~
At the top of a cliff sat a healthy child with a round face and light-colored hair. His deep blue eyes reflected the sea, his knees drawn together as he rested his arms atop them.
A small child ran toward him, panting as if she had sprinted the entire way. She came to a stop beside him, her face contorted in frustration.
"Why do you always come here? This place is too far from home," she whined exaggeratedly, her annoyance evident.
"The sea is beautiful, isn't it? It always manages to calm my nerves," Dexter replied with a soft smile.
Then, as if recalling something, he turned toward her with a wide grin, exposing his pearly white teeth.
"Anyway, I can't wait to meet the people Dad is bringing to us," he muttered, his smile stretching unnaturally—giving off a dangerous, unsettling vibe.
His sister shuddered.
"You're doing it again, brother. You need to stop that. It's creepy."
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[ Oda Nobunaga ]
~ West Blue ~
The night sky glowed with the brilliance of the full moon, yet the city below was anything but silent. Bustling marketplaces, lively brothels, and drunken gamblers filled the streets.
At the center of this chaotic city stood a golden castle, its spires so high they seemed to pierce the heavens. Unlike the rest of the town, the castle was eerily quiet, its heavily guarded gates keeping the riffraff at bay.
Inside the throne room, a man lounged lazily on a golden throne, a massive structure adorned with intricate peacock statues.
His pale skin and muscular build contrasted sharply with his silver-white hair, which cascaded down his back. Gold earrings dangled from his ears as he rested his cheek against his palm.
"Tell me… What is my youngest child doing?" he asked flatly, tilting his head.
A voice emerged from behind the throne. A kneeling figure, clad in black with arm guards and a porcelain wolf mask, responded in a professional tone.
"Currently training his swordsmanship with the others in the dojo, my lord."
The man on the throne twitched in annoyance, sighing in exasperation.
No matter how hard he tried, his youngest child remained fixated on becoming a swordsman, rejecting the political future he had envisioned for him.
He wanted to pass his legacy to this brilliant, tactically gifted child. But the boy had refused, claiming tradition must be upheld—despite his father's disdain for his incompetent eldest son.
Meanwhile, in the dojo, a small child sat cross-legged among much older students.
Yet, none of them seemed to mind his presence. They were already used to it.
'I never imagined swordsmanship in this world would be so advanced. This time, I will truly become the strongest swordsman.'
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[ Hanzo Salamander ]
~ Paradise, Grand Line ~
A remote island, forever blanketed in a gentle, unrelenting rain, stood as an unwelcome destination for travelers. The ceaseless downpour drove away tourists and made life miserable for those who settled there.
Deep within the dense forest, a small child lay sprawled across a massive leaf, completely unbothered by the wetness beneath him.
Two curved sickles rested beside him, gleaming faintly under the dim light filtering through the storm clouds. A tiny salamander curled up on his bare chest, its body rising and falling with his steady breath.
Despite the cold rain, the boy wore nothing above his waist, his exposed skin marred by a ghastly, unsightly purple scar stretching from his chest down to his waist. Anyone who saw it would likely recoil in disgust.
Yet, he did not care.
He absentmindedly stroked the salamander, his fingers gliding over its smooth, damp scales as it purred softly.
'It's time to leave this island.'
His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"I hope the next land has promising poisons I haven't encountered yet."
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[ Marilyn Monroe ]
~ South Blue ~
A town of lawlessness. A place where bandits and pirates roamed freely, where thievery and prostitution were the most lucrative professions. A city where the homeless and drunkards filled the streets, where murder, rape, and gambling were nothing more than everyday occurrences.
At the western edge of the city stood a grand villa, lively and bustling despite the dead of night. Men and women poured in and out, the building's reputation unmistakable.
Inside one of its lavish rooms, two figures stood apart from each other, separated by only a few feet.
One of them was a stunning woman, dressed in a sheer lace nightdress, her curves illuminated by the dim candlelight. The fabric clung to her like a second skin, revealing glimpses of her rounded, pink-tipped breasts beneath. She stood confidently, posing seductively before the man in front of her.
The other individual was a towering brute, a hulking man built like a bodybuilder, with deep scars carving across his chest and face. He leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes filled with lust as he drank in the sight before him.
The woman moved toward him, circling behind his chair. Then, with a teasing chuckle, she gently covered his eyes with her delicate hands.
"Why're you coverin' me eyes, luv?" the man mused, smirking in amusement. "You got a surprise for me or somethin?"
She giggled.
"Of course, darling. Do you mind being patient for just a second?"
The man lazily raised his hand, waving in consent.
He leaned back, expecting something pleasurable—perhaps a whispered temptation, or even a kiss.
Instead, something small touched his back.
Curious, he turned around, only for his mood to sour immediately at the sight of a child standing behind him.
His once-playful expression darkened, his lips curling in distaste. He glanced toward the older woman, his irritation growing.
"The hell is this supposed to be?" he growled.
But before he could voice his anger further, he met the child's eyes.
The moment their gazes locked, his pupils dilated—then rolled back into his skull, leaving only the whites visible.
His entire body went limp, his breathing steady yet eerily empty.
{ Compulsion }
The little girl slowly opened her mouth in an unnerving, inhuman manner, her jaw stretching just a bit too wide.
She had captured the man's complete attention—and his mind.
The older woman smirked from the bed, watching the scene unfold with admiration.
"Your Devil Fruit is amazing. I'm so jealous." She sighed, leaning back lazily. "But what are you going to do this time? He's the vice-captain of one of the most influential pirate crews in this area. We're screwed if you don't have a plan, young lady."
The girl lowered her head, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. A small, innocent smile stretched across her rosy lips as she hugged a worn-out teddy bear close to her chest.
Her eyes shimmered—a striking emerald green that sparkled with something sinister.
"Don't worry, Mum." She tilted her head playfully.
"I know what to do."