The Third Contest

[ Third Person POV ]

Bubble Jack slowly massaged his fists as he continued looking at the balcony. 

Lounging on that Balcony sat the Vice-Captain to one of the strongest pirate crews on the planet. He had long heard stories of the Storm Dragon, how he butchered World Nobles like animals, how he went toe to toe with a Buster Call by himself.

His strength was verified in the Pirate world. There were very few people out in the world who could actually match him in strength, and Bubble Jack believed that he could be one of them. In the future, that is.

His strength had always been dominant across South Blue, very few people could match him in terms of strength. Even that range got smaller when he acquired the Bubble-Bubble fruit. Though it wasn't as powerful compared to some devil fruits out there, he managed to find a lot of utility out of it, and managed to find ways to amplify his attacks to lead to devastating damages.

However, he wasn't stupid enough to directly challenge The Storm Dragon at that point of time. He felt it when he locked eyes with him, though the man looked droopy and sleepy. Nothing but power and an unparalleled ferociousness was hidden behind that lazy gaze. 

It took Bubble Jack all his might not to look down immediately after they met eyes. That was the kind of strength that would almost be suicidal to challenge at his current state.

"I gotta get stronger!!" Bubble Jack muttered to himself as he saw Mont. Fiore walk up to the arena.

Mont Fiore held himself in a dignified manner as he stood in the center of the arena. In his grasp was a cane shaped rapier that he had been using ever since he had started being a pirate.

Mont Fiore couldn't help but remember how he had gotten himself into this situation.....

He, along with Bubble Jack and the two subordinates of the Storm Dragon were all sitting under the tower that belonged to Buena Festa. 

In front of them was the owner himself, who smiled smugly as he looked down on the four individuals. 

"The reason I have gathered you all is for an opportunity....a very lucrative opportunity. You see, you all are respected at three different levels." Buena Festa began to talk.

"Mont Fiore, you're notorious along the Four Blues for your mastery in the Rapier. Meanwhile, Bubble Jack: You've been making your rounds in Paradise, already boosting your pretty intimidating reputation. As for you two...you're affiliation already speaks volumes for your strength. I even had to recruit Bubble Jack to make sure things didn't go without a hitch!" Buena Festa explained.

"If you already know our affiliation, then why keep trying to antagonize us?" Ken growled at Buena Festa.

"Simple!" Festa laughed, "I had already gotten word of your Division Commander's Intentions throughout the festival! He's not coming to save you," Buena cackled as Ken gritted his teeth with frustration.

"Don't worry though, because this is an opportunity for you all! I'm going to offer you an opportunity to acquire a pretty decent Devil Fruit that will go for billions in the World Government's market!"

With that being said, he immediately removed a box before opening it and showing the same Devil Fruit that he had seen at the start of the Pirates festival. 

"This, is a Devil Fruit we acquired right before we had managed to find this place to use for the Pirate Festival. We don't exactly know what it does, but we can tell that it's a zoan fruit because of how it's shaped."

"The chance to get this Devil fruit will be solely up to you three. If all four of you manage to survive the contest, I'll give you a chance to fight for it as well in the form of a surprise round. So what do you say?"

"We might as well, Ken. If we don't have anything to show after this....we're dead!" Pato said nervously.

"You're right, we can't afford to leave without anything," Ken said solemnly.

"I will join as well," Mont. Fiore added.

"I will too, but I have a different request. I'll tell you after I win," Bubble Jack responded.

"That's all right, but I am happy that you all agreed to this!" Buena Festa laughed.....

"CONTESTANTS, ARE YOU READY?!!!" Buena Festa's voice snapped Mont. Fiore out of his daze.

In front of him was a rather beautiful woman who had black short hair. She had black eyes, and a serious expression as she got into a stance. 

Carla looked at Mont. Fiore warily, she had already known of what Mont. Fiore could do.

"THEN, LET THE THIRD COMPETITION, BEGIN!!!!"

Carla immediately lunged at Mont. Fiore. Determined not to give him an opportunity to unsheathe his blade. Unfortunately, she wasn't fast enough to get to him in time. 

Mont. Fiore unsheathed his blade and swiped right at her neck. Carla immediately ducked to avoid the swing before aiming her leg right at Mont. Fiore's foot. He had already anticipated this, he simply raised his foot before stomping it down, in an attempt to break her foot.

Carla immediately pulled her foot back before doing a flip and landing a bit of a distance away from Mont. Fiore. This time, it was Mont. Fiore who took the initiative, he immediately appeared in front of Carla and jabbed his rapier square on Carla's chest. Carla barely managed to avoid the pierce. 

However, she still couldn't avoid getting nicked a bit on her forehead as she leaned backwards to avoid the attack.

Rolling forward, she immediately managed to land a punch right in Mont. Fiore's gut. Sending the man stumbling back a bit, but Carla wasn't done yet.

She immediately rushed at Mont. Fiore and proceeded to start delivering multiple punches at him. Mont. Fiore could only dodge and block her relentless attacks as she kept pushing him towards a wall.

Throughout the entire match, no conversations were had. For the simple reason that the two individuals had no words to say to each other. Mont. Fiore had always preferred a stoic approach, and Carla simply had nothing to say to the man.

The fight kept on for quite some time, until Mont. Fiore somehow stumbled on a rock and landed on his bottom. He could've recovered quickly, had it not been for the fact that Carla immediately jumped at the opportunity and proceeded to land some critical blows on Mont. Fiore, the critical one landed right on the man's jaw, knocking him out in the process.

When the crowd saw the unconscious figure of Mont. Fiore's unconscious figure lying on the ground. The arena soon boomed with cheers and applause, Carla had been a very captivating dark horse throughout this entire tournament. 

"THE WINNER HAS BEEN DECIDED, CARLA WILL BE HEADING FORWARD TO FACE BUBBLE JACK IN THE SEMI FINALS!!"

With that, Carla left the arena and headed back to her cubicle. Leaving Mont. Fiore slowly getting up, and dusting himself off as he readied himself for his next opponent.

Mont. Fiore was far from tired, but he just couldn't let another person knock him out like that. It would be detrimental to his reputation if he was going to let things like that slide.

"I made a mistake, I shouldn't have held back against that girl. I won't make that mistake again," Mont. Fiore muttered coldly under his breath as he slowly coated his sword with Armament Haki.