Chapter 36: The Invitation

Dragon's eyes narrowed as he enveloped his palms with a fierce aura. His feet moved swiftly across the ground, propelling him forward like a gust of wind. In an instant, he closed the distance between himself and Renji, his body shooting forward like a sharpened sword.

A smirk played on Dragon's lips as he shifted his attack strategy. His hands and feet moved in unison, delivering a barrage of powerful strikes that rained down on Renji like a tempest.

Despite the sudden and fierce assault, Renji remained unfazed, as if the attacks were mere illusions. He allowed the blows to land on his body without resistance.

Then, with a simple clench of his fist, Renji threw a straightforward punch that connected squarely with Dragon's chest, sending him flying backward.

Dragon clutched his aching chest, his face pale and his breath ragged. "As expected, elemental transformation is useless against a true master..." he muttered.

Without hesitation, Dragon transformed into a green gust of wind and surged toward Renji once more.

"You're quite resilient..." Renji remarked, shaking his hand. Each time his fist made contact with Dragon, it felt as though he was striking flowing air, the sensation unsettling and far from the satisfying impact of flesh meeting flesh.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

The intense exchange continued, with fists and palms flying relentlessly. Their clothes had long since been reduced to tatters, scattered by the wind.

"Whoosh!"

Another clash sent Dragon stumbling backward through the air. He managed to steady himself by treading on a breeze, halting his retreat.

Wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth, Dragon's gaze flickered as he studied Renji. Despite giving it his all, Dragon hadn't budged an inch from his spot.

"..."

"Alright, I've got a good grasp of your abilities now," Renji declared. "You can step down and rest."

Before Dragon could react, Renji leaped high into the air with a single bound, then descended rapidly.

"Let me show you this palm technique from the heavens."

Dragon sensed an overwhelming threat approaching and prepared to counter with everything he had.

Suddenly, a fierce gale erupted, lifting sand, rocks, and broken branches into a swirling vortex that surged skyward.

"It's no use."

Under Renji's palm, the whirlwind disintegrated, the debris scattering in all directions.

A single slap landed on Dragon's head.

"You've lost..."

"..."

Under the winter sun, the training ground and its surroundings fell into a profound silence. The onlookers' eyes gleamed with admiration as they focused on the two figures at the center.

The outcome had been anticipated by all. Their Lieutenant Colonel Renji had never been bested by anyone his age.

"I actually lost..."

Dragon lay on the training ground, his hand shielding his eyes from the glaring sunlight.

This was his first defeat since birth, and a complete one at that. The experience was far from pleasant.

"..."

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the side quest: Defeat the Master of the Gale.]

[Ding! You have gained the recognition of Monkey D. Dragon.]

[Ding! Monkey D. Dragon's favorability toward you has increased. Keep up the good work.]

[Quest rewards: Training space usage time +36 hours; 20,000,000 Berries; Information on the Vanishing Island; An invitation to the auction house.]

Renji: ???

Standing in the arena, Dragon was pleasantly surprised by the sudden windfall.

The additional training time would allow him to further hone his skills, while the Berries, though substantial, were merely a number to him.

What truly piqued his interest were the latter two rewards. The Vanishing Island must hold some hidden secret, given that it was specifically mentioned as a reward.

As for the invitation, Dragon would need to find a quiet place to examine it more closely.

He glanced at Dragon. Who would have thought that someone as stern as you would respond better to a beating than a lecture? All that talking earlier was pointless, but after a good fight, you've finally settled down.

 Renji looked down at Dragon, who was still lying on the ground, his usual enigmatic smile playing on his lips.

"You're quite the handful. No wonder you were trained by those old-timers at headquarters."

Devil Fruits weren't something just anyone could obtain, and Dragon's was particularly rare. It's quite enviable.

"And thanks for the rewards you've brought me."

Dragon chuckled wryly, assuming Renji was referring to the satisfaction of victory. "Headquarters or the Four Seas, it doesn't matter. I still lost to you."

"Can I ask you something? How did you become so strong?"

Dragon moved his hand from his eyes, his curiosity about his victor burning brightly. Defeat was defeat; all he needed to do was improve himself and catch up. That thought alone was enough to satisfy him.

Hearing Dragon's question, Renji reflected inwardly. Was it luck, hard work, or the life-and-death struggles in the training space that made him strong?

He smiled but didn't answer directly.

"Strong? I don't think so. There are far too many powerful individuals in this world..."

Edward Newgate, Gol D. Roger, Golden Lion Shiki, the Five Elders, Im—any one of them could easily defeat him. These were the people he aimed to surpass.

"Take a good rest. I might have something interesting for you later."

 Renji turned and walked toward his office. He still had a mountain of training to complete.

"You're new here, so it's natural you don't know much about Renji," Kuzan said with a sigh. "I've been by his side for a long time, and I rarely see him train. Yet, every time we meet, he seems stronger."

"That's what you call a genius—no, a monster."

"When I first met him, I could hold my own against him. Now... it's just painful to think about."

Hearing Kuzan's words, Dragon didn't feel any better. If anything, it made his defeat even more bitter.

...

"Damn! An invitation to a human auction?"

Holding the system's reward, Renji couldn't help but curse. What use did he have for this?

The auction was on Sabaody Archipelago, which was a world away. The invitation was practically worthless. It wasn't like he was going to buy a person...

Then again, Sabaody was a popular vacation spot. A trip there might not be so bad.

But getting past Kuzan would be tricky. That guy probably wouldn't let him go so easily...

Meanwhile, Kuzan, who was cleaning up the training ground, sneezed. "Ugh... This is tough..."

"No, if there's no opportunity, I'll just have to create one," Renji muttered, a sly grin forming as he looked at the invitation. "And I'll take a few people with me."

A monthly event like this was bound to be full of interesting happenings...

...