Luffy stood motionless for a heartbeat, the chaos of the shattered dock swirling around him like a storm. He reached up slowly, almost reverently, and hooked his straw hat onto his back. The shift was instantaneous—gone was the boyish grin, the carefree spark in his eyes. In its place burned a fierce, unyielding focus, as if the weight of Russell's command had forged him into something primal, unstoppable. Full strength, the order echoed in his core. No holding back.
He bit d...
2025-06-30 14:03:54 +0000 UTC
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When Caleb and Wyatt finally arrived on the pirate ship, the brief but brutal fight was already over. Only one pirate remained, kneeling on the deck, trembling uncontrollably before Russell.
"Moore sent you to monitor the entrance to the secret realm, didn't he?" Russell's words were phrased as a question, but his tone was one of absolute certainty. After the chaos he had caused on Skull Island, it would be strange if the Black Flag's leader hadn't posted a guard.
The pir...
2025-06-30 13:58:14 +0000 UTC
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Director Blake slumped in his leather chair like a deflated balloon, watching the door swing shut behind Russell. President Jennings had claimed the spot by the window, probably so he could dramatically stare into the distance while delivering sage wisdom. Both men wore the exact same expression—the look parents get when their kid chooses the boring, sensible college major instead of following their dreams of becoming a rock star.
"Well, shit," Blake muttered, abandoning all pr...
2025-06-30 13:57:14 +0000 UTC
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Two days had passed. The immediate turmoil caused by the Spirit Begging Society's city-wide attack had gradually subsided, but the scarred landscape remained. The skeletal ruins of the Golden Talent Credit headquarters stood as a grim monument, a constant reminder to the people of New Metro that the horror they had witnessed was no illusion.
Inside the headquarters of the New Metro Cardmakers Association, the atmosphere was heavy.
"So, Director Blake," President Lance Jennings sai...
2025-06-30 13:56:20 +0000 UTC
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Looking at the skyscraper breaking in half, its top section beginning a slow, terrifying descent, a grim expression settled on Russell's face. "It's too big... we're too close. It's too late to run. We have to take a gamble."
"Luffy!" Russell shouted.
The next moment, Luffy inhaled deeply, his rubber body instantly swelling up like a giant balloon, floating above the heads of the terrified students.
"Listen up!" Russell commanded, his voice cutting through the panic. "The re...
2025-06-30 13:55:23 +0000 UTC
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The grotesque mass of twisted flesh that had once been Mr. Sterling writhed in the center of the ruined office, its multiple eyes rolling in different directions. Russell's jaw clenched as he watched tentacles of corrupted meat slither across the debris-strewn floor.
"Luffy, can you handle this thing?" Russell's voice cut through the creature's wet, rasping breaths.
Luffy tilted his head, studying the abomination like he was sizing up a particularly tough piece of meat. "Ye...
2025-06-30 13:54:21 +0000 UTC
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"Regent Jin!"
Blake Whitmore's roar shattered the office windows as he vanished in a blur of motion. The air itself seemed to tear apart where he had stood. In the next heartbeat, he materialized high above the city's skyline, his body crackling with raw power as he faced the epicenter of the sinister energy that had been gnawing at his senses.
The figure waiting for him was a nightmare given form. Regent Jin stood like a vulture perched over carrion, his ancient face carve...
2025-06-30 13:53:13 +0000 UTC
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The other seven finalists, blissfully unaware of the sinister undercurrents swirling around them, were practically vibrating with excitement. A special meeting with the president of the company sponsoring the tournament? More rewards beyond their wildest dreams? It was like winning the lottery twice in one day. They all readily agreed, their young faces glowing with anticipation.
Russell knew there was something deeply, fundamentally wrong with this invitation, but he didn't dare hesita...
2025-06-30 13:51:57 +0000 UTC
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"You're... Bronze-level?!"
The words tore from Cole Kong's throat like a dying scream, his voice cracking with raw disbelief. The connection to both of his cards had shattered simultaneously, the psychic feedback hitting him like a sledgehammer to the skull. He staggered backward, his vision blurring as the reality crashed over him in waves.
A single strike. One devastating, impossibly perfect strike had been enough to obliterate both his purple-quality [The Unbegotten] and...
2025-06-30 13:50:40 +0000 UTC
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Russell's latest opponent didn't just lose—he disintegrated. The poor bastard's strategy crumbled before Russell even bothered to look interested. Another body for the pile, another step closer to the inevitable.
Quarter-finals. Semi-finals. Each match lasted barely long enough for the crowd to settle into their seats. Russell carved through New Metro's finest like a scythe through wheat, leaving behind a trail of shattered dreams and confused teenagers wondering what the hell had jus...
2025-06-30 13:48:31 +0000 UTC
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The day's matches had ended. The senior executive from Golden Talent Credit, who had spent the day smiling and applauding in the VIP box, now stood in a dimly lit office, bowing respectfully before a large desk.
"Director Valerius, that is the summary of today's events." After delivering his report, the executive stood in silence, awaiting a response.
The man he addressed as Director Valerius sat in a large leather throne-like chair, his back to the room, looking out at the glitte...
2025-06-30 13:46:14 +0000 UTC
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The preliminary rounds of the Prodigy Cup passed in a blur. Russell didn't encounter a single challenging opponent; the strongest he faced possessed a lone, blue-quality Black Iron card. He breezed through his matches using only Yoriichi, never once needing to call upon Kaneki, let alone his new trump card.
Now, the main competition of sixty-four players was set to begin. As Russell looked at the tournament bracket, he couldn't help but notice how the seeded players, the ones who had ma...
2025-06-30 13:36:53 +0000 UTC
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Russell's ultimatum crackled through the air of the high-level office like electricity before a storm. He was preparing to dive back into the [Black Flag] realm—not chasing glory or treasure this time, but hunting for blood. Twenty-four hours. That's all it had taken to turn his world upside down and inside out.
University entrance? Russell's lips curved into a cold smile. I'll earn my place at Riverview through my own damn merit. His confidence wasn't arrogance—it...
2025-06-30 13:35:33 +0000 UTC
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In a dark, unfamiliar room, Brother Tiger woke up on the floor, a dull ache throbbing in his forehead.
"Why... why did I fall asleep?" he mumbled, pushing himself up. His eyes fell on the still, cold body of Skinny. "Oh, right," he muttered to himself, the fabricated memories settling into place like a poorly constructed wall. "After I dealt with Skinny, I felt a little tired, so I rested for a while." He completely ignored the glaring inconsistencies in his own logic.
Suddenly, h...
2025-06-30 13:34:34 +0000 UTC
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Whoosh. Whoosh.
The only sounds were Brother Tiger's own ragged, panicked gasps as he ran for his life. He could feel the connection to his Vampire card in his mind go cold as it entered its cooldown phase. A wave of icy terror washed over him.
How could it have been defeated so quickly!? he thought, his mind reeling in disbelief. The Vampire was a standard-issue bronze-level card from the Spirit Begging Society, an excellent and resilient model. That boy… ...
2025-06-30 13:33:38 +0000 UTC
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"Hey!" Luffy appeared in front of Russell with a big, carefree smile and put a hand on his straw hat.
Russell's heart was heavy with grief, but the boy's cheerful, infectious personality was a small comfort. Russell smiled a little bit as he greeted his new creation. As Luffy curiously looked around the house, poking at furniture and being amazed by everyday things, Russell started to plan what he would do next.
The Cardmaker Association tightly controlled the exploration ...
2025-06-30 13:32:39 +0000 UTC
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In the quiet of his new home, Russell began the sad but necessary job of counting his things. It helped him focus his mind and turn the grief and anger he was feeling into cold, hard numbers.
You could sell eleven pieces of the iron-level material, [Rookie Pirate] (Green), for about 220,000. The market price of the gold-quality [Flesh and Blood Demon] card, which he hadn't used yet, was around 600,000. He had a fortune of about 1.2 million, including his previous savings.
He was s...
2025-06-30 13:31:21 +0000 UTC
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Russell, Caleb, and Leo came out of the shining portal a short time later and stepped back into the Association base's sterile, militarized zone. The heavy silence that hung between them was worse than any physical weight. For a brief moment, they looked at each other, and Russell saw the same empty, haunted look in their eyes that he felt in his own soul. The mission was supposed to be a simple one. Zane and Yara were now gone, lost in the secret world.
Leo broke the silence by using a...
2025-06-30 13:30:07 +0000 UTC
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Following Russell’s unspoken command, Kaneki launched himself at Mogi once more. A furious whirlwind of his Rinkaku kagune and the powerful centipede tail rained down blows, but the pirate leader, with his massive spiked mace, blocked every single strike. It was like watching a storm break against a mountain; for all its fury, it could not leave a scratch.
A wave of frustration washed over Russell. He could feel Kaneki’s desperation, and it was getting them nowhere. Mogi, how...
2025-06-30 13:29:12 +0000 UTC
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Ignoring the growing commotion from the hundreds of pirates in the pit below, Boss Moore showed the first glimmer of genuine interest. He leaned back in his throne-like chair, his one good eye fixing on the representative from the [Night Owl] crew.
"Explain," he said, his voice a lazy drawl that carried more menace than a shout.
The [Night Owl] representative's face was a grim mask. He shot a hateful glare at his accuser from the [Red Rose] crew before turning back to Moore, his h...
2025-06-30 13:28:15 +0000 UTC
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The pirate captain's eyes narrowed, his expression growing more dangerous by the second. Zane, however, remained perfectly calm, his face a mask of weary tragedy.
"We ran into some Blue Star humans," he said, his voice raspy. "Strayed into our path. We barely had time to send a messenger bird back to base before they were on us." He gestured weakly to his battered ship and blood-soaked companions. "We're all that's left. The base hasn't had time to send word to us that a new delegation ...
2025-06-30 13:27:18 +0000 UTC
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Zane, Caleb, and Yara moved with practiced efficiency, leading Russell through a heavily fortified military checkpoint and into a restricted zone under martial law. This was the entrance to the [Black Flag] secret realm.
"Zane, you're here," a guard called out. He clearly recognized the team leader, but protocol was protocol. He meticulously checked their documents and authorizations before waving them through.
After clearing the final checkpoint, the four of them stood before a s...
2025-06-30 13:26:26 +0000 UTC
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President Marcus's final words hung in the air, cold and sharp. Principal Shepherd, his face etched with worry, turned away from the officials and looked at his victorious students. "An unexplored bronze-level realm is no joke," he said, his voice low and serious. "The dangers are very real. I need you all to think about this decision carefully."
Nancy and Liam looked toward Russell, their expressions uncertain. Russell remained silent for a long moment, the cheering and applause of the...
2025-06-30 13:25:30 +0000 UTC
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Up in the stands, Principal Wu's jaw dropped. He lurched forward, his hands gripping the metal railing so tightly his knuckles turned white. He stared at the white-haired figure on the field, his mind reeling. He turned to Principal Shepherd, his voice a hoarse whisper of disbelief. "You... Shepherd, you sly old fox. You hid this from everyone."
But Shepherd was in no state to gloat. He was just as stunned as everyone else, his own carefully maintained composure shattered. He truly had ...
2025-06-30 13:24:36 +0000 UTC
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On the second day of the Joint Entrance Exam, the tension in the stands was palpable.
Principal Hawthorne looked over at the frowning Principal Shepherd and chuckled. "Come on now, Shepherd, that's enough gloom. For years, you and I have been fighting for last place. I let you get to the finals this time, and you're still not satisfied?"
Principal Wu, seated nearby, couldn't help but chime in, his voice dripping with condescension. "Hey, there's no shame in losing to Jans...
2025-06-30 13:23:38 +0000 UTC
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The match between Metro University Prep and Evergrove First High ended in a flash.
Next up, it was New Metro First High versus Southridge High.
"Liam and I can handle the start," Nancy whispered to Russell. "If you go in first, we might not get a chance to fight at all."
Russell saw her point and gave a simple nod.
Up in the stands, Principal Shepherd frowned as he watched Liam Blake take the stage. "Why isn't Russell starting? Are they trying to hide his abilities?" H...
2025-06-30 13:22:44 +0000 UTC
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The next morning, Victoria Song stood before Russell, Nancy, and Liam, offering some final words of encouragement. "Hey, no pressure. Don't be nervous," she said with a warm smile. "It's not the end of the world if you don't win."
She genuinely meant it. After all, life was a long road, and no one's path was perfectly smooth.
If only she knew the true stakes of the new Riverview Province unified trial, her optimism might have faded.
The three students gave a silent, determin...
2025-06-30 13:19:03 +0000 UTC
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"Spare money? A new place?" In his own home, Brother Tiger muttered Russell's words back to himself, his face a mask of paranoia. "Is he targeting me?" He didn't believe for a second that the boy's words were a coincidence; it had to be a veiled threat. But then, thinking of the grand plans revealed to him by the Spirit Begging Society, he couldn't help but sneer with disdain. This old ship of the Federation is about to sink anyway. If we don't jump to a new one now, when will we?
2025-06-30 13:18:00 +0000 UTC
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The sky outside had turned completely dark. Russell sighed, resigning himself to spending the night in his now-compromised apartment. He had Kaneki lift the heavy, bent iron door back into its frame, closing it loosely to provide at least the illusion of security. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he began to map out his next move.
First, he had to figure out what to do with his money. He was lucky; being alone in the world meant he didn't have much property to worry about. He always car...
2025-06-30 13:16:34 +0000 UTC
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"Do you know why Principal Shepherd fought so hard to get your class into that secret realm for training, even if it was just the most basic one?" Seeing Russell's lingering confusion, Jonathan Whitemore didn't answer his unspoken question directly, but instead posed a new one.
Russell had assumed it was all for the joint exam. "Wasn't it to prepare for the joint examination of the four schools in the Evergrove District?"
Jonathan laughed softly. "Yes, you're right. But tha...
2025-06-30 13:15:09 +0000 UTC
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