"Lord Tesoro! Are you alright?"
Mr. Tanaka, Tesoro's most trusted aide, rarely saw him lose his composure like this. Tesoro's frenzy usually surfaced when he wielded his wealth to dominate others!
But now, to be provoked simply because someone rejected his ideology of money...
This was unprecedented!
"Hahahahaha…"
Tesoro placed his left hand on his forehead, his towering frame trembling slightly.
Slave? How many years had it been since someone dared to utter that word in his presence? He was destined to become a "god," the very embodiment of wealth! Everyone should bow as his slaves!
"Calling me a slave to money... Don't get ahead of yourself, Blazer!"
Tesoro suddenly looked up. "Do you think you can disregard everything because you're strong? Sure, you're powerful, but not enough to lecture me!"
"Money is power! It's my power!"
"I once hated it, but now I control it!"
"And everyone, including you, becomes a slave to it!"
"Blazer! Experience my 'Power of Gold!'"
Tesoro thrust his right hand forward, clenching it fiercely in Blazer's direction—this infuriating man dared to make him recall those memories!
A slave? Let's see who becomes the real slave…
"Hmm?"
Wright stood calmly, watching Tesoro's outstretched hand.
Tesoro's hand, clenched tightly, trembled slightly.
"You... didn't come out of Gran Tesoro, did you? Why isn't there any gold dust on your body or inside you?"
When Tesoro saw Wright slowly draw his blade, his eyebrow twitched. Such an imposing presence—did I fire a blank?
"Gold dust? Are you talking about that stuff sprinkled from the 'Golden Fountain' on the deck?"
Wright smirked coldly, holding his blade. "You're a Paramecia-type 'Gold-Gold Fruit' user. That's no secret…"
"You can control gold. Why would I ever touch something as suspicious as that gold dust, hmm?"
"…"
Tesoro's expression darkened. "You were prepared! So, you really came here for me, didn't you?"
"Are you with the Revolutionary Army? Or did the World Government send you?!"
Wright's mouth twitched. Tesoro's paranoia was beyond saving.
I didn't invite you to this island! You came on your own! And you attacked first!
Maybe building Gran Tesoro attracted too many unwanted visitors, making him this jumpy?
"To be honest, we didn't really have any reason to cross paths…"
Wright raised his blade in both hands, taking a ready stance. "But since you attacked me first, I can't just pretend nothing happened!"
"If you strike first, you'd better be prepared to get countered!"
Crackle!
Golden light flickered in Wright's eyes. Before Mr. Tanaka could retreat with his mischievous grin, his eyes widened, and he collapsed unconscious, face-up.
"Tanaka!"
Tesoro was shocked. Just a glance, and my loyal guard, Mr. Tanaka, was taken out? Golden eyes? Is this swordsman Blazer a Devil Fruit user?!
"Damn it!"
Tesoro had no time to think. Since he made the first move, no matter what, he had to take down this arrogant swordsman and make him his slave!
With a cold smile, Tesoro caressed the golden rings on his hand. With a wave, a massive gold pillar materialized, blocking Wright's descending blade!
"This isn't ordinary gold…"
Wright frowned slightly. With gold's usual properties, his blade—let alone the Great Grade "Nidai Kitetsu"—should've sliced through it effortlessly.
But the gold under Tesoro's control had hardness and volume far beyond what a few gold rings could produce!
"Haki-infused? Or is this a special trait of the Gold-Gold Fruit?"
Wright adjusted his tactics as the gold under Tesoro's control shifted its form and attacked with incredible speed and angles. Yet Wright dodged or deflected every strike.
"Lightspeed!"
Wright flashed to Tesoro's side, slashing downward. But Tesoro seemed ready, a golden barrier rising to block the blade.
The barrier only held momentarily before dissolving, revealing Tesoro's sinister grin and a gold-clad fist heading for Wright!
"Boom!"
Tesoro, a genius in business, knew that without immense strength, even vast wealth wouldn't secure his place in the chaos of the New World. After seizing the Gold-Gold Fruit from Doflamingo, Tesoro wasn't eliminated because he had pushed the fruit's powers to the limit, rendering Doflamingo powerless against him!
Not only had Tesoro mastered his Devil Fruit, but his physical prowess was formidable. By combining his abilities with hand-to-hand combat, Tesoro developed his powers to an elite level, excelling in both offense and defense.
Wright remained unfazed. Tesoro's strength might not yet match what it would be in a few years, but it was already formidable. The completion of Gran Tesoro marked his confidence in facing most challengers!
"Lightspeed!"
"Judgment Strike!"
Executing his signature combination, Wright flashed beside Tesoro and struck, sending him flying.
"Hmm… He blocked it?"
The gold Tesoro controlled acted almost like Haki, with the added advantage of physical form. Fighting such a shapeshifting opponent was a nightmare—too flexible for both attack and defense.
Wright stepped back, infusing Haki into his blade. His golden eyes glowed brightly as he activated his Observation Haki. You're a Paramecia-type—can you outlast me?
"Clang-clang-clang—"
A dazzling barrage of attacks followed. Wright, though refraining from using his Holy Light to avoid exposing his identity, still suppressed Tesoro with his prowess as a great swordsman!
Tesoro's expression darkened. This swordsman was far more troublesome than he had anticipated.
If they were in Gran Tesoro, where his vast reserves of gold were accessible, controlling Wright would've been effortless!
But even on this deserted island, Tesoro had transcended the limitations of terrain!
"Impressive, Blazer!" Tesoro laughed. "It's truly a pity to make an enemy of a swordsman like you…"
"No matter who you are, prepare to die!"
Tesoro raised his hands, transforming the ground beneath them into a sea of gold that surged like waves, cutting off all of Wright's escape routes!
"Awakened? As expected…"
Wright frowned, watching the golden tide form twisting columns that lifted Tesoro high. In his awakened state, the presence of gold no longer mattered.
"How about this, Blazer? Behold the beauty of gold!"
"Drown in it! Be consumed by its radiance… Feel the joy that gold brings!"
Tesoro laughed maniacally. "A strongman? Now I'm the strong one!"
"This world, you, everything will bow to gold's supremacy!"
From the golden tide, Tesoro formed a massive, missile-like construct, infused with an overwhelming amount of Armament Haki. With lightning speed, he launched it at Wright.
"Golden Divine Punishment!"
"This is the will of God!"
"One day, even those so-called false 'gods' will kneel before my divine might!"
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