There was a huge monitor set up on the stage, where an announcer was standing at the stage,
"WELCOME, FELLOW GODS, IT'S THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THEY WOULD SELECT A BATCH OF GOD'S KNIGHTS. LET'S GREET OUR NEWEST RECRUITS." The Celestial Dragon, who was acting as the MC, announced to the audience, who were also members of the Celestial Dragons, cheered and shouted in support for the recruits, and were also excited for the cruelty they would observe.
Thorne then activated his Observation Haki, covering the island. He observed that there are numerous Den Den Mushi scattered in the whole island; it was the one that would transmit video, for spying, and monitoring them in their hunt, ensuring a fair judgment.
"HAPPY HUNTING EVERYONE, AND GOODLUCK," the MC announced after an hour of headstart against the freed slaves and prisoners, Thorn then hurriedly run ahead, to make sure he has the headstart against his other competitors.
"LOOK AT THAT, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE FIGARLAND FAMILY, WOULD HE CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF BEING THE CHAMPION, OR THAT WOULD BELONG TO ANOTHER FAMILY, LET'S FIND OUT" The MC announced, while Garling and Shamrock observe Thorne in the monitor that was showing Thorne.
Thorne, who was running while his Observation Haki was activated, suddenly drew his rifle. He then suddenly fired at a random location, where a camera followed the trajectory of the shot. It was then seen that he killed his first prey, with it being a Captain of a Pirate Crew who was infamous in North Blue, they foolishly attacked a ship, not knowing there were CP agents onboard.
Thorne just continued running until he reached a vantage point where he could shoot almost anywhere within the island. He then fired his second shot, towards an elderly man, who had dead eyes, meaning he lost all of his will to live, granting him the mercy of death. He continued this until he was bored, choosing to fight melee instead, while still using his gun.
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AUDIENCE HALL
"IN THE BOARD, STILL LEADING THE RANKINGS, SAINT THORNE N. FIGARLAND, IT SEEMS THAT OUR YOUNGEST RECRUIT ARE PROVING THAT HE WAS WORTHY OF HIS HERITAGE," the MC said while all of the parents of other recruits are starting to also get excited, seeing that their sons and daughters are participating in these kind of events.
"It seems that all his training in with the Manmeyers family is not a complete waste" Garling said, noticing that Thorne, can now use his observation haki.
"Yes, he can use his Observation very well, but he still doesn't know how to use Armament. How do you think he would handle an opponent that has one?" Shamrock asked his Father's opinion,
"I guess we will see," Garling said, until suddenly they heard a shout behind their backs, turning their heads, they saw Seraphina, who was covered in blood while still maintaining her beauty.
"Did I miss the start? I immediately went here after I finished my mission," Seraphina said.
"How unpleasant, do not want to embarrass our son after seeing you, clean yourself," Garling said to Seraphina while ordering one of his servants to get clean towels and hot water, and a new attire for Seraphina, clearly having prepared for this occasion in case Seraphina shows up in her current condition, clearly not being the first time,
"It's just blood, it was obtained for a mission in service to the 5 elders, I should be proud being this filthy, meaning I accomplished my mission," Seraphina said to Garling, now seated and watching her son dominate the hunt.
"I do not care, you put your faith blindly towards the 5 elders," Garling said, being increasingly distrustful of the elders over time.
"Why do you say that?" Seraphina asked, who was now looking at Garling, instead of the screen.
"I just think I would do a better job as an Elder than any of them," Garling announced proudly to Seraphina, with Seraphina, who was just observing her husband and his growing ambitions, noting something to report for her grandfather.
"Let's just watch the hunt, this is the first hunt he would be participating in," Seraphina said to Garling, turning her focus onto the screen, where Thorne was being shown, fighting hand-to-hand combat while incorporating gunfu against a larger opponent and others.
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A few minutes back in Thorne's perspective, Thorne left his vantage point to start hunting more actively, It did not take long before he met a young woman, who was begging for mercy with her baby in her arms,
"Please, have mercy, even just for my child, she is born innocent, please," The woman begged him, crying while hugging her daughter in her arms,
"Are you a born lunarian?" Thorne asked the woman who was begging for mercy, observing that the woman had dark skin and silver hair, but was missing a fire and dark wings.
"Yes, it was my fault that my child would suffer the same fate as me. I know that our lineage does not cooperate, but please, just for my child, make this exception, I beg of you," The lunarian woman said, appeasing to the heart of the young noble in front of her, gambling the life of her daughter for a sliver chance that it would save her.
"Alright, I would protect her, but I cannot promise the same to you. The best I can do is kill you here to release you of this suffering," Thorne said, accepting the child and offering to kill the woman.
"Thank you for your mercy, young noble, you have a very pure heart even if you don't know it," The lunarian woman said with a smile, while kneeling in front of Thorne, ready to accept her fate. Thorne then unsheathed Chimare, killing the lunarian woman in a swift manner where it would not hurt her even just a moment, it was a pure bliss for the woman who had her head cut off with a smile.
Thorne, who still has his memory of his past life, can't help but reflect on how much he changed; he was being affected by Yoriichi's cold nature against he considered as enemies, but caring towards whom he cared for, and so far in the One Piece world, he only cared for his mother.
Thorne then makes the Chimare sword change its form into a Chimera, with an order to protect the baby on his back, while following him in his hunt, the chimera then roared, as if defying his owner, until Thorne's nature just changed, it was felt by the Chimera, realizing that the person in front of it are giving it a change to surrender while it still can, following the orders of Thorne.
Thorne then walked towards something where he felt presence, seeing a 5-person group, who were acting like they all knew each other, making Thorne realize that they might have known each other before being captured as a slave,
"We got one victim here today, we might be killed, but we are going to trim your numbers too," A big person said, while all of his comrades also laughed, accepting that they would die here, might as well kill some celestials for their satisfaction.
Thorne then readied his rifle to fight against 5 people. Suddenly, all of them used their armament haki to attack, punching towards Thorne, who evaded.
'So they can use Armament haki, I think they are underestimating the potential of the Celestial Dragons, possibly only knowing the ones that are incompetent,' Thorne said while firing his weapon against one of the enemies in its head, who shielded it by crossing his arms, the other four then attacked simultaneously, as if they rehearsed all of their moves.
Thorne who was fighting against them avoiding them or blocking them with ether his feet or the rifle, he then swung his rifle against the larger opponent while using its momentum generated to follow it with a kick, towards the large man, who blocked his kick with his arms, it was then that Thorne have took out his pistol to shoot towards the unprepared member of their little group, it hit his target in his eyes, where you could see the hole made by his gun.
This rattled the other members of the group were Thorne just fired his pistol once again towards the larger man, who was slightly distracted, and using the rifle to hit the bullet of his pistol to accelerate its speed and momentum, it pierce the heart of the large man, killing him instantly, the other three also died almost immediately after that,
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Back towards the audience, where we can see Garling, Shamrock, and Seraphine, shocked at the actions of Thorne,
"Where did he learn to fight like that?" Garling said, while not recognizing the move he made, also admiring his son,
"Did the Manmayer think him to move like that?" Shamrock asked Seraphina, who was close to the Manmayer family.
"I do not think so, we all know the style of the Manmayers are to snipe from distance, detaching themselves towards their target, so it's possible that he learned that on his own, or invented that" Seraphina said, admiring his son's genius, while observing Thorne, they noticed that he was traveling with his Chimera out, but that is not the most shocking part, there was a baby in its back, being supported by the snake tail of Chimera ensuring that it would not fall off its back,
"Who is that?" Seraphina asked both Garling and Shamrock, who just stood silent.
"That is a daughter of one of the slaves we released. It looks like he has quite a soft heart," Garling said while having his proud moment vanish and being replaced by disappointment.
"I don't think so, look at that baby's skin and hair, it was not clear, but it looks like a lunarian, probably he wanted a lunarian slave," Seraphina said, defending her son, both Shamrock and Garling then became silent, since they both know that Lunarians have strong bodies, making them useful as slaves.
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The hunt took about 3 hours before all of the prey ran out. They were then called to report towards the center of the stage, where they would announce their rankings.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S CONGRATULATE OUR RECRUITS, FOR FINISHING AND PASSING THE HUNT," The MC announced to the audience, where all of the observers just cheered and shouted praises for them.
"BUT NOW, LET'S ALL SEE WHO IS THE CHAMPION OF THIS YEAR'S HUNT," the MC said with suspense as if the other celestial can't see the rankings until the recruits were called back,
"LET'S CONGRATULATE OUR VERY OWN, SAINT THORNE V. FIGARLAND, CONTINUING THE GREATNESS AND LEGACY HIS FAMILY HAS STARTED," The MC announced Thorne to be the winner, which did not come as a surprise to anyone, since he was leading by more than the combined points of the 2nd and 3rd placers.
"As a prize for winning this year's hunt competition would be a mysterious Devil Fruit," The MC announced, giving the treasure chest to Thorne containing the Devil Fruit. It was then that the 2nd placer received its rewards. It continued until all of the top 10 were given their rewards.
After the reward ceremony, a short break happened before continuing to the part where they would be marked with the Abyss, signifying their allegiance to the God's Knight. Thorne then walked towards his parents to show off his reward, but they did not have any single emotions on their faces.
"Tell me, why did you save that insect?" Garling immediately asked, with a scary voice,
"The mother approached me, begging for mercy, when I noticed her complexion, she was a Lunarian, meaning that this child also had Lunarian blood flowing inside her, making me save it," Thorne answered, with honesty but incomplete details.
"You did not answer my question," Garling said, with a raised voice, while both Shamrock and Seraphina had solemn expressions, knowing that it would not end well for Thorne if he answered incorrectly.
"I want a Lunarian slave. Is there something wrong with that?" Thorne said, lying to Garling, with a straight face, with no noticeable changes in his body language, it was then that Garling released his Conquerors haki, targeting only Thorne, looking at him as if torturing him for the answer, while Thorne just looked at Garling with conviction, his own will not allowing him to pass out.
Garling, noticing that there were no changes in his son, removed the Conqueror's Haki. Garling then suddenly grinned at Thorne.
"You are finally understanding your privileges and duties, make sure that this insect grow up strong, or I will kill her myself, in front of you," Garling said, looking at Thorne who just nodded.