Wano Country.
The long bridge stretching from Udon to the Flower Capital was a hive of activity. Since the first light of dawn, groups of pirates had been lining up, their passage permits being scrutinized by the Beasts Pirates standing guard. Once cleared, they entered the Flower Capital in waves. Most of these foreign pirates were immediately struck by the sheer beauty of the city. Following the death of Orochi, Kaido had abolished the cruel laws that once plagued the land. He shuttered the Weapons Factories and the Quarry, releasing every prisoner held within those dark walls. Wano Country, which had suffered under persecution for over two decades, finally found a moment to breathe. The entire nation had entered a period of unprecedented prosperity, especially the Flower Capital.
The city was constantly enveloped in a festive atmosphere, and today was even livelier than usual. Shops were packed with customers, and the visiting pirates were fascinated by everything this legendary land of samurai had to offer. They spent their Berry lavishly, buying souvenirs and local goods. The samurai swords produced in Wano Country were the best-selling items by far. However, despite the distractions, the visitors remembered why they had come. By the time morning passed, the crowds began to migrate toward a massive, newly constructed building on the left side of the Flower Capital's city wall: the Beasts Colosseum.
This arena was built in the likeness of the famous Bullfighting Colosseum in Dressrosa, though its aesthetic was purely tailored to the Beasts Pirates. The pirate flags and symbols of the crew fluttered in the wind everywhere you looked. The walls were embedded with intricate animal statues and murals. At the highest point of the structure stood a giant golden statue of Kaido of the Beasts, the current ruler of Wano Country, the Governor of the Beasts Pirates, and an undisputed overlord of the New World. Directly below the statue, a large screen displayed the fighting arena in the center of the stadium—a massive circular stage surrounded by a deep pool.
Battles would soon take place on that stage, and the last person standing would be declared the winner. Unlike the tournaments in Dressrosa where anyone could sign up, only pirates who had officially joined the Beasts Pirates were allowed to compete here. Kaido had no intention of giving away the powerful fruits he had worked so hard to create to outsiders. Even with that restriction, the Beasts Colosseum was packed to capacity. The allure of an Artificial Devil Fruit was simply too great to ignore.
While the world-class monsters of the sea might not care for such things, for ordinary pirates, this was a golden ticket to rise to fame overnight. Many had come just to confirm if the rumors were true—had Kaido really mastered the technology to create Artificial Devil Fruits? If the answer was yes, they would join the Beasts Pirates without a second thought. The idea of the Beasts Pirates commanding an entire army of Devil Fruit users was enough to strike fear into anyone on the vast sea. By noon, the stands were overflowing. Every eye was fixed on the Wano-style wooden stage beneath the giant screen, waiting for a miracle to unfold.
At around one o'clock in the afternoon, the deep, booming blast of a bullhorn echoed through the arena. The crowd fell silent instantly. A figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the stage while clutching a specialized Den Den Mushi.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and you heinous scumbags, hello!" the figure shouted with infectious excitement.
The roar that followed was earth-shattering. The audience recognized the host immediately: Scratchmen Apoo, the Captain of the Broadcast Pirates and one of this year's famous Supernovas. Apoo was dressed in a vibrant Longarm Tribe outfit, his energy radiating through the stadium as he raised the Den Den Mushi high.
"Welcome to Wano Country and the Beasts Colosseum! I'm your host, Apoo! I know you didn't come here to listen to me ramble, so let's get right to it and welcome today's contestants!"
As he spoke, a series of thunderous drumbeats began to roll. One by one, pirates wearing the Viking-style attire of the Beasts Pirates marched out from the corridors and onto the central stage. They all looked hungry for victory.
"Let's introduce them! We have 100 contestants today, each an elite hand-picked by the Beasts Pirates. Right now, they are only one step away from fame and a promotion to the rank of cadre." Apoo paused, a wide smirk spreading across his face. "I think you all know why we're here, don't you? So, without further ado, let's show off the prize!"
A group of beautiful geishas from Wano Country stepped forward, each carrying a covered tray. In the center of the group was Kise-gawa, the woman who had become the most celebrated beauty in Wano since the disappearance of Kozuki Hiyori. Apoo walked toward her and, under the intense gaze of thousands, pulled back the red cloth. A yellow, banana-shaped fruit sat on the tray. The crowd gasped, and the contestants' eyes widened in shock.
"This Devil Fruit is the prize for today's winner," Apoo announced. "It's a Zoan Type: Ushi Ushi no Mi, Rhinoceros Form! If you eat this, you'll gain the immense strength of a rhinoceros, comparable even to an Ancient Zoan. The rules are simple. Out of these 100 people, the last one standing on the stage wins the fruit! But that's not all. The winner also gets the chance to become a Captain of the Beasts Pirates' Oni Squad, just like me! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
The atmosphere turned feral as the pirates stared at the fruit with greed. But Apoo wasn't finished. "Hey, hey, you didn't think the Beasts Pirates would make such a huge fuss over just one fruit, did you?"
He gestured to the other geishas standing behind Kise-gawa. There were more than ten other women, each holding an identical tray.
"Could it be..." someone in the crowd whispered, their voice filled with awe.
"That's right! You're not dreaming," Apoo shouted. "What Kaido said at Marineford wasn't a lie. Our crew has truly mastered the technology of the Artificial Devil Fruit!"
With a flourish of his arm, Apoo signaled the women to unveil their trays. One after another, the red cloths fell away to reveal a collection of fruits that made the audience salivate.
"Are those... are those all Devil Fruits?"
"One, two, three... there are thirteen of them!"
"It's true! The Beasts Pirates really have mastered that power. How else could they just have this many fruits sitting around?"
The crowd was in a frenzy. Apoo's loud, melodic laughter rang out over the noise. "Of course it's true! And now, to make it official, our beloved Governor of the Beasts Pirates has an announcement for you all. Let's welcome the man himself, Kaido!"
The giant screen flickered, and the oppressive, massive physique of Kaido, one of the Four Emperors of the New World, filled the view. His presence alone seemed to weigh down the entire stadium.
"Starting today, the Beasts Pirates will hold a gladiator competition every seven days," Kaido's deep voice boomed. "The final three people remaining on this stage will each receive an Artificial Devil Fruit."
A brief, stunned silence gripped the colosseum before it erupted into a roar of excitement so loud it could be heard across all of Wano.
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