The gladiatorial match had raged on for three long, grueling hours before it finally came to a violent conclusion. The victor standing amidst the rubble was a man from the Longleg Tribe named Bru Killey. His fighting style was distinct and devastating; his legs were like steel whips, and his techniques were exceptionally skilled. With a single, effortless kick, he could shatter solid boulders into dust.
This particular battle within the Beasts Colosseum had been far more brutal than any that came before it. The stakes were incredibly high. The prize was not just gold or fame, but a rare Artificial Devil Fruit and a prestigious position as a Captain under the command of Kaido himself.
Once the dust settled and Bru Killey was declared the winner, Kaido stepped forward. The massive Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates looked down at the champion to present the reward.
Bru Killey did not hesitate. The moment the strange fruit was in his hands, he took a large bite. Under the jealous and watchful gaze of thousands of spectators, his body began to twist and expand. Thick, grey armor-like skin covered his body, and a massive horn sprouted from his face. In seconds, he had transformed into a giant, powerful rhinoceros. He roared, displaying a raw, physical power that made every pirate in the stands envious.
Thus, the first event of the Beasts Colosseum drew to a perfect close.
Interestingly, the crowd did not leave in low spirits. Even the losers of the tournament walked away without disappointment. They had witnessed exactly what they came to see. The rumors were true: the Beasts Pirates possessed the technology to manufacture functioning Artificial Devil Fruits. The thirteen fruits displayed earlier were not props; they were real power.
The path forward was clear for every ambitious pirate in the audience. They needed to join the Beasts Pirates immediately and wait for the arena to open again. The news spread that next time, while there might not be a Captain's rank up for grabs, there would be three Devil Fruits offered as rewards.
Crucially, the rules of the world still applied: a person could only eat one Devil Fruit. Furthermore, the rules of the Colosseum stated that these rewards could not be transferred or sold to others. This was good news for the weaker pirates. It meant that today's winners, like Bru Killey, would not be competing against them in the next tournament. As long as they persevered and survived, their turn would eventually come.
This information traveled fast. Through the loose lips of foreign pirates and the reporting of "Big News" Morgans, the story spread across the seas.
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Later that night, the celebrations began.
However, Morgans was the first to depart from the banquet. He clutched the precious "Projector Snail" that Kaido had gifted him. As a newspaperman, Morgans had zero interest in physical fighting or drunken parties. He knew a monster like Kaido would not let him leave easily without a reason, but his mind was already racing with schemes. He needed to figure out how to maximize the profit from Kaido's gift.
Kaido had mentioned a "show." Morgans considered his options. Perhaps he should contact Stussy. She was the Queen of the Pleasure District and controlled the dark side of the world's economy. She would know how to monetize this.
Still, Morgans felt a chill down his spine as he remembered Kaido's warning. He silently prayed that Doflamingo—"Joker"—would hurry up with his part of the deal. Morgans was getting impatient, and staying this close to the Beasts Pirates was bad for his heart.
After the giant albatross flew away, Kaido gathered his core forces. He took his right-hand man, King the Conflagration, along with the other executives. He also brought Doflamingo, the newcomer Bru Killey, and Scratchmen Apoo. Together, they headed toward the mysterious Ancient Island.
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The atmosphere above Ancient Island was terrifying. Dark, heavy clouds swirled in the sky, illuminated by jagged flashes of purple lightning and the low rumble of thunder.
High in the stormy sky, a colossal figure twisted through the clouds. It was a dragon, massive and blue, resembling a demon from ancient mythology. This was Kaido in his full Zoan form. His mere presence exerted a crushing pressure on everyone standing on the ground below.
Floating right next to the giant dragon were two small figures, Little Tamaki and Lily, supported by magical flame clouds. Although Little Tamaki had also consumed the Blue Dragon Fruit, she had not yet mastered the ability to create flame clouds herself. Furthermore, with the spy X Drake present, Kaido did not want to reveal the full extent of the child's abilities just yet.
Below the dragon, the hierarchy of the crew was on full display.
Standing in the front row were the All-Stars, the Calamities. King and Jack stood tall, though Queen was notably absent. Behind them stood the Tobi Roppo, the strongest six headliners of the crew. Doflamingo, treated as an honored guest, stood in the same row as them, his feather coat rustling in the wind.
The final row was packed with the thirteen Captains, the "Mad Monk" Urouge, the snow-woman Monet, and the weapon-woman Baby-5.
Kaido looked down from the sky, his dragon eyes scanning his subordinates. He felt a surge of satisfaction. This was the strongest his crew had ever been.
"Alright!" Kaido's voice boomed like thunder. "The reason I brought everyone here is simple. First, I wanted to introduce the new Thirteenth Division Captain, Bru Killey."
He paused, letting the group acknowledge the rhino-man, then continued. "But mostly, I thought you all have been training hard for days. It must be boring to just train and get beaten up by your superiors. So, I have prepared a grand free-for-all to let you relax for a day!"
"A free-for-all?!"
The pirates below looked up, excitement sparking in their eyes.
"That's right! Worororo!" Kaido laughed. "The rules are simple. If you are interested, step forward and pick an opponent. You fight until one side surrenders or can't stand up. Then, the next match begins. There are no rewards this time; it is just a chance to stretch your muscles and show me what you can do!"
Even without a prize of gold or fruit, the crew was eager. Opportunities to show off their strength directly in front of Governor-General Kaido were extremely rare. A good performance here could mean a promotion in the future.
"Who wants to go first?" Kaido asked, hovering above them.
The pirates looked at one another, hesitating slightly. While they wanted to impress Kaido, the risk was high. If they stepped up and got humiliated instantly, it would be embarrassing.
Doflamingo stood silently, observing the beasts around him. Although this event was partially his idea, he had no intention of fighting first. He preferred to watch and analyze the strength of Kaido's officers.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the back rows.
"If no one else is going, I will take the first slot, Kaido-sama."
It was X Drake.
Drake was proactive for a reason. He was desperate to climb the ranks. As an undercover Marine spy within the crew, staying at the Captain level was not enough. He needed access to high-level intel. He didn't dare dream of becoming an All-Star yet, but a seat within the Tobi Roppo was a realistic goal. He had to prove he belonged in that upper tier of trusted confidants.
"Oh?" Kaido looked down with interest. "Good. Who do you plan to choose as your opponent?"
Drake turned, his eyes scanning the powerful figures in the second row. His gaze finally settled on a young man with a mask covering his jaw.
"Although this might be presumptuous," Drake said, his voice steady, "I would like to challenge Page One of the Tobi Roppo."
The crowd murmured. A Headliner challenging a Tobi Roppo was a bold move.
"However," Drake added quickly, "I have one condition."
The atmosphere instantly tightened.
Who's-Who, one of the Tobi Roppo, smirked behind his helmet. "Oho? This seems to be getting interesting."
Kaido's interest was piqued. "What condition?"
Drake spoke clearly, hiding nothing. "Page One cannot use Haki. After all, I have not mastered that power yet."
As soon as Drake said this, Page One's expression turned icy. He felt insulted.
"Are you implying," Page One growled, "that if I don't use Haki, a guy like you could actually defeat me?"
"I don't know," Drake replied calmly, showing no fear. "But there is one thing I am certain of. Page One's bounty doesn't seem to be that much higher than mine. Furthermore, our Devil Fruit abilities are of the same class."
The logic was sound, but it was also a slap in the face. Page One had a bounty of 290 million Berries. Drake currently held a bounty of 222 million Berries. Both men were Ancient Zoan users—Page One was a Spinosaurus, and Drake was an Allosaurus.
To the pirates watching, this was blatant mockery. Drake was essentially saying the gap between them wasn't real skill, just Haki usage.
Sasaki, the triceratops user, threw his head back and laughed. "Hey, hey, Page One! You're being underestimated by the new guy!"
Ulti, Page One's protective and volatile sister, slapped her brother hard on the back. "Hey, Little Pei! Don't you dare disgrace us!"
Neither Sasaki nor Ulti truly believed Page One would lose. They had all been training in the harsh environment of the volcano recently, and they knew how much stronger they had become.
"What is your opinion?" Kaido asked, looking directly at the young Spinosaurus user.
Page One stepped forward, his eyes locked on Drake. "No problem, Father. I will make this guy understand exactly why I am favored by you and why I hold the seat of Tobi Roppo!"
"Worororo! Then it is settled!" Kaido roared, the lightning flashing behind him. "First Match: Page One versus X Drake! Battle Start!"
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