A/N: Hello again. So the vetting process was successful and now my novel appears on my profile "Can I Magic Please". If you enjoy my other stories, definitely check it out. Its about magic, different races and several other stuff. Plus it would help me in my dream of winning the WSA 2026.
Thank you very much. And enjoy the chapter :)
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The atmosphere beneath the Corrida Colosseum was heavy.
Steel clanged.
Fighters moved around.
Voices echoed through the stone hallways.
But among all the noise—
One room remained calm.
Quiet.
Focused.
Kyros sat on a wooden bench.
Arms resting on his knees.
His massive sword leaned beside him.
Several gladiators stood around him, speaking with excitement.
"You'll crush him, Kyros!"
"That brat's just flashy!"
"One hit tricks don't work forever!"
Another gladiator laughed loudly.
"He thinks beating fodder makes him special!"
Kyros remained silent.
A towel rested around his neck.
His eyes closed.
One of the men blinked.
"…Kyros?"
The undefeated champion finally opened his eyes.
"…Don't underestimate him."
The room quieted instantly.
A younger fighter frowned.
"But it's you."
"…You've never lost."
Kyros slowly stood up.
His massive frame seemed even larger in the cramped room.
"…That man is dangerous."
The others exchanged glances.
Dangerous?
From Kyros?
That word carried weight.
One of the gladiators scratched his cheek.
"…You really think he can push you that far?"
Kyros grabbed his sword.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…I hope he does."
The room fell silent again.
Because for the first time—
Kyros looked excited.
Meanwhile—
Several hallways away—
The atmosphere could not have been more different.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Giovanni sat upside down on a chair.
Completely relaxed.
His legs hanging over the backrest while he casually spun his sword.
Across from him—
Riku Scarlett crossed her arms.
"…You're unbelievable."
Giovanni grinned.
"You say that now."
He pointed dramatically at himself.
"But soon—"
"The future champion of Dressrosa shall emerge victorious."
Scarlett deadpanned.
"…You sound ridiculous."
Giovanni gasped.
"You wound me."
Scarlett rolled her eyes.
"…You're going to lose."
Giovanni froze.
Then slowly placed a hand on his chest.
"…You really think so little of me?"
"Yes."
"Without hesitation."
"That fast?!"
Scarlett smirked slightly.
"It's Kyros."
"He's undefeated."
"He's stronger than every gladiator in this country."
Giovanni leaned back casually.
"…And?"
Scarlett blinked.
"…And?"
Giovanni shrugged.
"I'm stronger."
Scarlett stared at him for several seconds.
Then burst out laughing.
Actually laughing.
"You are absurdly confident."
Giovanni pointed at her.
"That sounds like fear."
Scarlett instantly scoffed.
"Fear?"
"Of you?"
She placed a hand on her hip.
"In your dreams."
Giovanni suddenly leaned forward.
"…Then let's make a bet."
Scarlett narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…A bet?"
Giovanni nodded seriously.
"If I lose—"
"I'll publicly admit you were right and call myself weak."
Scarlett instantly answered—
"Deal."
Giovanni blinked.
"…You accepted that way too quickly."
"Because you're losing."
Giovanni clicked his tongue.
"…Cold."
Scarlett smirked proudly.
"But if by some miracle you win…"
Giovanni grinned.
"…I get a kiss."
Silence.
Scarlett froze.
"…W-What?!"
Giovanni nodded confidently.
"A celebratory victory kiss."
Scarlett's face immediately turned red.
"You idiot!"
"Why would I ever agree to something like that?!"
Giovanni shrugged.
"Because you're confident."
"…Or are you scared?"
Scarlett twitched.
"…I am NOT scared."
"Then accept."
"…You're definitely losing anyway."
Giovanni extended his hand.
Scarlett stared at it.
Then at him.
Then back at the hand.
"…Fine."
She shook it aggressively.
"But don't cry afterward."
Giovanni's grin widened.
"Oh, I definitely won't."
Scarlett immediately regretted accepting.
Outside—
Dressrosa had become chaos.
Excited chaos.
Crowds flooded toward the Colosseum from every street.
Vendors screamed over one another.
"HOT FOOD!"
"COLD DRINKS!"
"FINAL BETTING CALLS!"
People waved betting slips around wildly.
"I'm telling you, Kyros wins!"
"No way! That Oni guy's insane!"
"He ended four fights with one strike!"
"Yeah, against weaklings!"
"You saying Burn Knuckle is weak?!"
"…Actually yes."
Arguments erupted everywhere.
Massive posters covered the walls.
KYROS VS THE ONE CUT ONI
Children ran through the streets pretending to sword fight.
Adults argued over odds.
Pirates laughed loudly at gambling tables.
The entire kingdom buzzed with excitement.
Inside the arena—
Seats rapidly filled.
Every section packed tighter and tighter.
The VIP section especially drew attention.
Nobles.
Royal guards.
Wealthy merchants.
Even dangerous-looking figures hidden beneath cloaks.
One of them—
Marco.
He sat quietly with his arms folded.
"…This better be good."
Nearby—
Another hidden section.
Two cloaked idiots whispered loudly.
"…Brother, are you sure nobody recognizes us?"
"…Shut up, Coribou."
Caribou grinned beneath his hood.
"…Today's perfect."
His eyes scanned the royal section.
"…Royalty…"
"…Money…"
"…Chaos…"
Coribou gulped nervously.
"…I got a bad feeling."
Backstage—
A loud bell echoed through the corridors.
DOOOOOONG!
Every fighter paused.
Every conversation stopped.
The announcement rang through the arena.
"ALL COMPETITORS REPORT TO THE PREPARATION GATE!"
The crowd above roared instantly.
The noise shook the entire Colosseum.
Kyros slowly began walking forward.
Meanwhile—
Giovanni stood up from his chair.
Stretching casually.
Scarlett looked at him one last time.
"…Try not to die."
Giovanni grinned.
"You'll owe me a kiss soon anyway."
Scarlett instantly turned red again.
"You idiot!"
Giovanni laughed loudly as he walked toward the tunnel leading into the arena.
And above them—
The sold out Colosseum trembled with anticipation.
The undefeated champion.
Versus—
The One Cut Oni.
The bell was about to ring.
---
The roar of the crowd shook the very foundations of the Corrida Colosseum.
Thousands upon thousands of voices echoed through the massive structure.
Cheering.
Arguing.
Betting.
Laughing.
The atmosphere was electric.
Inside the royal viewing platform—
Riku Doldo III sat at the center of the VIP section.
Several advisors stood nearby discussing betting numbers and crowd estimates.
The King looked out across the packed arena and smiled.
"…It's been a while since Dressrosa felt this lively."
One advisor nodded enthusiastically.
"Ticket sales completely sold out within hours."
"The city's economy has practically exploded overnight."
"Every tavern and hotel is overflowing."
Another adjusted his glasses.
"And the betting pools are the largest we've seen in years."
Riku chuckled softly.
"To think…"
"…All this came from one pirate."
Beside him sat his wife.
Elegant.
Graceful.
A woman with long auburn hair and calm eyes.
Queen Riku Seraphina.
Unlike most royal women—
She was smiling with genuine excitement.
Riku glanced toward her.
"…I'm honestly more shocked you came."
Seraphina blinked innocently.
"Oh?"
Riku folded his arms.
"You usually dislike violent spectacles."
Seraphina lifted her fan gracefully.
"That's true."
Then—
A teasing smile appeared on her lips.
"But I wouldn't want to miss two handsome young men fighting."
Silence.
Riku's eye twitched slightly.
"…Handsome?"
Seraphina nodded without shame.
"Very."
"Kyros is quite manly."
"And Giovanni is charming in a troublesome sort of way."
Riku instantly frowned.
"…Troublesome?"
His wife giggled softly.
"You sound jealous."
"I am not jealous."
"You are."
"…I am not."
One advisor quietly looked away to avoid laughing.
Meanwhile—
A tiny armored menace climbed onto the edge of the royal railing.
Riku Viola.
Or rather—
A miniature golden knight.
She wore oversized golden armor nearly identical to Giovanni's.
Even carrying a tiny fake sword.
She pointed dramatically toward the arena.
"GIOVANNI WILL WIN!"
The surrounding guards nearly melted from cuteness.
Scarlett, sitting nearby, held her forehead.
"…Why did you dress like that?"
Viola gasped.
"Because Giovanni is cool!"
Scarlett's face immediately turned slightly red.
"…H-He's not cool."
Viola blinked.
"Then why are your cheeks red?"
Scarlett nearly choked.
"They are NOT red!"
King Riku sighed.
"…This family is exhausting."
Elsewhere in the arena—
A certain red-haired man nearly spit out his drink.
"…OI."
Shanks pointed across the seating area.
"…Is that pineapple head?"
A nearby cloaked man looked up slowly.
Marco stared blankly for several seconds.
"…Red Hair?"
Silence.
Then simultaneously—
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
Both shouted at the same time.
Nearby spectators jumped slightly.
Marco stared at Shanks in disbelief.
"…You got bigger."
Shanks grinned.
"So did you."
Marco clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
Shanks laughed loudly.
"…It's been years!"
Marco looked around the group.
Recognizing faces.
Yassop.
Benn Beckman.
Lucky Roo.
And even—
Little Nico Robin sitting on Bonk Punch's shoulder happily eating snacks.
Marco blinked.
"…Why is there a child here?"
Robin raised her tiny fist proudly.
"I'm supporting Giovanni!"
Marco stared.
"…What the hell happened to this crew?"
He then looked back toward Shanks.
"…More importantly."
"…Why is Giovanni fighting in a colosseum?"
Marco's face became genuinely confused.
"…Did he quit being a pirate?"
Silence.
Then—
Shanks burst out laughing.
"PFFTHAHAHAHAHA!"
Yassop immediately lost it too.
"He thinks Giovanni retired!"
Lucky Roo nearly choked on meat laughing.
Marco frowned harder.
"…What's so funny?"
Beckman sighed while lighting a cigarette.
"…He's here as punishment."
Marco blinked.
"…Punishment?"
Shanks wiped tears from his eyes.
"He got arrested."
Marco stared silently.
"…How?"
Yassop grinned.
"By causing chaos five minutes after arriving."
Marco placed a hand over his face.
"…That sounds more like him."
Robin suddenly stood up excitedly.
"They're starting!"
The arena lights shifted.
Music blasted across the Colosseum.
The crowd instantly erupted into deafening cheers.
DOOOOOONG!!
A massive bell echoed throughout the arena.
The announcer's voice exploded through the speakers.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!"
The audience roared back instantly.
"THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR—!!"
More screaming.
More cheers.
The energy became almost uncontrollable.
"THE UNDEFEATED CHAMPION OF THE CORRIDA COLOSSEUM—!!"
The gates on one side slowly began opening.
"THE HERO OF DRESSROSA—!!"
"KYROOOOOOOOOOS!!!"
The crowd exploded.
Absolutely exploded.
And from the shadows—
A towering figure slowly stepped forward.
Sword resting on his shoulder.
Eyes sharp.
Calm.
Unshaken.
The champion had arrived.
And from the opposite gate—
Another figure waited.
Golden armor gleaming beneath the arena lights.
A grin visible even from the shadows.
The One Cut Oni.
The fight—
Was finally about to begin.
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