The roar of the Corrida Colosseum rose like a living beast.
Thousands of voices.
Clashing.
Cheering.
Laughing.
Demanding blood.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
The announcer's voice thundered across the arena, echoing off ancient stone and broken pillars.
"WELCOME TO TODAY'S GLADIATOR SHOWDOWN!"
The crowd erupted.
Coins clinked rapidly at betting stands.
Names were shouted.
Odds were screamed.
"LET US BEGIN WITH OUR FIRST MATCH OF THE DAY!"
A dramatic pause.
The arena gates creaked.
"INTRODUCING FIRST—"
A loud drumroll.
"THE VETERAN OF THIS COLOSSEUM!"
The gates BURST open—
A massive man stepped out.
Muscles bulging.
Scars carved deep into his body.
A giant hammer rested on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.
"BURN KNUCKLE!"
The crowd exploded.
"YEAHHHHHH!"
"BURN HIM!"
"CRUSH HIM!"
"TWENTY WINS! THIRTY LOSSES! STILL STANDING!"
Burn Knuckle grinned wide, baring broken teeth.
He slammed his hammer into the ground—
BOOM!
The entire arena trembled slightly.
"That's right!" the announcer continued. "A seasoned fighter who refuses to go down! He may have more losses than wins, but his endurance is LEGENDARY!"
Burn Knuckle raised his hammer high.
"COME ON!" he roared. "WHO'S MY OPPONENT?!"
"PUT YOUR BETS DOWN!"
"BURN KNUCKLE FAVORITE!"
"NEWCOMER HAS NO ODDS!"
Gamblers shouted over each other.
Coins piled up rapidly—
All on one side.
Burn Knuckle.
"Who's the rookie?"
"Doesn't matter."
"He's dead."
"No one survives their first match here!"
High above the arena, in the decorated viewing balcony, the royal family sat in clear view.
King Riku Doldo III leaned forward slightly, arms resting on the railing.
"…This is the one?" he asked.
Beside him, Scarlett crossed her arms.
"Yes," she said flatly.
Her eyes remained locked on the arena.
"…The idiot."
A smaller figure leaned over the edge eagerly.
"IS HE STRONG?!"
Bright eyes sparkled with excitement.
Little Viola practically bounced on her feet.
Scarlett sighed.
"…No."
Viola gasped.
"Really?!"
"…Probably."
King Riku exhaled slowly.
"…Let's just observe."
Back at the arena
The announcer raised his hand dramatically.
"AND NOW—"
Another drumroll.
"INTRODUCING HIS OPPONENT!"
A pause.
"—A NEWCOMER!"
The crowd quieted slightly.
Murmurs spread.
"New guy?"
"Dead already."
"Poor bastard."
The gates on the opposite side began to open.
Slowly.
Creeeeeeak—
Then—
CLANG.
A heavy metallic step echoed out.
Then another.
CLANG.
CLANG.
The crowd leaned forward.
Confused.
"…What is that sound?"
"…Armor?"
Then—
He stepped out.
Gold.
Blinding gold.
Full body armor, polished to a ridiculous shine under the sun.
Massive shoulder plates.
Thick gauntlets.
Heavy boots that cracked the ground slightly with each step.
And in his hand—
A golden longsword.
Too clean.
Too flashy.
Too heavy.
"…What the hell?"
Silence spread across the arena.
"…Is he serious?"
"…Is that real gold?"
"…He can't even move in that!"
The announcer blinked once.
Then quickly recovered.
"—GIOVANNI!"
A weak cheer.
Mostly confusion.
Mostly laughter.
"He's gonna die!"
"Look at that armor!"
"Is this a joke?!"
"Can he even swing that sword?!"
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
Giovanni walked forward slowly.
Each step exaggerated.
Heavy.
Dramatic.
Completely unnecessary.
Inside the helmet—
A grin.
'This is cool as hell.'
He stopped at the center of the arena.
Burn Knuckle stared at him.
Then burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!"
He pointed his hammer.
"What is this?! A knight?!"
The crowd joined in.
"HE'S DEAD!"
"TOO HEAVY!"
"HE WON'T LAST A SECOND!"
Burn Knuckle slammed his hammer against his shoulder.
"You planning to fight," he grinned, "or just stand there and shine?"
Giovanni tilted his head slightly.
The golden armor creaked.
"…Both."
Up above—
Viola's eyes sparkled.
"HE LOOKS AMAZING!"
Scarlett covered her face with one hand.
"…I regret everything."
King Riku narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…Strange."
"…What?" Scarlett asked.
"…That armor," Riku said slowly. "It's excessive… but…"
He paused.
"…He doesn't seem burdened by it."
Scarlett blinked.
"…Huh?"
The announcer stepped forward, raising both hands.
"AND WHAT AN INTERESTING MATCH WE HAVE!"
"EXPERIENCE VS MYSTERY!"
"POWER VS… GOLD?!"
The crowd laughed.
Burn Knuckle rolled his shoulders.
"Let's end this quick."
Giovanni lifted his sword slightly.
The metal rang out.
A clean, sharp sound.
Final Announcement
The announcer's voice boomed once more.
"AND LET IT BE KNOWN—"
He pointed upward toward the royal balcony.
"THE ROYAL FAMILY OF DRESSROSA IS IN ATTENDANCE TODAY!"
The crowd erupted even louder.
"LONG LIVE THE KING!"
"PRINCESS SCARLETT!"
"PRINCESS VIOLA!"
Viola waved excitedly.
Scarlett sighed.
King Riku gave a composed nod.
The announcer stepped back.
Hand raised high.
"…Well then."
A pause.
The arena held its breath.
"SHALL WE BEGIN?!"
The arena buzzed.
Laughter still echoed across the Corrida Colosseum.
Burn Knuckle wiped a tear from his eye, still chuckling.
"HAHAHAHA… you serious?" he said, pointing his hammer at Giovanni. "You came here dressed like that?"
He circled him slowly.
The golden armor gleamed under the sun, almost obnoxiously.
"You trying to blind me to death?" he smirked. "Or are you just too scared to fight without hiding behind all that metal?"
The crowd roared in agreement.
"TAKE IT OFF!"
"HE CAN'T MOVE!"
"FREE WIN!"
Giovanni didn't respond immediately.
He simply stood there.
Still.
Then—
He raised one hand slowly.
"…Hmm."
A pause.
Then he adjusted his stance.
A dramatic shift of his shoulders.
CLANG.
He turned his head slightly toward the crowd.
"…You know," he said casually, voice echoing from inside the helmet, "I spent a long time picking this outfit."
The crowd blinked.
"…Huh?"
Giovanni lifted his sword, inspecting its reflection.
"…Took me at least five minutes."
The crowd burst out laughing.
Burn Knuckle grinned wider.
"Five minutes too many!"
Up above—
Scarlett dragged a hand down her face.
"…He's going to lose."
Beside her, Viola leaned forward excitedly.
"I like him!"
"…Of course you do."
King Riku Doldo III remained silent, eyes focused.
"…Let's see."
A few sections away—
A familiar red-haired figure leaned forward, shoulders shaking.
Shanks was barely holding it together.
"Pff—HAHAHAHA—!"
Next to him, Yassop was clutching his stomach.
"This idiot—!"
"Full gold armor?!" Shanks wheezed. "He's serious?!"
Yassop wiped tears from his eyes.
"I told you he'd do something stupid the moment we weren't around!"
Both of them burst into louder laughter.
"Bet everything on him," Shanks said suddenly, grinning.
Yassop blinked.
"…You're insane."
"…You in?"
A pause.
Then Yassop smirked.
"…All in."
Back to the Arena
Burn Knuckle planted his hammer into the ground.
"Alright, clown," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Show me something."
Giovanni tilted his head again.
"…You want a show?"
The crowd leaned in.
Giovanni stepped back.
Then—
He struck a pose.
One foot forward.
Sword angled dramatically.
Free hand extended outward.
Like a performer.
"…Ladies and gentlemen," he said smoothly, "prepare yourselves."
A pause.
"…For greatness."
The crowd went silent—
Then exploded in laughter.
"THIS GUY IS HILARIOUS!"
"HE'S A PERFORMER!"
"DON'T KILL HIM YET!"
Even Burn Knuckle was grinning wide now.
"Alright, I'll give you a show," he said, lifting his hammer. "A short one.
Up above—
Scarlett gripped the railing.
"…This is embarrassing."
"He's not even taking it seriously!"
"He's going to get crushed!"
Viola giggled.
"He's funny!"
"…He's dead."
The announcer, still recovering from laughter, raised his hand.
"…A-AHEM!"
He coughed.
"T-THEN—!"
A deep breath.
"BEGIN!"
CLANG!
Silence
For a split second—
Nothing moved.
Then—
Burn Knuckle lunged forward.
"DIE—!"
His hammer came crashing down—
A massive swing aimed to flatten Giovanni completely.
The air howled.
The ground cracked beneath the force.
Gone
The hammer hit—
BOOM.
Dust exploded upward.
The crowd leaned forward.
"IT'S OVER!"
"TOO EASY!"
But then—
"…Huh?"
Burn Knuckle blinked.
The ground was shattered.
But—
No Giovanni.
"…Where—"
A voice.
Right behind him.
"…Too slow."
Burn Knuckle's eyes widened—
One Strike
A single motion.
Too fast to follow.
A blur of gold.
A flash of steel.
A faint sound—
shing.
Then—
Burn Knuckle froze.
Completely still.
The hammer slipped from his hand.
CLANG.
His eyes rolled back.
And he collapsed.
THUD.
Silence… then chaos
The entire arena froze.
"…What?"
"…Did you see that?"
"…What just happened?"
Giovanni stood behind him.
Sword lowered.
Casual.
Like nothing happened.
The announcer stared.
Mouth open.
Brain struggling to catch up.
"…I…"
A pause.
"…UH—"
Another pause.
The crowd leaned forward.
"…THE WINNER IS—"
A beat.
"—GIOVANNI!!!"
Explosion
The arena erupted.
"WHAT?!"
"NO WAY!"
"THAT WAS TOO FAST!"
"RIGGED!"
"WHERE DID HE EVEN MOVE?!"
Coins were thrown.
Bets overturned.
Some cheered wildly.
Others screamed in anger.
"I LOST EVERYTHING!"
"THIS IS BULL—!"
"AGAIN! I WANT A REMATCH!"
Giovanni slowly turned to the crowd.
Then—
He raised his sword high.
Struck another dramatic pose.
"…Thank you, thank you."
He bowed.
The golden armor gleaming like a spotlight.
"…I'll be here all week."
Half the crowd laughed.
The other half booed.
King Riku let out a low chuckle.
"…I see."
"…He's exactly as strong as I thought."
Scarlett stood frozen.
Eyes wide.
"…That… idiot…?"
"…That strong?"
Viola jumped up.
"HE WON! HE WON!"
Scarlett didn't respond.
She was still staring.
Trying to process it.
Shanks slammed his hand on the table.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"Did you SEE that?!"
Yassop was already collecting piles of money.
Grinning ear to ear.
"I told you idiots!"
"Pay up!"
Coins stacked high in his arms.
Shanks leaned back, satisfied.
"…That's my guy."
In the center of the arena—
A golden figure stood.
Shining.
Ridiculous.
Unbothered.
While the entire colosseum lost its mind around him.
---
Find early chapters on my patreon
[Patreon.com/tenten100?]
Follow me on Instagram [www.instagram.com/tenten100_?]