We were eating quietly, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Between bites, I gave a few training tips to Koby and Usopp."Focus on your breathing, Koby. Your sword will always be steadier if your breath follows your movement."
He nodded seriously, applying my advice right away. Usopp, on the other hand, grimaced."And me?""You… work on your balance and reaction time. Your aim is precise, but if you learn to react faster, you'll be deadly even in chaos."
Meanwhile, Zoro, Sanji, and Kuina were training hard alongside Charyzax and Eisah. Blades clashed, kicks sliced through the air, and Eisah gave instructions in his calm but firm tone. I had finally reached his level in Observation Haki, which was only a first milestone… but already enough to help the others progress. So rather than keeping him selfishly in my shadow, I let them have him.
Not far away, Granny Heartless and Léa were spending the afternoon with Kaya. My little sister laughed out loud in her arms, and Kaya wore that tender smile she hadn't shown in a long time. With Nojiko's help, Belmère had already started growing mandarins in a corner of the clearing. I had to make two trips back to Cocoyashi to bring saplings. Poor Genzo nearly had a heart attack when he saw Belmère alive in front of him… and his mustache was still trembling when I left him.
Further away, Hector had taken Jerry under his wing, showing him the basics of carpentry. The boy drank in his words, eyes shining, happy to finally have a father figure. Octy, meanwhile, was refining his own techniques while reinforcing the already built houses, supported by several lumbering Heartless who carried beams as if they were twigs.
After this moment of observation, I stood and joined Luffy and Nami."You ready?" I asked."Of course!" Luffy replied with his usual carefree grin, fists clenched with excitement.Nami, more measured, nodded while adjusting her Clima-Tact.
I focused my energy and, with a gesture, teleported us into the world of the Coliseum. The air shifted abruptly: the warmth of the sun was replaced by the heavy atmosphere of an ancient arena. In front of the imposing stone gates, blue flames suddenly erupted from the ground.
Hades appeared in all his splendor, a predatory smile stretching across his features."Back already, huh? Good. Like I said, if your team changes, you've got to redo the preliminaries. And believe me… I've found the perfect opponent for the third round." His voice vibrated with malicious excitement.
"That's him, the god?" Luffy asked, squinting, unimpressed. "He doesn't look that strong…"
The remark hit like a slap. Hades' flames flared higher, crackling furiously around his head. The ground trembled faintly, and dark clouds began gathering in the arena's sky. He had to restrain himself, clenching his teeth until a forced smile stretched across his face.
"Ohhh… I see you've brought me a little insolent brat, Jordan," he said in a low voice, though his blazing eyes betrayed his barely contained rage.
I stepped forward calmly and placed a hand on Luffy's shoulder, then on Nami's."You probably already know the people tied to me, Hades, but I'll introduce them anyway. Luffy, my captain. And Nami, our navigator."
Luffy, true to himself, waved casually as if nothing had happened."Nice to meet you! But hey, we're not here to chat, we're here to fight."
Nami, however, shot a calculating look at the god of the Underworld."If you're the one who controls the rules of defeat… does that mean you also decide the rewards? Because I'd really like some gold."
A heavy silence followed. Hades watched us for a long time, then finally vanished in a whirlwind of blue flames, a mocking smile etched on his face."No respect…" he muttered, amused, before slipping away.
We entered the arena, and Phil returned to announce the preliminaries."Let the preliminaries begin!" Phil thundered, his hollow voice echoing through the arena like something from beyond the grave. His empty eyes stared into nothing as his hooves clacked against the stone.
In his obsidian box, Hades leaned forward with a wide, toothy grin, his blue flames crackling with mischief.
A deep rumble shook the tiles. The ground split open, and two massive Darkside emerged.I smiled, raising my Keyblade. "I'll let you two handle this. You must be itching for it."
"Nami, leave them both to me!" Luffy shouted before I could even finish. He charged headfirst, shield already in hand. With a series of thunderous impacts, he pummeled the colossi in a wild, improvised combo. The Darksides collapsed, their shadowy bodies dispersing into black wisps.
In his box, Hades' eyes widened. "Wait, what?! But… but that was my dramatic entrance! Maybe I should've, I dunno… sent three or four to warm him up…" He shrugged, forcing a smile. "Well, it should be fine. My new guy isn't that weak."
Luffy barely had time to raise his fist in triumph before the ground trembled again. Four Guardian Armors burst forth in a surge of darkness, their blades glowing with hostile energy."My turn," Nami declared. Her voice was cold, confident. She lifted her Clima-Tact, releasing a wave of ice that trapped the four colossi in translucent blocks. Then, with an elegant gesture, she summoned four pillars of lightning that shattered the frozen statues in one strike.
I couldn't help but applaud. "You've improved a lot."
This time, Hades nearly choked on his own flames."BUT… but that's impossible! Magic too?! No way—she's even stronger than that idiot Donald, and he was the head wizard of a castle?!"
Fortunately for him, the arrival of his champion restored his smile. A new figure emerged from the shadows: a stocky giant, his body wreathed in dark light, a massive incandescent hammer in hand.
A nasty shiver ran down my spine. "Oh no… you've got to be kidding me, Hades?! That's Hephaestus. A god! We're still talking preliminaries here, or are you just trying to kill us quickly?"
Before Hades could answer, the sky darkened and a booming voice resounded. Lightning slashed through the clouds, illuminating a colossal face: Zeus."HEPHAESTUS!!" he roared, his tone grave and menacing. Then he turned toward his brother, thunder crackling around his immense beard. "HADES!! Are you CHEATING again?!"
Hades instantly raised his hands, the flames on his head flickering like a candle in the wind."Me? No way! Bro, I swear, it's… uh… a clerical error! I asked for a random colossus, you know, the ugly-helmet guys. Not a god! Paperwork in the Underworld, you know—it's chaos, hehe…"
Zeus frowned, raising a lightning-charged finger."I don't want to hear it. If you keep this up, I'll blast a bolt right up your—"
A massive ZAP split the sky, striking Hades' box. The god of the Underworld was sent flying backward, the flames on his head completely extinguished, revealing his bald, shiny scalp."Ouch! You've gotta be kidding me! Seriously, Zeus—fine, fine, I'll offer them a reward, okay?!" he grumbled, rubbing his head.
I pointed at Hephaestus, still surrounded by a divine aura. "And what about us? With his divine protection, it's suicide!"
Hades shot me a glare. "You… you're starting to annoy me."
Another bolt struck him, this time square on his backside, making him jump a meter high with a yelp."OKAY! OKAY! I'LL REMOVE HIS PROTECTION!" he shouted frantically, the flames on his head sputtering back to life.
At his words, the glowing halo around Hephaestus vanished. Luffy burst out laughing, thrilled."PERFECT! This fight's mine!"
Zeus remained in the clouds, his stern gaze locked on his brother."I'm watching you, Hades. And if you cheat again…" He raised another bolt as a warning.
Hades forced a crooked smile. "Yeah, yeah, of course, big boss. Promise, no cheating… well, not too much," he muttered under his breath."Go on, Luffy, have fun!" I called with a grin, before adding more gravely: "But be careful… he's the god of fire, of the forge, and of volcanoes. Use your shield, or you'll end up as barbecue."Then, turning to Nami: "Cool him down if he starts overheating." I took to the air, Keyblade in hand, to watch from above.
Phil, his voice lifeless, raised his skeletal arm."Let the third match begin…"
Hephaestus charged straight at Luffy, his blazing hammer howling through the air. The impact was devastating: Luffy barely managed to block with his shield, but the sheer force sent him flying across the arena, stone shards bursting up in his wake."OH YEAH! Bam, first round to my champ!" Hades screamed from his box, his blue flames dancing with delight. "You gotta admit, he's got style when he swings that hammer!"
I reacted instantly, launching a massive ice spike straight at Hephaestus. The god halted his charge, growling as he was forced to back away, blocked from reaching Nami.
Luffy got back to his feet, spitting dust, his eyes burning with that familiar fire."Your opponent… is ME!!" he shouted, leaping back into close combat.
He unleashed a storm of blows, fists and shield slamming like cannonballs. But the god of the forge barely flinched, each strike ringing against his glowing flesh. His hand began to burn with a molten red, heat flooding the arena like an open furnace.
Luffy stumbled back, grimacing, sweat already running down his face."Hey! Free tip: when it turns red, it's ready to cook!" Hades cackled, doubled over with laughter in his seat. "But he's not looking to grill a steak—he's looking to roast your captain!"
Nami reacted instantly, raising her Clima-Tact. "Frost Impact!" she cried. A massive wave of ice burst forth, freezing Hephaestus' legs and glowing arm solid. The god cracked the frost apart by flaring his body with heat, clouds of steam erupting across the arena.
I narrowed my eyes. "Luffy, I don't think you can take him alone. Shall we do this together?"He straightened, shield still in hand, his gaze steady."Alright! Let's bring him down together!"
Another hammer strike came crashing down like a divine judgment. Luffy blocked with all his strength, his feet sinking deep into the ground, while I dove from the sky, ready to strike.
From his box, Hades clapped wildly, laughing hysterically."Yes! Keep it up, little gladiators! Make the sparks fly! Oh, I love this job!"
I shifted my Keyblade into its twin-dagger form, two shining blades flashing in my hands. The agility it gave me, combined with my Haki of Observation, let me slip like a shadow behind Hephaestus. Every opening in his guard became a slash, my blades carving his back and sides in a rain of quick cuts.
In front of him, Luffy and Nami held strong as a team.Luffy absorbed the hammer's furious blows, his shield trembling under the monstrous impacts, while Nami punctuated each clash with bursts of lightning and waves of frost, forcing the god to split his focus.
The wounds slowly piled up on Hephaestus: his breathing grew heavy, his glowing skin bore deep gashes, and his steps began to falter under his own weight. Yet he remained terrifying, a walking volcano on the brink of eruption.
"It's time to finish this…" I growled, shifting my Keyblade into its Steel Chocobo form. My body expanded, muscles bulging, scales erupting across my skin. With a guttural roar, I assumed my hybrid crocodile form, the air vibrating with raw power.
Hephaestus raised his blazing hammer for a final strike, but I lunged, my tail whipping through the air like a hurricane. At the same instant, Luffy, propelled by his Gum-Gum Rocket, smashed his shield—now faintly coated with Armament Haki—straight into the god's temple.
Our two blows collided with his skull in a deafening detonation. The ground cracked beneath the impact, the arena echoed like a war drum, and the titan collapsed, knocked out, his hammer rolling across the stone with a metallic crash.Phil raised an arm, his spectral voice booming through the arena:"VICTORY… TO THE CHALLENGERS!"
Silence fell for a moment before the shadowy crowd erupted in thunderous cheers."No way!" Hades exploded, leaping from his throne, the flames on his head flaring red. His fingers twitched, ready to cheat once again…
But then he met Zeus's piercing gaze, still looming in the clouds. The thunder god's arm was already raised, ready to hurl a massive lightning bolt.Hades clenched his teeth, his flames dimming for a moment before flaring again in restrained intensity."…Tch. Fine. Victory acknowledged," he growled, his voice heavy with resentment. His forced smile looked more like a grimace of pain.
I calmly raised a finger, a feral grin tugging at my lips."Yeah, maybe. But you know what that means, right? It's reward time. And me… I already know what I want."
The blue flames of his head flickered."Wait… no. Not that again…""Just like before. I want you to free this god," I said, my tone leaving no room for doubt.
Zeus, his face shining above in the clouds, crossed his arms and gave me a nod of approval. Hades, on the other hand, looked like he'd just swallowed a whole lemon. His expression tightened, his teeth grinding loudly as he conjured a charred contract into his hands."Tsss… what a pain…" he muttered before burning the parchment.
Instantly, Hephaestus regained his divine halo. His wounds vanished in a golden glow, his body rising with renewed majesty. The god of fire cast us a solemn but grateful look before Zeus wrapped him in a beam of light and pulled him away through a clouded portal.
I turned to my two comrades, hands on my hips."I'm not going to tell you what to choose. It's your decision."
Luffy immediately raised his fist, eyes sparkling with excitement."Perfect! I want a bigger, stronger shield!"
Hades rolled his eyes with a sigh but snapped his fingers. A dark glow condensed in the air, forming a massive Roman shield adorned with reliefs of bats spreading their wings."There. Sturdy. And as a bonus, every strike you land with this shield has a one-in-five chance to… let's say, drain your opponent's vitality," Hades explained with a sly little grin.
Luffy slipped the shield on right away, but his face twisted. His smile vanished, replaced with confusion."Ugh… it feels weird. I don't like it."
I stepped closer, frowning, and pulled the shield from his arm. Just touching it made me nauseous, a wave of disgust rising in me."Hades… you call this a gift? It's cursed. What kind of trash is this?"
The lord of the underworld let out a fake, almost forced laugh."Oh, come on, it's a big strong shield! Not my fault if… it leaves a little room for the darkness.""A little, huh?" I growled.
Before I could add anything, a gigantic lightning bolt struck the shield. The bats shrieked briefly in a spectral wail before dissolving. Only a single glowing emblem remained: a thunderbolt carved into its center, still vibrating with electricity.
Zeus, arms crossed, declared simply:"There. Now it's a real gift."
Luffy took the shield again, this time with a wide grin. He smacked it with his fist and the vibration echoed like a war drum."Ah! Now I like it! Thanks, old man!"
I sighed in relief, casting a dark look at Hades. He turned away, grumbling.
"Mine now!" declared Nami, her smile as bright as it was sharp. "I want 100,000 coins."
Hades's jaw dropped open as if he'd just been stabbed.
"20,000!" he protested immediately.
"90,000," Nami replied without blinking.
"30,000!"
"85,000."
"40,000, and not one more!" Hades yelled, the flames in his skull flaring in annoyance.
"80,000," Nami replied, still calm, arms crossed.
"50,000! And I'll cut off my arm if you go up again!"
Zeus burst out laughing, shaking his head in the clouds. "I've never seen a mortal so good at negotiating. Maybe I should ask Hermes for lessons."
Finally, after long minutes of haggling, Hades collapsed on his throne, head in his hands, the flames in his skull reduced to small, flickering embers.
"...75,000. Not one more. I don't have any more," he whined.
"Perfect!" Nami said with a smile, her eyes shining with satisfied greed. She took the pouch of glowing coins that appeared in her hands... before slipping it straight into my munnies pocket.
"We'll go to the town across the street to convert everything," she whispered with a wink.
I shook my head in amusement, while Luffy laughed out loud, banging his new shield on the ground like a drum.
Hades, however, was still groaning and clutching his head. "Why do I always get into trouble? First the kid with the big idiot shieldman and the magic duck, and now them..." he pulled himself together.
"We'll do the cutting later," I said, leaving with Luffy and Nami, as Zeus laughed, disappearing with his clouds.
Luffy wins Zeus's shield (sends out electricity when he's hit or if he hits something).
Nami wins a better understanding of lightning spells (a gift from Zeus).
Jordan doesn't win anything... except the friendship of Zeus, who will always be there to watch over his brother during matches.
(Author's note: The coliseum is over for now. I'll put a summary of the dungeons and equipment in the next chapter before launching the final arc on East Blue. I still have three islands for this season and maybe one more, but I'm not sure yet.)