"Wiiihahaha!"
"What a calculated move! From the very start, this ring has offered only two choices: you're either a friend or a foe. There is no middle ground!"
Jesus Burgess let out a series of boisterous laughs, though his expression remained clouded. He had initially viewed the Corrida Colosseum's tournament as a golden opportunity. For the Blackbeard Pirates, the Flame-Flame Fruit held a unique, symbolic significance, as it was from the moment they defeated "Fire Fist" Ace that their ascent to their current status truly began.
"It was meant to be a swift sweep, but since the cat's out of the bag, it's time to make your stand, gentlemen!" Vito grinned, his sharp gaze sweeping across the remaining fighters.
Since the secret was out, he saw no point in subtlety. Forcing everyone to choose a side now was better than letting them fish in troubled waters later and disrupt the plan.
On the stage, Bartolomeo and Rebecca looked visibly shaken. They had both assumed the finals would be a chaotic battle royal where anyone could seize victory in the melee. They hadn't expected this underlying layer of political alignment.
Bartolomeo, in particular, was caught in a grueling internal conflict. He had entered this tournament to win the Flame-Flame Fruit as a "joining gift" for the Chris Pirates. While he had suspected he might face "Straw Hat Boy," he figured a tournament match wouldn't interfere with their personal bond—may the best man win.
But now, with the Chris Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates in direct opposition, choosing a side meant declaring open war on the other. For Bartolomeo, this was an agonizing choice.
As for Rebecca, she had joined to gain the power needed to resist Doflamingo. Now, that power felt so close she could touch it, yet as unreachable as the farthest horizon. Her hope shattered, she stood there, lost and dazed.
Suddenly, Diamante chuckled mockingly. "Though I never intended to hand it over, the Flame-Flame Fruit strapped to the back of the Fighting Fish Boss is the real deal. If you want it, feel free to try your luck!"
The announcement caused a stir. Aside from Vito and the Donquixote Family officers, the other fighters stiffened. If the fruit had been a fake, taking a side would have just led to a bitter, meaningless struggle. But because it was real, they couldn't give their full effort to a team, they had to stay wary of one another to snatch the prize.
Burgess's eyes darted around. Raising his massive arms, he laughed loudly, "Wiiihahaha! Since we're dealing with Straw Hat, count me in!"
Because of Ace's death, Burgess, as a member of the Blackbeard Pirates, knew a peaceful coexistence with Straw Hat was impossible. Since a temporary alliance with Luffy was out of the question, joining the coalition between the Chris Pirates and the Donquixote Family to take him down was the only logical path.
After a long silence, Bartolomeo turned to "Lucy" with an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Luffy-senpai... but joining the Chris Pirates is my dream!"
Seeing Burgess and Bartolomeo choose their sides, Vito and Diamante shared a satisfied smile. The odds were now 8 against 2.
At that moment, Rebecca stepped forward, her voice trembling but resolute. "I know you aren't the real Lucy... but I will never associate with Doflamingo's lackeys!"
It was unexpected. Despite the overwhelming disadvantage, Rebecca chose to stand with Lucy. The crowd reacted with a mix of shock, ridicule, and begrudging respect.
"The former Princess of Dressrosa... you've certainly got backbone," Vito remarked, giving her a nod of genuine appraisal.
Diamante's expression cooled at her choice, but he didn't care. In his eyes, her strength was negligible; she had only reached the finals through sheer luck.
"Doflamingo's dog! I will get that Flame-Flame Fruit!" Rebecca glared at Diamante, unfazed.
Diamante narrowed his eyes, a cruel sneer spreading across his face. "Heh, little girl. It seems I need to teach you the true meaning of despair!"
"Eee-yah~ Since the teams are set, let the war begin!" Dellinger giggled, covering his mouth.
In an instant, he vanished, moving with incredible speed. He appeared before Lucy in the blink of an eye, his right leg hooked back before snapping forward. His high-heeled foot lunged toward Lucy's head like a gunshot.
Pistol High Heel!!!
"Is this all you've got?"
Lucy looked up, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Before the kick could land, Lucy moved. His reaction speed was transcendental; not only did he effortlessly dodge the strike, but his hand shot out like a lightning bolt, his fingers clamping onto Dellinger's terrified face.
BOOM!
With a forward surge, Lucy slammed Dellinger's head straight into the stone floor of the ring. The arena floor shattered upon impact, sending a massive cloud of dust billowing into the air.
"Dellinger!"
Diamante and the others cried out in shock, unable to believe their eyes. The audience fell into a deathly silence as they stared at the officer whose head was now buried in the rubble.
"O-One hit... Dellinger-sama was defeated by Lucy in a single blow!" Gatz stuttered, his eyes nearly popping out of his head.
On the stage, Vito was fuming. "What the hell? Are your people idiots?!" he roared.
The fight had barely started and they had already lost a man. Did that moron Dellinger think he was fighting some third-rate pirate?
Faced with Vito's fury, Diamante and his crew were speechless. They hadn't anticipated that Lucy would be powerful enough to one-shot an officer of their caliber.
"You bastard! Sword: Longsword!!!"
Diamante's teeth were gritted so hard they nearly cracked. He glared at Lucy as his sword rippled and extended, hardening into a blade nearly three meters long. He lunged forward, swinging the massive weapon in a wide arc.
Suddenly, Max flickered into view, intercepting Diamante. Holding his obsidian scepter like a heavy war hammer, he swung it upward, colliding with the descending blade.
Clang!
A metallic ring echoed through the stadium, followed by a visible shockwave of air.
"Nani?!"
Diamante gasped. His longsword had been snapped into three pieces by Max's strike.
"G!!!"
A sharp shout rang out from behind.
Wham!
A violent gust of wind erupted, kicking up a screen of dust that obscured everyone's vision. When it cleared, Max had already turned around, holding the obsidian scepter horizontally against his chest to block a blow. Lao G had appeared out of nowhere, his right fist pressed firmly against the staff.
The ground beneath them groaned and shattered, a dense web of cracks spreading out from their feet.
"Wiiihahaha—Straw Hat, die! Shockwave Elbow!!!"
Burgess seized the opening, launching himself like a cannonball. His right arm vibrated violently, emitting an audible hum as wisps of white steam rose from his skin. Ripples of air distorted around his elbow as it lunged toward Lucy like a spear.
The spectators saw Lucy lower his gaze. He didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his right arm to meet the charge. He curled his fingers, index and middle fingers pressed together, ring and pinky together, thumb slightly hooked, forming the likeness of a massive dragon's claw.
"You're going to take that head-on, Lucy?" Max glanced over, his brow furrowing.
"Dragon Claw!"
With a low shout, Lucy coated his hand in Armament Haki, turning it pitch black. He stepped forward and struck.
BOOM!
The two attacks collided with a deafening roar.
Raw power clashed against raw power. The impact of Haki against Haki sent arcs of black lightning dancing through the air. A fierce gale swept through the colosseum, sending visible ripples through the atmosphere. The entire ring shuddered, and the surrounding water erupted into massive plumes.
Cr-crack!
BANG!
Suddenly, a sharp snapping sound rang out. Burgess's metal elbow guard shattered, dozens of cracks spider-webbing across its surface before it exploded into metallic shards. A violent shockwave blasted outward, signaling the end of the exchange.
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]