Chapter 9: Crazy Tournament of Giant Warriors (And a Tiny One, Of Course)

As the last echoes of their departure faded, the crew found themselves drawn to a colossal arena shrouded in mist. The moment they set foot inside Hao Coliseum, a massive hand shot out from the shadows, seizing them with an iron grip. Darkness enveloped Leo, and when he finally regained consciousness, he was met with a cacophony of grunts and growls. Blinking against the haze that clouded his vision, he was struck by a chilling realization: his teammates had vanished without a trace. 

A figure emerged from the shadows, introducing himself as Escort Kunis Dante. He guided Leo into a vast chamber, where the sounds of clashing swords and shields reverberated even through the thick walls. Escort Kunis led him deeper into the room, but paused before departing. "By the way, what's your name?" he asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.

Cautious not to reveal his true identity for fear of becoming a target, Leo replied, "My name is Sadin." 

As he wandered through the room, Leo felt dwarfed by the towering competitors around him, their laughter ringing in his ears as they mocked his stature. Among them were renowned fighters like Kennedy, Taoi, and Bronto, each celebrated for their formidable skills in battle. 

In a corner, Taoi was diligently practicing on a punching bag when Kennedy, with a mischievous grin, shoved him aside. "Get out of the way! I need to train. The Wolf Wolf fruit is mine, no matter what!" he declared, his confidence radiating through the room.

Taoi puffed out his chest, a gleam of determination in his eyes. "There's no chance I'm letting anyone else claim the Wolf Wolf Fruit! I'm the biggest fan of Pirate King Wolf!" His voice rang out, filled with bravado. The two continued their spirited debate, blissfully unaware that Leo was, in fact, the great-great-grandson of the legendary Wolf. Leo chose to remain in the shadows, knowing that any attempt to intervene would only stoke the flames of their argument.

Suddenly, a deep, resonant voice cut through their bickering like a knife. "Hey, you two! Move aside, or I might just swallow you whole!" 

The moment they recognized Bronto's voice, the two squabblers fell silent and quickly stepped aside. With a swift motion, Bronto unleashed a powerful punch on the punching bag, sending it flying apart, sand spilling out like a burst dam. Leo, also known as Sadin, watched in awe as the scene unfolded. 

Bronto turned his gaze toward Leo, a scoff escaping his lips. The disdain in his eyes was unmistakable. "Who let this little cockroach in? The crowd's going to be furious when they realize only the strong can compete!" he jeered. 

Before Bronto could escalate the situation, a nearby contestant intervened, pulling him back just as he was about to confront Leo. Yet, Bronto's disdainful glare remained fixed on Leo, and he took a step forward, ready to stomp down on him. But Leo, quick as a flash, delivered a punch to Bronto's stomach, spinning him around effortlessly as if he were a mere pizza dough. Despite his smaller stature, Leo's strength was undeniable, leaving the surrounding giants in awe and Bronto momentarily dazed.

Just then, the booming voice of the show host echoed across the arena. "Good day, viewers! Today in the Ring of Roars, we proudly present our gladiators for the festival known as 'The Bloody Battle'!"

The heavy gate creaked open, unveiling the fierce gladiators within. A wave of sound surged from the crowd in the coliseum, their roars and chants echoing off the ancient stone walls. The show host, standing tall and commanding, raised his voice above the din. "Let the battle commence! But first, allow me to present our champions! Here they are: Kennedy, Taoi, Bronto, Rook, Mayoralgo, Polaris, Lookout, and last but certainly not least, Sadin!"

With that proclamation, the clash of combatants erupted. Each gladiator—Kennedy, Taoi, Bronto, Rook, Mayoralgo, Polaris, Lookout, and Sadin—fought fiercely, all vying for the coveted Wolf Wolf fruit, a Devil Fruit. Devil Fruits are mystical fruits that grant a unique superpower to whoever consumes them, at the cost of forever losing their ability to swim.

GLADIATORS' CLASH

The sun blazed overhead, casting a golden hue across the Colosseum. The roar of the crowd echoed like a storm as eight gladiators prepared to clash in an epic showdown. Dust swirled in the air, adding to the tension.

Round One: Kennedy vs. Taoi

Kennedy, a muscular warrior with a fierce gaze, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. Opposite him, Taoi, agile and quick-witted, smirked as he twirled a pair of daggers.

"Think you can keep up, old man?" Taoi taunted, darting forward.

Kennedy responded with a powerful jab, but Taoi ducked and rolled to the side, launching a flurry of slashes. Kennedy blocked with his forearm, the sound of metal on flesh ringing out.

"Nice moves," Kennedy grunted, countering with a low kick that sent Taoi sprawling.

The crowd cheered as Taoi quickly regained his footing, flicking his wrist to send one dagger spiraling toward Kennedy. It struck, but he barely flinched.

Round Two: Bronto vs. Rook

Bronto, a towering figure with rock-like skin, faced Rook, a lithe swordsman with a penchant for trickery. Rook danced around, his blade glinting in the sunlight.

"You can't win with brute strength alone!" Rook taunted, lunging forward.

Bronto simply raised his massive arm, deflecting Rook's strike with ease. "Strength is all I need!" he bellowed, swinging his fist toward Rook.

Rook ducked, rolling beneath the punch, then slashed upward. Bronto grunted but didn't back down, charging with a ground-shaking stomp that sent Rook flying into the air.

Round Three: Mayoralgo vs. Polaris

On the opposite side of the arena, Mayoralgo, a tactical fighter with a penchant for strategy, faced Polaris, a sharpshooter with a devilish grin.

"Let's see how you handle this!" Mayoralgo shouted, summoning a storm of wind with a swift motion of his hand.

Polaris grinned, pulling out a pair of pistols. "I love a challenge!"

As the winds howled, Polaris fired, his bullets ricocheting off the swirling gusts. Mayoralgo adjusted his stance, redirecting the wind to send the bullets back at Polaris.

The sharpshooter dodged, rolling behind a stone pillar. "Nice try, but I'm just getting started!" he yelled, launching a volley of shots that whizzed past Mayoralgo.

Round Four: Lookout vs. Sadin

The crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch as Lookout and Sadin faced each other in the arena's center. Sadin, tall and muscular, exuded a primal energy, his feline features accentuating his predatory grace. Lookout, sharp-eyed and agile, studied Sadin's every move, knowing he had to be quick and clever to stand a chance.

"Think you can outsmart me?" Sadin taunted, his voice low and confident. His eyes gleamed like a predator sizing up its prey.

"Let's find out," Lookout replied, shifting into a ready stance.

Sadin lunged forward with breathtaking speed, his movements fluid and cat-like. He aimed a powerful swipe with his claw-like fingers, but Lookout anticipated the strike, rolling to the side just in time.

Sadin pivoted, using his momentum to launch himself into the air, flipping and landing with feline precision behind Lookout. He unleashed a rapid series of strikes, each one designed to test Lookout's reflexes. The audience gasped, captivated by Sadin's agility.

Lookout barely managed to dodge, the air whooshing past him as Sadin's claws grazed his shoulder. "Fast, but I'm not done yet!" Lookout retorted, quickly regaining his balance.

Using his tactical mind, Lookout began to bait Sadin, moving in a way that drew the predator closer. He feigned a weak attack, only to pivot and deliver a low kick aimed at Sadin's legs. But Sadin was ready; he leaped over the attack, soaring gracefully like a cat in mid-pounce.

Sadin landed behind Lookout and unleashed a powerful thrust, driving forward with the force of a charging lion. Lookout narrowly avoided the blow, rolling away and scrambling to his feet.

"You're quick," Sadin remarked, his voice a low growl, "but you can't outrun instinct!"

With a burst of energy, Sadin channeled his feline prowess, launching himself at Lookout again, his claws glinting in the sunlight. He struck with a flurry of precision, each move calculated to keep Lookout on the defensive.

Lookout countered with quick footwork, parrying and dodging, but he could feel the pressure mounting. Sadin's strikes were relentless, each one a calculated effort to find an opening.

"Nowhere to run!" Sadin roared, pivoting and executing a spinning kick that sent dust flying as it barely missed Lookout.

Lookout seized the moment, ducking low and executing a sweeping kick that caught Sadin off guard. The feline warrior stumbled but quickly regained his footing, eyes flashing with determination.

With a fierce growl, Sadin channeled his instincts, focusing on the thrill of the hunt. He closed the distance with a series of quick strides, unleashing a powerful uppercut that lifted Lookout off his feet.

As the crowd erupted in cheers, Lookout crashed to the ground, momentarily dazed. Sadin stood over him, muscles taut, ready to strike again. But Lookout, refusing to back down, rolled away and leaped to his feet, determination etched across his face.

"This isn't over!" Lookout declared, rallying his energy.

Sadin smirked, sensing the challenge. "Then let's see if you can keep up!"

The battle raged on, the two warriors locked in a fierce dance of skill and instinct, each one pushing the other to the limits as the Colosseum roared with excitement, knowing only one would emerge victorious.

The Final Showdown

As the fights escalated, the arena buzzed with excitement. Kennedy, recovering from Taoi's relentless attacks, joined forces with Bronto, who had knocked Rook out of the match. Together, they turned their attention to Mayoralgo and Polaris, who were still exchanging blows.

"Let's finish this!" Kennedy shouted.

The crowd erupted as alliances formed and broke, each gladiator fighting not just for victory but for their honor. Dust and sweat mingled in the air as they unleashed their final techniques, and the arena shook with the impact of their powers.

Amidst the chaos, it was clear: only one would emerge as the champion of the Colosseum, and the battle had only just begun.

A new battle erupted, summoned by the towering gladiator giants. Sadin, known as Leo, was drenched in sweat, his body straining under the weight of the contest. Yet, after an exhausting struggle, he triumphed, sending each giant sprawling to the ground, and claimed the coveted Wolf Wolf fruit. Without hesitation, he devoured the fruit, wary of any potential sabotage lurking in the shadows. 

In a startling twist, the giants rose once more, their eyes glowing a fierce crimson, radiating an ominous light. United, the giants—save for Sadin—formed the People Power Revolution. With a roar of fury, they laid waste to the Hao Coliseum, their wrath igniting flames that consumed the arena. Escort Kunis Dante, fueled by his own rage, unleashed the power of the Phoenix Phoenix No Mi, transforming into a massive, fiery phoenix. He lifted the giants, carrying them away to the distant Ahmtaire Kingdom Archipelago, but not before rendering them unconscious for the journey.

After that fateful day, the giants vanished from the annals of history. Fortunately, Leo found solace in reuniting with his loyal crew, Rius and Kanji, their camaraderie a beacon amidst the chaos.