The first clash was brutal… but not particularly difficult.
In my ancient crocodile form, I struck without restraint, each blow shaking the arena with every impact. The Titan endured, retaliated, but its raw strength… wasn't enough to completely overpower me. Every exchange sent shards of rock flying, its two heads roaring in frustration as I pushed it back step by step.
From the edge of the arena, Luffy clenched his fists, eyes shining.
"WOOOAH!! He's crushing it!"
Kuina, on the other hand, watched with more composure, arms crossed.
"…I really can't wait to improve my swordsmanship enough to fight opponents like that."
I kept battling the Titan. It was powerful, yes… but not to the point of surpassing me head-on.
The Titan seemed to realize the same thing. Its movements shifted, and one of its heads took on a faint brown tint in its eyes.
Kuina frowned slightly.
"Something's about to happen."
Luffy tilted his head, confused.
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
"Even though it's still fighting Jordan, one of its heads is doing something else… I just don't know what."
Suddenly, the ground beneath my feet began to tremble… then liquefy.
The rock turned unstable, almost fluid, like I was standing on living sand. My footing gave way instantly, my balance breaking for a split second—
And that was enough.
The Titan seized the opportunity immediately.
Its massive arms came crashing down on me, and in that disadvantaged position, I couldn't properly absorb the blow. The pressure forced me into the ground with a deafening crash, sending up a massive cloud of dust that swallowed the entire area.
"GRAAAH!" I roared in pain as I felt the impact travel through my arms.
The shockwave echoed all the way into the stands.
Luffy sighed, stepping back slightly.
"Jordan's gonna get mad… he hates it when things don't go his way. Guess I've got no chance of fighting this guy now!"
Kuina tightened her stance slightly.
"He got caught off guard… but it's unfair fighting an opponent that can do two different but complementary things at the same time."
Up in the box, Hades displayed a satisfied smile.
"Now this is getting interesting…" he murmured. "Show me how far you can fall."
I shrank immediately, returning to my human size within the dust cloud… just in time.
A massive stone foot slammed down where my head had been half a second earlier.
Far too close.
I rolled to the side, pushed myself backward, then launched into the air with a powerful leap, leaving the Titan to crush the ground in an impact that cracked the entire arena.
I caught my breath midair, eyes locked onto it.
"I'm really starting to hate earth users…" I growled.
The image of the rocky peak from Black Mountain flashed briefly through my mind.
"You're about to see what I'm gonna do to you, you useless pile of rocks!!" I roared, raising my hand.
The cold invaded the air.
In an instant, a freezing wave surged across the ground, covering the entire area in a thick layer of ice. The Titan's legs were trapped within it, frozen up to the knees, the rock cracking under the force of the frost.
The colossus roared, struggling to break free.
Kuina watched my elemental outburst in surprise.
"That's even more over-the-top than Nami…"
Luffy grinned widely.
"Yeah! Nami's strong, but in pure power, Jordan has the edge!"
Up in the box, Hades tilted his head slightly, intrigued.
"Hm… that's even stronger than the Ice Titan's freezing."
I rose even higher into the air.
50 meters.
The wind whistled around me before I came to a stop directly above the trapped Titan.
I transformed again.
My body stretched, expanded, and became covered in dark scales as I returned to my gigantic form—this time even more massive as I dropped in free fall.
Claws forward.
The air tore apart around me.
"Try to block this…"
Luffy's eyes widened.
"OOOHH! Gum-Gum Balloon!" he shouted, positioning himself in front of Kuina while Aspida prepared to intercept any flying debris.
Kuina understood immediately.
"Total impact…"
The collision was cataclysmic.
I crashed into the Titan with my full weight, shattering the ice, fracturing its rocky structure, and driving it violently into the ground. A shockwave rippled through the entire arena, sending dust and debris flying in every direction.
Silence followed.
Even Hades froze for a fraction of a second… before his smile widened.
"…Now that's what I call a show!! Maybe he deserves a little extra reward," he muttered to himself as he watched his brother applaud the result.
I returned to my human form as I landed at the edge of the crater, still warm from the impact. With a simple motion, I activated Gust, a powerful blast sweeping away the dust and debris in all directions. The air slowly cleared, revealing the extent of the damage: a deep crater, and at the bottom… the shattered remains of the stone Titan, cracked and motionless.
A respectful silence lingered for a moment.
Then a voice rang out through the arena.
"Congratulations to the challengers for their victory in the Phil Cup!"
Phil, the satyr, stood at the center of the arena. His smile was there… but something in his gaze was unsettling, as if still veiled by the darkness lingering within him.
Hades appeared immediately, blue flames dancing around him as he stepped onto the arena floor, completely at ease.
"Zeus, you handle the rewards for the shield kid and the gorilla girl… I'll take care of the crocodile."
Zeus descended slowly from the sky, looking satisfied as he observed Luffy with almost paternal interest.
"Let's see… you already have a living shield, and lightning doesn't really bother you…"
Luffy raised his hand with a wide grin.
"You can give me another shield! Aspida fights on its own, so my hands are free!"
Zeus's face lit up.
"Hahaha! I like the way you think!"
With a gesture, he summoned a pair of golden gauntlets, adorned with finely sculpted lion heads, radiating a faint aura of power.
"Not a shield… but better. The gauntlets Hercules used as a child. They protect your hands… and increase your strength."
Luffy put them on immediately, testing their weight before making them appear and disappear excitedly.
"OOOHH! So cool!"
Aspida floated around him, spinning slightly… almost as if observing the new gauntlets with a hint of jealousy.
Zeus chuckled before turning to Kuina.
"And you… I watched your fight carefully. Your technique is excellent, your strength solid… but you still lack variety."
He raised his hand, and two flashes of light gently entered Kuina's body.
She flinched slightly, feeling the new abilities integrate within her.
"The Aqua Blade… your reward for the cup. And Lightning Saber… my personal gift."
Kuina opened her eyes in surprise, then gave a slight nod.
"…Thank you."
Meanwhile, Hades had quietly pulled me aside, near the edge of the arena.
His attitude had changed.
Less mocking.
More… interested.
"Listen, kid…" he said, crossing his arms. "We got off to a bad start, you and me. But I know a good show when I see one."
He gestured toward the crater behind me.
"As a reward for the cup… I can give you the Titan you just destroyed."
I raised my eyes slightly.
He continued.
"In combat, it's basic… but useful. It can manipulate earth at will. It can create mountains, flatten terrain… even expand islands, if you give it time."
That…
Got my attention.
A terraforming tool…
Hades smirked.
"And I've got better."
He leaned slightly closer.
"I'll give you a fraction of my divinity… and in exchange, you send fighters to my arena. Entertainment. You can even broadcast the fights through your Heartless."
I stared at him for a few seconds.
"On one condition."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You sign a contract under your brother's supervision… guaranteeing you won't harm me in any way."
Silence.
Then Hades let out a short laugh.
"Cautious… I like that."
He raised his hand.
"Deal."
A dark energy materialized between us, forming a contract.
"I, Hades, god of the underworld… promise not to harm this mortal in any way, as long as he sends me at least five fighters per month, over a period of six months."
I looked at him suspiciously.
He sighed.
"That means thirty people over six months. As long as you meet that… we're square. I'll even let you talk to the world during broadcasts."
I nodded slowly.
Then I shook his hand.
A strange sensation ran through my arm, like a dark warmth settling beneath my skin. A small flame-shaped tattoo appeared on my hand.
"All you have to do is place your hand on someone… and say 'Hades.'"
He straightened up.
"And he'll come."
He paused, his gaze turning more serious.
"But remember… this isn't a slaughterhouse. It's a coliseum."
I understood perfectly—he would face what Luffy, Kuina, and I had faced.
"You can increase the difficulty of the challengers by winning tougher competitions, but I haven't upgraded them yet, so you'll have to wait a bit. If you find an opponent worthy, you can step in as the final fight yourself. But if they're alone, it's one-on-one. Otherwise… it's no fun."
He said that as I smiled, stepping out of the dungeon with Luffy and Kuina.
I accepted the terms with a smile, and almost immediately, Hades's pale blue flames reappeared around us. They didn't burn, but their mere presence made the air itself feel warped.
The world seemed to fold in on itself, as if pulled into another dimension… then everything stopped abruptly. In a fraction of a second, I found myself back on the deck, standing beside Luffy and Kuina, the salty scent of the sea replacing the heavy, oppressive air of the coliseum.
I didn't even have time to collect myself.
"JORDAN!!"
A weight slammed into me full force.
I was violently knocked to the ground, my breath driven out of me, my head hitting the wooden deck with a dull thud.
"OOOUUUIIILLLLEEE!"
My vision wavered for a moment. When it cleared, I blinked… and immediately understood the situation.
Nami.
Sitting on top of me.
Straddling me.
Her face just inches from mine, her orange hair framing her tense expression, her eyes shining with worry.
"Jordan! Are you okay?! Are you alright?!"
Around us, a strange silence settled in… quickly broken by muffled snickering.
Luffy, of course, was a few steps away, already doubled over laughing.
Kuina turned her gaze slightly aside, coughing quietly to hide her embarrassment.
As for me…
I felt a faint warmth rise to my cheeks.
"Uh… yeah, I'm fine—"
I stopped mid-sentence with a wince.
My forearm.
Ah.
The pain, which I'd ignored until now, came rushing back all at once.
"Heal."
A soft, soothing light flowed over my arm, closing the wound within seconds. The burning sensation faded, replaced by a faint tingling.
I let out a sigh of relief.
"There… better."
But Nami…
Hadn't moved.
Still sitting on me.
Still way too close.
I coughed lightly, a bit embarrassed.
"Nami… are you planning to stay there much longer or…?"
She blinked.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then realization hit her like a truck.
Her face turned bright red.
She jumped to her feet as if she'd touched a burning surface.
"I-I just wanted to make sure you were okay!"
Luffy burst out laughing.
"Shishishi! She jumped on you right away!"
"SHUT UP!!" Nami shouted, spinning toward him, her eyes practically shooting sparks.
I sat up calmly, stretching a bit to shake off the impact before giving her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry. We just… made a certain god of the underworld impatient."
She immediately frowned.
"A what?"
I simply shrugged, as if it were nothing important, then stepped closer to her. With a natural motion, I placed my hands on her waist to steady her back on her feet, making her flinch slightly, still a bit flustered.
"Nothing serious. We won, that's all."
She froze for a brief moment, then looked away slightly, still flushed.
"…You better not disappear like that without warning next time."
I smiled softly.
"Promise."
Even though, deep down…
With Hades now involved…
That kind of "disappearance" was bound to happen again.
"ROOOOOOOAAAAARRR!!"
The roar tore through the air like an explosion, making the entire island tremble. The ground shook beneath our feet, the waves began to ripple unnaturally… and everyone turned toward the same direction.
About a hundred meters away, a gigantic silhouette rose to its full height.
The rock Titan.
Its two heads scanned the surroundings, confused by the sudden change in location. Every movement made the earth grind beneath it.
A tense silence settled in.
"Uh… Jordan…?" Luffy said, intrigued but clearly ready to jump into action.
Nami, on the other hand, took a step back.
"Tell me that's… normal?"
I let out a small sigh.
Of course…
"Obviously… since it's neither a Heartless nor a Nobody… I can't store it."
I rose into the air without hesitation, heading toward the colossal creature that was already beginning to stir, its instincts still active.
"Calm down."
My voice carried, filled with authority.
The Titan froze instantly.
Both of its heads turned toward me… then it went completely still, like a mountain suddenly stripped of its will.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
At least… it listens.
I slowly descended until I was standing in front of it—far smaller… but clearly in control.
"You're going to move over there."
I pointed toward an area far from the settlement, behind a rocky cove along the edge of the island.
"Behind that cove. No sudden movements. No unnecessary damage."
The Titan nodded slowly, the ground trembling again as it began to move. Each step left deep imprints in the earth, but it followed my instructions with surprising obedience.
Once it was in position, at a safe distance from the houses, I continued.
"Now… build."
Its two heads tilted slightly.
"Create rocky terrain toward the sea. Expand the island… but don't touch any existing resources."
A moment of silence.
Then—
The Titan placed its massive hands on the ground.
The earth responded instantly.
Rock formations began to rise slowly, as if the island itself were growing before our eyes. Stone plates lifted and locked together, forming a natural extension toward the ocean.
The sound was deep.
Constant.
Like a heartbeat beneath the surface.
I hovered in the air, watching the scene.
…So it produces its own material…
The Titan wasn't tearing anything from the existing island.
On the contrary…
It was generating rock from its own colossal body, fragments breaking off, reshaping, and solidifying to create a new stretch of land.
The island…
Was expanding.
Behind me, I heard Luffy shout—
"WOOOOOOAH!! We can really do that?!"
Nami's eyes were shining.
The others stepped closer as well, each of them stunned by the sight, while Law and his crew, drawn by the noise, stood there in shock, looking back and forth between the Titan and me.
(Author's note: That's it for this week, hope you enjoyed it ^^)