Teach leaned back in his seat, grinning. The betting counter caught his eye. "Heh… might as well have some fun."
He walked down to the organizer and slapped a fat stack of Berries onto the table.
"I'll put five million on Viper," he said casually.
The bookkeeper didn't even blink. He took the cash, slid over a certificate, and stamped it. For the pirates loitering nearby, the sight was shocking, most of them only threw in thousands, maybe tens of thousands. Teach had just dropped five million like it was pocket change.
Still, the bookkeeper had seen worse. Bets over a hundred million weren't unheard of in this place. Teach was just one more deep-pocketed gambler.
By the time Teach returned to his seat, the battle was starting.
Voss stepped into the arena. His opponent, a hulking boxer, cracked his knuckles and laughed. "This ain't no place for kids. Better surrender before I send you home bawling to mommy." He shadowboxed, his punches cutting gusts of wind through the air.
Voss didn't answer. His eyes locked on the boxer, unblinking.
Cold. Patient. Predatory.
The silence gnawed at the boxer's nerves. That icy stare made him feel like prey.
"Go to hell, brat!" he roared, charging forward.
Teach leaned in.
Compared to the boxer, Voss looked fragile. But Teach knew better. Strength wasn't everything, skill, timing, patience mattered more. And Voss had more than just raw guts backing him. He and his companions had all tasted Monkey King Wine. The lingering energy had toughened their bodies, narrowing the gap against physically stronger foes.
The boxer advanced carefully, fists raised. He wasn't a fool. But Voss lowered himself slightly, his stance loose, hands hanging. Like a serpent ready to strike.
The crowd hushed. They'd seen countless fights. They knew this tension both sides waiting for the smallest opening.
At three meters, the boxer lost patience. He lunged, right fist cocked, aiming straight for Voss's face. The grin on his lips said he'd already pictured the kid flying backward.
But just as the punch closed in, Voss slipped to the side. A dagger slid from his sleeve, flashing cold steel.
The boxer's eyes went wide.
"Shhk!"
The blade buried itself in his chest. Straight into the heart.
His knees buckled. His fists dropped. His body slumped to the ground with a thud.
The arena fell silent.
One move. A clean kill.
Then, a single voice rang out "Viper!"
The chant spread like wildfire.
Soon, the entire coliseum shook with cheers of "Viper! Viper! Viper!"
Teach's grin widened.
His bet had paid off. But more than that, this was the first time he'd seen Voss fight with his own eyes. The boy's movements were precise, instinctual, his reactions sharper than any normal human's. A natural-born predator.
Still, Teach could see the flaw, his killing power needed work. The dagger finished the job, but against tougher foes, Voss's strikes wouldn't be enough. That would change with training. Teach was already piecing together a regimen in his head.
As Voss left the field, the crowd roaring his name, he shivered without knowing why. In the rest area, the other contestants stepped aside, giving him a three-meter berth. Respect earned in blood.
Mobius was waiting for him. He clapped Voss on the shoulder. "Not bad. My turn."
A few matches later, the host's voice boomed: "Next up! The newcomer Snake King versus the Long-Legged Tribe's Big Long Legs!"
Mobius strode into the arena, snake mask on, twin swords drawn. His opponent towered with legs like spears, armored for impact. The Long-Legged Tribe were famous for their reach and kicking power, and this one was no different.
Mobius wasted no time, he charged. His reckless aggression startled the Long-Legged warrior, who had expected another assassin like Voss. Relief flashed in his eyes. This he could handle.
Their first clash rattled the stands. Sword met leg with a crack. Mobius staggered back, arm trembling. "What strength…" he thought.
The long legs were overwhelming. Mobius realized he didn't need swords. He tossed them aside. The crowd gasped.
"Snake Hand."
His arms shot out, coiling unnaturally. They met the warrior's next kick with a resounding crack. Then, in a blur, Mobius's hands softened, wrapping tight around one leg.
The Long-Legged fighter panicked. He jumped with his free foot, trying to land a kick, but Mobius was ready. He dodged, then unleashed his real weapon.
Whip-crack. Whip-crack. Whip-crack.
His snake hands lashed like iron rods, striking three times a second. The audience watched in horror as the warrior's body jerked and shook under the barrage. Blood sprayed. His face swelled grotesquely, nose broken, eyes puffed shut.
"Enough!" the man cried. "I—I surrender!"
The arena groaned in disappointment. But Mobius only smirked, retracting his snake hands, though the hunger in his eyes lingered.
The warrior limped away in terror, face unrecognizable.
Back in the rest area, the atmosphere shifted. Contestants now gave both Mobius and Voss wide berth. Two monsters had revealed themselves.
Teach collected twenty million Berries, ignoring the envious and hostile stares. For him, this was nothing more than entertainment. For the crowd, though, it was the rise of two terrifying newcomers.
The announcer promised greater battles ahead, the real carnival of the Kingdom of Chaos. Rare treasures, even Devil Fruits, would be on the line when the true elites entered.
For now, Voss and Mobius fought on, racking up victories. Their opponents grew stronger with each match. They bled, they sweated, they clawed through bitter struggles. But with every fight, their instincts sharpened, their experience hardened.
In the blood-soaked sands of the arena, two serpents were learning how to kill.