A Gladiator in the New World
Rewrite/Restructuring of Water Strider
16 years after Gol D Roger's execution a young man finally manages to flee Corrida Colosseum's carnage and seemingly unbreakable shackles. Alone, a bounty on his head, and lost in the New World, what now?
15 years after Gol D. Roger's execution
How is he doing this?
My gaze was unblinking, desperate not to miss a single hint, that might give me a glue on my opponent's technique.
"Laaaaoooo…Geeeee!"
I ignored his overly loud mantra in favor of his smooth and rhythmically flowing movements.
"Laaaaoooo…Geeeee!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, I beg you, don't look away, don't even dare to blink. The focus of our plucky challenger is almost blistering in its intensity even up here in the stands."
"Laaaaoooo…Geeeee!"
He was waiting for me; time was on his side. He knew it, I knew it, and he knew, that I knew.
Since I was by now reasonably sure that this little weird dance of his was part of a routine to gather strength I couldn't let him keep going unless I wanted to get smacked even harder.
It was truly vexing, it had been some ten fights ago when I was finally gaining the upper hand against this particular officer when he had suddenly, out of fucking nowhere, switched gears and proceeded to beat the ever-loving crap out of me.
Since then, whenever we squared up and there was a lull in our battle, my opponent used every single moment to instantly start this…meditation? It didn't seem to matter to him for how long, because it looked and more importantly felt like he made every second count.
"Laaaaoooo…Geeeee!"
I knew he was gathering strength; I just didn't understand how!
Closing my eyes, I let my senses slowly recede to the here and now. It didn't matter; Pain was coming, one way or another, I just had to make it count.
"This is the moment, ladies and gentlemen, is his 217th attempt finally the one to topple one of our beloved champions? 216 attempts, 216 defeats in a…"
Sound was getting softer and softer until it was finally gone completely.
Everything was dark, everything was cold,…except for the figure in front of me.
A soft and warm glow, that gently pulsed inwards. A familiar sensation.
'Let's see what happens when…Soru!'
Sound and sight gone, the only thing guiding me towards my opponent was my Haki until…
'There!' I thought in elation, struggling to keep my composure.
I was a single foot away from the glow, that was my nemesis for today when something happened. This something happened in the blink of an eye, less than a heartbeat even. The gentle glow, that had been steadily pulsating inwards to my opponent's core the whole time exploded outward and rushed down his arm like a great unforgiving tidal wave.
"Laaaaoooo…
A wave, that suddenly buried itself so deep in my guts, that my world was reduced to a wheezing agony.
Unable and unwilling to keep my eyes closed anymore I could only watch in slow motion as my chipped and by now thoroughly blunt sword tumbled out of my grip and my limp body practically folded itself around the fist, that had been gently flowing through motions only a fraction of a second before.
"Geeeee!"
Only years of hardship and training managed to keep me on unsteady feet, which apparently didn't even surprise my opponent anymore because he was already on the move again. After a swift pirouette on the spot, a move my addled mind still managed to recognize as the beginnings of a heel kick, I could only watch in morbid anticipation as a foot entered my field of view and…
16 years after Gol D. Roger's execution
My gaze through the seastone bars of my cell was as unblinking as my mind was distant.
Lessons from a distant and infinitely more pleasant past went through my head for what felt like the millionth time as I kneeled under the only window of my cage in the Colosseum.
The cage, that I was currently sharing with nine other men. Pirates who had been snatched up all the way back in Sabaody Archipelago or right here in the New World.
Hotshots, overly confident in their abilities, unlucky, or simply unprepared. I didn't care about them, in fact, I have never cared about them and as long as they stayed out of my half of the cage, I simply ignored them altogether.
I had been a lot, but never a pirate. At one point I had been one of the 'good guys' even.
Now… I was an inside joke to the Heavenly Demon and possibly an insult towards my former mentor, who I wasn't even sure was aware of it.
And I really hoped she wasn't. She didn't deserve the sorrow.
Refraining from sighing in defeat and regret at my situation I concentrated on the here and now instead.
My Kenbunshoku Haki sprang to life as easy as my breathing and I felt the cage blissfully asleep…except for two newcomers starring unashamedly at my back.
They were confused and scared; they didn't know what to make of me but had in a sense of self-preservation followed the lead of the others and refrained from making a scene.
Good for them; Soon they would learn, that gladiators came and went…and only I remained.
But they didn't know that yet, they couldn't understand why some of the others were afraid of the young man wearing the tattered remains of a tunic and a worn leather belt around his waist.
I could practically feel their gazes wander back and forth between the famous branding on my back and the heavy seastone-lined bomb collar around my neck.
The collar, that had been my leash for so long…but that was going to change…now.
"Stop! Start again!"
"But…"
"No 'Buts', young man, you will learn this the right way or not at all."
"Yes, O-Tsuru-san, it's just that I struggle…"
"Of course, you struggle, and you will struggle for years! Becker, there's a reason why only vice-admirals are required to master both forms. Now, sit and listen again, please. Busoshoku Haki, Armament, the point is not to make your skin your armor, but to wear the armor over your skin…
Years upon years and I still couldn't hold the concentration up during a fight and maintain my armor.
But this, sitting in a dark and quiet cell, this wasn't a fight.
A lone torch through the cell door, the week moonlight through the window, and the two gazes of my fellow gladiators. This was as tranquil as it could get.
My breath was deep and strong, steady and meditative, I could feel my strength slowly trickle into my core, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.
Eyes still on the night sky outside I reached under my belt and carefully pulled out what had been once a finger bone of a former combatant, who had pitifully succumbed to his wounds a couple of nights ago.
By now after some sharpening it was just small enough to fit into the keyhole of my collar,…sadly it wasn't meant to be a key.
Uncaring of the fates of my fellow inmates I stuck the needle-like tool into the hole and fiddled with the mechanism like a blind man and about as gently as a lumberjack in the woods.
Unlocking it wasn't the point after all…click
ding...ding...ding...ding...
Triggering the explosive was.
ding...ding...ding...
I felt the others stir, woken and startled by the sudden and loud chiming that breached the silence.
I felt the two newcomers stiffen, frozen in horror. They saw what I did and possibly even knew what was coming.
ding...ding..ding..ding
But I didn't care. I concentrated, closed my eyes… and firmly pressed my hands over my ears.
Tekkai!
Harden!
Armament!
ding
First came an almost unbearable pressure, that made me struggle to keep the air in my lungs. Next…next came the heat, that literally rolled over my body like a blanket drenched in acid.
Feeling my concentration waver for a heartbeat I forced my mind to go blank, to focus on my brightly glowing center, and to ignore everything else.
Only a couple of seconds later did I allow myself to relax a fraction.
Despite feeling something wet trickle down my neck and onto my shoulders I kept my eyes and mouth shut. Intent to keep the smoke that I still smelled out.
Unhindered by my violent surroundings my Haki exploded outward, and I could easily paint a vivid picture in my mind about the fate of the others given the way they felt to my senses.
Three glows were already extinguished, two more were fading, the rest while strong was drenched in a mix of agony and confusion.
Amidst the carnage, I couldn't help but smile as my eyes opened again and my gaze was back on the beautiful night sky.
Body and mind relaxing again, my thoughts were already on tomorrow.
My 500th fight against the four champions of the Corrida Colosseum.
Standing tall and proud under the blazing sun and surrounded by the frenetic cheers of the crowd in the stands I allowed myself to daydream.
Eyes closed, hand on my sword and its tip gently resting on the arena floor I stood at the edge, with the ring of water at my back, and simply ignored the bloodshed in front of me.
The cape I liberated from one of my dead cellmates the night before was securely tucked into my 'defused' collar and did its job of hiding the burned mess that was my neck.
The fact that it was currently billowing dramatically in the wind was a pleasant bonus and for a second, I could imagine myself to be in the shoes of that legendary gladiator with a thousand wins.
A single win would have been nice, but today I was going to settle with simply not losing.
"You are awfully cocky today, toy-boy."
My eyes opened and my gaze settled on the tall figure on the other side of the ring. His red cape and his sword billowing in the wind, too.
"You are awfully ugly, Mr. Handkerchief."
I honestly tried to refrain from commenting, because reminding me of my past in Mary Geoise had gotten old after the hundredth time, but today was different.
Eying my four opponents I let a small smile graze my lips. I truly had come a long way.
Machvise, Senor Pink, Lao G, and Diamante versus little old me, a young man of eighteen. I could have been a fine marine, I could have made Tsuru proud, but no, no, I had to blow myself up to get a chance at freedom.
The sudden surge of anger made standing still difficult, to throw myself into the carnage and get beaten black and blue, but I managed…barely.
I had to focus, focus on them.
The same way Lao G and Diamante no doubt felt my confidence curtesy of my plan, I could sense their wariness. They would never admit it, but they took me seriously, to require all four facing me to ensure an entertaining show and to prevent a major upset was a testament to that fact.
Machvise and Senor Pink were decent fighters, annoying distractions from above and below, but never a serious threat. They were the support to keep me on my toes and deny me rest to catch my breath between the various clashes.
Lao G, a disgustingly capable close combat fighter with impeccable form, coupled with Diamante's whip-like sword attacks from a distance, which were just as dangerous as his conventional sword fighting, never failed to push and more importantly defeat me…eventually.
They always tried to make it look easy, but there was a reason why we were the main event.
My sheer speed, my Haki-fueled reflexes, and my endurance made me an absolute menace and only their own Haki and experience prevented me from spoiling Doflamingo's little game.
To tell truth, however, I lacked power, sheer destructive strength, to put one of them down for the count. My average sword skills elevated by my speed and reflexes did a decent job of hiding my lack of it and even if I had the means to permanently knock out one of the heavyweights, the other one plus the support, would always be there to cover and force me to retreat.
Retreat.
That's what it was going to be today.
My eyes involuntarily wandered over the ring and the meaningless fights between the various pirates, who still believed they were going to see the outside world again or simply were afraid to die.
Gaze rising above their heads I spotted Gatz, whose voice was still going strong and did an admittedly fantastic job of hyping up the show for the crowd. I wondered how he was going to react.
My curiosity regarding our animated announcer, however, was nothing compared to the nervous anticipation I felt towards the figure a few rows further up.
Who knew a simple Visual Den Den Mushi could invoke so much dread in me? Its unnerving focus and intensity only gave a hint at the monster on the other end, but it was enough to root me on the spot for a second and question the feasibility of my entire plan. A plan so simple and straightforward, that it couldn't possibly fail and….yet, I knew he could ruin it.
I knew what he was capable of, he had made sure of it when he explained in excruciating detail why I was now his.
The Royal Palace was to the north of the colosseum.
'South it was then.'
Sensing the four champions move I instantly snapped out of my funk and watched them.
Senor Pink, whose body was already submerged in the stone floor of the arena, began to slowly swim towards my right. His head, the last part above the surface, was soon going to disappear like the fin of a shark, that was circling its prey.
Machvise confidently strode to my left along the edge of the ring, intent to get into a position to use his deceptively quick bursts of speed and bowl me over like an avalanche.
Lao G and Diamante marched straight towards me. They parted the fighting men in their way like the bow of a ship the ocean. Men jumped out of the way or were killed with zero remorse or hesitation.
Lao G with stoic precision, Diamante with a confident flourish.
And I…
I combined Geppo with Soru and ran for my life.
In a fraction of a second, I crossed the top row of the colosseum and in a few moments I was going to be among the clouds, and then, then I was going to run until I simply couldn't anymore.
Retreat, for now.
Someday revenge.
Given the sun I had been roughly streaking through the sky like a comet for more than half a day, no destination in mind, just the simple desire to be as far away from Dressrosa as humanly possible.
Now, with the sun about to dip behind the horizon, I was finally comfortable enough to dial down on my breakneck speed, and after two years of captivity actually live up to my moniker again.
The drop from the clouds all the way to the surface of the ocean was as quick as it was exhilarating, and I couldn't help but laugh in child-like glee when I saw my shadow rapidly grow underneath me.
Some ten feet above the surface I used a Geppo, that launched me almost horizontally over the waves and drastically lessened the angle in which I finally touched down on the water.
Barely breaking the surface, however, another Geppo followed immediately, which propelled me in a perfect 45 decree angle up again.
I smiled at the sensation of the water exploding behind me and the feeling of weightlessness a few seconds later when I reached the apex of my jump.
About to hit the water again I was already comfortably prepared to use the next Geppo and skip myself along like a stone across a pond. To feel something, to do something, that once had been second nature after so long was an indescribable feeling.
It was almost frightening how easy it felt to fall back into the same motions and sensations after such a long time. It was nothing more than a bastard-version of the proper Geppo, something that was infinitely easier and less taxing than the real deal, but it was something, that I learned long before I joined the Marines. It was stupid, it was inferior, but it was one of the few things I was immensely proud of.
"Holy Shi.." A less than elegant Geppo probably just saved my life, and I wasn't afraid to admit it, but when the moon peaked through the clouds for a second and illuminated the previously pitch-black ocean around me, I actually screamed in fright.
The spot I would have landed just a second ago was now occupied by a dark and terrifyingly big beak surrounded by agitated tentacles that did their best to reach me in the sky.
My quick sigh of relief and the desperate attempt to get my heartbeat under control was thoroughly dashed when my senses went haywire again.
Ignoring the reflex to turn around I trusted my senses absolutely and quickly rose even higher above the treacherous waters below me.
My reward was the sight of a fucking squid the size of a caravel missing me only by a couple of feet. Seeing and feeling its gigantic bulbous eye on me as it sailed past frighteningly close, I did my best at swallowing the next girly scream that threatened to rip out of my throat and simply jumped higher and higher like a hyperactive bunny just to get away from the ocean…
I screwed up my next Geppo badly when my gaze followed the tentacle monster, that almost snacked me right out of the sky.
The ocean was churning like a whirlpool and everywhere I looked I saw the moonlight reflect on flailing tentacles the width of a man and that mantle-thingy, that was their head.
Still stunned by the sight I hopped on the spot at a height, that I hoped was safe, and tried to get my focus back on track, which funnily enough was the exact moment I felt something positively gigantic rise from the unfathomable depths of the ocean below me at a rapid pace.
Feeling suddenly a lot less safe in my spot in the sky I did my level best to bring some distance between me and the area where I expected whatever was coming to breach the surface.
Senses sharpening on what was coming my eyes widened in horror.
"Shit…shit…shit!" Still too close!
Hauling ass in a panic I was still blown away by the sheer force of the something breaching the surface. It was like watching the birth of an island. The creature, for it had to be a creature given the deafening roar of pure rage, exploded upwards out of the ocean in a column of water that looked like it could drown an entire nation.
The water hadn't even fully cascaded off the towering monster when the still churning ocean around it seemingly rushed towards it.
Already struggling to stay afloat I almost lost my footing entirely when hundreds of ship-sized squids practically exploded out of the water, tentacles extended, beak wide open, and launched themselves at the torso of the massive Sea King.
I had thought the previous roar was deafening, but the noise that was assaulting me like physical blows now was unlike anything else. This wasn't rage anymore, I thought in unadulterated horror as I watched the apex predator trash and convulse around itself, desperate to rip off as many squids as possible.
These were roars of pure agony and terror.
In contrast, the swarm of monsters, apart from the occasional snapping of beaks, was entirely silent in their feeding frenzy.
'Time to go!' I panted, getting myself back under control.
'As if I needed another reason to get out of the New World.'
"World Government…Marines…Keep out!" I mumbled under my breath as I read the brightly colored warning sign plastered over a section of a massive steel wall, that followed the beach in both directions seemingly for miles on end.
The oversized searchlights perched on top of the wall every few meters, that I had luckily noticed during the night, were now switched off.
"What is this?"
I had seen some structures and a lush jungle, which was not exactly noteworthy, but coupled with the sign smelled like very serious business.
The deadweight around my neck was a timely reminder, that one misstep and I could be right back in a cage…or worse.
But…, my eyes were back on the sign, this might be my best chance to get my hands on an eternal log pose and make my way towards the Redline, towards safety.
I had still enough juice in the tank for a speedy emergency getaway if things went downhill, and who knew when I would actually get a chance like this again?
'Just have to be careful.' Thought the guy dressed like a gladiator with an almost useless sword.
Unwilling to make too much noise I refrained from using Geppo or even Soru and made a normal leap that carried me over the heavy fortification and right into dense foliage.
Drawing a mental image of the island and its layout, which I had managed to get a decent glimpse of when I had descended, I began my track in the general direction of one of the bigger structures.
Highly aware of the fact, that I was still in the New Island, I was possibly more cautious than strictly necessary, but whatever. I was literally free to waste as much time as I wanted for the first time in years, and I had zero intentions of risking said freedom by being impatient.
Luckily, whatever deity was responsible for my fate seemed to agree, because I was rewarded for my hourlong stroll by a rather curious sight.
'The hell?' Safely hidden in the thick jungle, I had a prime view of what looked like the entrance of one of the structures I had seen at the very beginning. The fact, that the structure seemed even sturdier than the outer wall was somewhat interesting, but what had me stop and stare was the surreal scene in the little clearing before the open gate.
"Get a job at the government, they said."
"Pay will be good, they said."
"You can go far, they said."
"You will shovel the shit of a little pet dragon, said nobody."
Yup, that's an annoyed government agent taking a tiny blue dragon for a walk on a leash.
"Come on, 14, take your shit so I can get back inside." The agent, clad in the blue standard suit, pleaded with the dopey little creature, that…
'Holy shit!'
That had rows of massive teeth.
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to look at the scene with a different view and recognized it for what it actually was.
A way inside, an outfit change, and most importantly a step closer to a log pose all in one go.