First Fight to the Death

"Is this what you mean?" Saint Charmak said smugly. "As long as I show him this shoe, Miracle Boy will do anything for me. I bought a woman—his lover. He even became a slave himself just to find her and enter Mary Geoise. What a bargain, buy one get one free! Hahaha! Don't say I didn't warn you. This guy is a lady-killer. I brought him here specifically to kill your women."

Saint Charmak was a very honest man. There was no need to ask; he told them everything.

"Then you'll have to wager not only his woman, but all your wives as well." Saint Jalmack's Son opened his mouth like a lion. "Otherwise, even if I win against this guy, the chains will still be in your hands. Do you take me for an idiot?"

"You! Hmph, fine!" Saint Charmak took it rather well. "I'm tired of playing with them anyway."

Saint Charmak was actually a very generous Celestial Dragon.

Once both sides had reached an agreement, they pressed their handprints.

The host publicly announced that the next main event would be the Gorgon Sisters' first fight to the death!

At once, the Celestial Dragons grew as excited as if they had been injected with stimulants. Rosward had put up a strong showing, so they could not fall behind. Out of spite, they threw in hundreds of millions at a time. Someone had secretly checked: there were not many people betting on the Gorgon Sisters to win, and Saint Jalmack's Son alone accounted for half of it—at least five billion. As long as they won, they could make Saint Jalmack's Son vomit blood from his losses. There were plenty of them on this side anyway; if each person chipped in a few hundred million, it would not matter even if they lost.

After resting and adjusting thoroughly, the Gorgon Sisters soon entered the arena.

Then came the challengers. First was Rosward's usual mount, Captain Dais. His massive, muscular eight-meter-tall body carried a gigantic axe as he emerged from a huge twenty-meter-tall gate large enough for giants to walk through upright. The axe alone was larger than an ordinary door, and its shadow was enough to engulf Hancock's delicate body.

Bending down, Dais dropped to one knee and said to the Boa Sisters, "There's no personal grudge between us, but my brothers are all in the slave pens now. So I'm sorry. Even if you're young ladies, I won't show mercy. Just think of me as a beast."

"We're the same." Hancock stood gallantly between her two younger sisters as she answered. Marigold and Sandersonia transformed into towering Snake Princesses, their long tails winding across the ground and stretching seven or eight meters. Marigold gripped a heavy spiked club, while Sandersonia carried a great saber. Both were enormous weapons that only large-built gladiators could wield.

And for the first time, Hancock had brought a weapon: a bow and arrows.

Tesoro, who appeared next, was a completely different style.

The handsome two-meter-tall man wore a pink suit and dragged a microphone with a stand in one hand. Suddenly, he began tap-dancing as he walked forward. He stopped before the three sisters with perfect gentlemanly manners and gave them an elegant bow.

Everyone was stunned. What was this guy here for?

"This song is dedicated to you three beautiful ladies." Tesoro snapped his fingers, and stirring music immediately began playing throughout the venue.

Tesoro suddenly began to sing, tap-dancing as he did so. His voice was incredibly captivating, and his dance moves exceptionally dashing.

Cheers immediately erupted from the stands. Several old women came over to ask whether they could buy the boy instead. Why not simply call off the fight? It would be such a shame if that face got injured.

The Boa Sisters had never seen singing and dancing like this before. Their serpent waists unconsciously began to sway happily to the rhythm, their tails lightly patting the ground. Even Hancock watched in fascination.

Saint Jalmack's Son's expression was extremely grave, though no one knew what he was thinking.

Saint Charmak burst out laughing. "Don't blame me for not warning you. I told you already, this kid is a heartthrob!"

When the song ended, Tesoro suddenly took three roses from the cloak behind him. "These are for you. Though we'll fight to the death in the next moment, at this moment, I am still your Tesoro."

The two younger Boa sisters happily accepted them. Ever since becoming Snake Princesses, they had encountered nothing but fearful looks everywhere they went. Aside from Saint Jalmack's Son, no one had ever flattered them.

Hancock proudly refused. "Sorry, I will not accept gifts from anyone but my master."

At that moment, the ground trembled slightly, and a sudden wave of cheers erupted from the stands. He was here—the Snowman Butcher Machio! A terrifying wanted criminal who had killed over a thousand people!

A gigantic foot stepped out of the gate first, as huge as a small boat.

Then came a massive furry hand. Covered all over in white fur and wearing sunglasses, a fifteen-meter-tall snowman appeared before everyone's eyes as a freezing wind swept through the arena. His feet alone were four meters long. If he stepped on someone, there would be no way to dodge.

Saint Jalmack's Son was startled. Not only was he a genuine snowman, he was also a Devil Fruit user.

However, Saint Jalmack's Son had complete confidence in the Boa Sisters. After all, Amazon Lily was no ordinary race, and they had gained the power of Devil Fruits as well.

The gong sounded, and the battle began.

"Boom!" Tesoro suddenly shouted, hurling the rose Hancock had not accepted at her.

With a thunderous explosion, all three roses burst apart at once, scattering burning petals in every direction. The blast wave even blew a huge crater into the ground.

Yet the Boa Sisters were completely unharmed. The scales on their bodies protected Marigold and Sandersonia like sturdy fortresses, while their crossed serpent tails firmly shielded Hancock behind them.

Scale Enhancement: scales reinforced with Haki, combined with the formidable defensive power of the Marine Six Styles technique Iron Body taught by Cairns, as well as some of the Vajra techniques Saint Jalmack's Son had painstakingly figured out and taught them. Together, they had become the two younger Boa sisters' unique defensive technique: Scale Enhancement!

"Those flowers were so beautiful," Marigold sighed. "I hadn't even finished looking at them."

Sandersonia opened her mouth, revealing two sharp fangs. As her long tongue flicked in and out, she considered whether she should simply melt Tesoro with venom. But Saint Jalmack's Son had instructed them not to kill Tesoro. For some reason, he had a favorable impression of Tesoro and wanted to recruit him.

Tesoro knew nothing of the gambling match in the stands. For the woman he loved, he would use any despicable means necessary.

Captain Dais launched his attack at the same time. With a roar, he swung the huge axe in his hand at Marigold. Though the snake woman's body was exceptionally tough, Dais's strength was no joke either. If he did not fight with everything he had, all twenty-odd brothers who had been captured would lose their heads.

"Lightning Flash!" Marigold's seemingly fat and clumsy figure vanished in a blur. Then she swung her enormous spiked club down at Dais from behind.

Dais dodged with all his strength, somehow keeping up with Marigold's speed. The instant he avoided the blow, he counterattacked. Axe and club collided, sending sparks flying.

Dais forced the giant axe downward with all his might and roared, "Sorry, little girl. Now that the outcome will be decided by strength, our contest should be over. Because when it comes to strength, I, Dais, have never lost!"