They walked into the arena and were immediately stunned by the sight before them.
Tier upon tier of stands encircled the arena, and the spectators cheered and whooped, urging on the duelists.
In the center of the arena, two gladiators were locked in fierce combat.
"Go, Tie Niu! Slash him! Dodge!"
"Ska, hurry up and fight back! Beat him!"
Spectators in the stands cheered for the gladiators they favored.
"Hahaha! It's so lively here! This is so much fun!" Kakarot and his companions said happily as they took in the grand, blood-pumping spectacle and the fervent atmosphere.
They sat down in the stands and watched the two gladiators fight below.
"They're so weak! Though they do have plenty of combat experience," Lilith said, a little disappointed.
Lina said irritably, "Do you think there are lots of people as strong as us? Let's just enjoy the show. We came here to have fun in the first place."
"That's right! That's right! We don't have anywhere this fun on Zou. Why don't we just treat it as a performance?" Vian, Emily, and the other girls chattered.
Although Simba and Ailik were also a little disappointed, this was their first time seeing a spectacle like this, and the lively, exciting atmosphere stirred them up as well.
It was also Hades and Athena's first time experiencing this kind of atmosphere. Although they had not seen a fight between powerful opponents, they were happy too.
Kakarot was simply there to enjoy the excitement. He knew there were no particularly strong fighters in the arena. Even Kyros, the strongest, might only have been as strong as a Navy rear admiral, far too weak for them.
But Kakarot also enjoyed the atmosphere. It reminded him of watching sporting events in his previous life.
Inside Dressrosa's Corrida Colosseum, voices roared and waves of heat rolled through the air, which seemed scorched by the blazing sun.
On the platform, the two gladiators stood poised to strike. They wore armor that gleamed metallically in the sunlight, and tight leather trousers that accentuated their powerful leg muscles.
Through the eye slits of their helmets shone gazes as keen as a cheetah's.
Each held a greatsword of refined steel. Though the blades were unsharpened, they still radiated a chilling menace.
The audience's cries surged like a tide as the two greatswords suddenly collided.
Sparks flew where the blades met, and the clang, clang of metal crashing against metal pierced the noisy arena, battering everyone's eardrums.
The gladiators' muscles tensed under the violent impacts, their blades trembling as roars constantly burst from their mouths.
Gripping their sword hilts with both hands, they swiftly adjusted their stances, their eyes gleaming as they searched for openings.
Sword light crisscrossed as the greatswords danced through the air like two enormous metal pythons strangling each other.
Every sword strike drew a wave of gasps, and the clash of metal echoed above the arena.
The fight intensified, and the sword clashes grew more frequent, changing from "clang, clang" into an unbroken "clang-clang-clang."
The sound was like the drumbeat of battle, stirring the spectators' emotions. Their hearts raced along with it as they shouted encouragement in excitement.
The spectators rose to their feet, waving flags or towels, their voices merging into an ocean of cheers for the gladiators.
Some screamed, some cheered, and some were so excited that veins bulged on their foreheads.
"Look at Ska's sword! His strikes are so powerful, he's keeping Tie Niu pinned down!" one spectator shouted.
"Tie Niu's no slouch either! His swordsmanship is like lightning, and his sword moves so fast that Ska can't react either!" another voice replied.
The two gladiators' muscles became even more pronounced amid the fierce fighting, sweat running down their skin.
Every swing of their swords brimmed with strength, as though they meant to cleave their opponent in two.
Time gradually passed, and even the unsharpened iron swords left wounds and red marks across their bodies.
With one final ringing clash of blades, Ska ultimately eked out a victory over Tie Niu through his greater strength and physique, knocking his sword away and marking the end of the fight.
The audience's cheers and applause surged into every corner of the arena like a tide.
Ska stood in the center, his red cloak snapping in the wind, making him particularly conspicuous.
At that moment, an announcer walked up to the front of the platform with solemn steps,
holding a microphone, a professional smile spreading across his face. His voice, amplified through the arena's sound system, brimmed with passion.
"Honored spectators, allow me to introduce today's winner at Dressrosa's Corrida Colosseum-the gladiator Ska!"
The announcer's voice was infectious, guiding the crowd's emotions.
The spectators rose one after another, enthusiastic applause and cheers rising in waves. Some even waved red flags or scarves to show their support for the victor.
The announcer continued, "His swordsmanship is exquisite, and his strength is unparalleled.
Today, in this sacred arena, he has claimed the ultimate victory through his formidable strength!"
Ska raised his sword, pointing its tip toward the sky, his face alight with the joy of victory.
"Ska! Ska!" The spectators cheered jubilantly, offering their well wishes to the victor.
But some also called out to the loser, "Tie Niu, don't lose heart! We believe you'll beat him next time!"
Amid the lively clamor, Kakarot and his companions slowly left with the bustling crowd, their spirits high.
"Today was so much fun! I wonder how lively it'll be in three days, when that gladiator called Kyros has his thousandth match."
Lilith spoke as she skipped along, swinging her tail excitedly, a flush of excitement still lingering on her delicate little face.
Vian affectionately linked her arm through Lilith's, pursing her lips slightly, a trace of regret in her voice:
"After watching today's match, my hands are itching to get out there and fight myself. It's just a shame there aren't any impressive swordsmen here.
There isn't even a single Swordmaster among these gladiators."
The others also enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation, chiming in one after another as they enthusiastically discussed the highlights of the match.
Just then, a tiny figure streaked past Kakarot's waist like a bolt of black lightning with a whoosh, stealing his wallet in the blink of an eye.
In fact, the others had already detected the unusual movement with their Observation Haki.
But they had sensed no danger, and since Kakarot had made no move, they did not intervene.
"Brother, was that a Tontatta who just flashed past?"
Lilith's eyes instantly lit up as she looked intently at Kakarot, her large, sapphire-like eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Vian, Emily, and the other girls also looked expectant, their gazes all settling on Kakarot.
"Haha! That's right, that was a Tontatta. You all remembered his presence, didn't you?
Then let's follow him secretly and see what he's going to do," Kakarot said with a smile, a trace of curiosity flashing in his eyes as well.
At his words, Lilith and the other girls immediately found it immensely entertaining. Rubbing their hands in anticipation, they wove nimbly through the crowd and quietly followed the tiny figure ahead.
Even Hades and Athena had taken an interest in this tiny person, following behind the others at an unhurried pace.
They followed the Tontatta all the way to a secluded corner of a street in northern Dressrosa.
"Gan'er! Did you get anything useful while you were out this time?" a voice asked.
"Brother, look! I brought back a wallet. There's lots of money inside!" The Tontatta called Gan'er sounded thoroughly pleased with himself.
"You idiot, Gan'er! What use do we have for money? What we need most right now is to bring back things that are useful to everyone!"
The other voice carried the helpless frustration of someone disappointed in another's failure to do better.
Kakarot and his companions hid quietly to one side, holding their breath and concentrating as they listened to the conversation.
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