One Piece: Rise of Valoria

The arena roared with the frenzied cheers of the Celestial Dragons, their sadistic excitement palpable in the air as they eagerly awaited the spectacle about to unfold. Their gilded seats gleamed under the glaring light, with their twisted faces hidden behind grotesque masks, all fixated on the blood and brutality that was soon to follow. Guards surrounded them, keeping their precious masters safe from the slaves battling below. The arena had become a graveyard of hopes and dreams, but for some, like William, it was where their strength was forged.

William stood in the center of the ring. His long sandy blonde hair was tied back, and his bright green eyes glimmered with cold focus. The past years had transformed him into a ruthless fighter, a weapon honed by suffering and survival. Today, he was faced with a challenge unlike any other—an opponent that even William, in his hardened state, could feel a twinge of excitement facing.

His opponent stood across the arena, towering and fierce, the very embodiment of brute strength. The pirate, once infamous across the seas, had been captured and broken, but his will to fight still burned bright. With a bounty of 900 million Berries, the man's presence alone was enough to send waves of anticipation through the spectators. His bulging muscles rippled with raw power, and the Zoan Cow-Cow fruit, Model: Bison, had enhanced his strength to terrifying levels. His thick neck, broad shoulders, and menacing horns made him look like a beast rather than a man. His eyes, glowing with malice, locked onto William with a sneer.

"So, they're sending a kid to fight me?" the pirate scoffed, his voice deep and mocking. "This is gonna be easy."

The spectators laughed cruelly, entertained by the pirate's disdain for the boy in front of him. But William didn't flinch. He stood tall, his face expressionless, while his blood simmered with anticipation. His hands itched to fight, to test himself against someone strong enough to make his heart race again. It had been too long since he faced someone who could challenge him.

The gong rang, signaling the start of the match. The pirate transformed instantly, his body swelling as he shifted into his hybrid Zoan form—a hulking bison, massive and intimidating. His hooves smashed against the ground, causing tremors throughout the arena as he lowered his horns and he went on all fours and charged at William with incredible speed.

William stood still, calm, waiting for the right moment.

"Come on, kid!" the bison-man roared as he closed in. "Let's see what you got!"

At the last second, William sidestepped with grace, his Observation Haki guiding him effortlessly out of the bison's path. The pirate's horns missed him by mere inches, and he barreled past, crashing into the wall of the arena with a thunderous boom. Dust and debris flew everywhere as the spectators gasped.

The pirate turned, enraged. "You little—"

Before he could finish, William was already moving. With blinding speed, he closed the distance and launched himself into the air, his leg coated in powerful Armament Haki. He brought his foot down in a devastating axe kick, aiming for the back of the pirate's head. The pirate barely had time to react, raising his arm to block the blow. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, and the pirate grunted in pain as his arm shuddered from the force.

William landed gracefully, already preparing his next strike. His movements were precise, calculated—every punch, every kick infused with Armament Haki, making his blows hit harder than iron. The pirate stumbled backward, shocked by the power this "kid" possessed.

"You're fast," the pirate growled, his deep voice now laced with frustration, "but I'll crush you like a bug!"

With a roar, the bison-man charged again, his fists swinging wildly, each one large enough to flatten William if they connected. William danced around the attacks, his Observation Haki keeping him one step ahead, but he could feel the strain. This man wasn't like the others—his mastery of Haki was formidable, and his raw strength was overwhelming.

As the pirate's punches came faster, William found himself on the defensive, parrying blow after blow. He could feel his blood pounding in his ears, the familiar thrill of battle rising within him. This was what wants. The fight. The challenge.

Suddenly, the pirate transformed into a form that focuses on speed, his body moving faster in his smaller frame. He seized the opening and landed a solid punch to William's chest, sending him flying across the arena. William skidded to a stop, gasping for breath. The blow had been infused with Haki, and it hurt. But the pain only fueled his desire to win.

The pirate grinned, confident now. "What's the matter, kid? Losing your edge?"

William wiped the blood from his mouth and smiled—a cold, terrifying smile. "You should worry about yourself."

His eyes narrowed, and his blood began to boil, not from fear, but from excitement. Deep within him, the power of the Dragon Fruit stirred, demanding to be unleashed. He had been careful to hide the true nature of his fruit, disguising it as a mere lizard Zoan, but now, faced with this opponent, he knew he needed more.

With a deep breath, William tapped into the latent power of the mythical dragon. His body shimmered with energy as scales began to appear on his arms. His claws extended, sharp and deadly, and his muscles surged with newfound strength. But he kept his transformation subtle—just enough to give him the edge, but not enough to reveal the true nature of his fruit to the Celestial Dragons watching from above.

The pirate's eyes widened as he saw the change in William. "What....what are you...?"

William didn't answer. With a roar of his own, he launched forward, faster and stronger than before. His claws slashed through the air, colliding with the pirate's arm, and the force of the blow sent shockwaves through the arena. The pirate staggered back, blood dripping from the deep gashes in his skin.

"Impossible!" the pirate shouted, his voice filled with disbelief. "No kid should be this strong!"

William's smile grew colder. "Goodbye."

In an instant, William closed the gap again, this time unleashing the full force of his dragon-enhanced strength. His Armament Haki coated his entire arm, and with one powerful strike, he drove his clawed hand straight into the pirate's chest. The sound of bones cracking echoed through the arena as William's hand pierced through the man's ribcage, blood spurting out in a gruesome display.

The pirate gasped, his eyes wide with shock and pain. "H-how...?"

William twisted his hand, his expression cold and merciless. "You were never going to win."

With a final surge of strength, William ripped his hand free, the pirate transformed back into his human form, and collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The arena fell silent for a moment, the spectators stunned by the brutal display. Then, all at once, the Celestial Dragons erupted into cheers, their twisted voices filling the air with praise for their "champion."

William stood over the body of his fallen opponent, his dragon-clawed hand dripping with blood. He looked up at the Celestial Dragons, their faces filled with glee, but inside, he felt nothing. No joy, no satisfaction. Only a cold, empty resolve.

He would remain their obedient fighter, hiding his true strength until the right moment came.

For when it did, the world would burn.