Standing midair, Maude balanced effortlessly on the invisible platform of Moonwalk. The signature technique caused a brief stir among the pirates familiar with the Six Powers, leaving them momentarily flustered.
At this moment, every eye in the colosseum—whether pirate, bounty hunter, or denizen of the underworld—was locked onto Maude. More precisely, they were fixated on the Devil Fruit encased in the crystalline box within his grasp.
"Bacardi Maude! That Devil Fruit is mine!"
The enraged shout of Greela the Fisherman echoed from the audience stands. Having a rare Ancient Zoan Fruit stolen mid-hunt was infuriating enough to nearly make him explode with rage.
Maude, however, didn't so much as glance at Greela. He holstered his empty pistol, Dark Crow, and turned his attention to the Devil Fruit in his hand.
The fruit's deep green patterns exuded a vibrant vitality, and the sharp, tri-pronged leaves at its apex hinted at its mysterious power.
"If it really is an Ancient Zoan…" Maude murmured, scrutinizing the fruit.
The elongated leaf blades reminded him of a particular type of dinosaur, but despite the temptation to secure it for himself, his desire to consume this Devil Fruit was nearly nonexistent.
Maude had no need to gamble his future on the unknown. His current strength and efficiency as a hunter were already formidable. If he were ever to eat a Devil Fruit, two conditions had to be met:
First, he needed to be certain of its abilities. Gambling on an unverified power could be disastrous. Consuming a worthless fruit would not only fail to enhance his strength but also burden him with the sea's curse.
Second, the fruit's potential had to align with his ambitions. Anything less wouldn't suffice.
Such cautious reasoning wasn't arrogance but a calculated responsibility toward his future.
No one could fathom Maude's thoughts in that moment. They simply saw a man, bold enough to steal a Devil Fruit under countless watchful eyes, now daring to assess it leisurely.
Meanwhile, the crowd seethed with urgency, fearing Maude might eat the fruit before they had a chance to claim it.
"Bang! Bang!"
A pirate fired the first shot at Maude, initiating a cascade of gunfire.
The gathered masses abandoned all semblance of strategy. Chaos reigned as bullets flew from every direction toward Maude, each shooter hoping to knock him from the sky.
Amid the flurry of lead, Maude's eyes glowed red as he activated Observation Haki. He effortlessly twisted and turned, maneuvering through the hail of bullets with Moonwalk.
To the onlookers, his casual evasion of the onslaught was terrifying. None dared meet his gaze, fearing the wrath of one so untouchable.
"Still, we can't stop now!" they thought, their desire for the fruit overpowering their fear.
"I'm the champion of the Colosseum! That Devil Fruit is rightfully mine!" roared Conan, the first mate of the Savage Fang Pirates.
By technicality, Conan was correct. The fruit was the grand prize of the Colosseum's competition. But in this lawless arena, who cared about rules?
"Rules? Screw the Colosseum!" someone jeered. "If you're so tough, go and take it back yourself!"
The mockery stung Conan like a thousand needles. His blood boiled as he stared at Maude, his teeth clenched in fury.
"I fought beasts for that fruit!" he fumed internally. "I earned it with blood and sweat, only for these cowards to snatch it without lifting a finger!"
Conan crouched, ready to leap into the fray, but the captain of the Savage Fang Pirates, Barton, held him back.
"Don't be reckless," Barton cautioned. "If you charge out there, you'll end up full of holes before you even reach him."
Though furious, Conan begrudgingly relented. He knew Barton was right—none of them could replicate Maude's ease in dodging bullets.
"Are we just going to watch?" Conan growled.
"Of course not," Barton replied, his eyes gleaming coldly. Drawing a flintlock pistol from his belt, he sneered. "No one escapes from this alive—not even Bacardi Maude."
"Escape?"
A sharp voice cut through the chaos. Maude appeared before Barton in an instant, as if he had ridden a bolt of lightning.
Barton's pupils shrank.
Too fast!
The colosseum fell silent as Maude's sudden movement left the gathered gunmen momentarily frozen. Bullets that had been tracking him now shifted downward, raining toward Maude and Barton.
Unbothered by the impending hail of lead, Maude smirked. "Who said anything about retreating?"
With that, he drew his blade and slashed. A glint of steel flashed, followed by a spray of blood.
Barton staggered back, clutching his chest, but before the wound could deepen, Conan, now partially transformed into a hybrid beast, grabbed him and pulled him to safety.
Maude didn't pursue. Instead, he spun and swung Chidori, weaving an intricate web of blue energy that intercepted the incoming bullets.
"Clang! Clang!" The sound of deflected bullets echoed as Maude effortlessly blocked the storm of gunfire.
The gunfire ceased, replaced by the hollow clicks of empty chambers.
He stopped them all…?
The shooters stared at Maude in disbelief, as if he were a monster.
"Well, well, Bacardi Maude," a voice called mockingly, breaking the silence. "Be smart and hand over that Devil Fruit!"
Though the guns were silent, the greed in the colosseum burned hotter than ever.
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