"Let the games begin, warriors!" Tesoro's lips curled into a knowing smile.
Simba shook his head, pushing aside his doubts. Like the surrounding crowd, he grabbed the mysterious potion and swallowed it down.
The moment the liquid slid down his throat, his body convulsed uncontrollably. His form expanded, muscles stretching as white fur spread across his skin. In the blink of an eye, a three-meter-long white lion stood upon the crowded arena platform.
But the transformation wasn't over yet—his muscles and bones cracked violently before healing just as quickly, his body continuing to grow. A crimson mist swirled around him, and a searing pain tore through his body, drawing a bloodcurdling scream from his throat.
"This... this isn't right! AARRGGHHH!!"
"AAAAHHHHHH!"
The arena echoed with howls of agony as others underwent the same grotesque transformation.
Blood filled Simba's eyes as an overwhelming surge of power coursed through him—wild, untamed, intoxicating.
"Redbeard! Your time is up!" With a furious roar, he lunged at his mortal enemy.
By now, Redbeard had fully transformed into a massive, crimson-furred fox.
In an instant, the two beasts clashed, ripping and tearing at each other with primal ferocity. Their claws raked deep wounds across each other's flesh, only for the injuries to regenerate in seconds.
Simba tore a chunk of flesh from Redbeard's face and swallowed it whole, his bloodstained lips curling into a grin as his body responded to the meal.
"Hahahaha! A mere fox thinks it can overpower a lion?!"
The pirates who had just ingested the potion felt an electrifying rush of energy surge through their veins.
"Yeah! Tear him apart, Captain!"
"Bite his throat out!"
"Are you even fighting? Shove your claws down his damn throat!"
"This power... it's incredible! Hahaha! Hey, Tiger, save me ten of those!"
A pirate, now transformed into a hulking rhino, snorted as he turned toward the commentator's booth—only to find it empty. His massive eyes widened in confusion.
"Where'd they go?"
As the pirates reveled in their newfound strength, they failed to notice the deepening crimson hue in their eyes.
CRACK!
From behind, two experimental subjects could no longer contain their ravenous hunger. They tore apart their confinement, swallowing not just their containment boxes but the very stone platforms beneath them.
"ROARRR!" "SCREEE!"
Two monstrous figures erupted from the wreckage, their deafening cries sending chills down the spines of those nearby.
As if something parasitic crawled beneath their skin, their bodies twisted and expanded. Their fur and feathers ripped apart as fresh muscle burst through, blood spraying in all directions.
CRUNCH! CRACK! Their bones twisted and stretched, the sickening sounds of transformation filling the air.
The bird-horse's hooves reshaped into razor-sharp talons, digging into the arena floor, while the eagle-snake sprouted additional hooked claws from its chest.
BOOM!
Their growing bodies shattered the iron cage that once confined them, sending debris flying into the chaotic battlefield.
Those still in control of their senses scrambled away, shouting in panic.
"Shit! They took the potion too!"
"Hahahaha! Let me tame them!"
"Where the hell are the Donquixote Family members?! Do something!"
Then, four blood-red eyes gleamed menacingly from within the swirling dust.
"SCREEEEE!"
"ROOOAAAARRR!"
The mutated creatures flapped their wings, sending powerful gusts through the arena as they targeted the nearest weaklings, their massive bodies charging forward with destructive force.
Even the pirates who hadn't consumed the potion were now losing control, instinctively attacking those they deemed weaker.
"Hahaha! Power! MORE!"
"Damn you, Donquixote! What the hell is this stuff?!"
All around, chaos reigned.
From the elevated spectator stands, several embedded recording shells faithfully captured every gruesome moment.
...
In a hidden corner, Tesoro watched the escalating bloodshed and turned to Pica.
"It's time, Pica. Bring down the wall—the beasts need to be set free."
...
Mock Town
Watching the live projections, reactions among the pirates varied—some were filled with dread, others with exhilaration.
"Lord Diamante, does everyone who takes the potion lose their mind?"
"Yohohoho! Of course not! These 'warriors' took four times the recommended dose.
"In other words, the potion in my hand? You'd need to take four of these little red pills before you completely lose control. But the more you take, the stronger you become."
Diamante smirked, tossing the shiny red pills in his hand as the surrounding pirates eyed them hungrily.
"So? What'll it be, boys? This could save your lives."
"Hey! Give me four!"
"That'll be 20 ounces of gold."
Diamante ignored the pirate's rude tone—he'd deal with him later.
"I don't have gold, only Belly."
"20 million Belly, then."
...
Sea Warrior's Marketplace
BOOM!
The wall facing the coastline collapsed under Pica's command.
The eagle-snake, feeling the ocean breeze, shrieked in exhilaration. It had been a sea serpent before its monstrous transformation.
WHIP!SNAP!
Its massive tail lashed out, swatting pirates away like ragdolls as it swallowed half a corpse whole. With an earsplitting cry, it flapped its wings and lunged toward the nearby town, still clutching half a body in its claws.
Its enormous serpentine form crushed buildings beneath its weight, reducing them to rubble in seconds. The unfortunate souls within had no chance to escape—they were pulverized into unrecognizable remains.
From a distance, those who spotted the incoming nightmare scrambled for weapons, hurling grenades and unleashing cannon fire.
A thick cloud of smoke and dust filled the air. But when it cleared, the beast emerged unscathed—its wounds knitting back together before their eyes.
"What the hell is that thing?!"
"Did it eat some kind of legendary Sea Treasure?!"
...
Meanwhile, in the ruined marketplace, fallen pirates groaned, only to rise again—the potion's regenerative effects keeping them alive at a terrible cost. Their once-lustrous hair had turned a sickly, withered white.
Simba, the white lion, had devoured his enemy entirely. Yet, he was still starving.
And all around him—so much food.
Nearby, Vergo observed the escalating horror, retrieving his transponder snail.
"Moshi moshi, Vice Admiral Saul, the east wall of the Sea Warrior's Marketplace has collapsed. A beast resembling a Zoan-type user is attacking the town. The criminal underworld is in full revolt."
Port 17
Vice Admiral Saul carefully stored his transponder snail before turning to his men.
"The pirates are attacking the town! Move and stop them!"
"But Vice Admiral, the Admiral ordered us to keep watch on the pirates at Port 16!"
"Leave a squad behind. I'll explain to the Admiral. Upholding justice is our duty!"
Without another word, Saul led his forces toward the burning horizon.
...
Auction House
Above the auction hall, Doflamingo watched the flames engulfing Island, a sinister grin spreading across his face.
"Well, well, Sengoku, the pirates are rioting. The innocent civilians are crying out for help—doesn't that concern you?"
Sengoku remained impassive, his gaze fixed on the reckless bidders throwing their gold around inside the auction house.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you, Doflamingo. But as for the scum on that island? Let them all die."
Doflamingo chuckled darkly.
"Fufufufufu... How very generous of you, Sengoku."
-----------
+145 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg