Marie Geoise-
The districts were empty, no shuffle of feet, groans of slaves, or blood painting the streets. Today is a special occasion, the grand opening of Circus Maximus, the greatest show in the heavens.
☆Circus Maximus ☆
1) Chariot races
2) Animal hunts
3) Gladiator battles
4) Athletics.
5) Closing ceremony.
May the hoof of the soaring Dragon bless us.
-----
Nero's stadium is truly a wonder:
Capacity of hosting 150 000 to 300 000
nobles.
The track expands to 621 metres in length and 118 metres in width.
The Spina. The central dividing wall, ran down the middle of the arena. Adorned with monuments of Saint Nero's ancestors, honouring the history of the event.
[5 minutes from opening]
By the track tunnels, the Vice-Admirals were stationed to lead the slaves in, and, by any chance, they escaped.
Kill them.
Gion leaned against the furst tunnels wall, tapping her sheathed blade, the shouts of the nobles vibrating across the stadium, their
The urge to witness pain and agony is sickening.
"How can humans be so vile... It's like they see them as mere toys." She grinds her teeth. Her dream of protecting the innocent from pirates is now replaced by her bringing them to be used by the Celestial Dragons, scum she must protect with her life.
"Ramos–where are you?"
In the underground prison, it was infested with cells reeking of feces, piss, and rotten flesh. The Celestial keep it this way to remind their "horses" that this is where they belong, and for the champions, they get cells with decent living conditions, even so the space is barely enough to move around, a bucket to relieve yourself, a mattress with stains, and probably inhabited by bed bugs.
This hazardous place is where slaves are kept, awaiting the games.
"Please help us." A sickly-looking woman begs Doll, her body grey as ash, skin clinging to her skeleton, and her eyes... Doll has never seen a look so dead, like a moving corpse, she's waiting to drop dead.
"I don't want to die here." She reaches her hands through the bars.
Doll stood in the middle of the prison, palms turning white, shifting nervously, and fighting back tears.
"I-I...can't help you."
Whip
"Aaahhhh!" She screams as her arm is cut open by the whip lash.
"Who said you can reach out to your animal!"
The prison warden spat out, a short, obese man wearing a white militant suit and an oxygen helmet. Warden St. Troyjan Mitchell.
A noble and known sadist. He delights in the pain he inflicts on prisoners, he once beat a slave to death for losing in a race he bet on. The Warden turns to Doll, "Forgive me, Vice-Admiral, for that animal trying to touch you." He chuckles, trailing his fingertips down his leather whip, "They never learn, always clinging to some hope they can be free or we'll have a change of heart–hehe." The Warden let out a swine-like laugh, the cackle made Doll's skin crawl.
"Do you want to discipline her?"
Jingle, Jingle.
St. Mitchell shakes his keys.
Doll glares at him, "I don't torture innocents."
She said in a cold tone, clear warning not to continue this conversation.
"I-I see..." He chuckles, clearing his throat.
"I will check on the rest of the animals –once Saint Nero's speech begins we lead them out and remember, do not trust these wild animals." He grins like a demon.
"Got it." Doll avoids eye contact with him, looking at the blood-stained ground.
"That idiot Ramos would've known what to do."
Sonya sat by the second tunnel's entrance, her cigarettes burning out as she hadn't inhaled them.
"Why so sad Vice-Admiral?" Saint Camelot teases.
"Screw off!" Sonya curses him out.
Camelot ignored her words and sat next to her. His green eyes are looking at her.
"What do you want?," Sonya asks, slamming her Jitte on the floor in warning.
Camelot smirks, unfazed by her threat,
"You seem to be disgusted with what's about to happen today."
Sonya glances at him."Congrats on seeing the obvious. " She jabs.
"Kuku~ I like you."
"I'm a lesbian," Sonya responds.
"Seriously?"
"No, either way I'm not interested. " The smoke user clarifies.
Camelot looks forward to the full house of nobles awaiting the events to begin.
"We are not so different you know?"
"Pfft–Keep telling yourself that when you have to kill me for disobeying a world noble."
"I'd hate killing you– you have too much potential. " He admits.
Sonya turns to him, "What are you on about?" She presses.
"You can turn into smoke, but never invade the lungs of your enemies, or simply infest the air with more carbon."
"I don't use my fruit to kill people !" Sonya snaps at him.
Camelot sighs, "Such a shame...you would've been a dangerous Admiral. " Camelot stands up, dusting off debris from his uniform.
Bang.
Sonya uses her Jitte to slam Camelot against the wall.
"What do you know about being a Marine? You're nothing but a murderer in uniform." Sonya spits out.
Camelot, still smiling, looks into her. The way his pupils shone at her rough treatment made hersickk, "I once wanted to be a marine... that was a long time ago." He looks off into the distance.
"Mxm." Sonya lets him go, giving each other distance.
"Sonya."
"What!?" She growls, smoke swirling around her body.
"Consider my suggestions–they might save your life." Camelot jumps away from the tunnel.
At Saint Nero's podium, the grand host and owner has a toothy grin. Leather throne embroidered with diamonds, servant women at his every need, and Saint Onna-musha Tanoe by the door, cleaning her sword and humming.
Saint Nero glances at her, "Madam Tanoe~do you believe in fate?"
Tanoe stopped cleaning her blade, one eye looking at him," Why ask my lord?" She questions.
Nero chuckles," I believe people's fates are predetermined before birth, there are two types of men, those chosen by God and the bastards of hell." Nero giggles.
Tanoe has a stoic look on her face, fixing the collar of her kimono.
"Let us begin."
------
[Palentine hills]
4 hooded figures stood on top of the hill, overlooking Circus Maximus; even from high above, the roaring crowd could be felt from here. These 4 people managed to climb the red line and avoid detection from the Holy Knights.
"Are you sure we can trust Duffy, Dragon?" Ivankov hums, the flamboyant emperor looked at her leader.
"I don't trust him at all," Karasu spoke, the bold-headed, beak-mask revolutionary added.
"This is going to be quite the challenge." A blonde-haired man with a burn scar on the left side of his face, Sabo." Gripping his pipe, he paces in excitement. "This place gives me the creeps." He shivers.
The last cloaked man, towered over them, eyes focused on the stadium.
Red tattoo on the left side of his face, Monkey D. Dragon. The most wanted man in the world, the leader of the revolutionary army, son of Garp and enemy to the World Government.
"We strike once all the captives are out."
He announces. "Be careful...some of the people there are strong."
"Are you worried about us?" Ivankov giggles.
Dragon didn't respond to her.
"Cold leader~" Ivankov pouts.
Sabo looked at Dragon, waiting for the nod.
"We really attacking God in his home?"
"This so called heaven will feel the flames of hell."
The clouds darkened, the clear sky forming grey as thunder rumbles.
"Don't kill the nobles, it's too much of a hassle. " Dragon orders.
[End of Chapter]