The two brutes finally seized what they thought was their opening.
Their massive fists crashed down again and again onto Chenos, who lay on the ground, each blow kicking up clouds of dust as if they were trying to pound him straight into the floor.
Then—
A figure rose from within the dust.
Chenos stood up, calmly letting their fists continue to rain down on him.
"Done yet?"
His voice was steady.
"If you're done… then it's my turn."
The two brutes stared at him in disbelief. Under their relentless assault, Chenos hadn't even been scratched.
Roaring in fury, they clenched their fists and poured every last ounce of strength they had into a final, desperate strike—aimed straight at Chenos's head.
This time, Chenos didn't let the blows land.
He threw both fists forward, meeting their attacks head-on.
"Don't clash with him—!"
the one-eyed captain shouted as he rushed toward them.
Too late.
"Rebound."
All the damage Chenos had been stockpiling erupted at once.
A terrifying force exploded from his fists. Both brutes' arms detonated instantly, shattered into gore—and the momentum didn't stop there. Their upper bodies were torn apart in the same instant.
Two bodies collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
At that moment, the boxer and the one-eyed captain reached Chenos.
The captain fully transformed, his Devil Fruit power turning him into a massive python. The enormous serpent lunged forward and wrapped itself tightly around Chenos, coiling again and again until his slender body was completely bound.
Chenos couldn't move.
The boxer followed up immediately.
His fists came down like a storm, smashing relentlessly into Chenos's head.
Although Chenos's absorption barrier was still active, each punch exceeded its limit. Overflowing damage slipped through again and again, slamming directly into his skull.
In seconds, Chenos's once-handsome face was swollen and bruised, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
After a brutal barrage, the boxer finally staggered back, gasping for breath, completely spent.
The python, however, didn't loosen its grip.
Instead, it tightened.
The coils constricted mercilessly, clearly intending to crush Chenos to death.
And yet—
Trapped, bloodied, on the brink of defeat—
Chenos laughed.
A low, hoarse chuckle escaped his lips.
"I can afford to make mistakes… again and again."
His eyes sharpened.
"But you?"
"You only get to make one."
An absorption sphere materialized.
In an instant, all of Chenos's injuries were drawn out of his body. The swelling vanished. The blood disappeared. His wounds closed completely.
Floating beside him was a sphere packed with countless injuries.
The sphere drifted toward the one-eyed captain.
Sensing mortal danger, the captain immediately released Chenos and tried to retreat.
But it was far too late.
The distance between them was too short.
The sphere touched the captain's massive snake body.
An orange-red flash erupted.
Suddenly, countless translucent fist-shaped impacts manifested across the serpent's body, hammering it from every direction.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The snake's flesh was torn open. Scales shattered and flew everywhere, blood spraying across the floor.
Bang!
The captain could no longer maintain his transformation. His body reverted to human form, collapsing to the ground, barely alive.
Strike while he's down.
Chenos didn't hesitate for even a second.
He flashed forward and drove a single kick straight into the captain's head—
splattering it apart.
The boxer, who had been moving in to support the captain, froze at the sight.
Then he leapt backward repeatedly, retreating as fast as he could to put distance between himself and Chenos.
Chenos, nearly exhausted, forced his trembling body to move forward.
He staggered, barely keeping his balance, yet still advanced.
A strained smile tugged at his lips.
"Only you left…"
"Come on…"
"Let's… finish this…"
Even though Chenos was clearly at his limit—unsteady on his feet, gasping for breath—the boxer didn't dare approach.
He was terrified.
No matter how hard he hit, Chenos wouldn't fall. And when Chenos struck back, the damage was monstrous.
The boxer had no idea how to fight someone like this.
Seeing his slave hesitate, Saint Charlmark exploded in rage.
"You idiot! Can't you see he's finished?! Kill him! Now!"
The boxer froze.
If he attacked, he might be killed by Chenos.
If he didn't…
He wouldn't leave this place alive anyway.
Either way—
Death awaited.
Just as panic overwhelmed him—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Gunshots rang out.
The boxer collapsed, bullets tearing through his body.
He looked up in disbelief.
Saint Charlmark stood there, pistol smoking, face twisted with fury.
"Trash! Useless garbage! Afraid to attack the enemy—do you know how that disgraces me?! I don't need worthless slaves like you!"
Staring at the raging Celestial Dragon, the boxer smiled.
For the first time, his body relaxed.
"I'm… finally free…"
His pupils dimmed.
Watching him die, Chenos felt no joy in victory—only guilt.
They'd had no reason to fight.
They were all just tools, forced to kill each other for amusement.
"…Sorry," Chenos murmured.
"But I… want to live."
The boxer could no longer speak.
With his last breath, he silently mouthed the words:
It's not your fault.
Then life left his eyes.
A faint smile remained on his face.
"HAHAHAHA!"
Saint Charlos laughed wildly, hands on his hips.
"See?! I told you! My slave really is unkillable! Do you admit it now?!"
The other Celestial Dragons glared at him, faces dark with resentment.
They tossed over the keys symbolizing an entire nation's Heavenly Tribute, then left without sparing a glance at the slaves who had died for them.
Holding four Heavenly Tribute keys, Charlos was in an excellent mood. He strutted over to Chenos, eyes gleaming.
"Unkillable, you did great! Keep it up next time—win me even more Heavenly Tribute, and I'll give you extra food! Hahahaha!"
The way he looked at Chenos—
It was the same look someone used on a dog that had fetched a toy.
Disgust churned in Chenos's stomach.
Still, he forced a smile.
"Thank you, my lord. It's my duty."
Satisfied, Charlos lost interest. He wrapped an arm around his fifty-eighth wife and headed into the inner room, waving lazily for CP0 to drag the slaves back to their cages.
Chenos staggered along the corridor toward the cells.
After just a few steps—
He collapsed.
"Chenos! Chenos—don't scare me!"
Hancock and her sisters rushed to his side, lifting him up in panic.
Unconscious, Chenos never realized—
A strange energy was surging from his Devil Fruit, quietly reshaping his body.
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/arcanechronicals