ONE PIECE: WORTHLESS PROGRESSION

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[ 1 Month Later... ]

Fighting.

Blood... Carnage.

Suffering... and fleeting, lucky victories.

Those words summed up Toshi's entire month. Day after day, he was thrown into the pit, forced to claw his way to survival against opponents just as desperate as him. And with every battle, his body paid the price, another scar etched into his flesh. His flesh had become a battlefield, every inch of it marked by jagged scars and swollen bruises. 

Now, there was hardly any unmarked skin left on him. His body was riddled with wounds that told stories of near deaths and impossible comebacks.

Toshi lay on the floor of a empty room, the silence broken only by the rasp of his ragged breaths. Sweat dripped from his forehead, soaking his trembling body, and his arms quivered as they struggled to keep him upright.

His head hung low, damp strands of hair clinging to his face. He had his legs pushed back and got into a plank like position.

"Forty… fifty… sixty…" Toshi's voice rasped out, his breaths coming in long, ragged gasps. His arms trembled under the strain, but he didn't stop. Pushups were all he could manage, no equipment, no luxury of proper training tools, just his body and his will.

Compared to last month, his body had changed. He'd packed on a few pounds of muscle—not enough to make him look jacked, but enough to shed some of the frail body he used to have. Sweat dripped steadily from his forehead, pooling on the floor beneath him. The salty beads hung momentarily before falling, each drop joining the growing puddle at his hands.

' All I've done for the past month is train and fight, ' he thought bitterly, muscles burning as he pushed through another rep. ' It's always one or the other. Truth is, I'm exhausted. I haven't been able to sleep in weeks. ' His brow furrowed as he lowered himself again, his thoughts darkening. ' And it doesn't help that my gambling-addict of a master keeps pitting me into fights like I'm some fucking coin toss. '

Toshi gritted his teeth, forcing himself to keep moving. ' And now there's another fight. I don't even know where this lucky streak came from, but… I'm sure of it. ' His chest heaved as he paused at the bottom of a pushup, arms shaking violently. ' Tonight I might die. Maybe. I don't know, I said about the last ten fights... '

With a groan, he pressed up once more, shaking his head slightly. The truth gnawed at him: no matter how much stronger he got, luck always ran out. And when it did, he wouldn't have the strength left to fight fate.

With one final pushup, Toshi collapsed onto his back, his chest heaving as he stared up at the cracked, stained ceiling. Sweat dripped from his temples, his lungs burning as he inhaled. He didn't move, letting the cool floor press against his overheated body.

' I'm not complaining though, ' he thought, his lips curling into a faint, wry smile. ' At least now I'm getting and growing stronger. '

He sighed heavily, the sound echoing faintly in the empty room, as he tried to steady his breathing.

*Click* *Click*

The faint metallic sound of the doorknob turning broke through the stillness. Toshi's head tilted slightly toward the door. The door creaked open, and walking in as Han, his master.

Han was dressed in thick, gaudy chains of gold and jewels around his neck, clinking softly as he moved. He wore red fur coat hung over his shoulders, complemented by tight red leather pants. Atop his head sat a dark red top hat tilted slightly to the side, and his eyes were hidden behind sleek black sunglasses that reflected the room's dim light.

' This bastard is spending the money I've bled for on himself while gambling my life away, ' Toshi thought bitterly, his jaw tightening as his eyes narrowed at Han. His fingers curled into fists against the floor, but he quickly loosened them. Cause he knew there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. With a single push of a button, Han could kill him. Blow his head clean off without so much as a second thought. 

Han smirked as he looked down at Toshi laying on the floor. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice slick and self-assured. "Looks like someone's been keeping busy."

Han strutted further into the room, his boots clicking against the floor as his gaudy chains jingled softly. His smirk was wide, the kind of smug grin that made Toshi's blood boil. "Get up," Han said, his voice dripping with that casual authority Toshi had come to loathe. "We've got another fight lined up. Big stakes this time, so don't screw it up."

Toshi groaned inwardly but obeyed, pushing himself up from the floor. Every muscle in his body screaming, his limbs heavy from days of relentless training and fighting. 

" I know.... " Toshi asked, his tone flat.

Han adjusted his sunglasses with an air of arrogance, the grin never leaving his face. "Good," he replied, tugging at the lapels of his red fur coat. "Well, it's time..."

Toshi said nothing, instead grabbing his tattered shirt from the floor. He threw it over his sweat-soaked torso and followed Han out of the room, his footsteps heavy. Toshi hated this guy with a passion, but he knew better than to speak out. Han's finger was never far from the trigger of that device, and Toshi wasn't about to gamble with his life...not yet.

The deeper they moved into the tunnels, the colder and darker the air became. 

"Tonight's a big deal, kid," Han said, glancing over his shoulder with that infuriating grin. "Word is, your opponent's been on a winning streak, just like you. Should be one hell of a show."

Toshi clenched his fists, his nails biting into his palms. He didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the uneven floor ahead. ' Entertaining for you, maybe. For me, it's just survival. '

Han chuckled, his laugh bouncing off the narrow walls. "Relax, kid. You're still breathing, aren't you? That streak of yours is the best investment I've ever made."

The sound of a distant crowd began to grow, their cheers and chants echoing faintly through the tunnels. It sent a chill down Toshi's spine, despite being used to it.

Toshi stood at the tunnel's edge, his hands wrapped around the same daggers he always used. They felt familiar, but it didn't make him feel any safer. With a long, shaky breath, he stepped into the light and faced the roaring crowd.

No matter how many times he'd done this, it was always the same. His stomach churned, his heart pounded, and his palms were damp with sweat. Fighting for your life wasn't something you could ever get used to.

He moved forward, each step heavier than the last, his eyes fixed on the cage. It loomed ahead, he knew that once he stepped inside, there would be no escape.

The daggers were slick in his sweaty grip, and he tightened his hold, forcing himself to keep moving. Every step toward the cage felt like dragging himself through mud, the weight of his fear pressing down on him, but he couldn't afford to hesitate. His eyes locked onto the octagonal cage ahead, a pit of sand and blood that had already claimed countless souls.

His legs felt like lead, but he climbed the steps, the cold wood vibrating beneath his feet. He crossed the threshold and stepped into the ring, his heart hammering in his chest.

*Clang!*

The heavy, rusted door slammed shut behind him, sealing him in. Toshi's breath hitched, and he forced a slow exhale, steadying his nerves. There was no turning back now.

Then, from the opposite side of the cage, the ground seemed to shake as a mountain of a man emerged. He was enormous...easily twice Toshi's size—with arms like tree trunks and shoulders that seemed to blot out the light. Each step he took made the floor groan under his weight.

Toshi's stomach twisted. His fingers ached from how tightly he gripped his daggers,. ' How the hell am I supposed to fight that? ' he thought, swallowing the rising panic. He could barely breathe under the giant's shadow.

In the man's right hand was a massive, single-bladed axe, its edge sharp enough to glint under the spotlight above. The man's bald head shone in the light. His beard was long and thick, a dense tangle of dark hair that cascaded down to his chest. His face was hard, carved from stone, with deep-set eyes that didn't even flinch at the sight of Toshi.

He looked completely calm, unbothered by the fact that a fight was about to begin. There was no hint of fear or uncertainty in his eyes...only cold, emotionless resolve.

This wasn't a man who cared about winning or losing. He was here to do what he had to, nothing more, nothing less...TO KILL.

Toshi's heart raced, pounding so hard it felt like it might burst. He was frozen, rooted to the spot as the reality of the fight before him settled in. He couldn't stop staring at the massive axe, couldn't stop imagining what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of that swing.

The giant finally moved, stepping closer with an eerie calmness. Each footfall sent vibrations through the ground. The closer he got, the more overwhelming his presence became, like a mountain bearing down on Toshi. His voice rumbled, low and gravelly, as he spoke for the first time.

"Small one," he said, his tone devoid of emotion, "you will fall quickly."

 He wanted to say something, anything—but the words stuck in his throat. All he could do was stand there, staring up at the behemoth in front of him, feeling like an ant before a towering boot.

This wasn't just a fight. It was a massacre waiting to happen. And Toshi knew, deep in his gut, that he was entirely fucked... The giant raised his axe, resting it across his broad shoulders. He wasn't in a hurry; he didn't need to be. 

Toshi could feel the weight of the crowd's eyes on him. Somewhere deep inside, his pride urged him to fight, to prove them all wrong. But his survival instincts screamed even louder, begging him to reconsider.

The giant took a step forward, the ground quaking under his sheer mass. Toshi flinched but didn't back away. ' Running is pointless, ' he thought bitterly. ' There's nowhere to go. '

"You're trembling," the giant said, his voice a rumble that seemed to shake the air itself. "Good. Fear makes the kill sweeter."

The announcer's voice boomed over the crowd and the entire arena "In this corner, the challenger...Toshi, the wild card! And in the other, the reigning champion of the pit... Gorr, the Bonebreaker!"

Gorr's lips twisted into a slight grin as the announcer called out his name, his eyes never leaving Toshi. "LET THE FIGHT BEGIN!" the announcer bellowed, and the crowd erupted, their cheers a deafening roar that filled the cage.

*RING*

The bell's metallic clang echoed off the walls, signaling the start of the match. 

Gorr lunged forward with startling speed for someone his size, each step like a thunderclap against the dirt floor. He closed the distance between them in seconds, planting his foot and swinging his massive axe in a diagonal arc. The blade whistled through the air, aimed to cleave Toshi in two.

 Toshi reacted instinctively, his body moving before his mind could catch up. He threw himself back, the axe's edge slicing through the space he'd just occupied. The blade grazed his chest, leaving a shallow line that stung as blood began to seep dripping down his chest.

*Clang!*

He slammed into the cage, the steel rattling behind him as the impact jarred his spine. ' Damn it! I'm cornered! ' His thoughts raced, but before he could move, Gorr was already on him, closing the gap with terrifying speed.

Gorr's shadow loomed over him, his eyes cold as stone. " AHHHH! " With a guttural roar, Gorr swung the axe down, his massive frame shifting with the sheer force of the swing..

But in that split-second, Toshi moved.

He pushed off the fence with everything he had, diving low and ducking beneath the swing. He dropped to the ground and scrambled forward, slipping between Gorr's thick, tree-trunk legs. His heart beating wildly as he slid through, the world a complete blur.

*BOOM*

The axe carved a crater in the dirt, debris flying in every direction as Toshi dove and rolled across the ground, narrowly escaping the impact. His muscles burned as he sprang to his feet, flipping up with a speed that belied his trembling nerves.

' What the hell... ' His breath came fast, his chest tight. ' One hit from that thing and I'm done for. ' He felt a chill crawl up his spine at the sheer power behind Gorr's swing, tightning his grip on the daggers.

Through the thick cloud of dust, Gorr's massive frame walked through, his footsteps heavy. A massive grin stretched across his face, eyes alight with amusement as he towered over Toshi, looking almost playful.

"Why'd you run away...?" Gorr's deep voice dripping with mockery. He took another step, his grin widening as he let out a chuckle. "I was just trying to give you a big hug..."

Toshi grinned, " I'm not a big fan of hugs.. " He retorted. Gorr smirked at the response, " Well...Let me give you another ONE! " Gorr lunged forward once more without hesitation, his axe swinging in a wide arc that cut through the air with a deafening *whoosh*.

Toshi had a short window to react, throwing himself to the side and rolling across the dirt floor. The axe missed him by inches, slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash that sent dust and debris flying.

' Move! Don't stop moving! ' Toshi told himself, scrambling to his feet. He dashed around the edge of the ring, keeping his eyes locked on the giant. Gorr yanked the axe free from the ground, turning slowly to face him again. Despite the miss, the man didn't look frustrated. If anything, he seemed amused.

"You're quick," the giant said, his grin widening. "But that won't save you."

Toshi clenched his teeth, sweat dripping down his face. ' He's taunting me. '

The giant charged again, faster than Toshi expected for someone his size. He swung the axe downward in a brutal overhead swing. Toshi dove sideward this time, slipping under the giant's arm and slashing at his side with one of his daggers. The blade cut through flesh, drawing blood, but it was a shallow wound...barely more than a scratch.

The giant didn't even flinch. Instead, he turned and backhanded Toshi with a force that sent him sprawling to the ground. " GWAAHHH! " Toshi screamed from the searing pain flowed throughout his entire body.

*Crack*

Pain exploded in his side as he skidded across the dirt, coughing and gasping for air. The world spun in a dizzying blur, and every breath felt like knives stabbing into his chest. His ribs were shattered...he could feel the jagged edges shifting with each inhale.

Toshi was entirely fucked...

TO BE CONTINUED.

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