Four months had passed since William's brutal debut in the slave arena, and his life had only become more violent with each passing day. Every fight was a test of survival, a bloody dance of skill, strength, and instinct. William had faced opponents larger, stronger, and more experienced than him, but he had yet to meet his match. His brutal efficiency in battle and his use of Armament and Observation Haki had made him one of the most feared combatants in the arena.
His victories had earned him favor with **Master Callen**, the sadistic Celestial Dragon who owned him. Callen's joy at watching William tear through his opponents was twisted and cruel, but it was also an opportunity. In his warped way, Callen began to take pride in his prized fighter, showing him off to other Celestial Dragons, even boasting about how the boy was unmatched in the arena.
And then, one fateful evening, Callen rewarded William with a gift—a Demon Fruit. It was no ordinary fruit, either. It was a Zoan-type, capable of bestowing its user with the power of an animal. Callen had acquired it through his shady connections, seeing it as another way to enhance his already brutal slave warrior.
"Eat it, boy," Callen had commanded, a grin spreading across his grotesque face as he pushed the fruit toward William. "Let's see what kind of beast you'll become."
The fruit was odd-looking, its shape twisted and covered in strange markings. William had heard of Demon Fruits before, and he knew that they granted immense power, but he also knew their cost—the user would lose their ability to swim. But the sea was the last thing on William's mind right now. His life now was here, in the dirt and blood of the arena.
Without hesitation, William bit into the fruit. The taste was revolting, like spoiled meat, but he swallowed it down, suppressing the urge to gag. Almost immediately, he felt a surge of energy coursing through him, his body reacting to the fruit's power. But what he felt was not ordinary—it was far beyond what he had expected.
William could sense it in his very core: this was no ordinary Zoan fruit. The power within him was ancient, primal, and far more dangerous than anything Callen or the others could have imagined. His mind raced, recalling the stories he had overheard about mythical Zoan fruits—extremely rare Fruits that granted the powers of legendary creatures.
This wasn't a normal Zoan fruit. It was a **mythical Zoan Dragon Fruit**.
Realizing the gravity of what he had consumed, William's heart pounded in his chest. If the Celestial Dragons, especially the Five Elders, discovered that he had eaten such a rare and powerful fruit, they would surely kill him and take the power for themselves if they could. He had to be careful—he couldn't reveal the full extent of his new abilities.
For now, he would have to pretend. He would have to hide the dragon that now slumbered within him.
William let out a deep breath, his mind already working on a plan. When the transformation came, he would disguise it as something simpler. Something far less threatening. He would pass it off as a standard Zoan fruit—a **Lizard Zoan**. It wasn't far from the truth, after all, and it would keep his secret safe.
The next day, he was called back into the arena for another fight. His opponents were growing more dangerous, but William's confidence had never been higher. He had trained relentlessly, and now, with the power of the dragon within him, he was ready to crush anyone who stood in his way. As the gate opened, William stepped into the arena, his expression calm and cold.
The crowd roared as they saw him, their cheers a twisted mixture of bloodlust and excitement. Across the arena, his opponent—a towering brute with chains wrapped around his arms—glared at him with disdain. The man was a veteran in the arena, and like many others, he underestimated William because of his youth. But William didn't care.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "Tonight, we have a special treat! Our young prodigy faces off against **Bronn the Iron-Hand**, a vicious killer known for his brutal strength!"
William's opponent snarled, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. "They send a kid to fight me? This'll be over quick."
But William wasn't intimidated. His opponent may have been large, but size didn't matter here. What mattered was power—and William had more than enough of it.
The match began with Bronn charging forward, his massive fists swinging toward William with incredible force. William dodged effortlessly, his Observation Haki allowing him to sense every movement before it happened. As Bronn's fist crashed into the sand where William had just been, the boy leaped back, his eyes glowing with a newfound intensity.
It was time to reveal his new power—but not all of it.
William focused, feeling the energy of the fruit inside him, and in an instant, his body began to shift. Scales appeared along his arms and legs, his eyes narrowing into reptilian slits. His teeth sharpened, and a long tail sprouted from his back, curling behind him. To the onlookers, it was a simple Lizard Zoan transformation. But William knew the truth—this was only a fraction of his power.
The crowd gasped, intrigued by the transformation, but not suspecting anything out of the ordinary. Celestial Dragons didn't care about the specifics, only the spectacle.
Bronn, however, wasn't impressed. "A lizard, huh? You think that'll save you?"
William didn't respond with words. Instead, he charged forward, his speed far greater than before. He moved like a blur, closing the distance between them in an instant. Bronn barely had time to react before William's hardened fist, coated in Armament Haki, slammed into his chest.
The impact sent Bronn flying backward, crashing into the arena wall with a thunderous crack. The crowd erupted into cheers, but William didn't stop. He pressed the attack, his movements swift and relentless. Bronn tried to defend himself, swinging his chains wildly, but William dodged with ease, his tail lashing out and tripping the larger man.
With a final, devastating blow, William's fist connected with Bronn's jaw, sending the man crumpling to the ground, unconscious.
The match was over in seconds. William stood over his fallen opponent, his breathing steady, his eyes cold and calculating. The crowd cheered louder than ever, but their voices were nothing more than noise to him.
As he stood there, his lizard-like form slowly receding, William glanced up at the Celestial Dragons watching from above. Master Callen's eyes gleamed with pride, and the other nobles whispered excitedly to one another. They believed they had just seen another victory from their prized warrior.
But only William knew the truth.
The power of the dragon slept within him, hidden beneath the guise of a simple lizard. And when the time was right, he would unleash it.
For now, he would continue to play their game, biding his time.
But one day, he would be free. And on that day, the world would know the true power of the dragon.