Gunnar stepped forward. He met Jozu's gaze across the field. The giant commander's calm eyes were steady.
Jozu's voice was deep but friendly. "You've come a long way, little bro. I respect your strength."
Gunnar nodded, voice firm but respectful. "Same to you, brother. Let's make it a battle worth remembering."
Jozu smiled slightly, cracking his knuckles. "We'll see whose endurance holds out. My squad isn't here to lose."
From behind Gunnar, Ace cracked his knuckles, the faint flicker of flames teasing at his fingertips. Isshin stood silent but alert, fingers lightly gripping his sword hilt.
Curiel, Jozu's right hand, smiled confidently, cracking her neck. "We're ready to show you why we'll Division Zero's backbone."
Haruta, the youngest but fierce, nodded sharply. "We don't lose. Not today."
Ace gave a low, confident laugh. "Sounds like you've got the talk. Let's see if you can back it up."
Isshin's eyes narrowed, cold and calculating. "No mistakes. Stay sharp."
Gunnar took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment settle in his chest.
"This is it," he said quietly. "Let's give them everything we've got."
Jozu's booming laugh echoed through the field.
"Good. Let's dance."
---
The wind swept over the battlefield.
Smoothie, standing tall in the middle with a flag in hand and her long hair flowing like a silver river, raised her voice.
"Begin!"
Her voice echoed like thunder across the field.
From a tall wooden balcony nearby, Whitebeard sat upon his massive throne-like chair, his Jolly Roger banner behind him fluttering in the breeze. The commanders of the other divisions gathered around him, eyes sharp and focused.
Whitebeard leaned forward slightly, his voice like rolling earth.
"Gurararara… Let's see what the new blood is made of."
Marco, arms folded, standing beside him, nodded.
"This one's gonna shake the whole island, yoi."
---
The instant Smoothie's voice rang out, the air exploded.
Gunnar surged forward first, twin elements crackling on either side—lava surging up his right arm, glowing like molten rivers, and ice crawling across his left in crystalline spikes. With a roar, he slammed both hands together and cracked the earth beneath him with a sudden Gura Gura shockwave.
Jozu, massive and unmoving, braced as the quake hit. He slid backward, boots digging into the stone, but didn't fall.
Behind him, Haruta spun in a blur, her dual swords flashing as she closed the gap toward Isshin.
Isshin, calm as a mountain, drew his blade slowly.
A step closer to death…"
Their blades clashed in a thunderous flash, steel sparking as their silhouettes danced around each other in a whirl of masterful precision.
On the left flank, Ace burst into flame, charging directly at Curiel, who had already cocked her massive rifle-cannon. She fired a barrage of flame-resistant bullets, but Ace blurred through them, appearing behind her mid-air, spinning in a full flaming somersault.
"Fire Fist!"
The fist of flames struck down like a meteor, but Curiel ducked and twisted, her cannon turning into a jagged blade as she parried with surprising finesse.
Gunnar caught a sword swing from Haruta mid-air with his lava-covered arm, clashing against the steel as he tossed her backward with raw force.
Isshin stepped forward in the same breath, blade glowing.
"Ichimonji…"
He released a single vertical slash—a devastating, clean arc that split the air with sheer pressure. Haruta barely managed to roll away as her jacket was sliced open. She winced, blood blooming on her shoulder.
Ace, grinning like a devil, winked at Curiel.
"Sorry, this is where we get serious."
He erupted in full flames, surrounding himself and forcing her to leap back. Gunnar used the moment to leap between them, combining with Ace for a double strike.
"Heat and Quake!"
"Lava and Fire!"
The impact was cataclysmic. A fissure opened beneath Curiel and Haruta. They were flung into the air.
Jozu Steps In
"Enough!"
Jozu roared as diamond shards spread across his body, his skin turning into pure unbreakable brilliance. He slammed into the ground and launched forward like a comet, crashing straight into Gunnar and sending him skidding dozens of feet back.
The shockwave was so intense that even Ace and Isshin stumbled.
Whitebeard watched with his usual grin, eyes twinkling.
"He's still got it. Jozu's as strong as ever."
Marco smirked beside him.
"Yeah, but… Gunnar's team—those three are monsters, yoi."
Down below, Smoothie's voice rang out.
"Curiel: Down. Count begins."
She raised her hand and began counting. "One… two… three…"
Curiel groaned, trying to push herself up.
Across from her, Haruta clutched her sword, panting. Blood dripped from her lips, but her eyes were fierce.
"I'm not done yet…!"
Isshin stepped in, blocking her with calm menace.
"You are. Rest now."
With one precise slash, he disarmed her, forcing her to the ground. She lay there, chest heaving.
Smoothie turned her gaze again.
> "Haruta: Down. Count begins."
"One… two…"
Jozu roared in frustration and charged Gunnar again, fists like twin meteors. Gunnar met him head-on, the ground trembling with each step.
Fist met magma. Ice collided with diamond.
Gunnar blocked a full punch with his lava arm, ice immediately racing up Jozu's chest in counter. But Jozu shattered it with a brutal headbutt, sending Gunnar staggering. The two circled, then launched into each other again with seismic fury.
"You're strong," Jozu grunted, wiping blood from his jaw.
"You're tougher than a mountain," Gunnar admitted, breathing hard.
Behind them, Smoothie's voice continued.
"Curiel: Eliminated. Haruta: Eliminated."
Whitebeard, watching, let out a low chuckle.
"They fight like brothers, those three… Unshakeable."
Vista, arms crossed, added thoughtfully.
"And their rhythm... it's like they've fought together for years."
Izo, beside him, adjusted his rifle.
"I've never seen Jozu pressed like this."
---
Jozu, alone now, heaved with breath—but his eyes blazed with pride and determination. He stood tall, fists raised.
Gunnar stepped beside Isshin and Ace.
"He's not going down easy."
Ace grinned. "Let's not go easy either."
Isshin rested his blade on his shoulder. "But with two of his team eliminated, We've already won."
***
The dust began to settle.
Haruta lay on her back, swords beside her, chest rising and falling. Her long hair fanned across the ground, and a faint smile curled her lips.
Curiel, bruised and slightly scorched, pushed herself up with a groan, finally sitting cross-legged as she wiped a smear of dirt and blood from her cheek.
From the middle of the field, Smoothie raised her hand high, her voice cool and clear:
"Haruta and Curiel are Eliminated. According to the rules—Gunnar, Ace, and Isshin advance to the finals!"
The crowd on the observation cliffs cheered. A few division commanders clapped slowly, others whistled.
Jozu, chest heaving and fists clenched, looked back at his two crewmates lying on the ground. He took one heavy breath, then smiled as he let his diamond form melt away. His body returned to flesh, and he turned with a quiet chuckle.
"Hah… So it ends. They got us fast."
Haruta groaned, "This was supposed to be our comeback."
Curiel leaned back, laughing hoarsely.
"We got clobbered. I didn't even get to use my big finisher."
Gunnar stepped up, holding a hand out to Haruta.
"You can use it on me next time—just warn me first, alright?"
Haruta grabbed his hand.
"Next time I won't miss."
Ace helped Curiel stand, fire still faintly smoldering across his shoulders.
"You took that fire fist like a champ."
Curiel slapped his chest lightly.
"Next time I'll be the one doing the cooking, fire boy."
Isshin, silent and reserved as ever, gave a respectful nod to Jozu.
"You are strong, like iron and mountain."
Jozu smirked. "And you cut like rain. I respect that."
The four commanders exchanged nods—not as rivals, but as brothers.
---
Smoothie, arms crossed, watched the exchange with a soft expression.
She muttered under her breath, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Boys…"
Whitebeard's deep voice boomed from the top of the cliff.
"Gurarara! That's what I like to see! Blood means nothing without brotherhood! You gave it your all—and stood tall."
Marco nodded, arms crossed.
"That's the Whitebeard way."
As the crowd dispersed, Gunnar slung an arm around Ace, the two laughing.
Alright," Gunnar grinned. "One more win and we get bragging rights for the next year."
"You mean I get bragging rights," Ace fired back, raising an eyebrow. "You'll be icing your lava arm by then."
"Tch," Gunnar smirked. "You still mad I made your ramen too spicy?"
Behind them, Haruta and Curiel walked off together, arguing over which one got hit harder. Jozu stayed a moment longer, glancing back at Gunnar.
"Good luck in the finals, brat. Just don't disappoint."
Gunnar raised a fist in salute.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
As the sun dipped over the ocean and the torches were lit across the island, the sky turned gold and pink.
Tomorrow, the true test would begin.
[A/N: I will be mass dropping chapters everyday. I have like written upto chapter 90. I will make y'all catch up with me. Be ready though, There will be the biggest plot twist coming up. And you won't even be able to guess what it will be]