The First Men Chronicles

Chapter 23: Clash of Ice and Venom

The stadium was alive with excitement as the tournament resumed, with the crowd flooding into the stands, their cheers shaking the very walls. The massive screen displayed the names of the next fighters: Portgas vs Madagascar.

Fans leaned forward in anticipation as the combatants made their way into the arena.

Madagascar strode in first, his long, dark green trench coat swaying behind him. The fur-lined collar, slim-fitting black pants, knee-high black boots, and casual white V-neck shirt gave him a commanding, rugged look. Topping it all off, his light blue beanie added a relaxed yet edgy touch to his appearance.

Portgas followed, his presence equally striking. He wore a fitted mustard-red dress shirt, its sleeves rolled up, revealing lean but toned arms. A loosely tied black necktie flowed to the side, and slim black pants with a white belt featuring a detailed buckle completed his look. In one hand, he casually lifted a green hat, while the other rested on the hilt of a sheathed katana, giving him the air of a confident and eccentric swordsman.

The crowd erupted into conversation, the noise blending into an electric buzz:

One fan said "Madagascar's ice abilities are insane—he'll freeze Portgas solid!"

Another responded "Yeah, but have you seen Portgas fight? That guy's unpredictable. I bet he has something up his sleeve!"

"Both their dads are legends. This is going to be a clash of power and skill!"

"I don't care who wins, as long as we see some action!"

As the crowd buzzed, the Hunter House Leaders began to enter the VIP section one by one, taking their seats. Their auras were imposing, their presence enough to silence the nearby crowd.

Meanwhile, in a quiet hallway below the stadium, Lee strolled casually, hands in his pockets. He stopped in front of a room, opening the door to find Sakamoto lying on the floor, sound asleep.

Lee sighed. "This guy… always so carefree. It's like the tournament isn't even happening." He considered waking Sakamoto but decided against it. "Let him sleep. No use dragging him into things before it's his turn."

Leaning against the wall, Lee thought back to Sakamoto's earlier fight, his expression darkening. That transformation… Od energy as a beginner? That's wild. He shook his head. "This kid is something else."

A deafening cheer from the arena snapped Lee out of his thoughts. "Looks like the fight has started."

"BEGIN!" shouted the commentator, his voice booming across the stadium.

The air grew heavy as Portgas spoke, his tone light yet mocking. "Your father's the Chief of Police, right? Guess I should expect a solid fight, huh?"

Madagascar smirked. "And your father's a Hunter legend. Let's see if his skills rubbed off on you."

Without another word, Madagascar's right hand shot forward, releasing a burst of ice aimed at Portgas' feet. The attack was sharp and precise, the icy spikes digging into the ground where Portgas had been standing moments earlier.

Portgas smirked, dodging effortlessly. "A little cold, don't you think?"

But Madagascar wasn't done. His hands moved fluidly, releasing wave after wave of icy blasts, each more aggressive than the last. Portgas weaved through them with skillful movements, his steps light yet deliberate, as if he were dancing through the storm.

When Madagascar finally paused, Portgas stretched his arms, feigning relief. "Thanks for cooling me down. I was getting a little heated."

Portgas extended his hand, and from the folds of his clothing, three snakes slithered out. At first, they appeared tiny, but as they emerged fully, they expanded into giant beasts, their scales gleaming and their fangs dripping with venom.

One snake soared into the sky, slithering through the air with predatory grace. The second slithered low, circling around to Madagascar's right, while the third charged directly at him.

Madagascar remained calm, placing both hands on the ground. A chilled vapor poured out, forming a frosted wall beneath his feet. The wall lifted him into the air, expanding rapidly to keep him above the snakes' reach.

The snake circling from the right struck the ice wall, its body glowing with a fiery red light before exploding into shards. The impact sent fragments of ice flying, but Madagascar dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid as the wall shifted to accommodate him.

The second snake adjusted its trajectory, lunging at Madagascar mid-air. Madagascar smiled. "Come and get me."

Just as the snake closed in, Madagascar's body dissolved into water, falling to the ground as a pool of liquid. The snake slammed into the ice and exploded, creating a shockwave that sent a dense steam billowing through the arena.

The arena fell silent, the steam shrouding everything in a thick fog. Spectators squinted, struggling to see what was happening.

"Where are they?" a voice from the crowd called out.

"I can't see a thing!" another added.

In the VIP section, Mujin smirked. "Madagascar's control over his ice is remarkable. Using his water form to dodge was a clever move."

Daisuke nodded. "But where's Portgas? He's too smart to let the steam slow him down."

Suddenly, from within the fog, Madagascar's watery form reassembled in front of Portgas. He grabbed Portgas by the neck, his grip tight. As the steam began to clear, the crowd erupted in cheers.

"He's got him!" one fan shouted.

"Madagascar's won!" another cried.

But the cheers quickly turned to gasps as Portgas' body began to dissolve into a mass of writhing snakes. The snakes scattered, slithering across the ground before vanishing into mold.

From above, the real Portgas descended, his katana unsheathed. In a single, swift motion, he slashed downward.

Madagascar barely managed to dodge, but the blade still grazed his chest, leaving a deep, bloody cut.

In the VIP section, Daisuke's eyes widened. "He used the Replication Clone Technique. That's impressive."

Mujin nodded. "He must've set up the clone the moment the steam hit. Smart move. Portgas isn't just a fighter—he's a strategist."

The Commentators and Crowd

The commentator's voice rang out. "TWO CRAZY FIGHTERS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WHAT A MATCH!"

The crowd was on their feet, their cheers deafening:

"Did you see that? Portgas is insane!"

"Madagascar's not out yet—he can turn this around!"

"This fight is unreal!"

The fans were glued to the action, their excitement growing as the battle reached new heights.