One Piece: Gambling To The Top

Josh was staring at the angry admirals, who stood at his height level now. 

Although he was somehow thrilled for the battle, he had just experienced death, something that makes every mortal seek things to deal with it or forget. Sex, pleasure, glory, and religion, all of these are ways to deal with it or get through it. 

Josh's mind experienced revelation after coming from death. 

'So, this is what John Snow was feeling… never mind… I've learnt my lesson.' 

It's okay to be weak, but be victorious in the end. However, it's so bad to be very strong, but unable to use that power. Josh had gotten so strong, but as a price, he had lost the trait that had helped him win against his toughest opponents. His strategic thinking. Also, he had been unable to use his techniques, and he hadn't turned into his Zoan form, otherwise, he may have destroyed everything. 

Josh lowered his head slowly, staring at the frozen Akainu. 

'Also, one should never take a Divine Rank item in the middle of the battle! Geez, it was so painful.' 

While he was lowering his head, a beam of light-headed toward him. Josh, somehow, had predicted this a long time ago. Having three spirits inside, three lives, meant that his spiritual power tripled. As a result, his Haki got way stronger, and it was very strong to begin with. 

Slowly, he extended his hand and he slapped the light beam toward Aokiji.  Aokiji was quite surprised, but he managed to cock his head and dodge.

After Aokiji dodged, he put his hand on the ground, his other arm covering the icy part of Akainu to protect him. Although it seem that Akainu had already accepted his own death, Aokiji wasn't. That's why he had frozen him. 

While it may seem to be a useless detail, it didn't escape Josh's sense. 

People in One Piece, if frozen, don't die even if they stayed like that for a hundred years. 

Maybe Aokiji is having a hope to turn Akainu into a cyborg. 

As a wall of ice started forming between Josh and the rest, Josh lowered his head and smirked. 

'Fools, thanks to them, I can have a chance to have Magma Magma fruit, now that Akainu is alive.' 

"Oy, you are not in a place to smile at us." 

Kizaru appeared in front of Josh, his facial expression showed an overwhelming rage. 

"Actually, why don't I make a suggestion."

When Kizaru's fist turned into light, Josh tilted his head to the side, allowing that fist to pass. As he unsheathed and drew his Katana, Kizaru moved his hand quickly and Josh's wrist, stopping the blade from hitting his neck. 

"And what's that." 

"I'll let you take Akainu San body to the side, otherwise, he may break," Josh said. 

Kizaru didn't need to turn his eyes to see that Aokiji lifted Akainu. 

"Or do you want a shockwave to break him?" Josh said. 

"Why would you allow that…" Kizaru asked. Although deep inside, he knew that Josh is right.

Josh, depending on his mind-reading Haki, could tell that Kizaru was affected. Kizaru didn't believe him. However, he wanted to believe him. 

"Every swordsman in my level has something called honour." Josh half-closed his eyes. "Akainu had given me an honourable battle. I'll let him rest on the side. At least, this way, I can honour him back." 

Josh felt that he needed some samurai epic music to make his speech more convincing. He also was nostalgic. 

'Never said such bullshit ever since my days as a lawyer…' he thought as he raised his other hand.  

Kizaru took a step back and left Josh's hand. "Ohh… why didn't you say that at first." 

"Dead people can't talk," Josh said. 'And I'll take his Devil Fruit…' 

Aokiji lifted Akainu's parts and took them to the edge of this island. 

"Don't believe me, here." 

Josh took the great Devil Sword from his back and he stabbed it on the ground. 

One of Josh's strongest traits is that he is a trickster, a strategic fighter. 

He had lost it while going berserk. Now that he gained it back, he will make sure to use it. 

Since Kizaru and Aokiji hadn't seen him using the darkness from his Great Sword, it would be a good chance to stab them. 

Ice appeared from nowhere and formed Aokiji, who was alone. Kizaru turned his head to his fellow admiral, and both of them nodded. Josh, reading their thoughts, believed that they are going to attack him off guard. Although he doubted that Kizaru can read the future, Josh had an advantage,  which was reading the mind itself. If Kizaru could read the near future, then Josh would know that future through Kizaru's head and has a perfect counter. 

"Well, I guess you have some honour." Kizaru put his hands in his pockets. "But we must finish our job." 

"Ah…" Josh nodded lazily, having his hand on the great sword that was stabbed in the ground. 

At that moment, Aokiji headed toward him, and he tried to freeze Josh. Josh, depending on his speed dodged, but he didn't attack. Aokiji unleashed a few ice blades from his body, meant to hit Josh, who raised his hand and covered it with Haki to defend himself. 

"Goodbye Gambler San," Aokiji said, raising his hand and creating a huge boulder that was shot toward Josh, who unleashed a light beam from his hand, destroying it. At that moment, Kizaru appeared behind him. Kizaru and Aokiji know how to work as a team, which makes them very dangerous. The moment Josh turned and blocked Kizaru, Kizaru took a step back and he smiled, raising his finger. 

Kizaru's finger shone in a very strong light. Josh suddenly felt that his eyes hurting him. At that exact moment, the island behind Josh was freezing as Aokiji headed toward Josh with a very fast attack. 

At that instant, Josh's lips curled to a smile. 

"Got ya!" 

The devil pattern on the top of his sword had its eyes shining in red. Darkness spread from that fog, covering the ground, catching both Aokiji and Kizaru. The ice around Aokiji vanished, and Kizaru, who tried to move, found that he can't turn into light. As the darkness started swallowing them, they extended their hands. Their Armament Haki was creating an aura around them. 

Josh knew that they can use that aura to defend themselves without depending on their fruits. However, using the darkness wasn't meant to kill them. Josh had more important things to do. He needed to assure Akainu's fruit before assuring victory. 

"Where is he heading?" Kizaru turned his head. Aokiji opened his eyes widely and he tried to move up, trying to escape the dark, but his body felt so heavy. On the other hand, Josh was so fast and he appeared above Akainu. 

"Hey, where is all of that talk about honour," Aokiji yelled as he broke a sweat. 

The darkness vanished, and both of them were free. They, however, had yet to regain their abilities, and they could only run as fast as they can. 

Josh made a vessel appear from thin air, and he put it next to Akainu. 

"Honour…" Josh lowered his head and chuckled. "It's a social norm that makes you praised by your society. In some societies, being a virgin is an honour, others are unhonoured… In some societies, wanting to be a straight man who wishes to have a normal life means you're dishonourable, in others, the opposite...you get the idea." 

The vessel shone, and Akainu's eyes shone. 

"According to this honour logic, you, admirals, since you got fooled by a criminal, you lost your honour," Josh said.  "To me, who lived not caring about what others think, I don't need such a thing called honour. Leave the shame to yourself.  

Josh continued while clenching his fist. "I have my pride and I don't look for anyone's validation. I accept whoever I am. Being praised by society and honourable to them has nothing for me. Weakling in mind cares about what others think. The strongest thrive for pride." 

Josh reached the vessel and he grabbed a weird-looking Devil Fruit. 

Lifting his leg, he stomped down. 

Akainu's frozen body turned into shreds. 

Both Kizaru and Aokiji stopped and stared at Akainu. If there had been a chance to save him, now it's gone forever. 

Josh turned to the admirals before he looked at the Devil Fruit. 

...

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