"Alright, Baby-5, that's enough of the massage, it's time for us to go now~" Hikaru said, signaling Violet with a glance. Understanding, she subtly leaned into his arm.
Hikaru smiled, then turned and took Baby-5 into his other arm.
"Hey~" Baby-5 gasped, then mumbled awkwardly, "Mr. Hikaru, this doesn't seem necessary…"
"Oh? Really… It's quite simple, isn't it? Baby-5, I need you to lean on my arms and listen to me~"
"Okay… okay~" Baby-5 blushed. Someone had proposed to her before, so why was she acting so shy now? The truth was, she'd had this trait since childhood. Whether it was borrowing money, marriage proposals, or even forced sales, she'd always felt "needed" and accepted, which often led to her being swindled.
Fortunately, as a member of the Don Quixote Family, under Doflamingo's protection, she'd only been tricked into accumulating a debt of 98 million Berries and subscribing to as many as 50 newspapers.
Those men who proposed to her were killed on the spot by Doflamingo's operatives, often before they even had a chance to appear beside Baby-5 and try to hold her hostage.
The Don Quixote Pirates were infamous, and these suitors were truly brainless, daring to provoke Doflamingo's wrath. However, such truly foolish individuals were a minority.
If nothing else, Doflamingo's protection was quite comprehensive. After all, Baby-5 had joined the Don Quixote Family as a child, and even with her tendency to be deceived when "needed," they never abandoned her out of boredom.
Instead, they even treated her as an invaluable asset for missions. All these details simply underscored that Baby-5's shyness stemmed from her being a truly pure flower, untouched by anyone.
Hikaru nodded, then ascended, holding a person in each arm. Using his Doa Doa no Mi powers (Door-Door Fruit), he flew directly upwards. Any obstacles he encountered transformed into doors, easily opening for him.
Wait? Someone might ask where Hikaru's flying carpet was and why he wasn't using it.Hikaru could only offer an expression that spoke volumes without uttering a word. ＼(^w^)／
Soon, they reached a highly humid room. Violet sensed something amiss and quickly used her Giro Giro no Mi power to peer upwards. She discovered a vast expanse of seawater directly above them!
She warned, "Wait! If we go up like this, we'll enter the seawater surrounding the Corrida Colosseum!"
"It doesn't matter. The seawater can't get close to us," Hikaru calmly stated, shaking his head.
Violet noticed his confident tone, and a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. Could Hikaru possess abilities she wasn't aware of? She widened her eyes, determined not to miss a single detail.
Upon reaching the final layer of the ceiling, Hikaru pushed it open with a barely perceptible creak. The seawater that should have poured down the moment the door opened instead recoiled from Hikaru and the others as if they were the plague, parting to either side. Their upward momentum remained unchecked as they rapidly ascended.
"What?! The seawater is actively avoiding us?!"
Baby-5's eyes sparkled with stars, her curious gaze swiftly turning to Hikaru. She detested seawater the most, being a Buki Buki no Mi user, as it rendered her weak and powerless.
"This… what kind of ability is this, capable of such an outrageous feat?!"
Violet could barely believe her eyes. If it weren't for the incredibly real presence Hikaru exuded, she would have suspected she was dreaming. Hikaru had anticipated their surprised expressions and remained completely unfazed.
The numerous fighting fish beneath the water in the Corrida Colosseum were far from pleased. Seeing Hikaru and the others, they erupted in fury, as if something precious had been stolen from them. They aimed their two strange horns at Hikaru and charged forward ferociously.
A red light flashed in Hikaru's eyes, and he instantly pinpointed the locations of several fighting fish. These fish would attack him within moments. He widened his eyes, gathering an azure light, and scanned the surroundings precisely.
"30,000,000 Volt Thor!"
The blazing lightning beam surged forth like an incredibly sharp cutting laser, easily slicing through anything it touched. Due to the angle, many unlucky spectators watching the gladiators in the stands were also affected, including those about to enter the arena.
Shhhhhh!
The water's surface parted into two, and Hikaru led the three women through the gap, ascending into the sky to hover in the air. The temporary rain created by Jinbe had stopped, so Hikaru didn't need to employ any methods to shield the three women from it.
"What's going on?! Is this performance scheduled for me today?"
Diamante mumbled, but he quickly recognized Hikaru's familiar face and the three women in his arms. His expression turned grim. "Isn't he the man Doffy noticed? Things seem to be going wrong…"
"This is… an unexpected visitor?!"
Gaz, the live announcer of the Corrida Colosseum, was stunned, but his strong professional ethics allowed him to quickly invent an identity for Hikaru.
"Who are they?! How dare they interrupt the gladiator match?!"
"The rules of the Corrida Colosseum cannot be violated! Where are the Thunder Squad? Take them away!"
"What a bunch of idiots! He looks like a strong man, but they're making so much noise and mocking him. Is he in a hurry to be reincarnated and meet the Pirate King?"
"…"
The audience was noisy, and many of them, driven by the principle of "watching the fun while causing trouble," shouted arrogantly.
"Oh~ It's truly lively~ Is this place a major source of Dressrosa's financial income?"
Hikaru's indifferent voice silenced the scene. Anyone with a little insight could sense the arrogance and disregard for life in his eyes.
"Baby-5, Violet, and Sugar! What are you doing?! Did this kid hold you hostage?!" Diamante yelled, his face contorted in a clownish grimace. Unexpectedly, only Sugar rolled her eyes at him, speechless.
Hikaru ignored him, looking around before continuing, "However, it seems the quality of your people needs improvement. You dare to speak rudely to a strong man. I believe you are ready to die."
As he finished speaking, Hikaru led the three women to stand in the ring at the center of the arena. Seeing the dire situation, the two swordsmen who had been dueling fled in a panic to a corner of the ring, huddling together for warmth and watching Hikaru and the others warily.
Hikaru raised his hand and made a grabbing motion. A bolt of lightning crackled, poised in his grasp. He grinned, staring at certain individuals in the audience as if looking at corpses.
"Wait, what is he going to do?!"
"Run!"
Baah~
"20,000,000 Volt Ampre!"