"If you're counting on the Navy to save you, you might as well wish for the moon."
"Dressrosa will ultimately belong to the Donquixote Family!"
Diamante, clad in a crimson cape, let out a savage laugh.
With a ghostlike step, he vanished and reappeared right in front of Rebecca, who had stepped forward to defend her people.
His sword lunged like a venomous serpent.
Using the powers of the Paramecia-type Flutter-Flutter Fruit, Diamante could shift objects between fluttering and solid states at will.
Rebecca's face paled. She spun her sword into a defensive stance, preparing to use her Backwater Sword Dance to block the strike.
But the moment their blades clashed, Diamante's sword turned weightless—then suddenly snapped forward like a striking tongue.
The tip shot straight for her brow.
Rebecca's face went white.
Bang!
Kyros leapt in front of her, intercepting the blow with his own sword.
Sparks flew as Diamante's flexible blade was knocked aside.
Kyros seized the moment and slammed into Diamante's chest.
Boom!
Diamante was sent flying, flipping through the air before landing on a pirate ship in pursuit. He grinned wickedly.
"Kyros, still as stubborn as ever. But this time, you won't escape. I spared your life once—never again!"
As Dressrosa's strongest gladiator, Kyros had clashed with Diamante before.
Now, standing on one leg atop the deck, Kyros said gravely:
"Rebecca, you've grown up. It's your turn to protect the family. This enemy… you'll need to stake your life to win."
"I'll board their ship and buy you time. Get ready—"
"Now!"
With a roar, Kyros tensed his leg and launched forward—
Only to be grabbed by Rebecca.
"Father—wait! It's the Navy! The Navy's here! If we can just hold out, we'll be saved!"
Her face lit up with hope.
Kyros and the others froze.
They knew all too well what had happened across the seas.
Since the Four Emperors Alliance formed and Totto Land expanded its territory by 500 nautical miles, even Dressrosa had become forbidden ground for the Navy.
Setting foot here was tantamount to declaring war.
Kyros had never truly believed the Navy would come. He only mentioned them to keep morale alive.
But now… a Navy ship had actually appeared.
Was it a mistake? A patrol that hadn't withdrawn in time?
Who would dare risk war with the Four Emperors just to wade into these waters?
"A Navy ship?"
Diamante, too, was drawn to the approaching vessel. Seeing the flag of justice fluttering above, he sneered:
"I've spent half my life fighting the Navy, running from them. Now I can stand tall. I'm stronger than I ever was as a Warlord."
"Judging by the size, it's probably just a Rear Admiral. If they're dumb enough to come here, I'll slaughter them all."
"Let's crush their hope in the cradle. Let them watch it die."
"Bring us alongside!"
His cruel roar echoed across the sea.
The pirates on his ship burst into laughter, raising the sails and steering toward the Navy vessel.
The thousand-meter gap between them closed rapidly.
In moments, only two or three thousand meters remained.
"Viola, quick! Open a Den Den Mushi broadcast! Tell the Navy to retreat immediately! That man has a 99 million bounty—you need to risk your life to beat him!"
Kyros was panicking.
He didn't know why the Navy had come, but their only hope now was to fight together.
But Viola stood frozen.
With her Glare-Glare Fruit, she had seen who stood at the bow of the ship.
The man who had once brought Dressrosa to its knees.
"Brother-in-law… we're saved. This time, the Navy sent someone extraordinary."
She turned to the others.
"No—only he would dare step into forbidden waters after the Four Emperors' new decree."
Kyros and Rebecca stiffened.
In their minds, a memory flashed—Doflamingo being crushed with a single effortless blow.
That unforgettable silhouette surged back into focus.
"Diamante, get back here!"
A thunderous voice roared from a nearby Big Mom pirate ship.
A massive figure glared at the scene.
Diamante and the others hesitated—but seeing the Navy ship drawing closer, he grinned.
"Relax, Snack. I'm not taking all the credit."
"Navy scum—DIE!"
Laughing maniacally, Diamante leapt toward the approaching ship.
This was his chance to earn glory for their young master.
But just two or three meters into his leap, the waves parted—
And from the bow of the ship, a slender figure emerged.
Left hand holding a gourd of liquor, right hand gripping a black staff.
Like a reaper summoned from the depths.
"You—!"
Diamante's face turned ghostly pale.
He never imagined a full-fledged Navy Admiral would be aboard a Rear Admiral's ship.
This wasn't a setup.
This was a death sentence.
Luoyu stood calmly on the deck, watching Diamante soar toward him. He took a sip of his earthy liquor and said:
"I was just wondering how Supreme Swordsmen are forged. Didn't expect someone to volunteer for the test."
"Guess I'll start with you."
His lazy voice drifted on the sea breeze.
Diamante's courage shattered. He screamed:
"No! I'm—"
VMMM!
A sharp hum rang out.
Luoyu's staff turned pitch black with Haki.
Without flourish, he swung it down.
A single slash—pure black—over a hundred meters long.
It cleaved the sea in two.
Diamante, who had hoped to survive by talking his way out after blocking the first strike—
Now stared, wide-eyed, as the attack filled his vision.
This wasn't a gamble.
This was annihilation.