The sun rested gently over Dressrosa.
Warm.
Golden.
Alive.
Atop the King's Plateau, laughter echoed freely. Unburdened by politics, untouched by the chaos brewing elsewhere.
"Scarlett! Wait, that's cheating!"
A small voice rang out, filled with mock outrage.
"I'm not cheating, Viola, you're just too slow!"
A blur of pink hair dashed across the garden.
Riku Scarlett, sixteen years old, darted between marble pillars with effortless grace. Her laughter bright, unrestrained.
Behind her—
A younger girl chased with determination far bigger than her size.
Riku Viola, only ten, cheeks puffed in frustration as she ran.
"I'm going to catch you this time, I swear!"
Scarlett glanced back, sticking out her tongue.
"Then try harder!"
Viola lunged—
Missed—
And tumbled forward—
"Ah—!"
But before she could hit the ground—
Scarlett caught her.
"…Got you."
A soft smile.
Viola blinked.
Then pouted.
"That doesn't count…"
Scarlett laughed again, setting her down gently.
"It absolutely counts."
Their laughter blended into the breeze—
Carried across the palace gardens—
A moment of peace.
Not far from them—
Under the shade of a grand stone archway—
A man stood watching.
Calm.
Composed.
Riku Doldo III.
King of Dressrosa.
His eyes softened as he watched his daughters.
"…They grow more lively by the day."
Beside him stood a royal advisor. Aged, sharp-eyed, dressed in formal attire befitting the court.
"Indeed, Your Majesty."
The advisor adjusted his glasses slightly.
"But the world outside these walls grows… equally lively."
The King's expression shifted.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
"…You mean the reports."
The advisor nodded.
"Pirate activity has increased across nearby waters."
A pause.
"…And with the upcoming auction…"
The air grew heavier.
"…we must assume attention will be drawn here."
Riku Doldo III exhaled slowly.
"Emperors… warlords… criminals of every kind…"
His gaze drifted outward—
Beyond the palace—
Beyond the city—
Toward the sea.
"…Dressrosa may soon become a stage for monsters."
The advisor's tone remained measured.
"Security has already begun tightening, Your Majesty. Additional patrols, reinforced checkpoints—"
"That won't be enough."
The King's voice was firm.
"…Not if even half of these rumors are true."
A brief silence passed.
Then—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Unsteady.
A soldier burst into the courtyard—
Armor clattering—
Breath uneven—
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Both men turned.
The soldier dropped to one knee immediately.
"There's been an incident!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"What kind of incident?" the advisor asked sharply.
The soldier swallowed.
"…A battle, sir."
"…Where?"
"The East side of the city. Near the outer districts!"
His voice trembled.
"Two pirates are fighting, and the damage…"
A beat.
"…the damage is severe."
Scarlett and Viola had stopped playing.
The laughter—
Gone.
"What do you mean severe?" the King asked, stepping forward.
The soldier hesitated.
"…Buildings have collapsed."
"…Civilians are fleeing."
"…Entire streets have been torn apart."
A heavy silence fell.
"…And the pirates?"
The soldier clenched his fists.
"…We don't recognize them fully, but…"
A pause.
"…one of them matches a high bounty poster."
The King's eyes sharpened.
"…Which one."
The soldier looked up.
"…Giovanni."
The name lingered.
Like a spark near dry powder.
Riku Doldo III turned immediately.
"Mobilize the army."
The advisor stepped forward quickly.
"Your Majesty—!"
But the King didn't stop.
"I will go there myself."
The advisor's expression hardened.
"That is not advisable!"
He moved in front of the King.
"If this is truly a high-level pirate battle, then your presence—"
"—is exactly where I need to be."
The King's voice cut cleanly through the tension.
Firm.
Unyielding.
"I am the king of this country."
His gaze burned with quiet resolve.
"If my people are in danger—"
A step forward.
"—then I will not hide behind walls."
The advisor froze.
Words caught in his throat.
The King turned toward the soldiers.
"Prepare my guard."
Then toward his daughters—
Scarlett stood still.
Viola clutched her dress.
"…Stay inside."
His voice softened.
"I will return shortly."
Scarlett opened her mouth—
But no words came.
Viola nodded silently.
The King turned—
Cape swaying behind him—
As he strode toward the palace exit.
Below—
Far beyond the plateau—
Smoke rose into the sky.
And faintly—
BOOM.
The sound of battle echoed through Dressrosa.
---
The streets of Dressrosa. Once filled with music, laughter, and dance—
Were now… breaking apart.
BOOM—!!
Stone shattered.
Windows exploded outward.
Tiles ripped from the ground as two figures blurred across the city like clashing storms.
"Come on," Giovanni's voice rang out, light, almost bored.
"You've got more than that, right?"
A blur of black and white shot forward—
Rob Lucci.
Leopard form.
Muscles coiled. Eyes cold. Killing intent overflowing.
"Don't mock me."
He vanished—
Soru.
He reappeared behind Giovanni, fingers already extended—
"Shigan."
THRUST—!!
Giovanni tilted his head.
Barely.
The finger pierced through afterimage.
"…Too slow."
Before Lucci could react—
A foot slammed into his ribs—
BANG—!!
Lucci crashed through a building, stone erupting outward.
Inside—
Civilians screamed.
"RUN—!!"
"Get out of here!!"
"Those are pirates!!"
A mother grabbed her child—
Ducking behind a collapsing stall—
Tears streaming.
"What's happening—?!"
Outside—
Dust rose.
Lucci stepped out of the rubble.
Unshaken.
But his expression—
Twisted.
"…You're fast."
Giovanni stood in the street, sword resting casually on his shoulder.
"Thanks. I've been working on it."
Lucci's jaw tightened.
"You think this is a game."
"Isn't it?" Giovanni smiled.
"You're really trying your hardest."
Lucci's eyes sharpened.
"…Then I'll break you."
He stomped the ground—
Geppo.
Air cracked beneath his feet as he launched upward—
Then twisted—
"Rankyaku!"
A slicing air blade tore through the sky—
Splitting buildings in its path—
Giovanni raised his sword—
SHING—
The slash split cleanly in half.
"…Okay, that one had some weight."
Lucci descended—
His body hardened—
Blackened slightly with Haki—
Then—
"Rokuogan!"
Both fists slammed forward—
A shockwave exploded outward—
BOOOOM—!!
The ground caved in.
Dust swallowed everything.
For a moment—
Silence.
"…Did he get him?"
A civilian whispered from behind cover.
"…No."
A figure stepped out of the dust.
Unharmed.
Giovanni exhaled.
"…That one would've hurt if I stood still."
Lucci's eye twitched.
"You…"
Veins bulged along his arms.
"…Why aren't you going down?!"
Giovanni tilted his head.
"…Because you're not strong enough."
Silence.
Then—
Rage.
Lucci roared—
Charging again—
Claws tearing into the ground—
"SHUT UP—!!"
He attacked relentlessly—
Soru.
Shigan.
Rankyaku.
Geppo.
A storm of Six Powers techniques.
The city paid the price.
Walls collapsed.
Roofs split open.
People ran in every direction—
"GET DOWN!!"
"THIS WAY—!!"
"HELP—!!"
Giovanni moved through it all—
Effortless.
Step.
Dodge.
Lean.
Like he was dancing.
Each attack—
Missed by inches.
Each counter—
Barely used.
Lucci's breathing grew heavier.
"…Why…"
Another strike—
Dodged.
"…WHY WON'T YOU FIGHT BACK?!"
Giovanni finally stopped moving.
The street cracked beneath his feet.
"…Because I don't need to."
That was it.
Lucci snapped.
"I'LL KILL YOU—!!"
He lunged—
Everything he had—
Haki flaring—
Teeth bared—
And then—
BANG.
A bullet.
Not aimed at Giovanni.
But it cut through the air—
Past Lucci's ear—
Embedding into the wall behind him.
Lucci froze.
"…?"
Far away—
Three kilometers out—
On a rooftop—
A man adjusted his rifle.
Yasopp clicked his tongue.
"…What the hell is that idiot doing?"
He sighed.
"Taking this long against someone like that…"
A pause.
"…Pathetic. So weak."
Back in the street—
Giovanni's expression changed.
Gone was the lazy smile.
Gone was the playful glint.
"…What did you say?"
The air shifted.
Lucci felt it instantly.
A pressure.
Heavy and wrong.
Giovanni lowered his sword slightly.
"…Weak?"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
"…You think I'm weak?"
Lucci instinctively stepped back.
"…What is this—?"
The ground trembled from presence.
Giovanni lifted his head—
Eyes sharp—
Focused—
"…Alright."
A step forward.
"Let's end this."
Lucci roared and charged—
One final time—
Everything he had—
But—
Too late.
Giovanni moved.
He appeared in front of Lucci—
Sword drawn—
"Davy Sword Style…"
The world seemed to go quiet.
Even the wind stopped.
Even the screams faded.
Lucci's eyes widened—
"…What—"
"Conquest."
BOOM—!!
A wave.
Not visible—
But undeniable.
It crashed into Lucci—
His transformation shattered instantly—
Leopard form collapsing—
His body froze—
Eyes rolling back—
Blood pooling on his chest—
And then—
THUD.
Rob Lucci hit the ground.
Unconscious.
Far away—
Yasopp lowered his rifle—
A small smirk forming.
"…Finally."
---
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