LW: So, while rereading the Dressrosa chapters, I realized I'd forgotten to assign Kaya to a group. My bad, so I'll say it here and now, she's in Luffy's, or I suppose currently Franky's group, looking for the Smile Factory.
Anywho, on to the next chapter!
Rubber King & Mirror Master - New World Chaos: Rough Ragtime Royale
Waiting Area
"Nice get up, but do you really think I can be fooled that easily?" a tall blond man chuckles ominously as he approaches Laki "Not only is that damn hat of yours iconic, but no matter the disguise, do you really think I'd forget the person who made my life go to shit?" he asks, still grinning.
"Hey dude, I'm not Straw Hat, I'm a chick with a straw hat, big difference" the rubber girl argues, though her eyes widen as she realizes who the man in front of her was.
"Yeah you are, but you think I don't know the New World has shit that can change that, that lanky bastard that killed my 1st mate probably knows how to in under an hour" Bellemy dismisses, Laki deciding not to argue that it actually takes under 5 minutes for the Hormone fruit to do it's job, as that would just prove his point.
"So what you want Lamby?"
"Bellemy"
"I know what I said" Laki shrugs "Also, what the Hell are you doing here? You can't even eat the fruit on offer you already have one?"
"What do you care Straw Hat? It's not like I'm glued to Jaya you know, I can go wherever I want. Besides, in case you didn't notice…" he says referring to the tattoo across his chest visible through his open shirt "I'm a Donquiote pirate now. It's a dream come true not gonna lie, I've looked up to that man ever since I was a kid. I don't care about the fruit, but I do care about the recognition I would get for kicking the asses of everyone in that arena and claiming the prize as the Champions fighter"
"I'll kick your ass as many times as it takes to get the message, that I don't lose to punks" Laki huffs.
"You can try, but I'm not the same man you pummeled into the ground 2 years ago" Bellemy argues "For starters… I saw the Sky Islands, just like you did" he reveals, Laki actually a tiny bit impressed he braved the Knock up Stream just to see if they were telling the truth "Lost my whole damn crew going up there, but what I experienced through my world on it's head"
"You went to Skypeia?" Laki's eyes widen, before swiftly narrowing again "You better not have hurt anyone!"
"So what if I did?" Bellemy taunts, cackling in her face, then starting to walk away "Anyway, I'm not going to hold a grudge anymore, not to you at least. There's a big wave about to crash through this world, and I think Doflamingo's ship can ride it out" he declares as he walks up the stairs "Either way, I'm done laughing at you"
Elsewhere - Cafe in the Northeast.
"So, you going to Greenbit ay? You can, but I wouldn't recommend it" the cafe owner argues to the team transporting Caesar, all wearing shades and the guys even having fake moustaches on "What are you, researchers? Explorers?"
"Pest control" Valentina states before Ussop could think of a lie, the veil attacked to her hat making her expression unreadable.
"Ok…. well whatever that means, is it really worth risking your life over? Cause it better be" he states to the group.
"The bridge over there, what's it made of?" Robin asks, since they were rather close to the only way to Greenbit.
"It's solid iron, but that don't mean it's safe" the owner responds "Should be obvious enough, nobody's brave enough to use it. There's a school of Fighting Fish there too, the sea's around Greenbit are a deathtrap, that's for sure. Before they showed up people could go to and from Greenbit as they pleased, but now, not a chance"
"Shirorororo, these fish, what are they like?" Caesar asks curiously.
"I'm going to guess, big, brutish, and easily irritated?" Victor muses.
"Basically. Nasty horns, worse disposition, will capsize any ship that comes their way" the cafe owner confirms "They'll attack the bridge too, that's what those iron bars are for, though as you can see, they just barely do their job, one day those fish will break through" he sighs tiredly "Hence why nobody uses it these days" he says before heading back inside.
"Traffy, what the hell were you thinking? Why set the meeting somewhere so dangerous?" Ussop whisper-shouts irritably.
"Deal with it, we're already here. I'd be more worried about the people though"
"You mean that they're going about their business like any other day?" Robin asks, watching the people and toys milling around.
"Exactly. Doflamingo said he stepped down, this country has no king and yet everyone is so calm and cheerful. Things aren't adding up" Law frowns as he sips his coffee.
"Well, I guess we'll find out when we run into the flamingo fucker" Valentina shrugs, not really in the mood to care either way just yet… until something pinged her haki that made her sit railroad straight.
Passing through the crowd were 3 men and a woman, tall and lanky with rather distinctive masks, and billowing white coats over equally white suits. The dragon-masked female scans the area, head tilting robotically, before continuing with the others, her steel boots making a distinct clang against the cobblestones.
"Um, who were those guys?" Ussop whispers, seeing Robin, Val, and Caesar had all started to panic or otherwise fret when they passed by.
"CP0, that's not good" Law grimaces, they could greatly complicate matters.
"There's a 0 division? And why are they apparently less secret than CP9?" Ussop asks.
"The strongest intelligence agents in the world, Cipher Pol, Aegis Zero. And before you ask, they're even more powerful and dangerous than CP9" Robin answers.
"They can't be here for us, right? They must just be on vacation or something?"
"In full get up and masks? Nah they're here on business, and we best pray that business ain't what Law dragged us into" Victor sighs "Especially given that last one, Tsukuyomi. Whatever she's here for is bad news, that's a fact right from Ywach's mouth"
"Fuuuuuck!" Whines Ussop and Caesar.
Collosium
"And now we can finally begin the arrival of the Block B fighters, give them a cheer and soon they'll be giving us blood." The commentator bellows through his Den Den Mushi
"Shit, it's starting, don't wanna miss this" Laki panics as she rushes for the nearest window/opening "Oh, this is a nice view. Good luck Saria" she winces, crossing her fingers.
Somewhere else on the island
To the untrained eye, Sanji and Violet would just be any young couple out on a stroll or maybe even a date, even if they were being tailed by the most overt and least stealthy people you'd ever meet who weren't also members of the Straw Hat crew. A statement that couldn't have been made clearer as Sanji slipped away for 5 seconds to kick the living daylights out of a sniper that had been about to take a shot at them, then Sky Walk back down like nothing happened.
"My goodness" Violet swoons, linking arms with Sanji once more "You're so strong and fast too!"
"It was nothing special, anyone could detect a sniper from over 100ft away, then deal with them in a single blow" Sanji downplays but as he gets a hug from the buxom dancer he stops and just enjoys the moment.
At the Sunny
"Ok, so we have Robin's clone on babysitting duty, then the rest of this group are myself, Shirahoshi, Momonosuke, Chopper, Carue, and Brook" Nami lists off to herself as she watches the horizon, eyes peeled for any signs of enemies.
"No no no! You don't drink the tea!" Momonosuke shouts "You're supposed to test for poison, if it's fine you give it to the Shogun, if it's not then you die. Start over!"
"What a rude little brat" Shirahoshi sighs, Carue quacks in agreement, but as long as Chopper was happy 'playing' with the dragon boy they were'nt going to stop him "Doesn't seem like much of a Kozuki, from what Robin said last night"
"At least he's not doing anything perverted, seems Artemis' threats to his boyhood really straightened him out" Brook hums, tuning his violin.
CRASH!
BANG!
CLATTER!
"What was that?" Nami squeaks "Everyone's on deck, right?" she looks around, seeing everyone was present and accounted for.
"Even if they weren't it sounded like it came from the men's quarters, and both Chopper and I are up here" Brook notes "So yeah, that's not good"
"Well don't just stand there, go check it out. Your Shogun demands it!" Momo cries.
"Please go check it out Brook, Qua!" Carue asks, getting a headpat from the skeleton before he complies, pushing open the door, and revealing a trippy art piece that used to be a room of the Sunny.
"Oh for Fuc….. Magical bullshit?" Nami groans
"Magical Bullshit" Robin and Shirahoshi nod, Medusa clapping her hands while giggling.
Back to the Colosseum
"Is it alright if I watch here with you Miss Laki?" Cavendish asks, at least trying to sound suave, but Laki doesn't care.
"Sure, I'm not taking up that much space" she giggles, then her eyebrows rise when she sees what Saria decided to use instead of her signature sword.
"Brass knuckles, how brutish for such a lithe, graceful creature" Cavendish whines, though Laki was more concerned about the runes etched along the striking surfaces.
"And it seems one of our missing contestants has been located. This one's been making waves since he debuted in the East only a year ago, and leaving devastation in his wake, from live-streaming himself as he roasted pirates on a skewer, to opening fire on innocent civilians just because he 'fucking felt like it'. Give it up for 'The Cannibal' Bartolomeo!"
Bartolomeo, a green-haired man with a fanged maw and a bullring, grins sadistically, before flipping off the crowd "All you fuckers, can go straight to Hell!" he cackles, setting off the spectators as expected
"Oh he's a gadfly savant, even Luffy can't piss people off that easily" Saria grins bobbing and weaving around fighters and the boatloads of trash the spectators were now throwing at everyone.
"Why's everyone so mad?" Laki asks, not seeing what the big deal was, he just told them to go to hell, he's a pirate were they expecting some kind of elegant gentleman?
"It's because of that barbarian over there" Cavendish explains "He leads a pirate crew called the Barto Club, a ruffian only worth 150 million"
Of course, the cannibal didn't help matters when he threw a 'bomb' into the crowd, causing mass panic as the civilians practically tore each other apart to get to safety… only for it to be an ordinary ball.
"Pathetic" he sneers, watching the anger grow in the weaklings around him, unable to actually fight but more than happy to watch others kill each other for their amusement.
"I don't get it, he just seems like a bit of a weirdo" Laki hums, though can tell even from here Bartolomeo had managed to get Saria's attention, he amused her, and that much was clear.
"He's more than just a menace, he's also got an attitude that's simply, ugly" Cavendish shivers in disgust "Unlike mine, his reputation leaves a lot to be desired"
"I dunno, his reputation seems to be built on actions, not getting his photos taken" Laki mutters.
"God damn it, he's making fools of us all. Never mind let's move on to the event itself. There's only 1 fighter left to arrive before Block B can begin its brawl. This fighter is loyal to our king Doflamingo, so loyal he brought the King a solid gold pillar from a distant land, he's more than worthy of winning this tournament, now he just has to prove he has the strength to follow through. Given he's been ransacking towns of people who've slandered our people's great name. He's come to be known as, 'The Bullet of Dressrosa'! And at long last he's been granted the opportunity to prove himself by King Doflamingo himself…"
"Hm?" Laki blinks, wondering who all the fanfare was for, meanwhile Cavendish pouts like a child.
"That's one of Block B's headliners?"
"The stakes are already high today, but for him, they're even higher. If he's able to achieve victory, then this dedicated combatant will be promoted to an Executive position within the Donquiote Family. This pirate is a strong contender, he could take it all. Give it up for Bellemy the Hyena!" the announcer bellows as the blond enters the arena.
"So spring dick is still kicking, I might just beat him senseless for old time's sake" Saria grins behind her mask, especially with the fanfare the prick was getting from the spectators.
"It looks like all 138 competitors are gathered in the Ring, meaning Block B's selection bout can proceed!"
"So 138 fighters all going at it at once, I won't know where to look" Laki giggles.
"It's only a qualifier so there's a lot of riftraff that will be out in moments. I could tell you who I'm keeping an eye on though if you'd like" Cavendish offers, getting a nod from Laki "The Fighting King Elizabello the 2nd, his tactician Dagama, Blue Gilly of the Longleg tribe, Tank Lepant from Dressrosa's own selfe defence army, the Criminal Avdula and his partner Jitte, Hack a master of Fishman karate and jujutsu, the stunning and seductive Miss Fortune…. And off course the pirates bellemy and bartolomeo" the blond lists off, reluctantly adding the agro master and the fan favourite at the end "If I was a betting man, I'd say those are the only people who could win this match, nobody else is even worth a second glance"
DING!
The skirmish began and like she predicted Saria had forgone the iconic Hebi and went for shock knuckles, cackling as each strike caused the muscles to spasm around the impact site, usually leaving the fighter open to a kick to the face if that wasn't where she'd initially punched them.
"Spring Hopper!" Bellemy cries, slamming into several fighters in a row with his spring-transformed limbs, sending a few off them into the water while others were merely knocked out.
Meanwhile, something extraordinary was going on in a 'corner' of the arena. Elizabello was shadowboxing with a group of other fighters all crowded around him some kind of protection detail.
'Wait, we were allowed to team up? Or is it a 'there are no rules so everything goes' kind of situation?' Saria muses, head tilting in curiosity, then ducking under a flail and spin kicking the idiot in the throat "Whatever you're cooking, it better be worth the wait Zesesese!"
"We're winning this bout. Our Great King Elizabello II was made to be a living weapon. He boasts a superhuman physique, and the power to fell any opponent with a single punch. He once devastated an entire enemy stronghold with just one blow, creating panic throughout the land. Unfortunately, this Godly King-Punch, has a 1 hour charge time to unleash that singular attack, though it's usually worth it as nothing is left standing afterward" Dagama taunts, Elizabello continuing to shadow box and charge his power behind him "Rumor has it, this punch could topple one of the Yonko if it connected. Of course, he'd only get one shot at it, so it would be a matter of timing and luck that would decide the victor there. Your Majesty, it's time!" the advisor cries.
"I'm not ready yet, you'll have to keep guarding me a little longer" Elizabello retorts, getting a nod from his rotund retainer.
Of course, they weren't the only ones teaming up this early in the brawl, in fact, it should probably have been expected that Avdula and Jitte would work together given they were partners outside the arena, though it most likely also meant that they were less powerful when fighting individually, something to look out for.
'This just gets more and more interesting' Saria grins, then backsteps "Hello, was that meant for me?" she asks as another gladiator goes flying past, knocked out by the masked man 'Ricky'
"No young miss, I was merely focused on my foes" he states gruffly, their eyes lock, before deciding to leave that fight for a little longer.
"Well, good luck… your highness" she coos, turning her attention back to Springman.
Meanwhile… Bartolomeo was taking a nap, completely ignoring the booing of the crowd as well as the mayhem that surrounded him.
Waiting area
"That guy's such a weirdo" Laki chuckles, then shivers seeing Cavendish's stack of bounties torn to shred from repeated stabbings. He really didn't like people stealing his supposedly 'hard-earned' spotlight.
Thump!
Thump!
Thump!
"Mind if I join you 2 over here, the view's better on this side of the arena?" Don Chinjo asks, his voice booming but his tone polite.
"Sure Mr, I don't own the window" Laki chuckles, while Cavendish grunts his agreement, too busy plotting the deaths of the 'Worst Generation' to care what some old fart wanted "Who are you by the way?"
"I'll answer you if you answer my question. How's old Garp doing these days?" he asks casually "Tell me, Luffy"
"You know my Grandpa? Wait a second, how did you know it was me, I had Emproriroro Hormones to make me a girl!" Laki panics, while Cavendish spazes out behind him as one of his murder targets is right there beside him having a casual conversation for the last 5 minutes.
"Know him, he nearly killed me, and I carry that grudge against him, his children, and his grandchildren" Chinjao growls.
"Ah shit, it's Ace's execution all over again" Laki whines "Crime of birth and all that crap"
"As for your new gender… I too a blind swing as even if you weren't Luffy, you carry yourself like a Monkey D. which is good enough reason for me to kill you too" Chinjo admits with a low chuckle.
"That is actually fair" Laki nods.
"Back in the old days, long before your time, Garp was considered the Devil on Earth to all pirates, even if most only remember his infamous rivalry with Gol D. Roger. They say "Time Heals All Wounds", but even after decades, my pain still burns as hot and as fresh as a descending Meteor on that day." Chinjo groans, rubbing his head slowly.
"Is it true?" Cavendish cries "Are you Straw Hat Luffy?"
"Little busy Shiny Cabbage, go complain to someone else" Laki shouts, deciding the Veteran pirate was clearly the bigger threat, the blond twitching at once more being ignored and dismissed by that which he deems unworthy.
"You know, it's a real shame. If I'd only learned about Garp's son Dragon sooner, you wouldn't have even been born" Chinjao states as a prelude to his attack, using his massive head like a hammer, smashing the stone where Laki and Cavendish had been just moments ago. He recovers surprisingly quickly for a man his age and starts fighting both of them…. Well mostly Laki, Cavendish invited himself as he was mad Chinjao was stealing his kill. He did impress the other fighters both by drawing his sword Durandal and managing to hold back Chinjo's headbutt with a one-handed thrust, but the fact he had to jump back to avoid the blade snapping showed the old timer was still in fighting shape.
"So, are you fighting me, or him?" Laki asks, this weirdo was confusing her, a lot.
"I'm going to kill you once I establish my rightful claim to it, then draw out your suffering, nice and long" Cavendish cackles, while both of them continue to bounce and dodge Chinjo's stone-shattering punches and headbutts. "Looks like he's not going to back off unless I go at him at full power"
"This is getting old" Laki whines leaping up rather than back "Almost as old as you!" she shouts, slamming Chinjo into the floor with a punch to the back of the head.
"Did that slip of a girl just KO Chinjao?" One of the fighters whispers.
"What a walloping" the old man hums as he stands up once again "You really are Garp's grandkid, that's for sure"
'Besides haki, I wasn't holding back with that punch, and yet the old guy just stood up like it was a light slap. He's a lot tougher than I thought' Laki grimaces.
"Hahaha, well isn't this a nice surprise" Chinjo laughs as he claps his hands together, his beard seeming to come to life from the energy flowing off and through him "You 2 have talent, but sadly, it won't be enough to save you from my wrath!"
"Grandson of a Demon, popularity stealing bastard, you can't go 10ft without drawing ire can you Straw Hat?" Cavendish taunts, almost sounding friendly.
"Can you shut up for 5 minutes your more whiny then Goa's fancypants," Laki groans.
"Stop this Gramps!"
"We're in the middle of a competition!" Boo and Sai shout as they rush over "Kill him in the arena, not in here!" they bellow as they leap at, onto, and then try to restrain the angry old man.
"Unhand your grandfather this instant!" Chinjo roars, but the men refuse, stubbornly clinging to the old pirate.
"You guys better not be doing what I think you're doing! Fighting outside the arena is grounds for immediate disqualification and removal."
"Those are the Colosseum guards" Cavendish scowls "But rules be damned I'm getting my revenge…. Where the FUCK did that bitch go?"
'It's honestly, probably safer out here than in there' Laki thinks as she clings to the outside of the window, able to watch the fights just fine from here while out of sight of Cabbage and the Old man.
The Arena
"There are only about 70 Competitors left in the ring, over half have been eliminated and it's down to the best of the bunch. Hack, the Fishman Karate Master fells his 17th opponent" The announcer cries, as things were heating up even faster now the numbers were falling.
"4000 Brick Fist!" Hack scowls as he plants his fist in the face of the next asshole to cross him, maybe next time the bastard won't badmouth a Fishman unless he has the strength to back up his slurs "As Jinbe once told me, my friend and hope of our people, we must find a way to achieve good relations, with Fists! Thus I will continue fighting, to the end"
"Current 2nd place with 15 kills to his name, the unknown newcomer, Ricky! He's one to keep an eye on as that strength and skill is clearly being put to good use. Oh, I spoke too soon, he's now tied with Hack at 18 a piece." The announcer continues to narrate "3rd place is going to need to step up her game, 11 kills for Miss Fortune. Especially as Jitte and Avdula have just taken out 10 seasoned warriors in the blink of an eye, their teamwork unparalleled. Of course, I suppose it doesn't matter how many you slay, just that you're the last one standing, but it does get the blood pumping to see so many skilled fighters giving their all!"
Blue Gilly decided to have a little fun himself, beating down a fair few of the men guarding Elizabello, his legs hitting with the strength of iron whips "Come on now, it's no fun if you're all the way over there, you're not shy are you?" he coos with a wink.
"I'll take that bet" Saria grins behind her mask "Might actually be a challenge"
"Oh hon, I'll give you more than a challenge" Bluegilly grins before rushing her, his legs a blur, but so was she, observation haki made it almost look easy, the occasional kick to deflect one of his more direct blows while the perfect shot was lining up.
CLANG!
Bluegilly grins, knowing he hit his mark, only to gasp as her leg had stopped his cold.
"Speedy, and more trouble than the Long Arms I dealt with 2 years ago, but you're nothing compared to our cook" Saria sighed deeply, pushing his leg away before spear-kicking him in the diaphragm, the longleg going down with a gasp, before getting a fist to the face, the blow cracking the stone beneath his head.
"And it would seem Fortune no longer favored Bluegilly as our maiden of mystery takes him down for the count. And do my eyes deceive me, say it ain't so, Tank has been taken out by the combined forces of Advula and Jitte, can anyone stop this gruesome twosome? Either way, that makes it over 100 men down, only about 30 fighters remain in the ring, it's getting intense and messy down there, but it's still all to play for!"
"It won't matter how strong these men are, nothing can stand up to the King-Punch" Dagama chuckles to himself, it was almost time, he just had to hold off a little longer.
Of course, the sly duo could only boast and show off for so long before they got what was coming to them, this time in the form of Bellemy. Springing up and then dropping down on the partners, he removes 2 stakes from his jacket, pinning them down when he drives them into Avdula and Jitte's feet, then coiling his torso he grabs the double teamers by their heads, nails digging into the roof of their mouths and releases the spring, taking them with him and in the process bending them backward, until their back cracked at the same force as one of Nico Robin's 'Clutch' attacks.
Of course, the hype Bellemy's attack drew, had to be ruined by none other than Bartolomeo, who chose that exact moment, to drop his pants and piss over the side of the arena. This whipped the crowd into a frenzy, though their rage switched to an eager bloodlust when they noticed Hack begin to approach the degenerate, praying he'll finally kick the bastard's bare ass.
"I'm not too proud, not to strike you from behind if you refuse to take this bout seriously" Hack states, proving he at least had enough pride and honor to alert his opponent before attacking him.
"Hm, you say something? Kind of in the middle of something, sorry" Bartolomeo shrugs, the stream not even slowing down.
"You best finish that quickly, for I won't ignore you just because you're desecrating the battlefield"
"Aw come on man, I'm defenseless over here with my dick out, show some compassion!" Bartolomeo yelps, the gadfly starting to panic as the Fishman gets closer.
"4000 Brick Fist!" Hack cries as he strikes the green-haired punk, the crowd preparing to cheer, only for him to drop to his knees in pain, his hand crushed as if it had struck Adamantium plating.
"Got ya! As if I'd leave myself open like that in a place like this, you need to try a lot harder to take the likes of me out!" Bartolomeo cackles, grinning widely as he finally finishes and pulls up his pants.
'Holy crap, what was that, does he have some kind of Recoil fruit? Is that why Saria is barely holding in cackles?' Laki wonders from her position on the wall. Whatever Bartolomeo is, he's a menace, and a real threat.
TBC
LW: And that's it for chapter 36, Block B will conclude next chapter.