LW: Happy New Year everyone. I was wrong about Oda, but the REAL final chapter was worth it. Anyway, back to Dressrosa, starting the year off with a bang.
Rubber King & Mirror Master: New World Chaos - Legacy of the Drill, ghost of the past.
"Yahohoho, so you're a Conqueror too lassie, but what kind of King could you ever be? Chin Jao taunts.
"King of the Pirates that who" Laki fires back briskly.
"What nonsense, as should be expected from a child such as yourself. Don't you know countless souls in the New World can wield that power? The only way to determine the true King would be a battle amongst yourselves, only then will you find a true victor amongst a sea of Conquerors. Only then can someone be called King of the Pirates!" he grunts before shooting towards Laki with a headbutt.
"Sounds like my kind of game" Laki grins as she dodges the stone-splitting impact.
"Now, before I kill you, tell me who taught you haki?" Chin Jao asks/demands.
"Rayleigh did" Laki answers.
"So, he's still alive" Chin Jao scoffs, his eyes narrowing, before launching a spin-kick which Laki blocks with her crossed forearms "How irksome" he grunts before both bounce back "Enough talk, I'm sick of dredging up the past!" he bellows, then in an act nobody expected, he began to cry rivers of tears "Give me back my treasure Straw Hat! Indeed I may gaze upon its splendor, but it remains forever out of reach. So close, yet so far away!" he bawls.
"I can't believe my eyes, this legendary pirate is flooding the arena with his tears"
"They called me ChinJao the Drill" the old man begins, once he got hold of himself once again "Because my head possessed a rather unique and useful shape. Now, can you even begin to guess what pain and humiliation Garp inflicted upon me?"
"He… flattened your head?" Laki guesses "But how is that my fault, I probably wasn't even born when Gramps fucked you up?" she argues, making a mild attempt at logic for a change.
"You may be ignorant to the sins of your family but that is no excuse" Chin Jao scowls as his fists turn black with armament haki "It was 30 years ago, but the rage inside me burns as if it was only yesterday!" He bellows, unleashing a barrage of punches which Laki thankfully manages to dodge "I want to hear you say I was wrong with your dying breath! That fiend, he took away my treasure, Bwaaaaaa!"
"And the waterworks are back, but at least he's fighting through them this time"
Outside
"Come on Sir Sanji, Miss Vivi, we must head to the Toyhouse, ransack it of its villainy and rescue Kanjuro!" Kinemon bellows, to the annoyance of both of his companions
"As on brand as that would be for us, we do need to actually stick to the plan, we're doing a rescue mission with an explosive finisher, which charging in guns blazing will lead to complete failure" Vivi argues.
"Plus, we might have more pressing issues" Sanji adds "There are an awful lot of marines here all of a sudden" he notes.
"Indeed, whatever for?" Kinemon asks.
"Best guess, pirates and other criminals publically competing in the Colosseum is bad, so they're planning to scoop them up once they leave, while they're still tired from fighting each other" Sanji guesses.
"Well society only operates smoothly when criminals are apprehended" Kinemon nods sagely until both his companions kick him in the kneecaps
"Idiot, did you forget you're working with pirates 2 of which are right here" the cook scowls.
"We need to warn Luffy and Kaos, hopefully, Saria will be somewhere she can communicate" Vivi bites her lips, considering just slipping into an alleyway and pulling her mirror from her sand body…
"What are you all standing around for?" A large, horned man with a metal faceplate growls as he stomps through the marine blockade "You mean to tell me not a single contestant has left the Colosseum"
"No sir, not yet" One of the lower marines confirms.
"I find that hard to believe given there were hundreds of contestants already eliminated in the last 2 rounds alone. Where ARE They?"
"Vice Admiral Maynor went undercover as a contestant, but we've been unable to contact him since the fights began" another marine briefs the large marine, Bastille.
"He just had to charge in alone, a rookie mistake, and one that probably cost him dearly" Bastille signs heavily "Whatever's going on in there, it reeks of corruption and villainy I can tell you that much"
Elsewhere
"There are 2 special Laws in Dressrosa, rules which have been strictly maintained since Doflamingo came to power a decade ago" The toy soldier states
"Special laws? What are they?" Kaya asks, clinging to Franky's other shoulder to the toy.
"1 is the kingdom-wide curfew at midnight, no citizen is allowed outside past 12"
"Everyone!" Franky bellows.
"That is correct, humans return to their homes, while the toys all make their way back to the House of Toys. 2nd Rule, toys are forbidden to enter a human dwelling, and humans are forbidden to enter a toyhouse, under any circumstances"
"That's just weird, though I suppose you do need to draw the line somewhere between human and toy" Franky hums "Speaking of, what kind of toys are you? You can talk and even seem to have free will, whoever designed you must be on Dr. Vegapunk's level of genius" the cyborg chuckles.
"Or it's magical bullshit" Artemis argues "That's almost always the more straightforward answer for those kinds of questions.
"By magical bullshit, do you mean Devil Fruit or regular magic?" Alvida asks curiously.
"Yes. It really could be either camp, but I'm putting my money on Devil fruit until I get a better feel of these toys essences" the artist hums, then grimaces seeing what was happening just down the street "Yep, magical shenanigans made those toys"
"Humanitis? Is that what he said?" Franky asks, looking confused.
"I mean if the toys walk, talk, and think like people, you'd almost expect them to want to behave like them too at some point" Kaya frowns.
"One moment please, I might be able to clear things up" the soldier says, skating over to a toy dog who scuttles over "No need to worry, this large fellow is a toy just like us"
"Well more like half, but eh close enough"
"Good enough for me!" the dog yips happily.
"Tell them who you are, really" The soldier requests.
The dog shuffles closer to Franky "That boy I was playing with a moment ago is my son, and that woman standing beside him was my wife, until this happened to me" he reveals.
"Shit, that's why Pops said his haki couldn't tell them apart" Artemis hisses "The toys ARE people, like Kyros and Milo here"
"Were people, and unless we find out how they ended up like this, that's all they'll ever be" Alvida sighs, getting a sad nod from Franky and Kaya.
"My… how did you know my name was Milo, my son called me One Poko as that's what my current form is?" Milo asks, his eyes wide with shock.
"Pops taught me the Eyes of Truth enchantment, they allow me to see people's names, their REAL names" she explains, the glyphs 真名 appearing in her eyes for a moment in a deep crimson.
"So, where do they think the kid came from, if by the sound of things you no longer exist?"
"They don't think about it, something about this situation it almost forces them to ignore things like that, she may not have needed to marry to have a child, but every child has a mother and a father, except my boy" Milo explains, before the Straw Hats let him return to playing with his family.
"So, what the FUCK!" Alvida hisses as they continue their way to the Flower Field.
"10 years ago, a terrible fiend was brought into this country by Doflamingo, they turned us into toys, and as if that wasn't enough, we were erased from the minds and memories of everyone who knew us" he explains.
"Devil fruit bullshit strikes again. Whoever you were, you were close to Rebecca, that's why you were sad she was competing?" Artemis guesses, the toy quiet for a few minutes, before reluctantly nodding.
Colosseum
Since it was clear Chin Jao didn't actually care if she was Luffy or Laki, she decided to give up hiding, using her Devil fruit openly to give her the best chance at victory. The 2 traded blows back and forth, some in the air, most on the ground as the arena continued to crater. Laki thanked her lucky stars her rubber body seemed to lessen if not nullify the effects of her opponent's Hasshoken techniques, rendering them equivalent of normal, albeit haki-infused punches, kicks, and headbutts.
"I'm going to avenge my head by making it the instrument of your demise Straw Hat!" Chin Jao promises.
"You're talking crazy you old geezer, just go headbutt Garp for all I care" Laki groans.
"Disrespectful brat, feel the wrath of my Head-Arms!" Chin Jao bellows as he shoots forward to headbutt the smaller pirate
"Gum Gum Balloon!" Laki yells, thankfully her stomach inflated rather than, anywhere else, stopping Chin Jao's forward momentum, before sending him skidding across the arena, digging a shallow trench in his wake.
"That would have gone differently if I were still Chinjao the Drill" the old man grumbles and he flips himself rightward again "That bastard Garp, stole my treasure, pissed on my pride, and stunted my strength, I'm barely half the man I once was, or ever could have been like this! Now after 30 years, I'll finally have my peace of mind" he scowls as he leaps toward and then OVER Laki to his surprise, pivoting in the air and attempting to hit her from behind, only for the rubber girl to slam his face into the floor as they're carried by the momentum.
"That head of yours must be thicker than mine, because I've told you already. YOU GOT A PROBLEM WITH MY GRANDPA…" Laki screams as she lifts Chinjao high over her head "...LEAVE ME OUT OF IT!" she punctuates, by slamming him headfirst into the arena with all her might.
"Is it over this time? Did Laki topple the titan? Chin Jao's not moving, this might be the end of the match. No, I stand corrected, Chin Jao is still in the match,"
"This is it Straw Hat. I'll end you with this final technique" Chin Jao growls, before doing something unexpected, he performs a headstand, hands together, and Legs spread in a perfect T formation.
"I have no idea what Chin Jao is doing, is this some kind of new fighting stance, doesn't seem very practical if you ask me"
"Hasshoken: Head-Arm Spin!" Chin Jao bellows as he begins spinning like a top, the speed of his rotation turning him into a living tornado of malice and fury, throwing aside the unconscious fighters like leaves in a breeze.
"I stand corrected, JEEZUS! What could Laki possibly do to counter this?"
"Gum Gum Gatling!" Laki cries, the one thing she could think of that could potentially do enough consecutive damage to slow down or hopefully stop the old man's attack.
Greenbit
"Eh, fuck it Susanoo!" Valentina yells, a golden yellow skeleton forming around her before expanding into samurai-esque armor, the faceplate resembling a vampire bat while 1 clawed hand held a massive battle fan with the other held a daito, or at least one comparable to the entity's size "We really don't have time to be messing around out here"
"That I can agree with, and since you started strong, it's only fair I follow through" Lucina grins as she transforms, the Levin Sword shifting alongside her, a feral smirk twisting her features heavily.
"Oh fuck me" the kunochi hisses as she's slammed into the ground, her avatar rolling to avoid being impaled in the 'heart' aka where she actually was "Though still safer than going against you like that in base form" she sighs heavily.
Meanwhile, Doll and Victor were having their own fight, her punches and kicks mostly being blocked by Kaiser der Sterne, the hammer's solid head even standing up to haki and Doll's fighting style, though inversely he was having much less luck actually hitting her, Kuja Kempo really did seem made for this woman.
"Have to say, this is the best I've seen someone use this style with their shoes on, who taught you?" Victor asks curiously, the ash billowing from his weapon giving him the chance to put some distance between himself and the Vice Admiral.
"My mentor. Where would you have seen it though, the Kuja are a very secluded, insular nation, they almost make Wano look welcoming?" Doll asks, the tattoos on her left arm glowing before the ash cloud explodes, managing to clip one of Victor's ribs with her heel in a surprise kick.
"In case you don't remember, our 1st mate is a Kuja by blood, and while not his own, his kid seemed to like the idea of learning' her grandmother's fighting style that she spent those 2 years trying to do it barefoot like her Pops and Grandma" Victor grimaces, coughing heavily before switching from Hammer to Bow, having should have realized that fighting style was a bad idea to attempt to melee against.
Doll blinks, before a sad smile crosses her face for a moment "Medusa's legacy, in the hands of a pirate. Why does that not surprise me?"
"Blame Garp, I presume everyone else does" Victor attempts to joke as lighting streaks across the sky.
"Ok, that was a bad idea. What the Hell are you?" Valentina pants, crossing her blade with Lucina's was not a bad idea, and she'd probably be deep fried if she wasn't a Lighting Primary, and therefore redirection was second nature to her.
"Your executioner" Lucina snarls before her fist cracks the summon, the symbiotic nature of the Susano meaning that were probably 2 ribs broken, maybe a 3rd cracked.
"Shit. You know what, I tried to talk shit, and got my shit wrecked" Valentina sighs, realizing as she said that out loud she spent way too much time around her fellow Jashinist over their 2 years of training "Wind Release: Pocket Sand!" she cries, the summon shattering like glass before unleashing a whirlwind of force that turned the beach into a homemade sand storm.
"So, what have we learned today?" Victor hums as he closes up his jacket hurriedly, his shades at least keeping his vision clear.
"That I can't handle whatever SHE is" Valentina grimaces "Come on, let's meet back up with the others, they're pinging somewhere beneath us, right?" She asks activating Moguragakure no Jutsu to allow them to slip away more or less silently.
Tontatta Village
"And that's how we ended up down here with you guys" Valentina explains, wincing as the little fellas tried to patch her up, as well as apologizing for the one she inflicted '100 days of pain' on, but he can't just steal her Hitai-ates like that, they were important to her, they represented her family.
"So one Vice Admiral trained in Kuja techniques, meaning Kaos' mother, and the other… you are very vague besides monster" Robin deadpans the latter half of her summary.
"Blame the concussion, also her eye glyph changed when she transformed" Val notes.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it looked like the Celestial Dragon brand when the fight started, but in the end, it was spreading out and almost looked like it was tearing through her eye, a 4 taloned claw emanating from her pupil"
"That's a strange detail to notice, given you can't tell us what she turned into" Ussop whines.
"Blame my training and my Sharingan, it's practically 2nd nature for me to notice changes in eye shape, color, and pattern, it's how you know what a fellow or enemy shinobi might be about to pull on you" the blond argues with a huff.
"Anyway, while Law is keeping Doflamingo and Fujitora distracted, what are we doing with these little ones?" Victor asks curiously.
"Apparently Ussop is the Hero of Legend, who will help them regain freedom from the villainous Donquixote Family" Robin summarises "They're adorable and deceptively strong, but almost painfully naive, I can see how someone like Doflamingo could take advantage of them" she admits with a heavy sigh.
"Are you and your friends ready to go Ussoland?" Leo asks as he pops out of his little house.
"Yes indeed, I'd only have the best as my minions, and while they're no Luffiland or Serpenland, they're still the cream of the crop" Ussop boasts, getting an eye-roll from the other 3, but it was all in good fun "One question though. You've mentioned this final battle between yours truly and Doflamingo, but you never said why you were so hellbent on fighting him," he asks as politely, but directly as he could, getting awkward silence before many erupted into laughter.
"Oh Ussoland, we're doing this to rescue 500 of our dear friends who were captured and toiling away in a secret factory on the main island" Leo answers, the 4 pirates' eyes widen as they realize their goals are all aligned. They all wanted to get to the factory, stop the Smile production, rescue the Tontattas, and take down Doflamingo.
'500 lives at stake, it's just one life to take'
"The same one where they're making the smiles?" Robin asks to confirm.
"I don't know what they're forcing them to do, but those bastards took a very important member of our community in their raids. Our obnoxious, spiteful, fickle, mean-spirited, overall bitchy Princess Mansherry"
"He really doesn't hold back there" Victor stage whispers, getting a nod from the kunoichi.
"She sounds like a really unpleasant person" Ussop mutters a little too loudly.
"Oh she is" Leo chirps "But she's still one of us, we can't just let her suffer because she's mean and icky. Noland himself would rescue anyone in danger!" he declares, tugging at the sniper's heartstrings.
"EVERYONE I HAVE NEWS!" One of the tontattas runs into the open area the 'army' had been gathered in for final prep "The Donquixote family are leavin' the palace, they're most likely using the hidden tunnels to get to the Colosseum"
"Then this is it, the day we make History!" Leo cries, before jumping down to the ground with an impressive spin "It's time for battle, and we shall not fear for we have the Legendary Ussoland by our side, we couldn't wish for a better companion!" he cheers, starting them all off.
"False hope tastes the same until you find the poison at the bottom" Valentina mutters.
"Our final clash is in Dressrosa within the Factory UNDER the Colosseum" Leo declares, finally revealing where the factory they've been looking for was located…. For all the good it would have done them before now.
As the people chant 'Ussoland' in a show of support from those not coming for the battle (kids, the elderly, the infirm, those kinds of people) Ussop decides to ask an important question "So, how exactly are we getting to Dressrosa?"
"Simple really, there are tunnels leading from this island to the mainland" Leo answers like it was no big deal, though would have saved the pirates some fighting, flying, and trauma from running into the Fighting Fish, and the Marines had they known about it prior "We finally made it, there's the airport" Leo chirps happily, as that really was the best way to describe it.
"I don't think they have any vessels in our size" Victor deadpans, though his lips did curl into a half smile.
"Hm, seems we should have brought Shirahoshi with us after all. Hell being able to turn Tontatta size might have earned us some brownie points by addressing them as equals rather than annoyances" Valentina muses aloud.
"It's adorable though" Robin coos "The ingenuity of taming an entire beetle colony as your mounts, it's perfect for this kind of long-distance travel, particularly when there's a battle on the horizon"
"I think they had some help, those aren't just costumes are they?" Ussop asks quietly, referring to the 2 leaders of the Tontatta's 'air force'.
"Oh, insect class Zoan type Devil fruits" Robin claps "That's just perfect for them, especially as they're already that size so they'd be the perfect recon units, disguised as any other bee or beetle" she grins.
Valentina clicks her tongue "That is actually a good point, most zoans are used purely for their enhanced strength, stamina, and durability, but these ones have utility outside of direct combat. Very nice" she chuckles to herself, as the hornet and rhinoceros beetle DF users come over to check over the plans with Leo.
"We're quite sorry that as you're much larger than we are you'll need to take our 20-man buses, the Liner foxes" the hornet girl explains, whistling as 4 rather adorably fluffy blue foxes arrive from another tunnel. Each had a massive and plush tail that seemed to not only serve as comfort, but function given Leo only told them AFTER they'd climbed on one each that they were very fast, birthing the idle thought on whether the Liner Foxes would be faster than the Supersonic Duck squadron of Alabasta. Only 1 way to find out I suppose.
"These things are so fast" Ussop laughs as the entire Tontatta army and 4 Straw Hats barrel through the underground tunnels.
"I presume you're wondering why we're doing this" a withered voice calls out to him, causing the sniper as well as his companions to look for the source, until Robin looks down, spotting a familiar, bearded Tontattas buried in her inflated cleavage.
"Chief Gancho!" Robin gasps, plucking him out while the others complain about 'pervy rats'.
"Hello my dear, and thank you for the best seat on the bus. I thought those fox tails were soft, but those milky mountains, there's no comparison" the elder grins widely.
"Can you get to the point Gramps?" Valentina sighs.
"Indeed. Since you're so kind-hearted to risk your own lives for our cause, I think there are some things you should know about all that's going on here. Doflamingo has caused a great deal of suffering to the people of this nation, especially the Tontatta Tribe. But our troubled history dates back much further than a single man with eyes on a throne. In fact, the true beginning of his tale dates back over 900 years" the chief reveals.
'Pre-Void Century!?'
"900 years! How can you guys be feuding this long?" Ussop gasps.
Meanwhile - Flower Hill
"Allow me to introduce you to the people who will be assisting in our endeavors today" the toy Soldier reveals as the Straw Hats follow the spiral staircase far beneath the sunflowers.
"It's the Commander!"
"The hour of triumph has arrived!"
"Aww, they're adorable!" Artemis coos as the Tontattas excitedly swarm them.
"And they're little thieves, so that explains where Zoro went on his sword hunt" Alvida notes seeing the stockpile of weapons and other trinkets littered around the base.
"Correct I'm afraid, these are the little people from Tontatta, the locals call them fairies, often because they move too fast to be seen
"Come on, you said you wanted to get back to your ship!" a high-pitched voice whines.
"Damn it Luffy, if you blame having tits for why you lost to this fossil I'm kicking your ass on principle" Zoro grumbles, having reached the base as Wicke requested, then got distracted by the Colosseum fight "Also, damn bastards didn't even think to tell me there was a fighting competition on this island! I would have wiped the floor with most of these sad sacks"
"There you are Zoro, and I see you got your sword back" Kaya smiles, getting a nod from the swordsman.
"Sure did, and this puffball. But I suppose it all worked out given we've met back up again without too big an issue" Zoro hums, mostly to himself.
"Commander, we're so glad you're here. We have reviewed the intel from the scouting parties on the current whereabouts and movements of Sugar and her forces. Just in time for our final assault"
"Plus, 4 Legendary Heroes have entered our great nation as a sign of hope in this trying time. Their names are Ussoland, Robiland, Valand, and Victand" another Tontatta cries out, at least telling the Straw Hats where 'most' of the Caesar escort team were.
Colosseum
"I'll knock you right out of the New World Straw Hat!" Chinjao promises as he launches another spin attack.
"Not likely! Jet Cannon!" Laki fires back, launching the flat-headed man, but he managed to right himself in the air and land on his feet, luckily she followed him so she could at least try to land a 'Jet Whip' on his blind spot, though Chin Jao was still able to block the kick, the rubber girl's new speed just something he needed to compensate for.
CLASH!
CLASH!
CLASH!
Armament haki pushed to the max, and Conqueror's rippling in the air between their blows, Laki and Chin Jao weren't giving an inch as they continued to brawl, each punch blocked by the other with similar levels of power.
"Jet Gatling!" She screams as she unloads, the shockwaves from their attacks shaking the stadium itself.
"Jet Stamp Gatling!" was the follow-through, with Chin Jao ironically being the one to play 'Monkey See, Monkey Do' as he matched her with a similar speed flurry of kicks, causing jaws to drop all across the island.
"2 unstoppable forces locked in pitched combat, they're matching each other blow for blow, it's still Anyone's match!" The announcer cries as the 2 competitors ramp up their speed again, becoming blurs as they blitzed around the arena, only catching the impacts of their heads, fists, and feet for a moment before vanishing once more. "I'm very sorry but this part of the match will be mostly without comments, as they're moving too fast for me to see or process in time to commentate. They'll have to slow down eventually, so just enjoy the show until then"
"Yahoho! You're pretty good for a brat" Chin Jao pants as both finally slow down for a moment.
"And you're a tough geezer, that's for sure" Laki agrees, the steam lessoning as she pants.
"What did you say!?" ChinJao snarls, confusing Laki enough she actually snaps out of Gear 2nd "Repeat what you just said to me! You think I'm tough do you? How dare you insult me!"
"What's your problem, I'm saying you're strong, where's the insult?" Laki argues, not understanding how this old man's brain works.
"As far as I'm concerned that's an insult. Look at me! Strong? I'm like a wolf without fangs! I'm not even a shell of my former self Straw Hat, and it's all because of that Goda damned Grandfather of yours. But I wouldn't expect a brat like yourself to even hope to understand the misery and pain I must endure!"
"Yeah, because you're not explaining anything, you just try to kill me, cry a little, and then repeat. Tell me the problem or go take your anger out on Grandpa, because as it stands I DON'T CARE, nor do I have any reason to" Laki shouts.
"You really want to know, Straw Hat? Then maybe I shall enlighten you on the reason I hate your Grandfather and all those who carry his blood" Chin Jao scowls, but does actually start to explain himself.
About the Legendary Jewel Ice Shelf, ice that can not be cracked, melted, or pierced. How his vast riches were stored inside because only his great drill head could break the ice, his 'Open Chinjao' technique as he called it. His family's wealth, a fortune that would last generations, all contained within the perfect vault. Everything was coming up Chin Jao, until the faithful day he clashed with Garp 30 years ago. The now Legendary FIST, clashing with his Great Drill, haki strong enough to crack the land around them both as they collided, until there was one victor, Garp's punch continued on, flattening the once mighty Drill of Don Chin Jao.
"And with 1 punch, your grandfather destroyed everything. My power, my pride, my legacy. He even took my treasure as my Drill was the only way to break open the Jewel Ice. I retired a short time after, my power extinguished, my heart shattered, and my spirit broken. Chin Jao the Drill died that day, and only this wrecked husk remains. Do you understand now, why I will stop at nothing to kill you? My dream is dead, but I can at least hurt Garp before my own life reaches its end" Chinjao cries, tears once more streaming down his face.
"Cute story, real tear-jerker, but there's one problem. I'm not my Grandpa, it's not my fault Garp turned you from a cone head to an egghead. And there is no fucking way I'm letting some washed-up has-been who stopped believing in his dream, stop me from becoming the Pirate King!"
"Yahoho, so actually believe that don't you? Stupid brats drunk on your own hubris. The 'Worst Generation' none of you are worth a damn, thinking you can sail the sea your forebearers fought upon. The War at Marineford was the turning of the page, the end of one Era and the start of another. Despite his failure, Blackbeard is probably still the one of you brats most capable of actually making it in the New World" Chin Jao sneers.
"You really think Blackbeard's hot shit, when he got beaten by a kid without any haki!" Laki fires back, not getting a verbal response as Chin Jao fires up another Hasshoken: Head-Arm Spin, though this one was more accurate to compare him to a spinning top rather than a tornado, the whirling death chasing Laki around the arena.
It took several minutes of observation and dodging for Laki to come up with a potential idea, throwing out her arm, the rubber girl was able to wrap around the dome-headed man, stopping his spin, to his surprise, then with a cheeky grin pulled back like a ripcord, sending Chin Jao spinning in the opposite direction, completely off balance and out of control, until he drops to the ground dizzy and woozy.
"And now we end this, with my Hawk Rifle!" Laki screams, shooting back the twisting arm, red with Gear 2nd, before being coated in the black of Armament haki. The strike hit Chin Jao right in his centre mass, bouncing him across the arena like a stone across water.
"Is that the best you can do?" Chin Jao taunts as he stands up "If this is the best Rayleigh's apprentice, and flagbearer of the New Generation can do, then he's really lost his touch. There's a reason the Navy tried to kill the Hellfire Prince, why an Admiral tried to personally execute the Mirror Demon, they were getting too powerful to stop, and they tried to stomp them out before the wildfires spread. Do you really think you can fight the 3 Admirals, the Yonko, the World itself and surpass Roger's Legacy? You're just a wet behind-the-ears dreamer, one I'm going to stamp out before the day is out"
"You'd die a happy man, if that last part wasn't complete bullshit. I will agree that Grima chose a better torchbearer, but my brothers chose me so fuck the old geezers on the sidelines. If by some chance you kill me, I won't be waiting in Hell that long before you join me, that much I know" Laki chuckles bitterly "As for taking on the World, just watch me old man!" she flashes a D grin before using Chin Jao as a springboard to throw herself as high as the top stands of the Colosseum.
"What is she doing? Can she fly?"
'What are you planning, brat?' Chin Jao wonders, haki-ing up his head in preparation.
Biting down on her thumb, Laki activates Gear 3rd, her left arm expanding well beyond comedic proportions, before turning pitch black with armament.
"It's time to end this farce with the skull crusher to end all blows. 30 years of rage will ensure every bone in your body could fit inside a matchbox! Hasshoken: Non-Drill Dragon…" Chin Jao bellows, leaping into the sky, intending to strike Laki rather than her strike him
"Gum Gum…"
"...Non-Nail!"
"...ELEPHANT GUN!"
The force behind both blows actually kept both fighters in the air, the haki billowing off them shaking the air and forming waves in the moat, several spectators even fainting from the shockwaves.
But in the end, Laki's fist was stronger, though to the surprise of everyone still watching, while her fist indented Chin Jao's head for a moment, the entire skull SHOT out, forming a spear like protrusion familiar to anyone who knew Chin Jao before his retirement.
The Drill was back!
He was also, unconscious, falling to the arena with a thud, his mighty head cleaving the island in two just from hitting it headfirst. Laki meanwhile landed much more gracefully on one of the semi-circular halves.
"I don't think we're going to get a more impressive fight today, though I do look forward to the remaining fighters try to prove me wrong. Either way, the Block C winner has finally been determined. It's LAKI!"
Waiting area
"Even under a false name that bastard hogs the spotlight" Cavendish stews, Rebecca, Bartolomeo, and even Burges looking on in concern "Well no more. The match is over, meaning I can take my revenge and end hi…" his arrogant voice dies in his throat as he feels cold steel press against his ribs, and haki infused fingers wrap around his throat.
"Continue speaking ill about my little brother, and you'll get to learn if the ladies still like you without your pretty face, and not-so-special man parts" Saria hisses, the flamboyant swordsman's eyes rise to catch a slasher smile out the corner of his eye "Luffy isn't one for killing, but I certainly am, especially when it comes to threats toward my family. Even Luffy knows that, it's why he threatened Chin Jao with me. Now get your oversized head out of your ass, and realize you're just not good enough for people to give a fuck about who you are" with her piece said Saria removed the dagger and let go of his neck, deciding to go congratulate Laki personally, and maybe get some air afterward.
Elsewhere in Dressrosa
"The Admiral should be returning from Greenbit soon, I'll inform him of our arrival, you go back up Bastille there were a lot of high-value targets seen entering the Colosseum this morning" the red-haired marine orders, getting a flurry of salutes.
"Yes Captain, we won't let you down!" one shouts before the group leave as one, an amused eyeroll crosses her face, before she sighs heavily.
"Captain huh, quite the high flier already. You were an Ensign 2 years ago" an amused voice purrs behind her, the Marine Captain pivoting on her heel and lunging with her sword…
CLANG!
… only for it to be blocked by a haki blackened pipe, its wielder sporting a familiar cheeky grin she knew all too well "That could have been bad Itsu, you're a lot jumpier than I remember" Ace teases, taking a step back to separate their weapons.
"Hellfire Prince"
"Nailer" Ace retorts "I can do epithets too, but I much prefer when you, and others actually use my name, especially you"
"What do you want, Ace?" Isuka asks, trying to keep her voice even and calm.
"I want what I've always wanted, from you specifically" Ace answers with an easygoing smile, trying to hide his own nerves.
"I can't join you Ace, we're on different sides…" she tried to argue.
"And you've seen what happened when everything was out in the open. My blood is why I'm a criminal Isu, my heart doesn't matter. Maybe if I'd been a nobody you could have convinced me, but even I can't stop my heart from wanting more… wanting you"
Isuka's eyes widen "Ace, that was…"
"Don't say it was a one-night thing, I've spent my life learning to see the lies in people's eyes. You were happy! You felt free! I think you finally understood why people like myself and my brothers sail the see as you lay your head on my chest. You don't have to hurt people to be a pirate Isu, you just have to want to be free, to be your own person" Ace stresses, the pipe starting to smoke as the tension gets to him "I think we have things to discuss, say things we almost didn't get to hear, and then I'll make my final offer, see if it might actually appeal to you after all that's coming my way" he gives a smirk that sets her heart a flutter, and despite everything, she believes him.
"If you're still here when Fujitora gets back from Greenbit, the deal's off no matter what it is. I can't risk my career on a maybe, you have until then to make it a yes" she states, sheathing her sword and extending her hand, then is surprised when Ace takes it and rather than shake, kisses her knuckle.
"What, I'm a prince now, might as well fucking act like it" he winks
TBC
LW: And with that my 1st chapter of 2025 ends, with Laki's victory, Saria threatening bodily harm to a cabbage, and Ace getting his cameo, well it is for now ;)
