On the Royal Plateau, the convalescing King Riku heard the desperate cries of his people. In that moment, no amount of pain or sickness could hold him back. Dragging his ailing body, he once again donned his armor, took up his sword, and stepped out of his chambers.
Scarlett, who had been waiting outside the door, saw her father emerge in his full battle regalia. She wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat, strangled by an invisible force.
"Grandpa, you're all better!" Rebecca, nestled in Scarlett's arms, called out sweetly to the king.
"Rebecca, Scarlett." King Riku cast a loving glance at them but said nothing more. He prepared to leave. His people needed him.
"Father," Scarlett finally cried out, hot tears streaming down her face.
Hearing his daughter's call, King Riku's figure paused for a fraction of a second. Then, without hesitation, he strode away, leaving them with nothing but the sight of his broad, powerful back.
"Don't cry, Mama. Grandpa will come back safely," Rebecca said, gently wiping away Scarlett's tears.
"He will," Scarlett affirmed, her voice filled with conviction.
As King Riku stepped out of the palace, he happened upon the group escorting Viola back.
"Viola," he called out to his still-struggling daughter.
"Father!"
"Your Majesty!"
Seeing the king, the soldiers escorting Viola immediately saluted. Whether or not King Riku had truly committed those acts, his recent conduct had earned back some of their trust.
"Father, the Marines have initiated a Buster Call," Viola said frantically.
"I know. But this is my responsibility," King Riku said, his heart aching as he looked down at the city engulfed in fire and despair. In that instant, he had made his decision.
He walked forward alone, calling over his shoulder to his daughter, "Viola, take your sister and Rebecca, and live."
"Father!"
Viola's eyes widened in panic. She reached out, trying to grasp his retreating form, a helpless cry escaping her lips as her legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground, watching her father walk away.
"Your Highness, we have to go," said Tank Lepanto, the captain of the Dressrosa Self-Defense Force.
He was the man King Riku had assigned to protect them. Lepanto was fiercely loyal to the king and had accepted the order without question.
Without waiting for Viola's response, Lepanto took her and led her away. King Riku had made his arrangements. His presence in Dressrosa was enough. Viola and the others had a brighter future ahead of them; they could not be allowed to die here.
Days earlier, a ship bearing the royal flag had been hidden in the waters near Dressrosa, waiting for its passengers. A closer look at the flag revealed it belonged to the forces of King Elizabello II.
He was King Riku's ally. After contacting him in secret, Elizabello II had personally led his troops to receive Riku's children, hoping to share some of the burden of his old friend.
Elizabello II naturally didn't believe a word of what the news had reported. Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked the world's condemnation to save Riku's family. Though he despised the World Government's methods, he was powerless against their might. All he could do was offer this small measure of support, saving Riku's children to preserve a sliver of hope for Dressrosa.
But with the Marines bringing a Buster Call, despite his hopes, Elizabello II did not believe King Riku could survive.
Lepanto rendezvoused with Scarlett and Rebecca, preparing to escort them all away. Though Scarlett was unwilling, Lepanto was firm and led them to safety.
Back on the battlefield, the Dressrosa army was ultimately no match for the Marines, who were seasoned from countless battles with pirates at sea. They were quickly overwhelmed and cut down.
After his initial Meteor Volcano, Akainu had become a spectator. It was a rare training opportunity for his men. If he did everything himself, what was the point of having subordinates?
The Marines fought ferociously, but Kyros was no less formidable. The number of soldiers who fell to his blade was staggering. He had been fighting with all his might from the very beginning, and the wounds covering his body were multiplying.
"Die! You bastard who killed so many of our brothers!" a Marine snarled, his eyes fixed on Kyros as he lunged, his sharp blade aimed at Kyros's back.
Kyros was caught off guard. If the blow landed, he would be severely wounded.
But in that split second, another sword parried the sneak attack. It was King Riku, who had dragged his frail body across the battlefield to block the blow for Kyros.
"Get lost!"
Kyros reacted instantly, his eyes blazing with fury. He spun, delivering a powerful whip kick that sent the Marine flying.
He then turned to the king. "Your Majesty, why are you here? I can handle this."
"I am the King of Dressrosa. My people need me. How could I not be here?" King Riku said with unwavering resolve.
"I…" Kyros was struck speechless, at a loss for words.
King Riku ignored him and directed his voice at the distant Akainu. "Is this the justice of the Marines? How are your actions any different from those of pirates?"
Hearing the king's question, Akainu let out a cold laugh.
"So you are King Riku. The source of all this evil," Akainu asked, his voice devoid of warmth.
"I am the king of Dressrosa, Riku Doldo III. But I am not the source of evil you speak of," King Riku said, drawing himself up to his full height and meeting Akainu's gaze without flinching.
"Does a wicked man ever admit his wickedness?" Akainu replied coldly. "Besides, the justice of the Marines is not for a criminal to judge. When the Marines act, others have no place to question it."
"Hahaha! I once believed the Marines were righteous. But in the end, you are a disgrace, even worse than pirates!" King Riku laughed, his voice booming. "Where are those willing to defend Dressrosa?"
He no longer wished to argue. He saw the Marines' stance clearly. Now, all that was left was to die.
"Your Majesty, we are here!" the Royal Army answered their king's call in unison.
"Your Majesty, I am here!" Kyros stood at Riku's side, his sword ready.
"And so are we!" Some of the fleeing citizens of Dressrosa rose up, responding to their king's summons.
Akainu watched their display with a cold, mocking expression.
King Riku raised his sword high. Clad in armor, his cape billowing in the wind, he stood before thousands and let out the most fervent cry from the depths of his soul.
"Follow me to your deaths!"
"Charge!"
At their king's command, all those willing to defend Dressrosa charged toward the Marines.
Their sudden surge of spirit startled the Marines, who instinctively began to fall back.
But before they could retreat, Akainu's massive fist descended.
A Marine who tried to flee was personally smashed to death by the Admiral. Glistening, searing magma dripped onto the ground, sizzling as it extinguished any thought of retreat from the other soldiers' minds.
"Cowardice will not be tolerated," Akainu stated icily.
"Kill them! Brothers, don't be afraid! Show them the might of the Marines!"
Under Akainu's terrifying presence, the Marines, as if injected with adrenaline, pushed forward.
"A bunch of damned fools. I'll send you to hell myself!" Akainu, clearly provoked by King Riku's words, decided to personally send them to their graves.
"Great Eruption!"
Akainu's merciless attack landed in the midst of the charging crowd, instantly slaughtering a vast number of them.
Not everyone was willing to die. Seeing Akainu's overwhelming power, those who had been brave moments before were now filled with terror, their instincts screaming at them to flee.
"Leave him to me!"
At that moment, Kyros stepped forward without hesitation, deciding to face the Marine Admiral alone.
Someone had to make the sacrifice. Kyros was prepared.
In the sky above, Doflamingo, who was monitoring the battlefield with his Observation Haki, was momentarily shaken by King Riku's declaration. But he quickly composed himself. It was a tragic, heroic stand, and Riku's spirit was admirable, but to Doflamingo, they were nothing more than enemies. He would sweep away any pebble that stood in his path without a second thought.
King Riku's fate had already been sealed. Death was his only end.
"You overestimate yourself."
Akainu was contemptuous of Kyros rushing to his death, but his actions were anything but merciful.
His searing magma fist collided with Kyros's sword. The treasured blade, which had been invincible in Kyros's hands until now, melted under the intense heat, dripping to the ground as molten iron.
Kyros sensed the danger, his Observation Haki picking up on Akainu's next move, and he quickly dodged.
Unfortunately, Kyros had not awakened his Armament Haki. With only his swordsmanship and Observation Haki, he was no match for Akainu. In their first exchange, he had already lost his weapon.
"Is that all you have? And you dare to oppose the Marines? Hound Blaze!" Akainu taunted mercilessly, his attack continuing without pause.
Kyros had nowhere to run. While he could hold his own against a pirate with a bounty over one hundred million, he was now facing the Marines' greatest military power. The gap in their strength was immediately apparent.
The surging, scorching attack struck Kyros squarely in the chest. A large portion of his torso was instantly melted away, and the force of the Hound Blaze sent his body crashing into a deep crater. His fate was unknown.
"Kyros!" King Riku cried out, his heart filled with guilt. But they had already made their choice. No matter how much it hurt, the sword in his hand could not stop.
The battle raged on, but within minutes, King Riku was overwhelmed by the Marines and pinned to the ground, his strength gone. As for the others, they were annihilated. There were no survivors.
Now, Dressrosa was truly and completely shrouded in despair. There was no hope to be seen.
The Tontatta tribe, who had been overlooked in the chaos, watched as Akainu unleashed his terrible power. They saw Kyros fall, King Riku captured, and the entire army wiped out. A strange sense of sorrow filled their hearts.
"Leo, haven't Doflamingolando and the others arrived yet?" Kabu, who had met up with Leo, asked anxiously.
"I don't know. But I believe Doflamingolando will come," Leo said with conviction, though the anxiety in his own heart was no less than Kabu's.
"Only Doflamingolando can save us now!"
"Please hurry, Doflamingolando!" the dwarves prayed, waiting for their savior.
High above, aboard the Ark Maxim, Doflamingo finally rose from his throne. Under the watchful eyes of the entire Donquixote Family, he at last gave the command.
"My boys, it's time to go collect our spoils."
"Let's teach Akainu a lesson."
At Doflamingo's order, a wave of excitement surged through the Donquixote Pirates.
Now, only battle could calm their restless hearts.
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