Delusional Heartbeat, Abolish the Shichibukai

"The arena has been changed. Contestants from Section D, please take the stage!"

"Rebecca, the battle has begun. You..."

Inside the fence were a group of wounded soldiers, their limbs severed and their bodies bandaged. They were all 'toys' thrown into the arena for rebelling against Doflamingo, and fighting to the death was their only destiny.

"You shouldn't participate."

As soon as one person spoke up, the others chimed in with their own opinions to dissuade him.

"Yeah, that guy just now, you... we're no match for him at all."

"And you heard it too, they're clearly after the 'Mera Mera no Mi' and Doflamingo! Maybe they can..."

Snap,

Donning her helmet, the girl picked up her sword and once again assumed the identity of a gladiator.

"I'm going to participate in the competition,"

No matter what, this time she must give it her all! The girl didn't want to relive those helpless, tearful memories a second time.

"No matter who that magician is, I will fight with all my might for the Mera Mera no Mi! I am no longer a 'princess' who can be protected by knights just by crying."

This time, I'm going to protect the soldier!

However, what she faced was:

"Pooh--"

"Today is your death day!!"

"Die, you filthy bastard!"

"Her grandfather was a mad arsonist, so she should also experience the agony of Burning Body!"

Accusations, insults, and thumbs-down gestures symbolizing death. — The entire arena was in perfect unison, everyone expressing anger and malice towards the girl.

"What? What does her grandfather have to do with her?"

Luffy was watching from the second floor, was furious. "If you're so capable, go find her grandfather! What's wrong with bullying a girl?!"

"He has a pretty face, yet he's even less popular than Bartolomeo, the 'cannibal' from Group B..."

"If we could take her head, we might become a hero of this country—"

She was surrounded by blatant malice and mockery, but to Rebecca, it was all just routine. As long as she could win:

"Shut up!"

White Horse, Cavendish, dressed like a noble young man, galloped into the arena.

"I don't know what you have to say about this little girl who's prepared to die standing in the ring, but if you really want to kill her, then pick up your weapons and come up into the ring yourselves!!"

"All you do is spout nonsense from the audience; it's just pointless noise. A soldier's life is not an exhibit!"

Cavendish dismounted his horse and let the clever steed go back on its own.

"Thank you for your hard work, Faruru."

So why did you ride a horse into the stadium?

"That cabbage is quite the talker—though I still dislike him."

Just as Luffy was feeling sentimental, the last contestant from Zone D was about to enter:

"Slap—slap—slap!"

A clapping sound came from the entrance, slow and deep yet extremely penetrating, like the applause of a high-ranking nobleman after watching a wonderful play.

?!

"This is·····"

My heart feels heavy—

The voice was firm and unstoppable, first reaching the ears of the gladiators in the arena, causing them to instinctively tense up and raise their weapons as if some crisis was about to descend! The audience also felt a strange sense of oppression, as if something was blocking their throats, making them unable to speak.

"Clap clap—clap clap—clap clap!"

The sound of high-fives seemed to grow closer as a figure in a suit, top hat, and mask appeared at the entrance, his clapping becoming more rapid.

"That is..."

"That mysterious magician?"

"What exactly is this oppressive feeling—?"

The gladiators, as if facing a formidable enemy, all looked towards the last person to enter the arena. He walked along unhurriedly, casually clapping his hands, like a gentleman on a spring outing, or perhaps someone on a leisurely stroll.

King!

"Clap clap clap—clap clap clap—clap clap clap!"

The clapping grew more and more rapid, like a dense drumbeat, fast yet steady, until it sounded like a bunch of little rabbits hopping around.

However, the gladiators who heard the applause did not show any joy. On the contrary, their expressions became increasingly ugly, and as the applause intensified, they even turned into painful contortions.

Clang!

With the sound of a longsword hitting the ground, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Weapons kept slipping from their owners' hands with a series of clanging sounds. The once strong arms trembled incessantly, and the once large-knuckled hands clutched their chests tightly!

Because in that instant, they clearly heard their own heartbeats, heavy and powerful, growing faster and stronger with the rhythm of the applause, until their entire chests were pounding.

"Ah--!"

As soon as one gladiator let out a scream, dozens of people almost simultaneously fell to the ground, their eyes rolling back as if they were having a stroke, and this phenomenon spread rapidly like a contagious disease.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

As the mysterious magician's clapping grew increasingly rapid, gladiators fell one after another! When he stepped into the arena:

Those who can still stand are fewer than two hands' worth!

Not only that, but everyone in the audience, including the toys, was swaying and pale, unable to speak.

"Hmm, this makes fighting much more refreshing."

The response to Roman's words was the gaze of the entire arena as if looking at a 'devil,' and Luffy's envious mutterings.

"Roman's ability is really fun. He can shut people up easily without even using Conqueror's Haki Impact."

"What kind of ability is this?!"

Facing a burly man who was both surprised and frightened, Roman calmly waved his hand.

"It's not a big deal, just a simple 'resonance,' let's call it 'Delusional Heartbeat'."

That's right, it's just a simple application and development of the 'Tremor-Tremor Ability'. It doesn't even need to be amplified with the 'Momo ability'. It only needs a specific frequency to cause heartbeat resonance to easily kill the grunts.

—Although these grunts are all 'overlord' level experts in the in the East Blue.

"Next..."

As soon as Roman appeared, he instantly became the focus of everyone's attention: after all, he had defeated most of the contestants' opponents with a clap of his hands, and no one dared to be careless, including Cavendish.

"Let me make it clear beforehand, I'm not looking down on you,"

Through the eyes of the released white doves, all sorts of information were transmitted to Roman's mind.

After witnessing Doflamingo nearly being killed by Nami in her 'spaceship,' the Tontatta Kingdom's Tontatta warriors were so excited that they immediately contacted Nami and the others, explaining the fact that the country enslaved them and requesting the Straw Hat crew and Law's help.

Sanji and Violet are together, Franky is with the Toy Soldier, and even Zoro has caught the real culprit who stole his sword: Vica, the scout from the Tontatta. Everyone is being led toward the royal palace.

Meanwhile, Sabo, the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, Koala, an officer, also infiltrated the arena, and all the conflicts were about to erupt!

So, Roman, dressed as a magician, clapped his hands. — This startled the remaining people in the ring, but this time it was just a simple clapping.

"You can all come at me together."

?!

Roman, who had spread his hands and gestured for the others to come over, did not make a move in the ring.

Clang!

With the famous sword 'Durandal' drawn, Cavendish looked at Roman with a solemn expression.

"How arrogant! No wonder you're the Supernovas of the 'Worst Generation'— the White Knight! It's you, isn't it?"

"My name is 'Neo' now... Well, you can call me whatever you want, but the Mera Mera no Mi is ours, and it can only be ours!"

Thud—

An invisible whirlwind surged forth from Roman's body, pressing in all directions! Under the impact of the outward release of Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, the entire small arena seemed to be whipped up by a Category 12 hurricane! The remaining experts on the arena had no choice but to lower their stance and hold their weapons in front of them to barely maintain their balance.

"I told you, all of you come at me at once!"

Dressrosa Palace

Colorful Hall.

"Fujitora, what exactly do you mean?"

Faced with Doflamingo's questioning, the blind Marine Admiral simply tapped the ground with his cane.

"Although you hold the title of 'Shichibukai,' it does not mean that I am on your side."

"The purpose of the 'navy' is to minimize the losses suffered by civilians."

"If the Straw Hat's goal is to take your head, they certainly won't mind causing chaos and distracting you. Preventing that from happening is my 'duty' to be here."

Now that we've torn off all pretense, there's no need to hide anything anymore.

"As for you, I can set you aside for now."

?!

"What do you mean?"

When faced with Doflamingo's second question of the same kind, Fujitora laid his cards on the table.

"Although I am merely a 'newcomer' in the Navy, I also have my own demands. That is—"

"Abolish the Shichibukai!"

!!

In an instant, Doflamingo's face turned completely ashen.

The reason he's been able to act so arrogantly all this time is because he skillfully uses his status as a 'Shichibukai' to operate in both the legal and illegal worlds. Arms dealing, slave trading, Artificial Devil Fruit...

Without this government-granted 'skin', how could he maintain such a massive business?

After all, given the temperament of Kaido's Beasts Pirates, they prefer to rob rather than 'buy'! If it weren't for the fact that his status as Shichibukai could attract the help of the Marines and even Admiral, Doflamingo's family would have been swallowed up by Kaido.

"Fufufufu, what about the balance of power among the three major forces?"

In response to Doflamingo's veiled threat, Fujitora simply gave a calm reply.

"Well, how will we know the consequences if we don't try to destroy it?"

Clang!

The pointed shoes and the Cane Sword, both enveloped in Armament Haki, collided violently! A clang of metal echoed throughout the palace, and a dazzling burst of light Cane Sword erupted from the point of impact! A violent hurricane swept outwards like a knife.

The residual force of the impact left two deep grooves, one horizontal and one vertical, on the solid rock floor, forming a large "X" shape on the floor between the two men.

"So, if you do a lot of bad things, your head will become very valuable, Brother Heavenly Yaksha."

Despite Fujitora's provocation, Doflamingo remained calm.

"Why do I feel like you're saying, 'If you want to get rid of this scourge of mine, now'?"

······

That's right, Fujitora provoked Doflamingo hoping he would make the first move. —Under normal circumstances, Marine Admiral has no reason and cannot attack Shichibukai. But if Shichibukai attacks a Marine... then self-defense is, of course, a perfectly legitimate reason.

Who knows, Doflamingo might just have to experience the terror of 'full power' Fujitora!

Unfortunately, Doflamingo, true to his reputation as a ruthless tyrant, instantly grasped the situation and stopped. This forced Fujitora to sheathe his sword and turn to leave.

"All I want now is to protect this country,"

"As for what kind of 'darkness' will erupt afterward, I am but a blind man and cannot see it either."