Inside the arena waiting room, built from yellow brick.
"Rebecca?"
Noticing something was wrong with her, Luffy stretched out his neck and leaned closer, tilting his head in confusion. "Huh? Why are you crying?"
". Ah!"
"I'm fine!"
Rebecca stumbled back two steps in alarm and hurriedly raised a hand to wipe away the tears that had slipped out unnoticed.
"I'm fine. Sorry."
"Thinking about it now, I was being too full of myself. I actually thought I could win the championship in an arena filled with so many powerful fighters." Rebecca forced a smile.
"So you're giving up because you can't win anyway?"
Zoro suddenly spoke, his tone calm and devoid of emotion, just like his eyes.
"No."
Rebecca instinctively gripped her sword hilt and said firmly, "I'm a gladiator. Even if my opponents are you, I won't back down."
"Yeah, do your best. But don't expect me to go easy on you."
Zoro chuckled softly, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes.
He believed that true strength could never be gained through a Devil Fruit alone.
Without a heart that pressed forward without hesitation, no matter how sharp the sword in one's hand was, one would not be able to wield it.
"She's just the princess of a fallen kingdom, reviled by everyone. What pretty words."
A hostile voice came from the crowd in the corner.
The three of them looked over.
"Who said that?!"
Luffy shouted furiously at the crowd. "You bastard! Get out here! I'll send you flying!"
Perhaps the other party did not want to cause trouble before the match, because no more voices came from the crowd.
Luffy strode forward indignantly, ready to confront them.
But Rebecca caught his arm and stopped him. "Forget it, Lucy. If you cause trouble, you'll be