Despair

"Leo..."

Watching Leo fall down several times and struggle to get back up, Usopp's eyes flickered. This little guy...

"The captain is still waiting for us!" Leo said with difficulty, "So we have to hurry..."

Looking at Leo, who was almost unconscious, Usopp paused for a moment, then said, "Why are you all placing all your hopes on him?"

"Isn't he just a One-Legged Soldier?"

Usopp couldn't understand why Leo others would place all their hopes on that soldier.

Even if he regains his human form, he'll still just be a man who lost a leg.

Leo paused for a moment upon hearing this, then explained, "Originally, those turned into toys would be forced to enter into a contract with Sugar, becoming laborers with no way to resist."

"But the first captain in this country to be turned into a toy escaped because the ability user Sugar forgot about it."

"Born from that one and only mistake ten years ago, he is the only toy in this country capable of rebelling against the Donquixote Family."

"So for the past ten years, the captain has been fighting alone."

"Without him, the toys would have had to live on in silence, and our entire Tontatta Tribe might have unknowingly become slaves of the Donquixote Family."

At this point, Leo's tears were already streaming down his face, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.

"Did he tell you the truth?"

"Yes!"

Leo exclaimed excitedly, "If we hadn't heard his shout, this country would have been finished long ago!!!"

"That's why he's worth risking everything for!"

"Although no one remembers him now, he was once a very famous figure in Dressrosa when he was still a human!"

His name was... Kyros!!!

"The Strongest in History the Bullfighting Arena, that's our captain!"

And this is one of the reasons why they are willing to risk everything.

It's safe to say that Captain Kyros is the strongest person in this country, so he can definitely defeat Doflamingo!

"Is this why you're willing to believe them...?" Usopp murmured.

He now understood why Leo and the others trusted the Toy Soldier so much; it turned out that the guy had such a past.

If we're talking about the Strongest in History... their strength must be incredibly terrifying.

So, it's quite possible that they might actually succeed.

However, Leo and his friends are currently in a...

"That's true, but Leo, your bodies..."

"This minor injury is nothing," Leo said, panting. "Everyone is working hard to complete the SOP Operation, so I can't stop."

After saying that, Leo struggled to get up from Usopp's grasp, turned to look at the ground, and searched for the Tabasco Star he had just knocked away.

"Found it!"

Leo breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the location of Tabasco Star, then jumped down from Usopp's grasp and shakily walked towards Tabasco Star.

He looked like a soldier heading to a battlefield from which there was no return.

"Are you still going?" Usopp asked.

"Of course."

Without turning his head, Leo said, "If we can't knock Sugar unconscious, the Captain and the adults who were forced into becoming toys won't be able to recover."

"Our mission is to get Sugar to eat this Tatabasasco Chili Sauce!"

"For this... we are willing to give anything!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Leo picked up the Tabasco Star, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.

The other Tontatta also got up at this time, picked up their weapons, and prepared for battle.

Even knowing they would die in this battle, they would not back down in the slightest!

'These guys...'

Usopp, who had witnessed everyone's actions, felt a sense of awe.

Is this the will of the Tontatta Tribe?

Leo didn't continue talking to Usopp. Instead, he took the Tabasco Star and headed towards Sugar's area. Soon, he and his friends blocked Sugar and Trebol's way out.

Sugar:???

Sugar stared at these little creatures with a face full of question marks. They actually dared to come?

"Still not giving up?" Sugar frowned. "This is so annoying."

Why not just turn all these little things into toys? That way, they'll stop causing trouble for no reason.

"Our battle is not only to rescue all our comrades, but also to save Dressrosa and resurrect the Riku Royal Family!"

"So... you have to faint!"

Even if they die in battle, they will knock Sugar unconscious!

"Hahaha~"

"That's really interesting."

Trebol tilted his head. These guys were actually thinking about such unrealistic things?

Have they not yet come to terms with reality?

Leo and the others didn't care about Trebol's thoughts, since they had come prepared to die from the very beginning.

"Let's go!" Leo roared. "Take them down!"

"Profound!!!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the Tontatta grabbed their weapons and jumped up, howling as they charged toward Sugar.

"It's useless!"

Trebol, who quickly arrived in front of Sugar, used his Devil Fruit ability to entangle the two boulders and then slammed them down into the mid-air Tontatta.

"Bump!"

In just one exchange, many of the Tontatta were sent flying.

Trebol then continued to unleash his Devil Fruit powers, creating a lot of slime that stuck all the Tontatta on the other side to the ground.

After doing this, Trebol lit a match and cruelly threw it onto the slime.

The next moment...

"Boom!!"

The explosion rang out again, blasting the stuck Tontatta so hard their Byakugan rolled back and they screamed as they flew away into the distance.

"Stand up, Bear Toy!" Sugar shouted. "Kill these insolent Tontatta!"

Upon receiving the order, the Bear Toy immediately scrambled to its feet, desperately grabbed its weapon, and charged towards its companion.

And so, the two sides engaged in a fierce battle, each strike ruthless.

"What are you guys doing?!" Usopp clenched his fists and said, "Isn't that enough?!"

Judging from the current situation, it's impossible for them to defeat Trebol and take Sugar!

But why haven't these guys given up yet?

"These guys are a bunch of idiots!"

"Yes."

Nico Robin laughed and said, "But... I just love this kind of idiot."

"Robin?"

Usopp, who had just noticed Robin's expression, paused for a moment before realizing what she was thinking.

This guy is planning to make a move!

With their combined strength, can they really defeat Trebol?

Unfortunately, Nico Robin wasn't thinking about such things; at that moment, all she wanted to do was help these Tontatta.

Without hesitation, Nico Robin walked out from around the corner and headed towards the distant battlefield.

"Hahaha~"

"It's probably on its last legs by now."

Looking at Leo below, who was panting heavily, Trebol's face was full of smugness.

They're just a bunch of small fry. Do they really think they can defeat him, the Top Executive of the Donquixote Family?

Stop joking, okay?!

Just then, Nico Robin launched her attack.

"Twelve Flower Blooms!"

"What is it?"

Looking at the arm that had suddenly grown out of his body, Trebol was immediately filled with questions.

Sugar looked at the arm that had emerged from her body with some panic; it was the first time she had been touched by an enemy attack.

"Leo!"

Nico Robin shouted, "Now!"

"Robin Landu!"

Seeing Nico Robin suddenly run over, Leo's eyes immediately lit up with excitement. Uso Landu crew finally going to make their move?

"Quick, throw the stuff into Sugar's mouth!" Nico Robin shouted.

As they spoke, Nico Robin used her Devil Fruit power to pry open Sugar's mouth, so that Leo could throw something into Sugar's mouth as soon as he ran over.

"Thank you!"

Leo nodded excitedly, then quickly rushed towards Sugar's location.

If he can get close to the Sugar, he can get the Sugar to eat this thing!

Perona, who witnessed the entire scene, immediately became excited.

Is she finally going to revert to her human form?

But when she saw Sugar's rapidly moving hand, despair appeared in her eyes.

'It's over...'

Just as this thought crossed her mind, Sugar's hand touched the clone that Nico Robin had created.

The next moment...

"Pop~"

"Huh?"

A look of confusion appeared in Nico Robin's eyes as she was turned into a plush toy. Had she... been turned into a toy?

She was turned into a toy?

Why?

Why was she turned into a toy?

Ah?

Why?

Trebol, now freed from Nico Robin's Devil Fruit powers, quickly used his slime to grab Leo in mid-air, forcibly imprisoning him there.

"That's the end of it," Trebol said coldly.

With that, Trebol sent Leo flying with a single blow, while the terrifying Tabasco Star crashed to the ground.

"Leo!"

Seeing Leo being knocked away, the Tontatta beside him immediately let out a cry of despair, and were then slashed by the Bear Toy.

"Um?"

Usopp, who had witnessed the entire scene, immediately looked puzzled.

"What happened?" Usopp frowned. "Wasn't that a perfect opportunity? Why did it fail?"

Although I don't know why Sugar opened her mouth on her own, it was definitely the best opportunity.

But it still failed in the end?

"Damn it, is this the end?"

Although I don't know why I had the brain fart to come and do this kind of thing with them, the current situation is absolutely terrible!

Damn it, what should I do?

What should I do?!

Meanwhile, on the other side...

While the Tontatta were engaged in a fierce battle, Luffy, Xi Yan, and Violet had already reached a deeper part of the castle.

Although she hasn't seen Doflamingo yet, Violet estimates it won't be long.

"Is it just ahead?" Luffy asked.

"Soon."

Violet said, "In a few minutes, we'll be on the top floor of the Royal Palace, where Doflamingo is."

At that moment, Violet truly felt that she had seen hope.

If these guys can defeat Doflamingo, then this country can see the light again!

Just then, the group noticed what was happening ahead.

"That's... Toy Soldier?"

Looking at Kyros was being held in Gladius's hand, Xi Yan subconsciously frowned and said, "Why has that guy's head gotten so big?"

And it keeps expanding... Is this Devil Fruit ability?

"It's Gladius!" Violet exclaimed in alarm. "He's Devil Fruit User, which allows him to make any inorganic matter he touches explode!"

Upon hearing this, Xi Yan immediately understood what Kyros was up to—this guy was about to explode!

Luffy's reaction was even more direct; the instant he heard Violet's words, Luffy vanished from his spot in a flash.

The next moment...

"Rubber Jet Stamp!"

"Bump!!!"

An incredibly heavy kick landed on Gladius's stomach, sending him flying into the air and crashing into the distance.

"Bump!"

Who is it?!

Clutching his stomach, Gladius stood up and angrily said, "How dare you interfere in my affairs? Are you looking for death?!"

Unfortunately, Luffy ignored the guy and instead casually caught Kyros in his hand.

"Soldiers," Luffy asked, "Where are Franky and the others?"

"Weren't we together?"

He remembered that Franky should have gone with the toys, so why weren't they together?

"Who are you?"

Kyros looked at Luffy with a puzzled expression. Who was this guy?

Wait... who is this guy dressed like...?

"Straw Hat, there's no time for idle chatter now," Violet said quickly. "Let's go."

Staying here will only lead to an attack by the Donquixote Family's leaders, so we must get up there quickly.

"They actually ignored me..."

Gladius was initially angry, but then he clearly saw the figures of the people in the distance.

"Straw Hat, Sunglasses Man, and... Violet?"

The moment Gladius saw Violet's face clearly, his Anger Value soared to its limit, and he unleashed his killing intent without hesitation.

"How dare you betray the young master!" Gladius said angrily, "Violet, you damned traitor!"

I'm going to kill you!

He hated traitors like this the most, so today he had to kill this damned woman!

"Alright, bring it on!"

After casually handing the Toy Soldier to Xi Yan, Luffy assumed a fighting stance, clearly intending to take down Doflamingo before going to fight him.

"Wait a minute!" Violet quickly grabbed Luffy and said, "Don't stay here and fight him, let's go!"

"What's wrong?"

Luffy, who was dragged away by Violet, Luffy completely confused. Shouldn't he have dealt with this enemy first before going up to cause trouble for Doflamingo?

What does "just go" mean?