As Kyros began fighting, King Riku led Viola toward the harbor on the Plateau of Kings.
As they walked, he had Viola keep an eye on the battle.
"Father, something's wrong. They only sent one person out, and he's already holding my brother-in-law back."
"Doflamingo himself hasn't even lifted a finger. And somehow, all the soldiers suddenly passed out." Young and inexperienced, Viola didn't know about Conqueror's Haki, so she could only describe what she saw.
Viola didn't know what was happening, but King Riku, who was much older, used his extensive experience to figure out two possibilities: "Conqueror's Haki, or a special Devil Fruit ability."
At that thought, King Riku quickened his pace. "This is bad. We have to hurry. Those soldiers are the ones defending our country."
The several thousand soldiers they'd left behind were the kingdom's elite, and one of the forces protecting it in the New World.
King Riku couldn't let them die.
There was no choice. The country was poor, so it had to focus on quality over quantity.
Clang!
"There's an opening!" As soon as they separated, Diamante's eyes glinted red, and he slashed his sword toward Kyros's side.
"What you think is an opening is one I gave you." After fighting for so long without gaining an advantage, Kyros realized his opponent was even tougher than he'd seemed at first. If things continued like this, it might take a whole day and night to determine a winner.
But that wasn't what Kyros wanted. He could afford to drag things out, but the kingdom behind him couldn't.
Besides, the relaxed expressions and ill-intentioned looks of the others made it clear that he couldn't afford to stall.
So the former gladiator had no choice but to take a risk. He deliberately exposed an opening,