Inside the arena, the tension reached a breaking point. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the situation in the ring.
After several seconds of silence, the announcer finally recovered from his shock. He tightened his grip on the microphone and roared:
"Kyros wins!" His voice rang with irrepressible excitement and heartfelt admiration, echoing through the vast arena.
The audience instantly erupted into thunderous applause and deafening cheers. Wave after wave of sound surged like a raging tide, reaching the skies.
They cheered wildly for Kyros's flawless performance, every one of them caught up in this heart-stopping victory.
Kyros stood in the arena, his clothes drenched with sweat as though soaked by rain. Bloodstains from the battle still marked his body, leaving him looking thoroughly bedraggled.
Yet his face shone with a smile full of pride and satisfaction.
He slowly raised his hand and waved to the enthusiastic crowd, thanking them for their continued support and encouragement.
The audience's cheers grew even louder. Joy engulfed the entire arena, as though it had become a seething ocean.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today we witnessed the first gladiator in the history of Dressrosa's Corrida Colosseum to achieve 1,000 consecutive victories-Kyros.
He has created a legend in this arena. From this day forward, he is our Corrida Colosseum's 'King of the Arena'!" the announcer shouted, holding Kyros's hand aloft!
"King of the Arena! Kyros!"
"King of the Arena! Kyros!"
"King of the Arena! King of the Arena!"
The audience's cheers shook the heavens.
"That's amazing! Kyros won! He's the 'King of the Arena' now!"
Viola's eyes sparkled, her cheeks flushed slightly with excitement, and her voice brimmed with joy.
She sprang to her feet, leaned forward, and waved her clenched fists. Then she excitedly hugged Kakarot's arm, looking as though she might jump into the air.
"Big brother, who's this little girl?" Lilith tilted her head slightly and looked at Kakarot with a hint of curiosity, her lips forming a small pout.
"Her name is Viola. Before the match, I saw her sitting here alone, so I came over to tease her a little."
The corners of Kakarot's mouth lifted into a gentle smile, and he patted Lilith's head.
"Hello, big sisters and big brothers!" Viola narrowed her eyes in a radiant smile and waved vigorously, her small body swaying gently with the motion.
At the sight of such an adorable girl, Lilith and the others all wore affectionate expressions.
They gathered around her, smiling as they greeted her, and cheerful chatter and laughter filled the air.
"Um, Big Sister Lilith, what's with that giant mantis behind you?"
Viola peeked halfway out from behind Lilith, a trace of curiosity and fear in her eyes.
"She's our companion too. Her name is Athena, and she's a powerful 'swordswoman.'
We accidentally wandered onto Beast Island before. I fought her, then invited her to join us."
Yingyue lifted her chin slightly, a trace of pride in her eyes as she spoke at an unhurried pace.
"Oh!" Viola nodded without quite understanding and drew her neck in.
The arena bustled with excitement. Everyone chatted cheerfully, their voices rising and falling.
The gladiators in the ring had all returned to the arena's interior.
Impatience sparkled in Viola's eyes. She tugged at the corner of Kakarot's clothes and said urgently:
"Big Brother Kakarot, I want to hurry back to the palace and tell my sister Scarlet the good news about Kyros's 1,000 consecutive wins!"
Kakarot nodded and said gently, "Then be careful on your way."
Viola answered cheerfully, a radiant smile on her face. With steps as light as a merry little deer, she turned and ran toward the arena's exit.
What she did not know, however, was that several pairs of greedy eyes were fixed on her from a corner of the crowd.
The Bloodthirsty Pirates had heard from somewhere that Dressrosa's royal family had a powerful Devil Fruit in their collection.
After arriving in Dressrosa and observing for a while, they discovered that the princess of Dressrosa actually sneaked out frequently to watch matches at the arena.
So they decided to seize the opportunity to abduct her and make the king ransom her with the Devil Fruit!
The captain of the Bloodthirsty Pirates had a bounty of 80 million Beli, at a time when the Beli had yet to depreciate.
His strength was not to be underestimated. He could already be called a great pirate, with combat power on the level of an elite Vice Admiral.
But he had always wanted a powerful Devil Fruit to increase his strength.
The captain of the Bloodthirsty Pirates, Mad Blood Fini, was a man with a brutish face and vicious eyes.
He licked his lips and gave a cruel smile. "Princess of Dressrosa, you will become the stepping stone that takes me, Mad Blood Fini, to the pinnacle of the seas!"
Just as Viola was about to leave the arena, several pirates suddenly darted out of the shadows, clamped a hand over her mouth, and dragged her into a nearby alley.
Viola struggled desperately, her eyes filled with fear and despair, but her resistance seemed so feeble against these vicious pirates.
At that moment, amid all the joyous emotions, Kakarot's Observation Haki unexpectedly sensed a presence of extreme despair.
But amid the sea of people, he could not pinpoint it clearly. His brow furrowed slightly, and he turned to his companions. "Head back first. I have something to take care of."
Relying on his keen perception, Kakarot swiftly pursued the direction in which that despair-filled presence had vanished.
As Viola was dragged into the alley, her heart filled with despair, she suddenly heard that familiar, powerful voice:
"Let her go!"
Viola jerked her head up, a flash of delighted surprise instantly rising in her eyes. Her once-dim gaze seemed to light up with hope again.
She watched Kakarot appear at the entrance to the alley like a god descending from heaven, and most of the fear in her heart instantly dissipated.
Muffled sounds escaped her mouth, as though she were urgently pleading with Kakarot for help.
Kakarot's voice was filled with anger. He had never expected human traffickers to dare abduct someone right under his nose.
In his previous life, Kakarot had hated human traffickers more than anything, let alone when the person they abducted was his friend.
Kakarot abruptly unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, his powerful presence enveloping the group as though it had taken physical form.
Apart from their leader, Fini, the pirates were all pinned in place, unable to move. Some of the weak-willed ones even fainted outright.
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