Paper Paper Fruit In One Piece

"The ring has been reset. Contestants from Block D, please step onto the stage—" 

"Rebecca, the fight is starting. You…" 

Inside the cage were broken, bandaged fighters—people who had rebelled against Doflamingo and been thrown into the arena as "toys." Fighting to the death was their only fate. 

"You shouldn't compete," 

As one person spoke, others joined in to persuade her. 

"Yeah, that guy earlier… we wouldn't stand a chance against him." 

"And you heard it yourself. They're clearly here for the Flame-Flame Fruit and Doflamingo! Maybe they can…" 

Smack! Rebecca put on her helmet, picked up her sword, and once again assumed the role of a gladiator. 

"I'm going to compete," 

No matter what, she would give it her all this time. She didn't want to relive memories of helpless crying ever again. 

"Regardless of who that magician really is, I will fight for the Flame-Flame Fruit with everything I have! I'm no longer a 'princess' waiting for a knight to save me through tears." 

This time, I will protect Soldier-san! 

--- 

But what awaited her was: 

"Boo—" 

"Today is your last day alive!" 

"Die, you filthy bloodline!" 

"Her grandfather was a crazy arsonist king. Let her feel the pain of being burned alive!" 

Accusations, curses, and the universal thumbs-down of death— 

The entire arena was united in expressing their anger and malice toward the girl. 

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

Watching from the second floor, Luffy was furious. 

"If you've got a problem, go find her grandfather! Bullying a girl? What's that about?" 

"She's got a pretty face, but she's even less liked than Bartolomeo, the 'Ogre of Block B'…" 

"Taking her head might make someone a hero of this country—" 

Surrounded by open hostility and mockery, Rebecca remained unfazed. This was nothing new to her. As long as she could win: 

"Silence!" 

Riding a white horse, dressed like a nobleman, Cavendish charged into the arena. 

"I don't know what grievances you hold against this girl, who steps into the ring ready to die, but if you truly want her dead, pick up your weapons and face her in the arena yourselves!" 

"Spouting nonsense from the audience is nothing but meaningless noise. A warrior's life isn't a spectacle for you to jeer at!" 

Cavendish dismounted, patting his intelligent horse. 

"Thank you, Farul." 

…Why did he ride a horse into the arena? 

"That cabbage-head has quite the speech. Still, I don't like him," Luffy muttered as he watched. 

At that moment, the final contestant from Block D entered: 

*Clap—clap—clap!* 

A slow, deliberate clapping sound came from the entrance. It was deep and resonant, like the applause of a noble admiring an extraordinary performance. 

"Huh? That's…" 

"I'm getting a bad feeling…" 

The sound carried an undeniable weight, making the gladiators tense up instinctively. They raised their weapons, sensing danger. Even the spectators felt an inexplicable unease, as if something was stuck in their throats, leaving them speechless. 

*Clap—clap—clap!* 

The clapping grew louder, and a figure in a suit, top hat, and mask appeared at the entrance. His slow, measured applause picked up pace as he walked. 

"Is that…" 

"The mysterious magician?" 

"What's with this suffocating atmosphere—" 

The gladiators, already on edge, watched as the last contestant entered. He walked leisurely, clapping rhythmically, like a gentleman on a stroll—or perhaps a king on a journey. 

*Clap-clap-clap-clap!* 

The applause quickened, resembling a rapid drumbeat. It was steady yet intense, like the bouncing of little rabbits. 

But to the gladiators, there was nothing joyous about it. Their faces twisted in discomfort, and as the clapping grew louder, their expressions turned to ones of sheer pain. 

*Crash!* 

As the sound of a longsword hitting the ground echoed, it was as if a switch had been flipped. Weapons began slipping from their owners' hands with clanging noises. Arms that were once strong now trembled uncontrollably, and rough, calloused hands clutched at chests as if in agony. 

In that moment, they could clearly hear their own heartbeats: 

*Thump, thump, thump, thump!* 

The rhythm grew heavier and faster, in sync with the sound of clapping, until their entire chests seemed to pulse violently. 

"Ah—!" 

One gladiator let out a scream, and then dozens more fell to the ground almost simultaneously. Their eyes rolled back, their bodies convulsing like they had been struck by a sudden seizure. And this strange phenomenon began to spread like an infectious disease. 

*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!* 

With the mysterious magician's increasingly rapid applause, gladiators collapsed one after another. By the time he stepped into the arena, fewer than ten people were still standing. Even the audience members and toys in the stands were swaying unsteadily, their faces pale and speechless. 

"This makes the fight much simpler." 

Roman's words were met with terrified, almost devil-fearing stares from the arena, and a murmured comment of envy from Luffy. 

"Roman's powers are really fun. He doesn't even need Conqueror's Haki to make people quiet down." 

"What kind of ability is this?!" 

A burly man, both shocked and terrified, asked in a trembling voice. Roman waved his hand casually. 

"It's nothing special, just a simple use of resonance. Let's call it 'Illusory Heartbeat.'" 

It was indeed nothing more than a basic application of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Without even needing to amplify it with the Mo-Mo Fruit, he could cause heartbeats to resonate at a specific frequency, easily incapacitating the weaker fighters. 

—Though these "weaklings" would have been kings of their own domains in the East Blue. 

"Now then…" 

Roman instantly became the center of attention. After all, anyone who could knock out most of the competitors with a few claps couldn't be taken lightly—even Cavendish stood on guard. 

"Let me say this upfront: it's not that I look down on you." 

Through the white doves he had released, Roman received various pieces of information directly in his mind. 

The Tontatta warriors, having seen Nami nearly blow up Doflamingo with a "flying ship" attack, had rushed to contact her and the Straw Hat Crew. They revealed the truth about their people's enslavement and begged for help from the crew and Law. 

Elsewhere, Sanji was with Violet, Franky was with the toy soldier, and Zoro had captured the thief who had stolen his sword—a reconnaissance agent of the Tontatta named Wicca. Everyone was converging on the royal palace. 

Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Army's Chief of Staff, Sabo, and officer Koala had also infiltrated the colosseum. The brewing conflict was about to erupt. 

Dressed as a magician, Roman clapped his hands again. This time, the remaining gladiators tensed up, treating him like a serious threat. But this time, it was just an ordinary clap. 

"Come at me together." 

The invitation left everyone stunned. Roman spread his arms, gesturing with a "come on" motion. 

None of the fighters dared to make the first move. 

*Clang!* 

The sword Durandal was unsheathed as Cavendish, wearing a serious expression, stared at Roman. 

"Such arrogance! No wonder you're one of the Worst Generation's Supernovas—The White Knight, right?" 

"I go by 'Neo' now… but call me whatever you want. The Flame-Flame Fruit belongs to us, and only to us." 

*Boom!* 

An invisible storm of pressure surged outward from Roman's body, blasting across the arena like a hurricane. With a mix of Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki, it was as if a category twelve typhoon had been unleashed in the small arena. 

The remaining fighters had to brace themselves and use their weapons just to keep their footing. 

"I said, come at me together!" 

—————— 

Dressrosa Royal Palace, Spade Hall.

"Fujitora, what exactly do you mean?" 

Facing Doflamingo's question, the blind Marine Admiral calmly tapped the ground with his cane. 

"Even though you hold the title of 'Shichibukai,' that doesn't mean I stand on your side." 

"Minimizing the damage suffered by civilians is the very reason the Marine exists." 

"If the 'Straw Hats' are targeting your head, they might create chaos and destruction to distract everyone. Preventing that from happening is my *duty* for being here." 

Since the pretense was over, there was no need to hide anything anymore. 

"And as for you, I can set you aside for now." 

"What do you mean?" 

Faced with Doflamingo's second question, Fujitora made his stance clear. 

"Although I'm just a 'newcomer' in the Marine, I have my own goal, and that is—" 

"To abolish the Shichibukai!" 

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

His arrogance and influence stemmed from skillfully exploiting the privileges of being a Shichibukai, using his government-given status to thrive in both the light and dark worlds. Arms dealing, slave trading, and artificial Devil Fruits… 

If he lost this identity, how could he maintain such a vast business empire? 

After all, given Kaido's ruthless personality, he would rather take what he wanted by force than buy it. Without the Shichibukai title to summon Marine and even Admirals for support, Doflamingo's family would have been swallowed by Kaido long ago. 

"Heh heh heh heh, and what about the balance of the three great powers?" 

In response to Doflamingo's veiled threat, Fujitora answered plainly. 

"Well, how can you know the outcome if you don't break it first?" 

*Clang!* 

The pointed shoe wrapped in Armament Haki collided fiercely with Fujitora's cane sword. The metallic clash echoed throughout the palace as sparks flew from the impact, creating a dazzling display of light. 

The force of the collision generated a violent gust of wind that swept outwards like sharp blades. 

The residual energy from their clash carved two deep grooves, one horizontal and one vertical, into the solid stone floor, forming a large X between the two of them. 

"When you've done enough evil deeds, your head becomes very valuable, Heavenly Yaksha," Fujitora taunted. 

Despite the provocation, Doflamingo's face remained calm. 

"Why does it sound like you're saying, 'If you want to get rid of me, now's your chance'?" 

…Indeed, Fujitora's goading was meant to provoke Doflamingo into making the first move. Normally, a Marine Admiral had no justification to attack a Shichibukai. But if a Shichibukai attacked the Marine… then self-defense would naturally be justified. 

If Doflamingo made a move, he might experience the full force of Fujitora's terrifying power! 

Unfortunately, Doflamingo was no ordinary criminal. In a moment of clarity, he understood the implications and held back, forcing Fujitora to sheath his weapon and leave. 

"For now, I only wish to protect this country," Fujitora said. 

"As for the 'darkness' that might erupt later, I am just a blind man—I cannot see it." 

(End of Chapter) 

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