Chapter 135: Fated Rivalry × Conspiracy

Delta Island was made up of three landmasses.

Channels of seawater ran between the islands, with boats constantly ferrying people across. Travel between islands was done via small ferries or the occasional bridge, connecting spectators to food stalls, arenas, beaches, and a wide range of leisure attractions.

But right now, everyone—regardless of where they were—had their eyes glued to the live broadcast from the Transponder Snail. The feed showed the center of the island, where a special colosseum had been constructed atop the sea, almost like a floating island in its own right. It was the site of the ongoing “Beast Cup.” A cute young girl and a hulking MC were energetically hyping up the crowd.

『All right, all right!! The matches are coming in hot!! We’re running a little behind schedule, so let’s keep it moving!!』

『Yeah... that’s 'cause you sang a whole song...』

『──Did you say something?』

『A-Alright, boys!! Fired up from Nue’s blessed vocals, aren’t you!? Let’s keep the matches rolling!! First round’s got four bouts happening simultaneously!!! If you wanna stand out, win your way to the top!!!』

At the top row of the spectator stands—where the commentary booth overlooked the colosseum—the ones calling the matches were none other than “Nue the Phantom Beast,” Vice Governor of the Beasts Pirates, and “Queen the Plague,” one of the All-Stars. The two of them were known as the ultimate idol and entertainer duo, always bringing the house down with their performances and banter at feasts and festivals. The crowd of pirates was ecstatic. Members of the Beasts Pirates and outsiders alike roared with excitement as they watched these titans clash for real.

Each round consisted of four matches. The colosseum’s massive arena had been specially designed to split into four separate stages. Each marble-like floating platform had its own referee—four of them in total, all copies of Nue herself. Clad in black sport jerseys and shorts, with whistles hanging from their necks, they each oversaw a stage. The outcome of every match was ultimately left to Nue’s judgment.

And now, another match was about to begin.

“──Heh... My opponent is a rookie, huh...? I'll give you some advice. Withdraw while you can.”

“Well now... Aren’t you full of yourself?”

On one of the four stages, two men stood face to face. One spoke with the voice of an old man, despite his youthful face marked by a distinctive feature. The other was a tall man with an animal’s long neck—the user of a SMILE fruit. He belonged to the Gifters and held the rank of “Shinuchi,” or Headliner. Eyeing his opponent sharply, he struck a dramatic pose and declared:

『Beasts Pirates "Shinuchi" Hamlet – SMILE: Giraffe』

“Of course I’m confident. You’re ordinary. I, on the other hand, am chosen by the heavens—extraordinary. You were born to be the stepping stone beneath my feet!!!”

“Then try me. I see no future in which you defeat me.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice!!! Feast your eyes!!! Witness the terrifying power of the giraffe!!!”

With the referee’s whistle, the match began. Hamlet, suspended awkwardly from his long giraffe neck, charged forward dual-wielding sabers. Despite his ridiculous appearance, his swordsmanship was worthy of his title.

However, his opponent remained unfazed—and transformed in a very different way.

“Well now... What a coincidence. My ability is somewhat similar...!!!”

“!!? Wh-What...!? No way...!!?”

“And if it is that ‘no way,’ what are you gonna do about it?──‘Pasta Machine.’”

The man activated his ability and transformed. A true Zoan-type Devil Fruit user, his transformation resembled Hamlet’s, yet was clearly something else entirely.

He became a tall, beastly humanoid with elongated limbs. Drawing twin swords, he spun into motion. A former assassin, he too was a master swordsman.

“‘Dragon Fang’──‘Imperial Wrath’!!!”

“Ki—KIRI～～～～IN!!!”

『Whoa there, what do we have here～～～～！！？』

Two blades in hand, two more slashes from his legs—four blades total. Each strike imbued with Armament Haki.

Blasted by the flurry, Hamlet let out a bizarre cry and was sent flying. The fight was already over. Even Nue seemed caught off guard, raising her voice in surprise.

『What a shocker!! The giraffe match ends in an instant～～～!!! A single strike in beast-man form lands squarely on Hamlet～～～～～!!!』

“...What a pushover.──Oh yes, one more thing. There’s something I must say—about why you lost.”

The man looked down at Hamlet, who lay collapsed on the stage, and spoke. Not out of cruelty, but from a personal sense of indignation—something that offended his pride.

“──There ain’t no giraffe like that.”

“Like hell you get to say that!!!──Whoah!?”

It was a punchline that everyone silently agreed with. A bizarre creature, vaguely giraffe-shaped but with a square, elongated nose, had no right to call others out.

The voice had come from the adjacent stage. Someone couldn’t help but respond, even in the middle of their own match. Hamlet turned in surprise—it was a familiar face, an ex-colleague.

“Hmm...? Oh, it’s you, Jabra. Always looking to pick a fight, aren’t you? We’re both mid-match.”

“You’re the one talking crap, Rokuro!!! Tch... Ate an unnecessary hit because of you...!!”

“You shouldn’t be looking away during battle.──I’ll be heading back first.”

“Hey, wait!! Damn it!! He wrapped it up before me...!!”

The man—who had taken the form of a humanoid giraffe—reverted to human form and walked offstage. His annoyed former coworker called after him, but with his own match still underway, he couldn’t complain further. His opponent was just beginning to raise his guard.

『Beasts Pirates “Shinuchi” Fourtricks – SMILE: Chicken』

“Stay quiet. The strong don’t waste words.”

“Your whole existence is noisy!! What’s with all these weird-ass transformations...!!”

“This isn’t a transformation. This is my natural form. Can’t even tell that much...? Pathetic.”

“That’s not something you should be bragging about!!! I’m ending this right now!!!”

“That makes two of us.”

Fourtricks—an obnoxiously smug man with a chicken body and his face sticking out of the rear—lunged forward with his naginata. His opponent, furious at the absurdity of both Fourtricks and Rokuro, readied himself. A true Zoan user, he took on the form of a werewolf. Without flinching, he stood tall and took the blow head-on.

“‘Armored Tekkai Kenpo’!!”

“...!!”

The naginata struck his body—but bounced off. Fourtricks silently gasped. It wasn’t just Haki. There was another technique at play.

Even more shocking, the werewolf moved while using it. The naginata left him wide open, and he took full advantage.

“‘Celestial Wolf Fang’!!!”

“COCK-A-DOOOOOODLEEEEEEEE!!!”

It ended in one blow. Fourtricks was sent flying, and the werewolf let out a victorious roar. As the whistle marked the end of the match, Nue’s voice boomed again.

『It’s over～～～～～!!! That was “Armored Tekkai Kenpo”!! Looks like a variation of the Rokushiki technique ‘Tekkai,’ enhanced with Armament Haki for hardened strikes. Queen, what’s your take on that?』

『You just said everything there is to say!!? Now I’ve got nothing left to commentate!!』

『And there you have it!! As expected of a former government intelligence agent!! From CP—Cipher Pol… “Number 9”～～～～～!!!』

Nue and Queen bounced off each other with their usual rhythm, riling up the crowd.

Up until a year ago, the government’s covert agency still operated. The elusive ninth CP that shouldn’t exist. The audience was ecstatic to witness a rare battle between two of the three powerhouses who’d joined the Beasts Pirates.

But the two assassins paid it no mind, leaving the stage. A man caught up to them, complaining as he traded light jabs with one of them.

『Beasts Pirates “Tobi Roppo,” former “CP9” — Kaku. Bounty: 240 million berries.』

“What now? Still got complaints? Honestly… stop griping about my giraffe form already. It’s perfectly normal, isn’t it?”

『Beasts Pirates “Tobi Roppo,” former “CP9” — Jabra. Bounty: 228 million berries.』

“Normal how!? I don’t care if your goofy giraffe form is your thing, but don’t go advancing before me!!”

“Uoooooh～～～～!!!”

“Kakuuu!!”

“Jabraa!!”

“Hey!! Why do they call you with a ‘-san’ and just yell my name!?”

“Does it matter what some lowlifes call us?”

“I mean, yeah, but why is it just you getting the respect!?”

The two of them bickered as they returned to the waiting room. Watching that, Nue casually turned her head and spoke—amidst not only Queen but the other All-Stars lined up in the same area.

“…You see that kind of bickering among crewmates more often than you'd think. Like, King and Queen, for example.”

“Because this scum is hopeless!!”

“It’s a chore dealing with an idiot… the guy’s never useful when it counts.”

“What’d you say!!?”

“You two never get tired of this. How about stopping it in front of Kaido and Nue already?”

“He’s always got some snide remark!! Freakin’ pervert…!!”

“He’s always butting in despite being useless…”

“You say that again, I’ll end you!!”

“Turn you into charcoal…”

“Ahaha!! Watching this is hilarious!! Jack, what do you think of the big brothers fighting?”

“…! …N-No, uh…”

“Hey, knock it off, Nue. Jack’s clearly uncomfortable… And you guys, it’s a festival—just hold the fights for one day.”

“They say the more you fight, the closer you are!! And sure, brawling is part of the fun, but maybe try getting along—at least for Golden Kagura.”

““““……I mean, yeah…””””

“Huh? What’s with the sudden mood shift?”

“Why’d it go all quiet…?”

The highest-ranking spectator box fell silent in an instant. Nue’s remark had sparked the usual quarrel between King and Queen, and Joker had stepped in to scold them while Jack stood awkwardly, trying not to cause more tension. But when Kaido and Nue also joined in to break it up, the entire group shared a collective thought in perfect sync: “You two are the last people who should be talking.”

Festival or not, the moment anything triggered it, those two would start a brother-sister brawl, unleashing damage on a disaster scale. Compared to that, King and Queen’s squabbling was child’s play—annoying at best, mildly awkward for Jack and their subordinates, but not destructive. That point had been gently implied, but Kaido and Nue—so perfectly in sync today—only tilted their heads in unison, looking confused. Fortunately, there was no spark today, no kindling for chaos.

And while the Beasts Pirates’ top brass kept up their lively banter at the summit—suddenly, the crowd below erupted even louder.

“!”

“Whoa…!! Damn, no mercy at all…!!”

『! Ohhh!! That is—that is～～～～～!!?』

Nue brought her mic back to her lips, honing in on one of the matches. A flying object carrying a visual Den-Den Mushi broadcasting the event’s largest screen hovered into position to focus on the stage in question—its display soaked in red.

“──So. What was it you just said earlier? I thought I heard something about ‘butchering’ me… Go on, say it again. Who exactly were you planning to sacrifice?”

“Gr…ghh… guh… s-stop…! I-I’m gonna die…!!”

“…!! Even Holdem… being manhandled like a baby…!!”

“How strong is that guy!?”

From the audience, the Beasts Pirates’ Waiters were trembling. The man currently being held by the neck and left bloodied onstage was “Tobi Roppo” Holdem.

He was Jack the All-Star’s underling and the administrator of Bakura Town on New Onigashima. A user of a genuine Zoan Devil Fruit—Neko Neko no Mi, Model: Lion. His strength was common knowledge. He even wielded a mechanized sword supplied by Queen.

And yet… before that man, Holdem was no more than an infant. Twisted by the neck in a gruesome, one-sided match. Nue cried out, her voice carrying through the arena.

『A bloodbath!! Brutal!! Survival of the fittest～～～～!!! The lion has been replaced by a new apex predator on this stage where only the strongest are hailed!!! But it’s no surprise!!! That man severed ties with the government, dedicating himself to the path of “Dark Justice”—a specialist in assassination!!! The strongest killer in CP9 history!!! Now a Tobi Roppo under the Marys!!! Joker’s right-hand man—the name of that man is～～～!!!』

A whistle rang out, blown by a clone of Nue acting as the referee. At last, the man released his grip. Had the whistle not sounded, he might’ve gone in for the kill—that was how merciless he looked. Nue shouted his name, and the stadium exploded with cheers.

『──The strongest man in CP9 history!!! Rob Lucci～～～～～～～～～!!!』

“UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO～～～～～～～～～～!!!”

『Beasts Pirates “Tobi Roppo,” former “CP9” — Rob Lucci. Bounty: 430 million berries.』

“Hmph… You’re lucky to be alive.”

“Ugh… (I-I’m saved…!!)”

“…Tch… That Lucci guy’s stealing the spotlight again—even though he told us not to.”

“Not much we can do. Strength’s what gets you praise around here.”

The man who once helped uphold the impregnable legend of Enies Lobby, carrying out countless cold-blooded killings for the government—Rob Lucci—showed no response to the cheers as he turned to leave. Jabra and Kaku, who’d joined the Beasts Pirates with him, couldn’t hide their unease after watching his brutal display. He’s gotten even stronger, they realized.

Since the government’s fall a year ago, the trio had carried out numerous missions for the world’s most powerful pirate crew, developing their Haki and earning new bounties from the new government—but even among them, Lucci was on another level.

Trusted by Joker herself and entrusted with command over portions of the Marys, Lucci rarely showed his face publicly due to his nature. As such, Holdem hadn’t realized how strong he’d become and underestimated him—until now. But after that match, no one would ever make that mistake again. Lucci, slipping a hand into the pocket of his red suit embroidered with a skull at the collar, left the stage with his pigeon perched on his shoulder, catching up with Kaku and the others.

“Kept you waiting.”

“No, but seriously—killing your opponent’s an instant loss, you know that right!?”

“Hmph… With the vice-governor serving as the judge, I doubt they’d disqualify me over something like that.”

“You’ve got a point. But still, better safe than sorry.”

“I held back.”

Lucci, Kaku, and Jabra walked across the bridge together toward the waiting area. Glancing toward the next match behind them—

“Still… can’t believe she’s here too.”

“Wahaha!!! Hey, lady!! I’m a former CP9 too!!! The former chief!! Also Nue’s direct subordinate! (Glorified errand boy, really.) Got myself a Devil Fruit and became a Tobi Roppo!! Now I’ve got two powers if you count my beloved sword!! Scared yet!? If you apologize and grovel, maybe I’ll go easy on ya!! Try saying, ‘I’m sorry I was ever born’!!”

"Gh……!!

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow!! H-Hey, cut it out…!! Do you have any idea who I am!? Damn it… Attacking me out of nowhere is low, you bastard!! I haven’t even drawn my sword—GYAAAAHHHHH!!! S-Stop!! I-I forfeit!! I forfeit, so just stop!!!"

『Nooope♡ C’mon, Spandam, do your best~!! That’s only one knockdown!! If you're gonna call yourself my subordinate, then you better go down ten more times and hype up the crowd before you lose♡ Come on, come on, you can still fight~!!!』

"Th-That’s… GYAAAAAAAHHHH!!! Wait, at least untie me fir—BWAAAAGH!!?"

"What the hell is that man doing…"

"…Should we wait and talk to him at least?"

"──Leave him. He’s not worth the trouble."

Behind them, on one of the battle stages, Spandam—former CP9 director and now somehow a “Shinuchi”—was being utterly manhandled by the masked Shinuchi woman Dulac.

She was mercilessly slapping him around with plants, binding his limbs, and slamming him into the stage. While Nue and the audience laughed and cheered at the spectacle, Lucci ignored it entirely. Kaku and Jabra looked on in disbelief at their ex-boss, but they had no interest in engaging with him and turned to finally leave the venue—

"──Not bad at all."
"!!?"

At that moment, a tall man brushed past them. Lucci and the others, distracted by the scene behind, hadn't noticed him approaching. By the time they turned, he was already walking away from them. Towering over them by at least a meter, he wore a red suit with a tattoo on his chest and a red oni-like helmet that concealed his face.

"As expected of a former government assassin. You’re well-trained… So how about it? Want to join my crew? I’d welcome you—Rob Lucci."

"…I refuse. I see no reason to become your subordinate."

"Hah… And here I was, offering to let you into the pack. I might’ve gone easy on you if you had… but now? Too bad."

Grinning as he walked off, the man flashed a confident smirk around the cigarette in his mouth. His arrogant tone made it clear he didn’t see Lucci as a threat—but it wasn’t empty boasting. After all, this man was considered one of the top contenders in the Beast King Cup.

"…You’re not going to stay and watch the fight?"

"…No need. Watching it would be a waste of time."

While Kaku was asking Lucci about staying to watch the match, cheers erupted from the crowd. With Nue’s commentary ringing out, the next match began. The arena rumbled with a heavy thud.

"BAHOHOHOHO!!! Go, Wadatsumi~~~!!! I don’t care if he’s a favorite to win or one of the Flying Six, just smash him to pieces!!!"

"I’ll do it, Captain Decken~~~~!!!"

"…He’s massive. Bigger than the Numbers… A fish-man, huh."
"That’s right!!! I’m a tiger pufferfish fish-man!!! Tiny humans like you don’t stand a chance!!!"

"──And loud as hell… you’re hurting my ears."

"Huh…? ──!!!?"

"…Wh-What…!?"

The opponent was colossal—so massive that he filled nearly the entire stage. He was Wadatsumi, a tiger pufferfish fish-man and underling of the pirate Vander Decken, who had joined the Beast Pirates and become a Shinuchi. As he tried to stomp his opponent, he suddenly lost sight of him—and in the next instant, before most of the pirates even realized it… the match was over.

"!!!"

"Tch… At least he was easy to take down… That was a good warm-up…!!!"

"!!? W-Wadatsumiiiiii!!?"

In a flash, the man who had passed behind Lucci earlier had drawn his sword and slashed directly across Wadatsumi’s massive torso.

As Vander Decken clutched his head and screamed, the audience stood stunned. He was a top contender for the championship, a man said to be closest to the All-Stars… but no one expected such a decisive win in a single moment.
He’d been away training for six months, but how strong had he become? His true power was still unknown, but everyone could feel it—and soon, the crowd erupted into a frenzy.

『One clean strike!!! And the match is over~~~~!!! He’s as big as an ancient giant!! But Wadatsumi the Oonyūdō was brought down in an instant by one of this tournament’s top contenders, fresh off six months of intense training!!』

『…Muhaha… He’s gotten cockier, hasn’t he…!!!』

Nue roared into the mic while Queen gave a wicked grin.
That man’s victory came as no surprise to either Nue or the All-Stars. Given his strength—and the growth he’d achieved in six months—this result was only natural.

And if he truly intended to challenge the All-Stars, then this level of performance was the bare minimum.
──He was one of the six strongest Shinuchi in the meritocratic Beast Pirates.

『The winner is………… the Beast Pirates’ Flying Six!!! Who’s Who～～～～～～～～～～～!!!』

"UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

"Now then… You’re up next, Rob Lucci…!! You turned down my offer to join me… and unfortunately for you, I’m thirsty for blood right now… So don’t expect any mercy if you die……!!!"

"…!! Sounds fun…!!"

──Who’s Who. One of the strongest among the Flying Six.
And Rob Lucci’s next opponent.

The two locked eyes, each baring their fangs as they sized up their prey.
Hunter or hunted—
Only one would emerge victorious.

---

──Delta Island, Food Stall Village.

Countless food stands lined the streets, and pirates—both from the Beasts Pirates and other invited guests—gathered with food and drinks in hand, eyes fixed on the monitors.

But among them lurked those who had infiltrated the festival with ulterior motives. Hidden in the shadow of a building, watching the monitor from a distance, were pirates counted among the Worst Generation.

“…I see. So those are the executives in the tournament… If those troublesome commanders are all occupied there, this really is a golden opportunity…!!”

“Kid. Time to move. Apoo and the others are waiting underground.”

“Yeah. According to Apoo, the underground of this island connects directly to the core of that colosseum. It’s the perfect setup to ambush the ones lounging around, boozing and watching matches…!!!”

Hailing from the South Blue, Eustass "Captain" Kid, captain of the Kid Pirates, and his right-hand man, the “Massacre Soldier” Killer, began descending underground with their crew. Apoo had uncovered the fact that there was an underground network beneath Delta Island, and from there, they could sneak into the colosseum—where Kaido and Nue were located. Entering through the front would risk exposure and heightened security. But going in from the back would drastically increase the chances of a successful ambush. That was the starting point of their entire plan.

Apoo and Hawkins had apparently already regrouped below; all that remained was for Kid’s crew to join them. The combined crew size of the three pirate crews was in the four digits, but most of their members were stationed above ground to stir up chaos just before things kicked off—to keep attention locked topside. The main force would rush Kaido and Nue all at once. If they could get that far, the rest would come down to whether Kid and his allies had what it took. The other Headliners wouldn’t be at full strength, worn down by injuries and fatigue. The heavy-hitters would be stalled by their underlings, leaving the top commanders open for a direct clash.

Imagining that, Kid’s lips twisted into a savage grin. If he wanted to become Pirate King, this was a fight he couldn’t avoid. Just picturing Kaido’s severed head mounted on his ship’s prow made his blood burn with anticipation.

“—Let’s go, Killer. Today… I’m taking the head of a Yonko…!!!”

“Yeah. We’ve come this far. Let’s make it happen…!!!”

Their resolve was long since hardened. The two of them glanced briefly at the monitor, recognizing fellow members of their generation on the screen, but said nothing and kept walking. The words stayed internal—I’ll make you eat those cocky smiles.

But then—

“…That presence just now…”

“? Something wrong, sir?”

Someone had noticed Kid and his group—by chance, there were two separate parties who had. One of them noticed without even looking. The man, tall and leaning on a cane, was asked by a subordinate if something was the matter. With his eyes still closed, he stood still for a moment, sensing the direction of the disturbance. Then, after a short pause, he turned on his heel and answered the subordinate’s question.

“…No, it's fine… Today is for recon. Reckless action is forbidden.”

“? R-right. Of course. No one’s stupid enough to make a move with every major force gathered here. You’d have to be suicidal…!! Just standing here has me on edge already…!!”

“…Sounds like there’s no shortage of suicidal fools around here…”

“Eh?”

“No, never mind that. —Now then… let’s see what the world’s strongest pirate crew is capable of… and what that festival freak is really up to…”

The blind man muttered to himself, still not looking at the monitors. He focused instead on the auras radiating from the island’s center and outskirts, listening, sensing. And he thought to himself—I just hope nothing goes wrong… but that hope will probably go unanswered.

And then, in a different alleyway, a man with a cigar let out a dry chuckle.

“Kuhahaha…!! Looks like we’re not the only ones planning something shady during this festival… Things just got interesting…!!”

“Shall we eliminate them?”

“Nah, let ’em be… They’d be a pain to deal with. Starting a scene now wouldn’t help anyone. —Besides, if we play it right, we can use the chaos to move more freely. Might as well let them do the heavy lifting…!!!”

“Understood.”

Stroking the hook of his left prosthetic hand with the fingers of his remaining right, the man vanished into the dust. The subordinate gave a short reply and disappeared into the alley after him.

They, too, were fierce warriors hiding sharp ambitions. Amid the lively music of the festival, several plots were already in motion—subtle, but unmistakably ominous.

---

『All right!! And now, yet another showdown!!! The final match to determine the Top 16 features another member of the “Worst Generation,” just like Drake who advanced earlier!!! Stepping into the ring is their very top fighter!!!』

『His opponent is the Coliseum Champion of Dressrosa!! Mr. Diamante!!! This is gonna be one hell of a fight~~~~!!!』

“Oooh…!!”

──So far, the matches of the “Beasts Cup” had proceeded without a hitch.
The tournament only grew more heated, and the crowd was in a frenzy. Just moments ago, the matches to determine the Top 16 had begun, and now the real heavy-hitters were showing up, including seeded contestants like the “Tobi Roppo.”
Those who had clawed their way up to this point—the fiercest of the Beasts Pirates—now gathered in the waiting rooms, where they could watch the matches and ready their spirits. Everyone knew it: this was where the real fight began.

And that was just as true for the young man now appearing from the entrance gate. He set his gaze on the one he had a score to settle with, and, shouldering his sword, stepped forward in time with Nue’s grand introduction.

『From the North Blue!! He dissects his enemies while they’re still alive!! Within his Room, nothing escapes his control!! The Superhuman-type Paramecia: wielder of the “Op-Op Fruit”!!!』

“! Heh heh heh…!! So you’ve come… It’s been a long time…!!!”

In the VIP stands, Doflamingo caught sight of the man and broke into a crooked grin. This was the opponent he had waited years for.

But to the man now stepping into the arena, Doflamingo was the true enemy.
He showed none of that on his face, though. Silent and composed, he fixed his gaze on his opponent, Diamante. Diamante, too, grinned upon seeing him—he never would’ve imagined their reunion would come in a place like this.

Yet their shared history was something Nue completely ignored. Through mic and camera, she proudly introduced her adorable subordinate to the world and the roaring stadium.

『──The “Surgeon of Death”!!! Trafalgar Loooooooooooooo!!!』

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

『“Worst Generation,” Beasts Pirates “Shinuchi” — Trafalgar Law!! Bounty: 480 million berries』

“──So you’re my opponent… Diamante.”

“Wahahaha… I’ve been waiting for this, Law…!! Long time no see…!!!”

──Law responded to Diamante’s grinning face with nothing more than a slight furrow of his brow. A man with a past. But to Law, this small fry was just a puppet. The real enemy—the one with the strings—was someone else entirely.

“Heh heh heh heh!!! Show him just how wide the gap is between you two… so that when you do come crawling back to me, you won’t even think about disobeying…”

“…! (Doflamingo…!!)”

Just glancing up at the VIP box where Doflamingo sat twisted his expression—whether he intended to or not.
That man… was everything. Every move Law had made, even standing here now, was for one purpose: to end this. To settle the score.

──And once again, a battle steeped in fate was about to unfold.

“If you win your next match, you’ll be in the Top 8… and facing me, Kyoshiro.”

“…You sure about that? Cheering me on means we’ll be fighting over the same Tobi Roppo seat, you know…”

“Yeah, no problem. As long as we both make it to the Top 8, there’s still a shot for both of us to become Tobi Roppo. If you and I both win, we can make it together. ──Of course, even if we’re sworn brothers, I ain’t planning on handing over the win…!!!”

“…I see.”

One of the players’ waiting rooms. A samurai was being encouraged with a firm clap on the shoulder from someone he called a friend.

But the samurai’s mind was elsewhere.
A man who had never once broken character, who always wore the perfect mask of a yakuza boss, now sat with a grim face and trembling hands. Even the friend, strong as he was, couldn’t miss the signs.
And when that friend was none other than one of the Tobi Roppo himself—Sasaki—there was no way those subtleties would go unnoticed.

“? What’s up? Don’t tell me you’re nervous, that’s not like you.”

“…Yeah… I guess you could say that.”

“Wahaha, playing coy again? Don’t sweat it!! That guy’s tough, but out of all of us, he’s still the weakest link. He’s not someone you can’t beat. Just watch out for his ability and that Haki of his when he gets mad. Especially that sword of his—what was it—‘Enma’ or something…”

“…I know. That’s… the blade of Kozuki Oden, right?”

“──Heh, guess you would know. That sword’s the real deal. It’s the only one that ever managed to wound Kaido…!!”

Sasaki offered the advice in earnest.
From his point of view, it was better if the man he saw as a brother-in-arms won, rather than the current Tobi Roppo he’d be up against.
Sure, they’d have to fight each other eventually, but this was a non-lethal match.
He wasn’t planning to lose, but either way, there’d be no hard feelings. Sasaki truly believed that.
He was confident he’d win—but if he lost, that just meant he wasn’t strong enough.
Brother or enemy, it didn’t matter. That was the law of strength in the Beasts Pirates.
He figured his friend understood that too.

“Though honestly, in the hands of that punk, that blade’s just a waste of good steel…!!!”

“…!!”

But… contrary to Sasaki’s casual tone, the man clenched his jaw, biting down hard enough to draw blood from the fist he gripped.
He was cracking. Even the kinds of remarks he would normally shrug off from Sasaki were getting to him now.

Cruel, inescapable fate. His path had already been cut off.

『Forfeit? ──Ahahaha!! Oh come on, like I’d ever let that slide. That’d be such a boring outcome, don’t you think?』

『…! But I… I’m not worthy…!!』

『Hmm… well, if you really insist on not fighting… then I suppose I’ll just execute all your former subordinates right on stage. One. By. One. With. My. Own. Two. Hands.♡ ──So, which do you prefer?』

『…!!』

──Before the match. He tried to speak to Nue about withdrawing. The option was immediately crushed.
And worse—

『Fight seriously.』

『That’s… that’s impossible…!!』

『If you can’t even beat him, then there’s no future for someone like me. …I’ll say it again: fight seriously. Otherwise, I’ll have to stain my hands with family again.』

『……!!』

──Before the match. He’d taken the risk of being seen or overheard to go and meet her in person. Even that wasn’t permitted.

He now stood in hell itself.
Move forward, and blood would be shed.
Retreat, and blood would be shed.

If he ran, he’d lose his men.
Those few loyal comrades who had stayed by his side through years of hardship, never asking where the path might lead.

“…So that’s your latest favorite, huh? ‘Nue the Beastly Enchantress.’”

“Yup, Festa!! She seems like a good girl, doesn’t she? I’ve been watching over her and raising her for quite a while now. She’s turned out decent enough, and honestly, I’m kind of proud. Even starting to get a little attached~♪”

“Oh…? And yet, your eyes don’t seem to say quite the same thing, do they?”

“Oh, you noticed? Yeah… she showed a lot of promise back around ten years ago. Her growth was impressive, and I really had high hopes. But the past few years? She’s plateaued. So depending on how she performs in this tournament—”

…And if she moves forward—

“—I’m thinking it might be time to bring it all… to an end♡”

──One of the paths will be cut off.

That choice… that decision…
Kyoshiro, also known as Denjiro, still couldn’t bring himself to make it, even as he headed toward the match. His opponent was none other than his own lady—Komurasaki, also known as… Hiyori.

And watching him from above, the beasts laughed with scorn.
These demons of vengeance were blind to one thing:
No matter what path he chose, no matter how the outcome fell…
It all led to one thing—an end called Hell.