RNP Chapter 280 The First Call to Arms in the Second War
Chapter 280 The First Call to Arms in the Second War
Chapter 280 The First Call to Arms in the Second War
Dressrosa, a kingdom woven from sunshine and lies, has been two days since the announcement of the start of the Second Holy Grail War.
This country, made up of flowers, toys, lies, and bloody competitions, still maintains a facade of prosperity and bustle.
Tourists laughed in the sunshine, bought exquisite toys, and cheered for the thrilling gladiatorial combat in the arena.
But beneath that glamorous facade, shadows are quietly growing.
King's Heights, formerly the palace of the Riku royal family, is now Doflamingo's stronghold.
The atmosphere was somber in the council chamber at the top floor.
"Fufufufu — Fourteen new qualification holders —"
Doflamingo leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.
He still wore that confident smile, but his eyes behind his sunglasses flashed with a cold light.
"Like fourteen lights suddenly turning on in the darkness—so conspicuous, especially to those of us who already have our lights on."
Several people were standing in front of him.
Hawkeye Mihawk, as always, was taciturn, but his eyes were sharp as knives.
Shakespeare was elegantly toying with a quill pen, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
With a lewd grin, Caesar Courland was excitedly fiddling with a sophisticated instrument that kept making a whirring sound.
And, Gecko Moria, and the ghost princess Perona floating behind him, as well as the barely noticeable invisible man Absalom.
"Based on the magic developed by Caesar, the initial scan of the wide-area wave detector—" Caesar pointed to the dozen or so faint dots flashing on the instrument's screen.
"The reactions were strong in several locations in the New World, and there were also sporadic cases in the first half of the Grand Line. However—"
He pulled up an image zoomed in on the main island of Dressrosa.
"The most interesting thing is that right beneath our feet, inside the island—there's a very clear reaction signal! Mmmmmmm~!"
Doflamingo's smile deepened: "Oh? Right under our noses?"
Shakespeare twirled his pen gracefully: "My lord, is this not excellent material for a play?"
Doflamingo nodded slightly: "My dear Servant, do you perhaps know the identity of the hidden person?"
Shakespeare laughed heartily: "You know perfectly well what I'm asking, Master!"
"Do you remember the seeds of revenge lurking in the lair of a tyrant, the flower of hope blooming in the face of despair—what a classic and moving play."
Moria sneered, "Find her! The right to be chosen cannot fall into the hands of uncontrollable people, especially on our turf."
"Both of you Shichibukai possess your own Heroic Spirits, and I'm incredibly envious! Hehehehehe!"
"Then let's go find it." Doflamingo stood up, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the city below, which looked like a toy model.
"Diamanti is still dealing with the aftermath on Fishman Island, while everyone else is using all their resources to conduct a thorough search."
"Slaves and gladiators in the bullring, and—still rats clinging to the old royal family."
He paused, turned around, and his sunglasses reflected a cold light.
"Remember, invite us in gently. We are now the Crusaders, allies against the World Government."
Fufufu————”
"At least on the surface. But what if the other party doesn't cooperate—"
He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.
Underground, in the abandoned old royal secret passage of Riku, dim oil lamps illuminated the narrow space.
Rebecca huddled in the corner, her hands tightly wrapped around her knees, her body still trembling slightly.
Her long pink hair was somewhat disheveled from hiding for so long, her beautiful face inherited from her mother was covered in dust, and her azure eyes were filled with fear, confusion, and a faint glimmer of unbelievable hope.
On the back of her hand, three scarlet lines were slightly warm, radiating an ominous yet alluring light in the dim light.
Command Spells.
Two days ago, when that grand, cold voice echoed in her mind, she was in the lowest cell of the arena, mechanically preparing for the next gladiatorial duel where life or death was uncertain.
The sudden heat and the flood of information almost made her scream.
Qualification — Heroic Spirit — Holy Grail — Wish —
Every word sounds like a fantasy, but the outside world is indeed filled with these fantastical tales.
The realistic lines on the back of her hand, and a strange, subtly awakened connection within her, told her that this was not a dream.
"Power—the power to change everything—" she murmured to herself, her nails digging deep into her palms.
She thought of the usurped throne, her slandered grandfather and father, the days and nights she was forced to fight like wild beasts in the arena, and the souls of the people who wept beneath the guise of toys.
If—if this power is real—
"No, Rebecca, what are you thinking!" She shook her head vigorously, shaking off that unrealistic fantasy.
"This must be Doflamingo's new scheme! It's a trap!"
However, that tiny flame in my heart could never be extinguished.
"I have to hide—I can't let them find me—" She struggled to her feet, feeling her way along the walls of the secret passage, and walked deeper into it.
The almost forgotten secret passage that these toy soldiers secretly told her about has now become her only refuge.
What she didn't know was that when the Command Seals appeared, the special fluctuations they emitted were like beacon fires in the dark for those with detection capabilities.
A day later, in the underground prison area beneath the arena, toy soldiers, or rather Cyrus, were patrolling the complex passageways with his stiff gait.
As the most loyal toy soldier in the arena, he has relatively free freedom of movement, which allows him to secretly protect his daughter Rebecca and accumulate meager strength for the rebellion.
Today, he sensed something unusual.
The number of guards in the prison seems to have increased, including members of the Trebol family who possess the Sticky-Sticky Fruit, and Pica's subordinates who possess the Stone-Sticky Fruit.
The Don Quixote family's executives appear here with unusually high frequency.
They seemed to be sifting through something, scanning the gladiators and slaves with some strange instrument, occasionally whispering among themselves, their eyes sharp.
Cyrus's heart sank.
He recalled that three days ago, he, as a toy body, also felt a tremor originating from the level of the soul.
He thought of his daughter's recent unusual hiding and the fear in her eyes.
Could it be that the rumored Second Holy Grail War is related to Rebecca?
An ominous premonition hit me like a bucket of ice water.
He had to find Rebecca immediately and take her away to a safer place!
But just as he turned around, preparing to head to the secret rendezvous point—
"Oh my? Isn't this our loyal toy soldier?"
A sticky sound came from behind.
Torrepol's snotty-nosed figure had somehow blocked the entrance to the passage.
He held a smaller detector in his hand, the screen facing Cyrus, emitting a soft beeping sound.
"Where are you in such a hurry?" Torrepol tilted his head, his smile so kind it was nauseating.
Cyrus's toy body stiffened for a moment, but he immediately answered in that dull, mechanical toy voice.
"Lord Torebol, I am on my routine patrol, checking for any unusual activity."
"Abnormal? Fuh—there is definitely something abnormal." Another voice came from the shadows.
Rao G. stepped out from the other side, striking his peculiar earth-pounding stance, his eyes fixed on the toy soldier like a hawk.
"Recently, there have been some unusual disturbances near the arena. We suspect that some rats have stolen something they shouldn't have."
The detector was aimed at Cyrus, and the beeping became more rapid.
"And inside your toy-like body—" Torebour leaned closer, the viscous liquid almost dripping onto Cyrus.
"It seems to be hiding a very interesting signal. Although it's very faint, it's very similar to the big signal we're looking for—"
They seem a bit like relatives, don't they? *fufufu*
Cyrus's toy heart almost stopped beating.
They found it!
It wasn't that he directly discovered Rebecca, but rather that he detected the connection through his blood ties with her, or because of the remnants of his own past as a human!
"I don't know what the adults are talking about," Cyrus tried to remain calm. "I'm just a toy."
"Is that so?" Rao G sneered. "Then take us to those abandoned secret passages you often patrol—especially, the places where your daughter might be hiding?"
The word "daughter" struck Cyrus's heart like a heavy hammer.
They found out! Or at least they suspected it!
Without hesitation!
Cyrus's toy body suddenly burst forth with a speed far exceeding its apparent size!
He wasn't charging towards the enemy at all; he was crashing into the stone wall next to him! There was a relatively weak point in the structure there!
"Trying to run? Sticky chains!" Torrebol lashed out with a sticky liquid chain!
"G!" Rao G unleashed a powerful punch, sending a fierce gust of wind through the air!
Cyrus did not dodge or evade the attack, letting the sticky chains entangle him, and took the punch head-on. The toy's body developed cracks, but it successfully smashed through the wall!
The falling rocks and billowing dust temporarily halted the pursuers!
He rushed into the narrower, more secluded passage revealed behind the wall and ran wildly into the depths without looking back!
We must! We must get ahead of Rebecca! We must take her away!
"Chase them!" Torrepol roared in exasperation.
"He can't get very far!" Rao G. followed closely behind.
A deadly chase ensues in a labyrinthine underground passageway.
Half an hour later, deep inside the secret passage, Rebecca heard faint rumbling and the sound of pursuit coming from afar, which frightened her so much that her face turned pale.
She huddled in the crevice where she was hiding, covered her mouth, and dared not even breathe too hard.
The footsteps and shouts grew closer.
"Toy soldier! You can't escape!"
"Hand over the people you're hiding!"
"Dover just wanted to invite her over!"
Rebecca felt ice-cold all over. The soldier had exposed himself while trying to cover for her!
Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. It was all because of me! Because of this damned mark!
Looking at the burning Command Seal on the back of her hand, she felt a surge of intense hatred for the first time.
It's not that I hate Doflamingo, but I hate this inexplicable power! It's what brought disaster upon us!
Just then—
"Rebecca!! Run!!!"
Cyrus's hoarse roar came from around the corner!
His body was covered in cracks and viscous liquid, and one of his toy arms was missing, yet he still stood like a wall in the passage, facing the pursuing Torreboer and Rao G!
"Soldier!" Rebecca cried out in alarm, rushing out from her hiding place!
"Found you! You little mouse!" Torrepol's eyes lit up, and the detector was aimed at Rebecca, emitting a piercing shriek!
"This is the signal! Take her!"
Rao G flashed past Cyrus and charged straight at Rebecca!
"Don't come any closer!" Cyrus roared, swinging his remaining arm to slash at Rao G, but the opponent easily parried the blow and kicked him in the chest, sending fragments of the toy body flying everywhere!
"Soldier!" Rebecca tried to rush over, but her ankle was caught in the sticky chain thrown by Torrebol, and she fell hard to the ground!
"Fufufu—it's really touching."
Trebol used the viscous liquid to lift Rebecca into the air, examining the clearly visible Command Seals on the back of her hand.
"It really is you. Lucky, or rather, unlucky little girl."
"Let her go!" Cyrus struggled to get up, but his body was badly damaged and his movements were slow.
"A toy should look like a toy." Rao G stepped on Cyrus's back, immobilizing him.
"Rebecca, right?" Torrebol leaned closer, his nauseating breath hitting Rebecca's face.
"Don't be afraid, Master Dover just wants to talk to you. About this little gift on the back of your hand."
Rebecca looked at him in horror, then at the toy being trampled underfoot, despair washing over her like a tidal wave.
"As long as you cooperate obediently, hand over this qualification, or use it to summon a heroic spirit that obeys us—"
'
Torrepol's voice was seductive.
"Young Master Dover promises you and this toy your freedom, even—allowing you to leave Dressrosa and live a peaceful life. How about it?"
Freedom? Leaving?
These two words were like poison, instantly striking Rebecca's deepest desires.
She looked at the soldier, whose empty eyes conveyed immense anxiety and opposition—Don't believe it! Don't compromise!
But she was too tired.
Ten years of fleeing, ten years of fighting, ten years of living in fear and trepidation—she was just a teenage girl.
Perhaps—perhaps this is the only way out?
Use this inexplicable power to exchange for your father's and your own freedom?
Just as her resolve began to waver, and her lips trembled as she tried to say something—
"Rei—Becca—"
Cyrus's damaged vocal cords made it difficult for him to produce intermittent sounds.
"Don't—believe—"
"Power—it's yours—don't—give it to—the devil—"
"Even if—I remain a soldier forever, I, your father—will—protect you—"
So—don't—give up—
Every word felt like a knife etched into Rebecca's heart.
She saw in the toy's eyes the inextinguishable flame that belonged to the warrior Cyrus.
"What did he just say? Father—"
She saw that even when he was turned into a toy, he never gave up resisting and never gave up protecting her.
How could I possibly give up on myself?
Is freedom gained through compromise truly freedom? Under Doflamingo's control?
A surge of intense emotion exploded within her!
Fear, despair, anger, resentment, guilt towards his father, responsibility to his country, and longing for freedom—
All emotions surged like volcanic lava, eventually converging into an almost roaring will!