【One Piece】Dawn in the Darkness

"I am the strategist Vasco da Gama! This is a war! If we continue like this, no one will be able to reach the top! We will hold off these people!!"

"The only hope for us now is to send you up first!" Haildin agreed.

"Make sure you get him to his destination, Cavendish!" Old Cai shouted.

"Charge to the top, Straw Hat Boy!!"

"Looks like you've made some pretty good friends in the arena, Luffy." Lucci said with a smile, looking at the group of guys behind him who were holding off the enemies for them, then grinned at the enemies blocking their way in front of them.

"Hehe, this is really fun! Charge!!" Luffy grinned at the enemy in front of him, "Gum-Gum Jet, fire wildly!!"

"Don't let the Straw Hats get to the third level!!"

"Knock them down!"

"If you're going to fight, fight this way! Hey!"

"A torn-up high heel!!"

Luffy noticed that Long-Leg Killer, who used kicking techniques in the arena, was taken down by a guy with horns on his head, and exclaimed in surprise, "Long-Leg Killed!"

"Stop looking around, Straw Hat!" Cavendish warned. "This so-called birdcage was a hoax from the start. Even if we defeat you all, the game won't end. Doflamingo has wanted to kill everyone on the island from the beginning! He will never let the news leak out. The only way to escape from this island is to take Doflamingo's head. There is no other way!"

"Doflamingo's only miscalculation was that he gathered powerful warriors from all over the world, with eccentric personalities, in the arena! So we absolutely will not lose, and I will take Doflamingo's head no matter what!!"

Luffy didn't hear anything except Cabbage's last sentence, and shouted indignantly, "What did you say! Didn't I say I'd take down Doflamingo?!"

"I've said that before, the straw hat is the head of the household!" Luo shouted back.

“Thank you for your kindness, but it should still be my turn!” Cyrus shouted in return.

Lucci yawned and watched them argue quietly. These two guys were just as childish as Luffy, actually using the length of their feud with Doflamingo as a reason for wanting to defeat Doflamingo first. In any case, he and Luffy were at a disadvantage, so it was better not to get involved in the argument.

"We've reached the third floor!!" Cavendish called out from ahead.

"Alright! Let's charge to the fourth floor, Bull!!" Luffy shouted immediately, then noticed Bull had stopped. Bull looked up in surprise at the giant toys in front of him and exclaimed, "Wow, these toys are huge!!"

"It's my turn!" Lu Qi leaped up and launched an attack on the giant dolls opposite him.

"Wait for me, Lucci!" Luffy shouted immediately, rushing forward and throwing punches at the dolls.

One minute later...

"They're really not durable." Lucci complained, looking at the scattered toy fragments on the ground. Then he looked at Luo and said with dissatisfaction, "You shouldn't have made a move. If you hadn't, we could have fought a little longer."

"Yeah, Trafalgar Law, they couldn't get up at all after you cut them down." Luffy pouted in agreement with Lucci. "That wasn't satisfying at all!"

Luo twitched his lips and said expressionlessly, "Don't waste your time here."

"Alright, let's keep going up to the fourth floor!!" Luffy looked up and grinned, then noticed something falling from above. He was surprised to see a familiar figure. "Hey! Qi!! What are you doing there?"

"Oh, Luffy, you guys are still here." Qi descended carrying Rebecca. "I thought you had arrived at the palace."

"It's...it's Luffy-senpai!!" Bartolomeo jumped up from the ground upon hearing the familiar voice. He hadn't expected that falling down would have this advantage—he was now face-to-face with Luffy-senpai!

"Rebecca!? What are you doing here!?" Cyrus looked at Rebecca in Qi's arms in shock.

“Father!!” Rebecca excitedly rushed into Cyrus’s arms.

“I’m sorry, Rebecca,” Cyrus said guiltily.

"Great, Rebecca, you've finally met your father," Luffy said with a grin.

"Yes!" Rebecca nodded emphatically, then asked hesitantly, "Lucy, are you really going to defeat Doflamingo for us?"

"My name isn't Lucy, my name is Luffy! I'm going to be the Pirate King!" Luffy grinned.

Lucci noticed that the guy who had used the bomb on them in the palace was coming. Not wanting this guy to disturb this brief reunion, Lucci rushed forward without a word, casually slicing through the incoming bombs with his blade. He appeared silently beside the terrified man, his long sword slicing through the air, leaving a deep, bone-revealing gash on Gladis's chest.

"Lucci! You didn't wait for me again!" Luffy shouted angrily at the kneeling Don Quixote officers.

"Wait for what?" Lucci asked, somewhat puzzled.

"We'll fight together!" Luffy pouted.

"There's no point in fighting this weakling," Lucci said helplessly.

"Okay, I forgive you! But you can't take it from me when we're beating up Doflamingo later!" Luffy said with a grin.

"That's your main purpose, isn't it!" Lucci tugged at Luffy's cheek in dissatisfaction. "And what exactly are you forgiving me for?"

"Luffy-senpai! We can go up now!" Bartolomeo said to the other side, his face flushed. "This staircase leads directly to the fourth floor."

"Wow! That's awesome! This has really helped me!" Luffy excitedly rushed up the stairs, then looked at Rebecca and said, "Rebecca, you stay with my crew for now. I'll show you how to beat Doflamingo in no time!"

“Yes!” Rebecca nodded emphatically.

"Rebecca, I'm going to settle things with that man. From now on, you'll never have to fight again!" Kyros looked at Rebecca firmly, then jumped up the stairs to catch up with Straw Hat Luffy.

"Father." Rebecca couldn't help but cover her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"It's alright, Luffy will get rid of this broken birdcage soon." Qi patted Rebecca's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry too much. If you're worried about your father, we can go up too."

"Thank you." Rebecca looked at Qi gratefully.

“Our captain entrusted you to my protection,” Qi said with a smile.