Coliseum – Underground Arena
The battle was over. The crowd was silent. Only the crackle of fire remained.
Sabo stood tall in the center of the collapsed coliseum arena. His right arm smoldered with fresh power, a curl of flame rising from his glove.
The Mera Mera no Mi had been his for less than a minute, but the flames danced like they'd always belonged to him.
From above, Jesus Burgess screamed with fury. "You damn revolutionary!! That fruit belonged to Blackbeard!"
Sabo looked up, calm and solemn.
"No," he said. "It belonged to Ace."
Flames erupted beneath his feet, rocketing him upward.
Upper Balcony – Diamante's Perspective
Diamante, Dressrosa's so-called "hero," watched in stunned silence. His painted smile twitched.
"That's not Straw Hat…" he muttered, trembling slightly. "Who was that?"
He scanned the crowd again. "Where is Luffy?!"
Behind him, a soldier stammered, "He… he switched places with that man. Before the finals started."
Diamante's fists clenched. "Damn it. It was a trick."
Flashback – Earlier That Day
Backstage, Sabo had removed his goggles and looked Luffy in the eye.
"You still trust me?"
Luffy grinned. "Always."
They bumped fists.
"You win Ace's fruit," Luffy said, "I'll go save this island."
Sabo smiled. "Then let's both do what we do best."
Now – Dressrosa Alleys
Luffy leapt across rooftops, cloak discarded, hat tight on his head. Meat still in his mouth.
"Rebecca… Violet… where are you…" he muttered between chews. "Gotta get to the palace."
Then—
Crash!
A nearby wall exploded outward.
Rebecca tumbled through it, sword drawn, panting hard. Dust clung to her pink hair, her arms trembling.
Behind her: Bartolomeo, shielding her from debris with a shimmering green barrier.
"REBECCA-CHAN! WE MADE IT!" he wheezed. "But I think I chipped my soul…"
Luffy blinked. "Oh hey! You're that crying girl from earlier!"
Rebecca turned, stunned. "You—"
Her voice caught. Luffy looked different. Taller than she imagined. And that grin… so normal, even now.
"You were in the coliseum," she said, breathless.
He nodded. "Switched places with my brother."
Bartolomeo practically exploded with joy. "LUFFY-SENPAI! You're HERE! This moment is sacred—I'm framing it in my memory museum!"
Luffy laughed. "Glad you're okay."
Rebecca's fists tightened. "I couldn't win. I was too scared."
Luffy stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You don't have to win alone," he said gently. "We'll fight with you now."
From the shadows, a low voice cut in—
"Then let's make sure we hit the right target."
Violet stepped into the moonlight, veil drawn back. Her eyes were cold and focused.
She looked to Luffy. "Doflamingo's inner chambers are buried beneath the palace. I can take you there."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Good. I've got some questions for Flamingo."
Meanwhile – Coliseum Debris
Sabo walked through flames, embers clinging to his cloak.
He knelt beside a fallen soldier and retrieved Ace's old dagger from the arena rubble. He ran a thumb along the hilt.
"Ace…"
From behind, a staggering figure limped forward — Trafalgar Law, bloodied but breathing.
"You…" Law rasped, recognizing Sabo through half-lidded eyes.
"You're not Straw Hat."
Sabo offered a hand. "But I'm family."
Elsewhere – Robin, Usopp & Trebol
Trebol roared, lashing out with twin gobs of sticky mucus.
"I'LL TURN YOU INTO GLUE, YOU SMUG LITTLE WITCH!"
Robin, eyes narrowed, moved with lethal grace. Arms bloomed from walls and floor, locking Trebol's leg.
"Clutch."
Crack!
Usopp, taking deep breaths, pulled out a brand-new Pop Green.
"This one's for the toys," he whispered. "And for my pride."
He fired.
A massive beetle burst forth mid-air, its back glowing with sea prism stone dust.
Trebol screamed as it slammed into him, dragging him into the control tower wall.
Fujitora vs. Zoro
Their swords collided once more, stone erupting around them.
Zoro's teeth clenched, his aura pulsing.
"You're not my enemy," Zoro said. "But if you block my path—"
Fujitora frowned. "I honor your strength, pirate. But this island… must be judged."
Kael – Ancient Depths
The forge below Dressrosa pulsed in silence.
Kael stared at the symbols lining the stone, glowing faintly orange.
Words echoed in his head again:
"Key identified. Flame echoes. Legacy returns."
He closed his eyes.
"Not flame," he whispered. "Me."
Behind him, Kanjuro and Kin'emon exchanged uneasy looks.
King Riku watched Kael's hand hover over the central core.
It was awakening.
Thousand Sunny – Sanji Returns
Rain poured hard.
Nami, fending off marine fire, spotted a flaming kick streak through the sky.
Sanji landed with grace, knocking a full cannonball aside like a tennis ball.
"Get back, ladies," he said, grinning. "Your prince has arrived."
Nami rolled her eyes. "Took you long enough."
"The kingdom trembles. The brother returns. And the revolution has begun."