The Ambushing Hero

Inside the massive Corrida Colosseum arena, the crowd roars with wild cheers and jeers. A large circular fighting ring sits in the flooded center as fighters clash violently. Speech bubbles shout "STOP RUNNING AWAY!!!" and "STOP RUNNING!". Narration notes "THE GIRL IS SHOWERED WITH JEERS..." and "THE OTHER FIGHTERS AIMING FOR HER... ARE GETTING MOWED DOWN ONE AFTER THE OTHER!!!". Rebecca, a young woman with long hair, fights desperately with a sword against multiple armored opponents. One large fighter yells "REBECCA IS RUNNING BACK AND FORTH!!!" while another declares "WITH ROLLING LOGAN AFTER HER...". Smaller panels show helmeted fighters gasping "HAA!" and a crowd member screaming "THAT'S DIRTY, REBECCA! STAND UP AND FIGHT!!!" and "FIGHT, AND SPILL YOUR BLOOD!!!" amid chaotic motion lines and impact effects.

A close-up shows a long-nosed man sweating and exclaiming "THAT'S...". In the arena, Rebecca continues to be pursued as voices yell "STOP RUNNING, REBECCA!" and "YOU MEMBER OF THAT CURSED FAMILY!!!". A flashback panel reveals a tall man in a top hat labeled "SOL" standing beside a woman in a revealing outfit and crown. The man points accusingly, saying "WHICH MEANS, BACK WHEN YOU WERE A HUMAN, YOU...!" and "...YOU SAID THAT YOU'RE HER FATHER... SO IF THAT'S TRUE... THEN SHE'S THE GRAND-DAUGHTER OF KING RIKU...". Another figure adds "...WITH A WOMAN NAMED 'MONET'. THE DAY SHE STARTED SERVING AT THE ROYAL PALACE...". The long-nosed man protests "NO, I SUPPOSE IT BEGAN MUCH EARLIER THAN THAT, HEY- YOU... AND KING RIKU'S...". A final panel shows a shocked face shouting "THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER!" and "IT ALL BEGAN... ON THAT NIGHT."

The scene continues with the long-nosed man yelling "THE BIRD WOMAN OF PUNK HAZARD!I" as a woman in a hooded outfit sweats and asks "MONET, IS IT...I". A flashback shows a town square with people panicking amid smoke and debris. A tall figure in a top hat states "YOU SAY YOU WERE ATTACKED BY PIRATES!I" while a civilian replies "YEAH, BUT THE RIKU ROYAL ARMY PROTECTED US." The top-hatted man continues "IN THESE PAST 10 YEARS, THIS COUNTRY HAS REALLY CHANGED. THE LANDSCAPE... AND THE PEOPLE AS WELL." Townsfolk comment "YOU MUST HAVE HAD ENOUGH IF YOU'VE GOT THE ENERGY TO STAMP AND SHOUT LIKE THAT... EVEN IF IT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE POOR..." and "I WANNA EAT MORE!" while others note "IT'S ALL THANKS TO THE FAIRIES..." and "THIS DROUGHT WON'T LET UP, YET OUR FLOWERS REFUSE TO WILT... THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE'RE LIVING IN TIMES OF PEACE."

Narration recounts Dressrosa's long peace under the Riku family: "DRESSROSA WAS A NATION OF UNPARALLELED PEACE... INDEED, THAT ROYAL FAMILY COULD BE CALLED A MIRACLE. THAT'S TRULY INCREDIBLE... IN THE 800 YEARS THAT THE RIKU FAMILY RULED... THIS COUNTRY NEVER ONCE SAW WAR." A small robot-like figure adds, "BUT," as the scene shifts to the royal palace at night. "DESCENDED UPON THE PALACE. SUDDENLY, A NIGHTMARE..." Inside a bedroom, a spiky-haired man jolts awake in bed as curtains billow. An intruder looms in the window. The man, King Riku, shouts in alarm, "AND DON'T CALL FOR ANYONE...!!!" "DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE..." A furious close-up reveals his wide eyes and sweat as he demands, "WHO ARE YOUI SPEAK NOW!!!"

The intruder reveals himself with a wide grin: "AND I'VE RETURNED HOME, AS THE RIGHTFUL KING OF THIS LAND! I'M DONQUIXOTE DOFLAMINGO." King Riku reacts with shock, "!I" Doflamingo continues, "...OF COURSE, YOUR FEARS WERE WELL-GROUNDED. I AM INDEED A MEMBER OF THAT DONQUIXOTE CLAN... LATELY, I'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT A CERTAIN PIRATE NAMED DONQUIXOTE. GIVEN THAT I DON'T FEAR THE TENRYUUBITO, THEY'RE AT A LOSS...!!!" From the bed, Riku retorts, "IF YOU KNOW OF MY POSITION AND POWER, THEN THIS CONVERSATION SHOULD BE OVER QUICKLY..." Doflamingo laughs, "FUFUFUFFUF-FUFFUFU!! THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH ME...!!!" He adds, "I'VE HEARD THAT YOU'VE BEEN ATTACKING SHIPS TRANSPORTING THE 'HEAVENS' PAY TRIBUTE MONEY FROM EVERY COUNTRY... AND THAT YOU USED THAT TO COERCE THE WORLD GOVERNMENT INTO MAKING YOU A SHICHIBUKAI."

Doflamingo leans in with a menacing smile, declaring, "I'LL SELL YOU THIS COUNTRY!!!" King Riku stares in disbelief, "!!I" Doflamingo continues, "KING RIKU! FOR TEN BILLION BERRIES..." Riku thinks to himself, "I SHOULD JUST TAKE OVER AND NOT EVEN GIVE YOU THIS CHANCE. BY ALL RIGHTS... SUCH A SUM... THIS COUNTRY DOESN'T POSSESS THAT KIND OF..." Doflamingo presses, "AND DON'T MAKE KNOWN TO THE PEOPLE MY EXISTENCE. YOU HAVE UNTIL DAWN TOMORROW!!! DO NOT REQUEST AID FROM OUTSIDE NATIONS...!!! I, WHO WOULD SIMPLY TEST YOUR POWER AS KING." The palace stands under the moon as the ultimatum hangs in the air.

In the throne room, King Riku addresses his ministers and guards: "'FIGHTING' WOULD BE WORTHY, BUT KILLING EACH OTHER IS SOMETHING THAT HUMANS SHOULD NOT DO!!! WE MUSTN'T! AND WHAT IF WE SHOULD FIGHT...!!!I KING!!!" He roars, "WE WILL NOT BECOME WILD ANIMALS!! WE'RE HUMAN!! THERE SHALL BE NO KILLING!!! THE FACT THAT DRESSROSA HAS BEEN FREE OF WAR FOR 800 YEARS... IS PROOF THAT WE ARE NO BEASTS!" Addressing the gathered crowd below the balcony, he continues, "WE WILL LOSE THE TRUST OF PEOPLE, FOR A TIME...!!!...SHOULD YOU FAIL, THIS WILL BECOME NAUGHT BUT A 'NATION OF PIRATES'!!! AND GATHER TEN BILLION BERRIES FROM THROUGHOUT THE LAND!! THERE'S NO TIME...!!! SCATTER TO EVERY TOWN AND VILLAGE!!! BUT WE ONLY HAVE A FEW HOURS!!!"

Armored soldiers stand in the streets at night, sweat pouring down their faces as they shout orders. "THERE ARE NONE IN THIS COUNTRY WHO COULD BE CALLED WEALTHY....!!!" one declares. Another adds, "BUT... LIES AND EVEN WELL-INTENTIONED DECEPTIONS WILL NOT BE ENOUGH TO WEATHER THIS!! WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, WE WILL ATONE IN GOOD FAITH!! WE MUST!!" A stern squad captain named Tank barks, "YOU WILL MAKE COLLECTIONS UP UNTIL THE DEADLINE!! THE VERY LIFE OF THIS COUNTRY DEPENDS ON IT!!!!" Citizens stare in confusion as one asks, "IT'S THE ARMY...BUT... THIS LATE AT NIGHT...!I" Tank replies, "SO THAT DRESSROSA MIGHT SURVIVE!!!" A man yells, "HEY!! WHAT'S GOING ON!I HOW COULD YOU... THE KING'LL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THIS!!" The soldiers answer, "THIS IS ON THE KING'S ORDERS!!" Another commands, "GATHER UP ALL THE CASH IN THE TOWN AND BRING IT HERE!!!" as the townspeople react with shock.

King Riku appears on a massive Den Den Mushi screen, his face twisted in desperation. "JUST TRUST IN KING RIKU....!!! AND BRING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN! BRING ALL YOUR MONEY HERE!!!" he roars. "IT'S NO USE...!!! THIS SORT OF REQUEST IS UNTHINKABLE... WE CAN'T EXPLAIN, AND THERE'S NO TIME!! HURRY!!!" Citizens gather in shock, murmuring, "IT'S THE DENDEN-MUSHI PRO-JECTOR....!!!" and "SUCH A THING, ALL OF A SUDDEN..." One man questions, "IT'S SO UNREASONABLE THAT YOU MAY AT FIRST DOUBT WHAT YOU'RE HEARING, BUT... WITHOUT ASKING FOR AN EXPLANATION... I NEED YOU TO GIVE ME ALL THE WEALTH OF THIS NATION." King Riku continues, "I HAVE AN URGENT REQUEST....!!! IT'S KING RIKU!!"

King Riku looms huge on the screen, arms outstretched. "I NEED YOU TO LEND ME ALL OF IT!!!! ALL YOUR MONEY!!!" Citizens react with horror and confusion. "AND SO SUDDENLY....!I BUT WHY ARE WE DOING THIS....!!!I" one asks. Others whisper, "THE KING... BOWING LIKE THAT..." The king kneels on the ground before the crowd, head lowered. "PLEASE STOP THAT! RAISE UP YOUR HEAD!!!" people cry. "YOU MUSTN'T!!! YOU'RE THE KING OF THIS LAND!!" another shouts. "KING!!! THERE'S NO NEED TO BOW SO LOW!!!" The crowd stares in stunned silence as the king remains prostrate.

King Riku continues kneeling, sweat flying. "YOU'LL BE THE LAUGHINGSTOCK OF THE WORLD!! PLEASE STOP THAT!!" someone pleads. Another voice warns, "SHOWING THIS SORT OF FOOLISHNESS TO THE PUBLIC IS AN ACT UNFIT FOR THIS LINE OF KINGS!!!" The king shouts, "...BY CUTTING OFF MY OWN HANDS AND FEET!!! THIS IS NO JEST OR JAPE! IF NEED BE, I WILL PROVE IT... I BEG OF YOU!!!" Nearby soldiers react with alarm. One says, "IN CASE ALL GOES AWRY....!!! AT LEAST I'LL BRING DOWN THAT DOFLAMINGO....!!!" Tank grips a Den Den Mushi and states, "TANK, LISTEN... I'LL LEAVE IT TO YOU TO REQUEST AID FROM OTHER NATIONS AND DEAL WITH THE AFTERMATH!!!"

Citizens of Dressrosa frantically gather their money in the streets as soldiers urge them on. "THIS IS NO SMALL THING, SO THERE MUST BE A REASON!!" one man shouts. Another cries, "OUR KINDLY KING RIKU WOULD NEVER MAKE SUCH A REQUEST WITH MALICE IN HIS HEART!!" The crowd surges forward with bags of money while a helmeted soldier growls, "WE HAVE TO GET THAT MONEY, NO MATTER WHAT!!!!" People chant, "LET'S BRING ALL OUR MONEY HERE!!!" and "HURRY UP, EVERYONE!! JUST AS THE KING SAID!!! GATHER UP ALL YOUR MONEY!!" A cloaked figure bows deeply, declaring, "WE HUMBLY BORROW THIS FROM YOU!!!" while another voice marvels, "WHAT AN AMAZING COUNTRY!!! SURELY WE'LL GET SAVED!!!" The narration notes, "THIS IS THE TRUST BUILT BY THE RIKU FAMILY OVER 800 YEARS!" as a soldier apologizes, "I'M SORRY!"

Panic spreads through Southern town Sevio as people rush toward the palace. "TO THE PALACE! HURRY!!!" someone yells while another orders, "BRING ALL THE WEALTH OF THE NATION..." A soldier reports, "SQUAD CAPTAIN TANK! IN SEVIO, THE KING IS...!!" Citizens react in horror at a broadcast screen showing King Riku. "MY LIEGE, YOU NEEDN'T HAVE COME HERE YOURSELF!!" a man pleads as the king appears. The crowd shouts, "KING RIKU!! WE DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, BUT... WE BELIEVE IN Y-" A massive rampaging figure bursts through the streets, sending people flying. "EH!!!I KING RIKU, WHAT'RE YOU...!!I" a shocked citizen cries as the beast-like attacker roars amid explosions and debris.

A colossal rampaging figure on horseback smashes through Sevio, shattering buildings and screens in a massive explosion. Debris flies everywhere as terrified citizens flee. "!!I" people scream while the beast-like attacker charges forward with a horse. The destruction engulfs the town square. In smaller panels, soldiers and civilians react in terror, shouting "KYAHH!!" and "IPI" as the rampage continues. The figure's wild charge leaves trails of smoke and rubble, overwhelming everyone in its path.

King Riku, bloodied and enraged, towers over the chaos with wild hair and a furious expression, shouting "STOP!" and "PLEASE STOP!!!" A small figure on his shoulder pleads, "KING RIKU, PLEASE STOP THIS!!! DID WE DO SOMETHING WRONG!!I" while another voice cries, "OUT OF THE WAY!!! DON'T COME NEAR ME!! GET AWAY FROM ME!!!" The king swings his sword wildly, sending soldiers flying as he roars "UWAHHH!!" His body moves on its own, prompting cries of "IS MOVING ON ITS OWN...!!!" and "MY BODY... EVEN THE SOLDIERS!!" A woman screams "KYAHH!" amid the frenzy as the king desperately tries to halt his uncontrollable rampage.

An elderly man with a crown screams in terror, tears streaming down his face, "WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING!II" Behind him, soldiers and citizens are violently jerked about by invisible strings in a ruined plaza. A massive shadowy hand looms over the city as Doflamingo's laughter echoes, "FUFFUF-FUFFU!!" In a huge close-up, Doflamingo's grinning face fills the panel, one hand extended, declaring "WHAT AN AWFUL KING... HOW TERRIBLE...FUFUFU!" His fingers stretch like threads while he shouts "PARASITE!!" Smaller panels show soldiers convulsing under the strings with sound effects "ビビビ" and "ビビ". Doflamingo finishes with a wide grin, "DANCE FOR ME!! WELL, NOW THIS NIGHT WILL TRULY BEGIN, MY SOLDIERS." A translator note identifies the attack as "Parasite Thread."

Doflamingo's silhouette laughs "FUFFUF-FUFFU!!" on a tower while a soldier protests, "HEY, HEY, CAN WE HEAD OUT NOW, DOFFY!I" "IDIOT. NO NEED TO RUSH..." More soldiers lose control of their bodies, crying "...WHY'S MY BODY MOVING ON ITS OWN...!!I" and "I'M NOT DOING THIS!! MY BODY..." A woman in a polka-dot dress gasps in horror as rampaging soldiers swing weapons wildly, "EVEN THE SOLDIERS ARE RAMPAGING NOW!!!" Doflamingo's face appears again with "THE LURKING 'HERO'!!" and the narration states "THAT'S WHEN THE HERO WILL APPEAR....!" The scene shifts to a massive circular colosseum as characters realize "...DOFLAMINGO'S TRAP!!! THIS WAS..." Panic spreads with shouts of "WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS, KING RIKU!!II" and "WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE KING!!!II" while the lurking hero's name is revealed in a footnote.

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