Nearly a thousand pirates had gathered in front of the grand palace, their ragtag presence clashing with the elegant architecture.
"Lord Wendis!"
"We've done what you asked."
Mondo stepped forward, arrogance written all over his face. Behind him, several captives were tied up tightly with thick ropes.
It was Lu Yu and Akame—at least, that's what it looked like.
"Hahaha… Mondost!" Wendis laughed. "As expected from the top dogs of the East Blue underworld!"
Wendis turned toward the regal man seated on the throne, dressed in extravagant royal robes.
"Your Majesty Valonar, these are the ones who attacked the royal caravan of our great Yacoslan Kingdom! If we let this go unpunished, we'll have more pirates trying their luck. It's a disgrace to the crown!"
Valonar, the king of the Yakoslan Kingdom, stood up with theatrical flair. He spread his arms wide, basking in the spotlight like a seasoned performer.
"Such wicked souls must not be allowed to live in my kingdom!" he declared.
"As your king, I, Valonar, shall personally deliver justice to these criminals from the Dragon Hunter Pirates!"
"Sword of Justice!"
At his command, a royal attendant walked forward, holding a golden sword embedded with dazzling gems.
Valonar grabbed the sword and stood tall. With a single motion, he shrugged off his royal cloak, revealing gleaming armor underneath.
And this wasn't just ceremonial armor.
Wendis's expression darkened.
He knew that armor—it was no ordinary protection. Forged by a now-missing user of the Diamond Fruit, it was an indestructible battle suit created through Devil Fruit powers. And Wendis had seen its power firsthand.
(TL: This Diamond Fruit is different from jozu)
Can these rebels really take down the king… even with that armor protecting him?
If not, all his careful planning would mean nothing.
Among the crowd, Najenda watched the king closely, brows furrowed in confusion.
"There are imperial arms in this world too?" she muttered, sensing a strange energy from Valonar's armor.
To her, it felt like the power of an imperial arms—something she thought only existed in her world.
"No," Lu Yu answered calmly beside her. "That's the power of a Devil Fruit. A product unique to this world, like I told you before."
The so-called "captives" tied up earlier? Mere stand-ins. Fakes.
"Devil Fruit, huh?" Najenda mused, eyes glinting. "If we got our hands on one, it'd boost the crew's strength big time."
Coming from a former general and the boss of Night Raid, her mind naturally drifted toward how to use power strategically.
Lu Yu chuckled. "They do boost strength fast, no doubt. But honestly? I don't need them."
Compared to his own cheat ability, Devil Fruits were child's play.
Back in front of the throne, Valonar approached Mondo and Ster, standing before the fake Lu Yu and Akame.
"You dared provoke the Yacoslan Kingdom," Valonar said with mock sympathy. "You must've been ready to face the consequences, right?"
"Today, die with pride!"
He raised his jeweled sword high—only for a blur to flash past him.
"Hey, hey…" a voice said coolly. "Are all nobles in this world this full of themselves?"
Before Valonar could react, his golden sword was snatched from his hand.
"Who the hell are you?!" he roared.
The man grinned. "Captain of the Dragon Hunter Pirates—Lu Yu."
"Feel honored. You'll be the first king I kill."
Without warning, Lu Yu released his Armament Haki and slashed down with full force.
Clang!
Instead of slicing through flesh or armor, the sword snapped.
Shards flew.
Even with Haki reinforcement, his blade shattered like glass.
His arm vibrated from the backlash—proof the armor wasn't just tough, but dangerously reactive.
"I told you... just a filthy pirate—"
Boom!
Before Valonar could finish, Lu Yu sent him flying with a brutal punch.
"Protect His Majesty!"
"Wendis, where are the guards?!"
"Get the kingdom army! Get—urk!"
"Wendis... what are you—?!"
Shhk!
As the nobles screamed and panicked, Wendis made his move.
All the guards in the palace had been replaced with his own loyal men, without arousing any suspicion. After all, he was the one managing the situation.
The kingdom army stationed outside couldn't get in.
Which meant, at this moment, Wendis held the lives of every noble in his hands.
And he didn't waste time.
One by one, the nobles were silenced.
Back near the throne, a coughing, bloodied Valonar rose from the rubble, a dark smile on his face.
"I see…" he muttered. "So this was your plan all along, Wendis…"
"Get the pirates to take the fall, then swoop in and steal the kingdom for yourself."
Valonar dusted himself off, standing tall despite the injuries.
Vendis stepped forward, arrogant as ever. "Give up the throne now, Valonar. Since you've always treated me kindly, I'll let you live. I'll even grant you noble status if you behave—"
"What's that...?"
Suddenly, the ground shook.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
"Hehehe… Hahahaha…"
Valonar's laugh echoed as the dust cleared.
"You think this is why I'm king?" he sneered.
"I murdered my own father to wear this crown, Wendis. You think I'll lose it to a rat like you?"
As he raised his arms, the tremors intensified.
From behind him, metallic warriors with a gleaming diamond-like shine began to rise from the ground, forming a defensive phalanx in front of the palace.
"No… no way..." Wendis gasped, eyes wide. "This can't be… That Devil Fruit user vanished!"
But the truth stood tall behind the king.
The armor itself transformed—shifting, twisting—until it took on a human shape.
And standing there, emerging from the shimmering armor, was the long-lost user of the Diamond Fruit...
Valen.
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