The sky was gray and heavy. Hidden in the ship's cabin, Scarlett's eyes were already filled with tears. She clamped a hand over her mouth in anguish, not daring to make a sound for fear of attracting the Marines' attention.
Having witnessed her own sister's agonizing death, the pain in Scarlett's heart was unimaginable.
The chaos outside finally disturbed Rebecca's sweet dreams. She tiptoed over to her mother, planning to surprise her, only to find her mother consumed by grief.
Rebecca reached out her small hand, doing her best to comfort her mother.
"Don't cry, Mama!"
Startled back to reality, Scarlett quickly pulled Rebecca into her arms.
Mother and daughter held each other tightly, finding what little comfort they could in their embrace.
Outside the cabin, King Riku and Kyros charged fearlessly toward Akainu, who was more than happy to finish them off.
"Akainu, die! DIE!" King Riku screamed, his voice raw with grief.
"King Riku, you've come at the perfect time. Walking right into my net. I can finish what I started," Akainu said coldly, his face a mask of righteousness.
Kyros reached him a step ahead of the king, but the outcome was no different from their last encounter. His sword was destroyed, and he could only narrowly dodge Akainu's attacks thanks to his Observation Haki.
"Damn it!" Kyros roared in frustration. In that moment, he hated his own weakness more than anything. He couldn't even protect his own family.
"Aaargh!"
The searing magma slammed into King Riku's frail body, forcing a heart-wrenching scream from his lips.
King Riku was old. But even in his prime, he would have been no match for a Marine Admiral.
Hiding in the cabin, Scarlett had just watched her sister die. The next moment, she would have to watch her husband and father die at the hands of the same man. She was powerless, unable to do anything.
Only one thought consumed her now: live. And if she couldn't, then Rebecca had to.
She stopped crying, because tears were useless. She stopped being weak, because weakness was not an option.
She turned Rebecca to face her and said with grave importance, "Rebecca, no matter what hardships you face, you must live. I don't want you to seek revenge. The Marines are too strong; we are no match for them. I just want you to be happy."
Rebecca nodded, only half understanding. Seeing the serious look on her mother's face, she committed the words to memory, a heavy burden for a four- or five-year-old child.
"If someone comes, I want you to hide in this box and not move. No matter what happens, don't move," Scarlett said, leading Rebecca to a large crate.
"I know, Mama," Rebecca replied earnestly.
"Good. I'm going to close the lid now. Remember, don't be afraid. Mama will always be with you," Scarlett said, holding back her tears.
"You'll come get me soon, right, Mama?" Rebecca's innocent voice pierced Scarlett's heart, giving her the strength to shut the lid. She quickly poked a few holes in the side for air; it would be a cruel joke if Rebecca suffocated.
Of course, the box wasn't locked. Scarlett had thought of everything, hiding Rebecca in the hopes that she could escape this crisis.
As for herself, Akainu would surely not let her live. Stepping out now was just a diversion to protect Rebecca.
With tear tracks staining her cheeks, Scarlett walked brazenly out of the cabin, immediately drawing the attention of the Marines outside.
Meanwhile, King Riku was on the brink of death from Akainu's blow, hanging on by a single thread.
Kyros was also grievously injured, thrown to the side.
Just as Akainu was about to finish off the defiant man, a Marine's report caught his attention.
"Admiral Akainu! There's another remnant of the Riku family here!"
Akainu glanced over coldly. Recognizing Scarlett's face, he recalled the file on the Riku family. The report had clearly stated that Scarlett was dead, yet here she was, alive and well. It was clear to him that King Riku was a schemer who had tried to deceive the World Government. Akainu felt a small sense of satisfaction, believing he had seen through the king's ploy.
"Niece Scarlett! Ah, this is all my fault," the captive Elizabello II said, filled with guilt.
"It's not your fault. On the contrary, I must thank you for your help, Uncle Elizabello," Scarlett said sincerely.
"Remnant of the Riku family, go join your father," Akainu said, charging forward, his iron fists showing no mercy.
Scarlett was calm. She ignored the approaching Admiral, her gaze fixed on Kyros and King Riku with a deep, lingering affection.
"NO!"
Kyros couldn't accept what was happening. This was a hundred times more devastating than watching Viola die. This was his wife; the pain was entirely different.
He collapsed to the ground, his hand outstretched helplessly, as if trying to grasp his dead wife. Finally, his arm fell limply, his hand sinking into the mud.
King Riku, with his last breath, witnessed this and closed his eyes in agony, quietly waiting for his own death.
"Ahahaha! And this is the so-called justice of the Marines?" Elizabello II laughed wildly, letting out all his pent-up emotions.
"Silence, Elizabello II! Don't think I won't kill you just because you're from a World Government-affiliated nation," Akainu said coldly.
"Tsk, tsk! Admiral Akainu, he's not wrong, you know. Is this what the Marines are all about?"
Doflamingo's mocking voice rang out. Akainu had no desire to linger any longer. He had dealt with what needed to be done. They could fight again another day.
"Doflamingo, you won't be so lucky next time. Let's go!" With a wave of his hand, Akainu boarded the large ship with Elizabello II and his men, preparing to depart.
"Doffy, should I…?"
Enel, standing beside him, made a throat-slitting gesture.
"No need. Let them go. If we keep fighting, we'll sink Dressrosa," Doflamingo said, stopping him. "Besides, if this gets too big, it won't be good for us. The time isn't right yet."
With the speed of the Donquixote Pirates, there was no way they couldn't have arrived before King Riku and Kyros. But Doflamingo had deliberately taken his time. It had nothing to do with him, after all. He didn't care.
"See if they're still alive," Doflamingo said, nodding his head toward Law.
"Room. One is almost dead. The other just passed out," Law reported flatly.
"Oh? Lucky you, Kyros. Let me hear King Riku's last words," Doflamingo said, unsurprised by Law's diagnosis. He was only slightly disappointed that King Riku was kicking the bucket like this. He had originally planned to let the rumors force the king to abdicate and then commit suicide out of shame. But alas, fate had other plans.
"King Riku, any last words?" Doflamingo asked, standing over him.
Hearing Doflamingo's voice, the last breath in King Riku's body stirred.
"I leave Dressrosa… to… you."
With that, he fell silent.
"It was always mine."