Vina still stood blankly in place, the few spots of bright red blood on her face exceptionally eye-piercing.
At this time, a pale-faced Seira—blood still flowing from her chest—staggered in front of Vina, her eyes filled with lingering worry as she carefully looked Vina up and down.
"Are... are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Seira's voice was weak due to pain, yet it was full of sincere concern.
Vina stared at her blankly, looking at her blood-stained military uniform and pale face; her mind was a complete blank, and she subconsciously murmured:
"Why... why did you do this?"
Seira looked at the blood on Vina's face and used a clean corner of her sleeve to wipe away those few spots of bright red.
Then, she gave Vina an incredibly pure smile:
"Because... we are Marines."
"..."
At this moment, Vina felt as if she had been struck by lightning, her whole body trembling. She watched in a daze as Seira fainted from excessive blood loss; fortunately, the Medics arrived in time and took Seira away.
Recalling Seira's matter-of-fact smile, feeling the residual coolness on her cheek from the wiping, and the lingering scent of blood... Vina's long-standing perception, that high wall built of hatred, cracked open in this instant.
She somewhat understood now what the Captain had once told them—"Among the Marines, there are also good people who uphold true justice, as well as villains who wear the cloak of justice."
It turned out that the world was not just the single color she had experienced.
At this moment, Gloriosa arrived in a hurry with some people. Seeing the four of them safe but in a daze, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But Vina's gaze remained fixed on the direction where the Marines had disappeared for a long time... The next day, Dressrosa's Giant Colosseum.
The deafening cheers swept through the massive circular Colosseum like a tsunami, and the air was filled with fanaticism, sweat, and the metallic scent of blood.
On the high platform, an extravagantly dressed host was roaring in a highly provocative voice:
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome, distinguished guests, to today's bloody feast! Without further ado, let us welcome the first gladiator of the day with the warmest applause and shouts—the elegant swordsman from the North, Master Kari!"
Under the spotlight, Kari, dressed in ornate noble attire with a rapier at his waist, walked out from the side tunnel as proud as a peacock, smiling and waving to the stands, drawing screams from the noble Damselettes.
"And his opponent—" the host's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of cruel excitement, "is our Colosseum's loyal 'horn'—Number Four!"
Clang... clang... the sound of heavy chains rubbing together echoed.
Behind the fence on the other side, a massive figure was forced to crawl out on all fours.
It was an Oni about three to four meters tall, his body covered in a network of old and new scars, his knotted muscles tense with pain.
Most shockingly, a spear with deep blood grooves pierced through his shoulder blade, dark red blood constantly oozing along the grooves, dripping onto the yellow sand and blossoming into eye-catching flowers.
He was firmly bound by special Sea Stone chains, forced to stay on all fours like a beast, letting out suppressed gasps.
"I must break even this time! Number Four! Snatch that flag from his hand for me!" On the stands, a Gambler with a distorted face waved his ticket and shouted excitedly.
A person nearby sneered, "Then you're out of luck! This Number Four isn't the one with the winning streak from before; he's the weakest of the new batch! He hasn't successfully snatched a flag once! Among the new Slaves, only Number One is worth a look."
"What?! Damn it!" The previous Gambler's face fell instantly as if he had lost a parent, and he was so angry he almost tore up his betting ticket.
In a noble box with the best view, the well-dressed and self-satisfied little Teddy was boasting to the beautiful woman, Caroline, who was snuggled in his arms:
"It's my turn in the next match! Caroline, watch closely, let me show you my true manhood!"
The woman named Caroline had flame-like Red Hair and a seductive figure. She gave a charming smile, her slender index finger drawing circles on Teddy's chest, her voice sweet and cloying:
"Then I shall look forward to it, my little Teddy~"
She changed the subject, asking as if casually, "By the way, Prince Riku of your country will be coming to watch the match later, right?"
At the mention of Prince Riku, a hint of disdain flashed across Teddy's face:
"That guy who talks about 'benevolence' all day? He'll definitely come! He actually proposed to Father several times to change the Colosseum's rules and forbid killing Slaves?
Humph! Truly ridiculous! Without bloodshed and taking lives, what fun is there in this gladiator match?"
Caroline lowered her head, the corner of her lips curving into a meaningful arc as she softly agreed, "Prince Teddy is right..."
...Deep within the Colosseum · The dark and damp dungeon
In stark contrast to the clamor and fanaticism on the field, the underground prison area was filled only with silence, mustiness, and an air of despair.
Charlotte Linlin sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, and the pleasant voice of Gloriosa came from a small transponder snail at her fingertips:
"Linlin, the st. freya has already departed from Dressrosa port as planned. You can take action now."
"Okay, give me some time," Charlotte Linlin responded calmly, hanging up the communication.
She slowly stood up, her movements carrying a sense of lazy yet dangerous power.
"Are you... preparing to make your move?"
From the neighboring cell came an extremely hoarse and dry voice, as if the vocal cords had not been used for conversation for a long time, but only for letting out painful roars.
Charlotte Linlin looked toward the source of the sound and, through the thick iron bars, saw the figure in the next cell.
It was a person about six or seven meters tall, with curved horns on his head, his body covered in hideous wounds, and heavy shackles on his wrists and ankles.
"Could you... please wait a while before taking action?" Dock's voice squeezed out of his throat with difficulty; having not spoken for a long time, he had almost forgotten how to communicate.
Charlotte Linlin raised an eyebrow, her tone carrying a hint of playfulness:
"What? After staying in this hell for so long, have you actually grown to like this 'game' of being watched like a beast and forced to fight?"
Click!
She didn't wait for an answer; her slender, fair, and artfully perfect hand rested on the steel-reinforced cell door.
The next moment, a tooth-aching cracking sound rang out. The door lock and part of the door frame were easily destroyed under her casual movement, as if they were made of paper.
"No..." Deep-seated hatred ignited in Dock's clouded eyes,
"No..." Dock's voice carried a suppressed tremble,
"I just... want to take revenge personally. You're waiting for... the person who brought you here, right?
He will only come after a while... He is also my target, the true master of this Colosseum, Duke Ditet."
"A good reason." Charlotte Linlin leaned against the broken door frame, her gaze under the sunglasses scrutinizing him,
"But why should I listen to you? Isn't it better for you to watch me take revenge for you? That way, you might still have a slim chance of survival."
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