Chapter 40 — Seizing Power! Threatening the Royal Family!
Another full day of high-intensity Layer Stacking training came and went.
The entire villa trembled in a faint, rhythmic vibration.
Akira stood shirtless, his towering three-meter Oni body sculpted with muscles that looked as if they were forged from molten steel.
He stood beside the massive bed made of reinforced metal alloy, looking refreshed—almost glowing with newfound energy.
"Not bad."
Akira felt the surge of power circulating through his body and gave a satisfied nod.
"Triple training efficiency."
"My [Armor of Will] layers are increasing insanely fast."
"The Divine Manifestation Technique has already reached the fourth stage. Once activated, it multiplies my strength sixteenfold."
The speed at which he could feel himself growing stronger—visibly, tangibly—sent a rush of pleasure straight through his veins, bordering on addictive.
"If I add a few more people to the Layer Stacking rotation… it won't be long before my physique becomes the strongest in the world."
He was just about to take a short break before starting the second round of training when—
"Burururururu—"
"Burururururu—"
The Den Den Mushi in the living room suddenly began ringing.
Akira lifted an eyebrow, then walked out of the master bedroom.
On the sofa—
Gion was sitting in an extremely humiliating and uncomfortable posture.
Her red-veined phoenix eyes glared at Akira, overflowing with rage.
One whole day.
For yet another entire day, she had been forced to sit in the living room—unable to escape, unable to intervene—listening to that insane "training" echo from behind the bedroom doors.
Akira didn't pay her the slightest attention.
He simply picked up the Den Den Mushi.
The snail's face morphed into the familiar fawning grin of Doflamingo.
"Tuan Akira!"
"The task you ordered…"
"Everything has been taken care of!"
Doflamingo's tone was brimming with excitement he could barely suppress.
"Sugar has followed your instructions. Everyone who was turned into toys has been restored."
"At this moment, all 'toys' in Dressrosa have returned to being human!"
"Good."
Akira nodded once.
Then he hung up.
"All right."
He turned toward Yamato and the other two women.
"That's enough Layer Stacking training for today."
"There's something important I need to handle."
"Haaa… finally, a break!"
Yamato took a deep breath of relief.
Now that her body relaxed, she could clearly feel the overwhelming transformation happening inside her all over again.
"T-Thank you, Lord Akira…"
Baby-5 and Viola clung to the doorframe for support, nearly collapsing as they stepped out of the room.
Finally—
they could breathe again.
Akira ignored Yamato's complaints.
He pulled on a black athletic outfit and prepared to leave the villa.
"Wait—where do you think you're going?!"
"I'm coming too!"
From the living room, Gion suddenly sprang to her feet!
Her beautiful, cold expression was overlaid with stress and exhaustion—her red-veined eyes revealing just how mentally tormented she'd been after spending a full day inside this "hellish house."
Seeing Akira finally step outside, she immediately followed.
"This monster… what is he planning next?!"
Gion clenched her teeth.
She was done staying passive.
She had to find out what this insane man intended to do.
Akira reached the villa door—only to pause as if remembering something.
He turned toward the master bedroom.
"Viola."
"You're coming with me."
"Yes!"
Viola's body trembled.
Despite her exhaustion, she hurriedly slipped into a long dress and stepped forward without hesitation.
The [AOW] armor on her body was already accelerating her recovery—restoring her stamina and strength at an unnatural rate.
"You're taking her with you?!"
Gion stiffened in shock.
"What on earth is he planning now?!"
Without hesitation, she quickened her pace and followed close behind.
...
The three of them walked along the main street of Dressrosa.
The entire city had changed.
Gone was the eerie atmosphere from yesterday, where toys and humans mingled awkwardly in an unnatural coexistence.
The country was now drowning in a chaotic mix of grief, joy, and overwhelming relief that no one could contain.
"H-Huhu… y-you… John?"
An elderly woman with snow-white hair clung tightly to a bearded middle-aged man, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Mom! It's me! I'm home!"
"My husband!!"
A blacksmith's owner stared at the wife he had believed dead for so many years, now standing alive before him.
The seven-foot-tall man burst into tears like a child.
"Dad! Mom!"
A teenager trembled as he looked at his parents—people he had only known as toys when he was three years old—now returned to their human forms.
Ten years.
Ten years of suffering and dehumanization—
Now shattered.
Now freed.
Everywhere, people cried, laughed, screamed, hugged, and called out the names of loved ones who had been lost for a decade.
Viola followed behind Akira.
She saw all of it.
The resurrection of Dressrosa—something she thought she would never witness again—
It made her stop walking.
Her hands flew to her mouth.
Tears burst from her eyes like a broken dam, flowing endlessly down her cheeks.
Her entire body trembled with emotions too powerful to contain.
"Huu… huhu…"
She dropped to her knees, crying so hard her shoulders shook.
Even Gion, who watched from behind, went silent.
Akira didn't urge her, didn't scold her.
He simply stood at the side of the street, hands in his pockets, waiting quietly.
Time passed slowly…
Eventually, Viola's sobs faded.
"You done?"
Akira's flat voice came from above her.
Viola wiped the tears from her face and slowly pushed herself to her feet.
"Good. Now it's time to take care of something important."
Akira turned toward the distant ruins of King's Plateau.
"Take me to your father, King Riku."
"After I speak with him…"
"We'll go to the colosseum and bring your niece, Rebecca."
"..."
Viola froze.
Her cheeks were still blotched with tears, but her expression twisted into something far more complicated.
Rebecca…
Viola stared at Akira's broad and unshakable back.
This man—
On one hand, her savior. The savior of the entire country.
On the other hand, he was the "devil" who once proposed a humiliating, outrageous deal.
But…
Viola unconsciously clenched her fists.
Inside her body, the power she had gained from "training" surged like a wild flame.
Power she never dreamed she could possess.
Power that, for the first time, gave her the ability to—
Control her own fate.
"Rebecca…"
Her eyes sharpened.
"I'm sorry."
"This man is cruel, forceful…"
"But he keeps his promises."
"And he possesses a strength greater than even Kaido and Shanks."
"Following him…"
"May be the only way for the royal family to survive."
"Everything I do—
is for your sake."
Viola exhaled deeply.
Then she stepped forward and followed Akira.
"All right."
"I understand."
…
Old King's Plateau.
The once-grand plateau, now reduced to barren ruins after being "erased" by Akira.
There, the Royal Family of Dressrosa had set up a temporary shelter.
"Viola!!!"
King Riku spotted his daughter—the daughter he believed had died—standing alive before him.
The gentle old king immediately broke into tears.
"Father!!"
Viola rushed into his arms, and the two embraced tightly, crying openly.
"Your Majesty!"
A figure suddenly stepped in front of King Riku, shielding him with sharp vigilance.
A one-legged swordsman with fierce, unwavering eyes.
The undefeated gladiator—
Cyrus, newly freed from the curse of being a toy.
"Who are you people?!"
Cyrus drew his long blade, positioning himself protectively between the king and the approaching Akira and Gion.
"Brother-in-law! Don't be rude!"
Viola hurriedly wiped her tears and began explaining everything that had happened over the past few days.
How Joker—Doflamingo—was defeated.
How Dressrosa was liberated.
And that the man standing before them—this young-looking, deceptively calm man—
was now the new ruler of the island.
"…"
Riku and Cyrus fell silent.
They stared at Akira in disbelief.
He looked younger than Doflamingo, and far less sinister…
But the truth was undeniable.
He was the monster who forced Kaido to retreat.
He was the one who crushed Doflamingo.
King Riku, as a ruler, forced himself to stay composed.
He gently pushed Cyrus aside and stepped toward Akira.
Thud!
The old king knelt without hesitation.
"Lord Akira!!"
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
"You have saved Dressrosa!!"
"On behalf of all my people, I offer you our deepest gratitude!!"
"I do not know how I can ever repay you, but if there is anything the Riku family can do—"
"Repay?"
Akira cut him off.
"No need."
His gaze swept over the desolate plateau, devoid of even a single intact stone.
"I just want to ask one thing."
"How much money is left in your royal treasury?"
"Eh?"
King Riku stiffened.
"Bring it all out."
Akira said impatiently.
"Don't leave a single coin behind."
"????"
King Riku froze.
Viola froze.
Cyrus froze.
Even Gion—who had been silent and detached in the back—
Stared in shock.
"You—!!"
"And one more thing."
Akira continued calmly, ignoring their confusion.
"Starting today, you don't need to be king anymore."
"You can remain as a mascot."
"From now on—
every part of Dressrosa."
"The economy, the military, commerce…"
Akira's gaze went cold, slicing through the air like a blade.
"All of it will follow my orders."
"In exchange…"
"I'll turn Dressrosa into the wealthiest country in the world."
"…"
"…"
"You bastard!!!"
Boom!!
Cyrus was the one who exploded!
His eyes blazed with fury.
"You're no different from Doflamingo!!"
He crouched low, gathering the power of a veteran gladiator in every muscle.
"I won't let you insult His Majesty ever again!"
With a single leap, he launched himself at Akira like an arrow shot from a bow.
"I'll cut you down—!!"
"Fool."
Akira didn't even look at him.
Hands still tucked casually in his pockets—
He raised just a single finger.
BOOM——!!!
The tip of his finger tapped Cyrus's long sword—the very blade famed as "unbreakable."
CRACK!!
In an instant, the sword snapped apart.
Shattered like cheap glass.
A terrifying force surged through Cyrus's body—
"—!!"
And he was launched like a fired cannonball.
BOOOOM!!!
He smashed through piles of rubble dozens of meters away.
"Ugh…"
Cyrus coughed blood and collapsed unconscious.
"…"
"…"
"Cyrus!!"
King Riku and Viola paled in horror.
Gion's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He… got stronger again?"
"Just how far has this man's power reached…?!"
Akira lowered the finger he used to swat Cyrus away.
Then he turned his cold gaze onto the ashen-faced King Riku.
"Your country exists because I saved it."
"If you—or your people—"
"Dare try becoming 'toys' again…"
"You're welcome to try."
His voice was calm—
But it carried the weight of a demon's whisper.
"After all—"
"As long as Dressrosa stands here…"
"Anyone can become my citizen."
"As long as they can make me money—
they are welcome."
Finally, his eyes landed on King Riku.
"You wouldn't want…"
"All the 'original citizens' of Dressrosa…"
"To be replaced, would you?"
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