Dressrosa, the famed "Kingdom of Love and Passion" in the heart of the New World.
Situated in the central region of the New World, Dressrosa is a tropical island. It's mid-April now, and daytime temperatures already soar to 38°C. Unlike the ever-changing, chaotic climates that plague other parts of the New World, Dressrosa enjoys a stable and predictable tropical monsoon climate.
With endless summers and no winters, plentiful rainfall, and a fertile land that allows for three grain harvests a year and fresh vegetables all four seasons, the island is a lush paradise.
The extreme difference between day and night temperatures gives rise to some of the finest fruits in the New World, so exceptional that they're exported to distant islands far and wide.
Its abundant resources and well-established trade systems have created a prosperous and wealthy society. This material wealth has also laid the foundation for a flourishing culture. With food and shelter well taken care of, citizens have the freedom to invest their money in other pleasures.
As a result, Dressrosa's culinary and fashion industries have boomed, and even extravagances like the grand coliseum, a veritable money furnace have become a fixture of local life. Wealth has also granted the women here a rare freedom; they don't need to depend on men for survival. That financial independence breeds confidence, empowering them to choose partners they genuinely like.
The "love" in this "Kingdom of Love and Passion" comes from these free-spirited, passionate young women. The "passion"? That roars from the blood-pounding battles of the coliseum.
"Dressrosa is an affiliate nation of the World Government," Garp explained.
"After the Donquixote clan abandoned their people and fled to the Holy Land of Mariejois, the Riku family took up the mantle of royal leadership here."
"King Riku Doldo III has been on the throne for over a decade now—and by all accounts, he's done a remarkable job."
"To still maintain such a quality of life despite paying the Celestial Tribute to feed those leeches in the Holy Land? Dressrosa might just be the only country that can pull it off."
Garp's warship docked at the eastern port of Dressrosa. A long wooden gangway was lowered, and Vice Admiral Garp descended in casual attire: a floral print shirt, baggy black shorts, and flip-flops slapping lazily against the boards as he walked. As he made his way down, he chatted over his shoulder, offering a brief primer on Dressrosa to Yoriichi and Kuzan.
Compared to the navy officers following behind in full uniform, Garp looked nothing like a man on a mission—more like a tourist on summer holiday.
Yoriichi and Kuzan had changed out of their usual outfits as well. With the heat this intense, long sleeves were out of the question. Yoriichi, who didn't have many clothes to begin with, had managed to scrounge up a short-sleeved sailor shirt from another crew member—the kind worn by general laborers, with the word "Support Staff" printed on the back.
He'd wanted to borrow something from Kuzan, but Kuzan's clothes were simply too large for him.
Fortunately, Kuzan had a summer version of his uniform on hand.
"First, let's head to the local branch office," Garp said. "See if they've got any fresh intel on Roger."
"Bogard, assign some men to secure the ports. Keep a close eye on any incoming or outgoing ships especially pirate vessels."
"Oh, right, Kuzan, Yoriichi, no need to tag along with me."
"It's your first time in Dressrosa. Go enjoy yourselves a little. Kuzan, take a Den Den Mushi. If I need you, I'll call."
He pulled a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and casually tossed it back to Kuzan, who caught it with a bit of surprise. Around them, the other navy soldiers couldn't help but glance over with a hint of envy. Still, none of them held any resentment over the "special treatment" Kuzan and Yoriichi received.
Kuzan, after all, was on board as a trainee. He didn't have the authority to command Garp's men; his role was more of an observer, occasionally lending a hand when pirates were involved. At best, he was Garp's enthusiastic protégé.
As for Yoriichi—he wasn't even officially a member of the Navy yet.
"Vice Admiral Garp… are you sure this is okay?" Kuzan asked, accepting the Den Den Mushi with a sheepish grin.
He was worried it might look bad.
"Quit whining."
"I don't need you micromanaging my decisions," Garp muttered as he picked his nose nonchalantly.
Kuzan quickly stashed the Den Den Mushi in his shirt and gave Yoriichi a hearty pat on the back. "Let's go! Feels like we finally scored some time off."
Once inside Dressrosa proper, the pair parted ways with Garp, who headed off toward the Marine branch. Yoriichi and Kuzan, on the other hand, had no set destination—they simply followed the buzz of excitement, drifting toward wherever the crowds gathered.
"Man, we stick out like sore thumbs," Kuzan remarked after walking a few blocks. "Let's go get changed."
He glanced down at their outfits, noticing how frequently passersby turned to stare. Without another word, he grabbed Yoriichi by the arm and pulled him into a nearby clothing store.
When they reemerged, their Navy uniforms were gone. Kuzan was now sporting a bright green button-up, lazily fastened so only three or four buttons were closed around his abdomen, leaving his chest fully exposed. He wore a pair of bold red board shorts below, and his usual combat boots had been traded for a pair of flip-flops.
Yoriichi's outfit was far more modest: a plain white crewneck T-shirt and zebra-striped shorts. He, too, swapped his boots for a pair of beach sandals.
Each of them now carried a bag in hand containing their old clothes and boots.
Even after changing, though, the two of them still drew looks from pedestrians as they strolled through the streets.
Not because they exuded any sort of imperial or domineering aura…
It was simply that Kuzan's outfit was too eye-catching.
Red and green together? A color combo so loud, it could stop traffic—or as the local saying goes:
"Red with green? You look like dog puke."
God knows what kind of idiot would think that was a good color combination.
Unfortunately, Kuzan had absolutely no idea. He thought the people were staring because of Yoriichi's icy expression and the sword in his hand.
Dressrosa was abundant in resources and boasted a vibrant food culture. As a result, it didn't take long for Kuzan and Yoriichi to end up with their hands full—stuffed with snacks, drinks, and all manner of street food.
"Hey, Kuzan, let's go check that place out."
"Huh? Looks like... an arena."
Chatting and munching as they walked, the two eventually arrived at the heart of the town. Before them rose an enormous, oval-shaped structure, catching Yoriichi's attention.
This was Dressrosa's most famous landmark—the Colosseum.
Its outer walls, built from limestone and bluestone, had a soft yellow hue. Time had left its mark, with faint weathering and discoloration giving it a solemn, ancient presence.
The arena was roughly 500 meters long, 350 meters wide, and nearly 50 meters tall. The colossal structure was punctuated with countless archways, bustling with foot traffic and lively chatter.
To Yoriichi, the appearance was strikingly similar to the Roman Colosseum from memory—only grander, larger in scale by far.
The very existence of such a gold-draining venue spoke volumes about Dressrosa's economic strength.
"Oh! So that's the Colosseum of Dressrosa?"
"I've heard Vice Admiral Garp mention it a bunch, but I've never actually seen it with my own eyes."
"Let's go in."
The younger Kuzan had always enjoyed lively scenes. Once he spotted the oval coliseum Yoriichi was pointing at, he readily agreed and eagerly led the way toward it.
After purchasing tickets, the two stepped inside—and were instantly stunned by what they saw.
The interior seating of the oval colosseum rose in steep tiers, enough to accommodate tens of thousands. In the center stood a massive arena stage, where two "warriors" were already locked in fierce combat. Surrounding the stage was a circular moat, inside which ferocious fighting fish would occasionally poke their heads out or slice through the water with ominous dorsal fins.
As the duel on stage rose to a fever pitch, thunderous cheers surged through the crowd, pounding against Yoriichi and Kuzan's eardrums like waves.
"Whoa~!"
"This is incredible!"
Kuzan had never seen a scene like this before. He couldn't help but exclaim in awe, blood rushing in his veins, eyes shining with excitement.
Even Yoriichi felt a rush of adrenaline in the face of such roaring applause—let alone someone as young and hot-blooded as Kuzan.
Just as the two sat down, the match on stage came to an end. One of the armored warriors had exhausted his strength and was knocked to the ground by his opponent, unable to rise again for quite some time.
The victorious fighter raised his spear high and shouted triumphantly.
The defeated was dragged off the stage. After basking in the crowd's applause and admiration, the victor too left the arena.
At that moment, the host's booming voice echoed from the loudspeakers:
"Up next, the moment you've all been waiting for!"
"Please welcome Dressrosa's strongest gladiator, undefeated in 440 matches—Kyros!"
"And his opponent known as the Rampaging Sea Bear—with 81 brutal wins to his name is Raiche Muran!"
"Now then, let the battle begin!"
With the host's final shout, the cheers in the arena erupted into an entirely new level of frenzy. Thousands of heads turned in unison toward the entrance tunnel, as the audience roared a single name:
"KYROS!"
"KYROS!"
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