One Piece: Gambling To The Top

While walking with his group, Josh was staring at the market of Dressrosa, the kingdom under the rule of Doflamingo.

What a tragic way for a king to die. But he'll always be remembered.

As the girls were thinking of what they should buy, Josh was thinking of the sole thing he could think of.

'Besides sending a message, what can I get. A lot of money

Josh rubbed the back of his neck. If there is something about him, he always thinks about what to win. He thought of Doflamingo's crew. They had great Devil Fruits, which is a different version of Baroque Work's Devil Fruits. Gem had an explosion ability, and that guy can pop things until they explode. There was a copy of Marianne and Mikita as well. Josh seemed to be unable to remember anyone who has a resemblance with Robin's power. Nevertheless, it's not that big deal.

'Let's get them all… oh now, I think of it. Sugar! Her fruit is helpful. And I can't let my girls get fooled by her child look.'

Sugar surely had a very strong Devil Fruit. A unique one that can turn anyone into a toy.

Imagine a fight between Saitama and Sugar. Sugar can win if she touched him first.

Josh had an empty spot for a 3rd Devil Fruit. Although Sugar's fruit seems powerful, Josh was tempted but thought it's not for him.

After all, what really matters is a suitable 3rd Devil Fruit that can work perfectly with his other 2. More More fruit had taken his powers into another league, and he is looking for a Devil Fruit that takes the first two into a new league.

"Guess gambling made me quite greedy." Muttered Josh, and the girls turned their heads toward him.

Seeing their look, Josh raised his hands. "You can attack the palace first. I and Hancock are going somewhere first."

"Why her?" Mikita asked.

"Because she is very fast, and I need to look for someone first."

"Who?" Mikita put her hands on her hips.

"The only one that can possess danger to you," Josh said. Seeing his serious facial expression, Mikita didn't think that he is kidding and turned her head, holding Robin's arm.

"I can go too!" Kalifa said as she stepped forward. "I can keep up with your speed, and I can detect people."

"Ok…" Josh nodded. In the next instance, he vanished, followed by Hancock and Kalifa.

-x-X-x-

In the middle of the capital of Dressrosa, there was a huge Colosseum where gladiator fights. Since it was in One Piece world, the Colosseum was certainly different from the one in Rome. People are extra huge, and most of them were very strong and fast to put a pirate from Paradise in shame.

After a lightning bolt passed by everyone, shocking them since it was the morning, Josh and his girls appeared in the middle of the crowd. The supporters then turned their heads into the arena, and they started cheering up for their favourite gladiator or booing at their least favourite.

"Why they are against that girl?" Hancock bit on her bottom lip as she heard many people cursing one gladiator in the middle.

"I wonder too." Josh looked at the pink-haired bombshell that had her boobs jiggle as she was dodging every attack. "Maybe they are gay?"

"Good one." Hancock smiled as she hit his elbow, forcing a smile.

"Acting like Mikita now? Jealous?" Josh turned to Hancock and smiled.

"No?" Hancock dodged the bullet.

"What should we do now?" Kalifa asked.

"How about we look for a little child, girl, who has green hair and blue eyes," Josh said. "Just remembered. She likes grapes. And I have a feeling that she might be here."

"Alright." Kalifa nodded as she closed her eyes. Because of her Vampire senses, plus her thunder ability, her hearing sense was really superior to anyone. While closing her eyes, she could everything in little detail. Some people may think it's annoying. But that's only for the weak-minded. As Kalifa had undergone harsh training and torture in the past, that barely bother her.

*Chew* *Chew*

A smooth voice of teeth crushing on something soft, tongue sliding on small seeds, hit her ears.

Kalifa opened her eyes. "It's underground, there." Kalifa pointed with her finger into the arena. Although it was surrounded by the water, there were few gates on the edge.

"I see. Let's move on there." Josh jumped from his place and landed on the arena. One of the gladiators didn't like a little man interrupting his fun, so he tried to kick him. But something strange happened. The gravity started working in a reverse way and the large gladiator found himself taking stairs to heaven.

Josh cracked his fingers. He heard a few screams and gladiators surrounded him.

"Attention everyone!" Josh raised his hands.

Since he somehow seemed to be similar, he got the attention he needed.

"I know some of you are thinking of where they had seen me. Allow me to fresh your memory. I'm Josh, known by the Gambler. A recent Pirate Emperor — Although not pirate. Anyway. Your dear king has crossed the lines, and I'm here to send a message."

The gladiators stopped their steps. The audience stopped cursing and they looked in the middle with jaws dropped.

Now. It may be easy to forget about a pirate that appears in the newspaper.

But an Emperor, which just was known recently, is impossible to forget about.

Anyone of those criminals can destroy a country casually, and alone. That's how much power they have.

"Oh my! It's him."

"The Gambler!"

Seeing everyone starting to show respect, Josh could finally nod. He turned his head to see the gladiators shaking, and he couldn't help but smile.

The audience, however, was feeling fear. Josh had just said that he is here to send a message because their king had crossed the lines.

"Please! Don't hurt us…"

"We…"

"Guards! Save us."

Some started begging for their lives, and some started calling for the guards, making them leave their weapons and run away.

'Reminds me of Grand Their Auto. When you gain a lot of Respect + and everyone is escaping.'

While the atmosphere was getting intense, the people who worked with Doflamingo knew that they'll be in trouble for sure.

They whispered, and they blend well in the audience, before trying to make their way out.

Behind Josh, Hancock appeared, lifting a girl-child looking from the collar. He turned his head and looked at the green-haired girl.

"I caught this one trying to sneak away," Hancock said.

"Leave me." The little girl started kicking in the air, trying to get away from Hancock. Sugar tried to turn and touch her. But there was some sort of pressure that kept her from doing so.

Josh titled his head and smirked. "Hello There, Sugar."

"Josh. Use your Conqueror Haki and her curse ability won't work." Hancock said. As it seems, having a strong Haki around you can keep you safe from some Devil Fruit's abilities.

(A/N: Law had said that he couldn't teleport Kaido because of his Haki. Most say that it's Conqueror Haki. But most of my guests that a very strong Armament Haki can do so as well. As it happened in the Manga, Garp could turn off Marco's Phoenix power with one punch.)

"Leave me alone you big bastards!" Sugar stared at Josh for a couple of seconds as his face was approaching her. Once Josh's eye tilted to the right, looking at Hancock's chest, Sugar extended her hand in blinding speed, and she touched his face.

But, alas. He didn't turn into a toy.

Instead, her arm turned into a rock.

"Don't do something stupid," Hancock said as she shook Sugar. "The next time you try doing that, you'll turn completly into a stone."

"How can you treat a child like this." Sugar complained.

"Cut the crap. You are 20 years old." Josh took the Devil Vessel out of his storage and placed it on the ground. Now, he needs to beat Sugar up to use it.

Although Sugar's look triggered sympathy in his heart, Josh raised his fist. He won't feel criminal because of what he is about to do.

Ask yourself, why killing a butterfly sounds like a crime. But killing a crockroach sounds like a heroic did.

They both have the same intelligence, and they are insects. They are also creatures who live and breathe and breed.

But one is beautiful, and the other is ugly.

That's why killing one is a crime while the other is heroism.

The same applies to humans.

All are treated based on their look, how they dress, and how innocent they look.

Only the blind can see the truth.

That's why you shouldn't care how others see things.

"Wait, you are going to beat me!" Sugar screamed. Josh clenched his fist.

"I have to deliver justice." Josh punched her in the face, making her lose consciousness.

Everyone flinched when they saw the ugly act that happened.

This Pirate Emperor is surely a very cruel man. They had been afraid of him. But now, they are terrified of him.

Josh could read their thoughts. Some were calling him a terrorist, and some called him a criminal, and other things.

But no one dared to say them in fear of their lives.

Josh let a sigh. "You guys will thank me later."

In the middle of the crowd, there were living toys. They could talk, and they were the thing that made Dressrosa a special country.

But the moment that Sugar lost consciousness, a light covered the dolls, and their shape started shifting, turning into humans. The people paused, seeming to regain some lost memories.

"You're welcome." Josh cracked his neck as he took Sugar from Hancock and put her next to the vessel. Now, he got her Devil Fruit.

....

A/N: Advanced chapters ahead at patréon

www..patréon.com/Blazuki