The halls of the royal palace stood eerily still.
The same halls that had once resounded with Donquixote Doflamingo's laughing anarchy now stood frozen in quiet. Red velvet curtains fluttered gently in the breeze, blowing in tandem with shattered stained glass that cast the scars of war. Solian's heels broke golden tiles as he walked the lengthy expanse of the throne room—his throne room.
He hesitated before the ornately carved obsidian and gold chair, the very symbol of the dominance that had held Dressrosa for so many years. His now. But even as he stood before it, Solian did not sit. Not yet.
He drew in a breath, feeling sunlight heat seep in through the broken glass at the rear of the throne. This was his now. Everything.
"From a lost traveler. to a pirate captain. and now. a king," Solian grumbled to himself.
A blue flash of light appeared before him.
[SYSTEM UPDATE COMPLETE – REWARD DISTRIBUTION INITIATED]
Excellent Achievement Completed: Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo Defeat
Kingdom Conquest: Dressrosa Seized
Rewards Received:
– 25 System Points
– 1 Summoning Ticket (S-Rank)
– Haki Mastery +5
– New Skill Unlocked: Solar Armament – Ember Wrath
– Bonus Title Accrued: King of the Riftflame
Solian read the message, his eyes widening in amazement.
"Twenty-five.?" he gasped. That was more points than all of his other battles combined. Even the merciless war at sea and his first true battles on the Grand Line hadn't rewarded him this sort of payoff. He could feel it too—the low thrum of power awakening deep inside him.
But he didn't touch the menu yet.
Instead, Solian turned and walked slowly to the throne. As he sat, the room changed. The air grew warmer, thicker—not with tension, but with presence. His presence. He was no longer merely a fighter. He was a figure of power, a ruler. The System was acknowledging that.
[Inspecting Reward: Summoning Ticket (S-Rank)]
Description: Summons a powerful ally from another world. Loyalty guaranteed. Class: S-Rank. Limit: 1 use.
[Inspecting Ability: Solar Armament – Ember Wrath]
Description: Combines Solar Rift Flames and Armament Haki to enable molten attacks which pierce normal defenses. More effective with Haki and Devil Fruit Points.
[Inspecting Title: King of the Riftflame]
Description: Title awarded for having defeated a Warlord and conquered a kingdom. Passively enhances Charisma and Leadership. Subordinates inspire awe and mild fear. Weak-willed opponents are more likely to surrender or demure.
His hands twitched a bit, the urge to go ahead and try it all out bubbling up—but he kept it in check. Solian was learning restraint. Power was a tool, after all. But now, it was also a responsibility.
He accessed his system menu.
Solian Flare – System Status
Devil Fruit Mastery: 57%
Devil Fruit Points: 33
Constitution: 22
Strength: 19
Agility: 25
Endurance: 21
Haki: 15 (+5)
System Points: 25
Title: King of the Riftflame
New Ability: Solar Armament – Ember Wrath
Summoning Ticket (S-Rank): 1
Solian leaned back into the throne. He looked up, through the shattered dome above, into Dressrosa's open skies. The battle with Doflamingo had pushed him to his limits, compelling his Haki out from under pressure, refining his Observation, and unleashing the hot fury of his Solar Flames. His body ached from the battle, but beneath that ache was something more—growth.
His mind wandered.
Two years.
Two years until Luffy left Foosha Village.
"That's the timeline," he growled, his eyes scrunched up. "That's the world's turning point."
If he played his cards right, Solian would be on top before the big players even got to play.
He strolled and stood before the balcony that faced out over the city. Dressrosa was healing. There were smashed buildings, blackened roads, but slowly. life was trickling back. Blooms were emerging from exploded vases, civilians were bringing goods through the marketplace again. Battalions of his men—The Suvelians—greeted each corner, ensuring no chaos would descend.
He blinked, for just a second.
The door behind him groaned open.
It was Vance, followed by Kael and Rock Lee, their expressions grim. Jorin followed last, quiet and thoughtful. There were remnants of rest and recovery on all of them—fresh attire, tiny bandages, but watchful eyes.
Solian stood before them. There were no words to be said as yet.
He indicated the long stone table along the side of the throne room. They followed him there in silence. When they sat, a gentle pressure came into the air—the start of something bigger.
He did not rush to speak. Rather, the world's camera seemed to pull out—beyond the palace, through the city, and out into the distance.
The kingdom of Dressrosa towered again.
But the world. the world had begun to change.