XX-level Hokage

“I…” She gritted her teeth, then shook her head weakly. “I can’t do it alone.”

"If you can't do it yourself, why not use the power of others?" Mashiro's tone was casual, but there was a certain allure in her words. "Use the power of others?" Rebecca looked up, her eyes showing a hint of confusion and hesitation.

“That’s right,” Mashiro chuckled, a deep glint in his eyes, “You can cooperate with me, and I will help you liberate Dressrosa. In return, you only need to pay a small price.”

Rebecca's heart suddenly raced. The woman before her possessed a powerful and mysterious aura, and she suddenly felt that she might actually be able to seize this opportunity to break Doflamingo's rule.

However, she still hesitated, after all, she didn't know who Mashiro really was. "You...who exactly are you?" Rebecca couldn't help but ask.

"Hyuga Mashiro, or you can call me a sorcerer, of course." Mashiro said this shocking news in a relaxed tone, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Wh...what?!" Rebecca's face turned pale instantly, her eyes widened, and she stared at Mashiro in disbelief. A sorcerer, that's the person who just defeated Kaido, one of the Four Emperors.

Mashiro didn't explain much; she knew this news would be enough to shock Rebecca. Sure enough, Rebecca fell into a brief silence, clearly processing this astonishing fact.

"You only need to make one choice," Mashiro said softly, leaning closer to Rebecca. "Become my slave, and I will help you free Dressrosa from Doflamingo. This is your only chance."

“Slaves?” Rebecca’s expression became complicated again. She had an innate aversion to slavery, especially under Doflamingo’s rule, where she had witnessed too many innocent people being enslaved.

"Of course, you can refuse," Mashiro smiled gently, "but the price of refusal is that you will never be able to change the fate of your family."

Bebe fell silent. She knew in her heart that she had no choice at all. Mashiro was the only one who was capable of fighting Doflamingo. If she missed this opportunity, she might never have any hope of taking back Dressrosa.

After a moment of struggle, Rebecca finally lowered her head, her voice low and strained: "I promise you."

Mashiro nodded in satisfaction, gently raised her hand, and a faint black energy condensed at her fingertips. She said, "In that case, I will place the Life Curse Seal on you. This will be a sign of your loyalty to me, and it will also be the source of your new power."

Rebecca gritted her teeth and remained silent, letting Shiro's fingers gently press against her forehead.

Black energy slowly seeped into her body, leaving a complex rune mark on her forehead. This mark signified that she had become Zhenbai's slave, completely subject to her will.

Feeling the power of the cursed seal, Rebecca felt uneasy, but more than that, she had a complex emotion. She knew that from this moment on, her fate was completely tied to this mysterious woman.

“Very good.” Mashiro withdrew his hand with satisfaction. “Next, you just need to win the martial arts competition, and I will help you achieve the final victory as the first step in our cooperation.”

"I..." Rebecca instinctively wanted to refuse, after all, she didn't want to rely on external forces to win the game, but Mashiro just smiled gently, "Don't worry, I won't fight for you, I'll just give you a little help. The real victory still depends on your own efforts."

After speaking, Mashiro turned and left, leaving Rebecca standing there, feeling the curse mark on her forehead, her heart filled with complex emotions. She knew that this match was not only about her personal glory, but also about the future of Dressrosa as a whole.

The process of heating was rapid, and by evening it gradually entered the autothermal stage.

Mashiro quietly observed the matches in each group, especially Group C, where Rebecca was.

Rebecca's performance was unexpectedly outstanding. Although she had once doubted her own abilities, with Mashiro's help, she gradually demonstrated a fighting power that surpassed her previous abilities.

The power of the seal did not directly enhance her strength, but rather stimulated her potential in a subtle way, allowing her to unleash amazing combat skills at crucial moments.

Faced with those powerful opponents, Rebecca did not back down. Instead, she became even more composed. Her nimble figure moved across the battlefield, and with her agile skills and precise attacks, she defeated her opponents one by one.

Whenever she wins, Mashiro stands on the high ground of the arena, calmly watching her every move. Her eyes are unwavering, as if everything is within her expectations.

“She does have potential,” Zhen Zi murmured to himself, “but she still needs more training to become a true chess piece.” Meanwhile, the matches in the other three groups also entered a crucial moment.

Green Pepper, Cavendish, and other strong individuals emerged, demonstrating remarkable strength. However, Mashiro was still disappointed because, although these people were powerful, they lacked the potential to change the world that she was looking for.

"It seems this competition is nothing special after all," she sighed.

However, just as she was about to leave, a strange and powerful aura suddenly caught her attention.

At the distant entrance to the arena, a mysterious man draped in a cloak of armor slowly entered the arena. His face was obscured by shadows, making it almost impossible to see clearly.

But that unique aura gave Mashiro a strange sense of familiarity. "This is..." Mashiro frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on the man.

She sensed a hidden danger approaching. This man was not an ordinary contestant; his appearance might bring new variables to the competition.

“Interesting,” Mashiro chuckled softly, turning and walking towards the stands. “Look, this match still has some openings.”

Chapter 159: The Arena Where No One Wins (Part 2)

Amidst the clamor of the arena, Mashiro's radiant light remained fixed on the mysterious man.

Despite being cloaked and his face shrouded in shadow, his aura was so distinctive that it alerted Mashiro. This intuition told her that this person's appearance was no accident.

The second round of selection matches was drawing to a close, and the battles in the arena were gradually subsiding. Mashiro stood up, a calm smile on her face, and walked towards the entrance of the arena. Her steps were light and elegant.

In the shadows outside the arena, a masked, cloaked man stood in the darkness, seemingly waiting for something.

Mashiro's appearance did not startle him. Instead, he calmly watched Mashiro approach. The distance between the two gradually shortened, and the tense atmosphere in the air became increasingly intense.

When Mashiro walked up to the mysterious man, she stopped, a faint smile on her face, but her eyes held a deep scrutiny: "It seems you are very interested in me, Monkey D. Dragon."

[Name: Monkey D. Dragon]

Gender: Male Age: 45

Affiliation: Revolutionary Army

Three types of Haki: Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror Haki. Devil Fruit: Zoan type, Mythical Zoan, Quetzalcoatl form.

Luck value: 90 Approval level: 30

[Zoan Type, Mythical Zoan, Feathered Serpent Form: The user can manipulate hurricanes, rain, and lightning, and can transform into the legendary feathered serpent god.]

[Significantly enhances physical fitness and recovery ability, and may even be able to control the weather and trigger natural disasters]

The mysterious man's figure shifted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes beneath the mask.

Clearly, Mashiro's direct revelation of his identity surprised him, but he quickly regained his composure: "It seems the title 'Sorcerer' is indeed formidable. Hyuga Mashiro, I've come here precisely to cooperate with you."

Mashiro smiled slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes, and said, "Cooperation? That's an interesting suggestion. But before we discuss it in depth, could you tell me why you're so eager to meet with me? Especially after you learned about my plans related to the pirate alliance from the newspapers?"

Long nodded slightly, his tone firm: "A few days ago, I learned from the newspaper that you planned to organize a pirate alliance to overthrow the World Government."

I had the revolutionary soldiers scattered across the world gather information about you.

Since you began your activities, your actions have not only liberated Cocoyasi Village, Alabasta, Skypiea, and Wano Country, but have also shown us a revolutionary who pursues freedom and possesses high moral character. Therefore, I have decided to personally investigate your true intentions.

Mashiro's smile grew even more meaningful: "It seems you think highly of me. In truth, my goal is to collect all the historical texts and overthrow the world..."

The World Government's rule aims to achieve true freedom, and you, as the leader of the revolutionary army, must share the same goal, right?

Long nodded, his eyes revealing unwavering determination: "That's right. We all hope to change this world, and to express my sincerity, I disregard the southeast..."

Despite the obstruction of four army commanders from the Northwest, they personally came to Dressrosa hoping to reach a cooperation agreement with you.

A hint of approval flashed in Mashiro's eyes as she said softly, "Your decisiveness and courage are commendable. However, we need to discuss the conditions and details of our cooperation in detail. After all, overthrowing the World Government is no easy task, and the interests and risks involved cannot be ignored."

It's like someone bringing you a pillow when you're sleepy. Although Mashiro doesn't think the Revolutionary Army has any great role to play, they are indeed a powerful fighting force overall.

Ryu took a deep breath, looked up and met Mashiro's gaze: "I understand that. Our cooperation needs to be based on mutual trust and common goals. We can discuss specific cooperation plans in the coming days. If we can work closely together, I believe we can achieve our goals."

Mashiro nodded and said calmly, "Then, from now on, let's begin to discuss our cooperation plan in detail. I will do my best to help you, and I hope you can also provide me with strong support."

Ryu smiled slightly and extended his hand to shake hands with Mashiro: "This is a symbol of our cooperation and its beginning."

Mashiro grasped Ryu's hand and whispered, "Very good, it's a pleasure working together." Meanwhile...

Deep within the royal palace of Dressrosa, in a lavish and solemn hall, Doflamingo sat on his throne, his face grim. His gaze pierced through the enormous windows, surveying the island under his control, his mind replaying the information about Mashiro. "As expected," Doflamingo muttered to himself, a complex emotion swirling in his voice, "the appearance of the 'Sorcerer' Mashiro is not to be underestimated." Ever since learning of Mashiro's existence and her infiltration of the Corridor, his unease had only intensified.

The sorcerer completely ignored him and the Donquixote family, focusing instead on the pointless martial arts competition. Around him, the core members of the Donquixote family gathered, their faces etched with solemnity and worry.

Torrebol coughed lightly, stood up, and said, "Young Master, this situation is indeed not to be underestimated. The sorcerer Mashiro's strength and background are terrifying. If she really wants to target us, it's clearly not something we can easily handle right now, and her purpose is very unclear."

A cold glint flashed in Doflamingo's eyes as he slowly turned to the group, his tone indifferent yet forceful: "We must react. While we have sufficient power in Dressrosa to deal with ordinary threats, we cannot afford to be careless when facing an existence of the 'Sorcerer' level."

He pondered for a moment, then reached out and pressed the button on the Den Den Mushi on the table. With a "whoosh" sound, a thin face gradually appeared on the Den Den Mushi; it was none other than the face of Sengoku, the Marine Commander.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, this is Doflamingo." Doflamingo's voice was calm and confident, but a hint of worry was in his words. "I need your help. My colleague, the sorcerer, who has recently caused a huge commotion, is active in Dressrosa. Her presence may pose a threat to me, so I need the Navy's support."

Sengoku's eyes narrowed slightly, clearly surprised by Doflamingo's request.

He was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Greetings, sorcerer. I understand." After hanging up the phone, Sengoku quickly reported Mashiro's information to the Five Elders.

But for some reason, even though Mashiro had openly declared his intention to overthrow the World Government, the Five Elders still gave no instructions.

The atmosphere in the Five Elders' conference room was heavy. A moment later, the order was relayed back to Naval Headquarters.

With the Five Elders' order issued, Sengoku immediately began to allocate naval resources. He urgently contacted two admirals, Aokiji and Akainu, as well as two admiral candidates, instructing them to go to Dressrosa and bring Mashiro to justice.

Inside the main palace in Dressrosa, Doflamingo is also preparing for the impending situation.

He was not surprised by the upcoming naval operation, after all, his methods often provoked a reaction from the navy. He knew that Mashiro's existence not only posed a threat to him, but also made the World Government uneasy.

“Even so, I still need to take some precautions,” Doflamingo muttered to himself, a cold smile creeping across his face. He summoned all the core members of the Donquixote Family to discuss their next course of action.

Meanwhile, Mashiro and Monkey D. Dragon's meeting is also taking place in a secluded location in Dressrosa.

“Now we have more resources and support,” Mashiro said calmly. “Next, we need to develop a comprehensive plan to ensure that our goals can be achieved smoothly.”

Dragon nodded, his eyes revealing a firm resolve: "I have already arranged for the Revolutionary Army's forces to prepare. At the same time, we also need to coordinate the resources of the Pirate Alliance to ensure that we can form a powerful synergy at the critical moment."

Mashiro smiled slightly and nodded in agreement: "Then, let's begin preparing for the next step." As the plan unfolds, the situation in Dressrosa is subtly changing.

The Navy's movements have attracted widespread attention, and the cooperation between Mashiro and Ryu will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the future of the world.

On the other side of the palace, Doflamingo, who had just summoned all his core officers, was beginning to deploy his defense plan. He knew that the arrival of the Marine Admiral would be a huge shock, but he also knew that he could not sit idly by and wait for death.

"We must be fully prepared." A chilling resolve emanated from Doflamingo's voice. "Whether facing the Navy's actions, or..."

We cannot afford to relax our efforts in dealing with the threat posed by the sorcerer Mashiro.

There's been a recent death in my family, so updates will be a bit odd.

Chapter 160: The Harvest

As time passed, the clamor in the bullring intensified, and undercurrents of various forces surged within Dressrosa. Shinji and Ryu's meeting lasted for several hours, during which they discussed their cooperation plan in detail.

The Revolutionary Army's power and the pirate alliance's resources began to gradually integrate, and Dressrosa was gradually becoming the center of an unprecedented storm.

At the Royal Palace in Dressrosa.

Doflamingo's defense plan has been gradually implemented, with each core member of the Donquixote Family performing their duties, and the palace's defense system has been strengthened to the extreme.

Diamanti, Pica, Torrepol, and other executives have begun deploying resources in their respective areas to ensure the safety of anyone entering Dresden.

Sa's power will be closely monitored.

However, Doflamingo always felt uneasy, especially after learning that Mashiro had met with Monkey D. Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. This unease gradually grew.

To show his sincerity, Dragon did not deliberately hide his identity. In Dressrosa, Doflamingo's spies quickly deduced Dragon's identity.

"A sorcerer cooperating with the Revolutionary Army... what an interesting combination." Doflamingo leaned back in his chair, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Young Master, what are your plans? If she really intends to harm us, what should we do?" Torrebol asked in a low voice, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Doflamingo waved his hand lightly, a wicked smile appearing on his face: "No need to worry, our partners are ready to act. Even if the Navy admirals arrive soon, they won't succeed easily." As soon as he finished speaking, a low rumble of thunder came from the distant sky, and dark clouds began to gather over Dressrosa.

Inside the bullfighting arena.