Summary:
Gatz broadcasts to everyone on Dressrose to tell them that Luffy will return and defeat Doflamingo in one hit. An angry Doflamingo impales Gatz and then forces Rebecca to attack Viola. However, Luffy regains his Haki and blocks Rebecca’s attack as he confronts Doflamingo again.
The citizens of Dressrosa run towards the palace platform and help each other climb it, and Gatz climbs another part of the cliff. Meanwhile, Zoro, the Samurai, and the Marines press against the Birdcage with their swords, all of whom are convinced to help Luffy and honor their organizations. The Franks, dwarves, and various citizens continue to push the SMILE factory and the gladiators push Bartolomeo’s barrier. Bartolomeo reminds them that they are approaching death and it is up to them to prevent it, but they reply that he does not need to tell them. Sai is proud of his comrades for their spirit and Hajrudin declares that he does not want to die here because he has a dream that he wants to achieve. Bartolomeo then tells them to keep pushing until their bodies break. Meanwhile, Mansherry continues to fly over the city, releasing his Chiyupopo into the air, hoping that everyone will be safe. On the palace platform, Gatz pulls himself onto the platform, panting heavily with the effort.
Down below, Doflamingo continues to force Rebecca to head towards them with the intention of getting her to kill Viola. Rebecca becomes increasingly disheartened by her helplessness, and Viola pleads with Doflamingo to stop, but to no avail. Gatz’s voice suddenly echoes across the island, causing Doflamingo and the citizens to look up at him in confusion. The townspeople recognize him and tell him to stop messing around, but Gatz tells them to remember the star who fought in the Corrida Colosseum earlier that day. Thinking that he is the star, Cavendish prepares to leave, but suddenly realizes that Law is gone. Gatz talks about Luffy’s achievements in the Coliseum being remembered by the citizens and reveals that the star was indeed Lucy, or as he was better known, Monkey D. Luffy. Gatz acknowledges that the country may not be so quick to trust a pirate after what happened with Doflamingo, but assures them that Luffy is not like Doflamingo. He says that Luffy was called their hope Riku Doldo III. and previously fought Doflamingo within an inch of defeat, causing some citizens to put their hope in Luffy and trust him despite being clearly betrayed ten years ago. Gatz continues by telling the crowd that despite Luffy being knocked out, he promised earlier that he would defeat Doflamingo in one hit, causing the crowd to cheer.
The fighters pushing the Birdcage respond with joy to the summons, and Zoro says that otherwise they wouldn’t be able to last much longer. As the crowd continues to cheer, Gatz builds up his courage and turns to Doflamingo, condemning his actions and declaring that this is where his punishment awaits him. Gatz is shaking, he doesn’t care what Doflamingo did to him, he only wants the Shichibukai to get away from Viola and Rebecca. Gatz congratulates the people of Dressrose for helping contain the Birdcage and says that their salvation will come soon. The people pushing the Birdcage renew their efforts, but those who were revived by Chiyupopo begin to collapse as its effects wear off. Leo says it won’t work twice and Mansherry starts crying sadly that she gave people false hope. However, Kabu tells her that without her efforts countless people would have died. Mansherry begins to smile again as more people run to help stop the Birdcage and Gatz states that Luffy will be back in ten seconds.
Encouraged by Gatz, the citizens start chanting “Lucy” as Luffy tries to get up. When the countdown reaches two, Doflamingo impales Gatz with a piece of string, causing him to collapse. However, Gatz encourages people to continue counting and his Den Den Mushi speaker drops and rings when the countdown reaches zero. Nothing happens and the crowd wonders where Luffy is. Doflamingo says Luffy isn’t coming and forces Rebecca to run to her aunt and kill her. Viola tells Rebecca to close her eyes and pretend it was a bad dream; he will not hold a grudge against her. Viola silently apologizes to Rebecca as her niece begins to collapse, but before she can land a blow, Luffy appears in Viola’s place and takes the blow with a Haki-infused forehead that snaps the blade in half. Viola shows up at Luffy’s place due to Law flipping the two of them, and Gatz alerts the people of Dressrosa that Luffy has returned as they cheer on the Straw Hat captain. Luffy then turns to face Doflamingo again.