-Broadcast-
Doflamingo's string clone had departed with both Law and Eren as prisoners, leaving Nami and Sanji to face the advancing Donquixote family officers. Just as they had anticipated aboard the Thousand Sunny, the true final boss remained secure within his palace stronghold.
These two Straw Hat Pirates had initially come to the music festival for intel gathering, never expecting to witness so many world-changing events in a single evening.
According to intelligence gathered by Robin, Luffy's team needed to scale the treacherous King's Plateau and reach the royal palace at Dressrosa's highest point. However, an unexpected encounter near the base of the massive rock formation would add a new member to their rescue mission.
Usopp, whose exceptional eyesight made him the crew's designated sniper, spotted something unusual secured to a weathered stone pillar. Based on its diminutive size, the figure appeared smaller than even a child—perhaps no larger than the palm of his hand.
"Is this some kind of trap?" the marksman muttered, squinting through the darkness. "Who would chain a bug to a pillar like that?"
Usopp's instinct was to ignore whatever was mounted there and continue pursuing his crewmates toward the palace. But the tiny creature suddenly became animated upon seeing the long-nosed pirate, its miniature limbs straining against steel spikes that had been driven through its wrists and ankles. Despite the obvious agony, it struggled desperately to break free, attempting to communicate with the approaching humans.
Robin, ever observant, was the first to notice the creature's distress. "It appears there's a small being in need of our assistance," she said softly, raising one hand toward the distant pillar.
"Cuatro Mano: Clutch!"
Four arms bloomed from the flower petals of her Hana Hana no Mi (Flower-Flower Fruit), sprouting around the imprisoned figure. Working in perfect coordination, the conjured hands gripped each steel spike and extracted them with swift, precise movements. The palm-sized creature was caught gently before it could fall to the rocky ground below.
A relay chain of arms appeared along the cliff face, passing the rescued being from hand to hand until it reached the gathered Straw Hat Pirates. When they finally got a close look at their discovery, amazed gasps echoed from every crew member.
"A child who's incredibly tiny," Chopper observed with professional concern. "And severely wounded, too."
Robin smiled knowingly. "Luffy, if my assessment is correct, this should be one of the Tontatta—the dwarf tribe. They're quite rare throughout the world."
As the crew's only doctor, Chopper immediately retrieved hemostatic bandages from his medical kit. The little man's injuries were so extensive it was miraculous he remained conscious. Practically no flesh remained on his emaciated frame—just skin stretched taut over protruding bones, with infected wounds where the spikes had pierced his limbs.
Bandaging the dwarf's injuries required less than five minutes, during which Chopper also prepared liquid nutrients that could be absorbed easily. Under the circumstances, basic stabilization was the best they could manage—at least the patient would be able to speak soon.
But no one anticipated what happened when the dwarf regained full consciousness. The tiny warrior leaped up and embraced Usopp's leg with surprising strength, tears streaming down his miniature face as he cried out in a weak but jubilant voice:
"Noland! Noland! You've finally come to save our people! Please, hero, help us once again!"
Noland? The name triggered recognition among several crew members, but Usopp's quick wit allowed him to grasp the situation immediately. He cupped the dwarf gently in his palm and nodded with theatrical solemnity.
"Yes, I am the descendant of the great hero Noland. If you have troubles to share, speak freely. I am also a hero who delivers people from suffering—you may call me Usopp."
The male dwarf's tears flowed even harder upon hearing this confirmation. After three years of hopeless captivity, he had finally found salvation. Between heartbroken sobs, he managed to convey his desperate plea.
"Usoland! Please save the Tontatta tribe from Doflamingo's tyranny! Please rescue our princess!"
[Character Data: Leo, Captain of the Tontatta Tribe (Dwarf Clan)]
"Ah!" came a chorus of surprised exclamations from the five other Straw Hat Pirates as Usopp gently encouraged the dwarf to explain everything.
Leo's mistake was understandable—he believed Usopp was Noland's descendant because both men, separated by four centuries, shared the distinctive trait of an elongated nose. This heroic characteristic had been passed down through oral tradition among the Tontatta for generations.
Three years earlier, Leo had followed the guidance of a mysterious toy soldier and led all the Tontatta warriors in an assault on Doflamingo's forces to liberate their enslaved princess and tribespeople. Unfortunately, their inherently trusting nature made them vulnerable to the simplest deceptions—the Donquixote family had outmaneuvered them completely.
Most warriors who participated in that failed rebellion were killed outright, while survivors found themselves enslaved in the underground SMILE factory. Leo, as captain of the Tontatta forces, had been singled out for special punishment—three years of torture, chained to this pillar as an example to any who might consider further resistance.
The captain had survived through sheer determination, sustaining himself on morning dew and whatever scraps passing birds or insects might bring him. With no realistic hope of rescuing his people through his own power, Leo's thoughts had turned to the legendary hero Noland. Perhaps that great man would return to save the Tontatta once more, as he had in ages past. For three long years, Leo had maintained this fragile hope through endless prayer.
Perhaps his sincere devotion had moved the heavens themselves. Just when Leo's strength was finally failing, a long-nosed human appeared before him like an answer to his desperate pleas. How could the little warrior not be overjoyed at such a miraculous response?
"The so-called 'liar' Noland," Robin mused with evident satisfaction. "He truly wasn't lying after all. We visited the legendary golden city and rang the golden bell ourselves, finally clearing his name after centuries of false accusations."
The Skypiea adventure held special significance for Robin—it had been the moment when she first truly bonded with the Straw Hat Pirates and chose to trust in their friendship.
Luffy's eyes lit up with recognition. "That sick old guy who kept diving into the ocean looking for treasure! But wait—how is Usopp also descended from Noland?"
The captain's immediate acceptance of the sniper's claim revealed his characteristically pure and trusting nature. Just like the Tontatta themselves, Luffy saw no reason to doubt such a story. If they were going to the palace to save people anyway, helping one additional tribe would hardly change their mission.
Usopp, falling naturally into his role as a habitual storyteller, began introducing his crewmates to the awestruck dwarf. "This is Luffy, this is Zoro, this is Chopper... They're all my trusted companions, and each one is a legendary hero in his own right. You should honor them just as you honor me—only with their combined strength can the Tontatta tribe achieve true liberation."
When Leo heard "Usoland" speak the word liberation, his tiny hands clenched into fists. The memory of his people's betrayal burned in his heart—he refused to fall victim to lies and false promises again. The Donquixote family had no moral boundaries whatsoever, their cruelty extending even to the systematic enslavement of innocent tribes.
The Tontatta had endured subjugation by the Donquixote bloodline twice in their history—first under the original Celestial Dragons, and now again under Doflamingo's reign. This represented centuries of accumulated humiliation and suffering. In recent years, many female dwarves with pleasing appearances had been preserved as living specimens and sold to collectors. Such demons were beyond any possibility of forgiveness.
Through tears of rage and sorrow, Leo recounted the full catalog of crimes committed against his people. His testimony was so heartbreaking that several Straw-Hat Pirates found themselves wiping away tears, their faces growing dark with righteous anger as they gained new understanding of Doflamingo's absolute evil.
Luffy approached the tiny captain and gently extended his finger, allowing Leo to grasp it like a lifeline. The rubber man's expression carried absolute conviction as he made his promise.
"I will help you defeat the villain Doflamingo—for your Tontatta tribe, for Law's sister, and for everyone else suffering under his rule."
"Thank you, Luffyland!" Leo cried out, his voice breaking with overwhelming gratitude.
The appearance of Captain Leo had strengthened the Straw Hat Pirates' determination beyond any possibility of retreat. They would liberate Dressrosa, no matter the cost.