The war shouts still lingered in the air, but the streets of Dressrosa were no longer empty.
Humans stepped out into the light again, cleaning away the soot, the memories, and the wounds. But what rose above all of it was one truth—the Joker had fallen, and in his place stood Solian Flare, the man who burned the shackles.
During the days of Doflamingo's fall, chaos threatened to fill the void he had left. Black market remnants, corrupted nobles, and bounty hunters circled like vultures, ready to steal power from under the city before it stabilized. But the Solar Rift Pirates stood firm. And Solian made his choice.
He would not abandon Dressrosa.
He would take it.
A Throne Without a Crown
The palace throne room, which was once a symbol of Doflamingo's brutal reign, had been reduced to ashes by war. Its gilded walls lay shattered, and pieces of shattered stained glass littered the floor. But in the midst of ruins, Solian remained imposing, neither in robe nor crown, but in his tattered cloak and blackened armor.
He faced the people—those freed from Doflamingo's toys, the ex-gladiators, former slaves, shopkeepers, soldiers, and orphans. Hundreds had gathered at the steps of the palace as whispers of the new ruler spread through the streets.
"I'm not your king," Solian said, voice rising across the plaza. "I'm not a noble, or a World Government lapdog. I'm not here to pretend to be a savior."
He looked out at the masses, his hand resting on the hilt of his solar-forged blade.
"But I did fight for this place. I bled to break the chains. I won't let someone else show up and put another tyrant in Doflamingo's stead."
A pause.
"So if you'll have me… I'll lead. But I won't stand over you. I'll stand with you."
The silence hung for an instant—before a voice in the crowd burst it.
"You're already our king!"
There were cheers. Loud. Real. Unbridled. Not out of fear—but hope.
Vance slammed a gauntleted fist to his chest. "Took you long enough."
Kael smiled. "Never thought I'd see the day. Our captain… a king."
Rock Lee nodded with confidence. "We will build this nation by strength, honor, and will."
The throne would be rebuilt—not as a symbol of tyranny, but of rebirth. The Joker's reign was over. Dressrosa had a new king.
The Vault Below
Three days passed, the streets finally calming, before Solian and his men gathered at the lowest point of the palace—a vault behind layers of seastone and steel plates. Doflamingo's private vault. Only the highest members of the Donquixote Family were admitted.
But they were now lost.
Kael sliced through the final lock with his rust-contaminated sword, and the massive vault doors creaked open.
Among the plunder of a tyrant was.
Mountains of Beli to the ceiling, tied together with heavy rope. Crates of jewels from across the New World, exotic weapons wrapped in cloth, devil fruit information, and even a dozen seastone arms.
Solian stepped forward, eyes scanning the room.
System Notification:
You have discovered a Hidden Treasury.
Contents: ~300,000,000 Berries, 14 rare artifacts, 3 sealed vault cases, 1 encrypted ledger.
"Three hundred million…" Milo breathed. "That's enough to finance an entire army."
Solian nodded. "Or restore a nation."
He instructed the funds immediately diverted:
100 million towards the repair of homes and businesses
50 million to look after the families of the dead
80 million to compensate skilled builders, engineers, and laborers
The rest… stored safely beneath the palace, night and day.
He also found Doflamingo's encrypted ledger—detailed with black market deals, underground alliances, and a list of "customers," many still active in the underworld.
"This is dangerous," Jorin muttered. "We could burn entire nations with this."
"Or keep them in check," Solian replied. "The world's not clean. I'll use this to keep Dressrosa safe."
Shadows That Watch
While the new king worked to restore Dressrosa, not everyone celebrated.
In the forest outside the city, hooded men knelt around a den-den mushi.
"The Joker has fallen," one of them spat. "Solian Flare rules in his place."
Another man cracked his knuckles. "The balance is shifting."
"And the Underworld observes."
A Day in the Sun
Later that day, Solian stood on the reconstructed palace balcony, gazing out over the city.
Children laughed on the streets again. Market stalls opened their doors. The colosseum began repairs. Music even returned—tentatively, cautiously. He watched it all, his leadership weighing more than his sword.
But he was not alone.
Rock Lee trained palace guards below. Kael oversaw rebuilding. Vance oversaw the treasury. Jorin established a merchant guild to redirect Dressrosa's economy legally. Even the Twins had begun recruiting civilians into new city watch patrols.
The Suvelians were not a crew anymore. They were nation-builders.
And Solian?
He was not a pirate anymore.
He was a king. A visionary. A storm before the age of kings.
And the world would soon know it.