Waste

Lightning descended from the heavens, striking the towering golden robot relentlessly. The first few strikes had no visible effect, but as the bolts grew in frequency and intensity, the machine's movements began to falter. Steam hissed from its joints, and its once-fluid motions became sluggish and jerky.

Imai hovered above, her lightning crackling in the storm clouds she summoned. She smirked. "Let me show you something, Gild. This is the true way to rule over people like you."

She dove toward the robot, landing with precision on its head. With a sharp swing of her blade, she smashed one of its golden eyes, revealing Gild Tesoro's furious face behind the protective barrier.

"Peek-a-boo!" she said mockingly. "Welcome to Gran Tesoro, where the motto is 'high risk, high return.' But it looks like you risked too much, and now the Grim Reaper's come to collect."

"Shut up and disappear!" Gild roared, his voice filled with desperation.

Imai's grin widened. "You think fear is your weapon? Let me show you how to truly wield it. The thing about cowards like you—you're always hiding. Whether it's behind money, gold, or your past, you're nothing but a shadow."

With a burst of power, Imai ripped open the compartment and grabbed Gild by the collar. His protests were cut short as she hurled him from the robot's body, sending him crashing to the ground. The fighting around them stopped as all eyes turned to the once-mighty Casino King lying helpless on the floor.

The crowd's gaze shifted upward, and what they saw sent a shiver through their spines.

Imai descended slowly, her blade in hand, streaks of lightning coiling around her like serpents. Her Conqueror's Haki radiated outward, distorting their perception. To them, she was no longer just a woman—she was a god in the guise of the Grim Reaper, a collector of debts too great to repay.

"It's over, Gild," she declared, her voice calm and absolute.

On another battlefield within the casino, Uta and Rei faced off against Baccarat, Tanaka, and Dice. Unlike Imai, who radiated calm authority, the duo exuded excitement, ready to test themselves against their opponents.

"Well, well," Baccarat said, smiling as she unsheathed her blade. "Red Oni Uta and Blue Oni Rei. It's a pleasure to finally meet you in battle."

Rei raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You've been waiting for us? Let me guess—you're secretly smitten. Sorry, though. We're not on the market, and we're definitely not a package deal."

"Less talk, more action," Uta interrupted. "Let's finish this quickly so we can regroup with Imai."

"Not so fast!" Dice said with a booming laugh, his golden armor glinting. "We're not letting you off that easy."

"Surururu, let's begin, shall we?" Tanaka added with his peculiar laugh.

Uta eyed the trio, assessing their strengths. "Rei, avoid Baccarat's touch—it'll sap your luck. Tanaka's weak but annoying, likely trying to distract us. Dice? Cut him up."

Rei smirked. "Look at you, acting like a proper vice-captain. Studying our captain's tactics, huh?"

"Shut up and focus," Uta snapped, her cheeks reddening as she turned away. "Let's do this."

"On it, Vice-Captain."

The two dashed forward, cutting down the lackeys who foolishly stood in their way with swift, effortless strikes.

"They don't even care about their underlings," Rei muttered as she sheathed her blade momentarily.

"Doesn't matter," Uta replied, eyes locked on Dice. "Focus on the bigger prey."

Before Uta could reach Dice, Baccarat intercepted her, sword in hand.

"You can fight with a blade?" Uta asked, mildly surprised.

"Oh, I'm skilled with a lot of things, dear," Baccarat said with a sly wink. "Especially my hands."

Uta rolled her eyes. "Not something I needed to know. Now stop wasting my time. You're pretty and all, but there's someone far prettier I'd rather focus on."

Baccarat lunged, but Uta met her blade with a decisive parry. The clash of steel echoed as Uta pressed forward, her movements sharp and precise. Baccarat stumbled slightly under the onslaught, her polished demeanor cracking.

"You're good," Uta admitted, "but not good enough."

As Baccarat swung vertically, Uta ducked low and dashed forward, preparing to strike. But a flash of insight stopped her—Baccarat's devil fruit would turn the tide if she made contact.

Instead of striking with her blade, Uta pivoted and delivered a fierce kick to Baccarat's chin, sending her head snapping back. In one fluid motion, she coated her blade in Haki and slashed through the golden armor. It shattered, and a crimson line appeared across Baccarat's stomach, blood seeping from the wound.

"If you're lucky, you'll live," Uta said, glancing down at the unconscious body. "That scar? Consider it a memento."

She straightened and looked around. Baccarat had drawn her farther from the others than she realized. "Did she lead me here on purpose?"

Meanwhile, Rei circled Dice, her movements fast and calculated. Dice was fast too, but his massive frame made him predictable. Rei's strikes chipped away at his golden armor, bit by bit.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Rei taunted, noticing Dice's flushed face.

"Haha! You cut me so good!" Dice bellowed, his masochistic grin stretching wide.

Rei smirked. "Glad I could help."

With Dice distracted by his own twisted pleasure, Rei delivered a devastating kick that sent him crashing into a wall. Before he could recover, she encased his head in ice, rendering him unconscious.

"Thanks for the entertainment," she said, dusting off her hands.

A crack of thunder echoed through the casino, drawing their attention.

"So that's where you are, Imai," Rei said, turning toward the source of the sound.

"On our way, Captain!" Uta called out as they sprinted toward the final showdown.