At this mont, there were still more than three hours left until the public execution.
Naval Headquarters — Conference Room of the Shichibukai
The five current Shichibukai mbers were all present.
"I just received the latest intel. Blackbeard used his Shichibukai status to sneak into Impel Down to recruit crew mbers. Clearly, he had no intention of participating in this war. He's betrayed the Shichibukai... or rather, he just exploited the title to achieve his goals."
Doflamingo spoke with a tone of amusent, though his eyes reflected surprise.
Even for soone like Doflamingo, Blackbeard's betrayal was unexpected.
But what ca next was even more shocking — terrifying, even.
"What happened with Blackbeard?" Mihawk asked with interest. This was the sa man who had left the red-haired Shanks with those three scars — a man shrouded in mystery, insidious and dangerous.
Aside from Boa Hancock, the other three Shichibukai were visibly intrigued. Blackbeard daring to storm Impel Down to recruit crew? Insanity. Did he have a death wish?
With a chuckle, Doflamingo teased, "Guess what ended up happening to him?"
"What happened?" Moria asked, visibly impatient.
Doflamingo grinned wider. "A bloody recruitnt attempt, that's what. But guess who else broke into Impel Down? The Elior Pirates — yeah, that crew. The sa monsters who defeated Kaido in the New World days ago. They showed up... and Blackbeard's crew was wiped out — completely annihilated — in Eternal Hell."
"WHAT?! Elior? He went into Impel Down?!"
The room erupted in shock — even Boa Hancock, who had been quietly listening until now, reacted visibly.
"Explain," Hancock demanded, her voice sharper than usual. Ling Bai's na alone stirred sothing within her.
"Not much to explain" Doflamingo shrugged. "That lunatic broke into Impel Down for the second ti. And this ti, he walked out with two monsters. One was the Red the Aloof, and the other... the World Destroyer. You might not be familiar with their nas, but just know this — they were legendary figures from the old era. Both ranked alongside Bullet, the Demon Heir, as the most terrifying criminals ever held in Impel Down."
Doflamingo leaned back, his grin turning darker.
"Elior snatched them both. And this isn't just hearsay — I got this straight from the Five Elders themselves."
"Where is Elior now?" Hancock asked imdiately, unable to hide her nervous anticipation.
"They've already left Impel Down," Doflamingo answered. "That's why the World Governnt reinforced this war with its highest combat forces. If anyone unexpected shows up... especially him... they'll try to crush them on the spot."
He paused, then added seriously, "Honestly, I'd bet money that Elior won't sit this out. The Marine Headquarters is making too much noise. And right now... if there's anyone most likely to beco the next Pirate King... it's him."
Doflamingo shook his head. He couldn't quite understand why soone like Hancock — notorious for despising n — was so fixated on Elior. But he didn't dwell on it.
Doflamingo continued, "Oh, and another thing — Dragon, the Revolutionary Army leader, also broke into Impel Down. He rescued Straw Hat Luffy — the sa kid who blew up Enies Lobby. Dragon broke in, freed a bunch of Revolutionaries, and escaped."
The room fell into stunned silence.
"Wait... you're saying three different groups broke into Impel Down... today? While the Marine's hands are tied with this war?" Moria blurted out in disbelief.
Everyone else was equally shocked — except Hancock. She only cared about Elior.
"He's really here..."
"Will he show up at Marineford today?"
"If... if he cos... I'll finally see him..."
Hancock didn't even understand why her heart was pounding like this. Ever since hearing about Elior killing the Celestial Dragons, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about him.
Moria grumbled, "If those freaks join this battle, how are we supposed to fight? Honestly, I didn't co here to fight Whitebeard. And I sure as hell didn't sign up to fight Kaido... or him."
None of the Shichibukai here were truly prepared to risk their lives. Even Mihawk, the most independent of them, only joined to avoid constant harassnt from the Marine. The others were even more transparent — they were here for the privileges. As governnt-sanctioned pirates, they could pillage and kill as long as it didn't cross the line too blatantly.
Risking their lives in this war? Absolutely not.
Moria sneered to himself. But if Whitebeard dies... getting his body would be priceless. The strongest corpse in the world.
Little did Moria know that the Five Elders had already instructed Doflamingo to dispose of him after the war.
Doflamingo smirked.
"If Elior's crew shows up... even if there aren't many of them, the weakest among them are Supernovas. Honestly... I wouldn't be surprised if Marineford ends up sinking."
For the first ti, even the usually silent Kuma spoke. "That man... is capable of killing Admirals."
This was the real Kuma, not the pacifist clone. Unlike in the original tiline, this ti Kuma had chosen to participate — knowing that Dragon would be involved.
As the conversation continued, the conference room doors suddenly swung open.
A striking female officer entered — Naval HQ's Colonel Tina.
"I have orders from the Fleet Admiral. It's ti. Please head to your assigned positions."
It was nearly noon.
"The ti has finally co"
Doflamingo chuckled.
"I wonder if we'll see that monster with our own eyes."
Mihawk simply stood without a word.
On the Admirals' Side
Kizaru put down his tea and newspaper.
"Hmph... is it starting?"
"Yes, Admiral Kizaru" a marine responded.
Kizaru stretched lazily.
"Sohow... I've got a bad feeling. After all... a certain group of... very scary people just left Impel Down. I wonder... are they headed back to the New World... or are they... coming here?"
Aokiji yawned, removing his blindfold. "If Elior shows up... I'd be pretty interested to see how his ice compares to mine. Between Whitebeard and them... this fight is getting out of hand."
He stood, releasing a wave of chilling battle aura that made the marines behind him tremble.
anwhile, Akainu was already prepared — the most serious of the three.
"I don't just want to end Whitebeard," Akainu muttered darkly. "If Elior cos... I'll kill him here too."
"The whole world knows Whitebeard's powers," he growled. "But that bastard Elior... I know how his frozen space-ti ability works now. When he unleashes that ice-blue domain... if you react fast enough, you can dodge it!"
"As long as I avoid getting caught in that frozen space... it's fine. No ability is unlimited — it must drain a massive amount of stamina."
Clenching his fists, Akainu released such a suffocating aura that marines near him instinctively backed away.
All three admirals knew... Elior might show up. Impel Down wasn't far. And the Vortex Sea surrounding Marineford — deadly enough to drag even Sea Kings down — wouldn't stop him.
After all... Elior could freeze the sea.
At Sabaody Archipelago...
Crowds gathered before the giant screens, watching as the live feed flickered on.
What appeared on screen shocked everyone.
Marineford's plaza and bay were packed with naval forces — an ocean of soldiers and artillery, creating a pressure so imnse it was suffocating even through the screen.
"All those cannons... all aid at the bay..."
"There's so many marines... I never realized there were this many!"
"Almost every nad vice admiral is here... only a handful were left behind to guard the New World... but that's because chaos is breaking out over there too!"
"I just hope this war ends the era of pirates... maybe then ordinary people like us can live in peace."
"I heard they summoned 100,000 elite marines from across the world... the absolute best."
"With this... the Marine must crush the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"But... the enemy is the world's strongest man... will this really be enough?"
"LOOK — THE SHICHIBUKAI ARE ARRIVING!"
"Only five of them... but look at them! Monsters, every one."
"The Shichibukai... pirates sanctioned by the governnt... they balance the Yonko alongside the Marine."
"The Marine's going all-out... but can even they survive this battle?"
"Tsk... and look at the Pirate Empress... even just seeing her on the screen feels unreal... she's... stunning."
On the execution platform, the marines turned their attention to the arriving warlords.
Moria, Kuma,Doflamingo, Mihawk, and Hancock.
Seeing them gave the nervous marines a surge of confidence.
But then... the plaza truly erupted.
The Three Admirals had arrived.
Three towering figures, each radiating overwhelming power — the Marine's highest combat force.
Akainu sat in the center throne. Aokiji and Kizaru flanked him on either side.
"The Admirals are here! As long as they're here — Whitebeard's just a man!"
"That's right! JUST a man!"
"They're exactly as the legends say... you can feel the pressure just looking at them!"
"With the Admirals... the Marine cannot lose!"
Yet, Kizaru — usually playful — now wore a rare serious expression.
Akainu scoffed coldly.
"If those monsters from Impel Down show up... there's no walking away this ti. As long as we're ready for that frozen space-ti ability... we can win. And don't forget — even Commander-in-Chief Kong is here. If things get bad... the World Governnt itself will intervene."
"This will be the first true victory against the Great Pirate Era!"
Aokiji crossed his arms.
"Still... if they really do show up... then this battle... is going to be hell."
User Comments
0 comments from readers