While the warship crew continued to gather details about the mission, Shiryu's famous blade, Raiu, had already claimed the lives of the pirates on five ships.
Just as Sakazuki had predicted earlier, two ships had managed to slip away—or rather, were desperately trying to escape.
This caused his right arm to erupt with molten magma. Thick black smoke curled into the blue sky, and as fiery red lava dripped onto the deck, the stench of sulfur quickly filled the air.
[WHRRRRRR!!]
Just as Sakazuki prepared to act, a wide crimson slash of light suddenly burst forth, streaking across the sea at an astonishing speed. In an instant, it sliced through the main masts and sails of both fleeing pirate ships.
With their sails cut down into the sea, the ships lost their ability to harness the wind. Their speed dropped rapidly. Soon, they were drifting helplessly with the waves—nothing more than massive wooden coffins on the ocean.
The more than two hundred men aboard could only watch in despair as the bloodthirsty devil approached.
Moments later, agonized screams and desperate cries of combat rang out once more—but only for half a minute. Then silence fell again.
"Excellent."
Sakazuki's eyes gleamed with admiration. He'd originally considered making Onigumo his adjutant—but this Shiryu wasn't bad at all.
Once a pirate flag is raised, once a pirate crew is formed—that's enough. They've forfeited their right to breathe.
Pirates… are nothing but worthless filth that deserve to die!
...
"Fufufufufufu—"
Doflamingo stepped out of the now-stationary Bubble Tram, his flamingo-pink feathered coat fluttering in the cold night breeze.
To his surprise, not a single Holy Land garrison soldier stood guard nearby. As he eyed the massive staircase that led to the upper levels, he chuckled softly, lowering his voice.
"After all these years, nothing's changed… But can power truly remain eternal—like these stone steps—for a thousand years?"
"Let's go. The elders are waiting."
At that moment, the CP0 agent dressed in white—who had traveled all the way to the North Sea to summon Doflamingo—spoke up, urging him forward. Then, stepping past him, the agent was the first to ascend the enormous stairway.
At the top of the towering staircase lay the true heart of Mary Geoise. This so-called 'Holy Land' was spotless; the ground beneath their feet was so clean and pristine it seemed even the tiniest grain of sand had been scrubbed to perfection.
Lifting his gaze to the horizon, Doflamingo took in the scene. Though it was nighttime, countless lights bathed all of Mary Geoise in a brightness that mimicked daylight. Even the neatly arranged groves and winding rivers shimmered with a soft golden hue.
This was luxury in its purest form—resplendent and dazzling!
His body trembled faintly at the sight. He was fighting to suppress the storm of anger and desire within him. He was meant to live here—high above all others, doing as he pleased, looking down upon the world of mere mortals.
Though it had only lasted a few short years, Doflamingo had to admit: the happiest days of his childhood had been spent in this place.
Here, the servants bowed to him. The slaves knelt before him. He dined on endless delicacies, each day offering new flavors. He lived surrounded by limitless wealth and never had to worry about money. He possessed the absolute power to kill anyone—any life outside his 'kind'—at will.
All of this… had once been his!
Until that damned fool ruined everything with his laughable idealism—taking everything from him. Because of that idiot, his mother had died, and his younger brother had disappeared.
Though he had personally executed the bastard with his own hands, what was lost could never be recovered.
Following the CP0 agent, Doflamingo stepped onto the 'automatic lift'.
Partway up, Doflamingo caught sight of the massive iron gates leading to the Domain of the Gods. The Holy Land guards were still stationed there.
He knew—his former home lay beyond that gate.
But he spared it only a glance. His gaze soon shifted toward the grand castle looming ever closer—the colossal Pangaea Castle, symbol of the world's central authority.
"Fufufufufu… I hope you don't disappoint me this time."
Unconsciously, Doflamingo licked his lips, a bit tense.
After all, he was only seventeen. In terms of mindset, shrewdness, and strength, he was still immature. His knowledge was limited to the small world of the North Sea.
Before long, he stood before Pangaea Castle.
With a deep rumble, the massive steel gates began to rise.
To be honest, everything past this point was unfamiliar. As a child, there had been no chance for him to enter this place. So he could only remain alert, silently following CP0—and carefully committing every detail of his surroundings to memory.
This city within a city was vast inside, yet for some reason, there wasn't a single patrolling or stationed soldier in sight. It was also eerily quiet.
Only when Doflamingo was brought into a cold, dark, and empty grand hall did he finally see something—the golden and crimson throne atop a three-tiered stone dais, gleaming beneath the direct moonlight.
But… no one was seated there!
"Aren't we here to meet the Five Elders, hmm?"
Just as Doflamingo finished surveying the area and turned to ask the question—he realized the man who had brought him was gone!
[Boom!]
At that moment, the massive doors behind him slammed shut with a deafening bang. The jolt triggered his reflexes—his fingers curled like claws, body hunched, and his entire form instantly entered a combat-ready state. Even the Haki he had only recently begun to master surged to the surface, ready to be unleashed.
Doflamingo now seriously suspected he'd walked into a trap—a scheme set by a Celestial Dragon targeting him.
Like a wild cat cornered in a cage, he bared his claws and teeth, scanning every inch of his surroundings with deadly intensity. Fine threads shimmered faintly between his fingers, ready to strike.
The atmosphere grew rigid—so stiflingly tense it was as though the air itself had frozen in place. Time, however, continued its slow passage.
Until Doflamingo once again raised his head to look at the lofty Empty Throne overhead.
"Hmm!"
But that one glance was enough to freeze him in place.
His entire body locked up as if caught in some kind of stasis. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes widened to their limits. In his pupils—reflected clearly—was the figure now seated upon the throne, though he hadn't seen when they had appeared.
But that wasn't even the most terrifying part.
What shook him to his core was the moment their eyes met. An invisible, yet tangible force seemed to slam into his mind. An overwhelming sense of fear surged through him, crashing down upon his spirit.
It felt like he was spinning madly in a world of golden ripples. The air around him vibrated and grew heavier by the second.
Every muscle in his body trembled with pain. Combined with the mental shock, Doflamingo couldn't hold out for even two seconds before his knees crashed to the floor.
[Bang!]
He dropped to both knees. Only his arms managed to prop him up against the freezing floor as he gritted his teeth, struggling to lift his head.
But the invisible pressure crushed him—his throbbing head forced downward, eyes locked on the pristine, immaculate red carpet beneath him.
Who was this person?
How could someone be this terrifying? How could a single glance bring me to my knees?
"Little one from the Donquixote family… I do wish to see you."
As soon as those words rang out, the weight pressing on Doflamingo's body eased slightly.
But just as he gasped for breath, drenched in cold sweat and about to rise to his feet, he realized—the air around him had become like an immovable mountain, frozen in place.
He had no choice but to remain kneeling—unless he wanted to collapse completely to the ground.
"Y-You… who… are you… really?!"
The words forced their way out of Doflamingo's mouth one painful syllable at a time. The fear strangling his chest was nearly unbearable.
As for the crushing pressure, he soon realized—so long as he didn't try to stand, the air remained ordinary, unaffected.
"I am your king."
A voice, frigid and indifferent, echoed down from the Empty Throne and spread throughout the vast chamber.
"The King of the Celestial Dragons."