"Doffy! As long as you move, I win, right?"
Yamato, gripping her kanabo tightly, stared at a lounging Doflamingo, her stance poised for action.
"Mhm, that's right. Go ahead! Just remember, you've only got one minute."
Doflamingo responded absentmindedly, indulging the child.
Ever since she had seen the wings of the Merveille's human, Yamato had been obsessed with growing her own. Her persistence had become unbearable, so he made a deal with her: if she could make him move within a minute, she could stay. If not, more training.
Of course, her single-minded nature prevented her from realizing that this was a guaranteed loss.
"Alright, here I come!"
"Thunderous..."
In an instant, Yamato appeared before Doflamingo.
"Bagua!"
Yamato's figure flickered as a series of rapid strikes bombarded Doflamingo.
But...
Doflamingo simply yawned and pressed the stopwatch in his hand. He casually coated a small portion of his body with Haki—just enough to acknowledge the attack's existence.
Seconds passed, then minutes.
Yamato shifted her strategy, targeting weak points she had identified in her recent sparring sessions with Gladius and Buffalo.
Yamato lunged straight for Doflamingo's crotch.
...Where the hell did she learn such a dirty trick? No wonder Gladius and Buffalo were walking funny today.
Doflamingo's brow twitched, and he silently activated his Devil Fruit powers.
When it came to low blows, even a minor attack required caution.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
With a sharp snap, threads wrapped around Yamato, stopping her in her tracks.
"Yamato, time's up."
She looked up to see Doflamingo smiling kindly at her.
Her body shuddered instinctively.
"I get it! I'll train harder!"
"No, you need more than that."
The ground beneath her shifted, and a massive fist, equal to her own height, materialized and struck out at her.
"Boom!"
Like a skipping stone, Yamato ricocheted across the water, soaring into the distance.
Doflamingo exhaled theatrically at his own attack before turning away with satisfaction.
"Enel, I'm leaving this to you."
"I understand, Young Master."
Enel glanced at Indigo. With the Merveille still rooted in place, he needed to keep an eye on both Indigo and the Merveille's human citizens.
"Move out!"
A ship carrying a portion of the IQ compound sped away.
...
Time flowed on, ushering in the year 1500 of the Sea Calendar.
The final match of the Gambling Tournament was in full swing in Sabaody, drawing crowds after months of buildup. Alongside the spectators came opportunistic pirates eager to make a fortune.
In the southeastern waters of Sabaody...
Bloodhand Lons, a pirate with a 20-million-belly bounty, stood at the bow of his ship, his grin twisted and reeking of bloodlust.
"Boys, fire at will!"
Cannonballs roared toward a merchant fleet.
The first mate of the Bloodhand Pirates hesitated as they neared Sabaody's patrol zone.
"Captain, we're getting close to the Navy's patrol waters!"
"Hahaha! Relax! The Navy's got bigger problems. We loot and leave, simple as that."
"Not so fast, scum!"
A black silhouette streaked across the waves, closing in at high speed.
A razor-sharp, right-angled slash tore through the Bloodhand Pirates' ship, slicing it into neatly stacked pieces, much like a cut of steak.
"Captain is amazing!"
"Yeah! That slicing technique is incredible!"
Behind him, a ship full of injured Marines arrived late to the scene.
Captain, however, wasn't as relaxed. The increasing crowds posed a mounting challenge to the Navy's control.
And then there was the Heavenly Yaksha...
"What exactly is Doflamingo planning?"
At Marineford, Sengoku, who had taken on most of Kong's duties, pondered the same question.
Faced with the situation, a younger, more impulsive Kuzan couldn't hold back.
"Fleet Admiral, why don't we just arrest him outright?"
Kuzan had developed an acute wariness toward the man.
That so-called 'new legend' was dangerously unpredictable.
Sakazuki and Borsalino, listening in, silently agreed and turned to their leader.
Sengoku remained silent, his gaze shifting toward the Red Line behind Marineford.
Doflamingo could die at the hands of pirates or the public.
But the Navy could not be the ones to kill him.
...
Green Bit.
"Cricket, you better come visit us sometime!"
"Don't worry, once I finish my journey, I'll come find you all for a reunion."
Cricket bid farewell to Gancho and the Tontatta.
Behind them, Smoothie rolled her eyes.
Visit them? In prison, maybe!
For over two weeks, there had been endless banquets, one after another.
She was sick of them!
After leaving the Tontatta Kingdom, the group returned to Dressrosa's borders. Smoothie quietly slipped away toward the Royal Plateau.
Soon, she arrived at a familiar checkpoint. After a brief exchange with the stone guardians, she was allowed in.
"You ran all this way, only to end up in Dressrosa?" Pica's deep, gravelly voice was laced with disbelief.
"Lady Smoothie, are you returning to Whole Cake Island, or do you wish to see the Young Master?"
"Wait, my husband is here?!" Smoothie's eyes lit up.
"He's not."
A bucket of cold water.
Smoothie's rationality kicked back in.
"Never mind that. The Tontatta are plotting against my husband, and they've allied with a group of pirates."
Doflamingo had ordered her not to interfere with the Tontatta for now, but pirates?
Pica's eyes narrowed.
"Where are they?"
"They're heading to the port."
"What's their flag?"
Receiving her answer, Pica melted into the stone.
"I'll check it out."
...
Moments later, at the port.
The crew was preparing to disembark.
"Aren't we waiting for Smoothie?" Masira asked, as clueless as ever.
Shoujou smacked Masira's empty head.
"Idiot! Remember how Smoothie reacted last time we mentioned that demon, Doflamingo?"
While berating Masira, Shoujou hauled up the anchor.
"If we don't move now, we won't be moving at all!"
"You're absolutely right."
A deep voice echoed from the ground.
"Crap!" Cricket paled. He knew that voice.
A massive stone hand erupted from the earth, lifting their ship into the air.
Pica emerged, glaring at the panicked group.
"Doflamingo saved your lives! Why do you slander him behind his back?"
Doflamingo had restored his voice and saved so many of his comrades—he was an angel!
The stone hand began to close, the ship groaning under the pressure.
"Wait! Pica, hold on! Doflamingo invited us to form an expedition team—we're not his enemies!"
Small, sharp eyes observed from the shadows.
...
Back in Sabaody.
"Cricket? The Tontatta? Still alive, huh?"
Doflamingo's expression turned thoughtful.
That kid sure had a knack for trouble—and somehow, he always ended up back in Doflamingo's hands.
Was he still useful?
"Smoothie, your information is valuable. Stay in Dressrosa—I'll come for you after I finish things in Sabaody."
"Understood, my love!" Smoothie's delighted voice came through the transponder snail.
Doflamingo smirked.
"Pica, Urouge."
"Yes, Young Master!/God, I'm here!"
"The Tontatta will likely attempt a rescue. Don't harm my workforce."
"Understood!"
"Oh, and one more thing—don't let Cricket die. He's important."
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