The War God's true form clenched its massive fist.
The ground cracked and groaned, as if another Flevance had come back to life.
Everything within sight was swallowed by the awakened power, painted in a dead, ghostly white.
On the battlefield, weak pirate grunts and Marine soldiers alike felt their hearts seize up.
It was as if something had gripped them by the chest — and in this unnatural, eerie environment, panic exploded.
"W-What is this?!"
"Is this... the power of a Devil Fruit?!"
"The ground's moving! It's shifting!!!"
"What do we do?!"
"Retreat—get back to the sea!!!"
...
But Doflamingo, his blood boiling, paid no mind to their insect-like screams.
He grinned, baring his teeth, and decided to first test just how much fight this retired Admiral still had left in him.
"Zephyr!!!" he roared.
All around Doflamingo, the ground transformed into a stormy, chaotic sea.
Hundreds—no, thousands—of waves surged up, crashing forward one after another.
Soldiers from all three factions, caught in the backlash, were churned into meat paste amid their despairing screams.
Their blood painted streaks of crimson across the pale, whitewashed world.
"Die, Doflamingo!!!"
Zephyr shot down like a cannonball, moving faster than the naked eye could follow.
And yet, even now, his legs were still stepping through the air, driving him ever faster.
This battle couldn't afford to drag on—he had to end Doflamingo here and now.
Meanwhile, the monstrous waves surging beneath had already reached their peak.
Gathered together, they formed a colossal spear, as if to pierce the very sky.
At the spear's tip, black Armament Haki shimmered under the sunlight.
The surviving soldiers, their curses dying in their throats, could only gape at the sight.
"Z—Crusher!!!"
Rumble rumble rumble!!!
The already shattered island groaned as it sank further into the sea.
The ocean swallowed the old shoreline, erasing it completely.
The Doflamingo's attack collided with Zephyr's fist, the impact sending shockwaves that shook the heavens.
At the spear's tip, threads of white unraveled, only to be mended again and again.
Zephyr's face turned beet red, contorted with strain, every muscle trembling as he poured in everything he had.
Inside the War God's body, Doflamingo fared a little better.
But even so—this man had tempered his Armament Haki for over thirty years. That wasn't something to take lightly.
Not that Doflamingo cared. He wasn't worried.
No way an asthmatic geezer in his fifties could outlast someone like him—an immortal monster.
Time dragged on.
"Kuh—koff—koff—"
Zephyr's red, swollen face trembled as he coughed violently.
No doubt about it—Doflamingo's strength was overpowering him.
He couldn't win by brute force. If he wanted to survive this, he'd need a plan.
"Kami-e!"
With a twist, Zephyr slammed his left fist against the side of the giant spear, knocking it off course.
In the same instant, he let go of his own force, his body fluttering away like a feather on the wind.
Blown aside by the spear's gale, he evaded the attack entirely.
"Fufufufufu... Not bad for a Rokushiki user!" Doflamingo chuckled, though there was no real praise in his tone.
Still, it made sense. This was Zephyr, the man who'd once taught Rokushiki to the Marines. Of course, he'd find a way to dodge.
But Doflamingo didn't mind.
Because that cough—he'd heard it.
Proof that this old man's body was breaking down.
Now was the time to strike!!!
But before Doflamingo could move, Zephyr vanished.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Explosions cracked through the air around the War God, shockwaves rippling in every direction.
On the ground, the silk threads snapped and split, torn by invisible stomps.
Zephyr was using Soru, dashing at high speed, shifting positions faster than the eye could follow.
But would that help him?
"Fufufufufu... Like hiding, do you? Then hide all you want!!!"
With a flick of Doflamingo's will, it was decided.
From the War God's body—and from every inch of the manipulated earth—thousands, no, millions of threads exploded outward.
Covering everything in sight.