In the hands of this man, the so-called World Noble had been reduced to nothing more than a screaming insect.
A Celestial Dragon.
Whimpering.
Begging.
He must be a demon.
Only a demon would dare to treat a Celestial Dragon like this.
Only a demon could wield such devastating power.
"Please, I beg you! Let me go! I was wrong—everything I said before, I take it all back! I sincerely apologize!"
"I can't take this pain—I'm going to die!"
Finally, Saint Charlos broke.
All arrogance stripped away, replaced by pitiful sobbing and frantic pleas for mercy.
Whiteflame looked down at him, completely unmoved.
"Begging?" he said flatly. "How many times have you heard those words? Did you think they mattered then?"
He took a step closer, voice colder now.
"Didn't you say earlier you were going to kill me?"
"Well—I'm right here. Try it."
Saderose couldn't even lift his head.
"You… You… Please! Show mercy!"
Even Vice Admiral Doberman was forced to relent. His voice, once sharp and commanding, now held desperation.
"Whatever you want—name your price. The Marines will do everything in our power to meet your demands. Just please… stop hurting him."
Even a man like Doberman, who had once stood tall before the Four Emperors, now had no choice but to bend.
"Name my price?" Whiteflame repeated.
"Fine then. Go burn Mary Geoise to the ground."
"If you do that, maybe—just maybe—I'll spare this Celestial trash in front of me."
"You…" Doberman's tone sharpened again.
"You're playing with fire. There are Marines stationed in every corner of the world. You won't escape. Killing a Celestial Dragon… you don't want to face the consequences."
"There's still a way out," he added. "Stop now. Hand yourself in. We'll show leniency. Maybe even let you go."
"But keep pushing—and no one will be able to save you."
But Whiteflame wasn't listening.
"Little Black. Eat him."
His words were quiet, almost casual.
But the beast moved immediately.
One of the IBMs lunged forward, its monstrous jaw snapping down—biting deep into Saint Charlos's flesh.
"NO! AAAAAH! DAMN YOU, MARINES! DO SOMETHING!"
"IT'S EATING ME! IT'S—AAAHHH!! IT HURTS!! HELP!!"
The Celestial Dragon's screams echoed across the street.
"Remember this moment, Doberman."
"My name is Whiteflame, Captain of the Nine Dragons Pirates."
"Doflamingo. Jack the Drought. Cracker. All of them died by my hand."
"You Marines want me?"
Come. Get me.
"I, Whiteflame… hereby declare war on the World Government."
"And if you think you can stop me—"
He crushed the transponder snail underfoot.
"Try."
Whiteflame lit a cigarette, gaze still fixed on the writhing Celestial Dragon as the IBM fed slowly, methodically.
He didn't flinch.
He didn't blink.
Akainu's Plot
"Damn it!!"
"DAMN IT!!!"
"THAT BASTARD!!!"
Vice Admiral Doberman slammed his blade down, splitting the ship's railing in two. His entire body shook with fury.
He knew the moment that call ended—Saderose was finished.
And that meant he would shoulder the blame.
He was the one assigned to protect a World Noble—and he had failed.
"Whiteflame… Nine Dragons Pirates… Wait, what did he just say?"
"Doflamingo. Jack the Drought. Cracker."
"Could he be… that rumored monster from Dressrosa?"
Doberman froze.
His anger quickly gave way to something colder—dread.
The man-eating monster had become something of a whispered legend among high-ranking officers. It wasn't public knowledge. Even within the Marines, only Rear Admirals and above had access to that file.
The world believed Doflamingo and the others were killed in covert Marine operations.
But they weren't.
They were devoured.
By him.
And now… he had made a move on a Celestial Dragon.
"This has to be reported to Fleet Admiral Sengoku immediately."
"The implications are too large. This could change everything."
Doberman gave the order.
The ship turned sharply—heading straight for Marineford.
Meanwhile – Gran Tesoro
"Are you hurt? Let me see!"
Rebecca rushed to Whiteflame's side the moment he returned aboard. Her hands trembled as she tried to check him for injuries.
"You're bleeding!"
Baby-5 gasped, eyes wide as she ran over to inspect him.
"I said I'm fine," Whiteflame said calmly, brushing them off.
"You were reckless."
This time, it was Monet who spoke. Her gaze was sharp, voice low.
"You killed a Celestial Dragon… and declared war on the World Government."
"You realize what you've just done?"
Rebecca and Baby-5 both covered their mouths in shock.
"Killed a Celestial Dragon?!"
"Declared war on the World Government?!"
The two girls stared at Whiteflame like they'd just watched someone punch a god.
One was the symbol of global authority, a sacred lineage the world was taught to revere.
The other… was the most powerful governing force on the planet—over a hundred nations strong.
And Whiteflame had just pissed them both off.
"SO. COOL!"
Baby-5 had stars in her eyes.
"That's my man! You're so brave, so strong—so… dreamy!"
Rebecca nodded seriously.
"I'll follow you anywhere. No matter who we face."
Whiteflame shrugged.
"This is exactly what I wanted."
"World Government? Celestial Dragons?"
He exhaled a puff of smoke.
"In front of true power… they're nothing."
"They thought I'd kneel just because of a name?"
He looked up.
"That only worked until I showed up."
"From now on, I decide the rules."
Most would have crumbled under the weight of such an enemy.
But Whiteflame didn't fear death.
Didn't fear the World Government.
Didn't fear anyone.
Monet sighed. "There's no talking you out of this, is there?"
It was too late anyway. The die had been cast.
"You've challenged them publicly. From here on out, things are going to change."
"No more peace. No more hiding."
"What's your next move?"
"If they want to send more 'nutrients' my way…"
Whiteflame smiled faintly.
"I'll happily take them."
"But first—let's talk about how we're going to transfer Tesoro's fortune into my hands."
His eyes gleamed.
With Tesoro gone, the Gran Tesoro was now his for the taking.
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