"Hehe! You bastards, did you really think ganging up on me would be enough?" Hector mocked, gasping for breath. His entire form was battered, with gaping wounds covering his body. Senor and Diamante had proven to be much stronger adversaries than he had expected.
Their original plan was to take down Doflamingo together, but everything had descended into chaos. He wasn't even sure which part of the kingdom they were currently on, as the entire floating kingdom had splintered. Their surroundings were a scene of complete devastation.
Hector knew that without his mythical Zoan fruit, he would have been the one lying defeated.
Senor pushed aside a fallen pillar, struggling to stand. Diamante lay unconscious and battered at the bottom of the crater, where Hector stood.
"Still not dead, are you?" Hector scowled in anger. It felt like humiliation to be held down in a fight for hours by a couple of nobodies. He already realized that the plan to bring down Doflamingo had likely ended in failure. He glanced in the direction where the entire world seemed to be engulfed in flames, understanding that fighting Doflamingo would have been his death sentence.
"Fuck! I will at least take your head as a souvenir," Hector growled, looking down at Diamante under his feet in frustration. He raised his massive battle axe to behead him.
Senor, despite his own injuries, was prepared to throw everything he had at Hector. He couldn't bear to see a repeat of what had happened to Pica.
Hector bellowed with laughter, enjoying Senor's helplessness. He brought down his arm to finish Diamante.
"Aaargh!!!" A deafening cry reverberated through the battlefield as a severed arm flew through the air. Senor, on the brink of unconsciousness, sighed in relief and collapsed to the ground.
Hector rolled on the ground in pain, clutching his stump, trying to figure out what had happened. Just then, out of the smoke, a lone figure emerged. Dracule Mihawk, walked in steadily. His presence was imposing, with his hawk-like eyes scanning the battlefield. He wore a long, dark coat and carried the legendary black blade, Yoru, on his back.
His earlier attack, a flying slash at blinding speed, had severed Hector's arm. Hector, weakened from his fight with Senor and Diamante, had failed to detect the attack due to his faltering Haki.
Mihawk had cleared the warehouse long ago and, feeling bored, had decided to move around the island, taking out stragglers. Luckily, he had come upon Hector just in time to prevent him from finishing off members of the Donquixote family.
Hector struggled to stand, his eyes filled with rage and pain as he recognized his attacker. "You… It's you. Why the hell did you attack me? Are you not a Shichibukai yourself? Do you have a death wish, brat?" He demanded, clutching his bleeding stump; however, his mind was racing with ways to try and escape this situation.
Mihawk's gaze was cold and unyielding. "Dracule Mihawk," he said simply, his voice calm and composed. "And you are in my way."
Hector gritted his teeth, trying to summon the last remnants of his strength. "I'll kill you!" he roared, launching himself at Mihawk with his remaining arm, morphing into the massive Gorgon form.
Mihawk didn't move, his eyes locked on Hector. As Hector closed in, Mihawk drew Yoru with blinding speed. "Black Blade: Eternal Severance," he intoned, and with a single, fluid motion, he swung his sword.
The air itself seemed to split apart, a black slash of immense power tearing through the space between them. Hector's charge was halted instantly. For a moment, he stood still, eyes wide with shock, before his body fell apart, cleaved cleanly in two by Mihawk's devastating attack.
The battlefield fell silent, the only sound being the crackling of distant flames and the soft rustle of debris falling. Mihawk sheathed his sword, his expression as impassive as ever. He turned to look at Senor and Diamante, assessing their condition.
Senor, barely conscious, managed to whisper, "Thank you..."
Mihawk nodded slightly, acknowledging the gratitude. "Rest. The battle is over," he said, his voice devoid of any arrogance or pride, just a simple statement of fact.
*********
The entirety of Germa Kingdom was in chaos. The revolutionary army was systematically dismantling the kingdom, capitalizing on its identity as a realm of mercenaries. Judge was nowhere to be found, and the command structure of the kingdom had collapsed entirely. Had Judge known this was how things would end, he would never have agreed to such a deal.
Within one of the towers, a little girl barely three years old, wearing a pink dress, held a pistol while carefully dragging a heavily pregnant woman through the chaotic battlefield. Carnage had spread to every nook and cranny of Germa Kingdom. Little Reiju, with tears welling in her eyes, fought to maintain her composure for her mother's sake.
Suddenly, Reiju heard hurried footsteps. She quickly had her mother hide behind a pillar while she bravely held the pistol in front of her. Despite her tender age, Reiju had been extensively modified and subjected to countless experiments by her father, Judge.
She hated him down to her very core and was aware that he had done something to the children in her mother's belly. Sora, her mother, was in constant pain due to the repeated experiments and was barely keeping herself together.
"Reiju, darling, please be careful," Sora whispered, her voice weak yet filled with concern. "Give me the gun; I'll protect us."
"No, Mother," Reiju replied firmly, gripping the pistol tighter. "I will protect you. I promise."
The moment an underworld goon appeared, Reiju pulled the trigger. The shot echoed through the hallway, causing Sora to wince. The plans of the underworld members had gone awry, and those who survived were now seeking Vinsmoke Judge, ransacking everything in their path.
Blaming Judge for their failure, they took their anger out on the remnants of Germa Kingdom.
As the gunshot rang out, Sora tried to pull Reiju back, but a wave of pain sent her collapsing to the ground.
"Mother!!" Reiju cried out, turning to see her mother fall. Her attention momentarily shifted away from the hallway, unaware of the approaching danger. Another man had sneaked up on them. Just as Reiju turned back, a gunshot rang out, piercing her back. She collapsed in the hallway, her small body hitting the floor with a thud.
The underworld member walked up, ready to gun down Sora. Suddenly, a series of gunshots echoed through the air. "Bang... Bang... Bang!!!" The underworld goon fell dead. A group of revolutionaries rushed in, quickly assessing the situation. One of them knelt down to check the little girl's condition, his face grim.
"She has no pulse," he said, shaking his head to notify the others that the little girl was gone. He then turned to the pregnant woman, who had collapsed. "She's breathing! We need to get her to safety. She needs immediate medical attention. Quick, the tower is collapsing. We need to evacuate the island."
"What about the child?" one of the revolutionaries asked, his voice tinged with sorrow.
"The kid's long gone. There's nothing we can do to help her," the leader replied. Just then, with a loud crash, part of the tower collapsed, forcing the revolutionaries to act swiftly. They carefully picked up Sora and left the tower in haste.
"Hang in there," one of them said softly, his hands gentle as he checked her condition. "We'll get you to a doctor soon. You and your babies will be safe."
*******
"So, what do you think?" Dragon asked, turning to an elderly man who was meticulously examining the records of Germa's technology. The man was a seasoned member of the revolutionaries, known for his keen intellect and expertise in various scientific fields.
Dragon had come to claim his prize, and the recent influx of resources was a boon to their budding organization. They had stumbled upon a stash of close to 25 billion berries in cash—a significant windfall that would greatly bolster their efforts.
The elderly man adjusted his glasses, his eyes scanning the documents with practiced ease. "From my initial estimate, the cloning technology might not be suitable for our revolutionaries," he began thoughtfully. "However, with this information, I might be able to devise some kind of boosters or related strengthening serums."
He paused, a wide grin spreading across his weathered face as he waved two folders at Dragon. "But we've hit the jackpot with these."
Dragon's eyes narrowed in curiosity. "If only we could capture Vinsmoke Judge, he would be invaluable to our research," the old man commented, shaking his head. Dragon nodded in agreement, his thoughts mirroring the old man's sentiment. He had scoured almost the entirety of Germa Kingdom using his observation haki, yet it seemed like Vinsmoke Judge had vanished into thin air.
"Forget about the man," Dragon finally said, his tone decisive. "Let's collect everything of importance. The island might not last for long—it could sink soon."
Dragon turned his gaze toward the direction where purple flames engulfed the entire area. He knew the battle had already ended, and the victor had been decided. A sigh escaped his lips, his thoughts heavy with concern. The rapid growth of the Donquixote brothers alarmed him. Their ambition clashed with his own ideals, and he worried about the future.
The elderly man continued to sift through the records, pulling out schematics and data that seemed valuable. "These energy weapons and defense systems could revolutionize our operations," he remarked, his voice tinged with excitement. "We could equip our forces with technology that rivals even the most advanced militaries."
Dragon nodded, appreciating the old man's enthusiasm. "Make sure we get everything we can. We need to be prepared for what's coming."
*******
Far from the now sinking Germa Kingdom, three ships belonging to the Big Mom Pirates sailed through the tumultuous seas, leaving behind the carnage of the battle. On the main ship, a tense silence pervaded as the crew gathered around the unconscious form of Charlotte Smoothie, as she was being treated.
Their recent confrontation with the upstart pirate group had gone disastrously, especially after the pirate with the red hair entered the fray, effortlessly overpowering Smoothie.
The crew's anxiety was palpable. They knew all too well the consequences of failure. More than their loss, they were terrified of what Big Mom would do to them once they returned to Whole Cake Island, having failed to retrieve the coveted Mythical Zoan fruit. The repercussions of their defeat loomed large in their minds, casting a shadow over their every thought.
The three Charlotte siblings, their faces etched with worry, stood vigil over Smoothie, waiting for her to regain consciousness. Charlotte Cinnamon, Charlotte Citron, and Charlotte Compote exchanged uneasy glances, each lost in their own thoughts. They clung to a slender thread of hope, praying that they could somehow mitigate the severity of their punishment.
Charlotte Moscato, the fourth sibling, approached the group, a determined expression on his face. "We may have failed to get the fruit, but we have something that might appease Mama's anger," he said, his voice low but firm.
The others turned to him, curiosity and desperation in their eyes. "What do you have, Moscato?" Citron asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.
Moscato revealed his prize with a grim smile. "Vinsmoke Judge. I managed to capture him during the chaos. Mama has been showing interest in people with knowledge of gene research. We can offer him to her as a token of our loyalty and to placate her fury."
Cinnamon's eyes widened with a mixture of hope and relief. "Do you really think that will be enough? Mama's wrath is not easily quelled."
Compote nodded thoughtfully. "It's a start. Judge's expertise in genetic engineering could be valuable to her. It's the best chance we have."
As they discussed their plan, Smoothie began to stir, a low groan escaping her lips. The siblings rushed to her side, their concern evident.
"Smoothie, can you hear us?" Citron asked gently, kneeling beside her.
Smoothie's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry. She winced in pain, the memory of her defeat still fresh. "What... happened?" she croaked, her voice weak.
********
At the Port of the Germa Kingdom, a small ship was being stuffed to the brim with treasures, belonging to none other than the Red Hair Pirates.
"Roux! Be careful with that. It's fragile! Do you know how much that thing costs?" Buggy yelled from his makeshift stretcher. He was completely battered and bruised, barely able to move, but the sight of more and more treasures being loaded onto the ship made his eyes glitter. He clung tightly to an old, tattered map, holding onto it as if it were his lifeline.
Aside from Shanks, almost everyone in the crew was exhausted, sporting various degrees of injuries. Although they emerged victorious, the opponents they faced were elite pirates, on a completely different level compared to the pirates they had encountered in the Four Blues.
They knew that sooner or later they would have to venture into the Grand Line, where the Big Mom Pirates would surely be waiting for them. They needed to get much, much stronger than they are now.
Suddenly, Shanks, who was happily packing the ship with treasures, narrowed his eyes in a certain direction as his observation haki picked up a powerful presence coming in their direction. Through the burning embers, a man stepped out, carrying what appeared to be a severed head.
Doflamingo walked steadily towards the ship, his entire form drenched in blood. His upper body was bare, with countless fresh wounds, some even exposing his bones. He moved with a deliberate calm, uncaring about the intense pressure emitted by Shanks.
"Fufufu, it seems like you guys have quite the haul," Doflamingo said, his tone light. But then his expression turned serious. "But you have something that belongs to me. I hope you can return it."
Shanks' eyes met Doflamingo's, and the tension between them was palpable. Shanks' aura locked onto Doflamingo, while Doflamingo's own aura clashed back, neither of them backing down. The air around them crackled with power, the sheer force of their wills threatening to explode into violence.
Just as the clash seemed imminent, Beckman placed a hand on Shanks' shoulder, shaking his head. They had detected new presences in the area. From one side, Mihawk approached, carrying the unconscious forms of Senor and Diamante over his shoulders. Doflamingo's gaze shifted immediately to Mihawk, seeking reassurance about their condition.
"They're just unconscious," Mihawk conveyed with a firm nod. He carefully laid down Senor and Diamante next to Doflamingo. Doflamingo's eyes softened slightly, whispering a grateful, "Thank you for bringing them back safely."
Mihawk gave a subtle nod before turning his attention to Shanks. His fighting intent immediately soared, wanting to clash with Shanks, realizing that the opponent was a swordsman and someone powerful.
Doflamingo turned back to Shanks, his eyes narrowing. "Just give back the fruit. You can take the rest. I don't care."
Shanks weighed his options. He knew who the swordsman was—the man hailed as a prime contender for the world's strongest swordsman. But it wasn't just Mihawk's presence that made him hesitate. His observation Haki had picked up another presence watching them, someone strong. If it were only Doflamingo, he would have clashed without hesitation even though he was Ross's brother, but now he didn't fancy his chances.
"Let's not be greedy. We have more than enough to achieve what we wanted," Beckman said, his voice steady.
"It's alright, Shanks. It's just a single fruit. We can find ourselves more once we go to the Grand Line. Who knows? Maybe we might even get lucky in East Blue, where we are going next," Buggy comforted Shanks, who still felt bitter about losing the devil fruit. But he considered it a favor for Ross, one that he would have Ross repay in the future.
With a sigh, Shanks nodded. The chest containing the mythical Zoan fruit was passed to Doflamingo, who accepted it and turned to Senor and Diamante, carefully carrying them towards their ship, where the goons were already waiting for their imminent departure.
High in the sky, Dragon watched the exchange. He was tempted to go after the mythical Zoan fruit as well as the treasures from the pirate group, but he didn't want to bring himself trouble, especially against Doflamingo. Anything he did against Doflamingo would spell doom for his Revolutionaries, as it seemed like Ross was aware of their every move.
As they set sail, Buggy huffed, and Mihawk, who stood on the shore, leapt onto the boat. Shanks turned to him, curious about his intentions. "Aren't you guys going to the East Blue? Just drop me off on the way," Mihawk repeated casually, setting Yoru on the side and sitting next to it.
Shanks' crew looked to him for direction, their expressions questioning. With a resigned sigh, Shanks nodded. He could feel no hostility from Mihawk, and having a sparring partner on the way would be beneficial. Soon enough, they would be entering the Grand Line.
*****
A/N:
Dear Readers,
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[Silent_stiele]
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