"It's 'Hawk-Eye' Dracule Mihawk!"
"The Great Pirate with a 369 million berry bounty!"
"They say he single-handedly wiped out a pirate crew of over a thousand, with combined bounties exceeding 400 million!"
"No wonder his slashes are terrifying!"
"But… why does he only have one arm, just like Gecko Moria?"
"Could that really be a coincidence?"
"…"
The sudden appearance of the young Hawk-Eye sent whispers rippling through the ranks. Marines glanced between Doflamingo and Moria—now standing off at a distance—and Mihawk, who stepped lightly from the black Coffin Boat. For a heartbeat, no one moved.
"Heh heh heh… another one-armed freak," Doflamingo drawled as he drifted down, landing in an insolent crouch atop a battleship's main gun. He slanted a mocking look at the black-cloaked swordsman. "What's wrong with you people?"
"Losing arms in sequence is the disgrace," Mihawk said, amber eyes like a hawk's cutting across to him. "Unlike some, I wagered mine on the dawn of a new era for swordsmanship."
A new era…? Doflamingo's brow twitched. What kind of riddle—?
Before he could chew on it, Moria exploded. The pallor of his face flushed mean and red as his teeth ground together. "Hawk-Eye brat! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
Mihawk glanced at him, unmoved. "You're not fit to address me."
"You're begging for death!" Moria roared. With a sweep of his lone arm, a swarm of Shadow Bats erupted, weaving a foul, blood-reeking net that plunged toward Mihawk.
"Shadow Bats!"
Unlike some…?
What's so different about me?!
We both lost an arm to that bastard!
"What are you trying to prove?" Moria snarled. "You bet your arm on swordsmanship—I bet mine on the future of the entire world!"
Mihawk stepped in to meet the attack, drawing the massive Black Blade in a single, fluid motion.
His lips parted as if to name the technique—then he stilled, as if the thought displeased him.
Without the slightest flourish, the Black Blade flared, a hurricane of light shredding the descending cloud of bats.
Amid the wild glare, Mihawk stamped once and launched like a black hawk, meeting Moria's charge head-on.
The jagged greatsword wreathed in violet-black lightning smashed against the unadorned Black Blade; the impact blasted their cloaks wide with the shock.
"Heh heh heh heh heh." Doflamingo's grin widened. "Now this is interesting. Let's see if you two actually deserve to stand on my level."
He slipped from the turret, hands flicking. Two Haki-hardened threads scythed out, cutting for both Moria and Mihawk.
Steel, thread, and shadow crashed together in a three-way melee right there in Marineford's harbor, heedless of the Marines pouring in by the minute.
"They're at it again…"
"What is even happening?"
"Why are these Shichibukai candidates trying to kill each other on sight?"
"…Admiral Sengoku?!"
Marines snapped to attention and saluted as Sengoku and Staff Officer Tsuru arrived.
Sengoku waved them down, eyes narrowing on the trio ripping into one another across the open docks.
"These Shichibukai are terrifying," Borsalino murmured at his side, idly scratching his stubble, amused. "Each one's a monster… Admiral Sengoku, shall we put a stop to it?"
Golden radiance gathered about Sengoku, swelling into a towering, inhuman silhouette.
He considered, then slowly shook his head. "No. Let them brawl."
He turned slightly toward Tsuru. "Little Tsuru, clear the port. Pull the guards back and keep the ranks out of the crossfire."
Tsuru paused only a breath, then nodded and moved to carry out the order.
"These arrogant brats," Sengoku muttered, watching the clash. "If they don't blow off steam now, the inauguration will be a nightmare."
Privately, their power shocked him. They were all so young—Moria, the eldest, barely into his twenties; Doflamingo and Mihawk little more than fifteen or sixteen—and yet their current combat strength already eclipsed the Headquarters' elite Vice Admirals. Sengoku couldn't help comparing himself at their age—and coming up short.
Early fame and overwhelming power. Confident to the point of arrogance. None of them were built to play second fiddle.
Even among the Shichibukai candidates, rivalry was inevitable. Of course they'd clash the instant they met. In their place, he'd be itching to test the others himself.
Beneath the Shichibukai's polished, "legitimate" veneer, they were still what they had always been: proud, ruthless, lawless pirates.
Why should you be considered my equal?
That single thought was enough to draw blood.
Sengoku was content to watch. It was the perfect chance to gauge their true strength. As for ending the brawl…
A confident smile crept onto his face.
If they wanted to kick up trouble at Marine Headquarters, so be it. The fiercer the better—let them carve grievances that never heal.
The Government and the Marines would both approve.
Several candidates had yet to arrive. Once they were all present, Sengoku would unleash overwhelming force and grind them underfoot. The display would bolster his standing across the Marines, the Shichibukai, even the World Government.
Marine Headquarters Admiral Sengoku single-handedly subdues the entire Shichibukai—the Marines reign over the seas! He could already see tomorrow's headline.
Borsalino noticed the stifled grin and half-lidded eyes curved knowingly.
"Ah-ah-ah! You fools, tearing at each other already!"
A raspy, sinister laugh rolled over the water.
Everyone froze.
A fierce gale ripped across the sky above the harbor. Sand and stones skittered as golden dust began to gather and coalesce.
"Another one!" The officers who'd rushed to the scene stiffened.
To be continued...