"Sandstorm!"
At the cold shout, the yellow sand roiling across the battlefield heaved as if jolted by a command.
Visible vortices of grit spun together, twisting and churning until they rose into a towering sandstorm dozens of meters high. The colossal storm barreled toward the three combatants, poised to crush them beneath its fury.
"A sandstorm!"
"A Logia-type Devil Fruit user?!"
"With that power… it has to be him!"
The sudden upheaval drew every Marine taut, faces darkening.
Doflamingo and the other two broke off mid-strike. With uncanny synchronicity, they slipped back and unleashed at once.
Razor threads screamed like steel saws, blades flashed like a falling cascade, and shadows writhed like serpents—together tearing the onrushing wall of sand to shreds.
An instant later, the three burst from the dissipating gale and landed lightly. Cold smiles played over their lips as they fixed on the humanoid silhouette forming at the storm's heart.
"Ah-ah-ah! Not bad—your reflexes pass," a deep, mocking laugh rolled out. "But if that's all you've got, you're hardly worthy to stand beside me as one of the Shichibukai."
The swirling grains settled, revealing a tall, imposing man in a Mafia-cut overcoat, orange vest, and black trousers. Hair slicked into a sharp pompadour, a cigar smoldering between his teeth.
His left wrist ended in a gleaming golden hook.
"It's Crocodile—the Sand Crocodile!"
"Bounty: 281 million berries!"
"One of the earliest Great Pirates tapped for the Shichibukai!"
"Why is his hand gone too?!"
"Wait—aside from Doflamingo, all the Shichibukai candidates are missing a hand!"
At the murmurs, Crocodile's eyes narrowed; a flicker of old pain crossed his face and vanished.
Moria's eyelid twitched.
"Heh heh heh… so it's true?" Doflamingo chuckled, fingers flexing as he surveyed the trio. "Is this a new trend? As a fellow Shichibukai, should I hack off an arm to match?"
Crocodile's gaze turned lethal.
Clang!
A Desert Blade of yellow sand smashed into a bundle of multicolored silk threads midair, detonating with a thunderous boom.
"Heh heh… someone's getting angry," Doflamingo purred, licking his lips as Crocodile's forearm unraveled into drifting grains. "Crocodile, was it? I remember your name. You wrecked two of my New World strongholds. We haven't settled that tab…"
"You're the sort of scum that stains pirates' names," Crocodile sneered. "You crawled out of an honest pirate's life to skulk through the Underworld like a rat. Just looking at you makes me sick."
His arm swelled grotesquely and swept. A massive Desert Blade screamed across the stone toward Doflamingo, carving a trench as it went.
"Heh heh heh! I'm still stronger than you one-armed losers dreaming of becoming Shichibukai!" Doflamingo laughed, bright and vicious.
In the same breath, Moria and Mihawk moved. All three turned their killing intent on the blond youth who had just taunted them at point-blank range.
"Desert Treasure Blade!"
"Shadow's Spear!"
"…"
A devastating blade of yellow sand, a shadow lance honed to an unequaled edge, and a slashing strike that seemed able to cleave anything—three murderous arcs crashed down together.
Doflamingo's pupils cinched behind his sunglasses.
And then—
"Fish-Man Karate: Sea Current Shoulder Throw!"
Boom!
The oval military port erupted. Countless bubbles geysered to the surface as a ferocious torrent burst from below, smashing the trio's combined attacks to pieces.
Everyone—Doflamingo included—froze.
Swish…
Sheets of seawater hammered down like a sudden monsoon.
A towering, crimson figure stood before Doflamingo—skin ruddy as fresh blood, a powerfully built frame under simple, casual clothes, thick lips set over a face steaming with heat.
"A Fish-Man?" Crocodile frowned, feeling humidity spike.
Moria's expression soured. Seawater dulled his command over shadow, turning each movement leaden.
"Isn't it time this little squabble ended?" the crimson giant asked, clear currents coiling in his palms, eyes locked on the three one-armed figures glaring back.
Only then did the Marines see him clearly.
"'Blood Dragon' Fisher Tiger!"
"Bounty: 263 million berries!"
"The only Fish-Man among the Shichibukai!"
"Why is he helping Doflamingo?!"
"Wait! Is it because those two haven't lost an arm?"
"…"
The Marines buzzed as if they'd stumbled upon some profound revelation.
Doflamingo cut Fisher Tiger a sidelong smirk. He knew it had nothing to do with missing limbs. Years ago, Godfather and I had pulled Tiger out from under the Celestial Dragons.
"Fish-Man, why help this guy?" Moria snapped, voice shrill.
"That's none of your business," Fisher Tiger shot back, cold as iron. "But if it's a fight you want, I'm ready whenever."
He angled a nod at Doflamingo. "Thanks for the information about those ships."
Doflamingo shrugged. Just some intel on a few slave ships running the Underworld lanes. Tiger wanted the routes; he handed them over.
He had always disdained that outdated trade.
Yeah, and that has absolutely nothing to do with that man forbidding me from touching it.
At Tiger's words and the knowing exchange between the two still intact, Crocodile, Moria, and Mihawk traded glances of their own.
Battle intent rose.
Two sides settled into loose formations, tension ratcheting until the air itself seemed to creak.
Around them, Marines watched, cheeks flushed with a thrill they couldn't name.
"It's starting! It's starting!"
"A clash between Shichibukai!"
"One-armed versus two-armed!"
"…"
A free-for-all between Shichibukai was a once-in-a-lifetime sight for ordinary folk.
Today, they had front-row seats.
Meanwhile—
Powerful figures flashed in from afar, landing in a ripple of motion.
Broad, snow-white cloaks billowed as they lined the fortress walls—a majestic show of force.
"These Shichibukai are brazen to the bone…"
"What do they think this place is?"
"Seems Admiral Sengoku wants to test their limits…"
"Then we wait."
Drawn by the uproar, Marines turned as one.
"It's the elite commanders of the Golden Generation!"
"Almost all of them!"
"Rear Admiral Gion, Rear Admiral Yamakaji, Rear Admiral Onigumo, Rear Admiral Doberman, Commodore Strawberry…"
"…"
Pride swelled hard and bright at the sight of that lineup along the wall.
Silence settled over the field.
Five Shichibukai faced one another, lines drawn razor-sharp.
Water curled and churned in Fisher Tiger's hands.
Doflamingo crooked a finger, grin wicked.
Moria's shadow writhed, hungry.
Mihawk's eyes were ice, his Black Blade drinking the light.
Sand whispered around Crocodile in a tightening spiral.
The tension hung thick as a bowstring—one breath from the snap.
To be continued...