"Bang—"
The gunshot rang out, and the bullet hurtled toward Doflamingo, expanding rapidly in his pupils.
Though this God Knights member from the Manmayer family appeared young, almost boyish, his true age was far greater.
He had participated in the God Valley War thirty-two years ago and had even sought to challenge Garling back then.
His strength was unquestionable.
At that moment, Doflamingo's pupils contracted sharply as he detected the bullet's trajectory, clearly sensing the Armament Haki enveloping it.
"Armament Haki Emission!"
His gaze turned icy as he fully activated his Devil Fruit ability, summoning a transparent thread into the air.
Thwip—
The instant the thread appeared, the oncoming bullet split cleanly in two, then abruptly accelerated as it flashed past Doflamingo on either side.
The next second.
Two thunderous booms erupted, followed by shockwaves that expanded from the stands behind Doflamingo, whipping through the clothing of the Donquixote Family members present and making them flap wildly in the chaotic gusts.
"How dare they ambush the Young Master!"
Almost simultaneously, Baby-5, standing in the second row to Doflamingo's right, suddenly leaped into the air.
Mid-air, she transformed in the blink of an eye, becoming a "Weapon Human" and morphing her body into a cannon barrel.
As the muzzle aimed at the arena, she decisively pulled the trigger with both hands.
Boom—
The cannonball shot out with a roar, hurtling straight toward the arena.
Though Baby-5's reaction was lightning-fast and she attacked without hesitation, those standing on the arena were the God Knights.
The moment the cannonball streaked down toward the arena, Shamrock raised his sword again and cleanly sliced through the descending projectile.
Just like the bullet Doflamingo had severed earlier, the cannonball was split in two by a dazzling sword aura as it fell toward the arena, exploding violently upon hitting the ground on either side.
"Are we going all out now?"
Amid the deafening explosions, the top executives of the Donquixote Family flanking Doflamingo stepped forward in unison.
Leading them was Trebol, one of the four top executives of the Donquixote Family.
Trebol, with his slovenly uncle appearance, dragged his robe forward and arrogantly declared in a disgusting tone.
"Kill the God Knights, and we become the God Knights! For the Young Master, for Orion-sama, take them down!"
Rumble—
No sooner had Trebol spoken than the entire colosseum began to tremble violently.
Immediately after, the spectator stands surrounding the arena, built from blue stone, cracked amid the earth-shaking tremors and rapidly converged in one direction, ultimately forming a massive "Stone Giant."
The one who activated this Devil Fruit ability was Pica, another of the four top executives of the Donquixote Family and a user of the Stone-Stone Fruit.
Before anyone present could react, Pica's shrill voice emanated from the Stone Giant's mouth.
"You dared to ambush the Young Master? You can die now!"
As the sharp voice rang out, the giant arm composed of blue stone from the spectator stands rose high and slammed down mercilessly toward the arena inside the colosseum.
At the same time, other members of the Donquixote Family unleashed their respective Devil Fruit abilities, each brimming with fervor and excitement.
"I'll stop this stone giant!"
Facing Pica, who had transformed into a Stone Giant, another member of the God Knights standing behind Shamrock—an extremely ugly old man resembling a large yeti—boldly charged forward, preparing to block Pica's massive arm with his bare body.
The other God Knights who had come with Shamrock also assumed combat stances, watching the Donquixote Family members on the spectator stands with grave tension.
Just as the battle between the two sides was about to erupt, and Pica's giant arm descended with terrifying pressure to cover the entire arena, a massive arrow made of tightly wound bandages suddenly flew in from outside the colosseum.
"Stop!"
"What do you think you're doing?"
As the voice echoed, the giant arrow flashed into view.
The one speaking was Gunko, standing atop the arrow, cloaked and radiating heroic vigor.
Before either side in the colosseum could react, a voice full of mature charm immediately came from the entrance.
"Make way for Orion-sama!"
The voice arrived with the person.
From the colosseum entrance, Sharlia stepped out first, looking down upon both sides in the arena with the full authority unique to the World Nobles.
Sharlia's aura was overwhelming.
Even though the arena was filled with nobles of high status at this moment, she remained completely unaffected.
Having changed her bulky Celestial Dragon attire for an elegant blue robe, she resembled a queen reigning supreme at this moment.
"Quite lively here!"
As soon as Sharlia took her position by the entrance, Orion stepped forward, standing with his hands behind his back on the steps before the entrance.
Smiling broadly, he looked down upon everyone in the arena.
"Since you all enjoy excitement so much, i will play the spectator today and see whether the God Knights prove superior or the Donquixote Family comes from behind to win. One thing's certain—only one side will leave here alive!"
"Orion-sama, this is not acceptable."
Gunko's beautiful eyes widened in shock when she realized Orion is not stopping the conflict but actually fueling it by pitting the God Knights against the Donquixote Family in a fight to the death.
She immediately flew before Orion and knelt on one knee, urgently pleading.
"No matter the outcome, this will result in tremendous losses. I beg Orion-sama to reconsider this."
"Gunko, this is not your place to speak!"
Orion waved his hand dismissively, then took a step forward.
His sharp gaze swept over Shamrock and the others on the platform as he said sternly.
"Shamrock, as the leader of the God Knights, you seem to have too much free time. Doflamingo is carrying out my orders to reorganize and reform the Celestial Dragons of the Holy Land. Instead of attending to your own duties, you come here to interfere with Doffy's work—what crime does he commit? Or should I ask, what are your true intentions?"
After sheathing his sword, Shamrock bowed slightly toward Orion before speaking.
"Orion-sama, if Doflamingo were truly conducting normal reorganization and reform of the Holy Land's Celestial Dragons, I would have nothing to say! But all his recent actions have nothing to do with reorganization or reform—he's purely using this opportunity to carry out retaliatory attacks!"
"From what I know, since the reorganization began in the Holy Land, over one hundred Celestial Dragons have died during this so-called reform. As the leader of the God Knights, one of my primary responsibilities is protecting the lives of the Holy Land's Celestial Dragons. Therefore, my presence here is a matter of duty."
Orion frowned slightly and said gravely.
"It's merely a couple of deaths. Do you not understand that this reorganization and reform concerns the World Government's rule? To put it plainly, whether it's internal restructuring within the World Government or the reformation of the Celestial Dragons, this is a self-revolution!"
"If the World Government wishes to continue standing atop the Red Line, we must complete this self-reform. You should be well aware of the current situation in the Grand Line. In such turbulent times, we need severe punishments externally and swift, decisive action internally to eliminate all harmful elements."
"Considering the God Knights' years of service—if not meritorious, at least arduous—I will not pursue this matter further today!"
"However, since you led God Knights members to interfere with Doflamingo's work, you will now complete the tasks that Doflamingo failed to finish today!"
Without waiting for Shamrock's reaction, Orion immediately turned his head to look at Doflamingo in the spectator stands.
"Doffy, I heard from Sharlia that those brought to the arena today not only failed to cooperate with the reforms but also gathered to protest? Is this true?"
"Hmm?"
Doflamingo's pupils contracted slightly.
These were indeed Celestial Dragons who had resisted the recent reforms, but gathering to protest? That shouldn't have happened, right?
After a brief silence, Doflamingo suddenly grinned maliciously and nodded.
"Orion-sama, that is correct. These insolent commoners not only refused to cooperate but also incited other Celestial Dragons to protest! Therefore, I have brought them all here to teach them a severe lesson!"
Orion nodded and shifted his gaze to Shamrock, "Did you hear that, Shamrock?"
Without waiting for Shamrock to respond, Orion suddenly raised his voice, delivering a shocking command.
"By my order as Fleet Admiral, these Celestial Dragons in the arena have attempted to undermine the foundation of the World Government. Their crimes are unforgivable. Under the supervision of God Knights Commander Shamrock, they shall all be crucified and displayed publicly for three days as a warning to others!"
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