Chapter 233: Three Disasters Perish, Iron Staff Shatters Space!
"Wh-what is this!?"
Inside the trembling colosseum, commentator Gatz's voice came in panicked intervals. The ace commentator of the Corrida Colosseum was clearly filled with terror. The commentary platform he stood on had nearly collapsed during the vibrations, but he remained suspended in the air by Doflamingo's strings, unable to escape.
Despite the danger, his professional dedication forced him to fulfill his duty.
"A powerful attack from sudden interlopers other than the three participants—wait! That is... that is..."
Halfway through, his voice sharpened abruptly, and the microphone nearly slipped from his hand.
"It's 'Queen the Plague' and 'Jack the Drought'... two All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates... they..."
The live screen confirmed his words. Within the colosseum, where two of the white bone spears had pierced the ground, the massive bodies of Queen and Jack were revealed.
Queen's bloated body was nailed to the earth. Even his mechanically modified frame, which possessed terrifying vitality, had completely disintegrated under the strike. His arm and head were severed, and his fat torso was pierced through the center. Beside him, Jack's tough mammoth body fared no better; he had been sliced clean in half.
Even for the powerful physiques of Fish-Men and Ancient Zoan users, these were fatal wounds. Two of the Three Disasters had been insta-killed without offering any effective resistance. Normally, even against an Emperor of the Sea, they wouldn't fall so instantly.
But this was no "normal situation."
Outside the colosseum, Marco, who was providing medical treatment to the citizens, stood up abruptly. He frowned as he looked at the three figures on the screen and the symbols they wore.
"That mark—Pops mentioned it. They used to attack Roger and the others back in the day..." Solemnity flashed in Marco's eyes. "If I remember correctly, they are called... the God's Knights?"
As Marco spoke, the three figures in the sky came into focus.
On the left was Saint Thatcher Z. Pierre, clad in black armor and surrounded by a blood mist. On the right was Saint Lemosif Qilingorm, wearing white armor and wielding a trident, looking like a Qilin.
Standing between them was a middle-aged man wearing a bubble hood and God's Knight armor. Faint light emitted from his hands, which he flicked casually. Scenes seemed to flash within the light, and with every movement, the video Den Den Mushis of the colosseum turned in synchronization.
"Hey, Pierre, what are you doing?" the man asked. His voice was the same one that had performed the "countdown" earlier. "I know you're unhappy about losing to that Marine bug, but that's not my fault."
He looked regretfully at the corpses of Queen and Jack.
"I told you, collecting the corpses of precious 'actors' is my hobby. There was no need for you to act; you should have left it to my partner, Qilingorm. The Fish-Man corpse is fine—I already have several in my collection—but that cyborg corpse was rare. Now that you've destroyed it, it's useless for my collection. How will you compensate me?"
Pierre looked annoyed at the mention of his previous defeat. "Saint Fabian, do not mention that person to me... besides, I don't see any value in collecting the corpses of bugs."
"Ha?" Saint Fabian's expression darkened. "Are you questioning me? Are you questioning the taste of the Jaygarcia Family's most outstanding 'Drama Master'?"
"...I didn't mean it like that."
"Hmph." Seeing Pierre submit, Fabian snorted. "Qilingorm, my partner—Pierre is an unreliable newcomer. The last guy needs you to handle him. Be careful; he is very precious."
He looked down toward the settling dust. Standing over the corpses of his fallen comrades was "King." His helmet was shattered, revealing the iconic white hair, brown skin, and eye tattoo of the Lunarian race. The flames behind his head burned fiercely. The sharp white bone spear had been stopped just before it could pierce his heart.
"The Lunarian Tribe actually still exists..." Fabian's expression turned into one of infatuation. "It's my first time seeing one—truly beautiful."
He looked at King as if admiring a masterpiece. "Once your dirty, bug-like soul is erased, your corpse will be my most perfect collection—the 'Lead Actor' my stage play needs most."
King stared at the unique marks on the three newcomers. In the legends of the Lunarians—a race nearly driven to extinction by the World Government—that mark was unmistakable.
"God's... Knights!"
As Kaido's right hand, King knew exactly what fate awaited a Lunarian captured by these men. However, a greater crisis weighed on him.
I can ignite my flames, but I still can't move?! King realized with horror. Even with his Ancient Zoan strength, he could only control his racial flames to block the attack; his body remained frozen.
"You want to resist? Since you're a precious Lunarian, I'll give you a 'chance' to try," Fabian said, a malicious smile appearing on his face.
Suddenly, King found he could move again.
"You bastard... relying on sneak attacks!" King roared. Flames erupted from his back as he drew his katana.
"Imperial Guardian: Fire Dragon Emperor!"
He swung his blade, and a massive fire dragon soared toward the surrounding video Den Den Mushis.
"Oh?" Fabian raised an eyebrow. "You realized my ability relies on the Den Den Mushis that quickly? Fast reactions."
BOOM! The fire dragon incinerated the snails instantly.
King analyzed the situation. He didn't know the exact nature of the power, but he suspected it was a "soul-based" ability similar to Big Mom's, operating through the cameras. As long as he wasn't frozen, he was confident he could fight anyone.
"Ah, sorry," Qilingorm's voice whispered in his ear.
King turned, but Qilingorm had already passed through a shimmering barrier.
[Nightmare Cave: Dream Passage]
King gripped his sword, but his body froze once more. He watched in disbelief as the destroyed Den Den Mushis began reassembling themselves. Inside the light in Fabian's hand, the image of King standing motionless was frozen in time.
[First Shot: Fixed Frame]
"Your judgment wasn't wrong, Lunarian," Qilingorm said, approaching slowly. "Fabian's ability does need a 'vision' to work. However, as partners, our combination is invincible on this 'stage.' Your defeat was destined the moment you stepped into this arena."
"Fire Sable Guardian!" King pushed his flames to the absolute limit. This was his ultimate defense; his body became an untouchable inferno.
"A Lunarian... truly troublesome," Qilingorm muttered. "Fabian, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Of course." Fabian smiled and flicked the light in his hand, scrolling back to a scene from the start of the battle—the moment King had extinguished his flames to move at high speed.
"Found it." Fabian squeezed the light. [Third Shot: Cut Shot]
Instantly, the flames on King's body vanished. Before he could react, Qilingorm's hand pressed against his forehead. An overwhelming drowsiness swept over King, dragging his soul into a deep abyss.
[Nightmare Cave: Dream of Eternal Sleep]
"Kaido... Big Brother..." King's thoughts faded into darkness as he collapsed.
The colosseum fell into a deafening silence. In mere moments, the Three All-Stars of the Beasts Pirates had been dismantled.
"Look at those hoods... are they Celestial Dragons?"
"Are they here to arrest Doflamingo?"
The citizens hoped the government had finally come to save them. But their hopes were dashed when Fabian turned to Doflamingo.
"Hey, Donquixote—Doflamingo, right? You did well. Not only did you get me a Lunarian, but you helped us deal with a Zodiac member. Orders came from above; you are permitted to return to the Holy Land!"
Doflamingo let out his signature laugh. "Fuffuffuffu... Is that so? That is wonderful news."
The citizens were horrified. Doflamingo was working with them?
"Since you are leaving the lower world," Fabian continued, looking at the panicked crowd, "these people are meaningless to you, right? I enjoyed the 'play' you designed. Let it continue. Let your 'Birdcage' shrink... the screams of desperate bugs are a scene I never tire of."
The crowd erupted in terror. They realized the "God's Knights" were just as monstrous as Doflamingo.
"Fuffuffuffu," Doflamingo laughed. "Of course. I intended to do so regardless."
"Wait," Fabian said, his tone turning arrogant. "I am a God's Knight. You, even if you return to the Holy Land, are just an ordinary Celestial Dragon. You should address me as 'Your Excellency.' Now, go pick up my collection—the Lunarian and the Zodiac member. If you do well, I might propose to the Five Elders that you become my retainer."
Doflamingo's smile widened, but his eyes remained cold. "Fuffuffuffu... that is no problem... Saint Fabian. But allow me to remind 'Your Excellency'..."
Doflamingo pointed toward the dust cloud. "...The battle isn't over yet."
"Hm?"
A pitch-black staff erupted from the dust. Conqueror's Haki crackled around it, the power so immense it seemed to warp the very space around it. The staff smashed directly through Saint Fabian's head.
VMMM!
The power of the Deep Sea Contract activated, and Fabian's head regenerated instantly.
"AH!" Fabian clutched his head, screaming in agony. The Conqueror's Haki hadn't killed him, but it was strong enough to bypass his defenses and inflict raw, searing pain.
The three Knights looked down as the black staff flew back into the hand of a figure rising from the dust.
The figure exhaled a breath of turbid air, and the surrounding dust was blown away by the sheer pressure of his lungs.
"So," the figure said, resting the Jingu Bang on his shoulder and casually picking his ear. His golden eyes locked onto the three Knights with utter boredom. "Like the flamingo said... there are only three of you?"
He sighed, sounding disappointed. "Pity. Still too few. This isn't even enough for a warm-up."
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