Nami suddenly burst into loud ragged sobs, tears streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
The sight of Zoro falling, of Luffy in chains, of Chopper's monstrous sacrificial roar… it was too much.
She was about to rush forward recklessly, to fight, to die alongside them, but a steel-like grip on her arm stopped her.
"Nami, we have to retreat," Robin's voice was firm, unnaturally calm, but the hand that held Nami was trembling slightly.
"Only by staying alive can we ever hope to save them." Her logic was cold, brutal, and undeniable, leaving no room for argument.
"CHOPPER! LUFFY! SANJI! ZORO!" Nami's cries were heart-wrenching, a desperate, helpless wail that was lost in the sounds of Chopper's rampage.
In the end, Robin forcibly dragged her away into the chaotic streets of Water 7.
Thus, in a cruel, unexpected twist of fate, the rookie Straw Hat Pirate Crew, suffered their first complete and utter defeat.
Watching the two women flee, Jesus Burgess frowned with a trace of concern flashing across his face.
He turned to his captain.
"Captain, what about those two? Should we chase them?"
Teach let out a booming, dismissive laugh, his eyes brimming with a confident disdain.
"Zehahaha! They're not worth our time." His tone carried an air of unquestionable authority, as if the escapees were nothing more than insects beneath his notice.
He then shifted his gaze to the captured, struggling Luffy as a cold predatory glint flashing in his eyes.
"Our target is this brat. Capturing him is the key to the entire plan."
At that moment, Doc Q limped over on his sickly horse, looking as if a strong breeze could knock him over.
"And… what about these others?" he asked in a low, wheezing voice, gesturing to the unconscious forms of Zoro, Sanji, and Franky.
"Shall we leave them here… to die?"
Teach suddenly burst into another maniacal laugh, his voice dripping with a cruel, opportunistic ruthlessness.
"Zehahahaha! Are you kidding? We can't let this much bounty money go to waste. Round them all up! We'll drop them off at the nearest Marine base and collect the reward!"
Burgess looked puzzled. "Captain, are you planning to use the bounty money to build a new ship? This raft of ours is barely holding together."
Teach scoffed, his tone laced with mockery. "Build what? Why would we build a ship when fate has already delivered one to us?" He pointed a thick finger at the brand-new, magnificent vessel docked nearby, its sails still pristine, its wood gleaming.
"We'll just use the Straw Hat ship. Can't you see it's already finished?"
Gazing at the beautiful vessel, Teach's mood soared with delight.
"Finally," he exclaimed excitedly, "luck is on my side!"
This moment felt like the pinnacle of his life, the culmination of all his scheming.
"Time is of the essence! Set sail for Marineford immediately!"
"Aye, Captain!" his crew roared, their demeanor radiating a new, unusual excitement.
Just then, Burgess noticed a fresh newspaper lying on the ground near the chaos.
He hesitated, uncertain.
"…Huh? Captain, there's a new newspaper here. Should I pick it—?"
Teach waved his hand impatiently, his eyes betraying a single-minded focus that wouldn't tolerate any delays.
"Newspaper my ass! Don't waste time on trivial crap! We need to move, now!"
"Oh, right," Burgess nodded hastily, not daring to say another word as he quickly fell in step with the crew, leaving the world-changing news lying in the dirt.
****
In the East Blue, in waters infinitely close to the Grand Line…
The Donquixote Pirates' flamboyant ship lay anchored amidst the turbulent waves.
On deck, the family executives stood with grave expressions, their gazes fixed on the intense, earth-shaking battle raging in the empty skies above.
"Nee, nee, that Golden Lion is ridiculously strong!" Trebol exclaimed, his voice filled with a rare awe.
"Doffy has been fighting him for a full day and night, and there's still no clear winner!"
"Indeed. A living legend is no joke," Diamante chimed in, leaning on his sword.
"A fossil from the previous era, but a dangerous one. It's only natural he'd have this level of strength."
As the group murmured among themselves, a sudden shout shattered the calm.
"Look out! DODGE!"
A massive, invisible slash of Sword energy came hurtling through the air toward them.
Without hesitation, everyone scattered.
BOOM!
The pirate ship took the hit.
The deck shattered instantly, splinters of wood flying everywhere, and the hull groaned ominously as it swayed violently from the impact.
Fortunately, it withstood the tremendous force and wasn't split in two.
Trebol, standing off to the side, calmly observed the aftermath.
"Nee, nee, judging by that last strike, the Golden Lion's clearly getting weaker. Doffy must be close to victory!"
High above, Doflamingo's expression was stern, his piercing eyes locked onto the panting, grizzled form of Shiki the Golden Lion.
"It's just a few drops of blood, old man," he said, his voice laced with a cold impatience.
"Is it really worth all this trouble?"
"JIHAHAHAHA! You impudent brat!" Shiki laughed, though his voice was tinged with a furious disdain.
"Even Roger himself would have to say 'please' if he wanted my blood!" He struggled to steady his breathing.
The prolonged battle was taking its toll on his body.
'Where the hell did this 'fufufu' laughing bastard come from?' he wondered inwardly.
One moment he was scouting for new specimens, the next, this flamboyant peacock appears out of nowhere demanding his blood.
Naturally, Shiki had refused.
"Hmph!" Doflamingo had initially assumed that Shiki, like other pirates, would be well-versed in the new economy of the world.
After all, the news about the Whitebeard Pirates selling Devil Fruit abilities had spread like a plague.
Blood was now a currency, a commodity.
Some users were even openly selling their own for profit.
Yet, judging by the Golden Lion's genuinely surprised and bewildered expression, he knew nothing.
This man was a relic, a ghost from a past era, completely unaware of the latest news.
This realization came as a great surprise to Doflamingo, but it was immediately followed by the dawning of a golden, unprecedented opportunity.
If he could successfully obtain this man's blood…
At this thought, an uncontrollable surge of excitement welled up in Doflamingo's heart.
He knew that with the right approach, he could gain not just a new power, but immense wealth.
While Devil Fruits themselves couldn't be traded, their bloodlines certainly could.
"Fufufufufu," Doflamingo's signature, unsettling laugh echoed across the sky.
"Old man, it seems you've refused a toast, only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
A wide, predatory grin spread across his face.
"In that case… I'll just have to beat you until you cough up the blood I want!"
-----------------------------
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