"What?!"
The revelation shocked everyone in the room. Only Robin remained composed, turning her gaze toward the woman known as Chiffon. She asked curiously, "Miss Chiffon, what is going on here? Why did you decide to save us?"
"It is because of Lola!" Chiffon replied.
The name immediately sparked memories for the crew. They recalled the woman they had encountered during the Thriller Bark arc, who looked exactly like the person standing before them.
"Then who are you?" Luffy asked.
"I am Lola's twin sister," she explained.
Everything finally clicked. It was no wonder the two women looked identical. However, just as the crew prepared to ask more questions, Chiffon held up a hand.
"Straw Hat, I know you have many questions, but we have a more pressing problem to resolve first."
Capone, her husband, looked at the Straw Hat crew with a sneer. "Let me put it plainly. Big Mom already knew you were planning to kidnap Brulee through the Sun Pirates to rescue Straw Hat. That means…"
Capone did not need to finish his thought. Everyone in the room understood the implication. Robin looked around at the group, her expression turning cold. "This means there is a traitor among us."
In a remote area of the New World, the battle between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Blackbeard Pirates was nearing its climax. Faced with the combined might of the Blackbeard Pirates and the World Government, the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates were completely outmatched. To make matters worse, there was a traitor embedded within their ranks, working for the World Government.
"Zehahahahaha!" Blackbeard laughed manically. "Ace, two years ago, Pops traded his life to save yours, but now there is no one left to rescue you."
Blackbeard activated his Gura Gura no Mi ability, and the air began to shatter with a deafening sound. Even Ace, who had mastered advanced Conqueror's Haki, hesitated to engage. His Devil Fruit was hard-countered, and his physical prowess and Haki were simply not on the same level as his opponent.
"Ugh!" Ace coughed up a spray of blood as he felt his internal organs being pulverized by the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
His vision blurred as he looked toward the sea below. Most of the Whitebeard Pirates had already fallen. Marco was the only one still standing, but he was struggling against the former Admiral Aokiji. Marco's regenerative Devil Fruit ability offered no advantage against the chilling power of the Ice-Ice Fruit.
"It is a pity," Aokiji said, his voice calm. "Are you still going to resist, Captain Marco?"
Marco breathed heavily, staring at his former comrade. "I never thought that you, someone who once upheld true Marine justice, would become a pirate and serve under Teach."
Before Aokiji could respond, Blackbeard's laughter echoed through the sky. "Dark Water!"
"Ah!"
After three hours of relentless combat, Blackbeard grabbed Fire Fist Ace by the throat once again. The sight crushed the remaining spirit of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"How could this be, Captain?!" one of the crew members cried out in despair.
"Damn it!"
Jesus Burgess, the First Division Commander of the Blackbeard Pirates, shouted with excitement, "Captain Teach! We had an agreement that Fire Fist Ace's Devil Fruit would be mine!"
"Ah, no problem, Burgess. Get ready to receive the power of the Fire Fist!"
Suddenly, three masked figures stepped forward. "Blackbeard, do not forget our agreement. We have already established that Fire Fist Ace's life must be handed over to us."
The members of the Blackbeard Pirates glared at the three CP0 agents with open hostility. Even Aokiji stopped and frowned. "Hey, hey, hey. Don't joke around. I made a promise to my subordinate. Besides, our agreement was to cooperate in eliminating Roger's bloodline, but we never said he had to be kept alive."
The three CP0 members looked uneasy under the collective, murderous gaze of the Blackbeard Pirates. "I need to consult the Gorosei about this matter," they stammered.
Before they could move, the agents suddenly froze. Their expressions twisted in agony, and they collapsed, clutching their throats and wailing in pain. "Ah!"
The sudden shift left everyone stunned. "What is going on?"
The next few seconds left the Blackbeard Pirates trembling in terror. The bodies of the three CP0 agents began to twist in a grotesque, unnatural manner. Black smoke poured from their pores, and their flesh aged rapidly until it sloughed away completely. Within moments, nothing remained but a puddle of blood and three bleached skulls on the deck.
The Blackbeard Pirates consisted of some of the most feared outlaws in history, men who had seen everything the sea had to offer. Yet, they stood paralyzed, sweat pouring down their faces. Even Blackbeard and Aokiji could not hide their shock.
"What… what is this?"
No one had an answer. In the confusion, Marco acted instantly. He struck Blackbeard's chest with a Phoenix-powered kick, grabbed Ace, and took flight toward the clouds.
Blackbeard roared, "Chase them! Quickly, go after them!"
Despite his commands, his eyes remained locked on the three fleshless skulls left on the deck. The sight was simply too terrifying to ignore.
In the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the same unnatural horror was unfolding. The lives of the Celestial Dragons were vanishing just as quickly as the CP0 agents'. Marines who had been rushing to protect the nobles were overcome with panic and scattered in every direction.
"It is too terrifying!"
"What is happening? Why are the Celestial Dragons dying like this?!"
High above the palace, the three Calamities—King, Jack, and Eneru—formed a defensive barrier against the God's Knights. After a brief, brutal exchange, the God's Knights looked grim. Aside from Figarland Garling Saint, none of them could match the trio's immense strength, advanced Conqueror's Haki, and endless Devil Fruit versatility.
The wailing from the palace below drew everyone's attention. Both sides paused their battle, glancing down in bewilderment as black smoke billowed toward the sky. While King and his allies merely watched with curiosity, the God's Knights were filled with genuine fear.
They looked up at the heavens in collective dread.
"Imu!"
In the sky above, thunder began to roar.
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