New World — Dressrosa, King's Plateau.
"The World Government really is the strongest power in existence... To think they managed to recruit so many monsters that easily!"
Doflamingo scowled as he stared at the latest intel sent back by Vergo, the veins on his forehead bulging with frustration.
Not long ago, the so-called "Strongest Admiral," Akainu Sakazuki, had been hunted down by Souta Kiryuu's crew — the Ardragon Pirates — captured in defeat, his life or death still uncertain.
Yet in just one round of global recruitment, the World Government had already managed to enlist another monster strong enough to rival an admiral, along with an entire batch of vice admiral–level elites.
"How the hell am I not supposed to feel jealous?" he muttered bitterly.
He'd spent twenty or thirty years building up the Donquixote Family from scratch — and yet his total fighting power still couldn't compare to what the Government gained in a single campaign.
It was enough to make anyone sick with envy.
Vergo's report even claimed that several of the newly recruited vice admirals were stronger than him — their strength on par with pirates worth six to seven hundred million berries.
Their ranks had already been confirmed.
If it weren't for the chaos surrounding Akainu's defeat and the political fallout it caused, Green Bull Aramaki would've likely been appointed the next admiral already.
"The World Government's mass recruitment... Souta Kiryuu hijacking Impel Down's prisoners... Kaido building an army of Zoan-type users... Damn it! Why is everyone becoming so terrifying?"
Doflamingo shredded the report into confetti, pacing irritably toward the open window to catch a breath of cool air.
Even as a Warlord of the Sea — and the king of a World Government–affiliated nation — he felt no real sense of security.
The Government wanted him dead, always afraid the secret of the "National Treasure" might be exposed.
Kaido looked down on him with open contempt.
And the most dangerous of them all — Souta Kiryuu — had been eyeing him like a predator for years.
He'd tried to build goodwill several times, but the Ardragon Pirates never seemed interested in any deeper alliance.
Worse, that damn kid Trafalgar Law was always whispering poison into Kiryuu's ear, sabotaging any chance Doflamingo had.
And now... three of the Seven Warlords had already fallen under Kiryuu's command.
It was only a matter of time before the rest were hunted down.
Dracule Mihawk lived alone.
Jinbe stood behind the Fish-Man Island alliance with Whitebeard's protection.
Neither were Devil Fruit users — and that was a problem.
Because Souta Kiryuu had a fetish for collecting Devil Fruit powers.
The thought sent a chill down Doflamingo's spine.
'If I end up like Boa Hancock or Gecko Moria... joining his crew... I wonder which of us he'd choose to keep — me, or Law?'
He grimaced. As a Conqueror's Haki user, he couldn't bring himself to kneel like Hancock had.
But if pushed into a corner... maybe swallowing his pride was still an option.
After all, Whitebeard, Shiki, Big Mom, and Kaido himself had once all served under Rocks D. Xebec.
That hadn't stopped them from rising afterward.
Still, Law was the real threat.
His Ope Ope no Mi could perform the Immortality Operation — and in Souta Kiryuu's eyes, that single ability was probably worth more than the entire Donquixote Family.
The more Doflamingo thought about it, the more agitated he became. He didn't even know how he could possibly fend off the Ardragon Pirates if they chose to turn on him.
High above the sea surrounding Dressrosa, the sky darkened as a massive fleet of airships tore through the clouds.
At the front of the formation soared the flagship — The Ark of Revelation — leading three classes of warships arranged in perfect formation. Their banners blotted out the sunlight, the crimson Ardragon emblem snapping violently in the wind.
Since Souta Kiryuu had taken the Glare-Glare Fruit user Violet from him, Dressrosa's defense and intelligence network had suffered greatly.
By the time the fleet entered Dressrosa's airspace, it was already too late.
The Donquixote Family members and officers below stared in horror as the enormous armada filled the sky.
From the window of his palace atop King's Plateau, Doflamingo could see them clearly.
Cold sweat poured down his face.
"Souta Kiryuu... that bastard's really coming for me?"
His scalp tingled. He hadn't expected the assault to come this fast.
He snatched up a special Den Den Mushi and called Vergo.
"Contact Marine Headquarters! Tell them to send an admiral now! I don't care who it is — just get someone here to face the Ardragon Pirates!"
Then he grabbed another line — directly linked to the Five Elders themselves.
He barked threats and demands in a furious tone.
If he couldn't defeat a tiger, then he'd have to sic a dragon on it. It was the only way left to survive.
"The Ardragon Pirates have appeared over Dressrosa! If you don't want the secret of the National Treasure leaking to the world, you'd better send someone — now!"
He practically roared the words.
At the same time, he left behind a String-String clone to attempt negotiations with Souta Kiryuu, hoping to salvage whatever he could.
If possible, he didn't want to abandon his kingdom just yet.
If joining Kiryuu was the only way to survive — then so be it.
Meanwhile, his real body, still holding the Den Den Mushi, ran toward the underground factory beneath the palace.
If things went south, he was prepared to grab Sugar — the Toy-Toy Fruit user — and flee.
With her ability, he could still rebuild, turning countless marines and pirates into obedient toys under his control.
Down in the bustling streets of Dressrosa, chaos erupted.
Civilians, pirates, and bounty hunters scattered like panicked birds as the fleet's shadow fell over the city.
In the colosseum, where gladiators had been locked in fierce combat, the crowd broke into hysteria.
Screams, trampling, and confusion filled the air — a disaster unfolding in seconds.
Diamante, top officer of the Diamante Army and overseer of the colosseum, stood frozen, drenched in sweat.
He could only hope the Ardragon Pirates were here to negotiate, not to invade.
But that hope shattered when the fleet began to descend.
From the airships, savage convicts from Impel Down leapt down, blades flashing, cutting down Donquixote soldiers without hesitation.
Diamante's heart sank into despair.
They'd even shared some minor cooperation with the Ardragon Pirates once...
So why were they being wiped out now?
"Ahahaha!! Where are the Donquixote officers?! Where are your Devil Fruit users?!"
Bartolomeo, laughing madly, charged through the city like a cannonball, knocking soldiers aside left and right.
This was his moment — a chance to show off, raise his bounty, and get his face printed on a brand-new wanted poster bearing the Ardragon emblem.
Above them, a pink figure streaked through the sky — Doflamingo's String clone, racing toward the massive flagship.
He wasn't ready to surrender yet — he wanted to plead his case with Souta Kiryuu directly.
There wasn't really any deep hatred between them, was there?
Why did everything have to start with bloodshed?
But aboard the Ark of Revelation, Trafalgar Law unsheathed his cursed blade, Kikoku, his eyes blazing with cold fury.
He wasn't about to let Doflamingo bargain his way out.
If Souta accepted him — like he had Moria — that would ruin everything.
"ROOM — Execution Ground!"
Without hesitation, Law unleashed his power, slicing straight toward Doflamingo's clone as the skies of Dressrosa erupted into battle.