Despite recent chaos, Eli Winters and his crew showed no signs of worry. They continued to enjoy themselves in the Kingdom of Nordis, eating, drinking, and wandering through the coastal markets. Yet, whispers followed them wherever they went everyone knew they were the ones who had killed Trebol, one of Doflamingo's top officers. Because of that, no one dared to approach them.
Eli didn't care. "Let them stare," he said casually, taking another sip of ale. "We didn't come here to win a popularity contest."
Still, their ship, the Voyager, had taken serious damage in the recent storm. The hull was cracked, and several masts had splintered beyond repair. After defeating Karl Bright and his forces, Eli immediately began searching the city for a shipwright who could handle the repairs. It took nearly half a day of searching before he finally found a large shipyard at the edge of the harbor.
When the shipwright saw the battered Voyager and recognized Eli and his crew, his face drained of color. He stumbled backward, shaking his head furiously. "No, no, I can't fix that ship. I want nothing to do with you people!" he stammered, waving his hands like he was warding off death itself. "If I help you, Doflamingo will kill me! You don't understand he runs this sea! Nobody crosses him and lives!"
Eli tried reasoning with him, even offering triple the usual fee, but the man remained firm. In the end, Eli sighed and cracked his knuckles. "Guess we'll have to convince you another way."
After what Eli later described as a "friendly discussion," the terrified shipwright finally agreed to the job "voluntarily," of course.
Upon inspection, the Voyager's main keel was still intact. That meant the ship could be fully repaired within several days. Hearing that, the crew felt an immense wave of relief. The Voyager wasn't just their vessel; it was their home, their companion through storms and battles alike.
Now, all that was left was to wait for Doflamingo to arrive.
In the meantime, Eli tracked down the royal researcher Tatus, who had studied the mysterious ores Doflamingo was mining. From him, Eli learned the truth: Bellamy's father had been murdered by members of the Donquixote Family. Before his death, he had discovered that the ores contained radioactive minerals, which were poisoning the miners. He had tried to warn King Kimi, but before any action could be taken, Doflamingo's men silenced him permanently.
When King Kimi learned of the murder, he had confronted Doflamingo in a heated argument. But it achieved nothing. In the end, the king could only beg for mercy, pleading that only citizens aged fifteen to thirty be forced into the mines, since they could resist the radiation slightly better than others. Many still died, but Doflamingo accepted the proposal it kept the workforce alive long enough to continue serving him.
Eight days passed in uneasy silence. During that time, Eli pushed his crew to train harder than ever, sharpening their strength and Haki in preparation for what was to come. Everyone knew the next battle would be the toughest they'd ever faced.
On the ninth morning, Simon, who had been stationed at the port, rushed in with grim news. "Eli! A ship's approaching the Donquixote Family's flag!"
Eli's eyes lit with cold anticipation. "Finally."
They didn't want the battle to reach the city and harm civilians. With King Kimi's cooperation, the harbor was cleared of all ships and personnel. The Voyager crew stood alone on the docks, waiting under a blazing sun.
Soon, a colossal ship loomed on the horizon a monstrous vessel shaped like a flamingo. Its bow was adorned with a bird's head wearing Doflamingo's trademark sunglasses. Eli couldn't help but chuckle. "The Flamingo Ship, huh? Guess subtlety isn't his thing. No wonder Luffy calls him the birdman."
At the prow stood Donquixote Doflamingo himself three meters tall, golden hair shining under the sun, pink feather coat fluttering dramatically, and a wicked grin twisting his lips. His very presence carried a killing intent that made the air grow heavy. Behind him stood his top officers: Pica, wielder of the Stone-Stone Fruit, and Diamante, master of the Flutter-Flutter Fruit.
As the Flamingo Ship drew closer, Doflamingo's grin widened. "So," he called out, his voice echoing across the waves, "you actually came to greet me in person. How bold. Or maybe you're just suicidal."
Before anyone could answer, an overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki burst forth from Doflamingo like a hurricane. The very air trembled as the invisible force crashed toward Eli and his crew, roaring like a tidal wave. The dock cracked under the pressure, and nearby waters exploded into towering sprays. Even the atmosphere seemed to warp under the sheer force.
But Eli only smiled. "That's it? That's the great Doflamingo's power? You disappoint me."
With that, he unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki. The force erupted from him like an ancient beast awakening, colliding with Doflamingo's aura midair. The impact was cataclysmic. Wind howled, the sea churned, and for a moment, the world itself seemed to hold its breath.
The two Haki waves clashed violently, and to everyone's astonishment, Doflamingo's was pushed back. The Flamingo Ship groaned as crew members collapsed, eyes rolling white, foam bubbling at their lips. Only a few high-ranking officers Pica, Diamante, and Doflamingo himself remained standing.
On Eli's side, things were calm. Big Pan stood unmoved, arms crossed, while Fiona stood poised with her blade ready. Even Chiyo, the least combat-oriented among them, was safely shielded within Eli's protective aura.
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed. He hadn't expected to face another king's will stronger than his own. His grin twisted into a manic smile. "Fufufufufu… I didn't think someone like you existed outside the Grand Line. Interesting. But you killed my family. For that, you die today."
"Maybe," Eli said, his tone almost mocking. "But you'll have to earn it."
Before he could move, Diamante snapped. "You dare insult our young master? I'll gut you myself!" His face flushed with fury as he lunged forward, sword flashing in the sun. The blade aimed straight for Eli's throat.
A massive shadow leapt between them. Big Pan swung his dragon-headed staff, the impact ringing like thunder as it met Diamante's sword mid-strike. Sparks flew.
"Heh, you're not even qualified to face my captain," Big Pan sneered. "I'll handle you myself."
The two clashed fiercely, steel against steel, their blows shaking the dock. For several moments, the battle seemed evenly matched. But then Delos Fiona stepped forward, eyes glinting with interest. She had noticed the finesse in Diamante's swordsmanship a style that piqued her own.
"Big Pan," she said sharply, "let me handle this one."
Big Pan smirked and backed off without protest. "He's all yours."
Diamante's eyes widened with outrage. "You how dare you treat me like a toy!?" Enraged, he launched a flurry of attacks. His cloak, hardened by the Flutter-Flutter Fruit, shimmered into steel-like plates that deflected Fiona's opening strikes.
But Fiona was no ordinary swordswoman. Moving with blinding speed, she weaved through the air like a phantom, her snow-white blade Snowdrinker leaving trails of frost wherever it passed. Each attack came faster than the last, each retreat perfectly timed. Her graceful movements turned the duel into a deadly dance of ice and steel.
Their weapons clashed again and again, neither side gaining ground. Fiona's speed was unmatched, but Diamante's iron defense was nearly unbreakable. The air between them shimmered from the heat of their battle.
Then, without warning, a thin strand of nearly invisible string shot from Doflamingo's hand toward Fiona's neck.
Eli was already moving. In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside her and caught the thread between his fingers, holding it effortlessly. "Sneaking around, Doflamingo?" he said coolly. "Didn't take you for the backstabbing type. Aren't you supposed to be one of those noble Celestial Dragons?"
For the first time, Doflamingo's confidence faltered. It wasn't Eli's words that shocked him it was his speed. Even Doflamingo's Observation Haki hadn't sensed him move.
"Fufufufu… You think you can mock me, you worthless commoner?" Doflamingo snarled. "I'll show you the true power of a god."
Strings shimmered into existence around his hands, barely visible, but each sharp enough to cut through steel. He coated them with Armament Haki, their edges glowing faintly with lethal energy. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed them like invisible blades, slicing toward Eli faster than sound.
Eli drew his black blade, Oblivion, and swung once. The world seemed to freeze for a heartbeat. Then, with a ringing note, every string Doflamingo had sent toward him fell apart cleanly severed.
"Your tricks won't work on me," Eli said coldly.
As if his words were a signal, Big Pan, Fiona, and the rest of the crew charged forward, clashing with the remaining Donquixote officers. The air was filled with the sound of battle metal clashing, powers colliding, the roar of unleashed Haki.
And above it all, Eli and Doflamingo stood face to face two kings, their wills colliding like storms.
The real fight had just begun.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to leave a comment, drop a power stone, or add it to your collection your support keeps the journey going!