Zoro's body moved before his mind could catch up. Steel met light in a sharp clash.
"Pica… pica."
The sound echoed strange and hollow.
"What?!" Nami shouted, eyes wide. "I thought you defeated him already!"
"I did," Zoro said, tightening his grip on his swords.
From the broken rubble, Pica stepped out slowly. Dust slid off his shoulders. His eyes… were completely white.
"Pica… pica…"
"This guy just won't stay down," Usopp muttered, trying to steady his shaking hands.
Then Pica screamed.
A raw, twisted sound burst from him so lound and powerful it shook the air itself. A shockwave exploded outward. The ground cracked. Windows shattered. Everyone nearby dropped, clutching their ears as blood trickled down.
"Argh—my ears!" Usopp cried.
Sanji shot forward without thinking. "Oi, ugly!"
His leg whipped around and slammed into Pica's neck but it was like kicking a mountain.
Pica's head barely moved.
"What—?"
Before Sanji could react, Pica grabbed him by the foot mid-air.
"Got you."
With one brutal swing, Pica flung him straight into a nearby building. The walls shattered on impact.
"SANJI!" Nami screamed.
"What the hell is going on…" Nami whispered to herself, heart racing.
[Elsewhere]
Emma, Amy, and Alice turned to leave but behind them, the dead man's body twitched.
Then it stood up.
"What the hell?!" Amy jumped back, fear flashing across her face.
"This is just like when we fought my brother…" Alice said.
"Yeah," Emma said slowly, drawing her blade. "But this feels… worse."
Amy stepped forward, her aura rising fast.
"Then we don't need to hold back."
Her Haki surged.
"Beast Haki- Dragon Claw!"
She slashed through the man in one clean strike. His body split in two and dropped to the ground.
but instead of blood, it melted into Water.
The water began to move.
"…No way," Amy whispered.
The water bubbled, twisting, pulling itself back together until the man stood again.
"This is bad," Emma said, her voice shaking.
Emma raised her weapon and with a smooth motion, she split it into twin daggers.
"That always amazes me," Amy said with a quick grin.
"Thank Alice," Emma replied. "She made it."
Alice gave a small nod, eyes still locked on the enemies. "Focus."
"If we're going to win this… we hit with everything." Emma said.
Amy smiled, sharp and fearless. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
The three of them attacked at once.
"Beast Haki- Dragon Claw!"
"Weapon Manipulation- Sword Birth!"
"Advanced Armament Haki- Dance of the Blazing Dust Maiden!"
Emma's blades burst into flames, fire dancing along the edges.
Their attacks collided into one devastating strike.
BOOM.
The ground shattered. The surrounding area collapsed. Smoke and dust swallowed everything.
The dust cleared.
Only water remained .Then it began to bubble.
"…You've got to be kidding me," Amy said.
The water rose again, slowly forming back into the undead.
Emma let out a long breath, dragging a hand through her hair.
"This is going to take forever…"
[Meanwhile]
Doflamingo across from luffy, strings twitching from his fingers, with a cruel smile stretched across his face.
Steam began to rise from luffy's body.
His skin turned red. His veins pulsed.
"Second Gear…"
His heart pounded like a drum...fast and heavy.
BOOM.
The ground beneath his feet shattered as he vanished.
Doflamingo's eyes sharpened. "Fast."
Luffy appeared in front of him in an instant.
"Gum Gum- Jet Pistol!"
His fist slammed forward, coated in Haki.
Doflamingo crossed his arms just in time but the force sent him skidding back, tearing through the ground.
"He's faster…" Doflamingo muttered, adjusting his stance.
Luffy attack again from above.
"Jet Gatling!"
A storm of punches rained down, each one hitting like a cannon.
Doflamingo grinned even as he blocked the attack. "Not bad… but still not enough!"
Strings shot out, slicing through the air, trying to catch Luffy but Luffy twisted mid-air, barely avoiding them.
"You're not the only one who can move fast!" Luffy shouted.
He kicked off a broken buildings, appearing behind Doflamingo.
"Jet Stamp!"
His foot came crashing down.
Doflamingo raised his strings to block but the impact still drove him into the ground.
Dust exploded upward.
Doflamingo's laughter echoed from the crater.
"Fufufufu… now this is getting interesting."
Luffy stood across steam rising from his body.
"I'm not losing," luffy said firmly. "Not to you."