After eliminating Chiffon and Gondola, Doflamingo's anger lessened slightly, but the flames were still burning fiercely inside him.
With a single flash step, Doflamingo appeared where Barrett and the others were. Pica was already slaughtering with bloodshot eyes. As long as someone belonged to the human-trafficking syndicate, Pica did not hesitate—he transformed into a stone giant and butchered indiscriminately. The humiliation of being captured was not something that could be washed away so easily.
Barrett and Vergo stayed at Pica's side as protection, preventing any attempt at a sneak attack. Pica was still wounded, and if they did not watch him carefully, even a minor accident could become troublesome.
Although Barrett and Vergo were barely attacking, Pica alone was enough to crush the human-trafficking syndicate. With their two strongest leaders tied down by Doflamingo earlier, even with injuries, no one else here could threaten Pica in the slightest.
Pica vented his emotions without restraint. After fighting a while bare-handed, once his anger had subsided somewhat, he also knew this was not a place to linger. He began unleashing large-scale killing moves.
Ever since following Doflamingo, Pica had never slackened for even a moment. Unlike the original timeline where he focused on expanding the family's business and treated training as secondary—leading to a natural cap on his strength—in the last two years under Doflamingo, he had put enormous emphasis on developing his physical abilities. His strength now was far from weak. Otherwise, he would not have earned the title of a Supernova.
Because Pica disliked speaking, his demeanor was silent, calm, and unsmiling. Though his Devil Fruit mastery might not reach the peak seen in the original story, his strengthened physical development meant that overall, his present combat ability surpassed his canonical counterpart.
His Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) in particular—though not yet capable of internal destruction—was separated from that breakthrough by nothing more than a thin sheet of paper.
After all, in Doflamingo's eyes, Pica's talent for training was unquestionably top-tier in the world of pirates. Even in the original story, without full dedication to cultivation, he had still reached that level of power. Without talent, how could that be possible?
As for this time being captured by Chiffon and Gondola, it could only be said their abilities happened to counter his. Otherwise, with Pica's current power, he would never have been unable to escape.
"M Butōseki (Dancing Stone)!"
Pica sank his true body into the stone floor deep within the auction house. In an instant, the surface of the ground became twisted and warped. The human-trafficking syndicate members immediately lost their footing as countless sharp stone spikes shot upward from unpredictable locations, impaling them one by one and clearing out the remaining enemies effortlessly.
"Pa~ pa~ pa."
Doflamingo, who had arrived moments earlier, looked at Pica's work. He did not hesitate to offer his applause.
"Alright, little ones—let's get out of here. Set sail for the New World."
Through Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), Doflamingo had already sensed a Marine Admiral with green hair rushing toward the auction house at top speed. Doflamingo had no intention of fighting an Admiral here. A meaningless battle held no value for him.
The Donquixote Pirates cut down every foe in their path—if gods blocked the way, they killed gods; if Buddhas blocked the way, they killed Buddhas—and soon made it back to the Flamingo. Fortunately, before Pica had been captured, he had already arranged for a coating craftsman to finish the ship's bubble coating. After paying the balance and bringing the craftsman aboard, the Donquixote Pirates headed straight for Fish-Man Island.
Unlike the ease with which Doflamingo's group escaped, the Marines were in a far more difficult position. Since Sengoku and Garp were both on missions in the New World, Kong, as Fleet Admiral, had to remain at Marineford. Therefore, even though he had retired from frontline duty, the closest available to dispatch was Zephyr.
After a brief understanding of the situation, Zephyr's eyes were filled with shock.
A Celestial Dragon had been killed—this was an unprecedented incident. If the news spread, not only would the World Government's authority crumble, but the entire world would plunge into chaos.
Still holding onto his sense of justice, Zephyr could not allow the world to descend into disorder. He immediately organized Marines to conduct indiscriminate suppression and capture of anyone fleeing in panic.
The Marines acted swiftly, sealing every exit of Grove 1. Zephyr himself headed to the auction house to inspect the scene.
When he arrived, the bloody scene before him shocked even him beyond measure. Flesh and gore were scattered everywhere. Blood drenched the ground to the point the entire floor was nearly dyed scarlet. Broken structures and rubble buried corpses in various horrific states.
Even with Zephyr's battlefield-hardened mental fortitude, this sight made his stomach churn violently. A wave of nausea rose in his throat.
Finding no survivors and no trace of Saint Rozwald, Zephyr could only leave to pursue the pirates who had caused the chaos.
As for whether Rozwald would survive, Zephyr did not even consider the possibility. In his mind, the only outcome was death.
The chaos on Grove 1 continued for a full three days after the Donquixote Pirates left.
During those three days, the Marines and World Government continued sending reinforcements. Every person on Grove 1 was rounded up and transported to a deserted island—and there, where no one could witness it, all were executed. Among them was the crown prince of the Santana Kingdom, Dibaru*Niruk.
Dibaru*Niruk was far from the only noble slaughtered. The number of aristocrats executed was considerable. But to prevent leaks, the World Government had no choice but to resort to such measures.
Of course, not everyone failed to escape. Before Zephyr arrived, many had already fled.
Most notable among them was Gecko Moria. Despite having the chance to escape safely, he turned back to rescue his crewmates. After saving them, he fought Zephyr for a time and still managed to withdraw unscathed. It was not an exaggeration to call it both daring and impressive.
Had Moria been delayed even an hour longer, he would have been surrounded by two Admirals and likely ended up as the first captured Supernova.
As for the other Supernovas, those who could rise above the masses were naturally exceptional. With their abilities and cunning, they easily avoided the encirclement and successfully set out toward Fish-Man Island.
However, the events on Sabaody Archipelago did not end there. They only grew darker behind the scenes.
Holy Land — Mariejois. Pangaea Castle.
The center of the world's highest authority.
Inside the Five Elders' office, the silence was suffocating.
The Five Elders' expressions varied, each seeming deep in thought. Judging from their positions, their auras were overwhelmingly fierce.
Finance Elder—Saint Izanbaron V. Nasujuro—wore a white daoist robe, his bald head shining, spectacles on his face, seated in the center sofa. He used the first-generation Kitetsu as a walking cane, hands resting atop the hilt, brows tightly knit—a picture of severe displeasure.
Agriculture Elder—Saint Shepherd Ju Peter—stood behind the three sofas, wearing a dark red suit, with short golden hair and a matching beard. Because he wore no tie, the prominent scar across his chest was clearly visible.
Judicial Elder—Saint Topman Valkyrie—wore a dark green suit, had a large round bald head, and two thick, downward-curving moustaches. A pronounced birthmark sat on his forehead. Reclining on the left sofa with crossed legs, he appeared the most relaxed of the five.
Environment Elder—Saint Mars—wearing a deep blue suit, long straight white hair and a white beard, stood silently behind the open space between the sofas, arms crossed.
Science and Defense Elder—Saint Jaygarcia Saturn—wore a black suit, had fluffy white curled hair and an equally thick beard, and wore a flat cap. The left side of his face bore a hideous scar. Seated on the right sofa, hands interlaced and resting before his lips, he carried an air of inscrutable depth.
(End of Chapter)
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